AnnaSophiaTycross
After Harriet loses her husband on a solo Atlantic crossing, she starts a new life in France, renovating a medieval stone Priory and then letting it to holidaymakers.
In England, Sir Hector, a bastion of British Banking born with a golden egg, not a mere silver spoon is approaching retirement. He finds diaries in one of his attics written by his female ancestors. He decides to publish them. Raunchy and licentious, they hit the No. 1 spot for ten weeks, earning him a spot on the Michael Parkinson Show. He is subsequently inundated with often salacious offers from women and decides to have some fun. He dates a number of them, mostly disastrously, but some are not without their benefits... Sir Hector, grounded by his aristocratic Aunt Tilly, is castigated for his behaviour.
Harriet and Hector meet in unfortunate circumstances at a wedding in Scotland. He doesn't endear himself to her when a massive stag causes a collision, wrecking her car.
In France, Harriet has adventures with her guests, romance with an old flame and, guiltily, an affair with the local count. Through thick and thin, Harriet is supported by her children; her brother Freddie and his boyfriend; and her great friend Aoife, who is as Irish and free-living as Harriet is restrained and correct.
Hector buys a vineyard in France for his retirement and fosters an attachment to Harriet. Hector's social milieu is formed of his aristocratic friends, Aunt Tilly and his Swedish girlfriend with her thirteen Siamese cats. His alcoholic chef provides suspense whilst Jane, his no-nonsense Sloane Ranger PA and two Scottish spinsters are the source of much humour resulting from their sexual naivety, revealed when they are hired to reply to the vast sacks of often explicit fan mail sent to Sir Hector.
From the skeletons of wartime German officers discovered under the local chateau to the chef's death on a superyacht and a thwarted terrorist attack - life in France is never dull.