I was lucky enough to have read more books by Julie Chaplin in the past. She already whisked me away on a sun-drenched holiday in Croatia and she learned me all about hugge en Stockholm. So I had very high anticipations for this novel.

I have never been on a skiing holiday and I have zero affinity with snow, skiing, snowboarding or anything concerning winter sports. But still Miss Chaplin succeeded to drawn me in. How could she not with all the mentioning of delicious cakes and melt in your mouth chocolate. And cheese…. I do love cheese. I am all in for raclette and fondue.

Mina the main character is such a delight to read about. She is so funny, easy going, in for adventure and overall such a sweet caring person. I loved spending all this time with her exploring the snow and the alps. I loved how vividly Julie Chaplin described the cooking and recipes that both Mina and her aunt were cooking up. She is such a talented author when it comes to food depiction and scenery setting. There were times when I could almost smell the cake and feel the cool mountain breeze.

I simply loved the Little Swiss Ski Chalet. It really made me travel to the Swiss Alps and even gave me some tinny interest in skiing myself. Lovely romance, heart-warming family story… can’t wait to dive more into Julie Chaplins books.

This is the first book from Julia that I have read and I loved it, When I saw the cover I thought it was colourful and cute. I loved how we learned about the food whilst reading this story.
I loved how much Mina grew as a character throughout this story.

My first book by this author. Won't be my last. After a humiliating break-up food technician Mina heads to Switzerland to stay with her godmother and drown in chocolate.. Sweet story

If it’s top drawer escapism you’re after, then Julie Caplin’s latest gorgeous romantic read The Little Swiss Ski Chalet should be at the very top of your list.

Food technician Mina has always believed that chocolate is the answer to every single problem. There is nothing in this world that chocolate will not fix – and as a food technician she is very well qualified to make this judgement. Chocolate has never let Mina down or not provided her with the comfort and support she has always needed – which is just as well as she plans to consume industrial quantities of the stuff now that she has inadvertently become a viral sensation after her latest relationship mishap is broadcast all over social media and the internet. Embarrassed and humiliated, Mina realises that she cannot continue to let her life spiral out of control like this, so determined to take stock and to turn over a new leaf she heads to her godmother’s cosy Swiss chalet for some R&R – and for the most delicious hot chocolate in the world!

Breath-taking scenery and picturesque vistas whilst partaking of some of the most mouth-watering food she has ever tasted is just what the doctor ordered. Who needs romance when you can have as much Swiss cheese and chocolate as you could possibly want? And besides, after her last relationship had gone awry, Mina had vowed to keep her heart firmly under lock and key and nothing and nobody was going to convince her otherwise – until Cupid’s arrow strikes when she least expects it!

Just when Mina had written men off and vowed never to let anybody close to her again, she has a close encounter on a train with a handsome and mysterious stranger who is so good-looking, not even the world’s most tempting chocolate comes close to being as delicious as him. Mina never planned on falling in love again, but anything can happen at the Little Swiss Ski Chalet as she soon discovers…

Julie Caplin’s feel-good romantic comedies are always a treat and she has outdone herself with The Little Swiss Ski Chalet. Fun, uplifting, emotional and full of heart, The Little Swiss Ski Chalet is a gorgeous treat which is just the ticket especially during current times. A book that touches the heart and will make you roar with laughter, The Little Swiss Ski Chalet has it all: a fabulous heroine, a gorgeous hero I absolutely loved, mouth-watering descriptions of food and plenty of wit, humour and drama to keep you glued to the pages of this book.

Enjoyable and entertaining, Julie Caplin’s The Little Swiss Ski Chalet is contemporary romance at its irresistible best!

The Little Swiss Ski Chalet is a light and beautiful story full of sweet characters, beautiful and realistic setting, love and FOOD!!!! All the characters are wonderfully written. They are not perfect, they have their own flaws, but along with the weak points, each character has a specific quality which makes them special. The writing style is amazing. I learnt a lot about food and culture in Switzerland through this book. Food, especially, chocolates and cakes, literally made me hungry. The descriptions are very very beautiful and realistic. The scenery, locations, snow and the mountains are beautifully described. I could easily visualize the mountains, the snow in front of my eyes. For me, it was like taking a virtual tour to Switzerland while being in the comfort of my house.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an e-arc copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Someone suggested this book on a Facebook reading group. I thought it was heartwarming. I was sold when I found out it was set in Swiss and chocolate, cheese, fondue, and snow were part of the story.

The love story was cute and the resort setting felt comfortable.

In fact, it was exactly what I was expecting. This is a cute story to forget about all of our sorrows during this pandemy.

Full of chemistry, romance, friendship and family history set in a Swiss village. With a stunning mountain scenery, which sounded absolutely beautiful.

I absolutely loved this book. It gave me all the winter feels. I would love nothing more than to escape to the Swiss chalet and go skiing. Not that I can ski! Maybe Luke could teach me.

I loved how the book started and where it lead to. Definitely one of those ones that reminds you that everything happens for a reason. But god what a little weasel Simon was!! I hated how he made Mina feel, which then led her to question all her positive attributes.

Mina, strong, independent, impulsive and outgoing. A social butterfly, with a passion for life and food, which I found endearing. She loved adventures, travelling and was always planning her next trip. She sounds very familiar to myself with the travelling bug so it was no wonder I adored her. I thought she was a brilliant character and one I would love to be friends with.

I really enjoyed reading about Mina and the relationship with her godmother Amelie. Their bond was very special and Amelie was another wonderful character. I loved the friendships they both formed with everyone, yet that’s no surprise when they literally spoke to anyone.

Luke – positive handsome Luke. I loved how Mina saw him, yet there was more to him then she realised. I liked the anticipation of this storyline and thought it was done perfectly.

I love how my favourite word serendipity was the basis of this book. I am a firm believer in it and this word describes this book perfectly.

There were many strong messages in the book especially about happiness – it really is the most important thing and my favourite lines being:

“It’s simple: do things that make you feel glad to be alive. And avoid the things that don’t.“

“Things in life happen which you can’t stop, but you can choose how you react to them. You can choose to be positive or negative, happy or sad, angry or calm.”

I also loved the way Julie described life, she had the perfect way of telling the story, one of my favourite sentences :

“Being with him was like drinking champagne all the time. She felt dizzy and sparkly, energised and excited” now they are the best feelings described!

I highly recommend grabbing a hot chocolate and getting cosy under a blanket to read this delightful, winter book.

I've never been skiing, never been to Switzerland, never been on a train, never stayed at a chalet, but by reading this book I have experienced all of that! I feel like I have went on a vacation to this wonderful little chalet in Switzerland.

The author does an amazing job of describing the scenery so well that it was more than just reading a book. I feel like I experienced all the things that the characters did. I never knew “indoor skiing” existed, and after reading about it, had to look it up on the internet. I also looked up the recipes for delicious cakes mentioned throughout the book! In addition, the complex construction of ski lifts to get to specific points to begin a ski run. I never knew that existed either. The book was a joy to read and also an education!

This is the first book I have read by Julie Caplin. I did read one book by this author under the name of Jules Wake, and saw an internet interview of her with other authors, which prompted me to read The Little Swiss Ski Chalet. I read so many great reviews for her “Romantic Escapes Series”, that I wanted to experience one for myself, and it was amazing!

I definitely have found a new author of that I love! She creates her characters in such detail that I feel like I know them and care about them. The plot is wonderful and I was engrossed from the very beginning of the book. I read along hoping for a happy conclusion at the end, and as it is required in the romance genre, that is exactly what I received.

I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

I do love Julie Caplin's books since each of them takes us on a journey to a different part of the world. And this time it is the snow-laden Swiss countryside. The story had me itching to pack my travel bags (since I am not as impulsive as Mina, that didn't happen).
Chocolate, cake, skiing and chocolate again. Yup! Consider yourself warned and stock your fridge before planning to take this book. Even the memory of it is making me hungry. Caplin has worked her magic again. Within no time, we are pulled into the beauty and serenity of Switzerland, a country known for its rich heritage and hospitality. And the chocolates of course. In other words, heaven for a foodie buff like Mina.
As you might have already guessed, this literal journey also provides a turning point in the life of our heroine, both in career and in love. Well, I didn't really buy the romance part; even with all the serendipity ideas, I don't think it was that unique and the ending had me muddled. Giving up your dreams for love, is that really worth it? Hmm . . . not for me to judge.
Still, it proved to be the perfect comfort read for the weekend (I will have to consider the few pounds added to my weight though). Ever wished to be inside a book while you read it? Well, fairy godmother, I would like to use that gift on this book.

I was gifted my copy for the blog tour.
Julie Caplin has transported me to some of the most magical places in the past with her wonderfully descriptive writing style, that really hits the senses. The Little Swiss Ski Chalet continues that with a winter wonderland. Minna is head strong, impulsive and the life and soul of most parties. She isnt afraid of live and beilves life is for the moment, she is a foodie at heart and when her latest dinner party ends up going viral for all the wrong reasons and her relationship falls apart. Its time to head for the swiss alps.

Trying to use the time to regain some control of her life, armed with a self help book that really isnt for her and some of the most wonderful food she sets about making changes. She needs someone stable, a career path that is sensible and to regin her life in a little bit. Yet Minna isnt like that, and as she spends time skiing, snowboarding and sampling all the wonderful cheese she starts to assess what is actually important to her.

I simply loved this book, i loved Minna i think she was so fun but she was so much more than just the fun one in the group, she cared, she wanted to look after others, she wanted to help others believe in themselves too. I loved the food we got to sample and gosh all i want is a ham and cheese baguette.

And well romance? It wasn't on the cards for Minna but the way Julie writes relationships was lovely to read, slow burn, friendship based with just the right amount of tension and i loved exploring these too. Overall this winter read will transport you away for a while from real life to the snowy swiss chalets, it will introduce you to new friends and allow you to embrace the outdoors for a while.

Everything you could wish for in a book - fantastic scenery, characters that jump off the page and a story that transports you to the wintry delights of the Swiss Alps. Julie Caplin has the uncanny ability to make me add another destination to my wish list even though I have no desire to ski - perhaps the hot chocolate and pastries and Swiss cheese are what attract me? Whatever it is, this book will delight and tantalise your tastebuds as well as allowing you to escape the current gloom and doom. A reminder of what travel is all about.

I really enjoy this series, and I think this one is my favorite I've read so far. Ms. Caplin wrote such an enchanting setting for the story that I wish I could have dived right in to experience it. Mina had wonderful character development throughout the book, and her chemistry with Luke was fantastic. There were some really enjoyable secondary characters, like Amelie, Johannes, and Kristian (who made me laugh).
My only real issue with this book was that a lot of the characters and their story lines just kind of fell by the wayside and were not wrapped up at all. It just felt like there were quite a few loose threads. Especially about the house that was Mina's aunt and uncle's but not really? I did not understand at all how they could put it on the market if Mina and Hannah actually owned it? And how did Mina and Hannah not know that was the case as soon as they became adults? Very odd.
That being said, this book was really sweet, and I didn't even miss the lack of open-door scenes. I have already recommended it to my friends!

What a lovely way to visit Switzerland and learn more about it this proved to be! We may still be in lockdown but this is a great way to virtually travel and the descriptions in this delightful read help take you there in your imagination.

When Minna's hopes and dreams come crashing down in front of her friends and colleagues, as well as being shared on social media, her revenge results in even more bother! She escapes to visit her godmother in Switzerland, supposedly just for a couple of weeks but the Little Swiss Ski Chalet her godmother owns is a fantastic place, filled with delicious food, lovely guests, new friendships and fun. Serendipity has her meeting one guest repeatedly . . . is fate telling them giving them new opportunities or tempting them, only to let them down?

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, a story with more than one potential romance, great characters and a fabulous setting. There's more than enough drama, plenty of snowy scenarios, lessons to be learnt, new skills to learn and the opportunity to look at life, reconsider your options and make a fresh start. It is an engaging, fun read with some dramatic moments and I have no hesitation in highly recommending it. It is a feel good romance with plenty of tasty dishes and even a recipe for you to try!

My thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

I am a huge Julie Caplin fan, and have reviewed almost every one of her books in this series! Every time I read the next release, I think ‘This is my favourite one so far!’ – and this has been no different! A self-confessed sun worshiper, a ‘cold’ holiday has never, ever appealed to me. At all. But for the duration of this book, with it’s incredible descriptions of the Swiss landscape, even I found myself craving a little ski chalet getaway!

As always, Julie has provided us with a wonderful mix of characters – Plenty wild personalities and truly deep characters to get our teeth stuck into! I loved the crazy and impulsive Minna, I really did, but Amelie was a clear favourite for me. The true definition of independent woman, and she had the wonderful ability to make everyone feel cosy and at home in her gorgeous chalet. I would love nothing more than to spend an afternoon there, curled up in front of the fire and munching on some lovely cake!

And Luke, oh, the lovely Luke! My sheer frustration any time Minna said no to him (If you don’t want him, sweetheart, send him my way!). Luke has a wonderful view of life, enjoying every moment and taking poor ski novice Minna under his wing.

As I’ve already touched on, the descriptions of Switzerland are absolutely sublime. I really felt like I was travelling alongside Minna, relaxing in the chalet with other guests, ands taking in the views from those scarily-high ski lifts! It’s like a full holiday trapped within the pages of a book, and I’d happily visit time and time again. And that’s before we even begin to look at the food that is involved! Luxury swiss chocolates, cakes, winter warming stews, and everything in between! My mouth was watering with every chapter, I highly recommend having snacks on hand whilst reading this!

Julie Caplins books are always a wonderful journey to partake in, but this one in particular was a very welcome escape, reading it during yet another Covid-19 lockdown and praying for the day where we can all make these journeys for real!

This was such an adorable read. When her life reaches a crossroads Mina decides to go and stay with her godmother, who owns a ski chalet. The chalet sounds like a wonderful place, somewhere you will get a warm welcome and a guiding hand with your troubles.
I love the way Amelie keeps a careful eye on her guests, making sure that they sit with either like minded people, or someone best placed to draw them out. She serves delicious cakes every day that m their own are a reason for attracting people to the lodge
The food descriptions alone make you wish that you'd booked a few nights. It even made me believe I'd like to visit a ski chalet, even though I have no interest in ski-ing. All the snow related activities sounded wonderful, you could imagine the crisp air and the sparkling white snow and the people all living their dream.
Throw in romance, self discovery and that wonderful chalet again- all the components for a escape from lockdown. All Julie Caplin's locations are so vividly described that you wsh you were there. They have you busy scribbling new additions to your bucket list.

Ms. Caplin captivates me again with her loveable characters, beautiful venues, and decadent desserts.

When Mina is encouraged to take a couple of weeks off after her LOL Smurfgate revenge on her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, she discovers a whole new sense of peace and renewal at her godmother Amelie’s lovely Swiss chalet.

Mina is an impulsive food technologist who is in a dead-end job in Manchester that does not allow her to show her true creativity. It’s not until she visits her godmother in the picturesque Swiss landscape that her life plans start to change. She finally has a new outlook on life that hopefully involves a wonderful man who accepts her as she is because “sometimes you just know”.

Luke is kind, funny, and optimistic. His enthusiasm for life is addicting and endearing. His passion for his modeling of small villages is intriguing, and his researcher position for the UN sometimes involves traveling. In fact, sometimes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes up that is hard to turn down. But where does that leave the young lovers?

It is serendipity for Luke and Mina from the moment he pulls her on the train to their meeting again at Amelie’s chalet. Watching them slowly fall in love is worth waiting for. Luke is definitely a catch who has a truly heartbreaking past that truly directs his course in life and mind. Mina is a whirlwind of ideas and it is fascinating to watch her blossom and grow into a remarkable woman who finally finds her happiness in life. However, it’s the supporting characters that help the story move along. Amelie is a loving soul who brings people together by ultimately choosing who stays at her chalet. After all, who wants a bunch of grumpy negative people around you when you are on vacation. Johannes is Amelie’s curmudgeonly chocolatier friend who is hoping for a second chance to win her over. Kristian is an adorable dork who is awkward around women and Bernhardt is a serious and pompous man who is unsuccessfully vying for Mina’s affections.

Ms. Caplin’s Romantic Escape series is just that and truly a delight to read. I learn so much from them. For example, conching is a process of smoothing out chocolate. I am also determined to add the cheese and chocolate train trip to Brig to my bucket list. I mean Swiss cheese and chocolate…Yum!!! In addition, the various cakes Amelie serves at 4 pm each day in her chalet sound delicious.

I recommend this lovely romantic comedy that will have you laughing, sighing, salivating, and just wishing you could travel to such a gorgeous place during this strange time.

Thank you to Ms. Caplin once again for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

It took me a bit to get into this book, but once I did, I really enjoyed it!

Mina proposes to her boyfriend only to find out that he's been on another page of their story this whole time. Her relationship blows up in her face but it leaves her thinking about the things she wants and the things she wants out of her life.

Growing up with Bollywood, I've seen a lot of Switzerland in movies, but for once, this book gave me the opportunity to explore it through the eyes of Mina. Her two-week vacation to visit her godmother ends up changing the course of her life, in more ways than one. Her meet-cute with one of the guests at the little ski chalet her godmother owns was so adorable!

The best thing about this story was the Mina wasn't the damsel in distress, waiting on her hero to save her. She's very clever, sharp and has a will of steel. She knows the things she wants this time around, and doesn't budge with those ideals, which was amazing. Her character growth doesn't take away from the lightness of the book at all; if anything, it only enhances it.

If those things don't sell you, the food definitely will! Mina, being a food technician, throws her parties in great fanfare with appropriately themed food, but the food she encounters during her getaway will make your mouth water!

There are 6 other books in this series that I'm probably going to pick up as soon as I get past the rest of my TBR list. This was a great read!!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for providing this ARC for an honest review!

Spontaneous can be fun but with Mina, we learned of its drawbacks too. Her charming personality and approach to life got her out of as many situations as they got her into. It was entertaining "seeing" things through her eyes but also exhausting, lol Mina's love of cooking and travel served her well during her time with her godmother. Amelie and Johannes may be older but haven't lost any of their spunk ... their developing romance was a delight. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Mina and Luke. Their meeting was memorable and left the reader without a doubt as to who she was being paired with but I never got a sense of deep feeling between these two. It just didn't feel real or long lasting, which was a disappointment as was the ending. Set aside their romance and the book stands well enough on its own.

I am a sucker for chick lit. When work/life is stressful, these books allow me to escape into another world, and they are usually easy reads. This book was no exception.

Mina is a food technician who experienced a messy - and public - break up. When told to take some time off work, she decides to escape to Switzerland to stay with her godmother, Amelie, in her ski chalet. There, Mina meets a variety of people who Amelie carefully chooses to stay at her chalet, and begins to think about what she really wants from life. Can she find her true calling, and, on top of it all, can she find true love?

I am an avid traveller, and am missing travelling in these covid times. In this book, Caplin describes the Swiss alps in such a way that I felt like I was there, experiencing the snow, the gorgeous scenery, and the delicious food. As the protagonist is a food technician, there are many descriptions of food which left my mouth watering.

I thoroughly enjoyed the character development. The book mainly focuses on Mina, but there are hints of how some of the other characters grow throughout their experiences which I loved. Now that I have finished the book, I feel quite sad that I will no longer be involved in the characters lives!

This is the second book I have read by Julie Caplin and I really love her style of writing!

This is a perfect story for relaxing with on a blustery day; it is cosy, full of heart and enchanting. Lovely story and I cannot wait to read more by this author for another sweet romance to escape into!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.