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Love at First Chateau

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It's official, at twenty-nine my life has finally hit that looming dead end.
With my art career failing and my bank account with more withdrawals than deposits, eviction from my New York apartment seems like more of a promise, than a possibility.
My only option at this point is to move in with my mother - which would be a catastrophe.
It could very well result in an accidental homicide...hers or mine.
Orange is definitely not my color.
And jail time is totally not on my bingo card this year.

I guess neither is inheriting my great-uncle's run-down, abandonded château in Southern France. Taking it as a sign – and being just desperate enough to do the unthinkable – I uproot my life and move to Carcen to fix up a château.

Only problem? I dont speak a lick of French and have absolutely no clue where Carcen is.
And sometimes the universe has a crappy sense of humor, because there's a catch. Jean-Luc Badeaux, is contesting the will for his own share in Château des Éveilliés.

Making matters worse? we have to live in the chateau for six months – together– while we restore the property to its former glory or risk forfeiting it completely.
Seems easy right?
Wrong!
From the moment we meet, Luc is hellbent on sending me packing back to America. But i'm determined to fight for the best thing thats happened to me in a long time. I'm not going anywhere, and i'll do whatever it takes to show Luc, i'm exactly where i belong.

414 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2024

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About the author

Caroline Masci

7 books52 followers

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5 stars
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37 (27%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
Profile Image for samyra.
95 reviews50 followers
June 29, 2024
”𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁. 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁, 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯.”


4/5 ⭐

add to your tbr if you love:

🏰 found family
🏰 enemies to lovers
🏰 behind closed doors
🏰 forced proximity


rory has been facing some problems with her art, a lot of rejections and the fact that her mother does not support her dreams makes this story even harder for her. she has been reaching for something in life but has found herself loosing more and more hope as time goes by. she had lost her father when she was a teenager and with that, one of the only people that could have really encouraged and helped her; everything changes when she gets a knock on the door of the apartment she was soon going to be evicted to.

aurora’s story truly begins when she decides to find herself by leaving everything behind and truly going after what was left for her, the last thing that her father would have wanted; the chateau des évilles located in france. in a matter of days she left the country and the people that had known her behind for a chance and hope of a new start.

in the small town of cancern, aurora is able to find her inspiration, a found family and everything that restored what was once lost inside her soul. there is a light to these people around the town, something that makes her feel alive. people support her. friends are made. relationships are born! and with that, the hope shines inside of her.

this story is a perfect example of a hallmark rom-com, with enemies to lovers who secretly share a burning passion behind close doors and can only find peace within each other. they work their hardest to restore the chateau to open the doors and have the people of the small town, welcome into this place that has brought joy to so many people.

romance is in the air, hope is burning within them and people are able to find their paths when they were once lost. give yourself a chance, this book is a reminder that although it all seems lost, things will find their way into your life when you least expect it!
Profile Image for Julie Beaty.
18 reviews
July 1, 2024
Absolutely loved this book! Such a quick and easy read which is helping me to slowly come out of my reading hibernation 😂

So many cute and funny moments that are full of banter! Aurora and Jean-Luc are adorable! The pining and the rivals to lovers is always a winner in my eyes.

I love decorating and fixer uppers so this book was right up my alley and Caroline has done it again!

I did receive an ARC for this and I cannot thank Caroline enough and I cannot wait for more!

Highly recommend! Loved it 🩷
Profile Image for Kylie ve.
322 reviews65 followers
December 16, 2024
I actually really loved this book and all the characters in it. It was genuinely such a good rom-com book I wish it was a movie. I love the found family aspect of it and how funny it was with everyone’s banter and pranks they pulled on each other. Very good book!
Profile Image for ✨alexandria✨.
78 reviews20 followers
February 18, 2025
review !

After reading this book, I’m left feeling a bit conflicted & confused. I feel as though this could had gone much more in-depth in many areas, and had more meaningful dialogue/internal discussions. It felt at times as though things that were said, weren’t followed up with later on. Also, Luc is SUPER immature. He honestly angered me a lot through this book. At the end is where I had my breaking point though. When he took over the mic and claimed he was the owner/the one in charge. I felt myself getting actually very angry. Then, she just forgave him & moved on. He only decides near the end that she should be the full owner, and signs his rights away. It’s a very conflicting dynamic. Luc and Aurora were very up and down emotionally. And, how things were very contradicting. Besides all of that, I did enjoy the storyline & the idea of the story. I wish things were further explored upon, but it was still pretty good, nonetheless.
Profile Image for yeonjoo.
205 reviews20 followers
July 12, 2024
4⭐️

Such a well-written book!!! The characters felt so realistic and really fresh, making this a very fun and quick read!🥰
I really enjoyed the whole Southern France feel and all the French little accents made the book even more enjoyable! 🥹
I’ve always had a soft spot for France and especially the Provence. So, being able to read a cute little romcom about two “rivals” having to team up in order to fix a chateau in the most beautiful parts of France? COUNT ME IN!!!!!

Please consider giving it a try, if you like…:
✨France setting
✨forced proximity
✨one bed
✨found family 😭
✨golden retriever mmc

~arc for honest review~
Profile Image for Morgan 📚.
266 reviews9 followers
June 27, 2024
eARC Review:

Let me start out saying I LOVED THIS BOOK! Like truly and deeply loved this book. It felt like a breath of fresh air and a hug after a long day.

This is the perfect example of a good rom-com! Like paging Hallmark, I gotta a great story for you to make into a movie that is a good one! (Not one of those typical cheesy ones they have but like a legit good one)

This is a great book with found family. You loved everyone as equally, and they all had much heart and humor. The characters are the kind of characters I would invite over for any and every family function, because with them it will be a good time.

The story kept me hooked, and made me stay until the end. I could not put this down and will be forcing everyone I know to read it.

Also Luc + Rory ♥️
Profile Image for Meghan Brown.
73 reviews2 followers
July 6, 2024
As someone who spends more time than I should watching “we bought a castle and renovated it” content I was really excited by the premise of this book.
The concept of a young woman who feels like a failure being gifted a shot at a new life in a new place that honors her beloved, deceased father’s memory is lovely. Small town France and a cast of new, loyal friends is charming.
Unfortunately, there were issues with the execution of the rest of the story. There were numerous wording and punctuation errors throughout the text which were distracting. The main characters acted immaturely, and I didn’t find those qualities to be attractive either romantically or platonically. The relationships between people in the story were not believable, and the plotting relied heavily on telling rather than showing. Though both main characters are insistent that they WILL BE THE ONLY ONES TO OWN THE CHATEAU the reader never really understands quite why it’s so important to either of them that they own it alone.
***spoilers ahead***
The primary third act conflict come out of nowhere when Aurora is suddenly paranoid about Luc’s motives and acts quite ridiculously in a public setting. Compare this with how she behaves when she discovers that another character has been withholding his familial relationship to her for months and the character development doesn’t make much sense.
***end spoilers***
This concept was great, and could have benefitted from more editing in the review process to insert foreshadowing, clean up errors, and provide continuity to character behavior.
Profile Image for amber.
118 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2024
3.5 stars.

Thank you so much to Caroline Masci and Love Notes PR for the ARC of this book.

After her art career goes up in flames, Aurora believes she’s out of luck, trying to accept the fact that she might have to move back in with her mother who is nothing but judgemental. When one morning a French Attorney shows up at her doorstep with some news that will change everything.

After being told she has inherited a chateau and has 6 months to restore it, Aurora packs up her life and moves to the small town of Carcen in France. The only stipulation of the will, Aurora has to work with the infuriating Jean-Luc who solely believes the chateau should belong to him and only him.

Luc is on a mission. Once he finds out the Chateau he loved growing up has been left to him and one other person, he does everything he can to ensure he can be the sole owner, what he wasn’t expecting, was the firecracker that is Aurora to be dropped on the doorstep and she’s not leaving without a fight.

The way these two fit so well together was amazing, the fighting and pranks that happened had me laughing. I loved watching them try to scare the other one away but if anything, it just proved the chemistry and sexual tension between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

The found family trope was so strong and clear, Aurora went from feeling she had no one to gaining a whole family through a couple of sentences in a dead persons will. It was so beautiful to watch and how they all supported her when it came to her art after feeling she was coming to a dead end. I loved some of the relationships that came from this book and how they grew.

My main stipulation with this book was I felt the ending was very rushed, they hit a snag in the road and one second the main characters weren’t together but then in the space of 2 pages they kind of were. It threw me off slightly but didn’t make me dislike the book in anyway, if anything I still enjoyed it knowing they got their happy ending.

Overall i enjoyed the book and the writing style, watching enemies become lovers will never get old!!
Profile Image for EllieGraceReads.
562 reviews10 followers
June 24, 2024
I was lucky enough to alpha read this and I absolutely adore the book it has become!

This story follows Aurora and Jean-Luc who have inherited a Chateau in a small french town named Carcen. They both want it for themselves and will do anything they can to make sure the other forfeits their share.

I love Aurora so much, i think she’s going to be my favourite FMCs of Caroline’s! Her character development is written so well and I loved to see her find her happy ending and make friendships that are more like family.

Jean-Luc is born and raised in Carcen and wants to keep the Chateau that he grew up visiting for himself. I love him so much, he is so sweet to Aurora when he isnt pranking her and is just the sweetest guy. One of the best book boyfriends!

As much as these two claim to hate each other they have some really cute moments and when they own up to their feelings they are so adorable and I just love them so much. Their pranks are so funny and they have such great banter!
All the side characters really add to this story too! I love the found family trope and Caroline always writes it so well!!

I’ve had a great time being apart of this books journey and seeing it develop, you can really see how hard Caroline Masci works and all the hours she put in. I’ve read this book quite a few times and never once been bored which really shows how fun this book is! Thank you Caroline for letting be apart of your writing journey🥹🫶
Profile Image for Just_a_nerd_withcats.
148 reviews17 followers
July 12, 2024
Thank you @lovenotes.pr and @author_carolinemasci for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Aurora's career as an artist is failing. She has been rejected from the art gallery her father showcased his art in and her mother is not supportive of her or her dreams. A knock on the door and everything is changing. She has inherited her great-uncle's run-down, abandoned chateau in Southern France. So she takes it as a sign and moves to France. Only to find there is a catch. Jean-Luc Badeaux, is contesting the will for his own share in the chateau and they have to live in it for six month while they restore the chateau to its former glory or forfeiting it completely.

This was definitely a comedy rom-com. There were many cute and funny moments. The banter between the main characters ❤️ The prank war Aurora and Luc has going on, made me laugh. I loved all the characters. They really added the feel of family to the story. It was a perfect blend of humour, romance, and personal growth.

The storyline with Timothé felt a little off. I wished it had come before the end and a little more in depth with it.
Profile Image for Toni (fictionbooknook).
241 reviews8 followers
July 10, 2024
ARC REVIEW

I’m all for far out ideas but this one didn’t seem to click for me unfortunately. Love the idea of inheriting a chateau from a long lost family member. It didn’t really make sense to me that Luc would inherit the other half (why Louis would agree to that), I don’t know. I loved that Aurora had no clue about demoing and restoring a chalet, but yet stepped into the many different roles the chateau needed seamlessly. I could have done with the whole “women are bad drivers” trope however. Mostly I struggled with this book because I did not feel I could connect to the characters at all. I didn’t feel like their chemistry jumped off the page. I think it had many great elements, and I enjoyed the scenery/descriptiveness as well as Aurora’s painting the most! I will have to give Caroline’s other books a try at some point for sure.

Thank you Caroline Masci and Love Notes PR for providing me with this eARC!

*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Emily.
855 reviews36 followers
July 3, 2024
I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

Love at First Chateau is a delightful and heartwarming tale of reinvention, romance, and the magic of new beginnings. This charming novel whisks readers away to the picturesque countryside of Southern France, where unexpected love blossoms amidst the trials of restoring an abandoned château.

Aurora's life in New York is crumbling, with her art career floundering and eviction looming. Faced with the prospect of moving in with her mother, Aurora sees an unexpected inheritance as her saving grace. Inheriting her great-uncle's dilapidated château in Carcen, France, she makes the bold decision to uproot her life and embark on a new adventure, despite not knowing a word of French.

Enter Jean-Luc Badeaux, the handsome but infuriating man contesting the will. Forced to live together in the château for six months while they restore it, Aurora and Luc clash from the start. Luc is determined to send her back to America, but Aurora is equally determined to prove she belongs.

Their fiery interactions and the slow-burn romance that develops are beautifully written, making for an engaging and emotional read. Masci masterfully captures the charm of the French countryside, the challenges of renovating a historic property, and the journey of two people learning to trust and love again.

Love at First Chateau is a perfect blend of humour, romance, and personal growth. It’s a story about finding home in the most unexpected places and discovering that love can be the best adventure of all. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a feel-good escape with plenty of heart
Profile Image for Pauline.
57 reviews
July 12, 2024
I love the fairy tale like theme of the story, where straggling artist inherits a chateau in France. It’s a set up for a really good romance.

I adore Aurora and Luc. The banter was bantering and all the scenes were cute and idyllic.

The storytelling was good. I love how it was an easy read. Very entertaining which is what I look for in a book.


Profile Image for autwenreads.
627 reviews22 followers
July 7, 2024
2.5/5

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I was okay. It’s a fun, fast read with a touch of mystery. The plot is interesting, but the writing and pacing were a bit off.

I didn't feel the chemistry between Aurora and Luc as a couple, and they sometimes acted younger than their age (immature). The banter between the characters was fun and entertaining. However, the found family element with Aurora, Madeline, Henry, Andre, and Pierre was heartwarming.

Thank you Love Notes PR and Caroline Masci for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for ❅ Karen ❅.
319 reviews97 followers
July 24, 2024
* ARC * Grumpy/Sunshine
This book was not what I expected. I thought, oohh enemies-to-lovers, perfect! It'll have spice and bickering, but it had so much more. I felt like I was watching a movie. The author did an amazing job when writing what she created. I could envision exactly what she was describing and I don't get that with many books.
You follow Aurora, who is a starving artist trying to live up to her father's legacy. And Luc, a French architect, who is trying to get what is his. They create this relationship where they bicker and flirt. It's just amazing! I loved seeing their relationship grow. And the PRANKS... oh my goodness I was living for it!

🌶🌶/5
Profile Image for Ehva .
373 reviews8 followers
June 28, 2024
Rating: 5 stars 😫

This book was incredible. I adored it so much, the vibes, the enemies to lovers, the dirty mouth MMC and the feisty FMC. Everything was done so perfectly well. The book takes place mainly in France, in the town of Carcen, and it's done so well. The author is absolutely brilliant, the writing is on point. The dialogue is fantastic especially the banter 😂😏

Aurora finds out one random morning that she's inherited a chateau from her great grand-uncle, who she never even knew existed, all the way in Carcen, France. When she arrives in Carcen to find out what is going on, she meets a handsome and captivating stranger named Luc at the reception to the hotel she booked at. They're both attracted to one another and can't deny their chemistry. Going back to the chateau, she finds out that half of it has been given to a man named Jean-Luc Badeaux III 😏🤭

Fast forward a few days and she realises that her handsome date is actually him 😨 they're both stunned, angry and annoyed by each other's presence, since they each want the chateau for themselves. They plan to drive the other out by making the other's life miserable but fate has other plans 😏😎🔥

Aurora is a feisty, beautiful and strong minded woman. She's bold, humorous, intelligent, witty and not to mention she has a knack for pranks 😏 She's also a struggling artist, who needs to make her mark in the world. I could relate to her and quite honestly found myself wishing for my very own Luc someday 😫❤

Luc is WOW. He's charming, captivating, handsome, a gentleman, intriguing and loves damn hard. He knows what he wants and it isn't only the chateau. He's also an architect, which makes things interesting for him and Auroras plans. The mouth on this man 😫 I blushed so damn hard everytime he said something remotely filthy 🔥

I absolutely loved them so much and I'm seriously awaiting more beautiful books from Caroline ❤ You are a gem. You guys, if you haven't picked them up yet, you need to do so asap.
Profile Image for Samantha.
215 reviews7 followers
July 12, 2024
I loved this storyline and felt it was fresh and interesting. I was looking forward to being transported to the French countryside and following our MC's as they worked to restore a beautiful Chateau.

We are introduced to Aurora first, and I felt invested in her character immediately as we were given a brief background into her life. When she finds out she has been left a Chateau by a relative in France, it's an adventure of a lifetime, and it's the escape she needs after a string of bad luck. I enjoyed following her on her journey as she braves a new country on her own and pours her heart and soul into restoring this beautiful Chateau. Jean-Luc was very charming, but he wasn't going to let anyone get in his way, especially Aurora.

I loved the found family in this book. Aurora doesn't have a great relationship with her mum, and she lost her dad, so when she started building a relationship with Henry and his son André it warmed my heart. The relationship with Aurora and André was so fun, and they acted like brother and sister, which I imagine made her feel safe and welcome. The banter and rivalry between Rory and Luc was written well, and I enjoyed the back and forth between them both, especially given the obvious attraction between the two. The pranks they played on each other were hilarious. They slowly began working together and, realising they had the same goals and visions for what the future of the Chateau should look like, grew closer as they realised they weren't enemies. However, I felt their relationship started going downhill for me halfway through.

Their arguments and snide remarks about each other seemed childish and almost forced at this point as they had already opened up about their personal lives, how much the Chateau meant to them and confessed their feelings for each. You'd think adults would sit and discuss a way to work together if they found out they had the same goal. I understand that they had agreed their relationship would be their secret in the home they shared, but it still felt a little awkward and in my opinion unnecessary when they would make harsh remarks and betray each other in order to claim the Chateau for themselves. This tainted their relationship and their character development for me, which made me lose interest towards the end. Especially when Rory couldn't see that Jean-Luc was trying to help her, and she became defensive all the time. This is where my hatred towards the infamous miscommunication trope comes in. In some cases, it is a necessary evil, but it's not always needed.

The storyline regarding Rory's art and Timothé felt a little rushed towards the end. Both were mentioned at the beginning and Timothé made visits throughout, but I really wish it had spread out a bit more as it all was happening at the same time towards the end and took away from the importance of it causing it to fall a little flat.

Thank you to LoveNotes PR and the author for allowing me to read and eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sherry .
373 reviews17 followers
July 1, 2024
ARC REVIEW:

The book is set against the backdrop of a small town in Burgundy, France. The main characters in this book are Aurora and Jean-Luc.

The story goes as there is this 12th century Chateau which has been left behind in a will to two people Aurora and Jean-Luc. Aurora is the direct descendant of Louis Monet and by will she inherited the Chateau whereas Luc also inherited the Chateau but with a clause that they both have to co-operate and restore the Chateau in 6 months and for that period they both have to live together.

The book is fine, some of you may love it, but what didn't work for me is:

1. Their first meeting was full of flirting even though Aurora doesn't know French.

2. On the second night of her stay, Jean-Luc invites her for drinks and she agrees to it also, only to be making out with him in the bar.

3. Until then she doesn't realise that Luc is Jean-Luc, and when he introduces himself, all the heat she felt for him doused out and suddenly he became her enemy number one.

4. He visits her and tells her his part of the story and wants her to sell her rights to him, but she denies and then starts the hating game.

The flip of emotions was very off-putting for me. I mean in one moment you're feeling hot for the guy and another moment it's like a bucket of cold water has been poured on you. The chemistry between them doesn't seem natural to me but a bit forced and besides the characters seemed a bit confusing to me.

Although they found their way towards each other as it was predictable, the plot of the book was a bit amateur, it wasn't sufficient for me to keep me hooked.

But again that's my personal opinion, some of you may love the book. Since it has already been released, go grab your copies and make up your own mind.

PS: Thank you to the author and the PR Agency for the copy of ARC in exchange for an honest opinion/review. And sorry for posting it a bit late, there was some personal situation going on.
Profile Image for kaylaschapterchats.
580 reviews33 followers
June 26, 2024
I love Aurora and Luc so much!!! ❤️❤️❤️

So firstly, we have Aurora (Rory). I love Aurora's personality. She is really funny, smart and just has great banter with everyone. She is definitely feeling lost in her life. I think she thought that her life would lead her in the right direction from the get go but it didn't really work out that way. She finds herself the new co owner of a Chateau that comes with certain stipulations...

Our mmc is Luc. He is described as having stunning model like features. Immediately, I loved Luc. He was so kind and caring towards Rory, if not a little flirtatious and stern at times but they had instant chemistry. Over time, we learn alot more about Luc and why he wants the Chateau so much.

The plot was amazing. It was a little spicy but I really loved the plot and that's what drew me in. I enjoyed how the relationship between Rory and Luc progressed. Yes, there was a connection but when Aurora learned who Luc truly was she fought tooth and nail with him and I was hooked. What Luc and Rory had was something so genuine and even though it takes them a while to figure it out, it was the right way in my personal opinion. They are just so fun together and they suit each other so well. I also really loved the found family aspect between herself, Madeline, Henry, Andre and Pierre. They all got along like a house on fire and Rory found a true family and somewhere where she did belong.

Caroline, yet again, you've written an amazing story!!! 😊😊😊

Thank you so much to Caroline and the amazing team at Love Notes PR for giving me the chance to read this story. I am forever grateful 🙏 All opinions are honest and my own ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

🩷 enemies to lovers
🩷 found family
🩷 forced proximity
🩷 one bed
🩷 small town
🩷 pranking
🩷 architect x artist


Profile Image for Victoria.
255 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2024
Before I met you, my sky was gray and the clouds black, and now they shine as blue as the sea


Tropes:
🎨 Small Town
🎨 Enemies to Lovers
🎨 Forced Proximity
🎨 Golden Retriever x Black Cat
🎨 Found Family
🎨 One Bed
🎨 Artist x Architect


🎨 ARC Review 🎨

I absolutely enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up. When you read this book, you can feel all the emotions of the characters 🥺💗 The writing is so beautiful, it really emphasizes the feelings of the characters throughout the book and creates this amazing new world you can't help but fall in love 💗 I wish I was living in Carcen with Jean-Luc 🥺

I'm so in love with Aurora - she's my favorite 🥺💗 Her character development is so well written and I loved seeing her find her happy ending and make friendships that are more like family. Her friendship with Madeline was so adorable. Also, I loved how Henry & André were always there for each other and were like a second family to her 😭💗

Jean-Luc, I love you so much – he is the perfect book boyfriend 😭💗He was so kind and caring to Rory - right from the start he was in love with her. I loved how he always called Aurora Impératrice 😭💗 Also, I loved how he wanted everyone to see how talented she was - believed in her and her talent 🥹💗

I absolutely love how the relationship between Rory and Luc developed. Right from the start there was a connection between them, but when Aurora found out who Luc really was, she fought him tooth and nail and I was hooked 💗

What Luc and Rory had was so genuine and both of them were everything together. The Found Family between Aurora, Madeline, Henry, Andre, and Pierre. All of them loved Aurora and were always there for her. Aurora deserves everything - she has found a real family and a place where she belongs 🥹💗

When can we move to Carcen? 🤭

Thank you so much Caroline for the ARC 🫶🏻💗
Profile Image for Bella Street.
281 reviews6 followers
July 8, 2024
This one gave me all the hallmark vibes and I loved that. There were many moments where I found myself completely immersed in the books and there were others where I just found the scenes useless or bogged down by way too much description. I adored their banter which definitely hit the mark where enemies to lovers is concerned. But there were also moments where their banter and shenanigans felt very childish and not at all like their characters. I do wish we could've gotten a chapter or 2 of Luc’s POV. Maybe add that to a special version of the book? I just felt without his view at least once their relationship sometimes fell flat. They had enough chemistry, but at the same time it felt forced to me. But, again, that could probably be rectified with some chapters in Luc’s POV. There’s not a ton of romance, but it’s the perfect amount for the book. It’s more of Aurora’s self discovery and learning how to survive in a new place with new friends than a romance and that felt so special. It was overly focused on the building of the chateau, but it did help paint the picture well. It is very hallmark-esque and lighthearted and I adored getting to see Aurora develop all of the relationships with all of the characters. I just felt like it was too slow paced to be captivating, but I did still enjoy it. As I was reading I noticed I kept wishing it was a movie, because this would be perfect for the big screen. I loved Aurora and Madeline's relationship and if Madeline got her own book I would read that SO FAST. I would definitely reread it again as I did enjoy it. It just didn’t hit the mark in some places and wasn’t as consuming as I would have liked. I would like to note that I could picture everything perfectly. I would love to read another of her books and give her another try!
18 reviews1 follower
September 10, 2024
Great story!

Love at First Chateau had me hooked with its charming story and adorable romance, but I have to admit, the writing was a bit hit-or-miss in places. While the plot and characters delivered on the fun and feels, there were some sloppy parts and noticeable errors that pulled me out of the story at times. 📝Jean-Luc, the charismatic and irresistible hero, was an absolute standout. His charm was balanced by his vulnerability, making his development one of the highlights of the book. Watching him slowly open up, all while maintaining his dry sense of humor, made him feel like a real, complex character. Plus, his interactions with Aurora were equal parts flirty and heartfelt, keeping me invested in their relationship throughout.Aurora, on the other hand, brought all the sunshine and sass. Her quick wit and determination made her an easy character to root for. I especially loved how she didn’t let the picturesque setting or any obstacles stop her from chasing what she wanted. She was the perfect match for Jean-Luc, and their dynamic was pure romcom magic. 💫One of the best parts of the book was their hilarious prank war, as they both tried to drive the other one out of the chateau. From sabotaging the town's festival to ridiculous pranks, their battle of wills was full of laugh-out-loud moments. The escalating antics gave the story so much comedic flair and tension, keeping me eager to see who would give in first—or fall for the other. It was a perfect setup for the slow-burn romance that followed.Tropes you’ll love:Found family 🏡Small-town romance 🌿Prank war 💥Sunshine and humor 🌟Slow burn 🔥If you’re looking for a light, feel-good romcom, and can look past some mid-level writing, Love at First Chateau is still a solid pick! 📚
Profile Image for Lottie.
153 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2024
This book was everything! I already wish I could read it for the first time again🥹 The relationship that built between aurora and luc was so sweet but their enemies to lovers story was also so so funny, their prank wars had me cackling😂 This book was also just genuinely so nice to read, I wad smiling so hard at some parts my face hurt and I'm so happy for aurora and her found family!

I loved aurora as a character, she was so funny and despite doubting herself alot, she was self assured and It was nice to see her fitting in to her new settings so well! I also loved the French aspects of this book it was so interesting and seeing a foreign language in a book always excites me when I have to translate it (but I know French so I got most of it😌) I think her being an artist renovating a château was the perfect choice for the book because it was so nice to read how she put her own personality into it.

Luc is definitely the book boyfriend I need to add to my forever growing pile! He was so cute and romantic at times but he also had the book boyfriend quality if you know what I mean😏 also he's French so that just does it in itself, his nickname for aurora was so cute ahh (impératrice) I don't know if I spelt that right😭😂 he definitely was a goner for aurora though you could tell from the start and he was what she needed to become the confident person she couldn't be before💗

Overall the storyline was really well thought out and it had the mystery to it with Louis letter and the jewels but it also had the cute everyday stuff which I think makes me really able to connect with the characters and their lives!

Thank you so much for the chance to read the arc 💗💗
Profile Image for Sabrina.
731 reviews19 followers
June 29, 2024
Special thanks to Caroline Masci and Love Notes PR for the eARC of Love at First Chateau. Out now!

3.75-4 ⭐️

Tropes:
🥖enemies to lovers
🥖childish pranks
🥖french countryside
🥖friends with benefits

With little prospects on being featured at an art gallery, when Aurora receives news that her great-uncle has left her a chateau in the French countryside, she feels good about a change in pace. The only problem is…she’s not the only one that got the chateau. Aurora and Jean-Luc will have to look beyond their differences to renovate the chateau within her great-uncle’s timeline or else they’ll both lose it…unless one of them gives it up.

Overall, I thought the story was really cute. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be in the French countryside with new friends and access to unlimited pastries. But the book was giving a lot of Hallmark and cheesy romcom vibes when you look at it as a whole. While the pranks that Aurora and Jean-Luc played on each other were fun in the beginning, they got pretty old fast and I think detracted from the story as a whole. I also feel like it dragged on a little bit with all the renovations and childish play between the two. There was a very slight mystery plot that i wish had been more fun, but it probably was just a side plot anyways lol. And i wish we got a dual-POV with Jean-Luc, but oh well.

If you want a cute, low spice read, i’d definitely recommend

Profile Image for Emily Beckham.
21 reviews
July 12, 2024
4⭐️
i’ve read one other book by Caroline Masci (Make Me) and i really liked that one, so honestly, i had expectations for this one.
safe to say, i still enjoy her writing!
aurora and jean-luc’s story is full of banter, silly pranks, sweet moments, pining(!!!), found family aspects, and beautiful scenery. i personally think this is one of the better found family tropes books i’ve read because i could truly feel rory’s comfort and love as the story went on. her character development was also something i really enjoyed witnessing. it takes a lot of courage and strength to go thru what she has and then decide to completely start over, where she is ultimately meant to be.
luc and his banter had me giggling so dang much and his sweet moments had me blushing. like why do all the best men have to be fictional😭. i really love the pair of them together and their emotional depth.
so basically what im saying is, if you are down for a rivals-to-lovers slowburn with forced proximity that leads to pranks while they renovate a chateau in the beautiful french countryside where they gradually start pining for each other and have emotional growth together, then this is the perfect book for you!!
this just further affirmed that Caroline Masci and her books will definitely remain on my radar! and i would also like to say thank you to her and LoveNotes PR for allowing me the chance to read this arc!! 💕
Profile Image for Jess.
58 reviews11 followers
July 12, 2024
First, thank you so much LoveNotes PR for choosing me to receive an eARC. I appreciate it so much.

I love romcoms so much and have really tried to make a point of reading more of them this year. When I read the description of this one it was automatically added to my TBR list.
It gives off major 90’s- early 2000’s romantic comedy and was just the palate cleanse I needed.

Starting off with our FMC’s life pretty much falling to pieces right as this outrageous offer of “you inherited a chateau in France, all you gotta do is move there right now and fix it up” comes in to play. So of course, she accepts the offer without much thought.
Knowing no French, basically nothing about the country, and hardly reading the contract throws Aurora right into some pretty wild scenarios.
A hot Frenchman she just met and now has to live with, a renovation team that becomes like family, a series of mishaps, and a competition to keep the chateau.

Some flow of the story did throw me off though. There are some scenes where Aurora is talking to one character and a few lines later that character is now Luc. And a couple pages of random scene jumping that I had to stop and reread a few times to try and figure out where we ended up. It pulled me out of the story, but since it’s not an intense read it was easy to figure it out and jump back in.

All in all, it was light, fun, cutesy romantic, and definitely felt like I could imagine a movie in my head as I was reading.
Profile Image for melina :) .
32 reviews49 followers
July 15, 2024
—> 1 ⭐️
I’m sorry?

i had been lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book but I would lie if I said I wasn‘t a little disappointed. The tropes and the plot sounded so so good but the overall execution was just not what I would have liked it to be. It felt rushed?? And omg it was so obvious who Luc was…. I mean ms gurl that was literally his name 😭😭

How was it spicy but not?? Like the intervals were just so… off. Wdym you only do it like this and like that and never talk about it but next time you say he gave you countless orgsms?

Also this made me cringe so so often, let me recap for you:

— pears and figsticks instead of swearing cuz she was brought up ladylike
— she GROWLED
— her throwing a tantrum and shattering glass like a child
— she painted the windows and when André asked she told a whole ass legend and storyline?? Girl it’s just a window 😤

It was an experience for sure but not one I would want to go through again ☺️☺️

I skimmed over the last 50 pages because I couldn‘t stand it anymore… like, let me leaveee 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

I wanted so much from this book but I feel bad saying I didn’t get anything other than the phrase pear and figsticks etched into my brain 🧠

as I said though, the tropes she chose like found family, etc were great and if the writing and execution would have been better this would have definitely been at least a 3 star read! No hate to the author herself! Her idea was immaculate but this was just not it for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Robyn.
148 reviews14 followers
July 3, 2024
I was on board the second I heard about the Found Family trope in this beauty. Add in the Banter that just keeps giving?! It's utter perfection!

Aurora is a down-on-her-luck starving artist just trying to break into the very tough art world. Feeling lost and seemingly spiralling, she finds out she's inherited a chateau in the Burgundy region of France (still waiting on my surprise inheritance over here... or my letter to that magical school for witches and wizards....) Deciding it's time for a change, she goes to France! And what follows is every young girl obsessed with Hallmark movie's dream!

Luc is brilliant, cheeky, stubborn. Basically all the things you want in a leading man. He's romantic, a bit of a prankster but he's also loyal and caring and is a good friend. Even if he wasn't the love interest, you'd want him on your side. He shows he cares in the little things, small gestures and large ones, too. He goes the mile.

I wouldn't consider this one a very spicy book. It's there but it's almost closed door. There's no detail at all, which you honestly don't notice. The plot is quite good and I finished this one up over the long weekend. Definitly recommend to those who like the low-spice contemporary reads.

I was lucky enough to receive an arc for Love at First Chateau in exchange for an honest review. The above are my thoughts and no one else's.
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