Christmas at the Chateau - Rochelle Alers (HSE #2879 - Dec 2021)

Series: Bainbridge House (Book 2)

Christmas dinner's on the table
Served with a side of romance
 
Executive chef Viola Williamson has to have the kitchen up and running by the time the Bainbridge House restoration is complete. Working closely with Dom Shaw, Viola is struck by her hotter-than-mulled-cider attraction to her family estate's handsome caretaker. It's obvious that he feels it, too -- yet Dom keeps his distance. Can Viola convince him that with all this cooking going on, he's the only one stirring her heart?
 
Good book. I loved the story's setting and seeing the restorations continue from their start in the first book of the series. As in the first book, family is an important theme in this one, with some unexpected revelations. I also like the diversity of the Williamson family and look forward to getting to know the rest of them.
 
Viola, one of the five Williamson siblings who inherited the chateau from their father, signed on to become the future hotel's executive chef. After being passed over for promotion, she left her job at a Michelin-starred restaurant one too many times and can't wait to sink her teeth into setting up the kitchens. That chance comes sooner than expected when her brother Taylor and his fiancée (A New Foundation) move their wedding up to Christmas and ask her to handle the food. Her brother's fiancée is also her best friend, so she does double-duty as Sonja's maid of honor.
 
Dom Shaw is the estate's caretaker, a position held previously by his father. There is some mystery attached to the Shaws' involvement with the estate, which keeps Dom tied there. Dom is something of a loner after being burned by a bad marriage. The last thing he's interested in is a relationship.
 
When Taylor asks Dom to take the lead in getting the main kitchen up and running, Dom has to work closely with Viola. Their first encounter did not go well, as each made assumptions about the other. Never one to hesitate to speak her mind, Viola straightened Dom out, then made her own apologies. I liked the fact that neither one carried a grudge. They also clearly stated their expectations about their relationship - friends only, not even with benefits. I enjoyed how they bonded over food, cooking for each other, and testing Viola's ideas for the wedding and restaurant. Dom found himself looking forward to her visits and realizing how much of a recluse he had become.
 
With their "friends only" agreement, neither wanted to admit their growing attraction to each other or the stronger feelings that went along with it. I enjoyed the slow pace of their developing relationship, giving them the chance to get to know each other. There were some sweet scenes of their time together. I especially liked seeing Dom kicking himself for setting the "friend zone" requirement once he realized he'd fallen for her. I loved the easy move to the next step as they confessed their feelings but reiterated their reluctance for anything permanent.
 
It felt as though their relationship moved too easily from one stage to the next. I loved their ease of communication and wondered if it would last. Conflict, when it came, was from an unexpected source. It shocked me to hear the words that came out of Viola's mother's mouth. I never expected something so snobbish from a woman who was such a great mother to five adopted children. Dom's ability to walk away without tearing her apart was nothing short of amazing. Viola had no such desire, and I loved her defense of the man she loved. However, it did drive a wedge between Dom and Viola. The resolution of the argument was well done, and I liked seeing Dom set Elise straight. I liked seeing Dom and Viola back together with a more permanent relationship in mind. I look forward to seeing more of them in future books.
 
I liked catching up with Taylor and Sonja in this book. I could feel Taylor's stress as he pushed to complete some of the rooms in time for the wedding. I liked that he and Dom get along better now than in the first book and that he doesn't get involved in Viola's relationships. Taylor's unwavering support of Viola and her goals is heartwarming. I also liked how he warned Dom about Viola's tenaciousness regarding her work. I loved the close relationship between Sonja and Viola and had a great time seeing them work together on the wedding stuff. I can't wait to get to know the other brothers and see the further progress of the chateau.

A New Foundation - Rochelle Alers (HSE #2828 - Apr 2021)

Series: Bainbridge House (Book 1)

He's the man with the plans
 
But she's calling the shots
 
After escaping an abusive marriage, Sonya Rios-Martin is determined to live an independent life. The generous job offer from Taylor Williamson will help her do that. But her unexpectedly strong attraction to model-turned-project-engineer Taylor throws a wrench in her plans. Sonya and Taylor have to figure out how to build a solid foundation—without re-creating the cracks from her last devastating relationship.
 
Good start to the new series. I love the theme of restoring an old French chateau that was moved to New Jersey. Taylor is committed to honoring his late father's wish to renovate Bainbridge House, as are his three brothers and one sister. His sister, Viola, tells Taylor about her friend, Sonja, an architectural historian, as the perfect person to help him get it right. Sonja spent four years in an abusive marriage before escaping and working to regain her independence. Working on the Bainbridge House restoration will go a long way toward establishing her reputation in her field.
 
I loved the first meeting between Sonja and Taylor. The sparks were there from the beginning though both initially tried to ignore them. Taylor plans to concentrate on the renovations, while Sonja has no intention of getting involved with another man. Sonja's intelligence and passion for her work fascinated Taylor, and he knew she was exactly what he needed for the project. I liked watching them connect over their love of the house and the friendship that evolved because of it.
 
It wasn't long before Taylor realized he wanted more than friendship with Sonja. However, as attracted as he is to her, he doesn't just want to sleep with her. Taylor craves the kind of loving relationship his parents had and believes he can have it with Sonja. All he has to do is convince her. I enjoyed his efforts to do so and appreciated how he was always careful not to push. That care is what slowly worked its way past Sonja's walls.
 
I liked seeing Sonja let go of her fears and embrace her feelings for Taylor. Their connection over the house added an extra layer to those feelings. Their relationship looked very promising for the future until Taylor saw something that he misinterpreted and reacted poorly. His words and actions brought back bad memories of her marriage and drove Sonja away. I ached for Sonja as she tried to reconcile those memories with her feelings for Taylor. Conversations with her mother helped her enough to think about what had happened from another perspective. I liked that Taylor was smart enough to realize how badly he'd behaved and patient enough to give Sonja the time she needed. The ending was great, as both Taylor and Sonja shared their fears and feelings before moving on to their future.
 
One of the things I liked about this book were the little details that go into restoring a building like Bainbridge House, from the foundation to the landscaping. I'd love to see more about some of the treasures Sonja finds. I loved her suggestions about the farm-to-table for the planned restaurant. I look forward to the future books with Taylor's siblings, each of whom has a talent/career that blends well with their plans for the chateau.