Title: Paris Lights
Series: Heart of the City #1
Author: C.J. Duggan
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: November 13, 2016
The first standalone book in CJ Duggan's HEART OF THE CITY series - a very sassy, super sexy New Adult romance from the internationally bestselling author of the SUMMER and PARADISE series.
'You're breaking up with me!'
'You're breaking up with me!'
He was silent.
'In Paris.'
Eyes dropping.
'Under the Eiffel-fucking-Tower!' I screamed.
Twenty-five-year-old Claire Shorten had looked forward to spending a romantic weekend in Paris for as long as she could remember, and now it was here - three blissful days of strolling through cobbled streets arm-in-arm with her beloved, eating copious amounts of baked goods and soaking up the culture through each and every pore of her body. Well, at least, that was how she'd pictured it . . .
Even after her boyfriend dumps her rather unceremoniously in the most romantic place on earth, Claire is determined not to give up on her dream altogether - with or without a boyfriend. She finds herself a job in the kitchen of a small hotel; Michelin-starred it most certainly is not, but somehow Claire makes a place for herself amidst the dirty dishes and the foreign misfits who run the place.
When the restaurant attracts the attention of the enigmatic - if not slightly terrifying - tycoon Louis Delarue, and Claire manages to survive his high-powered business luncheon from hell, she knows that she can survive anything, surely. But all bets are off when Louis makes a game-changing decision: he's coming back for a second course . . .
Twenty-five-year-old Claire Shorten had looked forward to spending a romantic weekend in Paris for as long as she could remember, and now it was here - three blissful days of strolling through cobbled streets arm-in-arm with her beloved, eating copious amounts of baked goods and soaking up the culture through each and every pore of her body. Well, at least, that was how she'd pictured it . . .
Even after her boyfriend dumps her rather unceremoniously in the most romantic place on earth, Claire is determined not to give up on her dream altogether - with or without a boyfriend. She finds herself a job in the kitchen of a small hotel; Michelin-starred it most certainly is not, but somehow Claire makes a place for herself amidst the dirty dishes and the foreign misfits who run the place.
When the restaurant attracts the attention of the enigmatic - if not slightly terrifying - tycoon Louis Delarue, and Claire manages to survive his high-powered business luncheon from hell, she knows that she can survive anything, surely. But all bets are off when Louis makes a game-changing decision: he's coming back for a second course . . .
4 Stars
I am a huge fan of C.J. Duggan's previous works, and was so excited to read Paris Lights, the first standalone in the Heart of The City Series.
Claire's dreams of Paris are dashed when her boyfriend breaks up with her in the most romantic country in the world and under the eiffel tower of all places.
I really loved Claire's character, she's completely endearing and a genuine Aussie the way she says what she thinks, even if she has a case of foot in mouth syndrome. More often than not, she speaks without thinking, and it leads to quite a few moments of laughter throughout this engaging and entertaining read!
As this title is told completely from Claire's point of view, at times I found it difficult to know the character of Louis. He's quite closed off and it's difficult to see what lies beneath the surface at times, but he is honest and hardworking and complex. At times, I wasn't sure if I liked him all that much but by the end of this book, I was completely captivated with his character. I enjoyed the budding sexual tension and sparks between this hero and heroine.
The side characters reall ymade this story intriguing and interesting, and added depth wit the fun and playful banter.
Overall this is an entertainingstory and I look forward to the next title in the Heart of The City Series.
CJ Duggan is a number one internationally bestselling Australian author of seven independent titles of her popular New Adult Summer Series. In addition to her chart-topping indie novels, CJ is set to publish two titles with Hachette, Australia with her brand-new Paradise Series in 2015 (Paradise City and Paradise Road).
CJ lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia. When she isn't writing books about swoony boys and 90s pop culture you will find her renovating her hundred-year-old Victorian homestead or annoying her local travel agent for a quote to escape the chaos.
