French Illusions by Linda Kovic-Skow Review and Giveaway for Pump Up Your Book Tours

Join Linda Kovic-Skow, author of the memoir, French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, as she tours the blogosphere December 3 – March 15 2012 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! The French Illusions Virtual Book Publicity Tour is part of huge Kindle Fire HD giveaway. See details further down on how you can win one for your own!

About the book

In the summer of 1979, twenty-one-year-old Linda Kovic contracts to become an au pair for an wealthy French family in the Loire Valley. To secure the position, she pretends to speak the language, fully aware her deception will be discovered once she arrives at her destination. Based on the author’s diary, French Illusions captures Linda’s fascinating and often challenging real-life story inside and outside the Château de Montclair. The over-bearing, Madame Dubois, her accommodating husband, Monsieur Dubois, and their two children are highlighted as Linda struggles to adapt to her new environment. Continually battling the language barrier, she signs up and attends classes at the local university in the nearby town of Tours, broadening her range of experiences. When she encounters, Adam, a handsome young student, her life with the Dubois family becomes more complicated, adding fuel to her internal battle for independence.

Linda Kovic-Skow resides in Kirkland, Washington. She earned an Associate Degree in Medical Assisting in 1978 from North Seattle Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Seattle University in 1985. She has been married for 27 years and has two daughters. An enthusiastic traveler, Linda also enjoys boating, gardening and socializing with friends. French Illusions, her debut memoir, is the culmination of a three-year project.

You can visit her website at www.lindakovicskow.com.

My Thoughts

French Illusions is an interesting true story of Linda Kovic-Skow and her dreams of becoming an international stewardess. In order to do this she is told she needs to be bilingual. She decides to become an au pair in France so she can learn the language, the only problem is that she took the job knowing that she could not speak the language. She figured she could learn as she went along. Once she had the position she did come clean with Madame Dubois, who was not too happy but decided to keep Linda as her employee. Between Madame, her husband and the two of the children (the youngest just a baby) Linda did learn some of the language and culture.

As Linda settles into her job, she comes to love the children especially the little boy in her charge. The daughter on the other hand does not seem to care for her but Linda perseveres.  She wants to become more fluent and signs up for classes but Madame is not real happy with Linda and often makes Linda feel useless and is demeaning to her 

I think being an au pair would be a fun and challenging position to have especially in another country and I think, even though things weren't ideal for Linda, I would imagine that it was a rewarding experience for her. I enjoyed reading this book and was tickled when Linda finally told Madame how she felt. The one thing I would ask Linda is, 'Did you ever become a stewardess'?

I received a copy of this delightful book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

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