I started this book long before its publishing date. And I put it down and moved on to other things. I've picked it up and tried to read it at least three times, but the third time's the charm, because I finally finished it. I would definitely say it is slow going, but it was a decent story.

Our heroine Maggie is a romance writer who has been banished to Paris to finish writing her book. Along the way she hangs out with her grown daughter, her ex husband, and her new friend Max. Max is the quintessential book boyfriend: handsome, sophistocated, FRENCH. <3 Maggie may be a romance writer but she is sort of blind when it comes to her own love life. Once the story got going it was pretty good, and I liked the characters, I just wish it wouldn't have been such a slow start.

Being a mood reader can be hard. I'm fairly certain I could love this book, however it wasn't grabbing my attention at the time I went to read it. For now, it is a DNF from me, but I can see really enjoying it. There is a chance I may come back to in it the future and will update my review at that time.

BOOK REVIEW: Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst

Finding Love Later In Life…

In this story, we have a welcomed strong female protagonist exploring a later in life romance. It is refreshing to see her character finding love later in life while shifting from making purely emotional decisions in relationships to making decisions to support and nurture her full dimensional life as a priority in determining how she moves forward within her relationships.

Books About Books…

And… I loved the “behind the scenes” peek at a fictional author’s process and how it integrates with the challenges of the book publishing business.

Why do I like the story?

• Features a vivid setting that “literally” takes us away on a book adventure completely from our favorite reading chair… Bringing books to life in your life and home…

• Features a strong female lead character exploring a later in life romance that begins with loving herself first…

What is my biggest takeaway from this book?

Looking for love in all the right places... ✨😎✨

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books, Lifestyle & Home Ideas for Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst
Rating 3 /5 Stars
Published By St. Martin’s Griffin
Published On 20th April 2021

Thank you to Netgalley, St Martin’s, and of course, Dee Ernst for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie is a successful romance author. Maggie needs a break. She needs a place to just do what she can do best - write. So she decides to go to Paris. While this book does fall into Rom Com - I believe it fits more into the woman’s fiction category! Told in the first person, this is a delightful read about Maggie finding herself. She doesn’t feel like a 48-year-old - she reads like a 30-year-old! I love it! Paris of course is a beautiful setting - I loved living through it.

I also love that the author included Asperger’s Syndrome in the focus of the story. I love it when Rom Coms also include important storylines about the realness of the world. The book also is a fast read despite being longer chapters. Lovely!

Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into this. I tried and tried and just felt super bored with it. Might be a good read for others, but didn’t do anything for me.

Maggie Finds Her Muse was fine. I generally really enjoy reading books about women in their 40s who are figuring out their next chapter - often involving travel and a new relationship. So maybe the problem is that I’ve read too many other stories in this genre. For me - this one didn’t really break any new ground.

I also found it hard to believe in declarations of love when they came. The pacing felt off to me.

Thank you to St Martin’s and Macmillan Audio for the free book/audiobook.

I couldn't really get into this book. I started it several times and the writing just felt off to me. I wasn't crazy about the romance quasi-love triangle and Maggie seemed uninteresting to me.

It was...fine. I was drawn into the concept of having an older woman facing writer's block, and then be whisked away to Paris for inspiration, and for a second chance at love. What I didn't really buy was the pretty lukewarm description of Paris (which could have been applied to any city), the two dimensional male leads, and the pain in my heart at the stereotypical clueless American tourist in a foreign country.

At the climax of this (which could have so freaking easily have been avoided), it was pretty awkward and embarrassing that a woman in her 50's had it happen to her (basically a minor lie that didn't need to be told and could have just as easily been hidden). Maybe my expectation was that Maggie should have had a bit more maturity and common sense, especially since she seemed so decisive in her first few chapters.

It wasn't awful, but it wasn't my favorite. It's great if you need something light and something to kill off an afternoon or a wait at the doctor's office. But I'll be pretty okay at forgetting this one.

2.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this from (you guessed it) NetGalley in exchange for them to hear my unfiltered thoughts and reviews.

A coming of middle age love story about a newly single woman with writer's block who travels to Paris to find some inspiration. While there she meets a new man and reconnects with her grown daughter. This one moved a little too slow for my tastes and I struggled to get invested. Recommended for fans of Gray hair don't care or Talk bookish to me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy.

I feel like I would give this book 2.75-3 stars because there were some tropes included that I didn't like.
I love the representation of an older protagonist and a person with Asperger's. I thought that those elements made the book feel more realistic and likable. I did not, however, like the misinformation and lying to get what you want tropes. those really killed the vibe of the book. I understood that her motivation for lying was to keep her career, but I honestly think that Max would not have minded being her muse for her book and that he probably would have understood. I also didn't like that Max was the one to do the big romantic gesture. Maggie, in my opinion, was In the wrong, and therefore should have been the one to do said romantic gesture.
One thing that I did like was the atmosphere. Paris and its many cuisines were described in great detail. I also loved Max's mom and her dog, they were honestly my favorite characters in the book. I honestly feel that I would have liked the book more had there been more honesty.

If you are a Francophile who finds joy reading scenes set in all of the famous parts of Paris, this is a book for you. But sadly for me, the setting was about the only thing enjoyable about this book. I was over halfway through and still waiting for something interesting to happen. This romance is definitely a slow burn that never really heats up. Even the sex scene was just...blah which, let's face it, is the whole reason to pick up a romance. Different scenes and moments felt abrupt and unexplained and I never felt emotionally invested in any of the characters. So, if you're looking for a great mental escape to Paris, this book might be a good fit. Otherwise, you might want to let this one pass you by. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ebook copy.

No sooner had I read the first page of Dee Ernst’s delightful novel, Maggie Finds Her Muse, that I found myself falling in love with this charming, uplifting and inspirational romantic comedy with a smart and funny heroine.

Maggie Bliss is a writer who is living the dream. As the author of a romance trilogy that has taken the world by storm, Maggie has a plethora of fans – not to mention her agent and her editor – waiting with bated breath for the final gripping instalment. But there is just one teensy weensy problem: the book is due in two months and Maggie hasn’t written a single word. Afflicted with a debilitating case of writers’ block, Maggie needs to have the first draft of her book on her editor’s desk in eight weeks, but no matter how hard she tries or how much she concentrates, the words simply refuse to come. How is Maggie – who is also newly single – going to get out of this funk? Luckily for her, her agent might just have the answer to all of her prayers…

A trip to Paris is just what Maggie needs to get her writing mojo back. With a beautiful apartment that is straight out of a lifestyle magazine, an elegant housekeeper to cater to her every need and the most divine surroundings, Maggie is sure that she is in the perfect place to get the creative juices flowing. As she begins to get settled, she quickly comes to the conclusion that she isn’t going to let her fictional characters have all the fun. With the Parisian streets full of tempting eateries and glamorous boutiques replete with the most gorgeous garments, Maggie is determined to experience everything Paris has to offer – but will she end up drawing the line at the handsome Frenchman who appears one morning in her bathtub?

Maggie’s life is complicated enough and a romantic entanglement is the very last thing she needs right now. Until her ex-husband shows up and things end up getting very complicated indeed! Maggie had come to France looking for her muse, but in Paris, she is going to end up finding so much more…

Dee Ernst’s Maggie Finds Her Muse is a terrific romp that is impossible to resist. In Maggie, Dee Ernst has created a heroine women everywhere are going to relate to and cheer for. Maggie is a kind, caring and intelligent heroine readers would love to have as a friend and her adventure in Paris is one guaranteed to tickle their funny bone and having them roaring with laughter.

Maggie Finds Her Muse is a warm-hearted and funny tale about finding the courage to step out of your comfort zone, believing in yourself and life’s unexpected surprises I couldn’t read fast enough.

Deliciously witty, wonderfully moving and immensely enjoyable, Dee Ernst’s Maggie Finds Her Muse is an absolute keeper!

I am sorry for not reviewing fully but I don’t have the time to read this at the moment. I believe that it wouldn't benefit you as a publisher or your book if I only skimmed it and wrote a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for not fully reviewing!

I did not get to read this book in time before publication because of life but I finally got it checked out from the library.

I loved the fact that Maggie was able to go to Paris to help finish her book she was writing. I actually thought I was able to relate to her daughter the most. I loved the plot line though I wasn’t a fan of the romance. I thought it was weird that she latched onto someone for writing purposes.

I would also give this book a three star rating. I still liked it though I probably wouldn’t reread it in the future.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read it and I am sorry for the delayed review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet and relaxing book to read. Maggie might have been having trouble writing her book, but I didn't have any reading this! I actually really disliked Paris when I visited, but this book made me consider it in a whole new light. Overall, a wonderful piece of women's fiction/romance!

As always Dre's writing pulls you in with her mindful descriptions and easy flow. Maggie Finds Her Muse brings us to France and allows us to experience the sights and sounds and of course the food! Another beautiful story to ensare you.

I am so glad I've come to love a good adult romance!

Maggie is a 48-year old romance writer in need of a muse. She's not had a problem writing in the past but her deadline is in 6 weeks and she hasn't even started book three of her current romance series. When her agent recommends she go with him to Paris to find some inspiration she decides she might as well go. She's recently kicked her live in boyfriend out and is in need of a change of scenery. A bonus is that her daughter lives not far from Paris so she'll get to spend some much needed time with her as well!

When Maggie gets to Paris she falls in love with the food, the sites, and an unexpected roommate. But is it love or has this man just happened to provide her with the inspiration she needs to finish this book? When her daughter tells her that her father, and Maggie's ex-husband, will also be in Paris at the same time Maggie finds herself reminiscing on the past and wondering if perhaps she can rekindle the flames her and her ex-husband once had.

This was the perfect summer read for me. It's light, fluffy, and has a great cast of characters. I really enjoyed the people around Maggie. From her quirky friends back in the states, to the housekeeper who keeps trying to hook her up with her son, and even the old dog she shares her space with. The family dynamic between her daughter and her ex-husband was refreshing. I think it's important to see how families can still be supportive of each other even after divorce.

I definitely recommend this one! It's fast-paced and enjoyable.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a fun and quirky story of the trials and tribulations of life and how to make lemonade out of lemons.

I posted this review prematurely. I will update soon.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This review is my voluntary and unbiased opinion.

This is a fun light read of Maggie Bliss, an author of several books but what’s going to change her life is her new trilogy. She wrote a best selling novel and now her problem is that although she had ideas of where the story will go she is having trouble finishing book two in time for release. Her dreams of owning a beach house depend on the success of the book launch and its final book being published the following summer.

Like many writers, Maggie had her routines when writing, like her sweat pants and going days on coffee barely knowing what day it is. Unfortunately, she finds herself with trouble focusing on finishing it. After she booted her mooching boyfriend, Greg, to the curb, she needed a break. The pressure from readers and editors to produce something phenomenal as a finish overwhelmed her.

Her agent, Lee, comes to the rescue and suggests she travel to France and spend time in Lee and his partner Martin’s home. Maggie is impressed with the luxurious home and feels out of place until Max comes home. Solange takes care of the home while Martin and Lee are away in New York. She lives in an apartment with her world traveling son, Max. While in Paris, Maggie plans to visit her daughter, Nicole, who lives in Rennes with her boyfriend, Louis. Coincidentally, Alan, Maggie’s ex-husband is visiting at the same time. Apparently, he separated from his girlfriend, Heather, and wanted to get away as well.

With so much happening in Paris, Maggie had to find time to group text her BFF’s, Alison and Cheri, back in NY who hope she finds love as well as writing a best seller. Maggie finds herself filled with inspiration to write despite some pleasant distractions. Meeting up with Alan again was pleasant and comforting unlike the charming Max who always seems to be away. So, Maggie finds her muse and inspiration to finish her novel and a spectacular ending to boot! Will Maggie come home with more than her completed book series to launch? Is she able to figure out where her own heart lies?

This was a fun, light read.
The characters were all likeable and I enjoyed their interactions.
It was interesting to read about Maggie’s writing process.

Maggie Finds Her Muse follows Maggie Bliss, a writer who has hit a wall when it comes to her writer’s block. Facing a serious deadline, she travels to Paris to find inspiration, visit her daughter, and to get away from her regular life. There, she meets a handsome man, and sparks fly between her and her ex-husband.

This was a good summer read. Perfect for a hot day on the beach. It was a light and easy read, not too serious, but also not comedic as it claimed.