Plum Everly is a burnt out reality TV star who travels to Provence to help restore an old house for a new show where she falls in love with the charming small Provence town and her cameraman. Moving (if a tad slow going) and perfect for fans of women's fiction, kissing only, celebrity second chance, coming of age stories or books like Under the Tuscan Sun. Great narration by Caroline Hewitt too and a cute cover for this first book by author writing duo Beth Merlin and Danielle Modafferi. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

DNF. this book was incredibly boring. and life is far to interesting for boring books. There needs to be a give and take in books. You have to give up on a book when you're no longer interested.

2.75 stars - This book was incredibly boring for about 80% and I would have DNF’d it if it was not an ARC. The beginning of the story is about Plum, who is one of the cast members on several reality TV shows. She gets her next calling to restore a historical house to glory in France. She goes to France and meets her co-host, falls in love with him…but then, you find out the real reason for the show. She starts falling for her cameraman...a majority of the story didn’t even go into THEIR romance! The story with Elliot was cute, but I feel like we did NOT need all the backstory with Bastien and all the French history. I also enjoyed the betrayal from Kate as well…like that makes for a good story! The last 20% of this book had potential.
The audiobook helped with all of the French pronunciations – it was a great addition to the e-book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio, Beth Merlin, and Danielle Modafferi for the opportunity to read listen to an Advanced Listener’s Copy (ALC) in exchange for my honest opinions/review.

Okay, this one was actually really really sad to me. The FMC is so sweet and really just trying to figure out her life and what she wants to do and they are all in on this big secret that will humiliate her. I love how they kept digging to find the truth about the town and worked to do what was best for them even if it wasn’t what was right for the show they were filming. There were plenty of funny moments with this clumsy FMC and the grumpy MMC, making for a sweet romance with a definitely feel good ending.

Oh my gosh I really loved this audiobook! It was exactly what I needed. It really reeled me in right off the bat and kept me hooked throughout the whole thing.

I was so excited to get to read this newest book from Danielle Modafferi and Beth Merlin. Having loved all their other titles, I was not disappointed! I listened to the audio version and purchased the kindle version. I will be getting the paperback too! The audio is great with a fantastic narrator that really gives a great voice to Plum.

I love the idea of this child reality star having to grow up in the starlight and learn who she really is. I loved the setting of Provence, France and the authors did a great job creating this setting with such amazing detail. I could picture all of it. I loved all the characters, especially Plum. She really spoke to my heart and I ached with her through her ups and downs.

I especially loved the historical details thrown in about the chateau being renovated! Being a history nerd, this made me so happy to have the details woven into the story.

Such an amazing book and an easy 5 stars!!

This was such an enjoyable listen! Caroline’s voice is absolutely captivating and all her voices for characters were fantastic! I definitely would listen to her again!

The storyline itself is so compelling because you can’t help but root for Plum! She’s made her mistakes, she trusted the wrong people and she just cant escape it.

But once she gets to France, things start to look better…. She starts figuring out who she is… and finally finds someone who starts to see her… for her 💜 Have a listen or read to find out what happens!

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸…
🍷Enemies to Friends to Lovers
🍷Misunderstood
🍷Reality TV Star
🍷Let’s go to Provence 🇫🇷
🍷FMC Self Discovery
🍷Single POV
🍷Kissing only

I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

This book was not for me. I tried a few times to read this but could only get past the first few chapters. I really wanted to like it but not for me.

This book was simply WONDERFUL! It was fun and funny and full of surprising depth and most of all HEART. I love how it juxtaposed the frivolity of Plum's life as a washed up reality tv star and the true magic and REAL LIFE she finds in Provence amongst the backdrop of the WWII subplot and a cast of characters who help her learn about herself and her true life's passion.

Oh, and the TWIST at the end!! ::CUE GASP:: Seriously, I was bowled over and then mentally ran through the previous chapters and was truly amazed at the layered details left for the reader throughout the novel. I've read other books by these authors and have really enjoyed every single one. I am more than eager to see what these two cook up next because I'll be first in line to grab my copy!

Lastly, the narrator was absolutely SUPERB. I primarily listen to audiobooks to consume my reading content and Caroline Hewitt did a remarkable job bringing this story and its whole cast to life in a way that made me feel like I was friends with these characters and sitting beside them in France. The plot paired with this spectacular narration makes for a truly exceptional read/listen!

If you're looking for a fun, sweet escape that still has depth and true character growth, this might just be the magical book vacation for which you've been searching!

Heart Restoration Project is a wonderful women’s fiction story with a lovely romantic subplot. I enjoyed going along with the main character as she discovered who she really was, and the life she wanted to live.

The story is contemporary, but the history of the setting in France was so delightful to learn as the story unfolded. It gave this story a rich, purposeful, thread that made the story educational and enjoyable.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was done well by a single narrator. I really felt the narrator embodied the main character, Plum, completely. I listened at 1.75x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75-2x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this advanced audiobook copy.

I thought the book was sweet and adorable. A fun love story with interesting characters. I loved the narrator! The narrator was captivating. It is a lighthearted quick read that keeps you wanting more.

I thought the book was sweet and adorable. A fun love story with interesting characters. I loved the narrator! I tend to like dual narration the best, but she did a fabulous job. She read all the parts well without making cringy voices. I recommend to give this a listen. Especially if you are looking for something lighthearted!

Tropes:
- dislike (him) to lovers
- misunderstood FMC
- chateau renovation
- reality tv show
- small town
- discovering town secrets
- workplace romance
- reality tv star from a famous family
- small town in France
- grumpy x sunshine

Plum Everly is a long time reality tv star who is trying to find herself in all the personas she has put on for the cameras over the years. She is the outcast of her family and is afraid of disappointing them further.

Plum goes through an interesting character arc. She is struggling with her personal identity and thinks she has finally found herself and love after heartbreak, only to realize not everything is as it seems. She struggles through her hurt and betrayal, but finds a new passion and excitement for what she wants in life through the struggle.

I would say this is light on the romance, because she is with a different character for a good chunk of the book which personally isn't my favourite, but I really loved how everything ended up coming together in the end.

Caroline Hewitt delivered an incredible performance. She executed a flawless progression of Plum learning french and delivered everything in an American accent then the gradual progression to her figuring out proper french pronunciations. Her french accent for the french characters was easy to understand but also very good!