⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Yet another banger from Elodie Colliard with a book boyfriend I can’t get enough of! Folks, Miles Clark is HOT! 📣

Workplace romances are one of my favorite tropes. Throw in the “we can’t be together, it’s unprofessional” micro trope and I’m hooked! The tension between Miles and Riley is electric and the author does an amazing job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, craving the moment they finally get together! Within the story, the two find themselves in the most romantic city on the world - Paris, an almost one bed situation (ugh!), and while in regency garb, a promiscuous garden romp! 🥵

This is the second book in the It’s Always Been You series, so be sure to check out the first book, The Last Encore, that came out in 2022!

Thank you to Elodie Colliard and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First things first, How ADORABLE is this cover? I love this depiction of the two main characters.
I loved this book. The two main characters, Riley and Miles, are complex and well thought out. I loved their character arcs and how they flawlessly developed alongside one another throughout the novel as their relationship grows from coworkers to friends to lovers.

Right off the bat, Riley is shown returning from her abusive relationship, which was toxic professionally and personally. Her actions at the beginning of starting her own business, creating direct competition for her ex, set up her character for the book. Throughout the book, Riley is shown finding and creating her happiness, even if she sometimes acts rashly.

Miles is definitely such a sweetheart. His character tackles ideas of infertility and how that can cause strains in relationships, followed by trust issues when entering a new relationship. Miles supports Riley and does a great job of being exactly what she needs while pushing for his feelings.

This book is a "can't miss" for anyone looking to read a romance that tackles tough subjects while still including all the sweet and spicy moments that all good romance novels have.

4.25 stars - Elodie’s sophomore book was a delight! It was incredible to see the growth in her writing in this book. I felt the longing, loved the pacing of the book. Loved our MCs, Riley and Miles. They loved to their very core, I really enjoyed their friendship blossoming into a relationship!

First of all, whoever designed the cover art for this book needs to be given a raise immediately. It perfectly encapsulates the main characters and was the reason I requested this book.

After years in a toxic marriage, Riley leaves her ex-husband and the workplace they both share, determined to reclaim her life. When Riley decides to start her own company, she asks bearded baker Miles for help. Miles and Riley worked together for years and have developed a strong camaraderie, so the decision to become his own boss is an easy one for Miles. The pair work well together and their business should see easy success, if Miles’ years-long crush on Riley doesn’t get in the way.

I really enjoyed From Paris in Love. The two main characters were fantastically and realistically written. They both had their own obstacles to overcome and the reader got to see on page how difficult certain issues were like Miles’ struggle with infertility. Riley was such a strong heroine, which I always appreciate and the friends to lovers trope was beautifully executed here. While Elodie Colliard is a new to me author, From Paris in Love will not be my last read from her!

*Thank you to Victory Editing NetgalleyCo-Op & Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This sweet, entertaining, a bit slow-burn friends-to-lovers story kept me reading just to see what would happen next. I enjoyed doing that. The narrative was good for my taste and I will look up the author's other works to read. Did I mention that I like the cover very much?

"Every atom in my body belongs to you. I never stood a chance, don't you understand?"

Read if you like:
🇫🇷 Travel abroad
👥 Forced proximity
📱Text messages
🚪Open-door steam
🗃️ Workplace romance
🥐 A man who loves to cook
🗓️ 'I've loved you for years'
⚽ The Long Game by Elena Armas

Elodie Colliard's sophomore novel is adventurous, passionate, and absolutely magnetic. Believe me when I tell you I could not wait a SECOND longer to get my hands on this book, and wow, was it worth the wait! I fell in love with Elo after reading her debut novel, The Last Encore, and that most certainly has not changed since reading this book.

"My heart belongs in the palm of her hands. Truth is, she's been holding it all along."

After recently leaving their old jobs at the same PR firm, Miles and Riley start their own firm -- Flecher & Clark. When one of their new clients asks them to do business with him in Paris for two weeks, they can't refuse. Miles, who's spent the past several years of his life pinning after Riley, is nervous about their shared time together. But when she reciprocates his feelings, well...I guess you'll just have to read for yourself!

"She's magnetic, and I'm stuck in her orbit."

🩵 Miles -- I'm obsessed. What's NOT to love about a businessman who bakes French pastries in his free time, plays recreational rugby, and whose dog is named Happy! Miles treats Riley like a queen, with such tenderness and care, patience and love. He is (no pun intended) *chef's kiss*
🩵 The tension and the passion between these two is INSANE in the best way possible. Both Miles and Riley are a bit older than your typical main characters of contemporary romance, which adds to the hot hot steam and angst of this book.
🩵 There are so many wonderful scenes in this book, I have such a hard time choosing a favorite -- the calendar, the boat, the ball, Riley's surprise for Miles😭 These two were SO much fun to spend time with; I didn't want to leave them!
🩵 This book is a slow, slow burn in the best way possible. The push and pull of their romance was SO SO worth the wait. If you loved The Long Game by Elena Armas, I am more that certain you will love this book as well!

“One day, love, I will tell you how long I’ve been in love with you. I’ll explain to you everything that I’ve felt all these years, how excruciating it was to not hold you close to me just as I do now, how my hands knew what you felt like without haven’t even touched you yet, how my body was certain you’d fit against it perfectly without haven’t held you yet. And you’ll see then, and understand, that I was made for you, and you were made for me. And I have never known anything to be more true.”

Why are you still reading my review and not on your way to buy this book? Jokes aside, this was such a sweet romance, and I cannot wait for whatever Elo has in store next.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Elo for sending me an ARC of this wonderful story🩵

While there are trigger warnings, please note that this book considers themes of domestic abuse. Also, note that this book is #2 in the It's Always Been You series and while you may read this as a standalone, I HIGHLY recommend that you begin with the first book for a more well-rounded reading experience (and because TLE is somewhere in my top 20 anyway so...)

From Paris, in Love was a cute, sweet romantic story about second chances, Parisian escapes and good food.

This book was a fun, light romance! I loved the idea of sweet pining and the build up of all the angst! The backdrop of Paris with its sparkling lights and whimsical vibes added to the overall romantic ambiance of the novel.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the author for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

4.5!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Miles and Riley were coworkers before Riley quit and divorced her then-husband and their boss at a PR firm in Canada. Miles had been half in love with Riley while they worked together so when she approaches him to start a PR firm of their own, he’s all in!

This coworkers to friends to lovers romance is lovely and I loved the strong and powerful woman Riley is in her work and her growth period after her divorce. Riley is learning to stand up to her ex-husband and becoming more like she was before her abusive relationship.

Miles has a few of his own personal struggles as well that hold him back from making a move on Riley and then keeping things slow. Miles’ previous long-term relationship ended in a heart-breaking way and between that and his slightly impulsive first reactions to mistreatment of others, he struggles with the chance for a relationship with Riley after all this time.

I really enjoyed this romance! I loved the Paris setting and the way the story was set up for readers to learn a bit more about Riley and Miles if they hadn’t seen them before in The Last Encore. Where this frustrated me was the very end with some of Riley’s choices and then what wouldn’t have been a sufficient enough response if I was in the situation. I can understand how and why this may not bothers others though so it’s definitely a “me issue”!

Fantastic book from start to finish.
The romance was perfect.
It was a great story with wonderful characters and settings.
I love a good friends to lovers book with the right kind of spice,

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for an ARC copy

Absolutely love a steamy he falls first story and this one definitely delivered.

Light and heavy, spicy and sweet. Destination but not without the frustration that often comes with actual travel and can bleed into … well, everything.

Absolutely loved Riley and Miles. I’ll be back to this one.

(Thank you to NetGalley, author and publisher for ARC)

This was such a good, entertaining and a sweet contemporary romance. Definitely a fantastic and quite an unexpected surprise. And I simple can't wait enough to read more from the author in the near future.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A sweet romance that covers sensate topics.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Slow burn
Friends to lovers
He falls first
Strong FMC
Baker golder retriver MMC
Workplace/vacation romance
Paris setting
Dual POV
Spicy reads

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Male infertility rep
The side characters
The tension
The cover

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
The ending

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ ”I want to kiss her so deeply she forgets her worries and gives me her tomorrows.”
★ “You don’t need me. You want me. And I want you. Just as you are. Wholesome, strong, beautiful, and stubborn… I just want to be by your side, holding your hand while you conquer the world. Just because I want to.”

Friends to lovers and canadians!!
love to see it!

this was such a good book. it was light compared to so many other books i have read and just felt good reading.

first book by author and wont be the last

If you love a good friends to lovers story, or a workplace romance, then this is a book that you need to read. It was fantastic. This is my first book from this author, but it won't be my last.

💻 Business Partners/ Business trip
💕Friends to lovers
🍁 Canadians in England
🌶 Spicyyy
🐶 Doggy dad
⚡️ Forced proximity

Miles and Riley are friends above all. They also created their own PR business in the last year.So let’s say that Miles having a crush and Riley could be very dangerous for their relationship…. Although when they’re both invited to a long trip to Paris (for business and pleasure of course), staying away from each other could be difficult, especially in the City Of Love.

I love the two main characters' personalities. It’s not really an opposite attracts, but they are so complementary. Riley being the sweet but insecure divorcee, and Miles with his baking and rugby personna ? This hunk of a man who just wants to find someone he can love (that loves him back ??) They are both vulnerable with each other. Obviously the ‘Paris’ trip arc is there to install some forced proximity and romantic setting. And boy, did it work !! I’m sure things would have happened no matter what, but traveling just hits different in romance novels !

My biggest red flag is reading books by English speaker writer about France and just suffering through the clichées and awful traduction. BUT IT WAS NOT THE CASE ABOUT THIS BOOK, and yes I was a bit surprised at first. But I read about the author and she’s actually french (or at least grew up there) Knowing there’s people like her makes me really happy. I didn’t even cringe throughout the book !! So rest assured, this is more than an adequate representation of french culture (that actually made me cackle) !

This was fine. I ended up skimming the last quarter because I was just bored with it. I think maybe the pacing was off for me - time was moving quickly but the characters’ intentions just didn't seem to progress? I know a lot of people who loved this one so it could just be a personal wrong book wrong time but I won't be reading again.

From Paris In Love beautifully captures the magic of Paris, and the tension and excitement of falling in love with a friend. It also addresses harder themes of emotional abuse, and learning to trust and respect yourself after being in an abusive relationship.

My only critique is that as a Gynecologist, I was expecting more from the infertility story line. It was sort of included as a plot point to keep the main characters apart without actually explaining what was going on. Just saying "I can't have children" without any other context or discussion would be like having a character say "I'm dying of cancer" and then never explaining it further. The dialog in the book also made it sound as though when someone has infertility, there's basically nothing that can be done, whereas there are several ways to treat or manage male infertility. Millions of couples face infertility, it's a complex, very individual thing, and I can imagine that reading that plot line could be painful or frustrating for anyone who has been through it.

After a rocky marriage and divorce, Riley teams up with her friend Miles for a new business venture. Despite their chemistry, they try to focus on business. An all-expenses-paid trip to Paris tests their feelings. The book is enjoyable, with a fun Parisian setting and gradual romance development. Riley's determination and Miles' struggles with infertility add depth. I wished for more pre-business interactions. Some pacing issues affected engagement. Excited for Elodie's future work!

4.25/5 ⭐️

I honest to god loved these two dummies 🫶🏼
Riley and Miles are polar opposites but complete each other so well
I loved how they would keep each other safe and comfortable. Like even before they started their romantic relationship, they already had a solid friendship and partnership they were building, which just made me love them more. It was just nice to watch unfold, especially their vulnerable moments and the encouragement they gave each other. ESPECIALLY MILES TOWARDS RILEY (protect that man!!) 🥹
The pining, the tension!
God the attraction was obvious, it had me giggling and kicking my feet

And I just truly loved Riley, she was such a strong, bad ass girl boss. Amid the things she went through with her divorce, how she handled everything after, making her own business, she overcame it and came out on top. I am proud and admire her 🥹🫶🏼


thank you NetGalley and Elodie Colliard for the ARC!

This book was such a big war hug, I don't have another way to describe it. I loved how the characters got to know eachother better before dive in, in a relationship. Also I loved that the miscommunication trope was almost inexistente, I do love that grown up people that are able to tell what they are feeling.
Also I every time that the ex husband showed up, I just wanted to unalive in.
This was a very cozy read with amazing cozy vibes that I want to read again

Thank you much for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for a honest review