The French Chateau Dream by Julie Caplin

 When wedding planner Hattie signs up for her dream job, organising her cousin’s wedding in France, it offers the perfect escape from a relationship that’s been going south for a while.

Unfortunately when she arrives at the idyllic Chateau St Martin, not everyone is as enthusiastic about the forthcoming wedding, including Luc Bremont, son of the owner of the chateau. 

Luc has finally been given the chance to make his own champagne at the family vineyard and everything rests on making it a success, the last thing he wants is the distraction of a big wedding at the chateau.

Will Hattie be able to build bridges between the inhabitants of the chateau in order to allow the wedding to go ahead?

What did I think.

When I hear the word chateau I always think of the TV series Escape to the Chateau which was my lockdown guilty pleasure - I watched all the series one after another.

I didn't realise that this was the tenth book in the Romantic Escapes series. I haven't read them all but I don't think it matters if you haven't read them all as I think the books work well as standalone titles in their own right.

This book was a delight for all the senses -  the champagne, the food, the location and the fabulous cast of characters.

I found this to be a perfect summery read (I am writing this at the start of July where in Scotland we have had gusty winds and horizonal rain today) and was a proper tonic. It was wonderful to spend a few hours in beautiful France entertained by the chemistry between Hattie and Luc.

Pop this in your bag if you are going on holiday - you won't regret it.

Author Bio –

Julie caplin, formerly a PR director, swanned around Europe for many years taking top food and drink writers on press trips (junkets) sampling the gastronomic delights of various cities in Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Copenhagen and Switzerland. It was a tough job but someone had to do it. 

These trips have provided the inspiration and settings for the highly successful Romantic Escapes series which have hit the best seller charts in Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic and have sold a million copies worldwide.

The first book in the nine strong series,The Little Café in Copenhagen, was shortlisted for a Romantic Novel of the Year Award.

 

Social Media Links – @JulieCaplin Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/JulieCaplinAuthor/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliecaplinauthor/

The Christmas Castle in Scotland by Julie Caplin

 

Izzy McBride had never in a million years expected to inherit an actual castle from her great uncle Bill but here she was, in the run up to Christmas, Monarch of her own Glen – a very rundown glen in need of a lot of TLC if her dream of turning it into a boutique bed and breakfast was to come true.

But when Izzy’s eccentric mother rents a room to enigmatic thriller author Ross Adair and the Scottish snow starts to settle like the frosting on a Christmas cake, it’s a race to get the castle ready before they’re all snowed in for the holidays.

What did I think?

This is the 9th title in the Romantic Escapes series. I have dipped in and out of this series - not read them in order but have read several of the titles. I think they all work well as standalone titles.

Love a book set in Scotland. Maybe that's because it is where I live. Love a castle or two too - we have several really close to where I currently live.

Loved the descriptive writing - the castle really came to life and the description of the food really made my mouth water. 

Izzy inherits the castle and goes to live there with her mother and run it as a hotel. So Izzy embarks on a cookery course but by the time she returns her mother has already taken in a paying guest. Here comes the romantic interest what we were all looking forward to.

I would certainly like to book a stay with Izzy in her castle.

Purchase Link –

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Castle-Scotland-globally-bestselling-ebook/dp/B09NZ5BRP9

US - https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Castle-Scotland-globally-bestselling-ebook/dp/B09NZ5BRP9

Author Bio – 

After reading English at the University of East Anglia, Julie Caplin, who also writes as Jules Wake, worked in PR where she honed her fiction writing skills on press releases. Her regular press trips to Europe while working on food and drink accounts inspired the Romantic Escapes Series, which have been sold to 19 territories and are best sellers in Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

She’s now a full-time author and what better job is there than making stuff up! It certainly beats housework.

Social Media Links – @JulieCaplin Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/JulieCaplinAuthor/

Instagram @juliecaplinauthor

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

What I read last week:

What I'm Reading Now:

What I'm Going To Read Next:

On audio - Julie Caplin

The Pigeonhole - Tina Baker and Sarah Pearce

Blog Tour - Liz Eeles and Helen Fripp

For a readalong - Lorraine Brown

 

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

What I Read Last Week:

What I'm reading Now:

What I'm Going To Read Next:

On audio - Julie Caplin

The Pigeonhole - Tina Baker

For a readalong - Lorraine Brown

For a blog tour - Liz Eeles and Helen Fripp

Netgalley - Julie Caplin