Fiona Valpy

The Dressmaker's Gift

Heartbroken and hoping for a new start, Abi Howes takes a summer job in rural France at the Château Bellevue. The old château echoes with voices from the past, and soon Abi finds herself drawn to one remarkable woman's story, a story that could change the course of her summer--and her life. In 1938, Eliane Martin tends beehives in the garden of the beautiful Château Bellevue. In its shadow she meets Mathieu Dubosq and falls in love for the first time, daring to hope that a happy future awaits. But France's eastern border is darkening under the clouds of war, and history has other plans for Eliane... When she is separated from Mathieu in the chaos of German occupation, Eliane makes the dangerous decision to join the Resistance and fight for France's liberty. But with no end to the war in sight, her loyalty to Mathieu is severely tested. From the bestselling author of Sea of Memories comes the story of two remarkable women, generations apart, who must use adversity to their advantage and find the resilience deep within.

The Beekeeper's Promise

In this evocative tale from the bestselling author of The Dressmaker's Gift, a strange new city offers a young girl hope. Can it also offer a lost soul a second chance? Morocco, 1941. With France having fallen to Nazi occupation, twelve-year-old Jewish girl Josie has fled with her family to Casablanca, where they await safe passage to America. Life here is as intense as the sun, every sight, smell and sound overwhelming to the senses in a city filled with extraordinary characters. It's a world away from the trouble back home--and Josie loves it. Seventy years later, another new arrival in the intoxicating port city, Zoe, is struggling--with her marriage, her baby daughter and her new life as an expat in an unfamiliar place. But when she discovers a small wooden box and a diary from the 1940s beneath the floorboards of her daughter's bedroom, Zoe enters the inner world of young Josie, who once looked out on the same view of the Atlantic Ocean, but who knew a very different Casablanca. It's not long before Zoe begins to see her adopted city through Josie's eyes. But can a new perspective help her turn tragedy into hope, and find the comfort she needs to heal her broken heart?

The Storyteller of Casablanca

When Kendra first visits her ailing grandmother, Ella has only one request: that Kendra write her story down, before she forgets... In 1937, seventeen-year-old Ella's life changes forever when she is sent to spend the summer on the beautiful �le de R� and meets the charismatic, creative Christophe. They spend the summer together, exploring the island's sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, and, for the first time in her life, Ella feels truly free. But the outbreak of war casts everything in a new light. Ella is forced to return to Scotland, where she volunteers for the war effort alongside the dashing Angus. In this new world, Ella feels herself drifting further and further from who she was on the �le de R�. Can she ever find her way back? And does she want to? From the windswept �le de R� to the rugged hills of Scotland, Sea of Memories is a spellbinding journey about the power of memory, love and second chances.

Sea of Memories

Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper's daughter Flora's remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy's Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird's son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed. Decades later, Flora's daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home. Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother--and the hostile-seeming village itself--have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew. As she pieces together the fragments of her parents' story, Lexie discovers the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name. It's too late to rekindle her relationship with her mother, but can Lexie find it in her heart to forgive the past, to grieve for all that's lost, and finally find her place in the world?

The Skylark's Secret

Henrietta Meire

Beekeeper's Promise, The

Like a glass of wine in the French afternoon sunshine - The French for Love is the perfect summer escape. Fans of Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews, Kate Forster or Erica James - and everyone who enjoyed Nick Alexander's The French House - will love Fiona Valpy. Gina has lost her perfect job, her boyfriend and her favourite aunt all within the space of a few months. So when she inherits her aunt's ramshackle French house, Gina decides to pack her bags for the Bordeaux countryside - swapping the miserable English weather for blue skies, sunshine, great wine and a fresh start. What she hasn't factored in is a hole in the roof, the most embarrassing language faux pas, and discovering family secrets that she was never supposed to know. Suddenly feeling a long way from home, Gina will have to rely on new found friends, her own hard work and Cedric - her charming, mysterious and tres handsome new stonemason. But whilst desire needs no translation, love is a different matter. Can Gina overcome the language barrier to make her French dream come true?

The French for Love

The Cypress Maze

In this charming novel from the bestselling author of The Dressmaker's Gift, food was once the language of Evie's soul. Now, can she remember the recipe for happiness? Evie's running away: from her soon-to-be ex-husband's shiny new life, from the devastating loss of her baby last year, from a memory-filled London and, most particularly, from Christmas. A remote cottage in the South of France seems like the perfect peaceful place to soothe her sorrows. But the countryside soon proves anything but quiet, from the rooster crowing at dawn to the barn owl hooting through the night--not to mention Evie's handsome neighbour, doctor Didier, who works away in his garage at all hours. Unexpectedly, the sights and sounds of life amid the sparkling beauty of the Dordogne give Evie a renewed sense of inspiration, and with her French grandmother's recipe book for company, she begins to rediscover her love of cooking. Soon, the tight-knit community begins to enfold her, reminding Evie what really matters in life. But are Didier's gorgeous blue eyes on more than Evie's delicious dinners? And can a cancelled Christmas--complete with a Not-Christmas feast for two--heal her heart?

The Recipe for Hope

When her friends offer Evie their French cottage for the Christmas season, she plans to use her French grandmother's notebook of recipes to bake herself back to happiness. The neighbor proves to be the perfect taste tester, but can he be more?

The French for Christmas

Light Through the Vines

Bästsäljande författare som älskas av läsare över hela världen. Två kvinnor i olika tider tvingas vända motgångar till styrka och hitta sin inre motståndskraft. Med krossat hjärta beger sig Abi till den franska landsbygden och ett sommarjobb på ett gammalt slott. Slottet ekar av röster från det förflutna och snart dras Abi in i en kvinnas berättelse som kan förändra hela hennes liv. Sjuttio år tidigare, år 1938, sköter Eliane bikuporna i slottets trädgård. Där möter hon Mathieu och blir kär för första gången. Men hennes framtidsplaner ändras när kriget drar in över Frankrike. När hon separeras från Mathieu under den tyska ockupationen beslutar hon sig för att gå med i motståndsrörelsen, men utan ett krigsslut i sikte blir hennes lojalitet gentemot honom hårt testad ...

Biodlarens löfte

Solo il cuore ha il coraggio di perdonare il passato Scozia, 1940. Da quando Loch Ewe, remoto paesino scozzese, è diventato la base per i convogli artici della Royal Navy, la piccola comunità locale ha dovuto assistere a profondi mutamenti. E anche la vita di Flora, figlia del guardiacaccia, sta per essere sconvolta. Il figlio del Lord, infatti, nonostante la disapprovazione del padre, si è innamorato di lei e la tensione tra le due famiglie sembra destinata a distruggere ogni speranza di felicità. Sono passati decenni da allora. La figlia di Flora, la cantante Lexie Gordon, è costretta a tornare al paese e al piccolo cottage dove è cresciuta. Fugge dai riflettori abbaglianti di Londra, e scopre con sorpresa di sentirsi finalmente a casa. Ma il paesino costiero, così come sua madre, nasconde dei segreti. Segreti in grado di mettere in dubbio tutto ciò che Lexie pensava di sapere. Mentre ricompone i frammenti della storia dei genitori, Lexie scopre i coraggiosi e devastanti sacrifici fatti in suo nome. Può darsi sia troppo tardi per recuperare il rapporto con la madre, ma forse Lexie può trovare la forza per superare il passato e guardare finalmente al futuro. Besteller in Inghilterra in meno di una settimana dall’uscita Il nuovo romanzo di un’autrice da oltre 1 milione di copie Tradotta in 20 lingue «Un’indimenticabile storia d’amore, di guerra, di perdita e di riscoperta, ambientata nel suggestivo scenario delle Highlands.» Gill Paul, autrice del bestseller La figlia perduta «L’ho amato, amato e amato. Adoro la Scozia e questa storia fantastica è riuscita a catturarmi completamente: emozionante e commovente. La ricostruzione storica è minuziosa e l’autrice è riuscita a rendere viva ogni descrizione. Mi sono venuti i brividi.» Lesley Pearce, autrice del bestseller Senza guardarsi indietro «Un romanzo nel quale immergersi, tra madri e figlie, amanti e amici, e sullo sfondo una incantevole località scozzese. Ho amato questo libro!» Victoria Connelly, autrice del bestseller The Rose Girls Fiona Valpy Inglese di nascita, ha vissuto sette anni in Francia dove, insieme alla famiglia, ha ristrutturato una grande casa di campagna, nei vigneti di Bordeaux, prima di trasferirsi di nuovo in Gran Bretagna. Questa esperienza ha ispirato tutti i suoi romanzi, bestseller tradotti in 20 lingue. La Newton Compton ha pubblicato La custode dei profumi perduti, Il segreto della sarta di Parigi e Il profumo segreto del mare.

Il profumo segreto del mare

La custode dei profumi perduti

Five weddings. The perfect venue. One little hitch... Leaving the grey skies of home behind to transform a crumbling French Chateau into a boutique wedding venue is a huge leap of faith for Sara. She and fiance Gavin sink their life savings into the beautiful Chateau Bellevue - set under blue skies and surrounded by vineyards in the heart of Bordeaux. After months' of hard work, the dream starts to become a reality - until Gavin walks out halfway through their first season. Overnight, Sara is left very much alone with the prospect of losing everything. With her own heart breaking, Sara has five weddings before the end of the season to turn the business around and rescue her dreams. With the help of the locals and a little courage, can she save Chateau Bellevue before the summer is over?

The French for Always

När Kendra för första gången besöker sin sjuka mormor Ella har hon bara en begäran: att Kendra ska skriva ner hennes historia innan hon glömmer. År 1937 förändras sjuttonåriga Ellas liv för alltid när hon skickas till vackra Île de Ré över sommaren och träffar den karismatiska Christophe. De förälskar sig och utforskar öns sandstränder och klara vatten, och för första gången i sitt liv känner Ella sig fri och lycklig. Men när kriget kommer förändras allt. Ella tvingas återvända till Skottland och hon känner att hon kommer längre och längre från den hon var på Île de Ré. Kan hon någonsin hitta tillbaka? Och vill hon det? ”Ett hav av minnen” är en starkt berörande berättelse om minnets kraft, kärlek och om andra chanser.

Ett hav av minnen

Ella is zeventien als ze voor het eerst van Edinburgh naar Frankrijk komt. Ze zou het liefst daar blijven maar de plannen die zij en haar naasten maken, worden verwoest door de Tweede Wereldoorlog.

Een zomer lang geleden

Abi probeert op een kasteel in Frankrijk haar leven weer op de rails te krijgen en wordt geïnspireerd door het verhaal van Elaine die tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog ook op het kasteel verbleef.

Elianes belofte

Die Liebenden von der Île de Ré. Edinburgh, 2014: Kendras autistischer Sohn hat Probleme, sich in der Welt zurechtzufinden, und darüber gerät ihre Ehe in die Krise. Dann bittet ihre Großmutter Ella, deren Erinnerungen allmählich verloren gehen, sie darum, diese für sie niederzuschreiben. Schon bald fragt sich Kendra, ob der Grund für ihre schwierige Familiengeschichte in Ellas Vergangenheit liegt. Frankreich, 1937: Ella verbringt den Sommer an der französischen Atlantikküste. Sie lernt den Franzosen Christophe kennen und will mit ihm leben. Doch dann bricht der Krieg aus, und zurück in Schottland erreichen sie Neuigkeiten von Christophe, die ihre Pläne zunichtemachen. Lange Zeit später erhält sie dann einen Brief, der alles in Frage stellt, was Ella sich inzwischen aufgebaut hat... Eine mutige Frau vor der Frage, welches Opfer sie für ihre große Liebe zu bringen bereit ist.

Roman

Die Sommer meines Lebens

Tři dívky a Paříž… Město lásky a krásy, tenkrát ale temné, zahalené ponurou šedí nacistické okupace. Tři dívky žijící své životy ve válečné Paříži a skrývající svá tajemství. Tajemství, jež je spojovala, tajemství, jež je rozdělovala… A po mnoha a mnoha desítkách let přijíždí do Paříže vnučka jedné z těch dívek z oněch časů. Přijíždí, aby uchopila do rukou vlastní život, aby se dozvěděla, kým je, jaké jsou její kořeny. Začíná pronikat pod povrch a chápat, že svět je mnohem složitější, než si myslela. Připomíná ty stařičké šaty z hedvábí barvy půlnoční modři – jenom když se díváte opravdu zblízka, pochopíte, že jsou sešité z útržků a hadříků…

Fiona Valpy

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