Brittany revelations!

Off the Wild Coast of Brittany by Juliet Blackwell  

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Natalie Morgen and Alex are sisters who share a weird childhood. Their parents were survivalists and bought their children up to be able to carry on after Armageddon. The two are very different, as seen by the differing nature and abilities during their extreme childhood days.

Natalie becomes a successful blogger and writer of a runaway bestseller, “Pourquoi Pas? A Memoir of Life, Love, and Food.”

She and her love François-Xavier, pronounced Fran-swah Ex-ah-vee-ay (I loved that touch), a gorgeous looking French chef, move to Île de Feme off Brittany’s Côte Sauvage. They plan to renovate his family’s historic guest house and run a gourmet restaurant

When François-Xavier leaves to attend to business in Paris it’s supposed to be only for a short visit— it seems the swine has other ideas!

Nat’s reluctant to let his family know about François-Xavier’s desertion in case they renege on the guesthouse usage deal, especially as all her money has been sunk into getting the business started. Now Nat is facing writer’s block and she needs more funds. She’s panicking. And then the sister she’s had little contact with over the years turns up on her doorstep.

As Nat’s story continues it crosses back to that of a previous daughter of the house Violette Fouquet / Guilcher during World War II. We start to see the history of the island during the occupation. The men leave for England to join the war effort just before the Nazis arrive. The island women are left to handle the invaders. The island fronts a sea lane and is an important link for the German occupation of France.

I found myself completely captivated by the story of both ages as told from the perspective of the three women Nat, Alex and Violette.

The three face very different challenges, yet all are looking to find themselves. Over the years the island is held together by strong females, of Celtic heritage, where wise women and different gods hold sway. These three are sisters under the skin, bound together by their tenacity.

Once again family cookbooks, ignored by the enemy, give the women a way to move invisibly throughout the island during the occupation. And it’s those same recipes and cookbook that will fill the future.

An unusual story that speaks!

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley