We lost a beloved family member and my husband started to question what we were doing with our lives. So when I saw the subtitle “In Pursuit of the Rural Dream”, I thought this would be the perfect read as I’m cooped up at home. A land where people apparently say 'Oh là là' every five minutes and eat frogs’ legs at a drop of a hat (or beret).

Imagine sitting out on the field every day, come rain or shine, and just taking in this beauty, day-in and day-out. Country people in France, as in other countries, tend to be kinder and more helpful, often with a truculent sense of humour.

I laughed out loud (Chapter 9: Madame Merde and Chapter Chapter 16: Animal Magic) and cried a little bit (Chapter 13: In which life will never be the same again). I already had my house of horrors in rural France which was meant to be a holiday home but I stopped visiting because I was working almost non-stop. Throughout this enthralling book you will, like me, fall in love with the North of France, the Seven Valleys region, its coastline, seaside and country villages, the gastronomy, its people and so much more. I think what shines through is that she is one of those rare people who can entirely uproot a life, leave behind the corporate dream and still make a tremendous success professionally as well as in creating a peaceful lifestyle. I began by listening to French radio online and watching films and TV in French with English subtitles.

Janine's affection for France, particularly the region where she lives and her enjoyment of the life she and her husband have created is what makes reading about it an uplifting experience. We go beyond the guidebooks to bring you secret Paris – where every street corner has a story to share. Marsh, who had worked for years to rise from secretary to bank vice president - with another promotion imminent - agonized over the decision.

For me it was interesting to read how one of my favourite online magazines came to be The Good Life France, and I can imagine it will be an inspiration to those out there who want to do what Janine did, turn her back on a very successful career, only to develop another one in totally different surroundings, living the good life in France. This is the true story of her rollercoaster ride, in many ways a love story, with her sharp observation on the very different way of life, culture and etiquette of France.

This book isn’t just a wonderful way to enjoy experiencing someone else’s life in another country, or your adopted country if you, like me are an English expat, it is a way to get a real feel for what living in France is really like – warts and all. How many of us have dreamed about having a second home in another country to escape the hustle and bustle of urban reality and enjoy the sweet life in a country setting? There are times when France smells better than any place on earth…the boulangerie early in the morning when the baguettes are still warm, sun-soaked lavender in July, the cheesy blast that hits you over the head in a Michelin restaurant when the server rolls back the cover of the chariot de fromages.I enjoy being a contributor to The Good Life France and getting to know Janine and the other contributors. When you’ve ticked off those must-see sites on your list – the Palace of Versailles, Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, a dazzling little island that makes you feel you have stepped back centuries, the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum and the sun-kissed French Riviera, the boulevards of Paris and the majestic castles of the Loire Valley - there are a million more thrilling sites and places to discover – prehistoric caves, troglodyte villages, the steep cobbled streets of Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, the medieval town of Annecy in Haute-Savoie and Claude Monet’s house and garden in Giverny, Normandy. I want something light yet intelligent, not gooey but meaningful, and loaded with local-color, and this book had my interest with that. Please like, comment and share, every action on your part helps us out tremendously and is very much appreciated.

It’s also the little moments: finding a jazz band playing in a cosy café or in a cobblestone alley, the smell of fresh pastries from a boulangerie – there are more than 1700 in Paris, so you’ve got a lot of choice - or a sunset view from the bridges over the Seine. Read more about the condition New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages.If you’ve ever dreamed of discovering “the real France,” you won’t want to miss this delightful book. It doesn't matter where you live or what lifestyle you choose if you've got the right kind of appreciation of it.