Amanda Taylor - Ace's philosophy is 'joie de vivre unlimited' - living life with unlimited joy. So when her 14 - year - old son fell in with a bad crowd and her life in Auckland needed a shake - up, she packed their bags and took him to France for a year. My French Affair is the story of how and why she decided to stay.<br/>Not content with simply living in France, she decided to renovate two eighteenth - century houses and convert them into guest accommodation. In My French Affair, Amanda describes the trials and tribulations of working with French tradesmen (both good and bad), getting to know the local villagers, hosting guests from around the world, teaching guests to cook in Maison de Maitresse's kitchen, and her joy in new and old friendships and the daily delights of life in France.<br/>With over 30 mouth - watering French recipes to try, My French Affair is a treat for the tastebuds as well as for the soul.<br/>