Passion for Provence: A Memoir of Love, Laughter, and Life in the South of France (The Belle Vie Series)

Falling for France wasn’t part of our Mediterranean honeymoon agenda… But that’s how this true French adventure begins in alluring Provence during a blissful week in May. Pale rosé, languid lunches on a sun-dappled terrace, and a dash of reckless abandon may have been to blame.

And so, Americans Gayle and her husband, Ralph, leap into a long-distance love affair with the captivating country. While living and working in Germany, they enjoy La Belle France on weekend getaways across the border and extended holidays in Provence, an eight-hour drive away.

Two decades and many beguiling visits later, they finally launch a quest for a nest in Provence. Despite a lack of French skills and connections, the couple plunges full-time into French life. Through a series of faux pas and lucky encounters, they unlock intriguing mysteries, including France’s food-first policy and dependence on Gallic shrugs.

With self-deprecating humor and quirky candor, the author reveals secrets to shaping a life in a charming patch of Provence that becomes home-sweet-home.

This delightful memoir will transport you to the South of France and, chances are, inspire dreams of an enchanting sojourn or, just maybe, a longer stay.