Wendy lives a very limited life in London: she’s a creature of habit, unfortunately her habits are exceedingly limited and rather dour. A musty apartment in a less-desirable area, no family, little opportunities for happiness and her only friend is her elderly neighbor Eulalie, who she trades baked goods with and listens to endless stories about a young girl in France who married a Duke and lived happily-ever-after. Wendy has spent the last years struggling to make ends meet while guarding herself and her heart from any new experiences, joy or chances that are not sure-things. After Eulalie’s death, she can add friendless to the inventory of her life, when an unexpected bequest and request to meet with a solicitor comes to her door.

Apparently, Eulalie had owned a chateau in Normandy, and left it to Wendy. And, French Inheritance laws being what they are, they had also found a long-lost and unknown great nephew, Julian, who will inherit with her. Instantly Wendy is on guard: her dislike of Julian purely from his gorgeous appearance to his questions about the chateau and a mentioned ‘treasure’ have her hackles up. Taking the steps she believes will secure her piece of the estate, and keep Julian out – she heads to France: half packed, unprepared and ready to see just what is there. Not moments after she arrived to open the doors on an unused and ignored chateau of 40 rooms, bat-infested towers and whole villages of spiders, Julian arrives in a sports-car, top down, glammed up and ready to investigate the building.

From the initial moments where Wendy can barely get a sentence out without slinging insults and proving her lack of trust in anyone, to the genuine efforts Julian makes to show her he is not the cad she believes, Wendy is really hard to like, and frustrating to the nth degree. Not speaking any French, and not having prepared for the lack of electrics, plumbing, massive cleaning or need for food, both Wendy and Julian are offered a breath of fresh air in ex-pat Kat, another Brit who left the UK behind for life in Normandy, escaping the end of a bad relationship and taking a chance on a dream. When she spots Julian, and listens to Wendy’s never-ending litany of complaints about him, she instantly sees something is brewing there.

What kept Wendy out of the empathetic was her childish refusal to judge Julian by what he was showing her: his never-ending attempts to repair electrics, plumbing and clear the garden, his willingness to shoo away the creepy-crawlies, his slow change from fitness model perfection to revealing his unvarnished self. She listens to everything and watches him carefully – she can see his insecurities and his issues, although he doesn’t fully share any of it. And Wendy’s actual story doesn’t come clear until far too late in the story to fully redeem her: even as she shows her concern and care for Julian, and the house seems to be giving them spectacular little surprises from electrics in just one room, to the whole house, a library full of books, and a garden full of fruit and chestnut trees, the chateau and the essence of France is strong in this book. With a dash of interference from an elderly woman from beyond the grave and opportunities that scare as much as they excite, the story is quick to read and ends with some truly memorable moments.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-93v /”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Oh this one really is about happy endings! Wendy's surprise inheritance turns out better than she ever expected, not only because of Julian but also because of the wonderful chateau and the people she meets. Admans has done a nice job with the Normandy setting and with the quirks of a castle. I liked Wendy= she's more complicated that she initially appears and I found myself nudging her a little. Julian, well Julian is not what he seems initially. Isn't that what makes this sort of book so romantic? This is a good summer read- it's got a nice plot, good characters, and it's never too twee or unrealistic. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. Two thumbs up!

A charming book set in the beautiful french countryside. The descriptions were very vivid - I could picture myself in the castle. This book is a lighthearted romance and is very enjoyable. I laughed out loud in places. I really enjoyed the quirky characters introduced into the story.

I could empathise with Wendy - she hates change and is happy with her life even though she doesn't really like her job. She is good friends with her elderly neighbour Eulalie and when Eulalie passes away, Wendy finds she has left her a castle in France which comes as a complete surprise as Wendy didn't know Eulalie owned a castle in France. The only problem is she has to share the castle with Eulalie's nephew Julian. This is a classic tale of hate at first sight and then will they /won't they become lovers.

This is the first book I have read by Jaimie Admans and I will look out for more written by her. It was a pleasure to read and I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the book in return for an honest review.

I’ve been a fan of Jaimie Admans’s books since her debut, Kismetology. The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters was a breath of fresh air. With Admans’ trademark humour, wisdom, and sass, plus a touch of magic, this book was a delight from beginning to end.

I connected quickly and easily with Wendy. Besides being the same age, we’re similar in other ways - she’s afraid to go outside her comfort zone or take chances, and she has trouble trusting people, and I related to those things. I think if I’d been placed in the same situation as hers (co-inheriting a French chateau with a hot Scot), I would have acted/reacted much differently than she did, but her pettiness and immaturity were fun to read and had me laughing myself silly. I was glad when she started to come around and formed a tentative friendship with Julian, because these two were perfect for each other. They were both complex characters with realistic issues and hang-ups about relationships, and I loved watching them turn from enemies to a tentative truce to friends to something more. I adored Julian, and I appreciated how he turned Wendy’s perceptions of him upside down - he had so much depth to him and was much more than just a pretty face and a hot body.

Hilarious, charming, and romantic, The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters is one of my new favourite romantic comedies. I was transported to Normandy and could easily picture myself living in the Chateau and experiencing life in the village. Read this book if you want to feel like you’ve been whisked away to the French countryside where you’ll laugh, swoon, fall in love, and be reminded what it’s like to believe in magic.

3.5 - "Opinions can change you know." Stars!

The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters, is so well described that it’s impossible not to want to go there yourself.

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There was so much to love about this book, the locale, the Chateau itself, the secondary characters and Julian McBeath to name but a few, but sadly the one thing that dulled my enjoyment the more of the book I read was Wendy Clayton, being one half of the lead characters and the person who the story is told through it became increasingly difficult to like or find any empathy for her as the book progressed.

"There’s never a shortage of PG Tips in London."

It was understandable that she was prickly towards Julian after their initial meeting, having not known that her close friend Eulalie had any family until her death and the reading of the will, was understandably a shock, especially to then find out her closest friend was also the owner of a massive French Chateau, of which she is now part owner of. But what stuck and really got on my nerves as the book progressed and especially in the second half was just how poorly she treated Julian.

"That defense mechanism of calling him names is only going to hold up for so long you know…"

In Wendy’s head Julian started out as 'Nephew-git McLoophole' and was called a few derivatives of that mainly in the first half, the use of 'git' was included over forty times in the whole telling of the story, and the woman started to sound like a broken record, it went from amusing to annoying very quickly.

"We’re in this together."

Again I could understand her distrust, but the poor guy went above and beyond time and time again, only to have his efforts crapped all over by a sarcastic comment, name-calling or general indifference for most of the book. Then when you find out the reasons for her behavior towards him, and her feelings to men in general, it just felt really weak, in relation to her attitude. I started name calling myself in the end and Wendy was renamed 'Judgey McJudgerson' & 'Bitchy McBitchface'.

"Since I got here, I’ve been feeling like I’m supposed to be here. That’s something I’ve never felt before…"

Judgey McJudgerson aside, I loved Julian, the author gave such a unique spin on your bog standard male model with muscles and looks in all the right places, and everything that went on between them initially was pretty amusing, I loved Kat the ex-pat Baker, and her story could well be worth exploring in a future book. I am hoping that the lack of an epilogue means that the author will possibly be writing further books set in this area.

"You don’t need to put up any fronts for me… I couldn’t give a toss what you look like."

This was my first book by Jaimie Admans, and the writing and story were in general sound, if Wendy’s acerbic nature had been pulled back a little this would have been a five star read for me, but I think there is a definite line between being prickly and distrustful through the presented circumstances, to just coming over as an ungrateful harridan as things progress, because the gravitas of the backstory you are given not really matching up to your behaviour and actions, which for me was the case on this occasion. I would certainly be happy to read more from this author in the future though.

"I can breathe here…"

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

This book was cuter and a little unexpected. One could see how it would end, but the story along the week was much more touching than I expected.. The issues both characters had were so relevant in today's society.

It was a cute, fun read.

I really enjoyed this book. It's such a simple storyline but it works so well.

Wendy has a nice life. Well an ok job and an ok flat and a neighbour that she adored who has sadly passed away and turns her life upside down by leaving her the Chateau of Happily Ever Afters. Unfortunately she is a co-inheritor as her neighbour has also left the chateau to her great nephew Julian.

Can these two share the sprawling mansion or will they do everything in their power to make the other one give up their share. Plus there's the added thrill of potential treasure.

This book is beautifully written and was a pleasure to read. This is the first book I've read by Jaimie Admans and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital and the author for the chance to review.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher. What a lovely book, the description of France and the people were amazing.

June has rapidly become a month filled with rom-coms for me, and The Château of Happily-Ever-Afters was a welcome addition.

"The Château of Happily Ever Afters is not just a house, or a home, or a castle. There is magic in the walls, and there is treasure too."

When Wendy and Julian jointly inherit a French chateau, neither is happy at the fact that sharing is involved and they hold no punches with their verbal sparring, insults and annoying the hell out of one another.

"...if you were on fire and I had a bottle of water, I’d drink it."

Enemies-to-lovers is a firm favourite of mine, but there is a point when it can be overplayed and for me, this was bordering on entering that territory. Thankfully Admans cut it just at the right time—any longer and this may well be a very different review—and this was when things really kicked up a gear: whilst the romance is minimal, everything surrounding it, from the humour to the beautiful French village setting, the quirky characters, developing friendships, discoveries and the magic of the château, makes this the story it is.

"If you find a man who knows how to make a cup of tea right, grab him and hold on tight."

I can't deny Wendy frustrated me with her jabs at Julian which at times were just rude and hurtful, but equally I like how this was played as it threw gender stereotyping out of the window: the old adage never judge a book by its cover could have been created for Julian and I adored him. Overall this was an engaging, enjoyable read which tugged on my emotions and even though the their story felt a little unfinished—I'd have loved an epilogue set several years down the line—it's well worth picking up.

This was such a lovely read I was instantly drawn in as soon as I started reading. It starts with a legacy left to the main characters, Wendy and Julian. This pair are from two totally different ends of the social spectrum. In reality they would never have met if it weren't for the fact that they find themselves equal owners in a chateau in France.

From the moment they arrive at the chateau hilarity ensues. The chemistry is not what you would expect as they all but hate each other on sight. Wendy in particular forms her own opinion of Julian almost instantly, and he has to work very hard to change her views.

I love the way the author brings in other strands throughout the story. We meet local people whose lives become intertwined with those of Wendy and Julian in such a way I found myself rooting for them almost as much as I was for the main characters. The way these stories blend together is brilliantly done.

This is a lovely summer read, ideal for those who want to be transported to somewhere picturesque and hot. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Enchanting story that features a huge French Chateau that depending on what you believe may or may not have magical walls and a treasure hidden inside. It also features two people who inherit the Chateau, both suspicious of each other, and both want to get rid of the other, with amusing consequences.

Wendy rarely takes chances on anything, she hates change, holidays, she is happy to work a job that is so loosely related to what she wants to do, and has a flat. She is very content with her life, so when she is told she stands to inherit a Chateau in Normandy that her next door neighbour owned, she is scared. She also didn't realise it was a real place, and thought the stories, Eulalie (her neighbour) had told her about a big house and a Duke, and parties were all fiction, when it could turn out to be the truth.

Julian is a male model and Eulalie's great nephew although they never met. He is the loophole in the inheritance laws and now owns half the chateau too They take an instant dislike to each other, both suspicious, and both intrigued by a riddle Eulalie laid out in the will too.

I was laughing almost as soon as they both arrived separately in France, their approaches are marked contrast. One clearly having travelled before and knowing what to expect, the other managing to get stuck in a wall cavity on day 1! And the catalogue of slight disasters doesn't stop there, watch out for an entertaining scene with a snake, the pair sharing a bed together, and not in the way or reasoning you may be thinking.

They make a new friend quite early on who helps Wendy especially start to feel settled at the chateau, and I also loved seeing how Julian started to change too. There are a lot of mentions of delicious french baking, and I loved the descriptions of the nearest village, and the twice weekly market held there.

This really gives a great look into life in rural Normandy life, and the possibilities of living in a big chateau and self sustainability.

The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters is the first book I have read by Jaimie Admans and it was charming and such a pleasurable read. I found myself whizzing through the pages, as the story overtook me, and I just had to see how things would turn out.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

When Wendy co-inherits a chateau in France she is equal parts excited to have a tie to her beloved neighbor Eulalie who passed away and upset she has to share it with Eulalie's great nephew Julian.

Both Wendy and Julian arrive to check out the chateau, and she wants to try to get rid of him, thinking he is out to find a way to take it from her.

I really loved Wendy's journey as she learned about what makes her happy and how to trust someone after​ being burned in the past. I also thought that the author did a fabulous job with Julian. There are so many books I have read recently where the male lead is a one-dimensional character, but Julian was surprisingly kind, funny, and sensitive.

The descriptions of the chateau and France were perfect! It was as if I was there with them working on the grounds or walking through the market in town. It was the perfect setting and made me want to visit the countryside when I visit France this fall!

I laughed out loud multiple times, felt for both the characters as they go through the ups and downs of life, and was sad to see the story end. Definitely a 5 star read!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a super adorable. The beginning was a little bit slow, so it took me a while to get into the story. I loved watching the characters get to know each other and slowly falling for each other. I also love the setting of the story in the countryside of France. The way I envision it in my head it makes me want to go on a trip

:) Big Smile! An absolutely magical and charming story. Wendy inherits a chateau along with an unwelcome nephew and now they must learn to live together to make both of their dreams come true.
There were several laugh out loud moments for me which made me really enjoy this. Wendy has moments when you want to smack her, but I see where the author was going with her. Julian was almost too perfect, but still, you can't help but like him. We are transported to beautiful Normandy, I could picture the chateau and the village...they were wonderfully described. With just a hint of magic (and what's wrong with that?), this is a lovely romance to bring a smile to your face.

**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**

I received this e-book The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters for free from HQ to read and review. This is the first book and first time hearing author Jaimie Admans. This book reminded me a lot of first and in the description All of My Heart. And it started off like that and then did its own spin to become The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters. You cant help by fall in love with Wendy, Julian, Kat, and Mr Butterman, and Ms E herself. I can just picture what she would have looked like. This story makes you feel like you are in the story cheering them on the accomplishments and all of their uphill battles. This is a definite must read for any book lover.

Reading the Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters was like taking a little vacation from day-to-day life. I felt like I was transported away from the world of work, bills, and other monotonous things as the main characters inherited an old chateau in France and were able to leave the demands of their own life behind to explore their inheritance. As they explore their chateau, they find themselves breaking down walls within themselves and the house seems to respond (a little magic?).

This is a romance book that speaks to your heart, and does not contain any steamy bedroom scenes, which I find distracting from the main story most of the time. The author uses a little imagination and bit of romance to create a truly fun read.

What’s the book about?
In general, „The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters“ is a book about taking risks and breaking out from your routines (I don’t know if that is a correct saying in English, but I hope you get what I mean). There’s Wendy, a 33 year old Londoner who has a job she doesn’t like, but it pays her bills. She lives in a small flat and just inherited a castle from her neighbour, an old lady who was like family to Wendy. She didn’t know about the french chateau, despite the stories Eulalie, the neighbour, told her. Eulalie made them sound like fairy tales.

Wendy is scared of leaving her comfort zone and taking risks. I can totally relate with her. I’m not that kind of person that could move somewhere else, although in my dreams, maybe… But: leaving the comfort zone is not my thing. I’m too scared, like Wendy. But I think we have different reasons. She also doesn’t trust men, especially when it comes to money. Bad experience in her past where she lost all her money.

It wouldn’t be a romance novel when there wasn’t a good looking guy, in this case: Julian. If you like abs and strong arms, then here is your man. In Wendy’s opionion, Julian is an arrogant git who just wants money from the castle. Because he is a distant relative of Eulalie, he inherits the other half of the castle. So Wendy has to share it with him. And Julian didn’t even know his great aunt!

So when Wendy leaves her comfort zone – finally! – to see the castle personally, she doesn’t expect Julian to be there, too. And she makes it her life task to make his holiday at the castle miserable. He is only there for the treasure, which Eulalie mentioned in her will. At least, Wendy is sure he just wants money. The castle is worth nearly one million Euros. Although it’s uninhabited for 20 years (at least uninhabited by humans), the electrics aren’t working properly (luckily, Julian can fix them a bit) and there are broken windows and you have to take a shower outside. Speaking of outside: there is a garden, a big, big garden with all kinds of trees, fruits and everything you need.

Julian, a fitness modell, got hurt in the part and he has a broken family. His agents think he is 27 when in reality he is 38. Despite his good looks, he is guarded and unsecure. His look is only a mask, as Wendy discovers over the weeks.

We have a German saying: „Was sich liebt, das neckt sich“ – that means if you love somebody, you tease him. I think that are the right words to describe Wendy’s and Julian’s relationship.

My opinion
At first I thought Wendy was acting childish towards Julian. It wasn’t fair how she treated him. She’s 33, for god’s sake! But I have to admit: sometimes I’m a bit childish, too and I’m just a bit younger then Wendy. And I think I would react similar.

It’s a funny read and I could really imagine being in this castle with Wendy and Julian. But I would be a bit scared with forty rooms and all kinds of insects living there.

This novel is not very realistic, because the castle seems to have a mind of its own. And, well, how is it possible that the electronics start working step by step when Wendy and Julian are getting along better? And Julian has nothing to do with the generator. He tried to fix it, but it could only light up the light bulb in the kitchen and in one of the bedrooms.

I couldn’t put my Kindle down, but I also couldn’t carry on reading. You know that problem, right? You can guess that I’m a bit sad of finishing the book. I would like to know more about the castle and if they can work out something to make a living there. With the cake Wendy bakes and the chestnuts in the garden. I really hope there is a second book!

I read this book quickly. There isn't much too the plot and he main character was frustrating for much of the book, but it's still a sweet love story.

Brilliant book,I loved it, couldn't put it down,Wendy didn't love her job,but she loved cooking,one day her friend and neighbour Eulalie died leaving her a French castle,but the only trouble is half of it as been left to Eulalie’s long-lost nephew, Julian.wendy doesn't like him she thinks he is just after the money,but slowly,they get friends,this is a very well written book,about life living in a old French castle,that needs work,a must read.

This book is brilliant I laughed a lot had tears in my eyes, my jaw seriously hurts from smiling. A perfect pick me up book!!