Review: 'One Wish in Manhattan' by Mandy Baggot (2015)

The temperature is dropping, snow is on its way and Hayley Walker is heading for New York with one wish on her mind…to start over. 
With her nine year-old daughter Angel, Hayley is ready for an adventure. From hot chocolates and horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park, to ice-skating at the Rockefeller Centre, and Christmas shopping on 5th Avenue – they soon fall in love with the city that never sleeps. 
But there’s more to New York than the bright twinkly lights and breathtaking skyscrapers. Angel has a Christmas wish of her own – to find her real dad. 
While Hayley tries to fufil her daughter’s wish, she crosses paths with Billionaire Oliver Drummond. Restless and bored with fast living, there’s something intriguing about him that has Hayley hooked. 
Determined to make her daughter’s dream come true, can Hayley dare to think her own dreams might turn into reality – could A New York Christmas turn into a New York Forever?
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without some lovely Bookouture Christmas reads to lead us into the festive holiday season! I'm really excited to start this year's December, which is completely filled with only Christmas reads here at A Spoonful of Happy Endings, with Mandy Baggot's 'One Wish in Manhattan'! I had the pleasure of reading Mandy's 'Truly, Madly, Greekly' earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed this summer chick lit read and am quite curious to check out 'One Wish in Manhattan.' The novel has one of my favourite Christmas book covers of the year, so fingers crossed the inside story will match that (and I have a good feeling it will)!
Ten years ago, Hayley Walker had a one-night-stand with an artist named Michel during a trip to New York. Now, she finds herself going back to New York together with her 9-year-old daughter Angel, whose only Christmas wish it is to finally meet her father. Hayley has given up her job and spent her last bit of money to get her and Angel to the other side of the world, but she knows the smile on Angel's face when she sees her father for the first time will be worth it. Question is, though, where will she be able to find Michel? On her search she crosses paths with rich business man Oliver Drummond, whom she can't help but be intrigued by. Hayley will do whatever it takes to get her daughter the Christmas of her dreams, but who knows what this Christmas in Manhattan will bring...
What a fantastic read! Gosh, I loved everything about this novel; don't hesitate to immediately pick this up if you are looking for your next Christmas/chick lit read! Obviously New York City is a wonderful setting for a Christmas read, and one that has been used a lot, but Mandy Baggot has really managed to create a stunning new festive read that left me with a big smile on my face. One of the absolute strengths of this book are the characters. Hayley is a lovely heroine, whom I was definitely rooting her, and I straight away fell in love with both the handsome Oliver (a playboy billionaire with issues, I just couldn't help myself!) and Hayley's daughter Angel, who is just the cutest thing. Next to these 3, however, there are a lot of other fabulous characters who each brought their own special something to the story, such as Hayley's brother Dean and his partner Vern and Oliver's mother Cynthia. 
The story is told from the perspective of both Hayley and Oliver, which provides the reader with an insight into both their minds and feelings. The novel is quite long and not too fast-paced, but I didn't mind because I just enjoyed the story and characters a lot. The book really got me in a Christmas mood and has everything I could possibly wish for in a festive read: a lovely dose of romance, family, emotions, and laughter. Overall, 'One Wish in Manhattan' is a wonderfully touching, sparkling, festive read that left me with a big smile on my face; I loved all of it and once again, well done to Mandy Baggot for creating a fantastic read!

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.