Cute romance. Main character is not very likable, but I believe we are supposed to like her by the end. Ending is predictable, but the story is amusing and cute. ( )

This is a fantastic romance. Michelle has been dropped by her rich boyfriend, who has chosen his now pregnant wife over her, while waiting for him to join her for their vacation in the French Alps. At first, all Michelle can think of is getting back home to Berlin and showing her boyfriend that he has made a terrible mistake choosing his wife over her. However, things do not go quite as smoothly as Michelle would like. First, her Prada handbag with passport and money is mistakenly picked up by another tourist who leave Michelle her Prada rip off filled with many things, but nothing that will even remotely help Michelle out of her situation. After leaving a trucker who offered her a lift to the airport and who is transporting pigs in his rig, Michelle walks miles to the next rest stop. By chance, she meets Emma, who is traveling with her father in a rusty old Citroen that does not run half the time and threatens to stop once and for all the rest of the time. Michelle hitches a ride with them, and, over the course of several days, they wind their way back to Berlin. At last, Michelle is home—and finds that nothing is as she thought. During the trip, Michelle discovers that the person she thought she was, with all her trappings of the “good life” is not really who she is. Instead, she discovers a very different person, with ideas and basic needs reminiscent of her earlier less affluent life. These replace the once important designer name clothes and other possessions she has carried away from the resort where she was waiting to meet her traitor boyfriend/lover. Michelle has grown to know and like both David and his daughter, as well as the mangy mutt they picked up along the way to Berlin. Can this pair make it together? Do they even want to? This is their story. The two characters are well developed and interesting. Emma is a thoughtful child, wise beyond her years, who looks out for both Michelle and her father in ways that are endearing and charming. The trip back to Berlin in the rusty old car is a real fascinating tale, but one filled with excitement, interest and ever present questions about whether the “old bucket” would even make it with them to Berlin before breaking down completely. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, with its numerous twists and turns. I found it filled with the same spirit associated with the holidays. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great love story, filled with interesting characters and lots of interesting events. I am certain you will love it as much as I did. I received this from NetGalley to read and review. ( )

I received this book for free as part of a first reads promotion ( )