Reading this story was like putting together a puzzle because I missed half of the book, I won't lie to you, I liked Orla who is our protagonist, she is a journalist for a magazine who is sent to a small town in France for a "big news story" and due to life circumstances she takes her sister with her, in the town she meets Jacques, A lonely man who lives there and is part of the investigation and so far so good but I felt that practically everyone gave little credit to Orla's work, Jacques more than anything (besides he says that he loves her reports so idk), the issue with the sister and the parents threw me off a lot, the first half of the book as I said was about putting everything together and almost when it was over I came to enjoy it, was it good? Let's say I liked the story about the Christmas season and the Christmas miracle, but I didn't like Jacques as the protagonist.

📌I received an e-copy through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.

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.

Nice read for the winter season, good storyline, fabulous characters, but personally I felt there were a few loose ends unexplained. Overall a good read, not exceptional but nice.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books & author Mandy Baggot for this eARC

As a whole I thoroughly enjoyed One Winter at the French Chalet.
It's a cute christmas romance perfect for a cozy, relaxing winter evening.
There are quirky side characters, a snowy, alpine setting and loveable MCs. The romance is well done and there are engaging side stories.

There were some details that irked me, like the fact that Chambery keeps being described as this teeny-tiny village in the middle of nowhere when in reality it has a population of almost 60'000 and is the largest city in it's region. Would have loved if the author made up a village or at least used the name of an actual village instead of a city but I guess that's where one has to suspend their disbelieve.
3.5 stars

One Winter At The French Chalet by Mandy Baggot, Arla Bradbee is an up and coming journalist who writes an animals in anatomy blog and flies all over the world to get her stories. It’s almost Christmas break when her boss tells her there is a pregnant reindeer and because reindeer‘s only give birth in the spring this is an anomaly and she wants Orla to go see it and write a story about it. When her 16-year-old sister Aaron finds out she has been sent to France she has the glossy photo she sees in magazines to feed her imagination for what kind of trip it will be in bags older sister Orla to let her go. After all things at home with their parents isn’t so great their dad has been drinking and her mom seems to be clueless as what to do about it. So despite Orla’s initial reservations she finds herself in France with 16-year-old Aaron, Who cannot stay off the phone with her older Moroccan “boyfriend. “ is it she doesn’t have enough problems the man who she hast to interview about the reindeer is the same man she argued with the whole way walking in the snow from the car that brought them to the house where they are supposed to stay. It doesn’t help Orla’s cause when she starts feeling attracted to the grumpy hermit. There’s way more to this book than just Orla in jocks romance and I just want to state in this review that the only reason I even read this book is because I thought Jock didn’t speak and I was so interested to see how this modern woman was going to get to know this hermit who lives outside of town stays to himself and lives a quiet life was going to get close to him. I am so tired of book summaries saying the book is about one thing and it turns out to be about something totally different I didn’t like Orla nor her sister and they did something in this book that I can’t stand when authors do it and that is have the 20 something MC have to take care of their decrepit parents because in the book Orla kept telling Erin now that she knew about their parents problem she was going to take care of it. She also seems so wishy-washy when it came to her sister like how she kept blowing off the college conversation and acting as if 25 year old Orla was ancient but I digress I could spin another 10 pages talking about the things I disliked I guess I just didn’t like the book not to mention I found it hard to continue reading because I can’t have in my thoughts and dropped off into other realms and not even paying attention to the book. I have read a few books by this author and really love them so I guess once again you can’t win them all. #NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #MandyBagget, #OneWinterAtTheFrenchChalet,

A numerous romantic book but unfortunately not one I could get into. Orla is a journalist who has a last minute assignment in France but right on Christmas time. It’s a strange assignment but as she has no choice she takes her younger sister with her. Humorous at times. Thanks to Mandy and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

Book Review: One Winter at the French Chalet by Mandy Baggot

One Winter at the French Chalet is a delightful escape that had me dreaming of snowy landscapes and cozy firesides from the very first page. As a travel writer, Orla Bradbee's journey to the picturesque village of Saint-Chambéry sets the stage for a heartwarming festive romance filled with intrigue and emotion.

Orla’s character resonated with me immediately. Tasked with interviewing the enigmatic Jacques Barbier, who is as frustrating as he is intriguing, I found myself equally captivated and exasperated by their interactions. Baggot’s writing beautifully captures the tension between them, blending humor and romance in a way that kept me turning pages late into the night.

The setting of Saint-Chambéry is almost a character in itself, with its snow-capped mountains and charming village atmosphere. I could practically feel the chill in the air and the warmth of the fire as I read. Baggot’s vivid descriptions transported me right into the heart of the French Alps, making me long for a winter getaway of my own.

What I loved most was the gradual unraveling of Jacques's secrets and the way Orla navigates her own vulnerabilities. Their journey together is not just about romance but also about personal growth and discovering what truly matters in life. The dynamic between them is electric, and I found myself rooting for their connection to deepen, despite the obstacles they face.

Overall, One Winter at the French Chalet is a perfect blend of romance, humor, and winter magic. Mandy Baggot has crafted a charming tale that’s not just about finding love but also about embracing new beginnings. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an uplifting read to cozy up with this winter!

I wanted to like this but it just was kind of off somehow. Why would an established professional adult suddenly bring her misbehaving sixteen year old sister on a work trip? And then spend more time babysitting the teen than actually doing her job. Not to mention why didn’t someone take Erin’s phone away when they realized how obsessively she was acting with Burim. I’m glad it worked out in the end but that wasn’t an essential part of the plot it seemed like an afterthought. Instead of making the main character look responsible it made her look flighty and like a pushover for not saying no to a teen. The romance wasn’t great. Lies built upon lies, lots of secrets, too many weird coincidences. The villagers seemed fun but the plot stayed murky throughout. Frances’ treatment of her employees bordered on abuse and harassment.

I really enjoyed reading this Christmas novel! I should've read it during the Christmas time!! I liked the charachter development and I loved the setting. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for something to read during the Christmas time!

A nice feel good read, but perhaps a few too many sub plots which made it feel a bit all over the place at times. Still left me with a feel good glow at the end though.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

With a nice and entertaining plot, One Winter at the French Chalet by Mandy Baggot tells a story about a woman who is forced to travel for work during the Christmas season and a man who is reclusive and full of mystery.

Summary: Orla Bradbee is assigned to travel to France to write an article about a reindeer giving birth for work while Christmas is around the corner, and she has to take her sister Erin along. There, she meets Jacques Barbier, a mysterious guy who intrigues and infuriates her at the same time.

Tropes/Genres:
• small town
• christmas season
• forced proximity
• contemporary romance
• set in Saint-Chambéry, France

Review: This book was okay. It doesn’t stand out, but it’s not bad either. The characters are likeable, and the story is entertaining. It’s just that some parts of the story don’t flow well, especially in relation to the subplots.

Orla is a relatable character. She doesn't think that she's special. She feels like a side character in other people's stories. I think that's something that many people may be able to relate to. However, while Orla is likeable, I never really warmed up to her. In fact, I don't think I warmed up to any of the characters, including Jacques, the male main character. I simply couldn't connect with the characters. I think it has something to do with the way they are expressed in the story.

I didn’t think that Orla and Jacques had much chemistry, but I can appreciate their romance. I think it’s sweet that Orla is the only person he truly feels comfortable opening himself up to. They’re also quite nice together. I just don’t feel that invested in their relationship. It's likely a writing issue, so I think the romance could've been written and paced better. I'm not even entirely sure if they actually love each other. Their relationship had good traits, but they weren't expressed very well.

The story had great potential, but there was a lot going on, and these concepts weren’t tied together seamlessly. There were major revelations in this book that didn’t have the intended impact given. I think it’s mainly a writing issue. If the different subplots had been tied together better, then the story would've felt less disjointed, improving the overall quality of the book.

I enjoyed Under a Greek Sun by this author, so it was kind of disappointing that this book didn’t match its standard. However, I still think that this book has its merits and is still worth a read. I enjoyed the part about the pregnant reindeer, for example. I also liked the whole thing about Erin's situationship with Burim, a guy she's been chatting with online. I find it interesting!

In conclusion, I recommend this book to readers who want to read a winter romance with a French small-town setting! It's a nice story; it just needs to be refined so that it can flow better.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.

Orla, a travel journalist, is sent to a remote village in the French Alps to cover a story about a pregnant reindeer during Christmas. Due to family issues, she brings her teenage sister Erin, who is involved in a complicated online relationship with a man from Albania. In the village, Orla meets Jacques, a reclusive local known as Wolf. Though they initially clash, their relationship slowly develops into one of chemistry and connection. As Orla grows closer to Jacques, she begins to suspect that Delphine, who organized the trip, may have concealed key details.

The novel explores not only romance but also themes of community, family, and personal growth. Orla and Jacques’s evolving bond is complemented by rich relationships within the village, including Jacques’s ties with his brother Tommy and Orla’s relationship with her sister. Balancing humor and heartache, the author crafts an emotional journey, concluding with a heartfelt and satisfying ending.

This was a great change of pace for me. Definitely on the lighter side but the characters still had some growth which I love.

It’s a cute Christmas read with a big cast of characters in a French town you’re going to want to relocate to. Recommend if you’re looking for a light hearted Sunday afternoon read.

4.5 Stars!!!!
This was an unexpected pleasure! I thought it would be a light, Hallmark type romance- but it was so much more! Orla Bradbee is a travel writer. It is almost Christmas and she is assigned to go to Saint-Chambery, France, a remote village, to write a story about a pregnant reindeer and a mute man. This comes at a bad time because her parents are having problems, and her younger sister is in a "situationship" with a foreigner that they know nothing about. On the eve of her leaving, she decides to bring Erin (her sister) with her. Their arrival to the village is a comedy of mishaps, and they end up running their car into Jacques. He lives away from the village and keeps to himself, except when he is helping Delphine- the force of nature that keeps the village connected.

I really liked that the focus was not only on the budding romance between Orla and Jacques, but also on the relationships of the villagers. The close knit sense of community and dedication to each other was such a treasure.

The author also writes a lovely romance budding between two characters who have carried/carry a lot on their shoulders, and are more mature. Through their interactions they learn more about themselves, causing them to reflect and grow towards trust and dreams. This theme is carried over into the other relationships in the story: Jacques and his younger brother Tommy, Orla and Erin, Jacques and Delphine (who is like a mother to him). The characters have a depth to them, and what many are facing/dealing with are not easy- or easily fixed issues.

The author deftly weaves humor and heartbreak, triumphantly, and the ending!! It is honest, heartfelt and perfect in relationship to the growth journey that the characters have been on!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an honest, deep, hopeful read!
Thank you to NetGalley and BoldWood Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Orla is sent to France for her to write a last minute article. Her sister tags along while their parents work out some issues. Things go wrong from the beginning in this predictable story. I didn’t just love all the characters. They all felt a bit annoying. I struggled to read this book.