A well written book showing life in England and French society life.
The narrative flows so well. The romance is so sweet. A great book.

The French Wife by Diney Costeloe has Madame Agathe Sauze and Annette relocating in 1876 to Belair, the St. Clair country home. Annette finds herself pregnant courtesy of a violent priest. Agathe and Annette helped Helene St. Clair when she was eleven during the Communard siege. Agathe got Rosalie St. Clair to give them positions and respectability for Annette. Clarice St. Clair is marrying Lucas Barrineau with an elaborate ceremony, reception and ball. Lucas invited Rupert Chalfont, the youngest son of a titled gentleman, who happens to need to leave England for a time. Rupert is immediately taken with Helene and sets out to woo her along with her family. When Rupert must return to England, he promises to return for Helene in the spring. People and circumstances are not in their favor. The French Wife is a dramatic historical novel. It is the sequel to Children of the Siege, but it can be read on its own. I thought The French Wife was well-written and it moved along at a gentle pace. The characters are complex and suit the time period. The villains were well-crafted and easy for a reader to dislike (they deserve it). Annette and Agathe are working class women or servants. Their clothing and behavior suited this era. The other characters like Helene were from a higher-class bracket which was reflected in their language, clothing and attitude. The authors word imagery helps to bring the story alive for readers. I did feel the book was a little long and the pacing could have been livelier. I also would have liked something unexpected to happen in the story instead of playing out in an expected manner. I do want readers to know that there is violence against women in the story that is graphic and difficult to read. I could tell the author did her research for this book. I like a story that has people you will cheer for and villains you boo. I liked that some of the good characters from Children of the Siege were in this story and were available at pivotal points. The French Wife is a dramatic saga with a Casanova charmer, sordid secrets, a pathetic priest, a wooed woman, a kindhearted coachman, and a vile villain.

I was given a copy of The French Wife by Diney Costeloe in exchange for an honest review. This is the secong book in the series with the St Clair family. Annette and Helen's paths meet again. Both have very different lives but support each other. Annette falls pregnant and Helene falls in love.
I enjoyed this book although I found parts of the story drawn out but worth a read.

A romantic tale set in 19th century France. I enjoyed the different perspective on this era.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found the customs and expectations of the time fascinating. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this genre.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this.
I love Diney Costeloe. This book definitely didn't disappoint.
I'm always guaranteed an enjoyable read, one where I can just relax and dive in.
I had read it in a day.

A bit more romantic than my usual books, but nonetheless a good read. France in the 1800s; Helene meets and falls in love with a handsome young Englishman. But her family is busy setting up a more suitable match for her (them) in order to join properties. As fate decrees, they are torn apart by family duty, perhaps never to meet again...A little predictable, but a good read overall.

I love the way Diney Costeloe writes, she's engaging and paints a beautiful picture. I adore historical fiction and always enjoy a Diney book and this didn't disappoint. I loved the characters, the atmosphere and the tensions within the story. I really wanted to know what would happen next.

Really loved this book and couldn't put it down! Was really drawn into the story of Rupert and Helene and the novel kept you engaged while ending most satisfactorily! Would read this author again, thank you.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, so naturally I would request this book set in the 1800's especially as it was set in France and it was a romance. While I've never read anything by Ms. Costeloe before, I am sure I will in the future. Un roman charmant. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A story of the St Clair family who have known hardship but are now in a better place. Romance and wedding plans captivate the reader but with twists on the way. Very enjoyable

Bestselling author Diney Costeloe returns with a captivating, immersive and emotional historical saga set in 19th Century France that will hold readers spellbound: The French Wife.

It is a time of celebration for the St Clair family. Their daughter Clarice is about to marry and the entire family has been swept up in preparations and planning for this grand wedding. The St Clairs have known their fair share of hardship and anguish, so this wedding is an opportunity to put the past to rest and to embrace the joy and happiness of this wonderful occasion. However, little do they realise that old ghosts, a passionate love affair and devastating secrets threaten to ruin the life the St Clairs have striven and worked so hard to build. Can the family manage to ride out this storm and emerge united and stronger than ever? Or will the ties that bind them together be severed and their family destroyed beyond repair?

The siege of Paris in 1871 had changed France and the lives of the French people forever. During that horrible ordeal, Helene, the youngest St Clair daughter, had befriended a penniless and lonely orphan called Annette. Despite the vast social chasm that divided them, Helen and Annette had formed a close bond and now the orphaned girl is working below stairs for the St Clair family. However, Annette has a secret that only Helene knows. A secret so powerful and devastating that she daren’t risk anyone finding out. Helene had promised to keep this secret for Annette at all costs – even if it jeopardises her life and that of her family.

With the weight of Annette’s secret weighing heavily on her shoulders, Helene has certainly got a lot on her plate. Yet, this doesn’t stop her from falling in love with a young English nobleman. As her feelings for the man she has grown to love intensify, Helene wonders whether she can have a future with the English man who had stolen her heart when his family make it clear that they would never welcome a French wife.

Will Helene find the happiness she has been searching for? Or is she destined to be condemned to a lifetime of regret?

It is impossible not to fall under Diney Costeloe’s spell. A writer who has the storyteller’s gift, she never fails to pen evocative, emotional and enthralling historical novels that keep readers riveted to the page and captivated until the final page and The French Wife is no different. A book sure to satisfy her legion of fans and win her scores of new readers, The French Wife is a beautifully rendered historical drama rich in atmosphere, intensity and heart that centres around a strong and spirited heroine in the best saga tradition.

Diney Costeloe deftly blends scandalous secrets, dangerous passions and powerful romance in a stunning historical novel that is impossible to forget.

Paris 1876

Rupert Chalfort is the younger son of Sir Philip Chalfort, a Baronet. Rupert’s brother, Justin, is his twin and older by two hours. Rupert is spending some time in Paris to attend the marriage of his friend, Lucas St. Claire. When he meets Lucas’s younger sister, Helene, he is smitten. As she is just 17, her parents feel she is too young to be married. But Rupert is allowed to pay his addresses to her. They are in love and want to marry when she is just a bit older. But Rupert receives word that Justin has drowned and he must return to England. Now he is the heir. He and Helene write back and forth to one another, but evil is at work and they do not receive one another’s letters. Now, they believe the other has forsaken them leaving them brokenhearted.

As part of the story, we see young Annette who grew up in a workhouse and then went to work for a priest who turned out to be the devil himself bringing shame on her. She is rescued by her friend Agathe Sauze whom she has known from earlier days when they went through a siege together. They both end up working in the St. Claire home.

As we follow these characters, we experience their trials, pain, and joy in life. There is a lot of intrigue and heartbreak, which seems to predominate most of the story. Had I read the previous novel, I may not have been as confused as I was with the story of Annette, Agathe, Helene and Pierre. However, as I read more of the book I gained enough information to get gist of their background. This is certainly a compelling book and the characters are real. I’m sure readers will enjoy being transported to Paris and England in this historic novel.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a beautiful, evocative and gripping story that really grabs the readers attention and carries them away on a magical carpet of captivating bliss.
This is the sequel to; The Children of The Siege, which I haven’t read and to be honest I didn’t even realise it was a sequel. Yes, I know, that it says it clearly in the back blurb, but I have said it before and I will say it again; I do walk around with my eyes shut – no wonder I am always bumping into things – anyhow, to say that this is a sequel I wouldn’t have guessed it, I saw this as a stand-alone, it reads like a stand-alone so if you are like me who does jump in first without properly reading the blurb then I can guarantee you don’t have to read the first book.
What really struck me about this is that it isn’t just your run-of-the-mill historical, there is a lot of depth. There is a lot of feelings, a lot of emotion. There are some pretty taboo subjects such as mental health illness, rape and abuse. For those who know me, will most likely know that Mental Health awareness is very close to my heart and I am always seeking out a book that has it apart of the story in some way, especially when it is written with such care and beautiful sensitivity as it is here. Some may not like hose aspects included in what is essentially a very simplistic and elegant story, but I beg to differ. These subjects no matter how unsettling and as sad and hard it is to read, need to be apart of our stories now.
I completely got behind the characters, each of the women brought something different to the story. The shining star of the book isn’t the characters are the beautiful engaging plot, it is the attention to detail. Every single scene is sprinkled with perfect historical detail and great depth which makes you feel as though you are living and breathing the era. The clothes, the rooms, gardens even the characters personalities are so perfectly written.
This is the first I have read by Dinah Costeloe, how many times have I said that over the last few weeks? And I can say without a doubt, that it certainly will not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed her elegant and timeless graceful writing, the attention to historical detail is rich and vivid you can almost smell the French air and envisage every scene. Anyone who follows the blog will know that I am one of those readers who like a lot of historical facts and history, I love to be bombarded with the small details that really create a picture in my mind and this is right up there with some of the best.
I just want to make a brief apology to Dinah and the team over at for not posting this review on my day of this amazing blog tour. I think many will agree with me when I say the last few weeks/months have been a bit on the weird side and I’m afraid I have let things slide a little and now I am drastically playing catch up.
So, for all those who missed out on the blog tour, why not check out each of these amazing blogs which participated in this tour and show them some love?

I've read quite a lot of Diney Costeloe's books, although the others have been set around the time of the Second World War. I don't often read books based on this era so it took me a little while to get I to it, but once I did I really enjoyed the story. The only downside was, having now read other reviews, I've discovered this is a sequel, which explains the fact why I didn't really know what had happened to Helene during the siege, or how she ended up in an orphanage with Annette. After a while though, this didn't distract from my enjoyment of the book. However, I think the best recommendation is the fact that I didn't read the synopsis or any reviews before I read this book, as I know I always enjoy her books

The French Wife is an emotional and poignant historical story about women's lives in nineteenth-century France. It explores the fortunes of two women with a multigenerational relationship who are servants and a wealthy French family. This story is the second in a series but reads as a standalone. Agathe, Annette and the St Clair family's connection are provided as required in this novel.

There's a lovely sense of place and time from the rich historical detail. The story highlights the disparity in opportunity and treatment of women of all classes. Agathe and Annette and Helene and Annette have a life-affirming friendship, which makes them stronger emotionally.

This a poignant and rewarding historical read with an authentic historical setting and believable characters.

I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The French Wife by Diney Costeloe is a historical romance-taking place in England and France in 1876. Rupert Chalfont arrives in France to attend his friend's wedding. Well, in reality it was expedient to get out of England for a while. There was the matter of a young woman in the family way. His friend, Lucas, had invited him unbeknownst to his family and Lucas' mother was not happy about it, but she had little choice. She was primarily concerned for her daughter, Lucie, who was just now out of the schoolroom and ripe for being preyed upon by young men. Rupert had no eyes for anyone but the bride's sister, Helene, with whom he fell in love almost immediately.

There is a lot going on in the book: multiple story lines, which work together nicely. Plenty of romance, but plenty of abuse, lust, subterfuge, and lies. There has always been prejudice and it is rampant in this story. Most of it gets worked out. There is much manipulation, some of which threatens to destroy people, as manipulation often does. Rupert is a rake, until he meets Helene. He has never been in love before; never anticipated being in love; wasn't sure love existed. Helene is very young pure of heart. She doesn't discern the difference in classes very well but she is a good judge of character. She comes to love Rupert with all of her heart. It is really quite a lovely story. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of The French Wife from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thefrenchwife

Rupert Chalfont was the youngest son to his brother Justin by two hours and as such wouldn’t inherit the title once their father died. So, Rupert enjoyed travelling, entertaining the ladies and generally having a good time. When he was invited to his friend Lucas Barrineau’s wedding in St Etienne, France, Rupert thought it was an opportune time to leave London for awhile. The home of Lucas’ bride, Clarice St Clair, also housed two other sisters, Helene and Louise, and once Rupert had laid eyes on Helene, his future was sealed…

Annette, an orphan, had been trained by Madame Agathe Sauze at the Clergy House and when their priest passed away, his successor released Agathe from service. But Annette was in danger from Father Thomas and when she escaped into Madame Sauze’s arms, they went to St Etienne and the St Clair family for help. When Helene and Annette saw one another, their friendship from six years prior was rekindled and Annette would be a great help to her charge when things went horribly wrong.

The French Wife by Diney Costeloe is actually the sequel to Children of the Siege, which I had no idea about until I began reading. Although it would have suited me more to have read it first, once I settled into the story everything flowed well. Set in France and London in 1877, I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspects of this novel; found both Annette and Madame Sauze to be exceptional characters, and also felt intense sympathy for the young and naïve Helene. There were sections where I shed tears, and others where I felt like thumping a certain arrogant person! I had previously only read one of Ms Costeloe’s novels (Miss Mary's Daughter) which I loved and will definitely be reading more. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Young, beautiful, and privileged Hélène St. Clair, had not expected to meet anyone outside of her usual social group until surprise guest Rupert, arrived at her sister’s lavish wedding. There was something about the dashing, handsome English man and his dark laughing eyes that set her heart beating double time.

Rupert, born just minutes after his twin brother, took advantage of not being his father’s heir and lived the life of a rakish heartbreaker, seemingly without a care in the world. At the last minute, he accepts a wedding invitation to his friend’s wedding and sets eyes on the enchanting Hélène – changing everything he thought he knew about himself, and what he wanted for his future.

Housekeeper Agathe is cast out by a heartless clergyman, leaving her apprentice Annette on her own, to take over the duties of keeping house for him. While Agathe reluctantly stays with her sister, poor Annette faces a merciless situation. Agathe is determined to help Annette and sets out on a bold mission - which finds her and a secret - pleading at the St. Clair family’s doorstep. The St. Clair’s have a history with both the servants which involves young Hélène – one they’d rather forget, but nonetheless, both Agathe and Annette are soon situated in their employ – as long as the secret guise is kept.

As the storylines of the characters unfold and evolve, they seamlessly mesh and entwine and keep the reader solidly engaged. I am verily impressed with Diney Costeloe’s writing and her excellent knowledge and detailed descriptions of estates, countryside, fashions, and life in late 1800 France and England, are superior - easily envisioning the sights and sounds.

There are secrets to be kept and lies to be confessed; heartbreak and tragedy to endure; friendships to be formed and relationships to be healed, and there is an abundance of joy, romance, and love to be found!

The French Wife is a must-read for any fan of Historical, Women’s Romantic fiction.

Opinions expressed are my own.

Wonderful historical fiction! Set in London and France in the 188os, it's. a tale of women who have to struggle to survive and to thrive. There's romance, there's drama, there's a complex plot. You will boo hiss the villains and cheer for the women. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It might be the second in a series but I read it as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed it. A good immersive read.