Series:
Christmas at the Harrington Park Hotel (Book 1)
A Parisian reunion
With the one that got away!
Celebrity chef James Harrington never expected to find
himself face-to-face with Chloe, his first love, again… Especially with her
working as a chambermaid at his luxury hotel! Their chemistry's as strong as
ever, but it's clear she's hiding a secret. This Christmas, can James convince
Chloe that their love is worth taking a chance on -- again?
Good second chance story. James and Chloe were boarding
school/high school sweethearts who were separated thanks to parental
interference. Chloe's wealthy parents didn't think James met their standards
and, combined with other reasons, pulled her from school without allowing her
to see him again.
Ten years later, Chloe has broken with her parents and is
living life on her terms. While saving every penny to finance her dream, Chloe
works multiple jobs, including as a chambermaid at a luxury Paris hotel. She's
shocked when the room's inhabitant shows up, and it's her old boyfriend, James!
Panicking, she ran from the hotel, devastated that he saw how low she'd fallen.
Meanwhile, James was motionless with shock, and by the time he recovered, she
was gone. Not to be deterred, the next morning, he discovered where she lived
and went to see her. Their reunion was even more passionate than their teenage
relationship had been. The chemistry between them was explosive and undeniable.
I enjoyed watching the rekindling of Chloe and James's
relationship. It was sweet, emotional, frustrating, and heartbreaking. In the
years since they last saw each other, Chloe took control of her life,
determined that no one would ever have the power to tell her what to do or control
what she did. James walked away from school and pursued his dream of becoming a
chef after a fruitless search for Chloe. He now has a Michelin-starred
restaurant, an upcoming book, and a possible television show. James is
determined that Chloe will return to London with him and pulls out all the
stops to convince her.
Seeing him romance her with sightseeing in Paris,
romantic dinners, and fun activities was sweet. Chloe soaks up the time with
him, determined to enjoy every minute. But both have issues that create
obstacles to their happy ever after. I very quickly wanted to grab James and
shake him. He has so many grand plans for them, but he never once stops to
discuss them with Chloe. When she tries to protest, he steamrolls past her
objections. Chloe has spent years shoring up her confidence and ability to
stand on her own two feet, and she isn't about to give up that independence,
even for James.
The moment of truth came when Chloe put her foot down and
refused to go along with his plans. Harsh words are exchanged when Chloe calls
James on his controlling attitude and actions. I felt his shock and anger when
she compared him to her father and his hurt that she felt that way. He lashed
out with his own accusations, such as telling her she's still letting her
father affect her life. I ached for them both as they parted in anger, without
knowing if a future together was possible. Each had some self-reflection to do
and truths to realize. I loved that James had some help from his sister, Sally,
who had no trouble pointing out the error of his ways. I loved Chloe's epiphany
and how she handled it. The scene in the lawyer's office was terrific, and I
loved seeing her shake loose the final chains of her past.
I loved the ending. I especially enjoyed the changes in
James. His arrival in Paris and his reunion with Chloe were emotional and
eye-opening for Chloe. Rather than the usual reunion, confession of love, and proposal,
James realizes he has some work to do to convince Chloe that he's changed. I
loved his plans to do things the right way, and it was sweet to see him stick
to them. I loved watching the blossoming of their new relationship. We also see
that James and Chloe are at crossroads in their professional and personal
lives, and I loved seeing their paths come together. The epilogue was
fantastic, and I loved seeing what they did with that new life.
My favorite part of the book was the segment covering
their weekend trip to the chateau. It was the one time that James and Chloe
were on the same page, and their cooperation and teamwork were fantastic.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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