Fragments of French

by Wanda St. Hilaire

After a harsh brush with her mortality, shadowed by a premature divorce, Wanda St. Hilaire pledges to be true to her primary passion—living ardently through travel. On the fateful day her life intersects with Jean-François, a charming Frenchman, on a bustling street in Lisbon, every fiber of her being feels as though she has finally entered the doorway to a magical world that she knew existed since she was a young girl.St. Hilaire turns a complicated romantic ballet full of missteps into a collage of people, places, and cultures. Fragments of French is an exquisitely detailed travelogue of Portugal, Canada, France, and Mexico, filled with minor characters who delight with their humanity. However, what really makes this tale a standout is a gift for pacing and description to rival Tom Wolfe.The hero’s journey is not only for the characters of our favourite stories or mythical legends. At some point, each of us receives the call to adventure. Fate summons the hero; we can refuse the call, or step into something that will turn our lives upside down, and potentially change everything we know to be true.From feeling “completely disarmed, no fortress standing”, to embracing her untethered strength, the author turns this account of living life out loud into lessons for us all.Be the first to get your oh là là read of the year!

258 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 2019

About the author

Wanda St. Hilaire is a three-time breast cancer survivor with a predilection for research and a passion for delving into the psychology of wellness.

After a second diagnosis in 2010, she made lifestyle changes that contributed to her healing and supported her philosophy that our lives are meant to be lived doing what we love in places that make our hearts sing.

Through writing, St. Hilaire shares what she’s learned through the high peaks of adventure and love and from the dark valleys of illness and heartbreak. Her mission is to help people overcome the self and tap into their wise inner guidance system. Her wish is to inspire others to live true to their unique and beautiful nature.

Reviews

[Roberta Lerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is the risk of following your heart and stepping out of your comfort zone to do so, worth it? Author, Wanda St. Hillaire’s wonderful, yet gripping page turning memoir delivers the answer and more with a heart-felt, telling of her adventures as a solo traveler. Sharing her experiences of first Portugal, then France where she hopes to start a new life with the love of her life and finally Mexico, Fragments of French weaves a page turning tale of adventure, romance, vulnerability, heartbreak and faith re-found. The descriptions took me out of my living room and set me down in locations where I could not only see the landscape, but I could hear the sounds, smell the scents and eavesdrop on conversations throughout her fascinating journey. It made me consider my own choices and the necessity of living an authentic life. I could not put this down and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend!

[Gisele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was okay. At the end learned to love herself. Still seems like a lonely life

[Dawn Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story and a lesson of love gone wrong in a foreign country away from family and friends. This author reveals her gypsy, romantic self in a way others would dare not do. St.Hilaire conquers her disappointment by escaping to another foreign country to recover from her bitter adventure. A romantic thriller that takes you from Canada to Portugal, France and Mexico. A must read for all hopeless romantics!

[Monika Ditschun]

This book was a marvelous read that I can highly recommend to anyone. Throughout the book I felt with Wanda when she was in love also felt her pain when love had gone wrong. It is amazing when an author can write and make you feel with her. The book also ends on a very positive note of self discovery. Not a romantic ending but true to life, Wanda's life.

[Gina Gambirasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading Fragments of French I felt like I was watching a Netflix series that I couldn’t put down!!!! I LOVE it!
Wow! The descriptions are fabulous- I’m hungry and romantically excited all at once.
Loving it!