Staying Out For Summer - Mandy Baggot

 

After a summer of staying in, it’s time to let your hair down and escape to Greece!

For Lucie Burrows, it's time to embrace Greek life and put the past behind her! Having spent the summer of 2020 battling a global health crisis, Lucie Burrows is looking forward to a summer out of lockdown.

When best friend, Gavin, finds them the perfect Greek escape Lucie finally starts to think this summer might just go without a hitch. But after a landslide puts the village into a local lockdown, Lucie is thrown together with Michalis Andino, the super sexy village doctor. It's not quite the holiday she had planned, but things could certainly be worse.

As Lucie relaxes into the Greek way of life, she begins to wonder whether this lockdown might just end in a new life, a new love...

My Review:

Without fail, Mandy Baggot manages to whisk you away from reality to a sun filled, gorgeous sounding, Greek getaway. I love knowing I can pick up her books and find myself in a beautifully scenic location, with characters to adore, food descriptions that will make my mouth water and romance that sizzles off the chart. Staying out for the Summer takes us to beautiful Corfu for a story full of sun, sea and sheer escapism. After a difficult year for all of us, this book is the perfect tonic whilst it also acknowledges the events of the pandemic. Our characters, Lucie and Gavin are the best of friends who have fought on the frontline throughout the pandemic as NHS nurses. They have had the worst year and Gavin manages to convince Lucie they need, and quite rightly deserve, a few weeks of relaxation. Cue an interesting trip to Corfu, where they are greeted with an *interesting* welcome drink, a community that has a great older population, a community of interesting characters who all help make this a trip Lucie will never forget! When an earth tremor causes a landslide, cutting off the village, the pair find themselves in a lockdown of a different kind. Michalis is back in the village after fighting the same battle as a Doctor on the mainland. Reconnecting with his sister and father, he meets Lucie and the attraction is instant for them both. They keep getting thrown together but are very conscious of their limited time. Will Lucie open up? What is Michalis hiding about what happened in his past? What a fantastic array of characters – quirky, funny and interesting. Bad-ass butcher Nyx, flamboyant Gavin and safe Meg. I’ve only been to Corfu via Mandy’s books but I am absolutely desperate to go, it always sounds so wonderful. I can always picture the scenery and the local cuisines, I am desperate to try, and if there is any Greek men like the ones Mandy Baggot creates then that wouldn’t be the worst thing! I wasn’t sure if reading a book with references to COVID-19 would be pleasurable or just an awful reminder, but I think Mandy has balanced the serious with lighter fun scenes, and I feel that it is a worthy nod to those members of staff who, like these characters, have had a hell of a year and will continue to live with the traumas they have witnessed. I am always a fan of Mandy Baggot books, this is brilliant and will take readers to sunnier times – even if we can’t jet away ourselves just yet! About the author Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IlGbDt

Kobo: https://bit.ly/36R5TJy

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3gxtjXP

bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/36SETt8

Follow Aria 

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

My Greek Island Summer - Mandy Baggot

Two weeks. One unforgettable trip to Corfu. A chance to change her life.

Becky Rose has just landed her dream job house-sitting at a top-end villa on the island of Corfu. What could be better than two weeks laying by an infinity pool overlooking the gorgeous Ionian waters while mending her broken heart.

Elias Mardas is travelling back to Corfu on business whilst dealing with his own personal demons. Late arriving in Athens, Becky and Elias have to spend a night in the Greek capital. When they have to emergency land in Kefalonia, Becky's got to decide whether to suck up the adventure and this gorgeous companion she seems to have been thrown together with or panic about when she's going to arrive at Corfu...

Finally reaching the beautiful island, Becky is happy to put Elias behind her and get on with her adventure. Until he turns up at the villa...

My Review:


I am honoured to be kicking off the blog tour for this book, especially on publication day! I am a massive fan of Mandy’s work, a Corfu wannabe (I will get there one day!!) and an absolute lover of the wonderful scenes and characters created.


So, My Greek Island Summer - what a gorgeous book. Mandy never fails to deliver especially where Corfu is concerned. With its gorgeous locations described in dreamy detail, I felt like I was right there with Elias, Becky and Petra. What an absolute adventure they had before they even reached their destination. I wanted to pack my case and head off and see these places myself. With current circumstances it is the perfect way to escape, a read that can transport you away from all the anxieties and worries we find ourselves living through.


A classic Mandy Baggot book with much talk of wonderful sounding foods, so well described my mouth was watering! Whether it was Becky thinking about sandwiches or Eleni preparing food, I was hungry throughout.


Becky lands a great job house sitting in Corfu. She wants to relax, enjoy some luxury, swim and hit the beach for two weeks. She meets Elias and neither are quite as honest as they should be; if only they had the opportunity to get to know each other some more.


I love the characters, a variety of people who are funny or stubborn, selfish or immature, carefree and stressed. All looking at making more of themselves, being happy or needing to see ways to change. So much can happen when people learn to accept the past and look forwards.


A read that transports you to another place, with people you’d love as friends. I couldn’t put this one down! You can feel the sun on your skin, hear the noise of island life; Mandy’s love for this special place shines through and just makes this an absolute smash.

I cannot recommend highly enough – enjoy! 

ORDER HERE:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/390yIkN

Kobo: https://bit.ly/31gYsH5

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2tfyjMi

About the author

Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner

of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Follow Mandy:   

Facebook: @mandybaggotauthor
Twitter: @mandybaggot

GUEST POST - The Summer House in Santorini: What’s in Anna’s Beach Bag - SAMANTHA PARKS

With great thanks to Samantha Parks for providing this wonderful guest post. Enjoy!

The Summer House in Santorini: What’s in Anna’s Beach Bag

For any romantic novel heroine on a Greek island, a good beach bag is an important accessory. Not only does it look cute, but it makes sure you have everything you could possibly need to find yourself, find love and find a little bit of adventure. For Anna Linton from The Summer House in Santorini, the ultimate beach bag contents look a bit like this:

Two phones: her Greek phone and her US phone

Let’s be honest, Instagram isn’t going to scroll through itself, so the US phone has to be there for any WiFi-enabled downtime. The Greek phone is for calling Nikos to give her rides up and down the hill between the resort and the summer house.

Her camera (plus an extra battery, an extra memory card and sometimes even an extra lens)

For any budding photographer, having equipment on hand for whenever the moment may strike is CRUCIAL. Anna always has her camera ready to go so that she can capture the sunset, or maybe just a photo of Elena posing weirdly on someone’s garden wall.

Her white crocheted bikini

Because Nikos keeps dragging her off on spontaneous adventures, and she’s learned to always be prepared. She could probably find something less ~sexy~ since she’s trying to keep things platonic, but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy the appreciation.

Sunscreen

Because Anna’s pale New England skin is NOT built for the heat of the Aegean sun

A letter from Giorgos to Grace

As much as she wanted to collect her inheritance and leave, Anna’s grandparents gave her a box of her father’s old letters to her mother, and she can’t help but read them over and over, trying to make sense of who her father was and what secrets her mother has kept from her.

Euros

Mostly for buying more bougatsa. If you know, you know.

To read more about what Anna gets up to this summer in Greece, grab The Summer House in Santorini by me, Samantha Parks, just 99p/$2.99, out 7 August!

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-House-Santorini-Samantha-Parks-ebook/dp/B07JHLMQFV

US - https://www.amazon.com/Summer-House-Santorini-Samantha-Parks-ebook/dp/B07JHLMQFV 

Author Bio

Samantha Parks is the pen name of Sam Gale. Her pen name comes from her late

grandmother Velma Hobbs nee Parks, who was one of Sam's greatest role models. Sam was born in North Carolina but now resides in Bournemouth, UK with her husband Alex. She owns a successful marketing company and is enjoying her slow descent into "crazy plant lady" status.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/samanthajgale

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/searchingforsamantha/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samanthaparksauthor

Website/blog: https://www.samanthaparks.com/

BLOGTOUR - One Last Greek Summer - Mandy Baggot

About the book

Beth Martin is 31, newly divorced and wondering just what life holds for her…

Best-friend, Heidi, is adamant that all the answers lie in Corfu – the island where the girls’ partied away their youth.

So cue a trip to a sun-drenched Greek island, ouzo cocktails, a trip down memory lane…and Alex Hallas, the man Beth has never quite forgotten.

As they dance under the stars, the sand beneath their toes, old feelings begin to resurface and Beth might just have a chance to take back her life. If they can learn to love the people they’ve become…

My Review:

As a fully-fledged Mandy Baggot fan, I was so excited to read this latest sun filled book. What a scorcher it is! Mandy always makes me want to book a holiday immediately and One Last Greek Summer has me longing for the sunny Corfu.  

You know what you are going to get with Mandy – wonderful locations that make you feel like you are right there; amazing foods that practically have you drooling and characters that keep you entertained.

Beth is very easy to like; she has been a bit ‘stuck’ but I enjoyed seeing how she evolved throughout the book and how she was resolute in sticking to her guns and doing the best thing for her. I think many people have wished they could do go back and have another go with a former flame so imagine rediscovering that lost love a decade later, and realising the feelings you had never went away, how romantic!

Heidi is a wonderful best friend, funny, caring and in need of a great love story too. She’s the type of girl you want by your side, helping you, supporting you and encouraging you every step of the way. She’s the one who organises this trip for Beth.

Leading me on very nicely to the handsome Alex, who sounds gorgeous, well... what more do we expect from a Mandy Baggott leading man! The more I read the more I realised why Beth would have held on to her feelings towards him for so long. The difficult relationship with his Mum only emphasised how wonderfully kind and loyal he is.

I adored every sun-soaked moment. The idea of second chances and on how we can rewrite parts of history; the notion that we should follow our heart and take that chance.

I cannot recommend it enough. I enjoyed it in one sitting, where, for a good couple of hours, I was whisked away to Corfu. Mandy Baggot always gives us a perfect summer scorcher! 

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

About the author

Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner

of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Follow Mandy:   

Facebook: @mandybaggotauthor

Twitter: @mandybaggot

Pre-order links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TXD0Tg

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2NeeGtH

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2GRfq6O

iBooks: https://apple.co/2YnucYr

Follow Aria

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter:@aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

*COVER REVEAL* - One Last Greek Summer - Mandy Baggot

I am so so so happy to be able to reveal the FANTASTIC cover for Mandy Baggot's upcoming release 'One Last Greek Summer.' 

I love it - so bright and eye catching, a sure fire summer sensation! Just makes me want to be under the sun, lazing by a pool and diving into the book!

About the book: 

Bestselling author Mandy Baggot returns with another sun drenched Greek adventure! 

Beth Martin is 31, newly divorced and wondering just what life holds for her… Best-friend, Heidi, is adamant that all the answers lie in Corfu – the island where the girls’ partied away their youth. So cue a trip to a sun-drenched Greek island, ouzo cocktails, a trip down memory lane…and Alex Hallas, the man Beth has never quite forgotten.  

As they dance under the stars, the sand beneath their toes, old feelings begin to resurface and Beth might just have a chance to take back her life. If they can learn to love the people they’ve become… 

Will Jess be able to find the right life/work balance? Or will she wish she'd never turned to a world online? 

Pre-order links: 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TXD0Tg  

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2NeeGtH  

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2GRfq6O  

About the author: (SHE'S ACE!!!)

Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. 

Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters. 

You should definitely follow Mandy:  Facebook: @mandybaggotauthor 
                                                               Twitter: @mandybaggot 

I guarantee a lot of smiles, fun and eye candy if you follow Mandy on social media. Plus you will jump into a world of wonderful books waiting to be discovered!

Follow Aria 

Website: www.ariafiction.com 

Twitter: @aria_fiction 

Facebook: @ariafiction 

Instagram: @ariafiction