This story follows the uncertainty of the hotels future, Megs love of the beautiful old building, her often thwarted attempts to entice more guests and bring the building up to date without spoiling it's integrity, of Meg and Justin gradually falling in love, the heartbreak when she leaves for France, the love and support of her brilliant close band of friends.

Books UK One Enchanted Evening - Penguin Books UK

One Enchanted evening is everything you need in a novel when the weather outside demands you snuggle under a blanket with a good book.'

A French Affair

When she gets a call from her mother asking for her help, she puts her plans on hold to help out in the kitchens of the shabby, but delightful country house hotel, Nightingale Woods. In the absence of the hotel's part owner Andrew, Meg's mother Louise has been left in charge, but things are not going well in the catering department. Just as Meg arrives, the chef who has caused all the trouble walks out, and she suddenly finds herself running a kitchen sooner than she has anticipated. However, Meg is always up for a challenge, and despite the scary prospect of an impending gala dinner, she gets down to work. Me8g and mother find the deeds. Should they even tell Justin or Andrew? Who does she really know as real' where you pining for geography When Meg's mother, Louise, called and asked for help, Meg couldn't refuse. Louise was working at a beautiful Georgian hotel set in the equally beautiful Nightingale Woods in sleepy Dorset. The hotel owner had died and one of his his sons, Andrew, who Louise had more than a passing acquaintance with, had gone to France to sort out his estate, Meg was to take over the kitchen, she didn't know if she was up to this but the hotel didn't have many guests and the staff were brilliant. Enter Justin, the son of the hotel owner and professional chef… you see where I’m going with this?!! Total enemies-to-lovers vibes *nods* Everything is going rather well, with the Nightingale Woods' team pulling together like a little family, until the arrival of Andrew's son Justin, who has very firm ideas about what should be happening at the hotel while his father is away. Justin has divided loyalties, and he sees little prospect of a future for Nightingale Woods, but Meg has fallen in love with this little corner of rural heaven. She is sure that this could be just the place for guests who would appreciate its charms, if only a few careful improvements could be arranged. This might be more of a challenge than Meg anticipated, but she is not ready to give up the fight...

Katie Fforde | Waterstones One Enchanted Evening by Katie Fforde | Waterstones

Marrying her husband Desmond Fforde, the cousin of famous writer Jasper Fforde, in 1972, she then had three children; Briony, Francis and Guy. It was only after her third child was born that she begun her career as a writer, whilst using her married name to write under. Living in Stroud in Gloucestershire, she takes an active part in the local community where she sings in the choir there, whilst undertaking a variety of other activities. And guess what? OEE was a chance for Hannah and me to attempt another buddy read. (Psst, epic fail as usual… *snorts* but we do have fun with our messages.) Meg hasn't got much professional training, but what she does have is passion, ideas and empathy, which endear her to the staff and guests alike. Do you have that one author where every time you get a new book from them it feels like you’re catching up with an old friend? Well that is what Katie’s books are for me (and my mum, her number one fan). I’ve wanted to have a book for Meg since we first met her in A Wedding in the Country so I’ve been super excited for this one since it was announced. Meg and Justin are a brilliant couple, I loved how now matter how hard he tried he couldn’t not love her, not help but appreciated her cooking and admit she was excellent at what she did. Louise and Andrew were a lovely couple too, the mother daughter relationship was written really well, especially with the age difference not huge.

Retailers:

The hotel is charming, a place I'd love to stay at with its welcoming and homely feel and beautiful location. Meg goes to France for a while too and I enjoyed her time working in a restaurant there. But what really sold this book to me was the romance, the spark between Meg and Justin, and the way their relationship develops throughout the book made my heart sing. It was just so sweet and lovely to watch their burgeoning feelings for each other grow.