I was lucky enough to read this one with a friend! This story follows Maggies as she has writer’s block and travels to France. I loved that Maggie was an older heroine and that she had life experience. I loved the way Ernst describes one of my favorite cities and the food in Paris! Unfortunately, I did not feel any “sparks” between Maggie and her ex-husband or her “muse” Max. If you love good food, travel and heroines who mature, give this one a read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Maggie Bliss has a book to write. With an impending deadline, zero motivation, distraction from her relationship, she takes her agent up on his offer on a trip to Paris in hopes to find inspiration. She enjoys the sights and sees her daughter; she also rekindles some old flames with her ex-husband Alan, all the while seeing a handsome and single French man, Max as her muse. But, what if true love is in the cards after all?

Ernst did a wonderful job telling Maggie’s story as if I were in a conversation with Maggie the entire time. The author element, finding her muse for inspiration meshed well. I couldn’t help but relate Maggie’s novel to ACOTAR, lol. I liked the adventure in Paris, and the possibility of falling in love again with the ex-husband. I also found her character to be so relatable despite her age being in the mid-40’s. When it came to love and romance, there was connection and chemistry, and honestly, I didn’t exactly know how things would go for Maggie. Overall, an sweet read that that’d pair well with strawberries and wine.

This book was like a breath of fresh air, transporting me off to Paris, and especially welcome after this last year of Quarantimes. Maggie, the narrator, is a fairly successful 48 YO romance writer, currently suffering from a severe case of writer's block. She has the third book of a successful trilogy due to her editor post haste, she's missed several deadlines already, and is panicking because she can't seem to find her muse. After finally dropkicking her current live-in lover, a narcissistic author of "important" books, to the curb, Maggie's agent proposes that she accompany him and his partner to their large flat in Paris in hopes of finding some inspiration. Maggie's grad student daughter is currently living a few hours away in Brittany, so this also seems like a great opportunity to check up on her.

After arriving in Paris, Maggie finds a bit more inspiration than she bargained for in the guise of Max, the live-in housekeeper's 50+ YO son, a successful businessman who has returned to Paris for a conference and to take a break from his demanding job in NYC. Between Max, Maggie's agent, her daughter, and the unexpected but welcome company of her ex (a successful college math professor) who is also in Paris to visit their daughter, Maggie finds sources of inspiration everywhere and finds her creative juices flowing for the first time in months. Now she has to decide what direction she wants her life to go in, aided by copious amounts of French food, wine, two men who are clearly demonstrating their interest, and amazing Paris scenery at every turn.

This was a lighthearted love letter to Paris and all things French as viewed by a mature, determined woman unafraid to forge her own path and go after what she wants in life. I want to be Maggie and I especially want to stay in that apartment! Having visited France a couple of times, the book brought back great memories, and made me want to go again as soon as I can safely get on a plane.

Maggie Finds Her Muse was a quick read that really helped cleanse my palate! I’ve been reading quite a few heavy hitting stories, so this light and quick read was something I didn’t know I needed. I requested this from Net Galley because the title and description gave me The Emperor’s New Groove feels, which is one of the best movies ever.

The book was not similar to The Emperor’s New Groove at all, which I figured as much, but it was still super fun and I could absolutely see Maggie on the big or small screen.

Maggie, a romance author, hit a wall and is unable to cure her writers block. She jets off to Paris to help inspire her, which equally has my travel bug itching. After dumping her boyfriend in her 40’s, she battles her work deadlines, seeing her ex-husband again, as well as her reuniting with her daughter who now lives in France.

I found this type of story super refreshing because it wasn’t about some young, whiny girl trying to find love. I know that’s not a blanketed stereotype for love stories, but I haven’t read one with the lead being in her 40’s and already established in every other aspect in her life.

I was immediately hooked, then it got a bit slow, and picked back up real quick around the 70% mark. It was a bit predictable, but that didn’t take anything away from me enjoying the story. It made it easy having likable characters, well all but one character really, and no, it wasn’t the ex-boyfriend.

One character (or dynamic) I really enjoyed was Maggie and her daughter, Nicole. Nicole has Asperger's and it’s a storyline I hadn’t come across in a book before. With Nicole in her 20’s, her character was strong, independent, and well-off when being diagnosed with Asperger’s could have a negative tie (thanks TV). I felt Maggie (who is very expressive) was really well written to show how she interacted with other characters in the story compared to her daughter knowing she struggles with some social situations.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Big thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC! Be sure to get your copy April 20th.

Content warnings: mention of student-professor relationship, divorce, death, mention of a car accident, mention of cancer.

To continue my traveling through books in March theme I dove into Maggie Finds Her Muse. I’m not typically one for the meta type book of an author trying to write a book but I enjoyed this story. Maggie is an 40 year old author who is about to make her big break and be able to write without a side job, all she needs to do is finish her popular series and she has writers block. Her friends/manager swipes her off to a fancy Paris apartment to give her a chance to get inspired and finish her book.

First off I need friends with a Paris apartment who can just fly me there at any moment please!! The Paris sections of this book are wonderful - it made me want to go back to Paris. I have been 3 different times and I loved it but told myself I need to see other parts of the world before I can go back but the hubby wants to see it so I’m sure some day we will make it back.

I only got bogged down in the story when there was lots of talk about the plot of the book she is writing and while I can appreciate the hilarious scene where the group is blocking the big escape, the minutia of the characters and plot got a bit long and I found myself skimming in those parts.

I did like the love interests in this book but also liked how the author was sure to note that a muse does not specifically need to be a person, it can be a place or experience as well. Overall this was a cute book and if you need a dose of Paris or travel I definitely recommend it.

This was a fantastic read! Ernst draws readers in to Maggie's relatable and adorable personality with the first line, "Here Lies Maggie Blis, who does a slow and tortured death by Total Imposter Syndrome.". I felt like I was exploring Paris right alongside Maggie - seeing the Eiffel Tower and Versailles, drinking French wine, and eating French food. Maggie's struggles are relatable, from her conflicted emotions about her ex-husband, to her complicated relationship with her adult daughter, to her growing feelings for the handsome Frenchman, Max, who has become her muse. Maggie must learn to trust herself in her writing and in her personal life, and readers will follow her every stop of the way! #netgalley #MaggieFindsHerMuse

A woman who is a romance writer tries to get out of a writing slump by going to Paris. The MMC isn't traditionally handsome and Paris was a huge component of the book, which I loved. Heavy love triangle, steamy scenes were fairly short.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press, St Martin’s Griffin for an advanced copy of Maggie Finds Her Muse in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book was so much fun to read! I loved the storyline - Maggie is a romance writer working on the third book in her trilogy suffering from writer’s block. Her friends offer her an apartment in Paris to help her be inspired to finish the series. Her time in Paris, and the men she spends time with there, help her get unstuck. The descriptions of food left me hungry and craving a visit to Paris!
Recommend this to anyone looking for a fun read to distract you from everything else going on right now!

In the last few years, I have found a deeper appreciation for an older heroine. I am definitely on board for this trend in romance, women's fiction, and rom-coms.
Maggie's daughter lives in France and Maggie needs to shake things up a bit. She heads overseas to destress and find some inspiration for her next novel. She has always found the need for a muse, whether it's an old, ratty sweater or an alluring and suave Frenchman. Meeting Max gives her exactly what she needs to buckle down and write her next book.
The humor throughout is extremely enjoyable. It was perfectly blended within a relatable storyline. I laughed several times, particularly at the way the first several chapters kicked off. I felt just enough joy at Maggie's travels to give me a little bit of envy while also satiating the lack of ability to take an adventure myself right now.
I'm definitely going to have to keep an eye out for other reads by Dee. I am her newest fan!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst is a charming light romance (a little open-door steam) that was an all-around fun read. Beautiful Paris, delicious food (so much bread and cheese!), wines, and a few love interests make this one a delight. The characters are fun and have witty banter, and there's some diverse representation. This heart-warming book is a great summer beach read or a palate cleanser between heavier books.

Maggie Finds Her Muse is a lovely story about a newly single 48 year old romance writer. Maggie is over due in writing the third and final book in her series, so her agent suggests to come to Paris with him to find her muse.⁣
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Not only does she find her Muse, she says yes and takes adventures, eats amazing food, gets a make over, bonds with her daughter Nicole who has ASD, makes friends, and falls in love with Paris, herself, and a man.⁣
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This story was so well written. The descriptions of Paris painted a picture like you were there, like a movie playing in my head. The food made me so hungry, it sounded devine.⁣
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Maggie’s friends were so much fun and were also encouraging her and having her back. Her relationship with her daughter was difficult at times but they truly cared for each other and understood each other. ⁣
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I also enjoyed learning about the process it takes to write and publish a novel. There was also a stinky, fat bull dog Jules that sounded adorable. ⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an arc for my honest review. #books #bookstagram #netgalley #maggiefindshermuse

Maggie Finds Her Muse follows author Maggie as she struggles to write her final book in her bestselling trilogy. When her agent suggests that she travel to Paris she takes him up on the offer in the hopes that she'll be able to finally get started on her book. While in Paris she not only finds Max.

Maggie tended to be emotional but I loved that the story took place in Paris. Who doesn't want to fall in love in Paris? A cute story about reinventing ones self in your late 40s.

It was odd to see that the blurb refers to this book as "women's fiction". This book is a straight up and down romance, and a good one. Ernst writes light frothy romances about women who usually have careers and children and have been in at least one prior relationship. You know, a normal woman.

Maggie has writers block and goes to Paris and stays in an apartment, on the right bank (11ième arrondissement). She needs to complete the third book of a romance trilogy. The occasional commentary on the romance genre was a hoot - yes, I agree - the little kid in those books is usually annoying although so many readers tend to like them!

It was very nice to re-experience Paris through Ernst's eyes. She is an engaging fluid writer whose stories are always lively and enjoyable, and her characters likeable.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exhange for an honest review.
I usually don't read romance novels but the synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read & I am so glad that I did.
I found "Maggie Finds Her Muse" by Dee Ernst to be a charming & refreshing adult romance set in Paris.
It made me smile & to decide to request other romance novels in the future.

Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst
Source: NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
Rating: 3/5 stars

For the first time in her career, Maggie Bliss has a serious case of writer’s block. The words simply won’t come, and she is on a deadline that is closing in at lightning speed. If she doesn’t finish her book, the dreams she has long worked for simply won’t happen. If Maggie doesn’t do something soon it’s all going to come crashing down.

First, Maggie gets rid of her worthless and completely unsupportive boyfriend. With little emotion and a load of determination, Maggie tells the lump to pack his bags and get stepping! Though he simply can’t understand how Maggie can possibly let a catch like him go, she does and has zero regrets about her decision.

Second, Maggie accepts an absolutely stunning offer from her dear friend to fly to Paris, live in his apartment and find her muse among the sites, sights, and people of the French capital. With nothing tying her to her current location, Maggie packs her bags, crosses the big pond, and settles in easily to her new environment. The settling takes no time as the neighborhood is gorgeous, the apartment is sumptuous, and the company is delightful.

Finally, Maggie must find her muse. As it happens, that is as easily said as done. When Maggie stumbles upon a very hungover Max in the apartment’s bathtub, she sees something special in the handsome stranger. As it turns out, Max is the son of the live-in housekeeper and cook and often spends his down time with his mother. In the days he spends in Paris, Max delights Maggie to no end. He is intelligent, quite knowledgeable about Paris and the surrounding areas, and always willing to join Maggie on her adventures. In short order, Maggie realizes when Max is around the words seem to flow more easily and her book is coming along at a brilliant pace. If she can just keep Max around for a bit longer Maggie will be able to realize all her dreams.

The Bottom Line: There are parts of this book I really enjoyed: I liked the setting and especially the tours through the famous sites and museums, I really liked the descriptions of all the gorgeous meals eaten, and I adored Max. Outside of those three things, I found everything else in this book to be rather cliché and predictable. It all had to fall apart before Max and Maggie could enjoy their HEA and the big fall apart was just a little to standard romance novel for me. With that said, this was a fine little distraction for a night or two and though I wouldn’t tell you to move this to the top of your TBR, I would also not tell you to skip this one.

The setting: Maggie Bliss, a 48-year old writer, has ditched her boyfriend. Confronted with a deadline for the final book in her trilogy, and suffering from writer's block, she takes up her gay agent's offer to accompany him and his partner to their Paris apartment to get her juices flowing/find her muse. Her daughter lives in France and as it turns out, her ex-husband is also going to be in Paris [and visiting the daughter]. Of course the fabulous apartment comes with a caretaker/cook, who happens to have a single son around Maggie's age...

What can I say? Described as a "sparkling romantic comedy"-- I'd certain go for the romance part but not necessarily sparkling or comedy [a bulldog that farts?! and some other humorous descriptions on her fashion sense, etc.]. That said, I was sucked in at the start. It's an easy peasy read. I guessed the trajectory [hard not to] and was interested to see how it would turn out. [Yep, I got it right.]

Thankfully the mushy, gooey stuff was not overwhelming. BUT, it was there.

Coincidentally, Maggie wants her book to be released in time for summer reading--which this surely is--though the release date is April.

Definitely a woman's book. And the descriptions of Paris sites and food a plus. The characters are all pleasant save for Maggie's ex-boyfriend. Greg. A fluffy, fast, fun, entertaining, escapist read, but certainly not literary.

3.5 because I just went with the flow, but not rounding up.

Dee Ernst is a new-to-me author and this story was just what I needed. There are few stories about older characters in their late 40s to 50s, and I enjoyed reading about those who have more life experience but still have issues to address.

I could just visualize the old buildings, the cafes, doorways, the gardens and even the cobblestones. The sights of Paris and the food almost become the focus of the story and I could almost see and taste everything. I can’t wait to travel again and want to make a list of everything in this story to visit and try!

Maggie has a good career as an author but as many authors find, writers block can hit at any time. She is fortunate to have close friends and colleagues, Lee and Martin, to offer her a place to stay in Paris and write the third book of her trilogy which is past the deadline. So not only does she have a wonderful place to stay, Solange, the caretaker of the house, is an excellent cook. I enjoyed each trip to the market to buy one item here, another item there and then home to make meals that sounded magical. Then to add to the mix, there’s a stinky dog, an ex-husband, daughter and her boyfriend, and Max, the sexy Frenchman she unexpectedly found in her tub.

Maggie’s spirts are lifted from a makeover and all of the wonderful experiences and the words begin to flow. It was interesting how her various interactions would quickly set her mind to working on scenes for her book.

The story was one of a woman’s independence, love of family and friends, new experiences and of course, the thought of either a rekindled or new love. I love epilogues and while this story didn’t have one, the ending was perfect.

I look forward to reading more of Ms. Ernest’s work as this was such a treat. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing me the opportunity to read this new work.

Maggie Finds Her Muse is a charming romance set in Paris. When RITA award winning writer, Maggie, finds herself at a crossroads filled with writer's block and at the end of an unsatisfying relationship, she takes refuge at her agent's flat in Paris to see if she can recover gracefully and maybe find her muse in the City of Lights. She soon finds herself in an odd love triangle with her attractive ex-husband, Alan, who has recently ended a relationship of his own and is in France to visit their expat daughter, and not-her-type Max, who is coincidentally staying in the same flat as Maggie where his mother is the housekeeper. Will living a month in Paris as a newly made-over Maggie be enough of a muse for her to finish writing her book or will Alan or Max help inspire the passionate characters in her novel?

I really appreciated that the romantic interests in this book were established adults well into their 40s and 50s. It was refreshing to read a romance where the characters had history and baggage, but were still vibrant enough to read as charming, seductive, and vivacious. Most of all, Maggie was relatable, and I found her character to be a delight to read about. I also loved that Maggie's romance writing played out in scenes as she wrote her novel. As a fellow writer, losing oneself in character and plot development for hours is so relatable and it brought some humor to the narrative. I recommend this book for those who like a light and mature romance that include love triangles, second-chances-at-love, and friends-to-lovers tropes.

Advanced copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is exactly what I needed right now - a fun escape to Paris with Maggie. I loved that Maggie is a bit older at 48 and a romance book writer! After reading some heavier books and thrillers, it was nice to read a book that was lighter in subject. This would be a great beach read! Just read in the author's goodreads bio that she writes older characters for her books so I'll definitely be reading more by Dee Ernst!

Great peek at life in Paris as a middle-aged woman. It was more romance-y than I thought it would be which was a disappointment, I was hoping it was going to be about finding herself not finding men.