Lucia "Lucy" Giannetti is enjoying her career as a hotel manager in NYC which also provides her living accommodations. When Lucy makes the mistake of becoming romantically involved with the hotel owner, her life takes a dramatic free fall. Apparently, the owner skipped town taking millions of dollars with him and consequently leaving Lucy unemployed. The Fielding Hotel scandal forced Lucy to move back home to reevaluate her life.

Two years later, she is 49 years-old and starting over in Renne, France where she is hired to manage Hotel Paradis. She is less than excited when she arrives and find the hotel is not what she expected. She finds she is now a manger of a charming but extremely run-down hotel in need of a make over to draw tourists. Fortunately, there are still some employees willing to help renovate the old building, including attractive, annoying artist, Bing. Of course, just as life starts to make sense again, Lucy receives some news from home which alters her life plans once again.

This is a lovely romance novel with the main character an older woman who seeks a new beginning in a different country with different cultures. It demonstrates how resilience and romance is possible at any age.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for sending this book for review
consideration. All opinions are my own. ( )

*2.5 stars*

To start with, I would say this should definitely be categorized as more of "women fiction" than romance. Our FL Lucy, is in her late 40s when life happens and she decides to change it up. The book follows the usual beats and I did enjoy the hotel descriptions and food, but ultimately it landed a bit flat for me. Even the romantic angle didn't truly work as I didn't get that spark from the ML and FL.

A huge thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. ( )

An MC that is (almost) 50? Who has a romance? Yes please! One quibble though - does the author really think 50 is that old? When the couple finally gets together (he's 55) they have one round of not so great sex and then say "well, if we were younger we'll give it another go but hey, let's go for a walk instead?" That isn't me or any of the people in their 50s that I know. We can still go multiple rounds in a day! Especially when it's a new lover.

Otherwise, this book is about Lucy, who after having gone through a horrific personal and professional incident finds herself taking a job that challenges all the doubts that have crept in during the aftermath. We see her navigating her family, creating a new found family, and rediscovering just how good at her job she is. A lot of books set in France by USians writers end up being so nauseating in their gushing about that country but this one sets just the right balance in giving us a window into life there without fawning over it. It has a wonderful cast of characters and gives us strong female friendships. I just loved this book. ( )

This was a very pleasant book! A woman, beset by scandal, gets a new beginning in France. Now I want to move to France! A happy story about starting over, figuring out your own strength and finding love. ( )

Lucy Checks in by Dee Ernst
Women’s fiction/ chick lit. Light romance.
Lucia accepts a general manager job in Rennes, France hoping to get her career back on track. The Hotel Paradis is centuries old as expected of buildings in France, but needs remodeling and renovating before opening to guests. This job is way more manual work than Lucy expected but with all the permanent residents chipping in to help, the work goes fast while she makes friends and learns the lifestyle of this city in France.

Lucy must come to terms with her broken heart and trust issues. While she works through that, she rediscovers the joy of a job she loves. I found this touching and beautiful. I enjoyed the connections she made with the self made family and though she’s cautious, those relationships go we’re rich and fulfilling. There is bit of heartbreak but the aftermath is so sweet and loving.
I loved this story. It’s rich in life, beauty and family.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. ( )