You know what your getting with a portia macintosh book. Humour, fun, and a fantastic story filled with the best characters

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

We follow the story of Amber Page, a romance novel writer who aspires to transition from her current genre to writing murder mysteries. However, her editor, Jan, discourages this idea and instead suggests that she add some spice to her current work in progress.

In an effort to gain inspiration for the spicy elements of her novel, Jan sends Amber to a writer's retreat with other romance writers. During her stay, she encounters Henri, the chateau caretaker, and Caleb, an influencer who seeks her assistance.

It remains to be seen whether these two individuals will inspire Amber to incorporate the desired spice into her novel or if they will play a role in her own personal love story.

I found this book to be lighthearted, charming, and humorous. The author's vivid descriptions of the setting allowed me to easily visualize the resort in my mind.

The book is a quick and easy read, and I found myself both laughing and occasionally cringing along with Amber. The plot is well-crafted, the characters interact effectively, and the overall setting is beautifully depicted.

I particularly appreciated the use of short chapters, which made the book even more enjoyable.

Overall, this is another excellent book by Portia MacIntosh.

This book made me so ready for Christmas - and it's October! :) I love stories about writers and this was a funny, spicy, cute, feet kicking good time.
I recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly I don’t think Portia MacIntosh ever disappoints! Another fantastic romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amber is stuck in a rut with her latest romance novel and she really wants to write a murder mystery. However her publisher won’t let her, instead sending her on a writing getaway in an exclusive chateau in France to get some inspiration.

Amber can’t seem to spice up her romance, even with the help of the other women she’s away with. Then she manages to fall into her own holiday romance when two leading men come along and she finds herself wondering what to do.

I really loved Amber as a main character, she was so relatable and just funny. I really loved her journey throughout the book, both romantically and personally. There was some deep moments that really made you feel for Amber but for most of the story I found myself laughing along.

Thank you Portia MacIntosh, Boldwood books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy!

Portia Macintosh writes some great books and this one will not disappoint either!!!
Amber is a romcom writer who wants to write in a different genre.. Her agent isn’t happy and instead of allowing her the chance to write that way, she tells her to make her romcoms more juicy!
Caleb is a tv reality star who is using the same agency to promote a book he’s writing in a genre that we know Amber would love!
Amber is sent away on a writer’s retreat in the French Alps, to an exclusive resort in the hopes she will get inspiration from her fellow authors.
Amber and Caleb end up in the same location and this is where I will stop, but I have to say I laughed, gasped and melted emotionally whilst reading this story!! Fantastic as usual!!! I never get bored of Portia’s stories!!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #Portia MacintoshAuthor.

Amber Page is trying to finish her new book, but her editor wants more spice and Amber wants to switch gears completely to write a murder mystery with a romantic subplot. Either way, she needs to finish her book so when her editor offers her a spot at an idyllic writing retreat with three well-known authors, Amber agrees to go. While at the Chateau she's approached by a famous influencer with an interesting proposition – pretending to be his ex-girlfriend in profitable social media posts, while she's also being persued by a handsome employee of the Chateau. While she's officially at the Chateau to finish her book, what she's really working on is her future and how it will pan out.

This was my first Portia Macintosh book, and I loved it. It was a quick, easy read. There were times I literally laughed out loud. I really liked and was rooting for Amber. There was witty banter and an interesting story line that included not only Amber's love triangle but also her career ambitions.
I'm looking forward to reading another Portia Macintosh book soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You Had Me At Chateau was the light in the darkness that I really needed right now.

It's a romcom that's full on fun and features my favourite characters of Macintosh's to date.

An exclusive château in the French Alps sounds absolutely gorgeous doesn't it? I think even I'd be inspired to try writing a book in a setting that stunning!

A thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will have you snorting into your coffee. The chapters are short and snappy, the plot is engaging and it's a thoroughly enjoyable read.

All hail the Queen of the romcom Portia Macintosh!!

This was so much fun! Amber is perfectly flawed and very relatable. Portia MacIntosh adds in the right amount of humor to make the story easy to follow and hard to put down. Add in a loveable love interest or two and the most picturesque setting and you get one of the best rom-coms I’ve read all year. Highly recommended!

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another fabulous romcom from Portia that is just as good, if not better, than the previous ones I’ve read. Set in a gorgeous setting, a ski resort chateau in the Alps no less, our main character Amber is trying to get her writing mojo for sexy scenes going - and failing spectacularly.

Hoping to find some inspiration, she agrees to Henri, who works at the chateau, to show her some of the romantic sights around the resort. Not sure if this helps or hinders to be honest, and then she bumps into Caleb who said he would be there too. Cue a bit of a love triangle and some fun times!

This felt like a bit of an autobiography at times, a romcom writer telling us about her job and what she will/won’t write, and where she sees her future - even if her editor doesn’t! I really enjoyed this and loved the setting, made me want a holiday!!

I enjoyed this fun escape. After her parents announcement Amber finds herself floundering. Then her publisher tells her that her romance books need more spice. Presented with a dream trip to a literary retreat Amber thinks she will find the inspiration she needs to write. Great quick read for a fun little life escape.

Once again, a book I couldn't put down once I started.

The only issue I had with the plot was that it was unclear why the other ladies were not very kind and expecting her to join them at all the meals.

I am glad she did grow and learn who would help her grow to attain her dreams instead of always trying to network with the wrong crowd.

Thank you for the ARC and it was a very enjoyable read.

I was so glad I had a book to read that pulled me in and I enjoyed it so much. The characters were all so perfectly written.
Amber was struggling to write a romance that would please her editor and be what readers would want. But she had other ideas as to the book she wants to write. The location of the retreat was perfect. The Alps is on my radar now after “being there” in this story.
Thank you l Portia MacIntosh for You Had Me At Chateau. This is my personal review

Macintosh’s books always deliver for me. Great characters, wonderful dialogue and very easy to read - this one also had me guessing until the last couple of chapters as to which way the narrative would lead. Delightfully silly in places, which only adds to the charm. Bring on more please!

A romcom author is sent on a writers' retreat
To the French Alps - it should be so neat.
But she's not sure she should do as her publisher says
Especially as her parents are having pre-divorce days!

Her editor wants to spice up her book
And at her alternative cosy crime won't really look.
Maybe time spent with other authors will aid
But then maybe other plans need to be made.

The luxurious setting should really inspire
But spicing things up doesn't set her on fire.
With two men there vying for her attention
She isn't quite sure if she'll get anything done!

With three established authors sharing the getaway
Maybe they'll help throw her writer's block away?
A hilarious story that had me wondering how much is true
Is something similar what the author went through?

Such a hilarious read, with laughter galore
Just the kind of fun story that I adore!
For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

It's an easy and light-hearted read however somàe parts were too descriptive about uninteresting things that I honestly skipped through (e.g. the TV show during the flight and just about every place the amber was set!) it would have been enough with one detailed description of the French Alps and the chateau and Caleb's chalet.
Overall I enjoyed athe snowy french escape and my faavourite parts were the conversations between Amber and Caleb. Wish there was more of that!aaa

Amber just can’t seem to win. Her parents just dropped a bomb on she and her brother Tom while her editor tells her she needs to add more vavoom in her romance books.
Macintosh always makes her main characters slog through a pile of merde before they emerge on the other side.
I had sympathy for Amber but I never early warmed up to Caleb, especially after the way he treated Amber at the end of the chateau stay.
I thought Tim was the hidden hero of the book and I really liked the three chateau ladies because they were genuine.

‘You Had Me At Château’ by Portia Macintosh is a welcome dose of festive fun, set at a luxury writers retreat in the French Alps. The main character, Amber, is an author experiencing writers block as she tries to pen the novel her agent wants even though it doesn’t align with her creative flow. When she is offered a free December trip, it feels like the perfect opportunity to finish her book before Christmas and network with fellow writers… what she didn’t count on was becoming part of her very own love triangle!

I really enjoyed the bookish setting and found Amber to be a very likeable and relatable character - I was rooting for her all the way through, even when I was giggling at some of her hilarious misfortunes. While her relationship evolution with the two handsome male leads - a British influencer and a French member of staff at the château - was the key focus of the story, I found myself really connecting with the family dynamics sub-plot in which Amber’s parents navigated a potential divorce.

While I really enjoyed the glimpse into publishing, I felt that the other authors at the retreat weren’t given enough depth and didn’t love the way they interacted with Amber. The plot also seemed kind of chaotic to me and took a while to get going, though I adored how things wrapped up!

Overall, this was a three star read for me, and I’d recommend it as a lighthearted and funny Christmassy book, perfect for those who’ve enjoyed any of Portia’s other novels.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Boldwood Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Another brilliant read by Portia Macintosh. This author’s books are always current and very funny. This one is no exception with several stories going on at once: which handsome hunk will our heroine choose? What are her parents up to? Lots of fun and interesting characters in an engaging storyline A book which is well worth reading.

🏔🩷 BOOK REVIEW! [e-ARC] 🩷🏔

You Had Me At Chateau by Portia MacIntosh
Genre: Rom-Com
Length: 305 pages
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2024
My rating: 5🌟!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions written here are solely my own!

Synopsis:
Amber Page is a romantic comedy writer. She recently had amazing success with her last few books, but her editor is now pressuring her for her next book to have more spice! 🌶🌶 Amber has a deadline to meet, right before the upcoming Christmas holiday, and is stuck trying to insert the smut! Her editor sends her on an all-expenses paid writer's retreat to a fancy French Chateau in the Alps, hoping she will find inspiration.

A chance encounter with a famous male influencer in addition to and another male employee who works at the chateau puts Amber in a strange love triangle. Maybe writing a steamy love scene or two won't be such a stretch after all...

Opinion:
This was the second book I've read by Portia MacIntosh and I loved it just as much as The Suite Life! She has such a witty way about her writing and makes Amber so relatable and likeable! I loved the setting for this book (who wouldn't love a French chateau?) and there was a cute little sub-plot that involves Amber's family back home in the UK. I loved how real all of the characters felt and I always enjoy a little fake-dating trope. This is a great one and is also would be fun to read as we get closer to winter and the Christmas season!

I absolutely love every book I’ve read by Portia MacIntosh and I’ve read all but two or three of them! This one is no exception!

A struggling romance writer is being encouraged to add more spice to her books but she finds that a rather difficult task. Instead, she’d like to cross over to comedic murder mysteries which her publisher is dead set against.

When she’s offered to spend time at a writers retreat in France just before Christmas, she figures “why not?!” Little does she know she just might find the inspiration she’s needed to add some spice to her books!

In true MacIntosh fashion, this made me laugh out loud and made me feel like I was sharing an evening with a close girlfriend. Snuggle in with some cozy blankets, a warm drink, and indulge in this charming romcom! It’s available now so there’s no excuse not to go read it immediately!