Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: French Fancy

SERIES: Model Agency #2

AUTHOR: Lily Morton

PULISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 396 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 22, 2023

BLURB:

Pip Simmonds is the twinkiest twink in London. He’s loud, proud, and packed to the brim with sass. But when he’s laid low by illness, even his hotpants lose their sparkle and his worried boss sends him to the South of France to recuperate in his holiday home.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is beautiful, and the periwinkle-blue villa is luxurious, but the real draw for Pip is the villa’s other resident—his boss’s younger brother, Olivier Durand.

Olivier owns a perfume empire and has spent his whole life running from any other form of commitment. He’s worldly, carefree, wild, and the perfect choice for a holiday fling.

Drawn together by proximity, the two men become lovers and friends and then something more. Something special. But will their special bond hold true after summer’s end, when they both must return to their real lives?

REVIEW:   

Let me start by saying, any book that references Hong Kong Phooey is a winner.

One-of-a-kind Pip: charming, adorable, loud, mischievous, and funny beyond belief. He’s Jonas’ PA, as we know from The Sunny Side, the five star first book in Lily Morton’s The Model Agency series. He’s been away from work for a while with scarlet fever and pneumonia so Jonas sends him to convalesce at his villa in Saint- Jean-Cap-Ferrat in the South of France. Pip is supposed to be the only one in residence but Jonas’ tall, dark, and oh, so handsome younger brother, Olivier, shows up.

Olivier lives mostly in Paris and part-time at the villa. He is vastly different from Jonas in that he’s carefree and relaxed. He’s also generous with his kindness, loyalty and love, and he’s a partier extraordinaire. Plus, he has a sharp wit to take on Pip.

They’re immediately attracted to each other but neither is interested in a relationship – monogamy is a four letter word to Olivier – so they partake in a vacation fling. Of course, it soon develops into something neither of them can ignore.

The book takes place in Paris, London, and the South of France where Lily outdoes herself with captivating world building. I challenge you not to want to jump on the next plane there. Lily paints a gorgeous picture that evokes stunning scenery of a region full of rich sights, smells, and tastes. There are the colorful gardens poolside and the motorcycle rides in the warm sunshine where we travel along with Olivier and Pip down little winding roads past verdant hills and whimsical colored houses. The harbors are beautiful – I could practically feel the salty, sea breeze in my hair. This is Lily’s imagery at its best.

As always, the supporting cast is outstanding. There’s Olivier’s BFF Armand, and Reuben, the artist who lives next door (I hope we see him again). Back in London we have Pip’s loving nan, Sylvie, and the modelling agency crew lead by Dean and Jonas, the latter delivering many of the rich, LOL one-liners. His relationship with Pip is precious.

“Are some people’s assistants professional? I’m asking for a friend,” Jonas says.

Although the conflict between Olivier and his mother toward the end wraps up too easily and neatly for me, this is undoubtedly a book I found wholly entertaining. I fell in love with Olivier immediately and knew he was the perfect foil for Pip. And Pip, of course, is impossible to dislike. He’s charm personified. This is another winning novel from the incomparable Ms. Morton.

RATING:

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