The French Chateau Dream - Julie Caplin (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 3/7/2023

Author: Julie Caplin

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: June 30, 2023

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

You are invited to a summer of sparkling champagne, warm buttery croissants and a little bit of je ne sais quoi… 

With a broken heart and a broken spirit, Hattie is in need of a summer escape. So when an opportunity comes up to work at a beautiful, stately chateau in the Champagne region of France she books her flights quicker than the pop of a cork. Romance is the last thing Hattie is looking for but then she wasn’t expecting gorgeous Luc to stroll into her life. With picnics in the warm French sun and delicious foodie trips to the local market, Hattie starts to wonder if a holiday fling – or maybe even something more – might be just what she needs.

Review:

        I almost DNFed this on finishing the first chapter with its cliche dialogues and the insta love scene. Well, 'almost' is the keyword here and I am glad that my persistence paid off. Soon we are transported off to the Chateau in Champagne province and as expected we get to learn a lot more about wines.

        Hattie is taking a break from an unwanted relationship and her cousin's wedding gives her some alone time and also a career boost as a wedding planner. However, things are not as smooth as anticipated in sunny France as someone is trying to sabotage her wedding plans. Thankfully, things begin to perk up with the arrival of Floss, her friend in charge of food. Soon we see the indomitable duo breaking down obstacles and finding love amidst adversity.

        The vivid descriptions of delectable food and the accompanying wines are as tantalizing as they are mouthwatering. Caplin has once again crafted an unforgettable gem that will leave a lasting impression.

Meet the author:

Julie Caplin is addicted to travel and good food. She’s on a constant hunt for the perfect gin and is obsessively picky about glasses, tonic and garnishes. Between regular gin tastings, she’s been writing her debut novel which is set in just one of the many cities she’s explored over the years.

Formerly a PR director, for many years she swanned around Europe 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 trilogy, The Little Cafe in Copenhagen, The Little Brooklyn Bakery and The Little Paris Patisserie.