The Matchmaker of Perigord by Julia Stuart

Title:  The Matchmaker of Perigord

Author:  Julia stuart

Publisher:  Harper Collins

ASIN: B001D23SYE

Genre:  Romance

Pages:  322

KB:  313

Source:  Purchased from amazon



 

 

This book was an unusual one!  It was part fairy tale, and part romance with a bit of mystery thrown in for good measure.  Although I enjoyed it, I did like Julia Stuarts, Pigeon Pie Mystery better.  It is set in a tiny French town called Amour-Sur-Belle.  Guillaume is the local barber for many years, but as time goes by, his customers get older and start losing their hair, and therefore, also their reasons for getting regular haircuts.  Guillaume has to think of a new way to earn a living, and for some reason,he decides the the town needs a matchmaker.  He turns his barber shop into  a matchmakers office.  While Guillaume works hard trying to match up the towns people, you find out that he is the one that is in need of matchmaking services the most!  You will get  to know everyone in this tiny, strange town along the way.  Like Stuart's other books, this one is also filled with interesting, strange and quirky people.

 

Excerpt:

 

"Oh yes, she said, turning back to him.  Withour love we are just shadows." pg 157

 

"Now, remember to treat her as you would a good cassoulet:  ignore the rancid parts, delight in the duck leg, and shrug your shoulders at the little green button. Good luck." pg 213

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The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart

Title:  The Pigeon Pie Mystery
Author:  Julia Sturat
Publisher:  Doubleday
ISBN-13:   978-0385535564
Pages:  336
Genre:  Mystery
Source:  Purchased from amazon

This is the first book I have read by Julia Stuart, but it will not be the last!  In fact, I am now reading The Matchmaker of Perigord by her and loving it too!  But, back to The Pigeon Pie Mystery.  This story is about a Princess named Alexandrina and her maid, Pooki.  The princess is left penniless when her father, the Maharaja dies.  Queen Victoria grants her a grace and favor home in Hampton Court Palace.  When they get settled in, they are introduced to a peculiar bunch of neighbors, and one of them dies after eating some pigeon pies baked by Pooki. Pooki and the Princess have been together for most of the Princesses life and she knows that Pooki is innocent.  However, the local law does not seem to be as interested as they should be in finding the real murderer.  So, the Princess takes it upon herself to solve the murder.  Along the way to solving the crime,she gets to know her strange and interesting neighbors very well.  This story is a fun read!  Oh, and the Princesses favorite pet is a tiny monkey that wears red velvet pants and causes quite a stir among the neighbors!

Excerpts:
"She was so skinny she seeme to have been eroded by years of persistant wind."  Pg2
"As a matter of interest, how mad should one's hatter be?" Pg 146

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