Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars

Sophie Valroux #2

by Samantha Verant

In this delectable novel, a chef on the rise fuels her passion for cooking while enduring the hardest challenges she's ever faced after a debilitating injury.


Everybody wants a piece of grand chef Sophie Valroux. With her once-destroyed reputation fully recovered and then some, Sophie is making her mark in the culinary world. She's running the restaurants of Château de Champvert, the beautiful estate that she inherited from her grandmother. She and her fiancé, Rémi, are closer than ever, and she's even bonding with his daughter Lola. Everything should be perfect.

Yet, Sophie still feels something in her heart is missing.

When she's invited to cook at an exclusive event her culinary idol is attending, she thinks this could be the thing to catapult her to greater heights, maybe even bring her one step closer to her one and only dream of achieving the stars--Michelin stars.

But fate has other plans for Sophie. After she accepts to cook for the Parisian elite, her world crumbles. She suffers a fall and loses her senses of smell and taste. Certain that her career will vanish if people find out, she keeps this secret to herself, not even telling Rémi. She fakes it all: the menus for every meal, the taste of fresh figs, the juicy cherries in the orchard. All she has to do is get through life--and the event--tasteless without missing a single step. Fake it 'til you make it...right?

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, France, Contemporary, Foodie, Adult

368 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2021

About the author

Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, at-home French chef. Over the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her. Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it led her to southwestern France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to one ridiculously adorable Charteux cat. When she’s not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses, or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars by Samantha Vérant is actually a second contemporary with a touch of romance novel featuring the main character, Sophie Valroux. The first book, The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux, began the main character’s story and now it’s continued in this novel making it best to read both in order. However, I did not know there was another book when picking this one up and I still very much enjoyed the story so I will say with confidence this one can also be read as a standalone.

Sophie Valroux was raised in America and began her career as a chef there as well. Just as Sophie’s career as a chef took a turn for the worse and she loses her job she also found out that her French grandmother’s health had taken a turn for the worse. Sophie of course had gotten on a plane to Paris immediately.

Now Sophie is mourning the loss of her grandmother and trying her best to handle her new inheritance, her grandmother’s restaurants of Château de Champvert and her beautiful estate. Sophie is also balancing her relationship with Rémi when she gets an invite to join an exclusive culinary event which she believes will be a good step in her goal of attaining Michelin stars for her cooking. Just as Sophie is set to leave though she has a fall which seems to somehow take her sense of taste and smell.

Being a fan of travel I always enjoy picking up books from around the world so of course this one being set in Paris caught my eye. As I mentioned I had not read the first book and didn’t even realize it existed until after I’d read this one with the author doing a great job explaining events that happened so I never felt left out or wondering who Sophie was and how she got to where this story takes place. Having really enjoyed the characters and story in this one I’d definitely return if Sophie’s story continues or just read more from this author in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Samantha Verant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it. I love it. I hope you do too. Let’s eat/drink/read together!!! A table. :)

[Milena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love books set in France, and I enjoyed The Secret Recipes of Sophie Valroux last year, so I was very excited to read the next book, Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars. And although I did enjoy it, I didn't love it as much as the first book. I felt that the writing wasn't as strong as in the first book. The best things about Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars are the French setting, the Chateau's quirky inhabitants, and the mouthwatering food descriptions.

But I wasn't impressed with the main heroine, Sophie, in this book. She kept making all the wrong decisions when the right ones were staring her in the eye. And why did the swoony romantic hero from the first book, Remi, became a controlling and jealous boyfriend in this book? He annoyed me!

I would recommend Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars to francophiles and foodies. But be aware that this book is not a stand-alone. You have to read The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux first.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers will fall headlong into this charming tale of talented chef Sophie Valroux, her magnificent French Château, sexy fiancé, and the droolworthy dishes she makes for the estate’s restaurants.

This sequel to The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux can easily be read as a stand-alone. That said, I’m heading next to the devour her first. Like delicious pâtisseries, you can’t consume just one Samantha Vérant story!

Sophie has inherited her Grand-mère’s impressive estate in southwestern France, and longs to earn three Michelin stars as a chef. Her childhood love, Rémi, pressures her to marry, adding stress to her already angsty life. Luckily, she has a dream team as close as family, and she’ll need their support when she suffers a traumatic injury.

Will she still be able to cook? Will she marry or lose Rémi? Will the high-stakes Paris cooking competition she’s been invited to make or break her? A sumptuous feel-good story that will make you cry, “Encore!”

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 19 Oct 2021
#SophieValrouxsParisStars #NetGalley

Merci beaucoup to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

[Dun's · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't read this while you're hungry... or else you'll drool, or start rummaging your house trying to find that old recipe of beef bourguignon that you haven't made in years (both happened to me).

What I like about this book (other than the food) is the French countryside settings and the strong kitchen brigade/crew bond, especially among the female characters. I loved Peter Mayle's memoirs, and Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars gives some similar vibes although Paris Stars centers more on cooking and running a French chateaux and restaurants.

This is the second book featuring Sophie Valroux although I was able to enjoy this as a standalone story. That said, now I really want to check out the first book to read about how Sophie's journey as a chef begins, and to know more about her grandmother who sounds like a fantastic character.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3. Many thanks for the e-copy that I won through Goodreads giveaways program.

[Liv Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, what a gorgeous cover. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC through Netgalley.
After reading the first book, I was so excited to read this. I was back in this little world like I never left.
Again, I loved all the descriptions of food. I could practically taste it and really wanted to make them all. To my delight, there were a list of recipes at the end.
I enjoyed Sophie’s relationship with her friends and how they became family. Can’t beat a good sisterhood story, especially with Jane. With her organising skills, we all need her in our lives!
I loved seeing Sophie’s relationship with Remi grow, how he’s protected and hot headed, but also very sweet.
Sophie is the type of person you think of as a friend. You just want her to succeed. A beautiful story.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Sophie's life seems enchanted! She has an amazing ancestral home (chateau) to live in and gets to live out her dream as chef. Being in charge of everything is overwhelming.. and she has this romantic relationship with her boyfriend, Remi. Things come up in running the chateau, and Sophie learns to fake it until she makes it...when she really needs to learn to depend on her friends for help.

Sophie is extended a fabulous invitation form Nicholas, a part of the royal family and it feels like an invitation she can't refuse. This is a chance for Sophie to earn a Michelin star cooking with people she admires. There also happens to be an arch enemy cooking for this fancy gala- the person who cost her the dream job in America and broke her spirit.

I did not realize that Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars is the sequel to The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux. I have not read the first book, but felt comfortable with the characters so this was still quite the good stand alone read. I guess my biggest regret is not knowing Sophie's grandmother who sounds amazing! Why didn't I get a grandma like that?

Overall, I felt this book was a terrific read. My only complaint- I was not fond of Remi- he seemed possessive and came off too pushy. Sophie is relatable in that delicious way we all have of trying to figure things out, learning as we go, and trusting ourselves to love.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Samantha Vérant and Berkley Publishing for this digital, advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are mine and my reviews are voluntary.

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

As series books go, this second book is very good. I had already purchased this book before I finished the first one in the series and I was a little apprehensive about reading this one. I was pleasantly surprised. This offering continues the story in true form. There are no references to the past that have been changed to make this one believable. The story flows well and keeps you interested to the end. The end doesn't come abruptly without closure, it is wrapped up well and leaves you satisfied.

[Barbara Conrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chef Sophie is at it again (read The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux if you’ve somehow missed it) with her passion for food that will make you wish you could hop the next flight for France and her desire to have it all. But in true Verant fashion, Sophie must first run the gamut of what she thinks she wants and what she really wants.

Verant pulls off Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars with all the grace and style we have come to expect from this talented author.

I was blessed with an advance copy of this book.

[Annie Mondesir · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there were recipes included, I might have had to “Spend. year as Sophie Valroux”. This was blog I loved that was done by a fan of Julia Childs. I know that Samantha Vérant, the author of “Sophie Valroux Paris Stars” must be able to cook, otherwise her very own protagonist wouldn’t be writing about food so deliriously delicious! Visit Paris is on my Bucket List, now eating at a Michelin Stars Restaurant has been added. I cherish books that make me feel this connected because of its intimacy. Samantha wraps us up in the story as if we are part of it. There is an elegance to reading it, just as there is an elegance to top star dining! There is commitment to it, just as there is commitment in dating a man with a child.
There is a delivery of beauty and lights and aromas you can only absorb by opening these pages. The same goes for friendship and love.
This is your ticket to Paris! This is your invitation to experience it until you can get there in real life. If you can’t get there in real life, Samantha Verant’s second installment in the Series will satisfy the aches you had about not going. Trust me!
Sit, read, sip your drinks and snack on your charcuterie and go spend some time with Sophie! You’ll be so glad you did!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via #NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Jules The Book Junkie Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chef is cooking again in author Samantha Verant’s Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars. In this sequel to Sophie Valroux’s Secret French Recipes, we readers get more of all the inhabitants of Chateau de Champvert and more. Ms. Verant deftly takes from Sophie’s past to her present and gives us a peak at her future.

As in book one, Sophie has great talent that is somewhat hidden by her lack of confidence and her bumpy-road past. Her grand-mere has just passed away and left everything to Sophie, but can Sophie run the kitchen and the business well enough to keep her family’s interests alive? The incredible characters who work at the Chateau and become her friends are amazingly supportive and believe that all will work out. It is only Sophie who is not confident about it. It is partially her past, partially the grief that still blankets her every day, and it is partially the elusive chase for Michelin stars.

I loved the female characters. The sisterhood and support adds so much to these stories. In this second book, I was less enamored with Remi, Sophie’s childhood friend who has become a boyfriend. He is still supportive, but in a more controlling way as he tries to be Sophie’s partner instead of her sidekick.

To some degree that is Sophie’s problem and life lesson. What is important to her? What will make her happy? Are those Michelin stars in her future? You’ll need to read the book to find out!

P.S. I am definitely going to try a couple of the recipes in the back of the book.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely book. I loved everything about it. You could say it was a wonderous surprise. As soon as I started reading, I was draw into the pages of this book with all of the characters. In fact, I read this book in a matter of several hours or half a day. Yes, not a full day but half a day. It is that good.

Sophie may be the star but everyone that she interacted with were just as much an important part of this story as well. Remi is the guy that everyone wants have in their life. The patience, love, and support he gave to Sophie was great.

The food that Sophie and everyone prepared had my mouth watering. Bonus as there are a handful of recipes at the back of the book. Sophie's Valroux's Paris Stars is not to be missed with a wonderful cast of characters that will warm your heart.

[Lainey Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous cover, gorgeous book.

What can I say? Oh la la. Romantique and oh so fun. Full of delicious food, romance, and Paris!

Samantha Verant writes with all the senses — Sophie Valroux, who features in this and Samantha’s prior book, is a chef and you can smell that delicious French food!

So it must have been a challenge to take Sophie on a journey where she loves her sense of smell, at the critical moment when she’s invited to Paris to an exclusive event that could propel her restaurant in the south of France to gaining Michelin stars. Will she muddle through it, or see her new career leading Château de Champvert fail before it’s even truly off the ground?

A read as delicious and fun as all the food I wanted to inhale. Great choice if you can’t travel to Paris in real life right now.

A note that from my perspective you don’t have to read the first book (The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux) for this one to make perfect sense.

Sprinkle in some romance challenges with hunk, Remi, and you’re in for a fun read!

** I received an early copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[aNeedleinMyBookstack | Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into Sophie's story and understand who all the characters were, so you may want to read the first book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘦 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘹 before starting this one. Reading the synopsis of the first book was enough to make it fine as a standalone.

The mouth-watering food descriptions of the meals and desserts Sophie and her team prepare sound so sumptuous. You get a sense of joy from eating freshly prepared locally produced food.

At times I felt the Chateau and the food overshadowed the storyline. Still, overall, I enjoyed the relationships Sophie formed with her boyfriend and Chateau family as she transitioned from her former life to living in France. The theme of stars that appear throughout the story and learning a little about the restaurant business and what earning a Michelin star can do for your restaurant's success was a definite plus.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second book about Sophie she is back and trying to find a way to live her dream and run the inn and restaurants she inherited. But Sophie is keeping a secret that could change everything. A story of friendship, love, loyalty, and figuring out how to follow a dream.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc for my honest review

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a gifted galley of SOPHIE VALROUX’S PARIS STARS by Samantha Vérant for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Publication Date: 10/19/2021
Rating: 3.5 / 5

SOPHIE VALROUX’S PARIS STARS follows the title character, a chef who has taken over the restaurants of Château de Champvert after the death of her grandmother. She’s a talented chef who is working to make a comeback from mistakes in her past. She has a solid relationship with a man she loves and friends by her side, but she dreams of nothing more than earning Michelin stars for her restaurant.

After an accident Sophie experiences the sudden loss of her senses of taste and smell, a debilitating condition for a chef. She is too scared of losing opportunities to advance her career to admit her condition to anyone and she works hard to make a name for herself while keeping her shortcomings under wraps.

I went into this book not knowing this was a sequel – it isn’t labeled as such on Goodreads and the synopsis doesn’t mention it. Starting the novel did feel a bit like I was missing some backstory, so a quick search under the author’s name revealed that there was a prior novel, THE SECRET FRENCH RECIPES OF SOPHIE VALROUX. While this book does fully work as a standalone, I do think I would have been more invested in some of the side characters had I had the background of the previous novels.

Where this book really shines is in the descriptions of the food and the restaurant business in general. The author is a French chef and that really comes through in the story. She speaks about how much the Michelin star system is very much a boys’ club with only 1% of the chefs being women which was interesting to learn as well!

I enjoyed getting a glimpse into Sophie’s world as a chef and the background setting in France was amazing! SOPHIE VALROUX’S PARIS STARS is out today!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Sentence Summary: After taking over her family’s chateau and business after her grandmother’s passing, Sophie works hard to settle in, but still dreams of receiving Michelin stars even though it starts to interfere with her quiet French countryside life.

Warning: Spoilers for the first book, The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux, lie directly ahead!

Overall
Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars picks up shortly after the events of The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux. It continues to follow Sophie as she works hard to settle into her new life in the French countryside as the new owner of her family’s chateau and the hotel and restaurants that go with it. With her confidence in her cooking skills returned, she turns her eye to attaining her dream: becoming one of the few women in the world to receive Michelin stars, even if the man she’s considering marrying thinks she needs a new dream. I love how strong and resolute Sophie is, and that this is a series about her growing and coming into her own. Just like every other woman, she faces problems and setbacks and decisions that are never easy. I find it easy to relate to her and love how it’s more focused on her development as a person and on female friendships than it is on romance. There’s also a ton of food, which always makes me hungry when I read these books, and some really fun kitchen drama. Overall, a fun and delicious read about a woman’s journey.

Extended Thoughts
Just weeks after Sophie’s grandmother’s death, it’s time for her to open the chateau for the season. With her colleagues and friends surrounding and supporting her, she’s sure to make a splash, especially after being titled a Grand Chef and becoming a darling in the media. But trouble finds itself at the chateau’s doors in the form of a too handsome heir who rubs her the wrong way despite his dazzle, influence, and money, Nicolas de ls Barguelonne, and no one says no to a Barguelonne. Nicolas comes to issue an invitation to Sophie: cook at an exclusive event in Paris and have a chance at catching the attention she needs to held her acquire her desired Michelin stars where his stepmother, a starred chef Sophie esteems will also be cooking.

Even though her fiance, Remi, opposes the idea, Sophie can’t say no. Even when a devastating accident robs her of her abilities to taste and smell. With Seb, a member of her brigade, along with her, she arrives in Paris, to a scorching hot kitchen full of rival chefs, and a few friends. With her own and the chateau’s reputations on the line, Sophie will need to flawlessly dance her way through the kitchen, without the most important senses a chef needs.

Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars was one of my (few) anticipated reads this year, and it did not disappoint! I believe this is the first time I’ve encountered a women’s fiction series that follows the same main character, which I think is amazing because finding oneself and one’s dreams is a never-ending journey. Just like the first book, The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux, this one is gorgeous and delicious, packed full of food, great friends, strong female relationships, a dash of romance, and a lot of discovering oneself and what one wants out of life.

I don’t really know where to start; I loved this book so much. Even though my love of Sophie got off to a shaky start in the first book, she really grew on me and spoke to me. I love everything about her story, about having her hopes and dreams dashed and challenged and changed. This is what women’s fiction is supposed to be to me. It’s all about celebrating women and their journeys. It should be full of friendship and focused on women coming in to themselves independently of what others think and want for her. Sophie’s story is all about her, her growth as a person, and the changing nature of dreams. It’s also full of food since Sophie is a Grand Chef working in the restaurant her grandmother built and grew at their family’s chateau, hoping to earn her first Michelin star.

There’s something about Sophie that really speaks to me. While she sometimes comes off as a bit self-centered and too focused on her own dreams to take her friend’s thoughts and feelings into consideration, her history and her life goals soften her character quite a bit. As a woman in a competitive, male-dominated domain, she’s had to fight tooth and nail and couldn’t show the slightest bit of weakness. Champvert has changed her, softening her edges, but she’s determined to hold on to her dreams, the one thing that hasn’t experienced change. I really enjoyed her struggles with what her life used to be and what it is now.

Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars is an easy read, perfectly flowing from one thing to the next, taking her through her first year as the owner of the chateau and everything it carries. But it’s also stuffed full of everything from relationships both romantic and platonic, dealing with grief, stepmotherhood, and, of course, culinary backstabbing and warfare. And, at some point in the story, Sophie has an accident that robs her of her abilities to taste and smell, a travesty for any chef, especially one who dreams of gaining Michelin stars. I really enjoyed the tension and all the secrets and, somehow, I really understood her desperate need to keep it to herself.

Most of all, I loved Sophie and the people around her. It’s her colleagues and friends who really make this into the kind of book I really love. They all had their own lives, their own things to deal with, just like Sophie, but their dedication to the chateau and her were beautiful, especially when she really needed it. Reading about her growth, about her coming out of her own head and heart to really notice these people was lovely. They’re all incredible. Jane is so meticulous and organized (and I seriously need one of her in my life) and Phillipa is so sweet and energetic and skilled. Remi is gorgeously handsome in every way, but perhaps a mite too overprotective, and sometimes I worried he was pulling Sophie back from her dreams and distrusting her instead of supporting her. And Lola, Remi’s little girl, is, as always, adorable. Without all these people around her, Sophie wouldn’t be who she is, wouldn’t be able to accomplish her dreams and come out with friends on the other side. I think I really enjoyed Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars because of them.

This book squeezes a lot into it, but it all flowed well together. It’s really the story of a chef whose reputation was ruined in the kitchen coming back into her own and determining her own path and new dreams. Sophie fights hard for everything she wants, and I really liked how she shifted in this book so she really could have everything.

Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars is a delightfully delicious novel full of food, friendship, and love. There’s a lot of heart in it and so many characters to fall in love with. And, of course, the chateau sounds even more gorgeous and homey.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Samantha Verant’s new book, Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars, I am impressed at how the author deftly transitions between Sophie’s past to her present, giving just enough background to fill in any time gaps between the previous ‘Sophie Valroux’ book and this sequel.

The dialogue is scintillating and keeps the story moving forward. Descriptions are vivid, as the author recreates the springtime scenery of flowers, trees, insects and lake, so that I felt as if I were actually there in an ancient French village.

Sophie’s character grows into maturity and self-confidence as she negotiates the obstacles to her happiness. Her sense of generosity and her quirky ‘motley brigade’ of chefs and helpers bounce off the page into real life people.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy vicariously living through a French adventure. It is a satisfying book when Sophie finally chooses a life-affirming path for her life.
I might add that I read this as a galley before publication in October.

[Saumya Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Verant does it again! I inhaled this charming story and loved every step of Sophie's journey. Also, as someone who has not been able to travel in a long time, I appreciate Verant's ability to transport me into another place. My favorite stories are the ones that takes us through a character's growth and this one does not disappoint. I can't decide what I loved more---seeing Sophie's evolution or the delicious descriptions of the food---and that's a wonderful dilemma to have when reading a book. Highly recommend!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the first book in this series, The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux, we left chef Sophie at the chateau in rural France she had inherited from her Grand-mère Odette (you can read my review here). A lot had changed in her life, in a short time, but I was hopeful she had found herself, and her home in France, and I was looking forward to following her adventures once more.

Right from the start of Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars, the changes and surprises continue to come at her thick and fast, and she finds herself pulled in different directions, leaving her unsure as to where her dreams lie. To take her mind off the grief of losing her Grand-mère, and her inner fears of settling down with her childhood sweetheart Remi, she throws herself into work at the chateau.

It was great to be back in her kitchen, where I could almost smell and taste the dishes she lovingly creates – warning, this book should not be read on an empty stomach – but I was a little sad that she didn’t seem as happy and settled with her new life as she wanted to be.

With her reputation spreading far beyond rural France, it wasn’t long before an offer to cook at a celebrity event in Paris arrives. With the backing of her team, but against Remi’s wishes, she knows she must focus on Paris, despite the many challenges. Sophie still has a lot to learn about herself, her Grand-mère, and Remi, but will Paris offer her the answers she is looking for? I have to say, I was with Remi here, shouting at the pages as if I could influence her decisions, although I did enjoy the glamour and drama Paris provided.

This is a book that is easy to get stuck into, with great fun characters who left me with a huge smile on my face, as well as feeling like I was part of their chateau family.
The sense of loyalty is heart-warming, the passion and emotions breath-taking, the food descriptions delicious; it tickled my tastebuds and so much more.
We all need a luxury break from reality every now and then and this book gave me that. Now the nights are drawing in, I recommend treating yourself to a bit of escapism and fun in France with chef Sophie and her team.

[MTM · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars by Samantha Verant, Chef Sophie is trying to rebuild her life after the death of her beloved grand-mère and a faux pas that nearly ruined her reputation in the culinary world. She has a loving fiancé and wonderful friends, but she feels like something is missing. Things are looking up as Sophie starts running the restaurants of Château de Champvert, but then an accident causes Sophie to lose her sense of smell and taste. Will this setback cost Sophie her dream of attaining the coveted Michelin stars?

I devoured this sweet, savory, hunger-inducing story! Seriously, do not read this book on an empty stomach! There were so many delicious foods, and I could practically smell and taste them thanks to the vivid descriptions! Unfortunately, poor Sophie had to cook for the Parisian elite after losing her sense of smell and taste. Can you imagine!? She was so strong and determined despite her struggles, and I couldn’t help rooting for her! Sophie gets all the stars from me!

Paris is my favorite city in the world, so ça va sans dire that I adored the setting! Since I don’t know when I’ll be able to travel to France again, I loved being transported there through this book! What more could you want than to be in Paris or in a château in the South of France with lots of scrumptious food!

I recommend this delightful book for fans of women’s fiction, especially if you’re a foodie or a lover of all things French! Although it’s a sequel, I haven’t read the first book, so it can definitely be read as a standalone!

*I received a gifted eARC from Berkley Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kim Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars (SVPS) is a follow up novel to The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux (TSFRoSV). While it certainly could be read as a stand-alone, I very much advise reading the series in order. There were frequent references to Sophie’s grandmother who had passed away prior to the start of SVPS, as well as frequent references to events that had taken place in the prior novel. I feel like I would have connected more to Sophie and understood the relationship dynamics much better had I read the books in order. That being said, it was still a great peek into the life of a chef cooking at the pinnacle of fine dining, as well as (probably idealized) French countryside living. I highly recommend this novel for foodies, Francophiles, and people who love reading about luxury settings.

There is one other thing that continues to irk me about the novel and I cannot resist stepping up on my soapbox. One of the characters re-homes a cat when she becomes pregnant upon the advice of her doctor. As a veterinarian I feel compelled to tell you that this is not necessary. If you’re pregnant and worried about Toxoplasmosis, please speak to your cat’s veterinarian before you re-home your cat.

[Debby Felker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Valroux having redeemed herself from her once-destroyed reputation is fully making a name for herself in the culinary world. She has inherited the estate and restaurants of Château de Champvert from her grandmother. a loving fiance and is a really making her mark. Yet she still finds herself searching for something that is missing and of course, is striving for the infamous Michelin Stars. After suffering a fall she looses her sense of smell and taste and is in risk of jeopardizing her career if anyone finds out. I really enjoyed the detailed (and might I say mouth-watering) culinary recipes and breathtaking landscapes of the French Countryside. I found myself rooting for Sophie to find her way and loved the supporting characters just as much. I didn't realize until after I had finished that this is a sequel so I would say it nearly is a standalone. However, had I read the first novel I believe there might have been more context to Sophie.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars
By Samantha Verant

This is my second book from author and self professed French chef Samantha Vérant and it was wonderful. I read the first book, The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux over the Christmas holidays last year and I just could not wait to dive into this sequel and get more of that French setting, the food, and wine - just glorious. This was truly the best escape read.

In this installment, our beloved Sophie suffers a debilitating injury after a fall of not being able to taste or smell her food. For a woman whose career is about the taste and smell of food, and with everything on the line to reach the stars, the Michelin that is.

The food writing and the challenges for Sophie really immersed me into these pages, and it definitely took a lot for me not to book the next flight to Paris.

This second installment could be enjoyed as a stand alone, though to enjoy all the backstories of the characters, reading the first book certainly will be a helpful but not a must.

[kimreadsandreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, somehow my bagel bites I was having for lunch seemed very lackluster compared to the yummy food being served out of Chef Sophie Valroux’s kitchen in the book I was reading. The food was mouthwatering, which isn’t surprising as the author is a French chef herself.
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Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars by Samantha Verant took me to a lovely Chateau in France and the wonderful characters that live and work there. I am not much of a cook (hence the bagel bites) but my son is a trained Chef and I do know the amount of work that requires and the value of those elusive Michelin stars. I certainly was cheering for Sophie to earn hers.
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Sophie has an accident that causes her to loose her sense of smell and taste, a major disaster for a chef. She is determined not to let anyone know and cooks from her memory and her heart, praying that will be enough as she faces professional and personal challenges.
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Besides making me very hungry, I enjoyed this book. While I think the story did stand alone just fine, itis the second in a series and I felt like I came in on the middle of a relationship and the back stories of the characters had already been established. For that reason, I do recommend reading the first book, The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux, then read this one!

[Jessica Moro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this second edition of Sophie and her quest for her Michelin stars. The descriptive prose transports you to the countryside of France where we eat and drink and everyone is pretty merry. Except Sophie who really wants her restaurant stars and is grappling with how to fit two different dreams together. This was a culinary adventure mixed in with family and most importantly love. I had some issues with the hero and how he handled something’s but overall very enjoyable. I am so happy that we continue to be on Sophie’s journey as she discovers new parts of herself

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Absolutely loved it. The proof to me that the first book was well written is that I knew immediately who each character was upon reintroduction. That doesn't often happen in follow-up books for me. In this book, I found the outing in Paris to be a real nail-biter, wondering what was going to happen next. There were a lot of ups and downs along the way for Sophie and I enjoyed being along for the ride. Looking forward to Samantha's next book!

[Marilyn Goncalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars is a refreshing delightful read. From the picturesque description of Southern France to the mouthwatering foods and drama this book will keep you entertained. I loved the character development with chef Sophie Valroyx and how she handled adversity. This is a wonderful culinary romance novel.
This is the sequel to The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux but can be read as a stand-alone.

[Mary Swenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything that I hoped for and more! Beautiful setting, great characters who grow and change. The foods, oh my gosh! I could practically taste them!!!
I surely hope we will see a sequel❤️❤️

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always love a book set in France, though I enjoyed the first book better. I didn't like who Remi turned into - too controlling.