A Christmas Wish on a Carousel by Lottie Cardew Blog Tour

 Christmas and books, two of my most favourite things in the world (if we forget about my husband and children). 

You may well be seeing a few festive reviews on the blog over the next few weeks, although I highly recommend reading these types of books all year round for that feel good factor.

Enough of my rambling, I of course was a little excited when I was given the chance to read Lottie Cardew's latest novel A Christmas Wish on a Carousel, it's a book that ticks all of the boxes as far as I'm concerned.

Keep on reading to find out exactly why ...

When Cara Mia Shaw makes a desperate wish one night, while riding on a carousel at a Christmas market, little does she know her small, but safe world is about to spin off its axis.

Befriending a fascinating returnee to the village, an elderly woman called Perdita with a jaunty pink beret and the wisdom of a life well lived, might set Cara on a different, albeit harder, course, if she’s brave enough to listen. Art was always her passion, after all, even if fate seemed to have other ideas.

And then there’s the new man in her life, who her friends think is perfect for her because they set her up with decent, reliable Greg in the first place. Cara’s been hurt enough times to know the difference between a good man and a feckless one. Until Wilfred comes along – moody, sarcastic, and scattered – just to complicate matters and meddle with Cara’s resolve, to the horror of almost everyone around her. But is either man ultimately meant for her, anyway? And will she self-sabotage as usual, or gamble everything this time, including her heart?

It might take the highs and lows of friendship, the risk of a forbidden romance, and a Pomeranian called Loki – not to mention some much-needed Christmas magic – before Cara finally realises the wish she made that night on the carousel might just be about to come true.

For me, Lottie Cardew has managed to write something that is wonderfully charming.

The story follows Cara. A women, who for various reasons hasn't ever been able to follow her dreams,  with a mother and father who are sadly no longer alive so she has had to grow up fast from a fairly young age.

These circumstances have just never allowed her to do the things that she loves.

Could this Christmas finally be her time to shine?

What we have is a romantic comedy with real heart.

I loved Cara. As a protagonist I found her brave, forgiving and resilient. 

In my opinion, her one outstanding problem is that she always puts others ahead of herself. An admirable quality in a person however it meant that Cara's own happiness was pushed aside in favour of seeing other people smile.

As Cara found herself in a sort of love triangle, emotions ran high and tough decisions were having to made.

What could have been a cheesy love story was made into something realistic and heartfelt by the author.  

Lottie used a clever combination of witty dialogue, intriguing backstories and quirky characters (Loki the dog gets an honourable mention). Throw in a touch of magic and you've got a the perfect piece of escapism and when put together, this concoction made for something quite exceptional and I guess pretty magical too. 

There is a vast array of emotions contained within this book. I smiled, I laughed and I'll admit there were times where my heart broke and not just for Cara. However, despite all of the ups and downs I was left completely satisfied by the time I turned the last page.

Prepare to feel all warm inside, and if you don't trust what I'm saying, join the rest of the blog tour for more reviews and insights into the fabulously festive tale.