Fiona Valpy Books in Order
Historical fiction and contemporary romance novels, often set in France and Scotland, featuring dual timelines and strong female characters.
Last updated: December 15, 2025
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Publication Order
14 books
The Dark of the Moon
by Fiona Valpy
2025
Philly Delaney, a former WWII ferry pilot and codebreaker, returns to the Île de Ré in her nineties to find the truth about her husband's disappearance during the war. With the help of a young math prodigy, she unravels a mystery decades in the making.
The Sky Beneath Us
by Fiona Valpy
2024
Daisy travels to Nepal to retrace the steps of her great-aunt Violet, a 1920s plant hunter, but gets stranded by the pandemic. Reading Violet's journals in the shadow of the Himalayas, Daisy draws strength from her aunt's resilience to face her own uncertain future.
The Cypress Maze
by Fiona Valpy
2023
In 1943 Tuscany, Beatrice hides refugee children within the Villa delle Colombe's cypress maze to protect them from the war. In 2015, Tess arrives at the villa to grieve her husband, where she learns Beatrice's secret history and battles to save the estate from developers.
The Season of Dreams
by Fiona Valpy
2022
Sara sinks her life savings into renovating a French chateau for weddings, but her fiancé leaves her just as the first season begins. Faced with ruin, she must rely on the local community—and a handsome wine salesman—to save the business and her own happy ending.
The Recipe for Hope
by Fiona Valpy
2022
Reeling from personal tragedy, Evie retreats to a friend’s cottage in the French countryside for Christmas. Armed with her grandmother’s recipe book, she begins to cook her way back to happiness, finding unexpected comfort in the friendship of her reclusive neighbor, Dr. Didier.
Light Through the Vines
by Fiona Valpy
2022
Gina moves to the Bordeaux countryside to renovate a crumbling farmhouse she inherited from her aunt. Between a hole in the roof and language barriers, her new life is a challenge, but the help of a mysterious stonemason named Cedric might turn her disaster into a dream.
The Storyteller of Casablanca
by Fiona Valpy
2021
In 1941, young refugee Josie flees Nazi-occupied France for Casablanca, recording her life in a diary. Seventy years later, Zoe, an expat struggling with her marriage, discovers the diary under the floorboards and finds inspiration in Josie’s story of hope and courage.
The Skylark's Secret
by Fiona Valpy
2020
In the 1970s, singer Lexie returns to her childhood home in Loch Ewe, Scotland, after losing her voice. As she reconnects with the village, she uncovers the story of her mother Flora, who lived there during WWII when the loch became a strategic naval base.
The Dressmaker's Gift
by Fiona Valpy
2019
In 1940s Paris, three young seamstresses living under Nazi occupation hide dangerous secrets, from resistance work to forbidden love. Decades later, Claire’s granddaughter Harriet arrives in the city to unravel her family's painful past and discover the truth about their wartime sacrifices.
The Beekeeper's Promise
by Fiona Valpy
2018
In 1938, Eliane tends bees at the Château Bellevue, but the German occupation forces her into the Resistance to fight for France's liberty. In 2017, Abi Howes takes a summer job at the same chateau, uncovering Eliane’s story while seeking her own healing.
Sea of Memories
by Fiona Valpy
2018
Ella, now elderly and living in Scotland, asks her granddaughter Kendra to help write down her memories before they fade. The story takes them back to 1937 on the French Île de Ré, where a summer romance with a creative spirit named Christophe was cut short by war.
The French for Christmas
by Fiona Valpy
2014
The original release of *The Recipe for Hope*. Evie escapes a painful Christmas in London for a quiet holiday in rural France. Instead of solitude, she finds a welcoming community and a handsome doctor who help her rediscover the joy of life and food.
The French for Always
by Fiona Valpy
2014
The original release of *The Season of Dreams*. Sara is left to manage a wedding venue in France alone after her fiancé walks out. With the help of the locals and a dash of French courage, she fights to save the chateau and her future.
The French for Love
by Fiona Valpy
2013
The original release of *Light Through the Vines*. Gina swaps her disastrous life in England for a new start in a French farmhouse. Despite the language barrier and renovation chaos, she finds herself falling for the local stonemason and the region's charm.
Where should I start?
For gripping WWII historical fiction:
The Dressmaker's Gift → The Beekeeper's Promise → The Storyteller of Casablanca
For uplifting contemporary romance:
Light Through the Vines → The Season of Dreams → The Recipe for Hope
For atmospheric, nature-inspired stories:
The Skylark's Secret → The Sky Beneath Us
Author bio
Fiona Valpy is an acclaimed author whose stories have touched the hearts of readers all over the world. She specializes in historical fiction that feels deeply personal, often bridging the gap between the past and the present. Her books are known for their emotional warmth and the vivid way she brings different locations to life.
In 2007, Fiona made a life-changing decision. She packed up and moved from the United Kingdom to the French countryside. This was not just a short holiday; it was a total lifestyle overhaul. She settled in the Bordeaux winelands, a region famous for its rolling vineyards and rich history. There, she and her family purchased an old, rambling farmhouse that needed a lot of love.
Living in a foreign country presented its own set of challenges. Fiona spent seven years in France, and during that time, she learned much more than just the language. Restoring the farmhouse became a major project. She found herself mastering skills she never thought she’d need, from interior decorating to mixing cement. But it was not all hard labor. The slow pace of life, the friendly locals, and the incredible food and wine left a lasting mark on her.
Before she started writing novels, Fiona had a very different career path. She worked in marketing and public relations, industries that are often fast-paced and demanding. Later, she also taught yoga, helping others find balance and calm. It seems that her time in France provided the perfect environment for a new passion to take root. The atmosphere of the French countryside became the spark she needed to start telling stories.
Her writing often focuses on the strength and resilience of women. She loves to weave together two different timelines, connecting characters from World War II with women facing contemporary challenges today. This structure allows readers to see how the past influences the present. It highlights the enduring power of friendship and courage, even in the darkest of times.
Fiona is perhaps best known for The Dressmaker's Gift. This bestseller is set in wartime Paris and captures the tension and bravery of life under occupation. Another favorite among her fans is The Beekeeper's Promise, which showcases her ability to blend historical heartbreak with uplifting messages of hope.
Her settings are always a character in themselves. Whether she is describing the sun-drenched vineyards of France, the rugged and misty coast of Scotland, or the bustling, colorful streets of Casablanca, she transports the reader right to the scene. You can almost smell the lavender or feel the sea breeze as you turn the pages.
Detailed research is a huge part of her process. Fiona is dedicated to getting the history right, honoring the real-life struggles that inspire her fiction. She digs deep into local records and stories to ensure her portrayals of the past are authentic and respectful.
Eventually, Fiona decided to return to the UK. She now lives in Scotland, a place with its own wild beauty. While she loves her Scottish home, she has not forgotten her time across the channel. She returns to France regularly to catch up with old friends and soak up a bit of sunshine.
Today, Fiona continues to write stories that celebrate the human spirit. Her journey from the corporate world to a renovated farmhouse, and finally to the top of bestseller lists, is a testament to following your dreams. For her readers, every new book is an invitation to travel to a different time and place, all from the comfort of home.
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
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