As a fan of Mandy Baggot's writing, I was unfortunately disappointed by this book. While it does deliver plenty of snow, romance, and humor, the plotline felt overly farcical, making it hard to connect with the characters or the story. Though I appreciate fiction's imaginative nature, I prefer when the storyline retains a sense of believability that helps bring the characters to life. Sadly, this book didn’t quite meet that expectation for me.

When journalist Orla Bradbee is given a last minute assignment by her boss, she just wants to get in, get the story, and get out and be home by Christmas. Her boss is determined that this will be the kind of story that will drive traffic. After all, who wouldn't want to read a story about mute man and a pregnant reindeer?

What Orla doesn't count on is that she will need to take her 16 year old sister, Erin, with her to the small French village in the mountains near Grenoble. Her mother is very concerned about Erin, in particular her intense online relationship with a man she has never met. Erin hears the word France, and assumes the bright lights and shopping of Paris which couldn't by further from the truth. Taking Erin with her also gives Orla's parents the opportunity to work through whatever it is that they are going through.

The village of Saint-Chambéry is an isolated mountain village with a small close knit community, and at Christmas they have many charming traditions. The mainstays of the village are Gerard and Delphine, who is the owner of the local shop. She's the kind of person who knows everyone in town and just wants everyone to be happy. And the person who she just wants to see happy the most right now is Jacques Barbier, whose nickname is Wolf.

While Jacques isn't mute, he is a man who chooses to live in an isolated house, keeping everyone somewhat at bay, including his young brother. His first meeting with Orla does not go well. It's very clear that Orla and Erin are not prepared for the hostile winter environment of the Alps which pushes all of his buttons. He is not quite sure how it happens, but suddenly Orla and Erin are staying with him, his 19 year old brother turns up out of the blue, and no one can get the coffee machine he hates to work.

Orla and Jacques both have a clear idea of how their life should be, but as the story unfolds it becomes clear that that they have some self reflection to do about what it is they really want. As for the reindeer, well, you will have to read the book to find out that part of the story.

I have read a few books by Mandy Baggot now, but it is the first time I have read something of hers not set in Greece, and I really, really enjoyed it! The village of Saint-Chambéry sounded so beautiful, and so festive! There are a lot of threads running through this story, but the author manages to bring them all together beautifully.

I can definitely see myself reading more of Mandy Baggot's Christmas books!!! And her Greek books.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

It’s a bit of a tough week for me this week so I was really looking forward to diving in to some lighter, more fun books in my reading as a bit of escapism from the stresses of real life. Mandy Baggot is always a reliable go-to in this regard, and One Winter at the French Chalet did not disappoint.

Poor Orla, she just finds out her parents are having problems when she is shipped off to France on what looks a bit like a wild goose chase by her boss at the magazine she works for, just before Christmas. To make matters worse, she has her headstrong, unpredictable younger sister tagging along. Throw in a remote location, a taciturn Frenchman and a cast of eccentrics and you have all the ingredients for an entertaining story.

Everything about this book was fun. Orla finds herself in a remote French village which is peopled with characters that certainly go their own way and has a host of peculiar Christmas customs that were hilarious to read about. The disconnect between Orla and Jacques at the beginning sets the story up for the perfect opposites attract love story and the machinations of the devious Delphine set the story alight. My favourite part of the story, though, was the dynamic between the sisters. Being an eldest myself with a much younger sibling, I could totally relate (although I have to say my baby sister is nothing like Erin!)

Christmas books set in remote foreign locations is a particular favourite genre of mine, I always try and fit a few in each year, because they really lift my soul and whisk me away from whatever stresses are plaguing me in the every day. This one was no different, and I really fell in love with Saint-Chambery and its populace. Any book that has made me lighter of heart by the end is a winner as far as I am concerned and Mandy has achieved that with her latest Christmas novel.

Highly recommended for lovers of the genre, or anyone just a bit down in the dumps.

One Winter at the French Chalet by Mandy Baggot

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Things aren’t going well for travel writer Orla Bradbee.

With Christmas fast approaching, her boss is insisting Orla must travel to a rural village in France to interview a man who doesn’t speak.

Saint-Chambéry is a picturesque French village nestled in the snow-capped mountains, but Jacques Barbier – gorgeous and brooding, yet a man of few words – makes it clear that Orla is wasting her time here.

Orla can’t deny that Jacques intrigues and infuriates her, but what is the mysterious Frenchman hiding exactly? And can she get close enough to uncover his secrets without risking her own heart?

My Opinion

This was a delightful, festive book and I read the majority of it in just one sitting as I found myself needing to know what would happen with Orla and Jacques. Mandy Baggot has created some great characters, and I especially enjoyed reading about Delphine and her antics. Whilst Orla is supposed to be writing an article about a reindeer due to give birth in the run up to Christmas, she is also juggling some family issues back home.

There is so much going on in this book that there is plenty to keep the reader engaged. This book was so much more than the usual festive read, so make sure it is on your list for the upcoming holiday season.

Rating 4/5

I’ve enjoyed so many of MB’s books - she’s a superlative writer and creates wonderful stories with engaging characters in fabulous settings.
But I guess there’ll always be a book from one’s favourite author that simply doesn’t work. And this one doesn’t work for me,

Too much, too many sub plots and too many people.
I wanted more about Orla and Jacques.

Lots of good stuff but not the usual 5 star read.

I loved Orla so much, she was such a relatable character and I think many people will relate to her too, she has many family issues and she is just so likeable. I loved the romance between Orla and Jacques, it’s so sweet watching their journey together.

Jacques is initially brusque and doesn’t want anything to do with Orla, he is initially hard to like as a character, but once Know why he acts the way he does and why he hides away, he slowly gets under your skin and you end up loving him too.

I loved the setting so much and I was so delighted to read about all the traditions too, I think it gave it that extra sparkle. If you’re looking for a cosy, charming, winter story that will keep you warm inside, then One Winter at the French Chalet is for you.

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

This is a really cute, fun romance novel that would be great to read over the summer holidays. It had super likeable characters, always trying to do their best for themselves and each other, even though things always get muddled up. Orla, a journalist, is sent to a small village in the French countryside to interview a mute man looking after a reindeer that is about to give birth right before Christmas. There’s something wrong with that picture though, which leads to some funny mishaps. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

One Winter at the French Chalet ticked so many boxes on so many levels...

There's a festive romance, we're staying in a gorgeous chalet that's tucked up in the French Alps, it's snowing and there's a reindeer being born too.

The characters are cute and extremely likeable. Tropes include forced proximity and small town romance.

Literally there's nothing not to like; it's a heartwarming read, the plot was thoroughly enjoyable and was the perfect escapism guaranteed to get you in the mood for everything Christmas.

Journalist, Orla goes to the French Alps in search of a story, taking her 16 year old sister with her, and leaving her parents in a marriage crisis . Welcomed into a small village, she meets Jacques, an immensely private, but attractive, man . Ideal for settling down to read on a cold, wet Autumn day .

Another compulsive read from an author who seems to do no wrong. I absolutely devoured this one… You will want to clear your afternoon to read this one straight through, gave me all the Xmas feels.

For me this book had all the necessary emotions, drama and amusement that help make a book an enjoyable read. While I'm most interested in historical fiction, there are times I need a break and look for a more contemporary book, one that is romantic. Of course the fact that this book was set in France was a given for me, those are my favorite novels. It was sweet, it was perfect and I loved Saint-Chambery. My thanks to NetGalley for this charming ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Orla Bradbee, a travel writer, is sent to the remote village of Saint-Chambery, France, just before Christmas to cover a story about a pregnant reindeer and a mute man. The timing couldn’t be worse! Her parents are going through a rough patch and her younger sister, Erin, is in a relationship with someone the family knows nothing about. Orla ends up bringing Erin along for the trip and they end up running their car into Jacques, a reclusive local who mostly keeps to himself, among other things.

I loved that the story wasn’t solely focused on Orla and Jacques’ romance but also on the relationships within the close-knit community and their loyalty to one another. The romance is wonderful and you know I love that but with all the other relationships it felt like this was just so much more.

There is plenty of humor, heartbreak, and an ending that made my heart glad. This is a must read !

By the time Orla arrives in France, the reader knows about her job, her family and the problems they are experiencing. We also learn a little about Jacques, although he retains his mystique until later in the story. I like the quirky characters, the contemporary relevance and the evocative festive setting. It's a story that gradually immerses you in the characters' lives. It's an enjoyable wintry read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A sweet story of love finding two people, both not looking for love. The meddling and sweet hearted shopkeeper in a small French village uses her wits to bring an English journalist to the village with the intention of matchmaking her with a handsome, recluse. Neither of them is looking for love or romance but the power of chemistry and of opposites attracting are forces too hard to battle.
I voluntary read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A good read. A lovely easy reading novel set in a very festive location with some interesting characters ,the story is a mix of relationships, love ,family and fun moments that will make you smile. I enjoyed it

What a festive book this was. A reindeer, a snowy tiny village, family strife, a mystery man and lots of celebrations. What a great book to read. This kept me company whilst under the weather. I loved it. I really liked the friendships of the people Orla meet in the tiny town. I like how Erin her sister grows up and how they grow together. I think I would like to read more about the town and it’s inhabitants next please.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

One Winter at the French Chalet, by Mandy Baggot, is the story of world weary travel writer Orla Bradbee and how she finds the story of her lifetime. Six days before the Christmas holidays, Orla’s boss Frances sends her on assignment to a very small town, Saint-Chambery, in the French alps. Frances has heard from a resident of the small village about a mute man called Wolf and a pregnant reindeer ready to give birth at Christmas and wants the scoop for their Christmas publication.

As Orla prepares to go she encounters family issues, her parents going through something she doesn’t know about, and her younger sister Erin embroiled in an online situationship. To help in the family circumstances, Orla brings 16 year old Erin along on the trip to France although this small village is far from Erin’s idea of Paris. However, the quirky town with matriarch Delphine, bar owner Gerard, and the big, quiet man named Jacques bring their own special sorts of holiday delights.
This lovely story is told with so much heart and brings together an unlikely cast of characters that the reader will find endearing. But as sweet of a holiday story as it is, the novel also addresses family drama, found family, dealing with the aftermath of a difficult career, and finding a path forward. This book combines a lovely story, setting, and characters to share such a wonderful tale! I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Orla boss insists she travel to France to interview a man who doesn't speak. it is right before Christmas and Orla doesn't want to go. once there she realizes she is wasting her time or is she?

A winter wonderland story set in a small village, Saint-Chambert in France, featuring Orla who has been sent to write a story about a pregnant reindeer and ends up with her younger sister tagging along on the trip! Loads of lovely characters in the village all with their own story including a mysterious handsome man called Jacques. . A hug in a book perfect for curling up in a dark winters night with a hot chocolate for a cosy!

I liked reading this book, the story was entertaining and some of the supporting characters were hilarious but I couldn't really relate to the main characters and their romance didn't really convince me. I really liked the small-town setting full of unique meddling characters though and think it is an enjoyable book for the holiday season.