My Festive Reads: A Christmas Kiss by Vicky Pattison

Amber Raey dreams of designer her own line, but that isn't going to happen in her current job. Working as a an assistant to one of the country's top designers, Amber is more likely to be dog-sitting than designing. But when Amber is approached by the head of a major fashion house, it seems all her dreams are about to come true, especially when she meets an American heartthrob who propels her into his life of glamour.

But Amber's life isn't quite as perfect as it seems and when a face from the past turns up, Amber's life is turned upside down. Can she right it again and make up for her mistakes in time for Christmas?

A Christmas Kiss is the first book I've read by Vicky Pattison so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a fun read full of northern humour and a cast of fantastic characters. I immediately warmed to Amber and I loved her outlook on life. She's a no-nonsense kind of girl and although she's quite ballsy, she has a heart of gold and cherishes her friends and family. What I liked most about Amber was that she wasn't perfect. She makes mistakes, which only made her more real for me.

I loved the bond she has with her flatmates, Tom and Jess and I can imagine the fun times the threesome have had over the years. They like to have a good time but they also look out for each other too. I also liked the friendship she forms with assistant Freddie and her new boss Alessandro is such a sweetheart and is so much more than a boss and becomes a real mentor for Amber.

Although the title and cover suggest a festive read, only a very small part of the book takes part at Christmas so it wasn't very festive at all, which is a shame as I was looking forward to immersing myself in a cosy Christmas read. I did enjoy the book but the suggested festive element was missing. But putting that aside, I thought the book was an enjoyable read that had me giggling in lots of places due to Amber's colourful way with words.

My Festive Reads is a feature celebrating all things bookish and Christmassy.

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