Paris, Actually

by Alix Nichols

Like sexy rom coms, shows like "Friends", and British chick lit?
Enjoy humorous contemporary romance books?
Then this fabulous collection is for you!

Set around a Paris coffee shop, the 3 romances in this bundle will give you hours of thrills, laughs and steam.

THE DEVIL’S OWN CHLOE — Patient and strong, Hugo prides himself on being able to fix anything. Will his love save his high-school crush Chloe from herself, or will fixing her leave him broken?

“Few authors possess the ability to make a book both somber and funny the way Alix Nichols has done with this one.” (Up Close and Literal, a book blog)

AMANDA'S GUIDE TO LOVE — Maverick gambler Kes knows he's in trouble when he falls for It-girl Amanda after a one-night stand. Can he convince the snarky belle they're right for each other?

AN AUTUMN IN PARIS — For single mom Daniela, passion has come and gone. When she meets handsome vet Thomas, will she dare to love again?

"Ooh-la-la! I loved the Paris backdrop. Fun and entertaining." (USA Today Bestselling Author Ann Omasta)

Escape to the City of Light and follow 3 handsome Frenchmen as they fall in love!

➜ Get the PARIS, ACTUALLY box set now.

586 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2019

About the author

Alix Nichols is a caffeine addict, a fan of Mr. Darcy and an award-winning author on Book Riot's list of 100 must-read international romances.
She pens sexy romantic comedies and romantic fantasy. Her books have been described as "pure pleasure" (Kirkus Reviews) that “keep fans of romance hanging off the edge of your seat” (RT Book Reviews).
At the age of six, she released her first book. It featured highly creative spelling on a dozen pages stitched together and bound in velvet paper. Decades later, she still writes. Her spelling has improved (somewhat), and her books have topped bestseller charts around the world.
She lives in France with her family and their almost-human dog.

**To read a rom-com FREE, visit: alixnichols.com/freebies (just copy and paste into your browser).**

Series and Books:

ROMANTIC COMEDIES

It’s Raining Royals (newest series)

1. The Boss Prince
2. The Bastard Prince
3. The Beast Prince

La Bohème (complete series)

1. 
Winter’s Gift

2. What If It’s Love?

3. Falling for Emma

4. Under My Skin
You’re the One (companion novella, free to newsletter subscribers)

The Darcy Brothers (complete series)

1. Find You in Paris
2. Raphael’s Fling
3. The Perfect Catch
Clarissa and the Cowboy (companion novella)

Playing to Win (complete series)

1. Playing with Fire
2. Playing for Keeps
3. Playing Dirty

Coffee Shop Romances (standalones)


The Devil’s Own Chloe
Amanda’s Guide to Love
An Autumn in Paris

ROMANTIC FANTASY

Keepers of Xereill (complete series within a broader saga)

The Enforcer’s Lady (prequel novella)
1. The Traitor’s Bride
2. The Commander’s Captive
3. The Dragon’s Woman
4. The Samurai’s Lover

5. The Vestal’s Steward

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Own Chloe is Alix Nichols latest Bistro La Boheme book. Jeanne hires architect Chloe and her business partner, Hugo, to remodel La Boheme. Chloe is a tortured character who is convinced that she is cursed and anyone she loves will die. She therefore refuses to get emotionally involved anymore. She rationalizes that her fear is based in fact: she was given up for adoption, her adoptive parents died, her foster brother died and her foster father has had a stroke. Her life was going fine, according to her unemotional plan, until Hugo decided he wanted their partnership to include more than business. Suddenly Chloe has to face her fears. Can she live with herself if she loses Hugo's friendship or worse still, her curse causes him physical harm or death? This well written story doesn't drown the reader in angst, but there is a lot more introspection than the other stories in the series. The author handles the subject of survivor's guilt well. Highly recommend.

Amanda's Guide to Love is beyond good. Amanda is an uptight type A personality, still smarting that Rob left her for Lena. (See What If It's Love.). Kes is a gypsy who makes his living gambling. They meet in at a blackjack table where Amanda has gone to drown her sorrows and hopefully pad her bank account after she loses her job. They come from two different worlds and the gypsy society doesn't like outsiders. Can they overcome their differences? One of the best things about this book are the excerpts from A Woman's Guide to Perfection at the beginning of each chapter. Of course, readers spend time at La Boheme, where Amanda gets a waitress job. If you are new to the series don't worry. All the stories are standalone, but you won't be able to read just one! This series is totally delightful and highly recommended.

An Autumn in Paris. Alix Nichols returns to romance in this book and it is a wonderful and decidedly satisfying hot story, she says, fanning herself! Dana is a single mom still emotionally committed to her son’s dead father. Thomas is a veterinarian still engaged to his missing fiancée. But the attraction between them is so strong that despite their best efforts they cannot seem to stay away from each other. But fate has a way of throwing things off balance and the path to a happy ending seldom is easy. Can these two survive the barrier placed on the road? I absolutely loved this story and always enjoy visiting France reading Ms. Nichol’s books. Characters are well defined and the author’s command of English grammar is better than a lot of American authors. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. Most highly recommend

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read all three books prior to their release as Advance Reader Copies (ARC) and what follows were my voluntary and unbiased reviews of each book.
1. Autumn in Paris
Dana and Thomas, two lovely people who are trying to restart their lives but their pasts keep hitting them between their eyes.
Alix Nichols has brought us what I think is her most emotionally stirring story yet and I loved ever second of it.
2. The Devil's Own Chloe
Well this was certainly a very different story line but most enjoyable even so.
This is the latest in the Bistro La Boheme series and my recommendation is that you read it soon.
Can you imagine going through life convinced that you are the cause of others' misfortunes and their loss of life and that you were connected to the devil. That must make living extremely difficult.
And poor Chloe lived her life that way...... A very interesting tale which was easy to read.
I won't spoil the book for you but I will tell you that I really enjoyed it.
3. Amanda's Guide to Love
This was a LOL funny story and I couldn't put it down. Such wit and smooth writing that just flowed from scene to scene. It held my interest and attention throughout and I highly recommend it. The best tonic!
And of course it's a love story in the genre of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and just as brilliant.
I hope you decide to read these and join me in recommending them to others.

[Charity Chimni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of steamy romances set in Paris! I love Alix's characters and the humor she injects into each story.

[wanda jenicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down

Couldn't stop reading took with me everywhere. Read at free times during day and late into the night. I recommend this book to all who love romance and little humor good laugh.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all three books in this series, and found them thoroughly entertaining.

The Devil's Own Chloe: Believing herself to be jinxed, Chloe keeps her distance from those she loves and discourages anyone getting close to her. However, when a one night stand starts to get out of her control, Chloe realises that Hugo, her childhood friend and business partner, is looking more and more attractive. While this story may seem far-fetched, if one has not lived a life believing a lie, it is difficult to understand Chloe’s reasoning. This is a well-written story with dark undertones, that keeps the reader glued to the pages to the end.

Amanda's Guide to Love: Aloof, hard-hitting, straight-talking Amanda is adrift after losing not only her job but her promising career when she discovers that she has been black-balled in this industry. In an act that goes against everything she believes in, Amanda finds herself at a casino table seated next to Kes Moreno, resulting in an attraction that leads them into the no man's land between their two cultures. Amanda is plagued by two voices in her head: her mother's and the book she keeps next to her bed, A Woman's Guide to Perfection. Kes is driven only by the need to find the next casino and to maintain his freedom, even if he has to sacrifice his Gypsy clan for living out of a suitcase. I found myself being pulled in different directions at first as I really did not like Amanda. However, she definitely grows on one and when she finally comes to recognise Kes' role in her life, I could only cheer her on. Kes seems like perfection to start with, however, he too has his flaws and I felt so bad for him when he had to go against his family and his culture. I enjoyed this unusual book with it's laugh out loud moments, and even its more poignant moments.

An Autumn in Paris: I came to the end of this book and very reluctantly closed my Kindle cover. It is one of those stories that jerks at the heartstrings and tugs at one's emotions. The author brings out the full ambiance of Paris in autumn, the pathos, the nostalgia and the uncertainty of romance. I loved the main characters with their humourous interaction and the slow build-up from friendship to lovers. Dana's heartache and sorrow stem from past experience, whilst Thomas' loss is more recent. However, as they approach one another cautiously, they discover in each other not only a deep attraction but also a meeting of their souls. Typical of preteens, Liviu rounds the story off, bringing laugh-out-loud moments and some levity. The book is very well written, emotive and draws the reader's interest from the opening pages, right through to the end.

I received a copy of this boxset as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Sioms · Rating 4 out of 5]

This boxed set has a mix of books that I really enjoyed and one that I have mixed feelings about.

I’ll try to sum up my review for all three stories:

The Devil’s Own: 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this one. I love Hugo and Chloe’s chemistry and the build up to their story.

I’ve read the D’Arcy Brothers and La Boheme series, so reading some of the familiar characters here made me want to reread both series.


Amanda’s Guide to Love: 3 stars

I was enjoying it for the better half, but honestly, I was getting tired of Amanda and her stubbornness and her constantly mentioning her ex. Luckily, she was able to redeem herself towards the end.

The guide to love, yes, there’s a guide (or two), was sweet but on the cheesy side. Enjoyed the plot twist.

Overall, the story was good. There’s something to laugh about, to get annoyed, to get emotional; in short, it invoked different kinds of reactions from me.



An Autumn in Paris: 4 stars

I really enjoyed reading An Autumn in Paris. There’s humor, a bit of mystery - which will make you eager to reveal the plot or characters, drama, and sweet romance.

I liked how Dana and Thomas’ relationship blossomed. I loved the dynamics between Dana, Thomas, and Liviu. I love, love Liviu.

I did, however, feel that the last 10% was rather weak: a weak plot twist and a rather rushed ending.

Merged review:

A good set

This boxed set has a mix of books that I really enjoyed and one that I have mixed feelings about.

I’ll try to sum up my review for all three stories:

The Devil’s Own: 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this one. I love Hugo and Chloe’s chemistry and the build up to their story.

I’ve read the D’Arcy Brothers and La Boheme series, so reading some of the familiar characters here made me want to reread both series.


Amanda’s Guide to Love: 3 stars

I was enjoying it for the better half, but honestly, I was getting tired of Amanda and her stubbornness and her constantly mentioning her ex. Luckily, she was able to redeem herself towards the end.

The guide to love, yes, there’s a guide (or two), was sweet but on the cheesy side. Enjoyed the plot twist.

Overall, the story was good. There’s something to laugh about, to get annoyed, to get emotional; in short, it invoked different kinds of reactions from me.



An Autumn in Paris: 4 stars

I really enjoyed reading An Autumn in Paris. There’s humor, a bit of mystery - which will make you eager to reveal the plot or characters, drama, and sweet romance.

I liked how Dana and Thomas’ relationship blossomed. I loved the dynamics between Dana, Thomas, and Liviu. I love, love Liviu.

I did, however, feel that the last 10% was rather weak: a weak plot twist and a rather rushed ending.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic Paris, delicious Paris, romance in Paris - great escape to City of Love!
4.5 stars

Two of these stories were great, one so-so, thus the not full five stars from me. But in general, Alix Nichols' Paris romances are a great bet. I separately reviewed An Autumn in Paris, my favorite in the trio, and a copy of that full review appears last below. In toto, the collection is a good one.

As to the other two stories, In Amanda's Guide to Love, Amanda's rollercoaster life when her career hits the skids and she suddenly finds a handsome Gitan (French Gypsy) in her path is right up there with the Darcy Brothers trio that was my first introduction to Alix Nichols' romances; good; length, plot and character-wise.

The Devil's Own Chloe, Chloe's shorter novella, on the other hand, was too referential, with an awful lot of characters and hints of their lives intersecting at La Boheme, the Paris cafe run by Jeanne and Chloe's current remodeling project. I did not really appreciate the sneak peaks into other lives technique and though Hugo seemed a sweetie, I really did not relate to Chloe or sympathize with her treatment of Hugo despite the all's well that ends well conclusion.

An Autumn in Paris had some truly memorable features, not in the ordinary mold of single girl meets hunk, per my October review, shared below.

🍁Lovely paean to autumn, tender romance, and the best bits 🍷of La Vie en France!🗼 🍂
October 29, 2018
Format: Paperback
👍👍What a lovely second chance💕 romance showcasing the best features of French living -- the food, the drink, the beautiful gardens and classic architecture, with a culture that values taking time to experience the finer things as an essential part of life. It's obvious that author Alix Nichols loves Paris and knows how to present its best face while acknowledging, in this case through heroine single mother Daniela's straightened circumstances as an apartment building concierge, that not all Paris residents live a life of luxury.

The hero and heroine are endearingly likeable people, so loyal to those they love and reluctant to move on. The secondary characters, right down to Baloo, the family dog, are great, too, and include a few who aren't particularly nice but add to the drama of the main couple's initial connection and reluctant courtship. I can't think of anything I did not appreciate in this story, which was a quick read for me and well-written. I have read a number of the author's works, both contemporary romance and science fiction fantasy romance, and expect a good, obstacles overcome story with heart and passion. This one did not disappoint.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book collection; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Own Chloe
When I started this journey through Alix Nichols’ Paris, I began with Chloe’s sister Diane’s story. Even though there’s holes in my knowledge, in the form of as yet unread books from the series, I was glad to have made it full circle to Chloe and Hugo. This pair are completely precious together. Friends since childhood, they’ve been fighting their feelings for almost as long until Hugo decides he’s done fighting. This story read really fast, and so I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to be. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to see this from Hugo’s side. That might be all it would take for me to better feel the connection.
Amanda's Guide to Love
Having read Rob and Lena's book, I was interested to see what Amanda's perspective would be. I anticipated that she would be very difficult to like and her standoffish, aristocratic manner would drive me to distraction. I wasn't completely wrong, at first. Amanda is a character that took me a while to warm up to. She's so guarded that she comes across as almost emotionless at times. Once we start to understand the dynamics in her life everything becomes much clearer and I no longer had to question why she felt the need to behave like a calculating, conniving, cold-hearted shrew. Charming Kes was an immediate favorite of mine, but he's another one who's hiding behind some pretty thick masks. I loved watching this pair learn the freedom of being vulnerable with one another and discovering the courage to step out from behind those protective masks. There are several unexpectedly funny moments that lighten the atmosphere. My favorites were those that involved Christophe.
An Autumn in Paris
Dana and Thomas are adorable together. Seeing them heal from the traumas of their past relationships was beautiful to witness. And made the stumbling blocks in their way all the more tragic. I found both Dana and Thomas to be selectively blind to the truth about themselves. (But then again, aren’t we all?) Dana could be strong for her son, a lioness protecting Liviu, but she was often reluctant to see or use that strength for her own benefit. Thomas’s marshmallow heart meant that he sometimes gave too much of himself to projects and people that he probably shouldn’t have committed to. This book is sweet and emotional. And a lovely return by the author to contemporary romance. I loved getting this chance to reconnect with the couples of La Bohème.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.

[Louise Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great box set

Great collection of stories each one highlights characters dealing with their own tragic losses and their struggles to find their forevers. Devil's Own Chloe is emotionally charged particularly how Chloe believes she could cause the death of anyone she allowed to get too close due to her past tragedies. It took a determined friend and business partner to convince her she could have her HEA. Amanda's guide to love shows a strong, determined woman beaten down by a boss who felt threatened by her and betrayed by a former boyfriend. A chance encounter, with a gypsy, Kes is carefree Leaving her enchanted, and in turn he with her. Finally, Autumn in Paris brings the story of a single mum and a very charming vet together out of past tragedies and bad choices. Great reading and happy to have voluntarily read a copy to leave this review, kept me engrossed for hours.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alix Nichols’ Paris, Actually (3 Sizzling Rom-Coms: A Boxset) is quite wonderful, actually. The Devil’s Own Chloe, Amanda’s Guide to Love, and An Autumn in Paris. Each of these is very different and unique, they’re common feature is that all are wonderfully written, and with truly enjoyable and fun plots that are filled with well-crafted characters. Can’t really ask more than that. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. This collection definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the collection is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.

[Lcr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris, Actually is a box set containing three stand-alone yet connected books. Each book is set in the same delightful Parisian cafe but each story is very different. They are all steamy rom-coms with some genuinely funny moments. Good characters, a nice blend of serious and funny and of course the HEAs make all three books a delight to read. Having them altogether in this box set is a bonus. I enjoyed these books and definitely recommend this set.

[Deborah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love redeems Sadness

Funny, sad, romantic. Loved this book a little more than the others in this series. However the entire series is awesome. Check it out for yourself!