4.5/5

Thoroughly enjoyed Lucy's journey to Rennes, France to not only help rebuild the Hotel Paradis but to also rebuild her life after being blindsided by her lover back in the states. The story was charming, delightful, and funny, and I loved the quirky characters in the story. This was a great escape to France from the comfort of my favorite reading chair. Dee Ernst has become a favorite author for me. Can't wait for her next book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the review copy.

I thought this book started a little slow but picked. up as it went on. I found that once Lucy got started overseeing the hotel renovations in France, it picked up. The characters that live in the hotel are interesting & fun to get to know. Lucy's development was delightful to read as well.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Lucia, or Lucy, Giannetti needs a fresh start, and more so, someone to take a chance on her. She once was the manager of a swanky hotel in New York City, but then the rug was pulled out from under her. The owner of the hotel she managed, also someone she was involved with, disappeared suddenly and took millions with him. With that, life as she knows it, is effectively over. However, an invitation to move to Rennes, France, could provide the exact new beginning she has been hoping for.

I had such a great time with this story, especially once she moved to and explored Rennes, France. The scenery was really vivid and the characters were so much fun. The story was surprisingly drama free, compared to others I've read (not to say no drama or tragedy transpires). I loved the time devoted to remodeling the old building to be a new, vibrant hotel. I also really enjoyed that it wasn't just the building being improved, there were photos and a website as well. And I loved that it wasn't the complete focus. There was also plenty of room for Lucy's personal growth. I will say, if you're looking for romance from the get-go, it doesn't happen that way. It's definitely a slow burn - but the pay off is worth the wait, and doesn't feel rushed. Overall, I really enjoyed the sweetness and wittiness found within this story and I would highly recommend it.

I always enjoy books about starting over and this book is about a middle aged woman with a ruin career and needs to start over. I love that she took a risk and moved to France and the people she meets there. The people at the hotel add an interesting factor to the story. I felt the ghost was unnecessary to the story and that the romance between Bing and Lucy needed to be fleshed out more. Overall, it's an enjoyable story.

(3.5) If you, like me, are a daydreamer, don’t read this book. Since I finished it I’ve thought of nothing else but packing up everything I own, finding an adorably old, French hotel to run, and uprooting my entire life. I’ve been thinking about menus, what kind of fabric would be best for window treatments, whether I want a rose garden or lavender fields… This book is sheer escapism.

I got into this book quite easily and found its cute premise and characters made the time spent within the pages worthwhile. Lucy, our devastated and down-on-her-luck heroine, is plucky and dives into the challenge of getting this ancient French property she haphazardly signed a contract to renovate up and running as a lovely destination hotel in Rennes (with only a little complaining). I enjoyed reading about an almost-50-year-old woman who is confident in her abilities and has a more mature outlook on life and all its ups and downs, although sometimes Lucy came across as much younger than that (and the misleading cover image certainly doesn’t help matters). But I enjoyed that our middle-aged main character is adventurous and vibrant and that she embraces her age rather than acts ashamed of it.

I think this book maybe tries to be too many things — ensemble cast with a hint of found family, romance, family drama and relationship drama, a character reclaiming who they are. That means a lot of side plots are never really explored, which makes the book feel chaotic. I think Dee Ernst needed to either commit to expanding on some of these ideas or to cutting them, because it feels like she put them in, forgot she put them in, and then had to rush to wrap them up before the book ended. Side characters are introduced and then forgotten. Lucy’s past was underdeveloped. Perhaps most notably, the sheer amount happening in the book means the romance — which I (maybe mistakenly) thought would be a bigger part of the story — doesn’t feel right, because the chemistry and tension were never really there, and the relationship develops at an odd pace (I’m talking about not until at least 80 percent of the way through.) That’s odd, because the book takes place across such a broad period, so the lack of development really wasn’t necessary and messed with the plot pacing. Way, way, way too much happens in the final 15-ish percent of the book, and I got a bit of whiplash.

Still, this is a light and lovely read about someone finding themselves — in a wonderful and deliciously carb-filled setting. I really should’ve read this with a baguette, a hunt of brie, and a glass of red wine on hand, because that’s all I was craving the entire time I was reading. And now that I’m done, I guess I’ll stop looking for flights and go and unpack my books from their cardboard boxes.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for proving me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I felt this may be one of those the covers does not match the content? I was expecting to see Lucy's reflective journey as she grows, but you would not be able to tell she's almost 50 based on the cover. It was more of a "whelp this is where I am" kinda story...which is a hard sell for me honestly.

Lucy was once the hotel manager of a fabulous NYC hotel. But when the owner/her boyfriend disappeared taking a large amount of money with him, she finds herself jobless and her life falls apart. Fast forward a few years, and Lucy finally has a new job opportunity in Paris, turning around a hotel there and making it a tourist attraction. But when she arrives she finds she has her work caught out for her.

The characters in this book were amazing. The residents of the hotel brought so much personality to this story and they were all loveable in their own ways. However, Lucy stole the show. Her determination and persistence were inspiring. She didn’t give up, even when the task ahead of her seemed impossible, and despite all of the curveballs life threw her way, she kept going. It would have been easy for her to wallow in her feelings, but I never felt like she did. This one was an enjoyable read!

Thank you to SMP romance for the advance copy.

Loved it. Didn't really expect to like this story as I am not especially fond of France. Not at the top of my list to visit. A second chance at life and a possible romance, along with so much more. Interesting characters. Family issues were also involved.

With things going wrong in Lucy's life she decides to switch things up and move to France for a fresh start. You want that for her and feel like she's coming into her own self. I was expecting a bit more heat and shamelessly chose this book for the travelling aspect so I may have been slightly misguided. A good read, just not what I was expecting.
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read and give my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed the found family aspect of this story and Lucy’s journey after suffering a devastating blow that impacted her employment, relationships, and financial security. The renovation storyline was interesting and the writing helped me to picture the grandness of the hotel. Everyone contributing and having their own little roles with the hotel was really special and I enjoyed Lucy’s interactions with each of them. The build up to the romance was a bit lackluster but I did like the mutual respect and connection we got to see later on in the book. Lucy’s family was the worst, I was definitely satisfied with the decision she made in the end that allowed her to be happy and settled. Overall, this was a pretty good read, it will be a hit for readers who enjoy home-reno books with a found family trope storyline!

I was hooked on this one from the very beginning. It starts out feeling like a run-of-the-mill, second-chance-at-life story but quickly proves that it's so much more.
Lucy has spent the last two years trying to come to terms with the fact that the man she loved stole millions of dollars and left her to take the fall. Not only is her personal life in ruins, but so is the professional career she dedicated her life to. It's at this low point that she gets an offer to be the general manager for a boutique hotel in France and she jumps on it. Only, when she gets to Rennes, she finds out that the job is going to entail more than she was expecting.
It's in working hard to get the hotel ready for opening right along with the inhabitants of it that Lucy slowly starts to realize that life is more than just the job and that letting people in might not be the path to hurt that recent hard knocks might have made her think.
The story is full of beautifully described places, engaging characters, delicious food descriptions, and a whole lot of heart. It has a great message that you can restart your life with some work and that the obstacles in front of you might just be the things that make your path to happiness that much more fulfilling.
I highly recommend this one and challenge anyone to walk away not dreaming of a quiet afternoon in a small French town drinking some good wine and enjoying even better company.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the fantastic read!

After being falsely accused of swindling the large hotel she managed, Lucy is forced to start her career completely over. Eager to begin her bright new future at the elegant Hotel Paradis in Rennes, France, Lucy is devastated when the hotel is in less than pristine condition. Although she is in over her head, Lucy has never been one to shy away from difficult situations and she is determined to restore the Hotel Paradis to its former glory. Along the way, Lucy realizes that you can’t always do things on your own and that letting others in is what truly makes life magical. I really loved getting to see Rennes through Lucy’s viewpoint and it felt as if I was right there with her uncovering the French heirlooms for each guest room. This is a second chance and life and love story, so Lucy along with the love interest are in their late 40s. I gave this book a 3.75 overall because I absolutely loved the setting and the plot, however, I did feel a bit as though the story moved slowly in parts and then was too rushed in other parts. Lucy didn’t have as much of a developmental arc as I would have liked until the very last chapter, but overall I enjoyed this delightful read.

Lucy Checks In
by: Dee Ernst
St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin
Pub date August 16, 2022

This absorbing novel delivers the promise of a new beginning in France, a historic hotel, and one personable, motivated female lead named Lucy. At age forty-seven, Lucia "Lucy" Giannetti lost her job as manager of fancy The Fielding Hotel in New York.

Two years later, Lucy is excited for a fresh start in Rennes, France. Upon arrival, Lucy realizes that her new job to rejuvenate The Hotel Paradis will be quite a challenge. The gardens, balconies, courtyards, and claw foot tubs offer promise, however, and Lucy quickly begins work to bring it back to life. Along the way, the interesting side characters add richness to the plot.

Ernst's story made me immediately visualize the faded hotel, with its charm and potential. Rennes is a city steeped in art and history, with a gorgeous cityscape. I'd love travel to Rennes in real life after being transported there in this delectable and warm book.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.

Betrayed by her lover and blacklisted in the hotel industry due to a HUGE scandal, Lucy gets a job offer she cannot refuse. What seems like a last chance ends up being a gateway to rebuilding what she lost and so much more.

I feel like a broken record, but I wouldn’t call this a rom-com. There were many amusing moments throughout the story, and there was a romantic sub-plot, but this was solidly Lucy’s story. Now that we took care of that, I want to tell you five things I loved about this book.

1. It’s a comeback story – When I first met Lucy, I understood that she lost a lot professionally, but over the course of the book, I really learned the depth of how much was stolen from her. Because of that, it was so satisfying to see her personal restoration as she restored the Hotel Paradis.

2. I loved reading about the renovations – Much of the action in this story involved the hotel renovations. I enjoyed seeing it all come together. The descriptions were quite vivid, and I watched the hotel transforming before my eyes.

3. I got to go to France – I have been to France, but only Paris. It was such a treat to “see” a different part of the country. Ernst did a fantastic job transporting me to Rennes. I think the food descriptions were among my favorites, but I loved strolling about town, visiting the market, and sitting on the patio just as much.

4. Lucy was gifted a magnificent found family – This hotel was inhabited by some rather interesting people. They all had their quirks, but more importantly, they all had a lot of love for one another. It was special the way they rallied to support Lucy when she needed it most.

5. Lucy found love when she least expected it – I am always excited when a book features a more “mature” main character. Lucy was the same age as me. To see her start anew and find love was very encouraging. I was also really happy for her. Learning more about her history, I was ecstatic that she found not only a family to love and support her, but a romantic partner as well.

Overall, it was a pleasure to accompany Lucy on her journey as she rebuilt her life. She showed grit and determination as she embraced this second chance and made it into something even better than what she lost. A beautiful setting, a delightful cast, a sweet romance, and a character cheer for made this a wonderful read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this wonderfully cute arc of Lucy Checks In!

I love any story that contains renovations, and an old french hotel that needs a total face lift made for a delightful story. We follow Lucy, who is in her late 40's and quite frankly going through some shit. I really liked her character in the beginning, but towards the end I found her a little aloof and whiny. I think all of the side characters really made up the meat of this story and I liked them all and what they brought to the table. The romance between Lucy and Bing was cute, but at times I didn't find it totally relatable but maybe it is just that easy? The end just seemed too tied up for everyone to just move on like that. But that is really my only three complaints. Besides those things I loved the story of a found family and starting over no matter where you think you "should be" in life!

A really cute cozy light read that would be perfect for these slower weekends as summer comes to an end.

Lucy Checks In is a sweet fiction book with a smattering of romance. The beginning was a bit slow, but it picks up and pulled me in. I thought the characters felt real and I enjoyed reading about an older character. Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: Lucy Checks In by Dee Ernst
2022 Publication Date: August 16

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️

T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read
T.I.M.E. Best Book Club Books
T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Contemporary Romance
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2022

CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
All of life's questions can be answered by reading a book...

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
Are you looking for a new best contemporary romance book to read?

Lucy Checks In by Dee Ernst is the perfect best contemporary romance novels choice for anyone who loves a good second chance love story. With a strong female lead character, this book takes us on an amazing journey that starts from the lowest point of her professional and personal life. Making this a great best book club book selection for book clubs!

One caveat... Clear your calendar because you won't be able to put this book down! With its fast-paced and thrilling storyline, you'll find yourself rooting for the characters every step of the way. And when it ends, you'll be begging for more.

Dee Ernst has done an amazing job creating Lucy, a multi-dimensional female lead character that you can’t help but root for. You’ll love following her on this journey as she starts from the lowest point of her life and fights to get back up on her feet... Both professionally and personally.

Thank you, thank you, thank you... Dee Ernst! For delivering a book filled with a multi-dimensional strong female character lead who takes us on a splendiferous journey that captured my heart, mind, and soul from the first page to the last.

And reader rewards bonus?... Our amazing female romantic lead is in her 50s! This is my second Dee Ernst book to read and both books are contemporary romance books that explore second-chance love with more mature romantic leads at the center of the story.

With witty banter from our main characters, the character development is a delight to read.

Additional themes with a childhood best friend who is always ready to serve up "best friends to the very end" advice... And an unexpected "opposites attract" connection that is filled with undeniable chemistry as a potential relationship develops.

I loved her first book, Maggie Finds Her Muse, and knew Dee was an author to keep an eye on as she continues her writing journey. With Lucy Checks In, she is now landing on all four of my best books of the year lists with her second book... Brava, Dee!

Naturally, I can not wait to see what she has in store for us in contemporary romances next!

Perfect for readers looking for a complete escape in reading romance that will likely send you straight to your favorite travel app to book a trip to France toot suite!

This book may be the "kick in the pants" you are looking for to start your dream adventure, life, business, or relationship... Whatever your dream is, I hope you discover the faith you need to get there...

As for me... I will have a great glass of wine waiting for you. And I can't wait to hear all the details!... ✨😎✨

Pages: 277
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Second Chance At Love Romance
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Rennes (France)

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst
Movie: Chocolat

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lucia Giannetti needs a fresh start. Once the hotel manager of a glamorous NYC hotel and intimately involved with the hotel's owner, Lucy had her entire future planned out. But when the owner disappears, taking millions of dollars with him, Lucy's life as she knows it falls apart.

With her world in shambles and her reputation in tatters, Lucy decides to start over by taking a job managing a small hotel in the quaint French town of Rennes. It's not the NYC hotel she dreamed of, but it's a chance to rebuild her life.

But the Hotel Paradis is in worse shape than she expected. Can she succeed in bringing the Hotel Paradis to its former glory? And will her new life in Rennes be everything she's hoping for?

A heartwarming and feel-good contemporary romance novel about second chances, new beginnings, and finding love in unexpected places.

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
Second chances are possible no matter how low you might feel you've sunken in your life.
It's never too late to start over, find love or create a new home for yourself, even if it's in a place you never thought you'd end up.
Sometimes our lowest points are the touchstones for launching us into our best life.
You are capable of much more than you give yourself credit for — often we just need a kick in the pants (or a big life change) to discover our hidden strengths and pursue our dreams.

BOOK QUOTE:
"It's funny how you can be going along, perfectly content, thinking that this is what your life is supposed to be, and then suddenly, someone comes around that makes you look in another direction. Suddenly, everything is new... And, I knew I would never settle for mundane again." - Lucy Checks In by Dee Ernst

--------------------

All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

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

I'm such a sucker for a romantic comedy, and with a main character with my name, I had to check it out! This was a charming quick read, Nothing mind-blowing, but a really satisfying rom-com.

Lucy is a disgraced hotel manager, once highly respected her manager and owner embezzled millions and fled leaving people skeptical as to her involvement.

She gets the opportunity to travel to France two years later and help rebuild a hotel. She wasn’t expecting the hotel to be in such disrepair.

She has a ragtag team of misfits to help with the rebuilding including an 80 year old who likes to garden, a grumpy driver, and Bing an artist who lives in the attic.

While it wasn’t what Lucy expected she has found a home amongst the group.

I liked that Lucy was older and starting over. There was some drama with her family, and an unexpected tragedy causing her to make some decisions. The romance part was light as they were enemies to friends to lovers. I did love the found family and some of the side stories.

LUCY CHECKS IN by Dee Ernst was a fun escape to the city of Rennes, France, and the Hotel Paradis. Just shy of fifty, Lucy's life is not what she imagined it would be. After a scandal at a high-end New York City hotel where the owner, and her ex-love, ran off with millions, Lucy has her reputation (and heart) to rebuild. When she gets to the Hotel Paradis, it's the opposite of the types of hotels she's used to managing. This one hasn't been used since the war, the rooms aren't painted, and the antique furnishings need to be dug out from the basement. Lucy has her work cut out for her.

But with the help of Claudine (the owner), Bing (the attractive writer and artist who lives in the attic) and the others who live at the Hotel Paradis, together they can turn the hotel around into something beautiful. And together they come together to make Lucy feel like one of their own. With her new found family, Lucy begins to form a new approach on life. It was interesting watching Lucy plan out all the details of getting the hotel together, and I enjoyed the market scenes, sprinkling of romance, the charismatic cast of characters, and the theme of rebuilding in love, life, and professionally. This was a feel-good book that shows how new beginnings and second chances can happen at any time in your life.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/ St. Martin’s Griffin, and the author for sharing this ARC with me. All opinions are my own.