Christmas in Paris

After a bride calls off her Christmas wedding days before the ceremony, she comforts herself by taking the planned honeymoon in Paris, then finds herself navigating romance with the help of a fortuneteller and the jilted groom in the suite next door.When Philadelphia financial analyst Isabel Lawson realizes she and fiance Neil have different life goals, they cancel the wedding amicably, and Neil suggests she take the planned honeymoon trip to Paris. Staying in a suite at one of the nicest hotels in Paris over Christmas is a dreamy treat and becomes even more fun when she meets Alec, the would-be groom next door whose fiancee abandoned him. Alec is sweet and adorable, a great partner for exploring her favorite Parisian haunts and more, and when one day they run into a fortuneteller who says she'll marry a French aristocrat and be happy all her days, she asks Alec to take her to an upscale ball where she meets a comte who seems perfect. Yet, as wonderful as her days in Paris are, they leave her plenty of time to reflect on her two past broken engagements, so when she starts to think maybe it's Alec she's supposed to be with, she's suddenly extremely confused and uneasy about her ability to find the right man. She's always been a planner and very clear and successful on every path in her life except this one, so when everything else the fortuneteller says comes true, she begins to believe she won't be happy unless she marries her comte. Hughes bring her signature combination of haute couture and high-society romance to Paris, adding a touch of magic and allowing us to live vicariously through Isabel as she falls in love in the most glamorous city in the world--and buys labels most women can only dream about.A charming modern-day fairy-tale romance. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 15, 2016

Isabel Lawson is building a successful career in finance and looking forward to her winter wedding at her parents' Philadelphia estate and honeymoon in Paris. Then her fiance decides to abandon city life and take over his grandparents' farm, leaving Isabel with cold feet. She breaks off the engagement yet still heads to Paris, where she meets beautiful illustrator Alec, also suffering from a recent heartbreak. However, a little couture shopping and a stay at the luxurious Hotel de Crillon with the magical backdrop of Paris at Christmastime does wonders for healing broken hearts. VERDICT It's hard to ever feel too sorry for Hughes's (Santorini Sunsets) privileged characters, but the enchanting setting and sweet romance continue to exude charm.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2016
When it comes to life, Isabel Lawson is more than clueless. A budding star in the finance field, she can't believe her soon-to-be-husband Neil has taken over his family's farm, with the expectation Isabel will be milking the cows alongside him. She calls off the wedding, and goes on their planned Paris honeymoonalone. Of course, it's Christmastime, which leaves Isabel feeling isolated and confused in a foreign city. It's when she locks herself out of her room at the Hotel Crillon that she meets her neighbor Alec, another lonely soul, who helps Isabel, after which everything changes. Isabel now has a partner with whom she can experience the magic of the city, especially in all its delicious food, during the holidays. In the process, Isabel uncovers plenty about herself, her life, and the love she has been after all along. Anita Hughes does it again in her latest novel: a love affair with Paris during the most magical time of year, starring a likable, slightly naive heroine everyone is rooting for.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)