Seventeen-year-old Nicole dreams of spending the rest of her life with her boyfriend Nate. So when she finds herself on her way to Paris to study abroad without him, she's less than thrilled. Paris is filled with cars that move at the speed of light, edible snails, and a language that Nicole can't speak or read. Worst of all, Nicole feels lost without Nate. She's not sure she's capable of finding joie de vivre on her own, but with the help of some new friends-and a certain handsome Frenchman- Nicole might find Paris as sweet as a café au lait after all.

Cathy Hapka has written more than one hundred books for children and young adults. At home on her small farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, she enjoys reading and writing, horseback riding, animals of all kinds, gardening, and music.