When you meet you first love again in Paris.

Synopsis

Parisian reunion
With the one that got away!

Celebrity chef James Harrington never expected to find himself face-to-face with Chloe, his first love, again… Especially, with her working as a chambermaid at his luxury hotel! Their chemistry’s as strong as ever, but she’s hiding a secret. Can James convince Chloe that their love is worth taking a chance on – again?

Katie Fforde wrote, when honouring her with the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019 said – “Liz Fielding’s books, with their warmth, humour and emotion, have charmed millions of readers. She is a true star of the romantic fiction genre.”

My review

Chloe is working as a housemaid in a luxury hotel. It’s not her dream job, but at least it pays the bills. One day she gets the shock of her life, because while she is doing her chores in a room, celebrity chef James Harrington enters the room.
Chloe is in shock, not because she meets a celebrity, but because James was her first love.
The chemistry is between them is still palpable, but Chloe does not want to give their love a second chance, as she is hiding a secret.

Will James be able to change Chloe’s mind?

Reading a story about meeting a first love again, of course you just hope it will go how you pictured the story in your mind.
And yes, of course it is such a story!

But there was more to this story than I thought, and it was a pleasant surprise!
Chloe her family is not your standard family, and that made her escape from them, trying to make a life on her own in Paris, forgetting her past.

And then we have James. He is known all over the world as a cook, yet there is something he is still missing.
When he sees Chloe again, he does whatever he can to persuade her to give him and their love a second chance.

The chemistry between Chloe and James is obvious. The attraction they had in the past, is still there. But now they are both different and have truly grown up, both literally as figuratively.
As Chloe has been forced to do as her father pleased for too long, now she won’t allow James t do just the same.
Even if James is having the best of intentions, the way he expresses himself is not the way to Chloe’s heart.
And I think that this is the most important message this story wants us to learn. A relationship is not made of getting it your way, but talking about it, asking the opinion of the on you love and find a common ground.

It’s not only a story with 2 people and a chance of love again, but I found it also bittersweet. The things this couple had to endure when they were younger, broke my heart. But despite that hardship, they came out of it even stronger.

Their meeting is also the reason they dare to face their demons of the past and show that they aren’t broken.

Overall, this was a beautiful story, taking place in beautiful surroundings. I did not only enjoy reading about Paris, but also the Chateau stole my heart.
A lovely romance, about past mistakes, looking at the future, daring to be your truly self. And all around Christmas! I loved every bit of it and I cannot wait to read more from this author!