Title: Sans Souci – French for Without Worry
Author: Billie Bierer
Publisher: Telemachus Press
ISBN: 978-1-938135-47-7
Pages: 130, Paperback/Kindle
Genre: Romance
Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert, Pacific Book Review
Featured book for the month of July 2013
Book Review
The demise of a spouse can be one of the most painful ordeals to be experienced in life; the pain will follow you all or most of your life but, you have a choice – you can either shut yourself up in a world of hurt and loneliness or move on with your life and see if love will come your way again. Such is the case with Isabelle Jacquelyn Roget the French/American born protagonist in the romantic comedy penned by noted romance author Billie Bierier. Jackie had to learn to face life and love – Sans Souci, which is French for “without fear”. Sans Souci tells the endearing and funny tale of Isabelle Jacquelyn Roget and how she faced her fears and allowed love back into her life.Jackie recently widowed and suddenly a single mother struggles with issues like loneliness, maintaining a stable job/career and in laws that mean well but don’t quite get it. She has two sons and one daughter, all are clever kids that love her and want her to be happy, except for young Lizzy who is resistant to the idea of a new father. However, Jackie is a strong determined and resilient character whose only real weakness is her fear of letting go and loving again – a fact that she eventually learns to confront with a little help.
This story takes off immediately as Jackie finds the comfort of her world challenged starting that fateful day when she met the very sexy Officer Benjamin Perez. Meeting Officer Perez stirred feelings in her that she had long denied herself ever since her husband’s demise. Jackie realizes her undeniable attraction to Officer Perez and makes efforts to “bump” into him again. Fate seemingly takes over and a relationship soon begins to blossom. However, while Jackie is braving her own pursuits her wily sons attempt to find her a companion on their own, which leads to some hilariously awkward moments. An unexpected match making effort from her mother in – Law, Grand’Mere, also surprises Jackie. Grand’Mere seems to have her own ideas about Jackie’s love life and imports a gigolo – like candidate for Jackie; However things do not work out creating another situation, which produces more amusing results.
Readers will find themselves engrossed in the emotional roller coaster that becomes Jackie’s life. This story contains a satisfying mix of drama, humor and romance as Jackie not only deals with the more serious issues in her life but, many times simultaneously, has to handle some of the zaniest situations brought on by the well meaning intentions of others. The story also contains a paranormal air when a guardian angel steps into the picture on more than one occasion to help Guide Jackie towards love.
Kudos to author Billie Bierer she is a dynamic storyteller who knows what it takes to reign in her readers and keep them engrossed until the end – I absolutely recommend Sans Souci – French for Without Worry as a great, entertaining, summer read.
