Review by Suze
Because of her rich French family Siena is used to living in luxury. She can buy whatever she likes, has the most beautiful designer clothes and she doesn't have to work. Unfortunately things aren't as great as they seem. Her fiance isn't a man she should want to marry and because of that she decides to run from home. Her sister Laurie owns a house in England and she promised Siena she'd always be welcome there, so that is where she'll go.
Siena hasn't spoken to Laurie in a while and doesn't know that someone else is living at her cottage now. His name is Jason and he's quite grumpy. He isn't happy with Siena's company, but she has her own room at the house, so he lets her stay. After a difficult start they're getting to know each other a little bit better. Even though they're from different worlds they're getting along very well. Siena even manages to find some breathing space and she learns how to live her own life now that she's away from her family. Only her stay was always meant to be temporary, she has to go back to France before Christmas...
From Paris With Love This Christmas is another wonderful story by Jules Wake. I also loved From Italy With Love. The books are linked, but they can easily be read as a standalone. The way Jules Wake describes fashion, wine, food and other good things in life, is great. She writes about the rich and the not so rich in an equally comfortable way. I like that about her writing. She manages to make her stories come to life so well. Her descriptions are vivid and colorful. When you read one of her books you can see what her main characters are seeing and feel what they are feeling.
I'm always a big fan of stories set in two countries and of course I'm also very much in love with France. It was great to read about Christmas in Paris, about the markets and the traditional Christmas food. I loved this book, it has such a good vibe. Siena is resourceful, brave and lovely. Jason is a nice guy even though he's a bit moody sometimes. They both made me smile. I loved how Siena took control of her own life and the lessons she has to learn are valuable. I highly recommend this warm and romantic Christmas story. From Paris With Love This Christmas is a book that will bring readers joy and happiness.
Extract
‘Sorry you’re British. Stupid question. I can tell from your accent. You going home for Christmas?’
Stoopid, as ‘perhaps Mary’ pronounced it, wasn’t so stupid. Officially, Siena was as British as Marmite and Twinings tea which Maman insisted on having for breakfast every day, but she’d lived most of her life in France. She thought she felt French but then how would she know if what she felt was French or English? Sometimes, quite often really, she had no idea what she should feel about a lot of things.
‘No I’m going to stay with my sister. I have to be back in France for Christmas,’ she blurted out. Back at the Chateau for Harry’s sixtieth birthday party on the twenty-third. She looked at her watch and worried at her lip. They’d have missed her by now. The dinner reservation was for eight thirty. Yves, her almost fiancé, would be cross, her mother furious and Harry, her stepfather, disappointed perhaps.
‘How lovely, dear.’ Mary’s face dimpled with a gentle smile. ‘I love spending time with my sister.’
Siena flushed. Mary would think she was a terrible sister. She hadn’t seen Laurie for two years despite the open invitation. Resolutely ignoring that chain of thought, she focused on her possibly celebrity neighbour. Had she read somewhere that Mary Steenburgen had a sister? Siena did know she was married to that guy from Cheers and CSI. There’d been pictures of them out walking their dogs in Hello or Grazia.
‘She older or younger than you?’
‘Sorry? What?’
‘Your sister, older or younger?’
‘Older. Eight years older.’
‘You close?’
Siena swallowed. ‘We text. Facebook a bit.’ That sounded rubbish. With a sigh she added, ‘It’s a bit complicated. A lot complicated actually. My parents split up when we were young. I lived with my mother in France. Laurie stayed with my father in England. I only met her properly for the first time two years ago.’ So no, not close at all.
‘Oh, my!’ America’s perfect mom actress, if it was her, looked horrified. ‘That’s an unusual arrangement.’ Then with a sympathy laden smile she added, ‘How lovely that you’re going to see her. Will you be staying long?’
That was the million dollar question. Siena crossed and uncrossed her legs, staring down at her recent manicure, admiring her Santa Scarlet glossy nails. The text she’d sent Laurie asked if she could stay for the weekend. The note she’d left her mother said she’d be back in a month. Neither was quite true.
‘I don’t know yet. Until I’m ready to go home, I guess. Spur of the moment thing, you know.’
That sounded better. Spontaneous. Fun. Not a desperate and pathetic escape. Sisters hanging out. Spending quality time together. Not arriving completely out of the blue with only five hours’ notice.
‘You gotta stay for Christmas. I love London at this time of year. The stores. Hyde Park. The lights.’ Mary gave a self-deprecating laugh. ‘What am I talking about? You come from Paris. Now there’s a city at Christmas.’
Siena closed her eyes at the quick punch to her heart. Galeries Lafayette’s exterior, encrusted with the brilliance of thousands of sparkling lights and of course, the tree. The fir lined Champs-Élysées lit up and glittering, refracting diamond shards of white into the night. That swoosh of skates on ice at the Eiffel Tower and the breathless bump when you hit the sides. Tartiflette, hot and warming, from the Christmas Markets at Notre-Dame and the Trocadéro.
She loved the build-up, but somehow every year when Christmas finally arrived, the sparkle had burnt itself out. The actual holiday itself never seemed that enjoyable.
So why had she stupidly promised in her note to go back in time for Christmas when she could be lonely anywhere?
Giveaway
Three very lucky readers of my blog will receive a paperback copy of From Paris With Love This Christmas. Good luck!
Visit every blog on this tour for more great information, reviews and giveaways.