When Beth, her grumpy husband Jack, and their two fat dogs set off to buy a French country estate, they have no idea that it will become such an extraordinary adventure. Surviving near-death experiences, they drive thousands of kilometres around estates steeped in history and crazy aristocrats. Do they find the perfect property? Or is their dream shattered?
Find out in this three-volume introduction to their remarkable lives in France.
What readers think Fat Dogs and French Estates box set (I-III)
Join Beth on a Wild French Ride
THIS was one of the most enjoyable memoirs I have read. Perhaps it is my love of France but in truth it is the author’s style of writing. I bought the first three books and could not put them down. Beth has a way of telling a story that leaves you wanting more. She and Grumphy husband buy a country home in France believing it just needs a little fixing up. Well as a previous owner of an 1830 stone farmhouse myself, that is never the case. Beth takes us along for the ride and what a fun ride it is. Like me I suspect you won’t be able to put these down till you have finished and end wanting more.
Loved these books from the first page
I have read Books 1 and 11 before but decided to get this set to read.
Loved these books from the first page.
The descriptions of places Beth and Jack visited to house hunt are wonderful and reminded me of our efforts albeit in Spain.
We’ve been to ,any of the places mentioned and memorably Sant Antonin Noble Val.
Finding their home and eventually once bought finding how badly repairs are needed !
Once I had finished this set just had to get Book IV!
Another 5* book to review, will probably have to get book 5 now!
Hilarious read
This book is so much fun to read . Can’t imagine living through this and maintaining my sanity . Plus Jack is such a hoot. You’ll love this memoir.
Why did I wait so long?!
I’ve known Beth for a little while now – but hadn’t read her books. She very kindly sent me a copy of the new box set (which covers the first 3 books her “Fat Dogs and French Estates” series) and I got stuck right in! “Lockdown” has certainly come with its own stresses… and this book set has helped me cope with my insomnia no end because it kept me sane while sleep was eluding me!
Just “wow!” Beth has a beautiful writing style – ever so “frightfully English” (which makes me smile and think of my former “home”). The way she describes characters is something that most other memoir authors could learn from! Each and every character is described so intricately that you feel that you know them personally.
Beth and Jack pack their two dogs into their car… and head into rural France to find the perfect second home – somewhere that they can escape to and relax… away from daily grind of the UK. However – colourful adventures are afoot, and this book has you cringing, smiling and crying in equal measures because of course these things rarely go smoothly. I frequently found myself asking how they could bear some of the things they went through – I’m not sure I’d have still been smiling as much as Beth does.
I’m an absolute convert to Beth’s books now and can’t wait to get stuck into Book four!
At last!
At last! We can now all binge on Books 1-3 of Beth Haslam’s fabulous Fat Dogs and French Estates series. And they are available on Amazon at a crazy price for all three.
