Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters is a wonderfully sweet contemporary romance. When Wendy inherits a French chateau it sounds like a dream come true - but there's one problem, another long-lost relative who's come to claim the castle. And he's gorgeous.

This is an utterly gorgeous book! Sweet, light and a little magical. Absolutely loved it!

Cute and delivered on what I wanted, but a bit clunky in terms of execution. The banter alternately sparkles and clunks. The concept is completely adorable, but the writing isn't quite strong enough to totally sell it. I had a lot of fun, but I couldn't help seeing how a bit more editing could have made this even better.

A very special book from Jaimie Admans. I liked Wendy, and Julian, the chemistry between them was great. Jaimie Admans writing is amazing. This book wrapped you up in a sense of home, the château may be falling down, damp, but it definitely felt like a home. I loved the setting, and of course Jaimie Admans writing style. I loved the story, I loved the idea of them bringing this château back to life, or maybe was it the château bringing itself back?? I highly recommend!

Review: If you like stories by Holly Martin and Caroline Roberts this is another one you will love. Set in France during the summer it is a lovely summer read. Well written and easy to follow. It is one of those books that makes you feel good. These characters are ones that you fall in love with and enjoy following their journey. Along with Wendy s a reader it gives you faith in happy ever afters again.

I loved this book! Wendy and Julian's romance was so adorable and I shipped it soooooo much <333 Definitely going to reread it again in the future!

Very cute story!

This was a very well-done enemies-to-lovers story, and the setting was idyllic, despite being a rundown chateau in Normandy, France. I really enjoyed getting to know Julian and seeing all of the layers stripped away. Both Wendy and Julian relaxing into being themselves and allowing the "magic" of the chateau to bring them the happiness they both desperately wanted were such a wonderful and fantastic thing to read.

The character of Kat (and Theo) was also a delight, and I really appreciated the extra life she brought to the story as a whole.

This is definitely more chick lit than Romance, but it's not without it's sweet romance either. It's really a very charming and enjoyable read!

Oh my! I just found The Chateau of Happily-Ever-After incredibly romantic! The most perfect love story. Definate 5 stars!

The Blurb :
Wendy Clayton stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. Instead, she has a ‘nice’ life. Nice job. Nice flat. Absolutely no men. Until her life is turned upside-down when her elderly neighbour, Eulalie, passes away and leaves her the Château of Happily Ever Afters!
But there’s a catch: she must share the sprawling French castle with Eulalie’s long-lost nephew, Julian. And no matter how gorgeous he is, or how easily she finds herself falling head over heels, Wendy needs to find a way to get rid of him…
Because surely happily ever afters don’t happen in real life?

My Thoughts :
Wendy has been left a French chateau by her old neighbour Eulalie. When she finds out Eulalie's nephew Julian has also inheirited half she is not happy as he had nothing to do with his Aunt.
When they both arrive at the Chateau, they are determinded to out do each other and make one of them leave. Can they end up getting on for the sake of the Chateau or will they always be at war?.
This was a very magical read, where you can get lost in Normandy and its beautiful Chateau. We are treated to lots of visual delights and I could just feel myself lost in the surroundings and smells. I enjoyed this and hope to read more from Jaimie Admans in the future.

This is a pretty decent book, I didn’t really like Wendy though, which made it a bit difficult to read at times. I kept thinking that Julian could do better. BUT if you can get past not liking Wendy then like I said, it’s a pretty decent book.

The Château of Happily - Ever - Afters is my first book by Jaimie Admans, but for sure not the last! It took me so positively by surprise, with a brilliant storytelling, larger than life characters that were almost jumping out of the pages and brilliant plot, and I found myself racing through the pages either laughing out loud or cringing with awkwardness, desperately wanting to know how things would turn out and how many snakes are we going to find in the kitchen.

I loved the characters in this book, all of them! OK, I must admit, at the beginning Julian was so, so annoying, did you have the feeling as well? Oooh, somehow he seemed so uptight and self - important, appearing out of the blue and pursuing Wendy to France, and so very well prepared! I don't know, I just liked Wendy so much and I so wanted to box Julian on the ear, and I so wanted to encourage her to get her own back on him, however Wendy did disappoint me here a little, I was hoping for a funny open war here, and it was only Julian coming up with some annoying ideas. But whatever. But then, slowly, I started to warm to him so much, and the fact that he's an incredibly handsome model with a six - pack had nothing to do with it. Really! I promise! So yes, together with Wendy we've been changing our mind about him - starting with thinking he's a git and a cheat who only wants Wendy's half of the château and ending with totally different feelings.
Wendy was somehow so funny with her being so serious and with the strong sense of responsibility, and so going to France was for her a real adventure, especially as she doesn't speak French and didn't have any experience when it comes to packing - but really, would YOU know what to take with you to a chateau that you a while ago didn't believe exist at all? Exactly. However, our Wendy is determined to make the best of the chateau. Moreover, she can bake delicious things - really, guys, the descriptions of her creations were mouth - watering. She is accident - prone and often finds herself in awkward situations.
What both of them had in common was that they were both full of puzzles and secrets and many layers, and it was a great journey full of bumps and surprises while unpeeling all of them - and I really liked what emerged at the end. They were truly brilliant characters, full of fun and joy.

I loved the setting and the descriptions of the chateau, its rooms and gardens, the neighbourhood and French countryside, and especially I enjoyed the village market - it was so easy to imagine all those stands, friendly sellers, I could really easily picture every detail and smell not forget the descriptions of the lovely, delicious French baking - mmmmm!

The book really took off when the characters found themselves in France - it was then that it started to be hilariously funny and that I began to feel that I'm getting to know the characters. However, then, it started to slow down - don't get me wrong, the writing style was brilliant, the dialogues were more than brilliant, it was so funny and sometimes also poignant, but there was just too much of nothing, in fact, happening. I loved the banter, or Wendy and Julian trying to first drive out each other from the house and then getting to know each other, it's just that if felt too slow. I am also not sure how I felt about the château bringing people together, with it having secrets and treasures - somehow this part of the story felt for me too far - fetched and not completely finished. I personally couldn't believe in the magical walls - call me a killjoy. But altogether, I totally adored this book. It was fresh, and funny, and surprising.

"The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters" is a brilliant summer read, full of colours, smells, humour, this all brought to us in incredibly vivid way. It is sassy, charming and romantic and so easily transported me to the sunny Normandy - a really perfect read for the summer evening! Highly recommended!

This book is bright and funny, full of colour and life, and I won't forget it in a hurry. But for now, Ms Admans, what I really need is another instalment.  Please, please don't leave it there..

The play of dialogue between the two main characters is a work of art, and so are the situations they got themselves into. I thought this novel was blisteringly funny, well-plotted and I really enjoyed the hint of 'otherness' provided by the strange goings on at the Chateau. 

A really, really good read!

I was not a fan of this book. I did not like the main characters, they were unlikable, unrelatable, and unbelievable.

When Wendy is left a chateau by her old neighbour Eulalie she is dumbfounded - the old lady had nothing but she used to tell Wendy stories of a Duke in France and his wife living in the Chateau of Happy Ever Afters where there was magic in the walls and whoever lived there got the happy ending they wanted....but it was all make believe surely!

When she arrives at the solicitors there is another shock a great nephew, Julian, has appeared out of the woodwork claiming that under French law the closest relative is not allowed to be disinherited and so he is entitled to half! Wendy is incensed he never even met Eulalie and all he is after is money and wants to sell it - well over her dead body - she is off to see the Chateau that Eulalie wanted her to have

When she arrives in France with little idea what to expect or any sort of provisions she is soon devastated to find that Julian has the same idea and he is much better prepared than she is but there are both determined to get rid of each other and so start a contest as to who can cause the most problems to make the other leave!

A lovely light hearted fun novel - I loved the way they tried to wind each other up, normally with it backfiring, but then gradually beginning to appreciate each other. Predictable but a fun summer read.

A fun read perfect for a lazy weekend i enjoyed this book it had great characters and was well written.I really liked Wendy and Julian they were kinda cute together a good read.

Chicklit is a genre that is difficult to get exactly right. And unfortunately Admans hasn’t got every element exactly right in this book.

Admans writing is not awful, but it is quite simplistic. There isn’t any gorgeous turns of phrase that make you want to read paragraphs again and again or capture you with their imagery. This type of writing isn’t a prerequisite for me to adore a book, but the plot is also a little too basic for my liking.

Perhaps my biggest issue is how Admans uses popular romance tropes in her plot. It’s like she wasn’t letting the plot flow (and the characters develop) organically as she wrote and instead had a schedule of cliches/tropes she just had to fit in at certain times.

We start out with the ‘shared inheritance’ one when a neighbour, Eulalie, leaves Wendy her chateau in France. It turns out, however, that Eulalie has a great nephew, Julian. According to French law, the property must pass equally to surviving relatives as well as those specified in the will. So, obviously, Wendy and Julian are not impressed when they learn about each other and this stipulation hindering either of them taking full possession of the chateau.

The next cliche is Eulalie leaving a letter saying there is a treasure within the walls. We all know the treasure will be Julian and Wendy finding love with each other. We do expect that. This one might have worked if there was a little more to it. Perhaps if Julian and Wendy joined forces to search? Or if there were more supernatural or unexplained happenings in the house. There is a part in the letter that mentions the house has a way of forcing couples together. I think I would have perhaps liked this explored further. (This is odd, because I’m not usually a fan of ‘magical happenings’ in chicklit but, in this case, I think it would have worked.)

The chateau in France itself is a cliche. I mean, it’s in France. It’s a chateau. The overseas romanticised setting is almost mandatory.

I thought the use of chestnuts as the main crop at the chateau was an original idea and a nice touch. I think I would have liked Wendy to have experimented more with the chestnut recipes than the cakes. A cake-making heroine is actually cliche number four. I don’t mind foodporn in books, but cakes etc have been done to death. Using chestnuts as the main ingredient could have given the baking a fresh spin. (Or maybe that’s just me as chestnuts aren’t exactly commonplace in Australia.)

Julian is a cliche. He’s a gorgeous male model. Funnily enough, I just realised Wendy is hardly described in the book, so I’m unsure about her appearance. The book is written in her first person point of view, but thinking about it now, there seems to be pages and pages dedicated to Julian’s looks and zero to Wendy. Odd.

The cliche of Julian showing off his pretty bod was downright uncomfortable. Would you really just accept a man you hardly knew walking around starkers? I know Brits have this habit of stripping off their shirts every time they get a tiny bit of sun, but Julian removes all his clothes. It's a very strange part of the book. While I'm struggling with making sense of it, Wendy just looks away and carries on as if everyone gardens in the nude.

But it’s the misuse of my favourite trope that grated on my nerves the most. The old chestnut (see what I did there) of having to share a bed is one of my absolute favourites but in this novel is so forced and so ridiculous. The chateau has forty rooms. From what I can make out, there’s beds in more than one. And yet, Wendy and Julian must share a bed because… wait for it… only one room has a light bulb. Yep, light bulbs are essential when you’re sleeping. *sigh*

I did like Wendy’s backstory and her reasons for distrusting Julian, but every time she mentioned rushing back to England because of her job I must admit I got the giggles. Surely anything would pay more than offering samples in a grocery store, including selling cakes at a market in France.

I don’t want to be too harsh. The book isn’t completely bad. I did finish it. And I’m sure if you’re looking for a pleasant book to while away the hours, this book should suit. I was perhaps just hoping for more.

2 ½ out of 5

5☆ Enchanting, Funny, Magical

From the very first chapter I knew this book was going to be special.

When Wendy and Julian both inherit a Chateau, Wendy firmly believes Julian has no right to claim it. He is Eulalie's Great Nephew.
He was never around and although he is a relative, Wendy is set to fight him every step of the way!
Wendy isn't a relative to Eulalie but a neighbour, a very good friend and almost like family. Which is why she is hurt when Julian appears after all this time.

Eulalie was a story teller and often told Wendy magical stories about the Chateau, so when Wendy discovers the stories were actually true she was blown away and determined to visit the Chateau she heard so much about.

At the very start Julian tries to reach out to Wendy but she really isn't having any of it. So a fight is exactly what is going to happen. They butt heads alot!  With hilarious outcomes.

The riddle of the magic and treasure within the Chateau immediately sparked interest and I couldn't wait to try and work out what magic was about to be uncovered and was there really any treasure!

When both Julian and Wendy both set off to France to visit the Chateau neither was aware they would both be arriving at the same time.

Much to Wendy's dismay. She would have to endure Julian's companionship.
Julian is everything Wendy dislikes, he looks gorgeous, he's a model and comes across in her eyes as flash and arrogant!

The Chateau needs plenty of work and both are determined to make it happen. Even if it means working in the same air space lol!!
 
As the story progresses and the Chateau gets some TLC you can envision the beauty surrounding the Chateau and the elegance inside. The charm of the village and villagers.
I was swept away with the magic of the Chateau and it's beauty.

I loved seeing Wendy's ice barrier starting to melt as she fell in love with the Chateau and in turn her guard dropped towards Julian. Revealing a spark between the two! Maybe that was the magic?!
Although the sarcasm was never far away!

I really did warm to Julian... You really got to hand it too him he put up with A LOT from Wendy. The constant bickering, sniping, sarcastic comments. Even though Julian worked really hard to put life back into the Chateau. She still found fault.

But he never gave up. Despite what he appeared to be... a model with the glamourous car etc.. it just shows, you should never judge a book by its cover! Julian was a prime example of this.

Wendy and Julian despite their constant bickering made me laugh out loud.

Jaimie created the perfect dynamics between the two, the ability to create almost slap stick comedy with the disasters had me laughing out loud.
Her ability to create the Chateau and inject life and magic into it was simply beautiful.

I was enchanted, enthralled, I laughed out loud alot, fell in love with the Chateau, Really enjoyed Wendy and Julian' s love/ hate relationship.

I have a very strong feeling The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters is going to be a big Summer Hit!

This is my first book by Jaimie, I'm excited to read more!

Perfect read for lovers of Chick Lit, Comedy, Romance, Beautiful Chateau's in France, Fun Characters with a love/ hate relationship, Perfect Summer Read.

Wow, I cannot even begin to explain how much I loved this book! It is without a doubt one of my new favourites. I found this story so enchanting and it reminded me heavily of Beauty and the Beast (which I absolutely love!).

The story follows Wendy who inherits a chateau in France after her elderly neighbour dies, the only problem is - she has to share it with her neighbour's long-lost relation 'Jules'. When she arrives at the chateau after being able to get some time off work, she realises that she's not the only one and Jules had the same idea!

Along the way, Wendy and Jules grow closer and theres a spark of romance between them. They have some rough times whilst living at the chateau but they come together in the end to try and save it. This book is an absolutely beautiful novel and I really really enjoyed it. I literally cannot wait for more of Jaimie Adman's novels to come out!

If you're thinking about reading this book, then seriously do read it! You will not regret it, it truly is an amazing story. I love the characters and how they came together, their relationship didn't feel forced and I love their journey together. The whole story is amazingly written and has a very charming and light-hearted feel.

The ending gave me shivers it was that good! I would seriously recommend this book to everyone. Amazing. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would! From the very first page I was captured and the cover of this book completely drew me in - it's so pretty!


If you're not a big Beauty and the Beast fan, don't worry because the book still has amazing qualities! I loved every second. Thank you to HQ Digital and to Netgalley for a chance to read this amazing book in return of an honest review.

I have a weakness for romantic comedies, anything to do with France and yes of course a happily ever after. So when this book came on my radar, I knew that I was going to click it. The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters ticked all the boxes plus the enemies to lovers trope that never gets old. Wendy and Julian are two characters you might think are not going to click at all. This was probably because we only get Wendy's viewpoint at first regarding Julian which was not painted in a flattering light until the story progresses. Pretty soon readers are going to be on team Julian and want to shake Wendy to the realities of why he is a nice guy. This book is entertaining, funny and will make you believe that there really is a Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters.