Member Reviews

Anais is a romance writer but she is all written out. She’s had her fingers burnt and her heart stomped on. She’s been swizzled out of her apartment and downgraded to a hotel in seriously need of some tlc. Her ex husband has finally bedhopped out of her heart one last time and his lawyer family have helped him swindle what’s hers.
With her cousin Manon they find their feet and with the services of JP the builder and his team they fix the hotel up to get ready for opening.
Noah the mansplasiner, bar owner and litery critic next door neighbour sets her on edge but there is a crackle of attraction between them. Can she ignore it, fix her broken heart, mend the hotel, stay solvent and get over writers block to get her next romance book written? Buckle down and read on.
This was a lovely French stroll down and around a festive Francais!
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange of honest review.

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Thank you to netgalley galley for allowing me to review this book. I really enjoyed this book and felt myself getting lost in the story and with the characters. The book is a fun, feel-good literary-themed holiday read for book lovers at Christmas that will make you wish you could book yourself right into the Secret Library Hotel's Meet Me in Paris suite!

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Anais wasn’t the only one who wanted to bludgeon her ex husband to death. He is a con-man to the finest degree.
This book is the cutest heartwarming Christmasy book. I fell in love with the characters especially Manon! I got excited every time she spoke.
A Christmas at the Paris hotel is a story about Anais La Del Croix a romance author who receives a near delict Paris hotel from her recent divorce settlement. It about the only thing she got when her husband who had nothing cheated on her with multiple women until she caught him. When she asked for a divorce he proceeded to bury her with his team of lawyers taking almost all of her money.
She had no choice but to fix up the hotel or else she would live penniless on account of writing her next book seems impossible since she was still reeling from the heartbreak and humiliation she suffered at her ex- husband hands.
And the audacity he had to comeback and try to take it back when she made it a huge success! Thank goodness for Manon!! I fell in love with the idea for the hotel!! A literary hotel ‘Magnifique!’ I think it’s every reader’s dream to have a cafe/bakery/bookshop but when I heard of this of a literary hotel I fell in love with this more. Rooms named after books and you immediately get a book from the author based on your room. A cozy reading place for readers. Parfait!
The reason I’m most enchanted with this book wasn’t the story, it was the story within it. As Anais and Manon are fixing the hotel they come across this secret room about another woman who lived in 1924s and choose love in-spite of everything the hindered her path.
And I absolutely loved the history famous and well loved authors whose works had such immense impact literature and the sites in Paris that was inspired by them. I’m absolutely going to add a lot of them on my tbr! But do not expect a review from me I’m not scholarly enough to make a critic on them.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I absolutely love paris, but adding Christmas time and a love story to it, just made it that much more perfect. I was amazed. I loved the characters!

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This was a lovely light hearted read. Once again Rebecca Raisin makes it feel like I’ve been on a trip to Paris. A really enjoyable book

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A very enjoyable story about a French romance novelist, Anais, who receives a run-down hotel in Paris in her divorce settlement and moves into it with her cousin and sets about renovating it quickly in order to open at least some of the suites of rooms before Christmas as she needs the money.

There are a variety of great characters, her feisty cousin Manon, the (initially) grumpy American bar owner next door, the builder and his crew doing the work on the hotel, Anais's literary agent, and not so great Anais' slimy ex-husband who puts in a brief appearance.

Whilst renovating they also uncover two secret rooms that they didn't realise were there and had been hidden away for a number of years, so the mystery about who lived in these rooms and why they were hidden was quite fascinating once they uncovered the truth, and definitely a big selling point for the hotel when it officially launched.

I really like the way the book was laid out with each chapter dated heading towards Christmas so you knew where you were. I didn't feel it was a full-on Christmas feeling book, even though it was set around that period and did have Christmas mentions with markets and decorating etc., so really you could read it any time of the year and still really enjoy it. Very romantic and enjoyable!

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Another wonderful Rebecca Raisin book. As always I want to jump into the pages and live in the story. A cozy, warm enjoyable winter read. Anaïs and Manon had a great friendship and Manon was hilarious. Noel, as expected, proved a charming suitor and the discovery of the secret room was a wonderful addition to the story.

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Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel is one of the best romantic novels written by Rebecca Raisin this is one of those books that you will want to read over and over again. The plot was quite simple, but the characters were well thought through and well written. It would be fascinating to stay a night at the secret library hotel for sure! I truly enjoyed reading this and I know you will too.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

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This book captured my heart from the very start. From Anais and Manon's family love and friendship for each other, to the mystery of the rooms in the hotel, to the slow burn love interests (plural). Everything just flowed beautifully through out the story. The time line is perfect, it isn't rushed and it doesnt drag. The family chat had be laughing out loud and by the end of the book I had sore cheeks from smiling. Christmas in Paris is now on top of my bucket list.

Rebecca Raisin is a true story teller, she captures your attention from the start, she is funny, smart, worldly and romantic.

A big YES from me

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Anais ends up with a rundown hotel in Paris from her divorce. With the help of her cousin Manon they decide to bring it up to a decent standard so she can sell it. It's not helped with her neighbour Noah who runs a bar and complains at every turn. Lovely descriptions of Paris. Can she get it ready in time for opening at Xmas?

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I absolutely loved this book. It was so easy to read and I couldn't put it down. The location is perfect and the characters are fabulous. Will definitely recommend this book.

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Anais receives a run down hotel in her divorce settlement, her first thought is to sell it, but will she? a little bit of mystery and romance , sweet book.

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This was a light hearted and cute read. I enjoyed the book overall especially the setting of beautiful Paris and the mystery elements. I didn't care much for Noah and wasn't rooting for him in any way.

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A Literary Foray into Paris

Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel is like a love letter to literary Paris, except that Rebecca Raisin chooses almost exclusively American authors for her French (British?) heroine to admire.

While the novel is set in pre-Christmas Paris, I would call is less of a Christmas romance and more of a romantic mystery that's wrapped a few extra layers.

I really wanted to rate this book better, but cannot go above 3.5 stars due to the numerous grave issues (that could be fixed with two rounds of edits!).

The book does not quite fit into the genre the author seems to be going for with the title and the cover, instead there is a charming little mystery hidden in the dilapidated Parisian hotel Anais, the protagonists, receives as her divorce settlement. Together with her neighbour Noah and her cousin Manon, she sets out to renovate the place and stumbles across a literary secret that has been hidden for 100 years.

Rebecca Raisin's book has <b>several issues</b>.
She strays into touristy descriptions of Paris, which center around English-speaking bookshops and American novelists. Her protagonist is only revealed to not have grown up in France in Chapter 16.
Her French is atrocious. I can't sugercoat it. Google Translate knows better than the heroine (or author) when it comes to French. There are typos, incorrect translations and a disturbing usage of the word 'oui'. She is inconsistent when it comes to italicising French terms and expressions and I would strongly recommend anyone who speaks a little French to skip any bits in the language and stick with the inevitable translation into English.
While I love the voice of the protagonist, the author squeezes in a lot of plot lines that detract from the main characters and feel rushed. Structural edits would have been helpful to this book.
I wish there would have been a little research into French hotels and their regulations, as some plot points are simply unbelievable.
I could not get over the fact that the protagonist's and her ex-husband's names were misspelled (Anaïs being the more common French spelling, as is François). The fact that the name of the bar next door, as well as the name of the hotel (misleadingly NOT the same as in the book title) were mistranslated is both sad and hilarious, especially considering that the name of the bar now means something very different indeed. In summary, I wish the author and her editor would have put more care into the language used in the book.

That being said, if you are looking for a sweet, literary romance set in Paris, this is your book. Starting over after a divorce may or may not be relatable, but discovering the secrets of an old building (and falling for the cute literature nerd next door) certainly is!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Anais is a 38 year old divorced romance writer with writer's block owing to emotional turmoil. Her ex-husband Francois-Xavier cheated on her and managed to get the seemingly better deal in the divorce - she's left with the run-down boutique hotel in the middle of Paris he bought with her cash for too much money.

Her only option is to renovate it to be able to sell it for a better deal, with the help of her feisty cousin Manon. But on the first day she already clashes with her neighbour and fellow business owner, 40 year old American Noah who runs some literary wine bar and is a grumpy mansplainer.

Then Anais and Manon accidentally discover two secret rooms that hint a female writer lived there a long time ago for a while. But who was she and why did she hide? Can they find her secret memoir?

This is my third new Rebecca Raisin book this year and the second to take place in Paris. No writer's block here!

I love how the hotel is made a haven for book lovers, with a big library, book names for the guest rooms and complimentary books, and I think the literary mystery brings a certain je ne sais quoi to the story.

I have to say though, as much as I love Manon, I'm not loving Noah. The way he treats Anais at the beginning is ridiculous. He behaves like a pompous arse and she has every right to give as good as she gets. Nothing to do with her divorce making her bitter! She makes lots of excuses for Noah, saying he acts the way he does "because he’s hiding his own hurt." That doesn't give anyone the right to be rude to people! He is nicer in the end but it takes way too long.

Personally, I think calling this book "Christmas at the Secret Library Hotel" would have worked better. I'm never a fan of the word "little" in a romance book title. Dream big, ladies!

The lovely cover gives you a gentle Christmassy feel, copious litres of mulled wine are drunk, and the run-up to a French Christmas with all its traditions is well observed. I didn't really mind that the focus was on the hotel renovations and secret writer mystery though.

It is interesting to get behind the scenes of a romance novel writer's life, something the author can obviously draw on from her own experience. I hope she didn't have a scary agent on her back for this one!

It is lovely to see Lilou and Geneviève, characters from the previous book "A Love Letter to Paris" make a quick cameo appearance, tying the two books together.

All in all it's a fun, feel-good literary-themed holiday read for book lovers at Christmas that will make you wish you could book yourself right into the Secret Library Hotel's Meet Me in Paris suite!

4.25 stars

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Enjoyed every minute of this book! Set in a beautiful place, the excitement of a mystery, and a romance that makes your heart flutter. Checked all of my boxes for an enjoyable read! Love all the literary references and history scattered throughout the book too. Highly recommend for an easy and fun read!

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This was a cute, festive romantic read. It did take me a little bit of time to get into it, but once I did, I wanted to keep reading.

It was well written, light hearted and easy to imagine being part of the book.

Thanks for the opportunity to read.

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I have read all of Rebecca Raisins books and was so excited to receive this one! She did not disappoint once again. This contain just the right amount of mystery and romance and even a little drama. Definitely kept me reading and needing to know what happened next. Love following along ok Chloe, Manon, Noah and JPs journey! Love this book so much!

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When Anais inherits a rundown Paris hotel in her divorce, her plan is simple: fix it up and sell it fast. But as the holidays approach and funds dwindle, turning it into a charming boutique retreat by Christmas becomes her only option. With a grumpy American bar owner, Noah, meddling next door and a century-old secret hidden in a mysterious room, Anais finds herself caught in a whirlwind of unexpected challenges. Amid twinkling lights and falling snow, this Christmas in Paris might just bring more than she ever imagined.

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What an enchanting novel for book lovers and writers! I absolutely LOVED Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel. Everything about this story charmed and inspired me. I enjoyed chasing the literary mystery of the secret library and unknown author from page to page. The characters were distinct and delivered a good portion of humour, wit and wisdom. I was mesmerised and pulled into the gorgeous descriptions of Paris—particularly the lovely lead up to the city’s activities and appearance towards Christmas. This is such a well-written fun and festive story and I was so immersed in it, the world outside my imagination just rolled on by unnoticed.

Anais acquires a rundown hotel in her divorce settlement. Her ex-husband who has cheated on her and cleaned out her funds, trades off the old Paris Hotel they purchased for their fancy apartment. It would appear on the surface she got the short end of the stick but we soon see that this is not the case at all. Yes, she has to pour a cart load of money into remodelling it, but once it is up and running, she plans to quickly sell to recoup her cost. She has no experience in running a hotel. She is a best seller romance writer and must now write a Christmas novel. But she's struggling after dealing with betrayal and all the work she must focus on in getting the place ship shape and ready for a Christmas opening. With cousin Manon’s help, though, and some tradesmen and good friends, they pull the place together. Her writing, though, is another story. What will spark her ideas and get the magic words flowing again?

I love that this novel focuses on books - the endless mentions of literature and excitement shopping for special copies to fill Anais’ guest library. There are lots of literary references delivered between Anais (a romance author) and Noah ( a literary scholar and critic / pub owner). Plus we get to see so many true aspects of a writer’s life: complete with writer’s block that can be caused by emotional upsets, procrastination on getting a story written, killing darlings during the editing process, stressing over pressing deadlines, and being inspired when you get lost in the zone and forget the hours that seem to whip by! Of course, there is Margaret the literary agent who keeps pulling Anais back into reality. She is a mover and shaker with lots of zing!

As for the topic of Christmas, initially I did not think about it so much at the start of the novel. I was too focused on wondering about Anais after her divorce and how she was going to manage the old hotel. But then little sprinkles of holiday magic kept appearing in my vision until gradually the increase in festivities (like the countdown dates at the start of the chapters) made me more aware of the season. One of the joys for me is the priceless gift Anais finds hidden in her hotel that has the potential to rock the literary world: a very special manuscript written by an even more special author. This intriguing mystery was so much fun to unravel that I was glued to all activity relating to it.

The mystery serves a ‘romantic relationship’ purpose, too. It draws Anais and Noah into a peaceful truce. Allows them to get to know each other and solve the book author mystery together. They have more in common than they think: including a past broken relationship.

As mentioned, there are some great characters both likeable and irksome. Cousin Manon is a strong, feisty woman who becomes a great asset to Anais. The ex-husband was easily disliked for his arrogance and bad behaviour. Noah is a charm, (after his initial grumpiness!) full of literary knowledge and a pleasant surprise in many areas. Anais is a lot of fun to follow through her writing and mystery solving adventures. She has a passion for preserving history and is dedicated to her vision of completing the hotel project despite all the challenges she faced. Her literature focus ideas for the hotel are brilliant and any bookworm would love to stay there for a holiday! I was glad to see her relieved of her horrible ex-husband and happy that she found love again with someone who shared many of her interests.

All in all this was a riveting, fun and mesmerising plot and I loved every second of it. There are some lovely Parisian Christmas scenes that will put a sparkle in your day but this novel can be read any time of year as the mystery to me was the main focus which centred around the wonderful world of books and those who write them. And, of course, there are a number of special romances in there, too! 5 Glorious Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

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