
My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley
French Illusions, Book 1
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Lucy Floyd
-
By:
-
Linda Kovic-Skow
French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley is the first of two books based on my diaries from 1979 and 1980. Twenty-one-year-old Linda Kovic needs to learn a language fast in order to fulfill her dream of becoming a flight attendant, so she contracts to become an au pair for a wealthy family in the Loire Valley. In order to secure the nanny position, she lies on her application and pretends to speak French, confident she'll be forgiven once she arrives at her destination. This book captures Linda's real-life story inside and outside the Chateau de Montclair, detailing her challenges and triumphs as she tries to adjust to her new life with the hard-to-please Madame Dubois, her husband, and their two incomprehensible children. When Linda attends language classes at a local university, she encounters, Adam, a handsome young student, and her life with the family becomes more complicated, adding fuel to her internal battle for independence. Join Linda on her adventure of discovery and romance in an extraordinary part of the world.
©2012 Linda Kovic-Skow (P)2016 Linda Kovic-SkowListeners also enjoyed...




















What did you love best about My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley?
I have already read both books in the pair and I love the story of personal growth through very difficult circumstances. It is also a very different kind of love story.What did you like best about this story?
It is a real glimpse into the mind of a 21-year-old women in 1980, far from home.What does Lucy Floyd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Lucy is brilliant with voices and bringing nuanced emotions out of the characters.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I love the interactions between Linda and the children.Any additional comments?
Whispersync is great for this book. I get to see the snippets of written french and hear the pronunciation.Audio brings the story to life
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I am a lover of France and the French language. I enjoyed this audiobook partly because of the narrator speaking so much French in such an authentic accent and also because I have been that girl who tells a white lie to get what she wants and then ends up paying dearly. The story held my attention and I looked forward to listening to it each time I had time.Who was your favorite character and why?
Adam was my favorite character. I know French men just like him.Which character – as performed by Lucy Floyd – was your favorite?
Madam Debois with her nasty French attitude. I know French women like her.Interesting and kept my attention
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Where does My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This was my first audible bookWho was your favorite character and why?
LindaHave you listened to any of Lucy Floyd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No, this is my firstWas this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, if I had the time.Any additional comments?
This was my first audible book and it was a treat! I had previously read French Illusions and it is at the top of my favorites list, so when Linda asked if I would like to listen to her book on audible I jumped at the chance. The narrator Lucy Floyd is absolutely brilliant and heaven to listen to. Listening to her voice in French was lovely. I highly recommend French Illusions Book 1 on audible. I hope to listen to book 2 sometime in the future.What a treat!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Absolutely! It was well-written and had great details about life as an au pair in France.What did you like best about this story?
I loved the honesty with which the author told her story. I'm glad she didn't sugar-coat the feelings she had for the "Madame" of the house. The woman who was her boss was just a horrible person to work for, but sometimes authors like to pardon bad behavior in a way that seems insincere. I was very happy that this author revealed her true feelings and let the reader draw his or her own conclusions. It felt very honest and very sincere.What does Lucy Floyd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
She is an excellent reader and her French is impeccable! I am fluent in French and was impressed with her language skills and her ability to provide new intonation for each character.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes!Any additional comments?
I have just purchased Part 2 of this memoir and can't wait to get started!An Honest Tale
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Paris after all.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Living and learning French
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A Charming Tale
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
There are plenty of books on here that make me want to take a nap, or go grab a beer, or listen to a seminar on insurance...but this one just kept my attention for hours on end!
I finished this in two days...the only downside is that it left me hanging!
Fantastically written, well narrated, and a great account of an experience in France.
Please Write More! Amazing Read!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A Delightful Read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I listened to the Audible audio version of this book narrated by Lucy Floyd, and I enjoyed her narration. She did a really good job giving a unique voice to each character, and she did really good with the French accents and language.
This was an enjoyable book and I think anyone who is interested in a different culture would enjoy it.
An interesting window into the life of an au pair
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.