A French Château for a fresh start and new connections

Synopsis

A fresh start in the beautiful Brittany countryside is what dreams are made of…

Buying and relocating to the Château du Cheval in rural France has fulfilled one of Peter and Ingrid Chevalier’s lifelong ambitions. Despite never being able to trace a missing link in Peter’s French ancestry he feels he has finally come home. Now they must renovate the Château to its former glory and make it pay for itself…
With money getting tight, they take the decision to sell a couple of cottages on the estate. Can the Château begin to pay for itself and be sustainable for the future?

Divorced Sasha Heath and her brother Freddie decide to sensibly invest their mother’s inheritance into property and buy the two rundown cottages on the Château’s estate. Putting the past behind them, a new life in France beckons, but will it live up to their dreams?

As they relax and settle into their new idyllic lifestyle, their new lives throw up several surprises, and all they can do is cross their fingers and hope everything will turn out well in the end.

An uplifting tale of new adventures and second chances. Perfect for the fans of Jill Mansell and Fern Britton.

My review

Siblings Sasha and Freddie Heath are looking something to invest their mother’s inheritance in. Property is not cheap, and thus they decide to look abroad. Their eyes fall on two rundown cottages on Château du Cheval in rural France. Both cottages need a lot of TLC, but Sasha and Freddie are ready for the challenge.
Luckily they quickly befriend the owners of the Château, Peter and Ingrid Chevalier. Not that long ago they both the Château, but restoring it to its former glory has been a costly enterprise, forcing them to sell the cottages. And then there are also the worries about their daughter, and a missing link in Peter’s French ancestry.
Life is France for sure requires a new lifestyle, and with new friendships and help of Peter and Ingrid, Sasha and Freddie hope that they can quickly adapt and enjoy their new lives, even if there are several surprises in store for them.

And off we go to France once again with this author! Ready to discover what new adventure is waiting for its characters and also us of course!

If Jennifer Bohnet would have been a “lazy” author, she would have turned this book into 2 separate books, with no link between the two pairs living on the ground of the Château. Because for sure it would have been possible to let Peter and Ingrid have their own story, and Sasha and Freddie also an adventure of their own.
But this author chose to entwine both stories, adding extra layers, adding extra emotions and just adding extra love in it.

I liked the bond Sasha and Freddie have. As I am very close to my own brother, I could understand the connection the siblings have. Although I have to also say, I don’t know if I would have the patience to be living next door to him, or if he would have the patience 😊

I also think that living in a Château itself would be very expensive, as Peter and Ingrid are realizing. So selling two cottages next to each other may be the perfect solution not only for Peter and Ingrid, but also for the siblings, as they are ready for a brand new adventure.

The Château itself absolutely made me dream away, wondering what the walls would say if they could speak. Because for sure they have seen a lot!

While it for sure is that the story is about the two pairs, we get to know a whole new community. It’s not easy to arrive in a different country, not speaking the language fluently and just finding your feet generally speaking.
But it warmed my heart to see how Sacha and Freddie are being welcomed with open arms, offering not only help but mainly friendship.

There are several tings taking place, some shocking revelations, some tender moments, some courageous choices but also several funny moments.
Seeing how so many people get together, was truly heart – warming. It shows that there are still good, kind and generous people around, something that sometimes we need to reminded of.

This was a great reading escape, as I enjoyed spending time on the grounds of a French Château. Once again a wonderful story, taking you to an amazing place and surrounded by great people!