August was one of those months that I struggled to read. Nothing I read seemed to captured my attention or if I did manage to read, it took me forever to finish the book. Luckily I was gifted a copy of the recently released Christmas romance A Perfect Paris Christmas by Mandy Baggot from NetGalley. I love Hallmark Christmas movies, yes, all the gooey stupid and predictable storylines, so I knew reading this book would help me get out of my slump. And it did!

A Perfect Paris Christmas was not the typical romance at all, it was actually deeper than most that I have read. The Mandy Baggot has done a great job at writing not only a romance book but one that could easily be read by fans of women’s fiction.

There are actually several plots going on in the book, with quite a lot of secondary characters, but the book is well written and they do not get confusing or overwhelming, they flow perfectly with the story. There is Rach, who is the main character's best friend and her travel partner to Paris. Silvie, who is the mom of the kidney donor, and Erica, who is my favorite, and who reminds us that we need to live each day, as we are not guaranteed the next one.

The main character is Keeley Andrews, she is a survivor of a car wreck that kills her sister Bea. We are told that Keeley was also near the point of losing her life but was given another chance with a kidney transplant. She is invited to Paris to meet the mother of the donor and while she is there she also meets Ethan, who himself is struggling with the recent loss of his best friend, while also fighting with the friend's family on how to run the hotels that they owned together. Ethan also has a great storyline with a homeless girl named Jeannie and her dog BoBo which quickly became one of my favorite parts of the book.

My favorite in any romance, reading or watching, is always the meet-cute, and the one between Keeley and Ethan did not disappoint, it is comical and even involves a penguin and a prank. It wasn’t a quick meet, it was well into the book and I was beginning to think we would not be getting one!

The author also did a great job describing the streets of Paris, from the carousel to the Christmas markets, to the interiors of the hotels and small courtyards. It transported you there and made the story even more magical because you pictured each scene very vividly along with the added bits from your own imagination.

When I started A Perfect Paris Christmas I was expecting the nice fluffy candy floss sweetness of most romance books, but the book offered me so much more than that. It was a heartfelt read about several different types of love, dealing with grief, in-depth family relationships, and very touching friendships. If you need an escape from your usual reading I would highly recommend this wonderfully written story.

This book was everything I didn't know I needed in a Christmas book. I loved that it wasn't just a love story, but the storyline followed some issues that normally aren't covered in a romance novel. I loved how I felt like I was really there. Mandy Baggot has a way of really painting a beautiful picture.

Mandy Baggot is the absolute queen of the festive story.
I absolutely fell in love with this book and the characters. Paris at Christmas time sounds so perfect. The descriptions of the places visited and the food consumed transported me there.
It has been a rough and tough year for Keeley and her parents. She gets surprise holiday to France with her best friend Rach, all paid for by……you’ll have to read it!
The very gorgeous Ethan is in France and working for a hotel chain. He had a difficult childhood as an orphan living on the streets. He looks out for a young teenager who he found trying to get by in similar circumstances, along with their dog. This is a great relationship and totally heart-warming as the story progresses. Ethan has also had a terrible year after losing his best friend and business colleague in an accident.
Keeley and Ethan keep having these chance meetings at various places in the city and there is a spark. As a reader we know about their connection, but they don’t. It’s not all plain sailing, but it makes for a lovely story.
Keeley is a very strong character, although she doesn’t realise this.
This isn’t a light chick lit read, it’s a very thought-provoking story which catches your heart.
Filled with touching topics, I especially loved the relationship between Keeley and Erica, a girl in the hospice where Keeley is a volunteer.
There are some very funny parts too as expected with books by this author, including the taxidermy thread and the penguin issue.
I really adore Mandy Baggot books, this one is extra special and magical. I loved it.
Her other Christmas books are definitely worth a try if you enjoy this one.
Her books set in Corfu will take you through the Summer season with a smile.
Thanks to Mandy Baggot, Aria, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the early review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

I requested this book because I love Christmas reads. What I didn't expect is how much I would love this story. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters and their individual life stories, and I really loved the story line, the dialogue and the atmosphere of this book.

The setting was so lovely, who doesn't love the idea of Paris at Christmas time? I enjoyed the description of the hotel chains and the sights and cafes. The writer transported me to these places and provided a beautiful, touching story.

This book was not a throwaway romance, it had depth, touching friendships, interesting family dynamics and some heartbreaking life events all in a beautiful setting.

The cover of this book is beautiful and the description instantly captured my interest. I enjoyed Keely's journey (literally and figuratively!) and how she dealt with everything that life threw her way. I particularly liked the connection between Keely and Ethan and Keely's relationships with Rach and Erica. Unfortunately, this book was a little long in the tooth and I kept hoping the pace would pick up.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Perfect Paris Christmas by Mandy Baggot. It’s beautifully written with some wonderful characters that me you want to keep turning the pages. It’s a story of overcoming grief and tragedy, finding love, friendships and new beginnings all set alongside the backdrop of Paris at Christmas. Very enjoyable and highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley, Aria and the author for the chance to review.

Festive Romance...
An all expenses paid trip to Paris is an offer that Keeley Andrews simply cannot turn down. Once there she meets with Ethan Bouchard. Ethan is not having his best year. Can the two put the past behind them and look to the future? A festive romance set in the most wonderful city. Escapism for Christmas.

Thank you to Netgalley, Mandy Baggot and Aria & Aries for an ARC of a copy of A Perfect Paris Christmas.
In exchange for this ARC this is my personal review.
Keeley has a life that is lead by an accident that took the life of her sister and Keeley needing a kidney transplant. This is a story with some many different layers and so many emotions by everyone in the story. Mandy Baggot has taken us into Keeley’s life and makes you feel so much.
This is a perfect story set in Paris at Christmastime that can be read year-round

A Perfect Paris Christmas by Mandy Baggot a sparkling five-star read. I am going to keep this short and sweet, as the words in this story are so strong, they stand for themselves and I don’t want to reveal any of the amazing story lines in this story. This has a depth that you don’t often get in this genre, but you do get with this author. Keeley faces a journey that I don’t think I would be strong enough to face, but she does it with compassion and poise. If you want something with romance and passion and a heart and depth that will astound you then pick this up.

A Perfect Paris Christmas by Mandy Baggot is an emotional romance about a kidney transplanted woman who finds love and friendship when she travels to Paris to meet her donor's family.

Our thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.

Keely was going through life the best way she could after losing her sister and her kidney to a terrible car accident.

A year after and she was still learning to cope with the restrictions of life post organ transplantation. She felt so blessed to have been spared, but, at the same time, she felt suffocated by her well-meaning mom and friends.

When she received an e-mail from her kidney's donor mom inviting her to meet her in Paris, Keely was excited to leave England for a while but apprehensive of how things would play out.

The story is very emotional. Both families were dealing with excruciating grief. It was touching to see how Keely chose to see all her trials as blesses. I loved that she volunteered in a hospice and decided to make her second chance in life count.

The love story is sweet. There is a hint of Return to Me. If you don't remember, or have not watched it, Return to Me is a Movie with David Duchovny and Minnie Driver in which she is the recipient of his deceased wife's heart.

The plot is different, but the dilemmas are similar. One person had to die for the other to live. It is clearly not the recipient's fault that the donor died, but it is challenging for those close to the donor to see things clearly.

There are some lovely side characters, including a care-free co-worker, a friend on palliative care, a resourceful orphan, and her beloved dog.

I loved that the story is set in Paris, and there is plenty of sight-seeing around the City of Light.

A Perfect Paris Christmas is an emotional and inspiring Christmas read with a happy and fulfilling end.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 09/03/2020*

I enjoyed this book, mainly because it was not just a romance. Sympathetic characters, Paris at Christmas time, living with a transplanted organ, street children and the importance of living life to the full all contribute to an inviting read.

A perfect Christmas read, Paris is a wonderful place and the setting here couldn't be better. The characters blend well and makes the story run in the correct manner, mostly making for a happy book, just the odd person to turn the tables. I recommend you read this and I am giving you 5 stars, well done Mandy Baggot for another great book.

Oh my word!! Once again Mandy Baggot has absolutely crushed it!! This book is stunning and as someone who loves Paris, I can’t begin to explain how much I loved this book!!

My first point has to be how beautifully Paris has been described. Hubby and I visit this beautiful city yearly for our wedding anniversary and I was instantly transported back to my favourite place in the world!

Secondly, I adore Keeley, she is a wonderful character who has been through a massive loss and just needs to live life to the fullest after her second chance at life!

Ethan is a gorgeous leading man and I adored him from the start. There are so many wonderful characters in this book (Jeanne and Sylvie) and I’m putting it out there......this is my favourite Mandy Baggot book YET!!!

I also love the subtle nod to the coronavirus, which makes the book more relatable and believable, and will make it stand out in years to come! Such a brilliant idea!

Thank you again for the opportunity to read this book, after such a rubbish year, it was wonderful to visit my favourite city again 💕

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I know it is only August and Christmas is a way off but I really enjoyed this feel good book and the different characters. Recommend to others.

A fabulous Christmas read!
I really enjoyed this festive treat. It has all the ingredients you need for a yuletide book.
This is the story of Keeley who has had a hell of a year, and has been given an opportunity of 2 weeks in Paris with her best friend.
Ethan has had a dreadful year too, he is near to giving up on everything until he bumps into Keeley in Paris.
I really want to visit Paris now!!!!
Recommended!

Mandy Baggot delivers the perfect dose of Christmas romance against the backdrop of Paris. Keeley is invited to meet the mother of her kidney donor and gains far more from her trip than expected. If you need a snowy Parisian trip, then this is the book for you! 5 stars of Christmassy magic!

DNF at 7%. Unfortunately the tone of this book is way too silly to support the deeper themes presented. It's a common theme I see in British books and maybe they're just not for me. The bouncing back and forth between tragedy and silly drama seems disrespectful somehow and really makes me uncomfortable.

A Perfect Paris Christmas was the perfect escape to Paris. Keeley accepts an invitation from Silvie, the Mother of her organ donor to visit her in Paris . The descriptions are so beautifully detailed that I felt like I was on the streets of Paris, shopping in the Christmas markets and tasting the scrumptious food . This is a sweet, slow burning romance. The addition of the magical season of Christmas, imperfect characters, and complex relationships made for a compelling read. However towards the end of the book the author threw in a jab at the current President. It was totally unnecessary and ruined an otherwise perfect escape for me. I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Thoroughly enjoyed another fab book by Mandy.

The story of Keeley, she knows more than most that you only get one life and to live it to the fullest.

On receiving an invite to spend two weeks in Paris, she goes for it, all expenses paid too. But behind this trip, there’s a very good reason for her going.

Ethan Bouchard, the person whose hotel she is staying at, hasn’t had the best year and a half and is feeling like he’s ready to give everything up.

But on meeting Keeley, he thinks maybe the times not right yet.

But, will they be able to let the past go and make a new future together or will the past be too much for Ethan to let go of???????

Another fabulous book by Mandy. Loved the characters, and the setting, Paris, perfect for feeling Christmassy.

Recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review and honest opinion.

Keeley is young woman who is looking for an escape from her crazy life after an accident changed her life forever. After accepting an invitation to come to Paris from her kidney donors family, she soon finds the escape she's been looking for. Keeley spends time with her donors family and learns what a remarkable woman she was, full of life, that got cut short and decides to not waste anymore of her time. With the help of her best friend, Rachel, Keeley learns to open her heart again, while enjoying her second chance.

This was a wonderful, feel good story. The descriptions given by the author of Paris were wonderful and so realistic, that you felt like you were in Paris at Christmas. This was not your typical "girl meets boy, girl falls in love" story. This one had substance in it. The characters in this story struggled with their lives and grief that way that we would struggle in real life. This story had a wonderful beginning, a divine middle and an enjoyable ending, unlike so many other books of the same nature who always seem to forget about the middle of the story.