Reviewing Mandy Baggot's A Perfect Paris Christmas
Updated: Sep 11, 2020
#booktour #bookreview #blogtour #aperfectparischristmas #mandybaggot
This book was sweet and wrapped up with the magic of Paris (oh and Christmas too!) Mandy Baggot has once again penned a lovely romance between Keeley and Ethan.
Keely hasn’t been living for over a year. Sure, she’s breathing, eating and working at her best friend’s real estate agency as a stager, but ever since the car accident where she lost her sister, Bea, she has been going through the days in zombie-like motions. That is until the mother of the kidney donor of which was given to Keeley to save her life, contacts her with an all expenses paid trip to Paris so that the donor’s mother can meet her. Dragging her best friend, Rach along with her, Keeley finally takes advantage of an opportunity that will remind her how to live again and out from under her parents’ overly-cautious methods.
Also, Keeley volunteered at the local hospice that provided her a way to give back to all those who helped her in her recovery. There she befriends Erica, who is a patient there and Keeley finds she can relate to:
Kelley reach for her hand, but Erica drew hers away. In some ways she knew exactly how Erica felt. Some days it felt like some of the original Keeley had disappeared along with Bea. Like the broken parts of her that had been supposed to heal, mend, or replaced, hadn’t quite grown new skin, or weren’t working properly.
As they arrive in Paris, she literally bumps into the handsome Ethan. Little does she know he is the part owner of the hotel she is staying at and the kidney donor’s best friend. As their relationship grows over the month, Ethan shows Keeley the non-touristy places of Paris, while opening up her heart and the promise of being able to appreciate that she is alive.
Ethan is quite taken with Keeley but he can’t seem to face the person who received his late best friend’s kidney as he feels it will be a reminder of his loss. Sylvie, the Durand’s family matriarch, wants the entire family to meet Keeley so that they find some closure knowing that Keeley is a good person, which they discover is accurate.
As we know, Ethan and Keeley eventually discover who the other person truly is, but after they have fallen in love and help each other begin to live again. Although the turn of events was a bit predictable, it was still nice to have the two protagonists work things out by ending up together.
I especially loved how Ethan took in Jeanne and her scruffy dog Bo-Bo as he was once an orphan who needed a place in the world, which the Durand family—especially Ferne, gave him. Jeanne was a no-nonsense 11-year old who would bluntly tell Ethan how things are when others would tell him what they thought he wanted to hear. I found it hilarious how Jeanne wouldn’t stop asking for food or to attend the circus since she knew Ethan had an expendable budget. But she provided a sweet touch that emphasized the side of Ethan that still was that orphaned boy who rose about all obstacles.
But I have to say, the book could have shaved off about 100 pages as there were a lot of details that I found unnecessary and didn’t contribute to the story. That was the only downside I found to this story, though.
Overall, a sweet story that reminded me of the beauty of Paris and of my favourite holidays.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks to Aria Fiction and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book Description
United in grief. Pushed apart by tragedy.
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...
Head to Paris this Christmas and fall in love under the lights of the Eiffel Tower with best-selling author, Mandy Baggot.
Author Bio
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.
Facebook: @mandybaggotauthor
Twitter: @mandybaggot
Buy Links
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MpVrh4
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3072QtL
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3gOPHvv
iBooks: https://apple.co/2D35zuK
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