Overview

From Ann Bennett, bestselling author of The Orphan House, comes The Lake Villa, a spellbinding story of one woman's journey to uncover long-buried secrets in French Indochina. Perfect for fans of Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop. Indochina 1939, Colette, a young French woman, falls in love with Henri Bossière the Chief Curator of the mysterious temple, Angkor Wat, in Cambodia. She starts a new life with him in an idyllic villa perched on the edge the great lake of Tonlé Sap. But the second world war intervenes, sweeping away her world and leaving tragedy in its wake. After the war, Colette attempts to rebuild her life, finding a friend in Luc Gilbert, Henri's former deputy - a man with dark secrets. When Luc is made to leave Cambodia under a cloud, Colette is left to pick up the pieces and discovers his shocking truths. In 1975 when the Khmer Rouge sweep through Cambodia, Colette is forced to return to France and leave everything behind. Two decades later, as the country is opening up, she returns to find answers to long-buried secrets and to track down two women from her past - Achariya, her Cambodian friend and housekeeper, and Sophia, a young woman with beautiful, restless eyes. However, is Colette prepared for the unsettling truths she uncovers along the way... Praise for Ann Bennett ""Brilliant: I loved this book and believed in the characters immediately...Didn't want it to finish and several hours after reading the last line, it's still going round in my head. Great book!"" Five Stars Amazon reviewer ""I raced through this book in just over twenty-four hours. I literally could not put it down...' Bibilobeth Goodreads ""Unputdownable: This was an engrossing read. I love how Ann Bennett crafts a story. Highly recommended."" Five Stars. Amazon reviewer. ""Fabulous!!!!!! One of the very best books I've read! Really keeps your interests piqued... Absolutely loved, loved, this story!"" Five Stars. Goodreads reviewer

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9781739100995

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Reviews

Difficult times, beautiful story. As with the first two books I read in this series, I was totally immersed in the setting. When Ann Bennett describes the vibrancy of the foliage and that unique quality of sunlight surrounding Angkor Wat, I was there. This book is part historical fiction, part travelogue, and part mystery, addressing the harsh reality of colonialism followed by the barbaric Khmer Rouge. The author perfectly describes the angst of all ex-pats, no matter where they live. I've been waiting for this book release and it was worth the wait...pure escapismAnother wonderful book hard to put down book. Five Stars - Amazon Reviewer Another wonderful book - hard to put down How I love Ann Bennetts books this one is just as good as all the others. It tells of Collete who marries an archaeologist and comes to live in Cambodia a very volatile place to live. The book is well written as always and was a joy to read. - Five Stars - Amazon Reviewer Escape to Cambodia Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 March 2023Yet again, another great book from Ann Bennett, this time set in Cambodia. Pure escapism and detailed descriptions made this a book I found very hard to put down. We follow the main character, Colette, at different stages of her life in Cambodia as the story comes together to a very satisfying ending. Colette is portrayed both as a young woman and a more mature one and I felt great empathy for her. This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a few hours of reading pleasure.- Five Stars - Amazon Reviewer

Author Information

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway. Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club and The Amulet are also about WWII in South East Asia, all six making up the Echoes of Empire Collection. Ann is also the author of The Lake Pavilion, The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, both set in French Indochina. The Runaway Sisters, bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are published by Bookouture. Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details please visit www.annbennettauthor.co

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