French By Heart An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France

"I loved reading Rebecca Ramsey's account of her family's sojourn in France. French By Heartis that winning (and rare) combination of a down-to-earth, witty voice with a sense of the mysterious and eternal. The minute I finished the last page I started looking forward to her next book." -Josephine Humphreys, author ofNowhere Else on Earth Can a family of five from deep in the heart of Dixie find happiness smack dab in the middle of France? Becky Ramsey had given up on her dream of living in France now that she and her husband Todd had three young children and a home in a quiet South Carolina suburb. But then one Christmas, Todd broke the news that his company had a job opening for him. . .in France.French By Heartis the story of an all-American family pulling up stakes and finding a new home in Clermont-Ferrand, a city four hours south of Paris known more for its smoke-spitting factories and car dealerships than for its location in the Auvergne, the lush heartland of France dotted with crumbling casles and sunflower fields. The Ramseys are not jet-setters; they're a regular family with big-hearted and rambunctious kids. Quickly their lives go from covered-dish suppers to smoky dinner parties with heated polemics, from being surrounded by Southern hospitality to receiving funny looks if the children play in the yard without shoes. But after a few months, this plucky family hits their stride and learns to love their home on allee de Cerisiers: The children quickly become fluent in French and the cat overcomes her severe depression with a healthy diet of pate and moonlight walks. The Ramseys even make peace with the busybody across the street who watches the family's every move from behind curtains in her living room, never afraid to come over and correct them on the proper way to do anything and everything. A charming tale with world-class characters,French By Heartreads like letters from your funniest friend. More than just a slice of life in France, it's a heartwarming account of a family coming of age and learning what "home sweet home" really means.