Tout Sweet Hanging Up My High Heels for a New Life in France

I was expecting a story about moving to France and trying to fit in with local life, learning new customs, battling with French red tape, becoming more fluent, etc etc but here, all we have is a story of a lady who moves to France and then proceeds to look for a partner, lover, husband. This could have taken place anywhere on earth. I can’t find anything to equal Michael Wright's “C’est la folie”.

I've had a hectic few months and really needed something light to read. I occasionally dip into chic lic and certainly enjoy 'running away from it all books'. This was just what I needed and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It starts with a heartbreak and an impulsive purchase of a property in France. It's not quite a run away from it all, as karen is a freeland journo/writer and therefore she should in theory be able to earn a living no matter where she lives. She has a lovely style of writing and I certainly wanted her to find love again. I did have a couple of minor gripes. Karen (initially ) appeared rather shallow ( at least she had been living what I would describe as a shallow life). She was a fashion/beauty writer and It seems like her life was fully of designer outfits champagne and freebies. life (with some of the expats) appeared to run along the same lines. Lots of 'lets open a bottle of champers (no aldi or lidle here - it's all Laurent Perrier Champagne. Whilst thre were some lovely warm characters, One or two of the Ex pats drove me mad particularly when they had had a drink (which was often) when it appeared that being drunk means you can be rude or dismissive to anyone (and people excuse this behaviour). But please don't let this out you off. Karen did profess to valuing the more simple pleasures in life as a result of her move to France. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I will definitely buy the next one.

A highly enjoyable example of the 'Brits in France' genre. Karen is a bit different from the typical protagonists in such stories, in that she moved to France entirely alone. And while much of the story is about how she engages with the French and their way of life, it is also the story of her personal journey, coping with being single after a break-up. I like her style and her perspective on things, her reflections on life and simple country activities, her sense of humour and her portrayal of characters. In short, she comes across as very genuine, honest and "sympathique", and I ended the book really caring about what happened to her next.

Into many different genres. This could be a autobiographical book, this book could be fiction and in parts it is but it is all based on the truth and real events just changed for `poetic licence' it could also be a travel book. Which is where it is pitched from - Travel Writing. A strange concept but to be honest, it was the cover that attracted me, shallow I know. Not in which section the book was shelved in.This is the story of Karen Wheeler, fashion journalist for a number of magazines and newspapers who decides that enough is enough and she is going to set up home in a village in France. But the house she chooses, in fact the only house she views needs a lot of work to make it into the warm environment that is in her imagination. Here begins an exciting journey for us and Karen as we see how well she copes with living in one room after camping in a field and not having the chance to wear all her designer shoes, clothes and handbags. Well they stand out rather in this French Village and surrounding countryside and are not that practical!We meet Karen's French neighbours, ex-pats who have managed to integrate themselves into the community with some very interesting characters, Miranda, Elinor and Desmond. The couple Dylan and Lola who run the Liberty Bookshop become friends, offering sanctuary when the painting of her house goes wrong. Then there is the gorgeous baker with his gorgeous pain au chocolat, Jon Wakeman who seems to be interested in Karen but only when it suits him. Then there is the past Karen has to deal with, images and her life with Eric seem to be all around her, but finally she makes a decision and radically throws out a lot of her past possessions because she is starting to realise that sometimes life is so much happier with the simple things, a roaring fire, a good book and a glass of full bodied red.There is something of the Bridget Jones/Sex in the City to this book, but actually it is just one woman's struggle to live with a decision and get the most out of it. Experiencing the French countryside, the sea, the village, the village markets with their tempting and tasty offerings and the locals. Karen Wheeler describes these with such emotion and feeling, that when she is driving back from Ile de Re and gets a puncture she leans "against the bonnet...I am surrounded by a vast expanse of countryside - a collage of different colours and textures". I think this is the key to the book it is a collage of different genres and I would recommend to anyone who wants escapism into the dream of leaving the UK and starting somewhere afresh or even just trying to renovate their own home. You could think that you were reading one of those Homes magazines in the doctor's surgery - this book gives you that bit more.

I'm now on to Karen Wheeler's second book in the series. I loved this one so much that, as soon as I'd finished it, I ordered the other. It was £4.79 for the Kindle version and I NEVER pay full price for a kindle book so that shows how much I love her books. I didn't realise until I starting doing some research, that these are actually auto biographical too. I will read the third one next and then she is currently writing her fourth, so roll on that...........

I really enjoyed this book. It was so refreshing after all the usual stories of people moving to France "then the builders were 5 weeks late and the septic tank broke down...blah, blah". Instead of all that, Karen tells a pacey and racy story of her first couple of years as an ingenue in the French countryside. I live in France, not that far from Karen's home town, and I recognised many of the features of ex-pat life which she describes. Though I am sure that she must have embellished the characters and storylines a bit (all those eligible men... if only!), that only made her story more amusing. A great,uplifting and funny read for a wintry afternoon!

So glad I did not miss this book. It is an intimate description of a brave adventure which any of us could probably try, full of the sort of things which happen in real life. A spur of the moment decision provided a new life for the author and a great read for us. Excellent descriptions of France and the people living there along with home improvement problems and real life living. An easy , compelling read suitable for home or holiday but not to be missed.

I did not read this book but my wife did she said it was ok , I don’t like having to review books .

I really like the writing style, I will be buying the rest of the series

Inspiring.

Very good easy to read and very funny.

good read

Karen, a fashion editor who comes from an environment that believes that happiness can be found in a new pair of shoes, heads for the Poitou-Charentes in the west of France.

Excellent writing, couldn't put it down - page-turner. Karen has very engaging writing style and her experience is shared with sincerity and good humour.

Great holiday read

An honest revealing account of life's experiences the good bad and ugly but so entertaining and well told .dont miss it

Am on the third book now and really enjoying them all!