The Infinite Terrace

by Lindy Viandier

How far must you travel to find the way back to yourself?

Young widow Elinor Edwards leaves her family in Wales to seek solace amid the rugged scenery of the Amalfi Coast, where she and her husband once spent their honeymoon.

There, a charismatic young Italian awakens her emotions, leaving her torn between desire and loyalty to her late husband’s memory.

When a sudden and disturbing drama forces her to return home prematurely, she faces both family conflict and a she has left Italy, but can she leave behind all that happened there?

From the sun-drenched lemon groves and breathtaking vistas of Ravello to the wind-swept beaches of the Isle of Anglesey, Elinor must learn how to embrace happiness after grief – before she can love again.

When I began reading The Infinite Terrace, it felt like it was hitting the marks of a Nicholas Sparks–type book; then it delivered something much more intrinsically important and affirmative, much more empowering and woman-centred. The charm of Italy washes over the narrative in this honest approach to love after loss and the capacity of the heart to open to its own truth. So many romance stories deal with the surface; this is intrinsic in the sense of writing from a perspective of an arc toward wholeness, and a testament to the restorative power of art. ⁓ K. E. Risen. Canadian poet

Genres: Romance

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

Lindy Viandier is the author of 'Damson Skies and Dragonflies' and 'Mellow Mists and Walnut wine' which each chart a year in her life at Les Libellules, the 300-year-old house in the Burgundy countryside that she and her husband are lovingly restoring.
Lindy's love of nature shines through in her writing and her books transport the reader to the heart of rural France.
Before moving to France, Lindy has worked as an advertising feature writer for a North Wales newspaper, and as a freelance short stories for various UK magazines. She has also had articles on language and culture featured in French Property News.
Lindy is an avid photographer and loves cooking and creating recipes using her home-grown produce, many of which feature in her books.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read Lindy's memoirs, so I knew how good she was at putting words to paper. But, oh my gosh, I was just enthralled by her first plunge into writing romantic fiction. The prologue drew me in: I wasn't going to read this book until I'd finished my current book, but I couldn't put it down. The characters are so well developed, and I could really relate to Elinor's situation. The descriptive prose is so good that I didn't need a photo, because I could picture it all in my mind. I love the setting in Italy and Wales; two completely different countries that came together to make a perfect story. I speed read the last 50 or so pages, because I wanted to know how it ended; and had to go back to read them properly, and savour them. This is an incredibly good book. I know Lindy is currently writing book two, and I can't wait to read it. I was lucky to be an early reader, but this is my own unbiased opinion.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infinite Terrace is a gentle, immersive story that invites you to slow down and breathe. Set in the warmth and beauty of Italy, it follows characters searching for healing, connection, and second chances. Viandier’s writing is tender and atmospheric, with especially beautiful descriptions of the ocean—both the rugged Welsh coast and the shimmering waters of the Amalfi Coast—each place alive and deeply felt. This is a comforting read about quiet courage and the grace of beginning again, perfect for readers who enjoy reflective stories that linger long after the final page.
Highly recommended!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a page turner! This was so much more than just a holiday romance but a story that had me engrossed from the start. Widowed less than a year Elinor feels adrift in the world. Believing it would help her regain her confidence she decided on a holiday in southern Italy where she had first spent her honeymoon. She is such a well written character with a vulnerability that engages the readers' empathy. Lindy Viandier is such a skillful writer that I truly felt for Elinor when she was overwhelmed by the repercussions of shocking events. I particularly enjoyed the lovely descriptions of the glorious Amalfi coast and its ancient places and the very different but equally beautiful and dramatic Welsh coastline.The action moves from Wales to Italy to Wales then Italy again. I just loved the way the story resolved. It was so cleverly plotted. Well done Lindy on the first of your novels and I'm delighted to see it's the first in a series. Thank you for the ARC copy, much appreciated. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Osyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viandier is a seasoned memoirist but this is her first published full length work of fiction. All the hallmarks of her work are here, and more. Her absolutely unctuous descriptions of the locations she takes us to are a sensory delight. We see, we hear, we taste, we smell, we can almost touch the places. Her protagonist is on a grief journey and her vulnerability shines through. But so does her strength when, reunited with somewhat difficult family members she proves herself no pushover, even when feeling torn and compromised by circumstances. Her characterisations are authentic and believable and dialogue sparkles along with the ocean be it azure on the Amalfi coast or steely on the Isle of Anglesey. Her sense of place and well plotted story arc, which doesn't fall into the trap of light romance, but rather takes the reader to dark corners which resonate with delight and dread by turn deliver a page-turning book that deserves wide readership.

This is a wonderful fiction debut and we are promised it is the first part of a trilogy. I will look forward to the next book with excitement.

Viandier is a voice to be reckoned with and should garner a large fiction following to add to her avid fanbase for her non-fiction work.

[Gail McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infinite Terrace is a lush, page-turning novel set along the stunning coasts of Italy and the quiet beauty of the Welsh countryside and seas. Author Lindy Viandier, a seasoned nonfiction writer, uses these settings brilliantly to deepen this story about love, loss, and the unexpected turns that follow grief.
Viandier skillfully brings her protagonist to life on every page, a woman whose world is reshaped after the early death of her husband. A cast of characters with questionable motives adds an edge of danger, while the plot twists and turns like the Amalfi road itself.
In real life, Viandier, divides her time between living in Paris and a home in rural France, and has written widely about life in the French countryside. She brings her gifts for vivid descriptions of place and well defined characters to this story. Fans of her earlier work will recognize those skills here, now driving her compelling, debut novel that blends romance and mystery.

[Beth Haslam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exquisitely written novel is a lyrical meditation on grief, longing, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again.

In Italy, memory and emotion entangle as Elinor navigates the delicate tension between past and present. Though beneath the breathtaking beauty of the Amalfi Coast lies a thread of mystery that casts a subtle shadow over her journey. The author’s prose is immersive and evocative, steeped in sensory detail and emotional nuance. From lemon groves bathed in sunlight to the windswept shores of Anglesey, each setting exudes atmosphere and meaning.

I was deeply moved by the themes explored: the fragility of hope, the complexity of loyalty, and the slow, luminous path toward healing. This novel is elegant, resonant, and quietly profound.

I understand there is more to come in this Italian series, and I very much hope so. Highly recommended.

[Valerie Poore · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Lindy Viandier is the author of two memoirs I’ve read and enjoyed, I was thrilled to be sent an ARC copy of her first novel. I loved it! It is a moving and gracious story about loss, grief, love and self discovery.

The story is poignant in its exploration of the confines that tragedy places on the main character Elinor’s ability to recover and find her centre again. However, it is also a touching story of emerging love against the beautiful backdrops of the Italian coast and the wild, mystical magnificence of north Wales, as well as a reminder that to love another, confidence and respect for self need to come first. Add to these themes plenty of tension, suspense, crime and mystery and you have a page-turner that kept me up far too late at night. This is an excellent first novel and I’m itching to read the next book in the series.

[Alison Cubitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infinite Terrace, the debut novel in the Italian Interlude series, written by Lindy Viander gripped me from start to finish. I devoured both of this author’s best-selling memoirs, where she brings the stories about her life in rural France vividly to life.

Elinor, the protagonist, is a young widow on the verge of becoming an empty nester. With her caring responsibilities behind her, she sets out on a voyage of self-discovery, determined to live on her own terms.

On the Amalfi Coast, Elinor feels ready to love again but when life takes an unexpected turn, she returns to North Wales to lick her wounds.

Highly recommended.

I was an advanced reader of this book and received a free copy.

[Pat Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this novel. Have to say, I loved it (very happy its the first in series)
The writing is clever and well positioned, you become invested in the believable characters; especially Elinor - widowed and in need of time & possibly healing - Elinor returns to the Amalfi Coast, she and her late husband spent their honeymoon there. What finds her, or, what does Elinor find there?….Lots! The characters come into their own. The author writes with a real flair for natural surroundings - descriptive and alluring.
I’d previously read 2 books by this author - the first 2 in her memoir series - I feel sure her novel will have the same success.

[Jan Tabish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This particularly book was intriguing in that it involved two places I’ve longed to visit: Wales and the beautiful Amalfi Coast in Italy. And I was intrigued by how the two countries would be woven together. The novel grabbed me by the throat from the outset and kept me in its thrall throughout to the point that I found it hard to put down. The story contains all of the elements of a great mystery: It is dramatic, gripping, compelling, and provided an excellent adrenaline rush, something I wasn’t expecting at all. This tale is written by a master storyteller who clearly knows how to capture the reader’s attention. This book screams for a sequel. Quite simply, I loved it!

[Jean Henrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindy Viandier has written two best selling memoirs about her life in a small French village. She has just finished her first novel The Infinite Terrace. It is beautifully written and has Lindy’s keen eye for wonderful descriptive passages of the Italian countryside. The actual plot is very skilful with many unexpected twists and turns. A bereaved widow travels to Italy and rediscovers her confidence in herself - but not without a great deal of soul searching. I could not put the book down and felt bereft when I reached the end. Well done, Lindy!

[Sharon Hayhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Copy review - The magical and whimsical prose of which Lindy is renowned for in her French memoirs has transferred beautifully to writing a romantic novel. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this new genre but I can honestly say that I was swept up by the intensity and intrigue of this story from page one. Like a finely tuned piece of theater the story builds tension through unexpected twists until the final act. No spoilers here, just a solid 5 stars from me, highly recommended.

[Annemarie Rawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully descriptive and sensitively-told story of love, loss, family relationships, and rediscovering one's true self in glorious Italy and the mystical and ancient past and present Wales. I very much enjoyed and would recommend this book from the talented Lindy Viandier, who is forging another path in her writing career, having written two special memoirs to date about her life in rural France - Damson Skies and Dragonflies and Mellow Mists and Walnut Wine.

[Lorraine Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this lovely book. It was full of sadness, hope, despair and ‘will she, won't she’ questions, but like all good stories, love wins through and the ending was just perfect. I was left with a warm feeling in my heart and a broad smile from ear to ear. ❤️

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel by the very talented Lindy Viandier, and I look forward to more books in the engaging Italian Interlude romance series, which includes a little mystery. The characters were unique, and Lindy painted each scene so vividly that I felt as if I were there.

[Julie Haigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous read.

I've read and loved Lindy Viandier's previous books, both memoirs of her life in France. This is something different: A novel, set in Italy, and Wales, I couldn't wait to read it.

I was hooked in from the first page-right from the prologue actually, as this novel has a such a remarkable backstory.  She originally wrote this, the first draft anyway, in 1993-long before her memoirs.  I wanted to read it even more once I'd read about its beginnings.  So good that this manuscript was saved, it nearly got thrown out in her mother's house move.  But it was meant to be.

I loved this. It has it all: Travel, romance, mystery, music, unexpected events.  She weaves such magic with her words. I loved Lindy's beautiful detail in her memoirs, and here it is again.  Sumptuous descriptions of the surroundings, smells and tastes, and once I'd entered Lindy's book, I didn't want to come back out.  Gorgeous word painting, and great storytelling.  Exquisite.

As this was written quite some years ago, starting this, I wondered would it live up to the standard of her recent memoirs? Maybe the original manuscript had been tweaked and polished though, as it was a delightful reading experience. Beautiful writing.  It was simply divine, an absolute delight. 

A luxurious, warm and wonderful read.