To be Published October, 19th 2021 (Berkley)
In this delectable novel, a chef on the rise fuels her passion for
cooking while enduring the hardest challenges she’s ever faced after a
debilitating injury.
Everybody wants a piece of
grand chef Sophie Valroux. With her once-destroyed reputation fully
recovered and then some, Sophie is making her mark in the culinary
world. She’s running the restaurants of Château de Champvert, the
beautiful estate that she inherited from her grandmother. She and her
fiancé, Rémi, are closer than ever, and she’s even bonding with his
daughter Lola. Everything should be perfect.
Yet, Sophie still feels something in her heart is missing.
When she’s invited to cook at an exclusive event her culinary idol is
attending, she thinks this could be the thing to catapult her to greater
heights, maybe even bring her one step closer to her one and only dream
of achieving the stars—Michelin stars.
But fate has other plans
for Sophie. After she accepts to cook for the Parisian elite, her world
crumbles. She suffers a fall and loses her senses of smell and taste.
Certain that her career will vanish if people find out, she keeps this
secret to herself, not even telling Rémi. She fakes it all: the menus
for every meal, the taste of fresh figs, the juicy cherries in the
orchard. All she has to do is get through life—and the event—tasteless
without missing a single step. Fake it ‘til you make it…right?
Advance Praise
“Vérant cooks up another winner in the Valroux series (after The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux). … Vérant’s loving and luscious descriptions of delightful dishes will whet readers’ appetites, and her heroine’s spirit and pluck feel alive on the page. This can easily be read as a delightful standalone.”—Publishers Weekly
“Pitting old dreams against new experiences, this rich and vibrant novel, packed with lush descriptions of countryside life, mixed with Parisian glamour, and sprinkled with intrigue, will appeal to foodies, Francophiles, and fans of Mary Simses' The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Café.”―Booklist
"Vérant’s follow-up to The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux is a story about food and following one’s dreams in the face of insecurity and adversity. ... Readers will root for the feisty and determined but vulnerable chef to succeed in her pursuit of professional and personal success and happiness. For foodies who like strong heroines and romance." – Library Journal
“Once again, Vérant lavishes us with the continuation of the intriguing
story of Chef Sophie. This book is a sheer delight—full of twists and
turns, family and food, love and romance, and of course, plenty of la
vie en France.”—Janice MacLeod, New York Times best selling author of Paris Letters
"With a colorful medley of characters and ingredients, Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars
is a culinary delight. One can’t help but root for this ambitious young
chef as she overcomes unimaginable obstacles to reach for her dreams.
With heart and charm, author Samantha Vérant delivers once
again!"—Nicole Meier, author of The Second Chance Supper Club
"Chef
Sophie is at it again with her passion for food that will make you wish
you could hop the next flight for France and her desire to have it all.
But in true Vérant fashion, Sophie must first run the gamut of what she
thinks she wants and what she really wants. Vérant pulls off Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars with all the grace and style we have come to expect from this talented author."—Barbara Conrey, USA Today Bestselling Author of Nowhere Near Goodbye
"Vérant
is a masterful storyteller with a special knack for weaving
mouthwatering menus into her storyline—and bonus: she generously shares
her recipes in the back of the book."—Lori Nelson Spielman, bestselling
author of The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany
“Smart, delightful, and—dare I say?—downright delicious, Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars has
all the right ingredients. Samantha Vérant has captured the very best
of France, and women’s fiction, in her compulsively readable
novel. Highly recommended.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around
“A ‘deuxième plat’ of Sophie? Délicieux!”—KJ Dell’Antonia, New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters
PRE-ORDER PARIS STARS HERE! (Very much appreciated!)
(the above link will take you to the Penguin Random House page and lists major retailers. You can also ask your independent bookseller to order one (or ten) for you!
ADD PARIS STARS TO YOUR GOODREADS!
Best wishes and bisous,
Sam
