Having earned her chef's hat, Lexi Stuart bids au revoir to her glamorous and deliciously satisfying pastry mentorship outside of Paris and returns to her hometown of Seattle, Washington. There, she finds life unexpectedly complicated. She's put in charge of a high-end catering bakery called Bijoux, which should be her dream job, but there's a catch: She has to make this lavish bakery into a successful business in just a few, short months, which will require more than her ability to make an amazing wedding cake. In over her head and at a loss for creative marketing ideas, Lexi isn't sure what this recipe for success needs to be. Stir in a complicated relationship with her French beau Philippe and his daughter, Celine, then add a dash of romance with down-to-earth lawyer Dan, and life suddenly contains more ooh la la than Lexi can handle.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Robin Bayne (Maryland), October 19, 2009
A delicious journey of love, career and caring. Lexi is a wonderful heroine who has her feet on the ground and her baked goods in the oven. Don't read this book on an empty stomach or a low-carb diet.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Patsy Oshea (Mchenry, IL), October 13, 2009
I had great expectations prior to reading the last book in Sandra Byrd’s French twist series Piece de Résistance. To put it simply I was not disappointed. Sandra once again filled Lexi Stuart’s life with suspense and unexpected adventures. I would compare her French twist series to eating French pastry it takes at least three pieces to be completely satisfied.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by B. Salzer (Liberty, MO), October 12, 2009
This third book in the French Twist series truly is the piece de resistance. Sandra Byrd has struck just the right balance between fun and conflict in the life of Lexi Stuart. Without being heavyhanded, she has showcased attitudes that can either help or hinder a lasting relationship.
I felt like I was right there with Lexi through the different situations she found herself in. This is a character we can relate to. I very much enjoyed this book and absolutely LOVED the way it ended. Excellent work, Sandra!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sherilyn (Texas), October 09, 2009
If you have not had the pleasure of reading this book or any of the books in this series, it is a must! I'm so glad that I was unexpectedly given the first book (Let Them Eat Cake) in this series. You will fall in love with the characters in this series, and want to follow them along. The only thing disappointing is coming to the end and finishing the book. You won't be ready for it to end!
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko (Kalispell), October 06, 2009
I read the book before this as well as this one. I have to say when I finished the other book, I figured the story would go a certain way, and this book took it a whole different direction than I thought. It seemed sort of like life to me, you think "Wow, things are going this way!!" You are excited and then God takes you down a whole other path! Sandra makes you hungry once again in this novel of French baking, sprinkled with the French language and assorted recipes. You start craving cake as Lexi struggles through working with a co-worker that is not all that easy, romance issues and a business that needs some help to survive, along with sometimes a lack of confidence in her skills. A fun light romantic read, with romance coming from other directions than you thought, this is one when you really don't want to think and just enjoy!
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christy Lockstein (Oconto Falls, WIsconsin), October 05, 2009
Pièce de Résistance by Sandra Byrd is the third and final volume in the French Twist series following Lexi Stuart in her quest to become successful in work and love. It picks up immediately after Bon Appetit with Lexi returning home from Paris to Seattle to start a pastry and wedding cake shop, Bijoux, under the Delacroix family banner. Torn between the affections of her suave French boss Philippe and his adorable daughter Celine and all-American lawyer Dan, Lexi isn't sure which mans holds the key to her future, but before she can fall in love, she has to make her business a success, despite working with Philippe's cranky sister, Margot, as well as finding her place in God's community. Byrd's writing should come with a warning label; I'm sure I gained ten pounds just reading about all of the delectable treats she describes with such care. Her romance is fresh and without cliches. Lexi focuses on the book of Philippians in her reading, giving readers a taste of its powerful message as well. I can't wait to see Byrd's next project.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Deborah (Reston, VA), October 05, 2009
What I love about this series is that it combines everything I love in just one story. There's the chick lit style of writing. Then there is the talk of travel to places I've always wanted to visit. Next there is the glorious food that thankfully does not cause you to gain weight from reading about it. Finally, the wonderful characters that keep you enthralled and always wanting more. In this installment, Lexi returns to Seattle from her experience as a chef in Paris. Now back at home, she is given the opportunity to run her own bakery. Of course things don't run as smoothly as hoped and Lexi must struggle with her dreams as well as being practical. Reading this book was like watching Ace of Cakes with a French kick. It's filled with wonderful pastries, cakes and all sorts of delectable treats. Lexi is a character I would love to know in real life. Her experiences throughout the series have been fun to read and it's been a delight to watch her fulfill her dreams.
The romance in this story was really great as well. I don't know how Lexi was able to make her final choice between the two men. Of course there were little situations that helped out this dilemma but otherwise it would have been incredibly difficult to pick between the two of them. I also really liked her relationship with Philippe's daughter. It's very sweet. There is absolutely no fault with this book other that I am really really sad that this is the last book in the series. I feel as if I've really gotten to know Lexi and about baking and the French culture through these stories. You must be careful not to be around food while reading this book or you will find the pages of the book covered in crumbs. If you are looking for a chick lit book, are a foodie, or love to travel, then this series is absolutely perfect for you. This book has inspired me to go find a bakery, preferably a French bakery and indulge in at least one item mentioned in this book. VERY HIGHLY recommended.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by CKendall (Burlington, NC), October 02, 2009
Well, it’s a happy day and a sad day. A happy day because I just finished reading Piece de Resistance and I loved it. It’s a sad day because now the French Twist series is all over. I have loved this series since the very beginning and I will miss these characters and all the wonderful cakes!
Piece de Resistance was everything I hoped it would be and more. There were some delightful surprises and adorable new characters. All the loose ends were tied up and the book ended exactly the way I was hoping it would.
I was afraid that this book, being the last in the series, might seem rushed and that there might be too much tension between Lexi and her beaus. This was just simply not the case. The book, the writing, the characters, the story, all had a nice natural flow that made for a wonderfully light, relaxing read.
If Piece de Resistance sounds like a book you would enjoy, take my advice and read the entire French Twist series from the beginning. You can follow Piece de Resistance just fine without reading the other books, but they are all so good, you don’t want to miss any of them. This has been one of my favorite series and Piece de Resistance did not let me down one bit, a wonderful way to finish a wonderful series. Enjoy!
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