Liaison with the Champagne Count - Bronwyn Scott (HH #1768 - Jan 2024)

Series: Enterprising Widows (Book 1)
 
In a picturesque French château…
A battle of wills is about to ignite!
 
Julien Archambeau, Comte de Rocroi, has dedicated his life to reclaiming his family's lands. Only Lady Emma Greyville-Luce now stands in his way. The British heiress is the new owner of the vineyard that's the final piece of his plan. Much to Julien's frustration, Emma won't relinquish what's now hers, and soon it's not just champagne corks that start to fly, but sparks…of desire!
 
Good book. After the tragic death of her husband and being evicted from the family home by her stepson, Emma moved to the French property she inherited from her husband. Julien Archambeau, the estate manager, runs the chateau and accompanying vineyard. Emma doesn't know that Julien's family owned those lands until losing them during the French Revolution. His family has been trying to reclaim them ever since.
 
Emma's arrival shocked Julien, who had been in almost complete control for seven years. He and his uncle, who owns a neighboring vineyard, have been working on a special champagne and building their reputation with the local consortium. All that is put at risk when Emma states her intention to take over the running of the vineyard.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Emma and Julien develop. Initially, each was focused on their claims to the property. Emma is determined to ensure that Julien knows his place as working for her, while Julien wants to keep Emma as a figurehead while he continues to carry out his plans. Their first few encounters have antagonistic undertones despite the surface politeness. When Emma insists on learning about the vineyard, Julien tries to overwhelm her with information. He is stunned and impressed by how she soaks up and processes what she learns and the wealth of good ideas she has for the future of the vineyard.
 
It isn't long before he and Emma grow closer, with sparks of attraction flying between them. Emma feels guilty about her growing feelings for Julien. Giving in to the attraction accelerates those feelings, creating internal conflict. Emma also has some trust issues stemming from her pre-marriage days. Those feelings are exacerbated by the sense that Julien is not entirely open with her. When the truth comes out, Emma and Julien are left with hurt feelings and wondering what the future holds.
 
There are some interesting twists at the end, from Emma's confrontation with the consortium to the events of the gala she planned at the chateau. I loved the emotional ending, and the epilogue was terrific.
 
Julien's Uncle Etienne was the main secondary character. Etienne is obsessed with reclaiming the land lost seventy years earlier. He encourages Julien to do things that Julien considers underhanded and dishonorable to regain the property. I disliked how he created such an internal conflict for Julien between his loyalty to his family and his growing feelings for Emma.
 
My husband and I spent a week in Epernay this summer and enjoyed touring several champagne houses and learning about champagne's history. I loved the feeling of revisiting that trip as I read this book. 

A Manhattan Heiress in Paris - Amanda McCabe (HH #1716 - Apr 2023)

Leaving Manhattan…
For a secret Parisian affair…
 
New York darling Elizabeth Van Hoeven has everything…except freedom. But now Eliza's traveling to study piano at the Paris Conservatoire and falling for jazz prodigy Jack Coleman in the process! A love like theirs is forbidden back home, and as they make beautiful music together under the Parisian lights, Eliza and Jack face a difficult choice: the life they've always known, or the possibility of a life they never could have imagined…
 
Terrific romance of two musicians in the glittering world of 1920's Paris. But there are obstacles to their love thanks to social class and the prejudices of the time. The Paris setting and the inclusion of real-life figures, such as the Fitzgeralds, Picasso, Stravinsky, and others, made the story richer and drew me deeper into the book.
 
Eliza is the daughter of wealthy New Yorkers who is expected to make a good marriage and limit her musical efforts to entertaining friends and family. But for Eliza, music is her heart and soul, and marriage is the last thing on her mind. She is ecstatic when she receives an invitation to study at the Paris Conservatoire and convinces her parents to allow her to go alone. On the trip to Paris, she encounters Jack, a talented jazz musician whom she met at a club in New York.
 
Jack is excited to return to Paris. He spent some time there after the war and remembers the pleasure of being seen for himself, not for the color of his skin. Back in New York, the prospect of being a successful musician is slight, while the opportunities in Paris are vast. I loved the owner of Club d'Or, his support of Jack, and his plans for Jack's future at the club.
 
I liked Jack and Eliza's first couple of encounters. They met first as children, their joy in music forming an instant connection. Their second encounter was at a club in New York, where Jack was playing his trumpet. They recognized each other, and a brief conversation cemented their earlier connection. Neither expected to see each other again but discovered they were on the same boat to Paris - Eliza as a first-class passenger and Jack as a member of the ship's band. Once again, they are drawn to each other by their mutual love of music and their forbidden attraction.
 
I loved watching Eliza and Jack's relationship develop. Eliza is surprised and happy that life is very different in Paris. She is befriended by the Comtesse Chloe, who shows her a new world free of the restrictions and prejudices found back home. She and Jack spend as much time together as possible, learning about each other's lives and dreams. Eliza is sweetly naïve, and I loved witnessing her fascination with everything around her. Jack is more worldly and cynical yet determined to protect Eliza from the harsher realities.
 
Their relationship progresses happily until visitors from home bring reminders of the obstacles they face. Jack's cousin Leo brings trouble with him that spills over onto Jack. Meanwhile, Eliza's mother unexpectedly shows up after getting "disturbing" letters from a friend in Paris, determined to remind Eliza of family expectations. Even Eliza's cousin Mamie gets into the act, using her experiences to appeal to Jack's fears for Eliza. Everything comes to a head during a frightening scene at the club. I loved how Eliza's newfound confidence allowed her to stand up for herself and what was right for her. I liked the epilogue but would have enjoyed something a little further into the future to see how their lives are going.

Christmas Reunion in Paris - Liz Fielding (HR #4731 - Oct 2020)

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.