Light Through the Vines (Escape to France) Paperback – September 1, 2022

I love this author. After reading a goodly portion of this book with nothing really happening, I wonder why I keep reading. Usually once the first few paragraphs in a book are read and nothing is riveting, I quit. So I ask myself why I am still reading. It’s because I love how this writer uses words. Descriptive words going into detail tend to bore me, but she has a way of making things come alive, sneaking in funny ways of saying things. I’ve just discovered her and have read only 2 of her’s but I’m heading on to the third. This book has made me happy.

Fiona Valpy’s Escape to France series includes three books:Light Through the VinesThe Recipe for HopeThe Seasons of DreamsThese books are light reading, enjoyable, and romantic but not sappy and mindless. Each follow a similar format: British woman gets jilted, goes to France (or already lives in a Chateaux in France), and falls in love with a handsome, local French guy. Happy endings all around. The books also deal with relevant issues: a wedding venue and the various flavors of weddings, a stillborn baby with the sadness and depression accompanying that loss, losing one’s father, aunt, job and boyfriend. Nice stories. It was hard to tell the correct reading order of these three books. The publication order doesn’t correspond to the story-order. Light Through the Vines would be first because Thomas hasn’t met/married Sara yet. Eliane and Mireille from the the earlier WWII novels (Dressmaker’s Gift and Beekeeper’s Promise) re-appear and make the stories more interesting. Overall, lovely stories making me wish I lived in the French countryside.

I really enjoyed reading this book I read it in less than a day was it a long book but it was well written I love this author. I liked it because it didn’t have any cuss words in it no F bombs which was wonderful and no details sex scenes which was refreshing. Yes I may sound old-fashioned but it was just a nice book to read and it made you feel good when you got done reading it. Well written.

What a fabulous read. The characters, the setting,the storytelling and of course family and love! Difficult to put it down!!

I wanted to love this one as much as the first novel in the series but it didn’t work for me. Very predictable characters and situations.That’s all I have.

I've just finished the last book in the series and I can't help but think they should have been read in reverse order. Still, I enjoyed them and appreciated the narration when I couldn't actually read. Highly recommend 👍

Another journey through wine, families,drama, delightful scenery among the vineyards of France.Delicious French cuisine takes you to your own kitchen to try various recipes.

It's a lovely, wine, nature and love filled escape to France. If you're looking for an uplifting story about starting over in life.

I liked the fact plot

A fabulous book, the author draws you into the book, & you can feel you to see in France. The whole series are truly delightful. I've already recommended them to a friend.

Gina lascia una vita insoddisfacente e approda in Francia, nel cottage che una carissima zia le ha lasciato in eredità. I lettori di Fiona Valpy ritroveranno dei vecchi amici leggendo con piacere questo libro

Amazing book. So easy to read and the author transports you to the French countryside lined with vineyards and stone cottages

A well written and researched book that takes you off to the vineyards of France and immerses you in the French culture.