Dick Strawbridge and Angel Strawbridge 3 Books Set - Non Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set:
A Year at the Chateau
Living the Château Dream
The Chateau Forever Home

Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781841884639
9781841885377
9781399603157

Overview:
Three intimate chronicles from Dick and Angel Strawbridge trace a life-changing leap from London to a haunted Loire château. A Year at the Chateau captures the full arc of their first year in France: the biting cold of winter, the trials of a crumbling castle, the bat-filled turrets, and a single working toilet that flushed into the moat—moments that make their wedding and first Christmas feel like miracles born of grit and imagination. Living the Château Dream follows the years of tireless graft that turned a derelict property into a family home and budding enterprise, including new rooms, gardens, and a wedding planning venture that brought guests to the door. The Chateau Forever Home places readers in the pandemic era, when creativity and resolve were tested as the couple adapted to lockdowns and supply challenges while preserving their dream life in France. Together, these volumes offer a warm, honest, and inspiring window into home renovation, family life, sustainability, and the joy of pursuing a dream against the odds.

What This Collection Covers:
Taken as a trio, these volumes chart a continuing experiment in home-making as a family project. The collection explores not only the physical work of stabilizing a chateau—from damp walls to period details—but also the emotional labor of building a life that can endure the spotlight. Readers glimpse practical reno decisions, space-planning for family needs, and the pacing of large-scale projects without losing the warmth and humor that fans love on Escape to the Château. The books invite you into seasonal rhythms: from mid-winter inspections to spring garden openings, and then the bustle of wedding celebrations and special events. There's a strong thread of sustainability and resourcefulness, with attention to energy, water, and garden productivity that aligns with contemporary lifestyles. The authors’ candid storytelling blends DIY know-how with personal milestones, making the chateau feel accessible rather than aspirational. Whether you’re planning a renovation, dreaming of a life abroad, or simply seeking comforting, character-driven narratives, this set offers a complete, immersive experience of transformation, resilience, and home as a living project.

Book-by-Book Guide:
A Year at the Chateau
From the moment the Strawbridges moved from London to the Loire valley, A Year at the Chateau chronicles a courageous, sometimes chaotic, but always hopeful start. The couple describe rooms infested with flies, bats in the towers, and a moat-flushed toilet as they confront a derelict château and 12 acres of challenge. The narrative blends practical renovation detail with warm family anecdotes as they plan weddings, create memorable celebrations, and mark seasonal milestones. Readers witness how vision, teamwork, and thrift turn a ruin into a home, and how love for place becomes a blueprint for every decision. The tone is intimate, humorous, and unapologetically buoyant, inviting readers to share the dream and learn from imperfect progress. Living the Château Dream
In Living the Château Dream, the saga continues with the years following the initial transformation. The Strawbridges reveal more about the daily grind of renovating, expanding, and integrating a sustainable business with family life. From refining interiors to opening gardens for guests, the couple shows how persistence, creative problem-solving, and a sense of play keep momentum alive. It’s a memoir of long days, early mornings, and the satisfaction of turning a dream into a durable reality that supports their growing family and community. The voice remains warm, practical, and inviting for readers who crave both tender storytelling and behind-the-scenes craftsmanship. The Chateau Forever Home
The Chateau Forever Home brings readers to the pandemic era, where disruption tests plans and demand new approaches. Dick and Angel share the challenges of continuity—adapting events, maintaining staff morale, and reimagining operations to survive lockdowns while keeping their life in France intact. It’s a story of resilience, ingenuity, and unwavering commitment to their home and mission. This final volume reinforces the couple’s philosophy: a well-loved home can sustain a community, a family, and a dream—even in extraordinary times. Together, these three books form a cohesive, uplifting narrative of renovation, renewal, and life lived beautifully in a château.

Who This Set Is Perfect For:
Ideal for fans of Escape to the Château and readers who love warm, memoir-style home renovation stories. This set appeals to adults and mature YA readers who enjoy family adventures, practical renovation insights, and real-life challenges overcome with humor and heart. It’s a thoughtful gift for house-proud readers, budding renovators, and anyone contemplating life abroad or in a historic property. Perfect for book clubs seeking engaging non-fiction with broad appeal, and for gifting to fans of design, sustainability, and heartfelt life transformations.

Key Benefits:

• Complete book collection of the Strawbridges’ château journey in one purchase
• Behind-the-scenes memoirs blending renovation, family life, and sustainable living
• Engaging, comforting storytelling suitable for gifting and casual reading
• Ideal companion for fans of Escape to the Château and home-renovation enthusiasts
• Flexible reading order: enjoy each title as a standalone memoir or as a continued saga
• Supports readers seeking practical inspiration for large-scale projects on a tight budget

About the Author:
Dick Strawbridge and Angel Strawbridge are renowned television hosts, authors, and entrepreneurs best known for Escape to the Château. They document their real-life journey transforming a derelict château in the Pays de la Loire into a thriving family home and eco-conscious enterprise. The duo bring a rare blend of hands-on renovation expertise, creative event planning, and warm, candid storytelling. Their work has captivated audiences with accessible, down-to-earth insights into architecture, design, sustainability, and the daily joys and strains of building a life together in a historic setting. Their memoirs celebrate collaboration, resourcefulness, and the joy of turning a dream into a living, evolving reality.

Why You’ll Love This Set:
This three-book collection offers a complete, immersive experience of transformation, resilience, and home. You’ll ride along from the first rough weeks of a cobbled-together dream to the final, sustainable life they’ve built—an inspiring blueprint for turning a passion into a lasting, shareable lifestyle. It’s a thoughtful, aspirational, yet relatable set that will sit proudly on any shelf and spark conversations about design, family, and the power of pursuing a dream with authenticity.

Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.