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A review by fiction_aficionado
The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters by Jaimie Admans
4.0
This was a great read, even if the overall premise was stretching the bounds of credibility a little. But I totally forgave that, because the story was worth it. I wasn’t sure what to make of the hero at the beginning, and I was worried that the whole premise would make it too easy for this story to become one of those all too prevalent lust-to-love romances, but Jaimie Admans took this story in a completely different direction and it was so much the better for it.
I can honestly say I DID laugh out loud several times (something that happens far too infrequently when I pick up so-called ‘laugh-out-loud’ romances), and I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between Wendy and Julian. (Although, for the record, this character totally did not feel like a Wendy to me. I’m glad it was written in first person, because it meant I was only occasionally reminded that she was supposedly a Wendy. Lol!)
But more than anything, I loved the way the relationship developed between the hero and heroine and the complex depths that were revealed in the hero in particular. I was rolling my eyes at the hero in the beginning (is there anything more boring than yet another muscle-bound, eye-candy hero? And a gym model, for goodness’ sakes?) but Admans turned that on its head and not only made me fall in love with Julian as a person, but thoroughly convinced me that Wendy fell in love with the man beneath the skin (and muscles).
It was the perfect blend of escapism, humour, and heart-felt romance, and the neglected castle, the French countryside, and the local village markets rounded it all out beautifully. I will definitely be picking up more of Admans’ stories!
I can honestly say I DID laugh out loud several times (something that happens far too infrequently when I pick up so-called ‘laugh-out-loud’ romances), and I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between Wendy and Julian. (Although, for the record, this character totally did not feel like a Wendy to me. I’m glad it was written in first person, because it meant I was only occasionally reminded that she was supposedly a Wendy. Lol!)
But more than anything, I loved the way the relationship developed between the hero and heroine and the complex depths that were revealed in the hero in particular. I was rolling my eyes at the hero in the beginning (is there anything more boring than yet another muscle-bound, eye-candy hero? And a gym model, for goodness’ sakes?) but Admans turned that on its head and not only made me fall in love with Julian as a person, but thoroughly convinced me that Wendy fell in love with the man beneath the skin (and muscles).
It was the perfect blend of escapism, humour, and heart-felt romance, and the neglected castle, the French countryside, and the local village markets rounded it all out beautifully. I will definitely be picking up more of Admans’ stories!