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A review by beate251
One Night at the Château: Escape to Provence with the Stunningly Feel-Good and Romantic New Story from the Bestselling Author! by Veronica Henry
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for this ARC.
Lismay and Piers bought Château Villette in Provence in 1985 after they discovered they couldn't have children. It was a somewhat spontaneous decision but they brought the château up to date and ran it like a B&B for 40 years.
Now Piers needs to get a hip operation and for some reason it has to be in London so they ask their goddaughter Connie to help out. Connie is 50, her husband has left her for an older model, her job has folded and she needs to sell the house, so she grasps the opportunity for a few months in the French sun with both hands, especially as she hopes to see Rémy Gaspard again who she had a fling with when she was younger and visiting.
There are quite a few flashbacks to 1985 which were interesting and gave Lismay and Piers more depth, but they took me out of Connie's story every time. Also, Piers and Lismay's complicated financial plan made no sense to me, nor did their business plan of "one night at the château". Daily handovers are a lot more labour intensive and expensive (so many sheets and towels to wash!) but apparently these two didn't have money problems, what with Piers earning well, and after selling their house being able to buy a small "bolthole" in London as well as renovating the château.
I loved the description of the French setting, with mouthwatering food and wine across the seasons. It's a lovely escapist story about bringing back to life not just a building but also the people connected with it. I loved all the characters, especially Lilou and new friend Fiona. The third-act break-up was annoying but it was the only conflict in an otherwise cosy and heartwarming story, full of people of all generations, helping each other out. The clean romance was not overpowering in this tale of friendship and second chances. Recommended.
Lismay and Piers bought Château Villette in Provence in 1985 after they discovered they couldn't have children. It was a somewhat spontaneous decision but they brought the château up to date and ran it like a B&B for 40 years.
Now Piers needs to get a hip operation and for some reason it has to be in London so they ask their goddaughter Connie to help out. Connie is 50, her husband has left her for an older model, her job has folded and she needs to sell the house, so she grasps the opportunity for a few months in the French sun with both hands, especially as she hopes to see Rémy Gaspard again who she had a fling with when she was younger and visiting.
There are quite a few flashbacks to 1985 which were interesting and gave Lismay and Piers more depth, but they took me out of Connie's story every time. Also, Piers and Lismay's complicated financial plan made no sense to me, nor did their business plan of "one night at the château". Daily handovers are a lot more labour intensive and expensive (so many sheets and towels to wash!) but apparently these two didn't have money problems, what with Piers earning well, and after selling their house being able to buy a small "bolthole" in London as well as renovating the château.
I loved the description of the French setting, with mouthwatering food and wine across the seasons. It's a lovely escapist story about bringing back to life not just a building but also the people connected with it. I loved all the characters, especially Lilou and new friend Fiona. The third-act break-up was annoying but it was the only conflict in an otherwise cosy and heartwarming story, full of people of all generations, helping each other out. The clean romance was not overpowering in this tale of friendship and second chances. Recommended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Alcohol