A delicious love story about a bridal designer showing her new collection in the Alps during the magical week of Christmas where hijinx of the heart ensue.It’s the day after Christmas, and Felicity Grant is at a gorgeous ski chalet in St. Moritz for the biggest fashion show of her career. Felicity is a rising star on the bridal design scene, and this is her best collection yet. But when her … collection yet. But when her boyfriend gives her a spa day instead of a diamond ring for Christmas, she has to face the possibility that she may never walk down the aisle in one of her own stunning designs.
And then there’s Nell, the top model headlining Felicity’s show. Nell is planning her dream wedding to her wonderful fiance with one catch: her divorced parents can’t stand each other and threaten to no-show if the other is there.
Add to that Felicity’s race against the clock to create a special gown for a prestigious bridal salon, and what both girls need is a Christmas miracle. What better place to find one than in the Swiss Alps with its dark forests and sparkling vistas?
But for Felicity it’s hard to recognize a miracle even when it’s right in front of her, and for Nell one miracle might not be enough to fix the past. Can dreams really come true or is that the stuff of Swiss fairytales?
Anita Hughes’s Christmas at the Chalet is full of romance, gorgeous gowns, and the stunning scenery of the Swiss Alps. It’s about love and forgiveness, and creating one’s own miracles during the most festive time of year.
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Christmas at the Chalet is the most sparkling and glamorous of all Anita Hughes’s wise and gorgeous books.
Christmas at the Chalet is a breathtaking glimpse into the glittering and magical world of St. Moritz. Part romance, part Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Hughes gives her readers a beautiful story about the meaning of true love, peopled with charming and endearing characters. This is a refreshing novel destined to create cravings for hot chocolate in front of a blazing fire, and make us all believe in Christmas miracles.
The magic of the season is on full display in Christmas at the Chalet…In the best Christmas present of them all ― a beautiful and authentically heartfelt tale ― Anita Hughes reminds us of the true miracle of Christmas: love.
The glam of St. Moritz is the stage for this modern fairy tale… Anita Hughes’s Christmas at the Chalet sparkles with Christmas miracles.
We are off to visit St. Moritz, Switzerland for
the winter collection Bridal Show!!
This is the where Felicity Grant has planned
to introduce the Felicity Grant Bridal winter
collection. She is accompanied by her top
models and business partner.
The show will take place during the week
between Christmas and the New Year.
Adam, Felicity’s boyfriend did not accompany
them to Switzerland. They have been dating
for six years but no engagement ring. So
does he really want to settle down with her??
Amongst the glamorous gowns, the fabrics,
the models, the cuisine, wealth, folklore and
glitz of St Moritz, you will find sadness when
another Christmas passes without an
engagement ring. But this changes when
Felicity meets Dr. Gabriel Innes who assists
her after an twisted ankle after slipping on ice.
Then takes her to dinner,
And drama is taking place with one of her
models and her estranged parents.
The scenery is astoundingly described. You
will feel as if you in the Chalet in front of the
fireplace. You will see the snow covered village,
the trees that twinkle but beware of slippery
ice patches. Make sure you are bundled up warm
for the cold seeps into the reader.
Christmas magic abounds in this well written,
double drama, interesting and ritzy romantic story.
I volunteered to read Christmas at the Chalet.
Thanks to Net Gallery and St Martin’s Press for
the opportunity. My opinion is my own.
4 Stars
Grab a hot beverage, a cozy blanket, and maybe a box of tissues for this sweet and savory read.
Anita Hughes did an amazing job making St. Moritz, Switzerland come to life in every possible way, inside and outside of her book. The cover brings a sense of peace and calm to the mind that no winter-lover can deny! I love every aspect from the thick feet of snow on the roofs, to the glow of fireplaces inside the chalet, the blue hue of the mountains, the twinkling trees… it looks magical and I just want to be there. Freezing or not.
Luxury and extreme wealth lie within the details of Christmas at the Chalet. Fashion, models, romance, cuisine, all things a girl can dream. The folklore included was a cute little gem The details had me drooling, especially the food… That baked macaroni topped with bacon and I can’t even remember what else- yummmmmm. Everything in St. Moritz sounded absolutely delectable! Moving on to the attire…I’m one for fashion, so I loved imagining all the different gowns and materials described. The scenery was breath-taking, not just the cover, the words describing St Moritz-stunning. The men were so freaking romantic I was swooning, and crying, so heed those tissues, ladies. My mascara was a hot mess multiple times.
I really liked how there were stories within the story, flipping between past and present. This was done exceptionally well, so much, in fact, it was definitely my favorite part. This was easy to understand because the chapters were labeled as different character names, so you knew what story and characters the author were going back to. The characters were loveable, empathetic, and mostly believable. I loved the ‘how we first met’ stories and the romantic gestures seriously melted my heart which gave this book a deep holiday richness.
I have read one other book by this author, California Summer, and the main character Rosie is very similar to Felicity- the main character in this book. Now I thought I disliked California Summer, but I think I just disliked the qualities of the female lead so much that I gave the last book a bad rating. I cannot stand females who are dick-tripping over their exes the whole time, meanwhile, a handsome knight in shining armor is right in front of them, and all they can do is focus on the past. It is so annoying and carries a whiny undertone for entirely too long. Makes it hard to decide did I dislike that character or did it just overshadow the whole story too much, and if so what did I think of the book? I do not like reading books where the girls are air-heads and I’m in my mind yelling at them the whole time to stop being stupid. Well, this book wasn’t as bad in that department as the last one I read. Or maybe it just had so many other appealing qualities to me that it didn’t seem to stand out as much. Basing the story on multiple relationships really juiced this story up for me. It wasn’t just about one girl being an airhead, and her last book I read mostly focused on that. So I really appreciate that there were other characters and lives to enjoy throughout the story, it was a nice blend.
There were only two things that stood out to me where I was like this is not believable at all. The injuries… not believable. No one can ski for four hours and walk all over town shopping and just strolling on an injury. If crutches would have been mentioned alright or even a wheelchair, but this was just fake. The second thing would have to be a certain scene and I do not do spoilers… you’ll just have to take my word for it… more would have been said, words would have been flying but hey its a holiday book so I can see the reasoning for keeping it light and airy.
All in all, I gave a 4-star rating because this book had multiple characters and backstories to fall in love with, it totally has the holiday feels, and I cannot stop thinking about the scenery and food described in this book. It was a gorgeous modern-day fairy tale. I was on the fence about reading more by this author but after reading Christmas at the Chalet I think I will continue to read her stories because I truly feel like she is an author that is going to perfect her work and knows the type of audience she wants to draw in.
Much gratitude to St. Martin’s Press, and Anita Hughes for this ARC I won via the Goodreads giveaway program. Thank you!
That being said: All reviews are my own and voluntary.
The author employed an interesting (at least to me) storytelling technique in this story. There are basically 3 characters “lives” being told throughout this book. There is Felicity (the true main character); wedding dress designer, Nell, Felicity’s top model for her designs; and Nell’s parents, Patty and Todd. The current story setting is St Moritz during the week between Christmas and the New Year. Raj, Felicity’s business partner, decided to have the fashion show in St Moritz on New Year’s Eve, instead of N.Y.; and created hype around the upcoming event.
There is a lot of dialogue in the story. I felt that the characters were likable and believable; for the most part. It was an enjoyable story. Christmas wasn’t really a character in this story; it’s sort of a back-drop along with the skiing. All-in-all it’s a cute, quick read and we get to see St Moritz thru the author’s eyes in the week after Christmas.
Beautiful descriptions make this Christmas story one that I wish I could live. The author does a wonderful job with the setting and I enjoyed this book. I’m not a huge Christmas book person, but this one was fun and kept my interest.
Thank you to Ms. Hughes, the publisher and Netgalley for a quick read to get me into the holiday spirit.
A light story that anyone who like romance will certainly enjoy. San Moritz is shown in all its loveliness with beautiful and exciting entities; the gorgeous surroundings, the exquisite clothing, the famous restaurants and delicious foods.
Anyone who enjoys reading about the life of the rich and famous will devour this love story and all its glamour.
This book is told in parts. Felicity Grant is a bridal gown designer who is having a show in St. Moritz. Nell Mason is one of her models and a friend. Both are looking for a Christmas miracle. Felicity was hoping to be engaged and Nell is trying to get her parents to be present at her wedding. Sometimes the Christmas miracle you are hoping for, is not the one you get. Sometimes it is even better.
Christmas at the Chalet by Anita Hughes.
Felicity Grant has been in a relationship with Adam for about 6 years and was disappointed when he didn’t propose. So Felicity leaves to go forward with working on her wedding dress designs. There she happens to meet a Dr who helps her when she falls. Pictures are taken of them along the way which Adam sees sparking his jealousy. Now choices are to be made for Felicity.
Enjoyed this Christmas Romance.
Christmas at the Chalet by Anita Hughes
This book starts out with Felicity a wedding dress designer and how she’s in St. Maritz, Switzerland for the runway event her and her business partner, Raj have scheduled.
One of the models takes sick due to high altitude and Felicity puts the wedding dress on-the one she had designed so the photographer could take the necessary photos.
She and Adam plan to get married but just not yet…love hearing of her design work as I’d often be found sketching a sweater design at 3am myself. Always keep paper on my nighttable.
She had left hastily for work this Christmas, brunch with her in laws to be…
Love donation to charity, from their proceeds. She injures herself while getting a gift for Adam and a doctor takes over her care.
Very descriptive details, not only of the gowns but surrounding areas and things to do. Like drama of all the models and how things work out in the end.
Lots of turmoil but the events and scenery are heavenly to hear about. Breakups and forgivenesses and makeup sex play a big part in the scheme of things. Ending was unexpected…
Other works by the author are highlighte dat the end.
Received this review copy via St. Martin’s Press from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#ChristmasAtTheChalet #NetGalley
Romance, gorgeous gowns, detailed descriptions, a glamorous setting, delicious food, so much goodness in this novel. A few love stories are woven within. The story takes place during the magical season of Christmas, actually the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I did read this during the summer, but it definitely will put you in the mood for the holiday season. The storytelling alternates between Felicity and Nell’s stories as well as flashbacks of Nell’s parent’s relationship. My first read by Anita Hughes and her descriptive writing blew me away. I felt right there in the ski resort, could picture it perfectly, and I’ve never been to a ski resort before. A lovely romance to escape to.
Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Christmas at the Chalet” by Anita Hughes St.Martins, October 16, 2018
Anita Hughes, author of “Christmas at the Chalet” has written an enjoyable, entertaining, heartwarming novel.The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction and Romance. Anita Hughes vividly describes the food and landscape in St. Moritz. I love the descriptions of the food in St. Moritz, (especially how the chocolate is used in several desserts), and how the snowy mountains, skiing, and small shops are described.
The author describes her colorful characters as complex and complicated. Some of the characters have their own problems to work out. Felicity Grant designs bridal gowns, and intricate fashions using unique fabrics and accessories. Felicity and her partner have worked hard to have this fashion show in St. Moritz. Unfortunately, Felicity is very disappointed that her boyfriend didn’t propose and give her an engagement ring. Nell, one of the models is engaged, and is upset that both of her divorced parents won’t attend her wedding together. Unfortunately, Nell finds that both her parents are in St. Moritz, and want to visit. Both parents are unaware that they are both there.
It does seem with the excitement and festivities that Felicity is just a little accident prone, and is lucky that a handsome doctor is on the scene to help her. Felicity wonders if there is such a thing as a Christmas miracle?
I would recommend this delightful, fun-loving, story to readers that enjoy a story that is heartwarming. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
I could almost feel the cool snow and picture the beautiful people and scenery.
This book really transported me to another world. I loved the setting of St. Moritz. It’s a place I know I will never get to see in real life. But, after reading this book, I felt like I had just gone there. There are beautiful people, stunning scenery, fantastic sounding food, fun events and beautiful wedding dresses and clothing.
Wedding gown designer, Felicity Grant is in St. Moritz for the debut of her winter collection after having a fight with her boyfriend, Adam on Christmas day. She wants to get married and he doesn’t. Since arriving in St. Mortiz, Felicity has been struggling with her emotions and wonders what she should do to get Adam to see things her way. When she takes a fall on the street, a handsome doctor, Gabriel Innes, is there to pick her up and help her. But then a picture of Felicity and Gabriel ends up online claiming they are having an affair. It was strange consequences that Felicity finds herself in other situations where Gabriel is there to help her when she needed it. They end up forming a friendship and Felicity gets relationship advice from Gabriel. But as more pictures turn up online, rumors start to spiral out of control. Was it just coincidence that they always seemed to be in the same place at the same time? But when Adam shows up, Felicity really has a big decision to make.
A second story in this book was about one of Felicity’s models, Nell, who is planning her own wedding and wants both of her divorced parents to be there. They both refuse to be in the same place at the same time. Nell goes on a truth finding mission to find out why they really split up. The reason will surprise you. The reason never crossed my mind.
All around, I loved everything about this book. And it doesn’t even need to be Christmas time to enjoy it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC to read in return of an honest review.
A delightful exotic Christmas love story with strong, compelling characters that pull readers into their story. The holidays are a time that readers can expect miracles in their romance and this story certainly lives up to that expectation as Felicity Grant and Nell both wish for a Christmas miracle. Felicity is a successful bridal designer who’s beginning to think that she will never where one of her own designs since her longtime boyfriend still hasn’t popped the question and seems to be resisting getting married at all. Nell is one of Felicity’s models and she trying to plan her dream wedding, only problem is her parents refuse to be in the same room as the other. As hijinks ensure in a wonderfully exotic setting, this fast paced plot keeps readers on their toes with lots of intriguing events and emotional turbulence that ensures that readers are rooting for those Christmas miracles for Felicity and Nell. Added suspense comes from Felicity’s career as a prestigious bridal salon is interested in her designs and she meets a Doctor that is a knight in shining armor, at least he is for Felicity. Meanwhile, Nell’s parents have both joined Nell in St. Moritz for the fashion show and Nell has to keep them apart. The story is a delightfully charming read that causes some chuckling and some feel good emotions in readers and the Felicity’s romance is a bit different and doesn’t turn out the way most readers would expect.
Christmas is my favourite time of year and I was excited to read this book because it was also a new author to me. Anita Hughes may be new to me now but that’s about to change because I really enjoyed this sweet romance set in the beautiful resort of St Moritz.
Felicity is staging her biggest fashion show to date she is in St Moritz to show her latest Bridal Collection, she may be there with her best friends but after her boyfriend of years gives her a spa voucher instead of an engagement ring she feels very much alone so as she try’s to work her magic with her show, come to terms with moving on from her boyfriend and design a speciall gown for one of the most prestigious bridal salons she decides what she really needs is a Christmas Miracle and what better place to find one than in the Swiss Alps with its dark forests and sparkling vistas…..
A magical romance set in the beautiful Swiss Alps this story is about love, forgiveness and creating our own miracles in the most festive time of year. The story flowed, the characters had chemistry and this book has lots of perfect banter, what a great magical Christmas read.
Lacked Chemistry.
I loved the descriptions of St Moritz and the bridal gowns but I didn’t love the story. What with photo shoots and preparing for a fashion show; Felicity, Eliot and Gabriel; Nell and her estranged parents Patty and Todd; plus to a lesser extent, Raj and model Katie; there was too much going on. As a Christmas story for me it fell flat, as I wanted a fairytale HEA, which only happened for one of the protagonists.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s the day after Christmas, and Felicity Grant is at a gorgeous ski chalet in St. Moritz for the biggest fashion show of her career. Felicity is a rising star on the bridal design scene, and this is her best collection yet. But when her boyfriend gives her a spa day instead of a diamond ring for Christmas, she has to face the possibility that she may never walk down the aisle in one of her own stunning designs. And then there’s Nell, the top model headlining Felicity’s show. Nell is planning her dream wedding to her wonderful fiance with one catch: her divorced parents can’t stand each other and threaten to no-show if the other is there. Add to that Felicity’s race against the clock to create a special gown for a prestigious bridal salon, and what both girls need is a Christmas miracle.
I loved the descriptions of St Moritz & the fashions but I found the rest of the story a bit of a mess. I think trying to cover three strings in a book is too much & because of this it suffered. I found it hard to relate to the characters & at the end was left shaking my head & thinking really! After everything that’s gone before. If you want a book that really brings St Moritz to life then this is very good.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
4 star review of Christmas at The Chalet by Anita Hughes
Anita Hughes was a new author to me. As my favourite holiday of the year is Christmas, I was interested to read this story.
There are several stories woven throughout this book. Firstly there is Felicity Grant, her best friend Nell and then there is the back story of Nell’s parents.
After an intense few days building up to her Christmas bridal fashion show in St Moritz, Felicity expects that her boyfriend is about to propose. Imagine her shock when she gets a spa voucher instead.
Nell is not only Felicity’s best friend but she is also the lead model in the fashion show. She is trying to plan her wedding, which has been made extremely difficult by her parents who are divorced and who refuse to be in the same room as one another and who are threatening to boycott her wedding.
There was certainly some frustration whilst reading, aimed mainly at Nell’s parents who in my opinion were selfish and childish. However we did get to see behind the scenes as what caused their divorce so there was the added depth of another story line.
I enjoyed reading Christmas At The Chalet but I did get a tad confused at times as there was so much going on. The writing was descriptive and I could see St Moritz through the eyes of the author which added enjoyment to the read.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.