One Short Harvest by Nell Harding-a new release review
One Short Harvest by Nell Harding
ONE SHORT HARVEST is the second installment (May 2012 release) of Harding World of Romance, a series of short romantic stories from around the world. This exciting tale takes us to Burgundy, France.
Alexandre “Alex” Larousse is an arrogant, over confident, controlling Frenchman who has inherited the family business of winemaking. On his first season of taking over the winery, he offered Nadia a proposition to pose as his fiancée for the duration of two weeks during the vendanges or the grape harvest season; at the same time managing to avoid any unwanted match-making from his meddling enthusiastic family.
Nadia Fischer has found joy and freedom in her mini travel adventures. She is an intelligent, stubborn, and a fiercely loyal Canadian woman. She had arrived in France believing to work for Alex as grape-picker for the harvest. Little did she know that she will also be playing an important role in his private life.
In this short funny adventure, Nadia, who is always up for new experiences, thought that if she immersed herself with her new French associates, she will expand her knowledge of the French language. In addition to being in Burgundy and working for the Larousse, are the added benefits of learning its history, inspiring generations of family traditions…and the abundance of wine and delicious French cuisine (though she has an aversion to frog legs). When Alex offered her to stand as his fiancée in return for a fortnight stay in his family’s chateau and a vendanges experience, she agreed reluctantly. Recovering from a previous relationship that ended in disaster, Nadia is not looking for something serious that will tie her town. Though what will she do when her heart starts to pull her to Alex’s direction?
Alex is harboring a tiny secret of his own. Torn between freedom and duty, it has already cost him one beautiful lady. For that reason he now avoids any serious relationships preferring short-term-no-strings-attached to make their parting easier. So when his attraction for Nadia started to grow he felt threatened and he started to become distant.
Will Alex have a change of heart before the vendange season is over? Will Nadia have what it takes to transform a heart-harden Frenchman who has an out dated view of women and relationships? Will a ONE SHORT HARVEST be enough time to learn about compromising when dealing with matters of the heart?
I enjoyed reading this story. I also love that the author included how the French conducted their family dinners. Because in this reality, to have a true family dinner, comes only occasionally (for some of us at least). I also appreciate the hard work that’s been put into a traditional winery business. Make you think: ‘Right, so that explains it…’ Meaning the extravagant prices for some selected wines. So if you are finding yourself wanting a quick read. Pour yourself a red or white bubbly (juice if you prefer non-alcoholic) and lose yourself in this short adventure. The characters will keep you laughing and tenderly pulls your heart when you least expect it.
A rising contemporary author, Nell Harding, has already written her first book, FIRE AND ICE, in the Harding World of Romance series. She mainly writes light romantic stories that set in different places around the world. For the moment though her writing is slightly slowed down “now as another dream comes together in the form of a growing baby…”
Nell Harding: “My romance series, “Harding’s World of Romance”, hopes to bring readers to various romantic destinations to share some of my passion for new places and for happy endings.”
reviewed by Neni
Great review Neni….welcome to The Reading Cafe team.
Thank you Sandy. It’s exciting to be here. lol
Great review Neni I enjoyed hearing about the story, it sounds like a good light read.
You bet. Something refreshing after a ton of those longer hand hotter reads. 😉
Thank you Lori.
…’and’ not hand. lol
Wonderful review,Neni. Welcome aboard. 🙂
Thank you Barb. On both counts.:) Thanks for having my review here.
What a nice review Neni, thank you!
I haven’t read any of Nell’s work.
I will be adding this one to my list.
Nice to have you here! 🙂
Hey Dalila, haven’t seen you in awhile. Welcome back. 🙂
Hi Dalila,
Nell Harding’s a new author. She only has 2 books published so far. And with a baby to care for, though she is still currently writing, it might be awhile before we see another romantic comedy of hers.
Great review Neni!!! Welcome aboard!!!! I’ve not read this author, but will check it out!!!
Thank you Vickie.
Welcome aboard Neni and great review. Haven’t heard of or read anything by this author but sounds like I should check it out.
Thank you Marcie. Though I try.
She reminds me of Christine Feehan, how she’d like to place her books at different locations so that there’s a feeling of being there when in actuality you’ve never been. You know?
This was a great review, Neni!! I love the background to this story! It will be like being in France again!
Very interesting review… and I like romantic stories that are not always dark.
Thank you for the review Neni!
I’m glad you enjoyed the story. And things have slowed down a bit here becasue of the baby but there are two more stories with editors right now and a third for Harding’s World of Romance which I am half-way through writing now. This one is set in Darfur, with an ill-suited diplomat and a very determined humanitarian worker, continuing in the theme of discovering new places and lifestyles (I used to work as a humanitarian in Africa) with a mix of humour, romance and discovery. So maybe the wait won’t be too long.. I appreciate your review immensely. Happy reading! Nell
Hi Nell..and welcome to The Reading Cafe. What a great compliment to Neni when the author acknowledges our efforts. Thank you.
*Still recovering from my surprise of having Nell Harding read my review* lol
Hello Nell!! and you are most welcome. I’d also like to thank you for taking a piece of your precious time to check us out. I’m glad that we don’t have to wait too long for I have read ALL your short excerpts that came with One Short Harvest and I can’t wait to hear about your next work “Sunset at Simba Hill”. Again, thank you and hope to hear from you again.
Hello Neni!
This is Nell Harding again. Rather cheekily I am emailing you to let you know that I’ve had two new releases recently (North of Superior, and Love for Water) not so much as a means of self-marketing, but to let you know that North of Superior will be available for free for five days, starting this Thursday (27 september to october 1), just in case you’re interested. It’s a bit longer and a touch more involved than the past two books, and set in my home town – if you prefer the more exotic locations, Love for Water is set in the Sudan, where I did humanitarian work a few years ago, and I should be running that for free in a couple of months unless North of Superior attracts enough attention. Just thought I owed you at least a heads-up in return for your review, just in case you’re curious. I know you were interested in “sunsets from simba hill’ but it has been tied up on an editor’s desk for nearly a year now, under consideration, so I’m still waiting on that one as well….Thanks again for your past help and take care, Nell