Coming Spring, 2026!
Genre: Clean Contemporary Romance
(Musical Romance with Historical Murder Mystery)
After a career-altering injury, violist Adrienne Pearson digs deep into her French roots. As the second of five sisters, she seeks individuality. But when several of her family members and friends decide to join her on a French excursion, she must navigate old and new relationships while finding her place in a foreign land. Will she rediscover her voice in the home of her ancestors?
Jean-David Béranger, a brooding, reclusive French journalist, finds his life upturned when his eccentric godmother invites an entourage of American students to live with them while studying music at the local conservatoire. Can Adrienne, a beautiful American sunflower girl, dismantle the fortress surrounding his heart and convince him to turn toward the light?Sunflowers in Paris takes the reader on a journey through the Loire Valley, Versailles, and Paris, the City of Light, weaving elements of historical and contemporary French life with a centuries-old cold case about a real, 18th-century composer.
Setting
The story begins in the present day at Belton University, located in the American Midwest, in autumn. The primary setting quickly shifts to France, centering on the picturesque, fictional town of Lavaloire in the Loire Valley.
Key locations here include Cici’s historic 18th-century house, the local brasserie, and the ancient Château de Lavaloire. The narrative also features extensive scenes in Paris, exploring iconic landmarks such as the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opéra Garnier, the Eiffel Tower, and the Palace of Versailles, creating a rich tapestry of French culture, history, and art.
Themes & Motifs
- Finding Your Voice: The most prominent theme is the journey of rediscovering one’s purpose and means of expression. Adrienne, having lost her ability to play viola professionally, seeks a new path through music history. Her journey culminates in her playing music again, not as a career but for love. This is mirrored by Jean-David, a writer who struggles to write with “soul” until he confronts his past trauma, ultimately finding his professional and emotional voice.
- Past and Present Intertwined: The story constantly weaves historical elements into the contemporary plot. Pierre Leclair’s 18th-century journal serves as a direct catalyst for the plot, with its family rivalries mirroring the Pearson sisters’ own dynamics. The settings—from ancient castles to the restored Notre Dame—act as portals to the past, forcing characters to reckon with history to understand their present and future.
- Overcoming Personal Fortresses: Both protagonists have built emotional walls to protect themselves. Jean-David lives as a recluse in his “fortress” (the old castle, his quiet life) to avoid the pain of his parents’ death. Adrienne feels walled off by her injury. Their relationship is the key to dismantling these fortresses, symbolized by Jean-David finally sharing his beloved castle with her and overcoming his fear of flying.
- Light: The recurring motif of sunflowers turning toward the light reinforces this theme of seeking hope and openness. As the settings progress, they become more open and light themselves, for example Versailles in comparison to the Medieval Chateaux.