The Fortress

A Love Story

By: Danielle Trussoni

Narrated by: Danielle Trussoni

The critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of Falling Through the Earth and Angelology returns with this much-anticipated memoir of love and transformation in the South of France. The Fortress is A Year in Provence meets Eat, Pray, Love by way of The Shining, a riveting account of one woman’s journey to the other side of the romantic fairy tale.

“If I had been another woman, I might have been skeptical. But I wasn’t another woman. I was a woman ready to be swept away. I was a woman ready for her story to begin. As a writer, story was all that mattered. Rising action, dramatic complication, heroes and villains and dark plots. I believed I was the author of my life, that I controlled the narration.”

From their first meeting, writer Danielle Trussoni is spellbound by a brilliant, mysterious novelist from Bulgaria. The two share a love of music and books and travel, passions that intensify their whirlwind romance. Within months, they are married and embark upon an adventurous life together.

Eight years later, their marriage in trouble, Trussoni and her husband move to the South of France, hoping to save their relationship. They discover Aubais (pronounced obey, as in love, honor and . . . Aubais), a picturesque medieval village in the Languedoc, where they buy a thirteenth-century stone fortress. Aubais is a Mediterranean paradise of sun, sea, and vineyards, but they soon learn the fortress’s secret history of subterranean chambers, Knights Templar, hidden treasure, Nazis, and ghosts. During her years in Aubais, Trussoni’s marriage unravels with terrifying consequences, and she comes to understand that love is never the way we imagine it to be.

Trussoni’s time in France brings hard-won wisdom about authenticity, commitment, and family. Through her search for true happiness, Danielle Trussoni finds the strength to overcome her illusions and start again.

Unflinching and bold, The Fortress is one woman’s struggle to understand the complexities of her own heart. Trussoni’s long-awaited return to memoir is a tour de force that changes the conversation about desire and freedom.

Story of love and strength

This is the first audio book that I’ve listened to nonstop. I craved to hear what came next and how it would end. It did not disappoint. This is an amazing story of love, family, strength and resilience. I highly recommend!

A necessary read

Every woman needs to read this. This is what women face, no matter who you area, where you are from, rich or poor. May this story be a lesson of awareness to young women dreaming of marriage and to those who find themselves at a crossroads. Let the Fortress protect you from a horrific situation.

The narration was awful

I struggled with this book. It amazed me that someone did not step in to get another narrator. I know this is biographical but the narration was like listening to a high schooler read in front of the class. The prose was good but the narration made it feel forced and discordant. The story itself was okay but the writer's lack of chutzpah throughout was tough to listen to.

The healing therapy you needed but were afraid to face

If you’ve been through a painful divorce, know someone who has or are suffering in a horrid marriage and are contemplating divorce ~ this book will help you. Knowing you will survive when all hope is lost is the only thing you can hold onto sometimes. Seeing the same red flags she experienced completely resonated with me ~ although at the time we didn’t realize ~ is comforting when you are beating yourself up for getting involved with the person who is trying to destroy you. These stories will help others who may be experiencing these and may prevent major heartache. Her wisdom is a gift. Share this with your friends. Thank you, Danielle.