Celebrations at the Chateau by Jo Thomas

 

When their grandfather dies, Fliss and her sisters are astonished to inherit a French chateau! Travelling to Normandy to visit the beautiful if faded house, they excitedly make plans over delicious crepes and local cider in the town nearby.

They soon discover the chateau needs major work and a huge tax bill is due . . . Unable to sell but strapped for cash, Fliss determines to spruce up the elegant old rooms and open a B&B.

But Jacques, the handsome town mayor, is opposed to her plan. When it becomes clear that the only way to save the magnificent castle is to work together, Jacques and Fliss discover that they have more in common than they think...

Jo Thomas has done it again, delivered an uplifting atmospheric novel that whisked me away to an idyllic setting with a whole host of loveable and loathable characters whilst salivating over the delights on offer!

Fliss and her two sisters have found out they have inherited a chateau from their Grandfather yet they knew nothing about it. When they arrive in France expecting that they would be able to sell the chateau to share the inheritance they soon find out that there is a live in Chatelaine which prevents them from being able to sell.

Fliss decides to stay behind and try to get the chateau up and running and earning a profit again but with hostility from the locals can she really make the Chateau not only a financial success but bring the heart and life back into this once much loved part of the community.

I am a sucker for an episode of Escape to the Chateau and this novel was definitely channelling this vibe so I was hooked from the moment Fliss got stuck in on turning the chateau around. I would have loved to have read more on the clean up and fix up of the Chateau but I do love seeing a determined woman setting out to start a business so I loved seeing the bookings rolling in for Fliss.

Fliss was the perfect main character for me, she was your ordinary down to earth woman who has had her challenges in life with dyslexia and never quite finding her confidence and niche in work, however all her experiences she had learnt from previous jobs she managed to pull together to help her in her Chateau task.

There is a bumpy romance bobbing along for us romantics who enjoy watching relationships blossom. This was another wonderful storyline by Jo Thomas who never seems to disappoint, she is an author whose books I know I can always rely on to take me somewhere new and enticing with engaging characters and danger to the waist line!

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