Member Reviews
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.
This story was a true escape for me, which I needed. My sister in law told me about the book and my first thought was “cute cover!”.
Mina, the main character, finds herself needing to get away for a couple weeks after a heartbreak. She visits her godmother who lives in and operates a quaint ski chalet, where she is known for her unique style of hospitality. During her short time there, Mina develops meaningful relationships as well as learns a little about herself and gets reacquainted with her passions and dreams.
I found this book to be light and breezy and romantic, entertaining and easy to read. The author has such a gift of describing Switzerland that I felt like I was transported. I can’t read more from Julie Caplin.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter. for an advance copy for review. #omcreads
Again Julie Caplin delivered a perfect book to her series. This time the author takes us to the swiss alps.
Mina's search for a new reason in her life takes her into a new country. In the two weeks she plans to stay, she does not only learn a lot about her future but also about the cultural diffrences between the life in England and Switzerland.
What I always enjoy in Caplin's books is that the plot is not only about the romance between two people but about the new path of the female main character. The love interest plays an important role and helps with decisions but they do not take over the major part of the plot.
The story began with an original twist and I immediately fell in love with Mina. And as soon as Mina left the country I was hooked.... I loved the description of the countryside. In times of Covid-19 it is so nice to be able to travel just by reading a book ... and the food... ohh the food. I have been hungry all book long.
I love listening to audiobooks while doing household chores but I didn’t like the narrators attempts to do Swiss/German accents and the constant little voices.
Overal I loved the sweet story, the setting in Switserland and the love for food.
Do you believe in Serendipity?
What a fabulous piece of escapism!
I love all Julie Caplin books, they have the ability to take me around the world from my armchair, which is great at the moment as we are stuck at home.
The description of Switzerland made me feel I was there with Mina, skiing down the slopes, sampling delicious cheeses, chocolate and the amazing local dishes.
Then add in a touch of romance with a gorgeous stranger, this has everything you need being wrapped in a cosy cabin on the Swiss alps for a few hours.
The perfect mini break to escape from the January blues.
The thought of food alone, would have most people picking up Julie Caplin’s latest book, I mean there is chocolate and cheese, cake and well more cake. But there is more to this story than the culinary delights, Mina, is a lost soul, who needs to find contentment and has the bravery to take time to take stock before she plans her next move.
Even before boarding the train to her godmother’s Alpine retreat, the weary food technologist is betrayed, humiliated, and on the verge of crossing a line with revenge. Let’s not talk about Smurf and Smurfette LOL. But it only takes a moment, one gentle push by fate to change the course of her destiny.
Fate lands Mina in the lap of a stranger, Luke, who has a past of his own. He is cute and a flirt but impulsive, the one thing that Mina is trying to avoid.
This 5-star read is more than just the words on the page, it is the vivid descriptions by the talented author which leave you drooling to turn the page. From the snowy vistas, to the mouth-watering flavours of the kitchen, you will be left with a desire to pack your skies and head to the slopes, only to be welcomed back for coffee, cake and a chat.
Julie Caplin’s books are a firm favourite of mine proven by the fact that I go out of my way to purchase a paperback copy as well as the eBook, high praise indeed in an age of modern technology. The Little Swiss Ski Chalet will be no exception and will get more dog-eared as the years move on and I get older, but still take the time to scan the pages of this wonderful series.
My thanks to @netgalley, @OneMoreChapter and @julieCaplin for giving me the opportunity to read and review #TheLittleSwissSkiChalet.
Thank you to Negalley, One More Chapter, and Julie Caplin for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I believe that books have a way of finding us in a time of need. That is what happened to me with The Little Swiss Ski Chalet. This story of exploration, stepping out of normal everyday life, and finding one’s self was just what I needed to read right now. Mina is a character I can relate to in many ways, and I find her to be a personable and likeable main. She feels doubt, has a zest for life, and negative things that others say stay with her and seem to sit there as a constant reminder of where she feels she is lacking.
I love the cast of characters, the setting is absolutely stunning and serene and magical, and the relationships between everyone are so fun to watch! This book truly makes you feel as though you CAN make a big change in you life and it WILL be okay!
This is my favourite Julie Caplin book, I loved it so much! If you’re looking for some adventure, missing travel (aren’t we all??), and a bit of a soul search give this one a shot!
This was a sweet read about a British woman named Mina who finds herself ending her relationship and needing to take some time off from her job within the same week. Due to this, Mina decides to visit her godmother Amelie in Switzerland. Amelie owns a small ski chalet and Mina falls in love with it (and one of the guests) as soon as she arrives.
This book was very picturesque and have beautiful descriptions of Switzerland and the the mountains. I could see myself there and have added it to my list of places to see in the future.
I did find the story a bit draggy and also found that the storyline between Mina and Luke to be a bit far fetched and not very believable. I enjoy romance and women’s contemporary fiction and while this one was just okay, I still would like to try the others in the series as Julie Caplin is wonderful at bringing a story a sense of place.
The Little Swiss Ski Chalet is book 7 of the Romantic Escapes Series by Julie Caplin. This series is the perfect read for an immersive getaway and perfect for these times of lockdown and travel bans. The books did not deter me from traveling all over the world and fantasizing on the amazing adventures and meeting wonderful people (ahem... characters) along the way. So a huge shout out and thank you to author Julie Caplin for doing such an amazing job of writing this series and keeping me smiling and sane.
I fell in love with Julie Caplin's writing and the series, after reading The Little Teashop in Tokyo where I was whisked away to the sights and sounds of the bustling metropolitan city of Tokyo, and the wonderful food culture and of course the amazing people.
In this book seven, we are once again whisked away to an amazing location and a perfect place to fall in love in. We are headed to Switzerland! The Swiss Alps not only provided Mina a refuge and what a place to escape from when your over -the -top - that -did -not -go- as -planned -proposal goes viral, there is nothing left to do but pack your bags and get out of Dodge and visit her godmother Amelie. Along the way Mina meets the handsome and ever so charming Luke and you just have to read the rest to find out.
This was so charming and such a serendipitous read I enjoyed! Another winner for me.
A really wonderful book, perfect for a cozy afternoon. Mina is a very nice, young woman, who loves adventures, and is being accused of not being serious enough, so she goes on a mission to "sort her life". And she does, even though it is ot exactly in the way she expected. The scenery is magical, it makes you wanna pack your suitcase and go there immediately. And there is chocolate! This is the first Julie Caplin book that I have read, and I am definitely looking forward to reed more from her.
Another heartwarming and uplifting book by this author,I thoroughly enjoyed.
i liked the well developed characters, the plot that flows and the lovely setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
When Mina finally discovers that her boyfriend and almost fiance, Simon, is having an affair with her best
friend, she realises that it's time to make some decisions. .The betrayal hits her very hard. Mina flies off to
Zurich, to stay with her lovely godmother Amelie who runs a charming chalet hotel for nice guests. A chance
train meeting brings Luke and Mina together but things change in life as Mina starts a wonderful
adventure full of cheese, chocolate, and cake. A self-help book isn't so helpful as Mina needs to find her own
way. Set in the Swiss Alps this is a fun warm tale, that brims over with love, surprises, and happiness,
Mina has time to reassess her future and look forward to rosier times ahead. I loved reading this book.
These books by Julie Caplin are just so adorable to read! I curl up with a blanket and become transported to her amazing destinations with her wonderful characters and heartwarming communities ❤️
This was the perfect read, I love cheese, chocolate and snow ❄️ so I soon lost myself in this delectable story. I’m a huge fan of serendipitous storylines so this really was brilliant to read!
In a crazy world, it’s just the best thing to wallow in these perfect feel good books, it’s like a snuggly hug in book form 📖💜
This book is part of a series and is perfect for all of us that long to travel again because each book is set in a different location around the world!!
About the Book: Mina is at a life crossroads. She is a food technician that doesn’t feel like her job is meeting her potential.
Her boyfriend is also a co-worker and instead of what Mina thought was going to be happily ever after with him, it went more like I’m secretly dating your best friend situation.
After a suggestion from HR that Mina take an extended holiday,she decides to go to her godmother, Amelie’s ski Chalet in Switzerland.
On the train from Zurich to her final destination, Mina meets a handsome stranger named Luke and guess who happens to being staying at the same chalet?? Serendipity did I hear you say?
My Thoughts: Who doesn’t love a book about food, scenic locations and romance! This is just a great book to escape reality with its wonderful descriptions of the towns and food. I love the way that I learned interesting trivia tidbits along the way like the Swiss invented chocolate as we know it today and Switzerland is made up of 26 cantons (basically individual states) with its own distinct regional foods and dialects.
Mina is a great character. She is fun and witty and willing to try new adventures.
The best reason to read this book: Mina and Luke (and a few “friends”) go on a cheese and chocolate train!! YES, you read that correctly!! The train was vintage Pullman cars and then they go to the Gruyere cheese factory and then go to the factory of the first and oldest brand of Swiss chocolate!! That whole excursion was my favorite part of the book.
Thank you @rachelsrandomresources and @netgalley for a chance to read and review this one.
If you are feeling blue, this is the read you need now, believe me!
As the series says: Romantic Escapes, so romance in an idyllic place, perfect to disconnect and have a little bit of happiness between all the weirdness we are living, it will leave you with a smile on your face and a desperate need to eat cheese and chocolate!
I have to say that I read this book in just one sit, it was so easy to follow Minna’s steps; with sweet memories mixed with delicious food and special moments that will remain in our memories forever. I can’t wait to be able to take a plane and re-do her trip by myself, because this book made me dream and hope again. Because even if you are not looking for it, the opportunities can be there, you just have to embrace them. I really enjoyed this book, it’s a romance story, but it’s sweet and delicious, Minna and Luke have chemistry, their characters are well portrayed keeping the reader glued to them and wanting a happy ending for both.
This is the seventh book of the series “Romantic Escapes”, but you can read it totally as standalone! But believe me, after this beautiful escape, I’ll look for all the previous of the series, it will keep my mind happy and smiling for the rest of the pandemic, what more can I ask?
Ready for “The Little Swiss Ski Chalet”?
Really loved this book, not just for Christmas but it makes for a great winter read.. Funny, lively and very descriptive well written and made me think of the holidays I had in Switzerland as a child. Wonderful place, wonderful setting and a real pleasure to read, I will be re-reading this later in the year. 5 stars and I recommend you read and enjoy this great novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC
Sweet and sparkling with positive energy- Julie Caplin's The Little Swiss Ski Chalet is a perfect escape read. Who doesn't dream of a holiday in a lovely, fairytale-like setting and delicious food? if it also involves working out a few things about life as well as meeting somebody special, even better!
Mina is a fun-loving, spontaneous, sweet girl from Manchester. She is a real foodie. Inventing new dishes or putting a spin on good old ones is what she does for living (she is a food technologist), while entertaining and organising wonderful, well-thought-through-to-the-last-tiniest detail dinners for her friends is her passion in her spare time. She does have someone special in her life and would love to take their relationship to the next level. When it all goes horribly wrong, Mina needs a short break from it all, a few weeks off work to let her think about what she really wants from life. Serendipitously, her (fairy) godmother Amelie invites her to stay at her little ski chalet in the Swiss Alps. There, surrounded by gorgeous scenery, Mina stumbles into a charming stranger Luke who is eerily similar to her in personality. Mina is on a mission to rein in her impulsiveness, not indulge in it, but perhaps there is still a HEA on the snow-capped horizon?
This is a wonderful new addition to Julie Caplin's series aptly named Romantic Escapes. I absolutely adored all the chocolate talk (yep, I am an afficionado) and mouthwatering descriptions of traditional Swiss food. Amelie's chalet with its warmth, cosiness and good company sounds like a perfect haven for anyone looking for a break from the stress of our locked-down daily life. Amelie has a gift of notjust looking after her guests, but also bringing out the best out of them. It's a perfect place for Mina to reflect and see what makes her unique and special.
Julie Caplin's writing flows effortlessly. I really enjoyed the few hours I spent in the company of this delightful book. There is a bit of drama, humour and perfect amount of detail (her skiing descriptions would make even the most sedentary reader long for the alpine snow, stunning views from the ski lifts, and even muscles aching with pleasant exhaustion of physical exercise).
With its lovely, likeable characters, beautiful setting, sweet, slow burn romance, The Little Swiss Ski Chalet is a light and enjoyable read for anyone who loves fictional travelling and great food.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I had the audiobook as well, so I could read when I could and listen when I was too occupied to read.
What a great combination of a fantastic book.
I.love this series and this one didn't disappoint, such lovely characters, exactly like the ones you imagine in Switzerland, I wonder if they're real people as they were so likeable.
Chocolate, romance and a little bit of tension crept into this one too which at 1am was exhilarating and it kept me awake until the very end.
Fabulous.
I wonder where we are heading to next, because I definitely want to book my seat
I want to go back to Switzerland now! I have been fortunate to visit this beautiful country back in the 90’s and the author, Julie Caplin, transported me there with her accurate description and detailed scenery. I seriously felt like I was in the villages and mountains of Switzerland!
This was my first book of 2021 and it was the perfect romantic escape. Swiss Chalet, snow, skiing, chocolate, cakes, cheese, the Swiss Alps. Need I say more? Follow along with the main character, Mina, who after a breakup, goes to visit her Godmother in Switzerland. Mina meets Luke on a train....what happens between these 2 strangers? You must read to find out.
I absolutely adored this book! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I’m looking forward to reading more from Julie Caplin. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the digital advance copy in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #omcreads, #TheLittleSwissSkiChalet
I absolutely loved this book - it was extremely wonderful to be whisked away to the Chalet and slopes, drool over all of the delicious goods that were being baked and join Mina in watching her get her feet back on the ground after an embarrassing moment previously. This is a heart-warming romance with the most perfect of leading characters. Their romance was slow-burning, yet promising and I adored the ending for the two!