Ten years ago, Janine Marsh decided to leave her corporate life behind to fix up a run-down barn in northern France. This is the true story of her rollercoaster ride.

-- Full of information on seeking, buying and developing property abroad -- Includes details on real-estate agents, renovation, utilities and home security

"On a tiny French island, a couple of American dreamers redefine their lives by restoring a ruin...The French House moves to a soulful, very funny rhythm all its own."—Meryl Streep Don and Mindy Wallace have always been Francophiles, so when they had the opportunity to buy a home on a small French island off the coast of Brittany, they jumped—sight unseen—into a crumbling mess that challenged their finances and their family. But when the Wallaces arrived on the island they found a building in ruin, and it wasn't long before their lives resembled it. Plagued by emergency repairs, a stock market crash, and very exasperated French neighbors, Don and Mindy could have accepted their fate. Instead, they embraced it. Redolent with the beauty and flavors of French country life, The French House is a lively, inspiring, and irresistibly charming memoir. Fans of Under the Tuscan Sun (Frances Mayes), Paris in Love (Eloisa James), and A Year in Provence (Peter Mayle) will be enchanted by this account of a family that rises from the rubble, wins the hearts of a historic village, and finally finds the home they've been seeking off the wild coast of France. What readers are saying about The French House "The French House is engaging and well-written and will make even non-Francophiles yearn for a trip to France." "With hauntingly beautiful descriptions of a tiny French island and its inhabitants, this book will take you to a different place, and might even inspire you to reconsider your life and finally follow your dreams where you and your family can become whole." "...charming and witty -- full of hope and despair about this crumbling structure they chose to inhabit and make a home." "I was captivated from the outset and felt like I was on their island living it all with them. A great read!" What reviewers are saying about The French House "Don Wallace has crafted a delicious French bonbon of a book...full of humor, hope, and lessons on how to live a life full of meaning."—Dani Shapiro, bestselling author of Devotion and Still Writing "Village life vignettes, the sensual celebration of island pleasures, eccentric neighbors, cuisine, beach life, natural history—readers will find a smattering of all that in these pages, but it's the story below, like the unshakeable foundations of the house itself, that makes this such a satisfying read."—Rain Taxi Review "The French House is a darling book that mixes local history, memoir, quirky characters, architectural challenges (what will the village elders do if they add windows to the second floor?) and humor...It was a lovely adventure and perfect for a summer read."—Under a Gray Sky "The French House is a detailed, delightful memoir of their journey to restore a dilapidated abode into a beckoning sanctuary in an idyllic coast French countryside.. I have thoroughly been devouring it, and I think you will too."—The Simply Luxurious Life "Author Don Wallace shares the heartwarming story about his family's 30-year journey to restore a ruined cottage on the tiny French island of Belle Ile off the coast of Brittany... readers are privy to the charming true story of a family's journey to create the perfect home away from home."--E! News

Straightforward, practical and independent advice on a broad range of subjects related to French property, based on my own personal experience. This includes choices about buying and renting, the costs and intricacies of the legal processes, and how to avoid some of the pitfalls.

Bestselling author and world-renowned chef David Lebovitz continues to mine the rich subject of his evolving ex-Pat life in Paris, using his perplexing experiences in apartment renovation as a launching point for stories about French culture, food, and what it means to revamp one's life. Includes dozens of new recipes. When David Lebovitz began the project of updating his apartment in his adopted home city, he never imagined he would encounter so much inexplicable red tape while contending with perplexing work ethic and hours. Lebovitz maintains his distinctive sense of humor with the help of his partner Romain, peppering this renovation story with recipes from his Paris kitchen. In the midst of it all, he reveals the adventure that accompanies carving out a place for yourself in a foreign country—under baffling conditions—while never losing sight of the magic that inspired him to move to the City of Light many years ago, and to truly make his home there.

More and more people are buying property in France. The climate, culture and lifestyle make it a seductive proposition, and affordable travel connections and comparatively low property prices in most regions can make this dream a reality for many. The new edition of this popular book deals with the details of buying or renting a home in France in a practical, straight-forward style. Every aspect of buying property is dealt with, including financial issues and choosing a location, and there is an in-depth look at the different regions of France. With maps, useful addresses, information on travel and a dictionary of helpful French terms, this really is the ideal companion for anyone considering buying a property in France. Comprehensive and readable, it will help any prospective buyer avoid the pitfalls and turning the dream of a home in France into reality.

Completely revised and updated with new material, this second edition provides detailed information on purchasing property in France, with specific information on different regions of France and types of property. CONTENTS: Why France? - where and what to buy - renting a property and timeshare - settling in France - financial matters - the purchase process - building and buying a property under construction - your property as a gite business - setting up a business in France - business taxation and insurance in France - the Internet About the author Clive Kristen has detailed personal experience of buying and renting a property in France and extensive knowledge of the French legal system.

Poignant, touching, and lively, this memoir of a woman who loses her mother and creates a new life for herself in Paris will speak to anyone who has lost a parent or reinvented themselves. Lisa Anselmo wrapped her entire life around her mother, a strong woman who was a defining force in her daughter’s life—maybe too defining. When her mother dies from breast cancer, Lisa realizes she hadn’t built a life of her own, and struggles to find her purpose. Who is she without her mother—and her mother’s expectations? Desperate for answers, she reaches for a lifeline in the form of an apartment in Paris, refusing to play it safe for the first time. What starts out as a lurching act of survival sets Lisa on a course that reshapes her life in ways she never could have imagined. But how can you imagine a life bigger than anything you’ve ever known? In the vein of Eat, Pray, Love and Wild, My (Part-time) Paris Life a story is for anyone who’s ever felt lost or hopeless, but still holds out hope of something more. This candid memoir explores one woman’s search for peace and meaning, and how the ups and downs of expat life in Paris taught her to let go of fear, find self-worth, and create real, lasting happiness.

Practical advice on how to enjoy the unique benefits and avoid the pitfalls of investing in real estate abroad In the current uncertain investment climate, foreign real estate represents a more important opportunity than ever before, for both the investor who wants to move a portion of their wealth abroad and the retiree looking for affordable living options. How to Buy Real Estate Overseas explains one of the best options available today for diversification, asset protection, and a safe haven for wealth. Foreign property is a hard asset that, unlike stocks, for example, can't go bankrupt and collapse to zero. This book is an expert guide to the advantages and the challenges of investing in real estate overseas. Author Kathleen Peddicord, an American currently based in Panama, is considered the world's foremost authority on overseas retirement and foreign property investment. She has traveled to more than 50 countries, invested in real estate in 18, established businesses in 7, renovated historic properties in 6, and educated her children in 4. She knows from personal experience how foreign real estate can appreciate significantly over time, throw off an annual cash flow, and provide personal enjoyment for you and your family. An investment in a piece of real estate in a foreign country is a chance for both profit and fun. How to Buy Real Estate Overseas offers practical advice on how to find great deals, buy and manage property profitably in unfamiliar and potentially volatile foreign markets.

Entertaining at home in gracious French style. Born from her experience of everyday living in France, Sharon Santoni reveals the gracious, easy French way of entertaining guests at her countryside home, year-round. Personal stories evoke the spirit of the French lifestyle, while gorgeous photos make us feel right at home. Santoni creates lush bouquets from her garden and utilizes resources from surrounding nature to lay gorgeous tables both indoors and outdoors. Venues range from a Sunday morning breakfast on the patio, to a ladies lunch in her lush garden, a formal dinner in her dining room, and a picnic by the river. Santoni also shares 15 favorite recipes utilizing seasonal foods. Find inspiration for your tables throughout the seasons, and discover the simple pleasure of entertaining friends and family. Sharon Santoni writes the popular blog My French Country Home. She is the author of My Stylish French Girlfriends (Gibbs Smith). She resides in Normandy, France.