A Taste of Greek Summer - Mandy Baggot

 

Next summer, on the Greek island of Corfu, sparks will fly as dreams come true...

Lydia Broom is living her second-best life. With her dreams of being a chef left in the dust she instead finds solace writing about the dishes she wished she created. When Lydia's sent to Corfu on an assignment, she's excited to see what culinary delights the island has to offer, but nothing seems to tickle her fancy - until she tastes the creations of local cook, Thanos Nicolaidis.

After one sizzling afternoon in the kitchen together, Lydia and Thanos both allow themselves to dream of the futures they desperately want. And as they grow closer, sharing secret ingredients and family recipes, Thanos begins to realise he has to show Lydia the parts of him he's done so well to hide..

My Review:

Just when I needed a sunshine filled escape along comes Mandy to whisk me away to sunny skies at Corfu. Perfect reading by the pool, or for those just wishing they could be. Any book by this author is guaranteed to take you to sun drenched villas, with mouth watering and local food descriptions, atmospheric and exotic – an armchair holiday for all.

Enchanting and a foodies delight, A Taste of Greek Summer was full of comedy, adventure and of course romance.

This book includes an interesting mix of characters, some wonderful and some very frustrating; Lydia is a little bit lost, after losing her mentor and realising she had a relationship built of lies; she has become disillusioned with her passion. Thanos is skilled and could go far as a chef but has certain responsibilities he will not relinquish. He doesn’t know what to do or believe he is able to achieve his dreams. A meeting of minds in many ways their chemistry is instant and leaps from the page.

Follow the rocky ups and downs that come their way. A gorgeous summer read that will entertain and bring the sunshine into grey miserable skies!

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/

Escape to the French Farmhouse - Victoria Brownlee

AVAILABLE HERE

About:

Ella moved to Paris on a whim - and found happily ever after.

But after six months of romantic bliss, living with her French boyfriend, cheesemonger Serge, Ella's new life is thrown off course. An unplanned pregnancy doesn't seem too bad, until Serge unexpectedly decides to move their growing family to a goat farm in the Loire Valley, without consulting Ella.

Can Ella and Serge's relationship survive their relocation to the depths of the French countryside?

My Review:

A first read by this author and what a delightful treat. I didn’t realise that had been a previous book in the series but honestly it didn’t really matter as this worked well as a standalone.

I enjoyed the storyline, it kept me interested and engaged throughout – I have never been to France (only through books) and it did give me a good sense of what life would be like. I also love cheese, so this book had me drooling with some lovely descriptions. Making me peckish! I think it is well written, a nice style and was descriptive.

 I must admit; I didn’t necessarily love the characters; I liked them, and they were nice enough but maybe I would feel more about them if I’d read the first book? It wasn’t but its more I found them slightly annoying at times.

It’s a story with a simple storyline but it’s fun, light-hearted and has enough drama to make it interesting. Their move to the countryside is really when the book gets going for me. I couldn’t imagine being in Ella’s position and would probably be the same… also Serge keeps so much from her and doesn’t discuss plans etc; how frustrating, I wouldn’t put up with it!

I think this is a lovely, enjoyable read – perfect for a summer day read. You can escape to France and be tempted by foods galore.

Thank you to the publishers for the chance to read and review this book honestly.

REVIEW: Girls on the Home Front (Factory Girls #1)

Available here

August 1941: As war sweeps across Britain and millions of men enlist to serve their country, it’s up to the women to fight the battle on the home front.

Fran always thought she would marry her childhood sweetheart and lead a simple life in Massingham, the beloved pit village she has always called home.

But with war taking so many men to the front line, the opening of a new factory in the north-east of England presents an opportunity for Fran to forge a new path.

Against her father’s wishes and with best friends Sarah and Beth by her side, Fran signs up to join the ranks of women at the factory. It’s dangerous work but as the three friends risk life and limb for their country, they will discover that their lives are only just beginning…

My Review:

This is the first in a ‘Factory Girls’ set of books by Annie Clarke and what a wonderful start. This book is a brilliant look at a time that women were inspirational and supported men in the fight for victory. Full of spirited characters that I think other readers will really like and want the best for.

Girls at the Home Front is about some women from the pit village of Massingham, who work hard to support their families often by risking their lives as well as dealing with their personal problems. I particularly like how the characters in this book are normal, realistic people – making mistakes and having problems that aren’t easily rectified. I always enjoy this genre as women as often portrayed as determined, little forces to be reckoned with.

I really liked learning about Fran, Sarah, Beth and their families, as the book progressed, I found myself unable to put it down as I was invested in their lives.  Other characters all play their role and are wonderful additions to the book, although I think anyone that reads this can agree that Ralph is the villain of the piece.

I enjoyed this book, a heart-warming, nostalgic saga with community at its heart. I must admit it took me a while to get into it, and I struggled understanding all the local dialect, but I persevered and found it easier the more I read. It definitely opened my eyes in what communities and families had to go through during the war. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

BLOGTOUR: A Bakery at the Little Duck Pond Cafe - Rosie Green

Available Here

Ellie’s dreams of opening a bakery in Sunnybrook are finally coming true and best friends Fen and Jaz are happily rallying round, helping her to plan a fabulous grand opening day. Everything in their garden seems to be rosy – until the arrival of a newcomer brings chaos to the village and tests relationships to the limit. 
Can the bakery succeed in the face of such upheaval? And more importantly, can firm friendships survive?

My Review:

As I came to read A Bakery at the Little Duck Pond Café I realised it was part of a series – this is book 5. I was cautious that I would have perhaps missed too much but it’s written very well as it could easily be a standalone. I do not feel like I’ve missed anything and in fact, this book has just made me want to go and start at book 1!

Although Katja Skoroboganova jokingly fills in a job application in the name of Kate Baker, she has no real intention of applying but her Gran posts it in and Katja soon finds herself going to an interview. Under the name Kate Baker, she impresses and gets the job – soon moving to Sunnybrook in eagerness to start work at the bakery. Unbeknownst to Katja, she is one of two new starters and they are competing for the role. The other girl reminds Katja of someone in her past that bullied and made her life hell.

I liked Katja straight away, she has been through a lot, and it is understandable that she just wants to blend in and become just a regular part of the community without them knowing her background. She’s found something that may possibly make her truly happy and then she is hit with the realisation of Maddison.

Maddison is the kind of character you will truly dislike, she does everything to wind Kate up or make her look bad, but as you progress through the story you start to see little chinks in her armour, you feel a sense of sadness and vulnerability that may just make you reconsider your opinion of her – well slightly!

You’ve got cake, cuteness and of course – romance, what more do you need?  This is an uplifting, feel good read, very well written with characters you will adore. I devoured it in one short sitting and can’t wait to go back and catch up on all the fun and adventure I’ve missed with the other books. I cannot wait to get to Confetti at the Little Duck Pond Cafe!! Rosie Green has got a massive new fan here. 

Thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and Rosie Green for an advanced readers copy of this book. 

About the Author:  

Rosie Green has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’. Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all, unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

​

​Rosie’s brand new series of novellas is centred on life in a village café. Confetti at the Little Duck Pond Cafe will be the sixth in the series

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988

         

Breaking News - Coming Soon – Confetti at the Little Duck Pond Café 

With Ellie and Zak’s Big Day on the horizon, the sun is shining brightly on the Little Duck Pond Café community. But as dark clouds begin to roll in, threatening more than one close relationship, will the wedding of the year take place at all? 

Follow Rosie Green on Amazon to hear when its published and available for purchase - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosie-Green/e/B07CZYV7DW

The Northern Lights Lodge - Julie Caplin

Order HERE

Goodreads Blurb:
With a shattered heart and her career completely in tatters, Lucy needs to get away from her life in the UK. But, when she takes a job as hotel manager of the Northern Lights Lodge, she doesn’t quite expect to find herself in the middle of a snowy nowhere, in a land of hot springs and snowflake-dusted glaciers, and in the company of a gorgeous Scot, Alex.
Determined to turn her life around, Lucy sets about restoring the lodge to its former glory as the number one romantic destination in Iceland – even if romance is the last thing she wants or needs. However, as Alex and Lucy grow closer under a blanket of stars and the dancing lights of the aurora, Lucy might just learn how to fall in love again…
My Review:

I could try and play it cool (haha Iceland, cool.. get it?!) but I can't I LOVED this. I've only just stumbled upon this series and have read the previous books in very quick succession so I was thrilled at the chance to head to Iceland on this next adventure. That being said, it works as a standalone (they all do) so you really don't need to have read any of the others. If you have - then you will recognise a few characters!

Alex is one - he's really a secondary character in The Little Paris Patisserie but I liked him then and now he comes into his own - I am so pleased we got to see more of him. The spy/love interest for our main lady Lucy, you are already on his side (even knowing his 'undercover' position) and it is soon clear he is actually falling for Lucy in every way possible.

Lucy has been through a lot, mistakes in her past and awful behaviour by others abusing their power and position have left her needing the job nobody else would take on. She's pretty desperate. You don't really discover what has happened for a while, you see that she is vulnerable, lacking confidence and needs support. If I'm honest, I'd imagined far worse than what we find out but maybe that's just my mind - it isn't a pleasant situation for anyone to go through though.

Various situations arise as she'd getting to grips with running the hotel and Lucy, with a good team of staff/friends, handles everything in a typically unique way and we see her rediscover passion for the job, remembering why she chose the career in the first place. She is hardworking and determined and it shows true spirit that she can bounce back. I like her, I hoped she wouldn't be a weak, sorry for herself kind of character but you see she is quite daring and willing to put herself out there. 

Just like the previous books, the setting sounds incredible. It is well written and moves along at a nice pace, yet again reading one of Julie's books makes me want to book a trip.So thats Copenhagen, Brooklyn, Paris and Iceland on the travel list!!  In fact, Iceland and the Northern Lights has never really appealed to me before but now I could really be tempted.

Julie Caplin gives us a wonderfully romantic escape with characters and places you'll love. I cannot recommend The Northern Lights Lodge enough, perfect for a cosy, snuggled up read. I will eagerly await the next book!

Many thanks to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

A Wedding at The Comfort Food Cafe - Debbie Johnson

Order here

Goodreads Blurb:

Wedding bells ring out in Budbury as the Comfort Food Café and its cosy community of regulars are gearing up for a big celebration…

But Auburn Longville doesn’t have time for that! Between caring for her poorly mum, moving in with her sister and running the local pharmacy, life is busy enough – and it’s about to get busier. Chaos arrives in the form of a figure from her past putting her quaint village life and new relationship with gorgeous Finn Jensen in jeopardy. It’s time for Auburn to face up to some life changing decisions.

Settle in for a slice of wedding cake at the Comfort Food Café – a place where friendships are made for life and nobody ever wants to leave.

My Review:

I LOVE this series of books. The Comfort Food Cafe has brought me, as a reader, so much joy. What wonderful, feel good stories, warm, lovable characters and a wicked sense of fun and friendship - we have been spoiled with these books and feel part of that much loved community so, it's only right  to feel a sense of grief creeping in knowing that this is our last visit.

And what a flourishing finale it is! I was hooked from the off - which isn't unusual, you can always count on Debbie for a cosy, engulfing hug of a book. I enjoy how we always get to focus on one of our much loved residents whilst still revisiting the lives of other characters.

Auburn, the former wild child, has seemingly settled in Budbury, found love with Finn and is almost at a place where she'd agree her life was going well. With shock revelations and a visitor that sends Auburn right back to the wild, reckless days she thought she'd moved on from, we see how she distances herself from the wonderful Finn, she contemplates how her life could be moving forwards and we see her as she starts to question her choices, is it too hard in Budbury and should she give in to the temptation  being offered?
 

This book is everything we would expect from the Comfort Food Cafe - friendship, love, community. Everyone in place to support each other and welcome new additions - whether they end up being for the good of our favourite characters or not.  I love how all of the characters have their own little back story and how it's interwoven into this one too.

Although it is the last in a series of books it works well as a stand alone, but I urge anyone to read the other books too because they are just as good as this.

A fantastic read to cosy up with, a gorgeous binge read or perfect for a holiday book.

Thank you to Debbie Johnson, Netgalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

A Wedding at The Comfort Food Cafe is out 7th March 2019.. 

Check out the review I posted for ' A Gift from The Comfort Food Cafe' by Debbie Johnson. 

Knowing You - Samantha Tonge

Available to order here 

Goodreads Blurb:
An abrupt change; a new friendship; a dark secret...
Kind-hearted Violet has never fitted in, but despite being bullied at school is now content. She is dating ambitious Lenny, has her dream job in publishing and runs a book club at the local retirement home. However, when her relationship with Lenny begins to falter, Violet, hurt and alone, seeks the advice of her new flatmate, Bella. She changes her image and with her head held high aims to show that she doesn’t need Lenny in her life to be happy and successful.

My Review:
A thought provoking and emotional book. I was not prepared at all for what it a lot of more than your standard 'chick- lit' /women's fiction - I was engrossed throughout, what a brilliantly written tale of the fragility of relationships, friendships and control. 

Violet , our main character, is really likable and relatable. She thinks of herself as an odd ball who doesn't quite fit in or deserve any of the good things in her seemingly happy, comfortable life. She is a normal - kind hearted girl, loved by those around her and is admired for who she is. Only problem being that she doesn't see it. 

The breakdown of her relationship with Lenny is the catalyst for her examining every part of her life and deciding that she needs to stop being the oddity, she needs to be better ao to compete with the type of women Lenny now wants to be with.

I enjoyed the use of flashbacks - helping to understand the reasoning and details of why Violet feels and acts how she does. To see how the issues she struggles with have deep seated roots.

The additional characters in the book are interesting. Some characters are the people she needs - the ones that stick by her no matter what; some are the people she desires - although they aren't necessarily the ones who want the best for her and are people she could do without. I liked how the friendships Violet had remained strong, how she had people on her side throughout.

Admittedly, I had my suspicions about certain elements of the book  but I was still surprised and shocked. I'm not giving anything away - but I was pleased the twists were there. I think it's important to have a book like this around in today's climate. 

Some may find it a tough read, it's emotional and quite hard in some parts. Don't get me wrong, it's not all dark and gloomy, but it is a read that will have you hooked until the end. It tackles some difficult, but realistic themes but Samantha Tonge has done so in a careful way, sensitively where you feel connected to the character and emotionally involved.

My first Samantha Tonge read and definitely not my last.
Comfy rating: 👍👍👍👍
Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for the copy in exchange for an honest review.