**We were gifted an e-copy of this book in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own**
In the run up to Christmas I love nothing more than delving into some Christmassy themed books to help get me into the festive spirit. My most recent Christmas read is the brand new release A Perfect Paris Christmas from one of my favourite authors Mandy Baggot. I’m thrilled today to be able to share my full review and thoughts on this novel and spoiler alert is a real (Christmas) cracker! Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an advance reader copy.
About The Book
Keeley Andrews knows more than anyone that you only live once. So when she receives an invitation to spend two weeks in Paris, all expenses paid, she jumps at the chance.
Ethan Bouchard has had the worst eighteen months of his life. He’s ready to give up on everything, including his hotel chain. So when he meets Keeley, it simply isn’t the right time.
As Keeley and Ethan continue to bump into each other on the romantic Parisian streets, they can’t help but wonder whether this is fate telling them to let go of the past and leap into the future…
Review
Keeley’s life changed in an instant when tragedy struck, now a year later she’s still struggling to rebuild the life she had before especially under the watchful eye of her Mum. But when an email arrives asking her to travel to Paris in the week’s before Christmas she makes the brave decision to go even though she knows it could be painful relieving the trauma she has suffered.
Ethan lost his best friend a year ago and has spent the last 12 months dragging himself through each day, using alcohol to smother his grief. He knows he has neglected his job as manager of the hotel chain his friend lovingly created from nothing, but when the co-owner calls a meeting the hotel isn’t top of the agenda and he’s adamant he doesn’t want anything to do with the visitor that holds a special connection to his best friend.
Ethan and Keeley happen to literally bump into each other outside her Paris hotel and team up to catch a runaway penguin. The chemistry between the pair is instant so when they keep co-incidentally turn up in the same places Keeley has to wonder if fate has hand in things. The pair are both trying their best but struggling to heal their own personal trauma’s, but can they help each other or will a series of misunderstandings push them apart?
A Perfect Paris Christmas is a wonderfully written emotive contemporary which is bursting with all the Christmas feels. Set against the back drop of Paris Mandy Baggot’s stunning descriptive writing really transported me into the heart of the city’s streets and markets, amongst all the trees and twinkly lights. The book has that really cosy, warm feeling that I love to read in the run up to Christmas as it helps me get into the festive mood!
Whilst this book is primarily marketed as a romance in my opinion the romantic relationship was secondary to the other aspect of story which saw so multiple topics explored including grief, loss, guilt and acceptance, with the main focus for me being on the importance of friendship and family. The developing romance between Keeley and Ethan was slow and subtle with plenty of missed opportunities along the way that kept me turning those pages to discover when they would actually discover the truth! It was lovely to see the relationship gain traction as opposed to the insta-love some books portray. I really felt I got the know the characters as I slowly discovered their individual back stories whilst they got to know each other in the present.
I absolutely adored this book and it’s one I have thought about a lot since I finished reading as it deals with so many difficult and heart-breaking topics. It’s one of those impactful stories that I know will stay with me for a long time and one that I will be recommending to friends and family that read. Despite the heavy topics discussed the book has such a heart-warming feel with a conclusion that offers hope of fresh starts and new beginnings for the characters. A real festive treat that will offer some hope, optimism and love in what has been an awful year. Incidentally this book is set in December 2020 and does on occasion mention the Covid restrictions in the past tense which was really interesting as it felt like I was reading the story almost live!
**If you are thinking of picking up this book please be aware death and cancer are discussed and could be triggering**
About The Author
Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy’s books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook
A Perfect Paris Christmas is available to purchase from Amazon*
Fraser’s Fun House 