Under a Greek sun

 Under a Greek Sun

Eve Collins is looking forward to the holidays.

Her job as a counsellor has been as taxing as it has been rewarding, and she can’t wait for some downtime on the Greek island of Corfu with best-friend, Gabby. But between Eve’s brother, Ben, unexpectedly joining and Gabby’s job at the animal rescue centre keeping her busy, Eve might have to start mucking in…

When Gianni arrives in the village of Episkepsi, it’s like a model has stepped straight off the pages of Vogue Italia… with an uptight personality to match. He may be super-sexy but there are obvious chips on those broad shoulders.

As Eve and Gianni get to know each other and both start to lean into the Greek customs and avrio mentality, an initial attraction starts to turn into something more. But with so much family drama in both their lives, neither of them were looking for a holiday romance...

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/40zZ9tk

Author Bio – 

Mandy Baggot is a bestselling romance writer who loves giving readers that happy-ever-after. From sunshine romantic comedies set in Greece, to cosy curl-up winter reads she writes gorgeous heroes and strong heroines readers can relate to. Mandy splits her time between Salisbury, Wiltshire and Corfu, Greece and has a passion for books, food, racehorses and all things Greek! 

 Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandy.baggot

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mandybaggot

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mandy-baggot

My Review

During the winter months it is stories like these that keep me going until I can set foot once again in Greece. This story has the added bonus of a super rich Italian hero. With a stressed heroine and a menagerie of animals to look after, this book doesn't initially have the makings of a romantic idyll. However, like all good stories, romance develops but is it what either of them is looking for? An easy to read story that is engaging and satisfying.

The Little Venice Bookshop

 

The Little Venice Bookshop

A bundle of mysterious letters. A trip to Venice. A journey she’ll never forget.

When Luna loses her beloved mother, she’s bereft: her mother was her only family, and without her Luna feels rootless. Then the chance discovery of a collection of letters in her mother’s belongings sends her on an unexpected journey.

Following a clue in the letters, Luna packs her bags and heads to Venice, to a gorgeous but faded bookshop overlooking the canals, hoping to uncover the truth about her mother’s mysterious past.

Will Luna find the answers she’s looking for – and finally find the place she belongs?

Purchase Links

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3Guv8lH

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3CuJl0A

Amazon Aust: https://amzn.to/3Xeqlv9

Author Bio –

 Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once in a lifetime love. Her bestselling novel Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop has been optioned for film with MRC studios and Frolic Media.

Social Media Links – 

https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor

www.twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum

https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaraisinwrites2/

https://signup.harpercollins.co.uk/join/signup-hq-rebeccaraisin

My Review

An absolutely lovely read. The characters and their stories are delightful and I couldn't stop turning the pages until I'd finished. This book is perfect for romance lovers, anyone who enjoys books - the grouchy bookseller is a star - and of course lovely Venice. All in all a perfect combination and a story well-told.

Murder in Florence

 

Murder in Florence

A brand-new cozy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany...It's murder in paradise!

A glamourous film star…

Life as a private investigator in the suburbs of Florence isn’t always as glamourous as Dan Armstrong imagined it to be, until he is asked to investigate a recent spate of violent attacks on a Hollywood movie set in Florence. The star of the show, movie-star royalty Selena Gardner, fears her life is in imminent danger…

Foul play on set…

As Dan investigates, he discovers secrets and scandals are rife within the cast and crew. But with no actual murder, Dan believes these attacks could simply be warnings to someone…until the first body is found.

A dangerous killer on the loose.

Now Dan and his trusty sidekick Oscar are in a race against time to catch the murderer. But the more Dan uncovers, the more the killer strikes and Dan finds himself caught in the line of fire too! Is this one case Dan and Oscar will regret?

A gripping new murder mystery series by bestselling author T.A. Williams, perfect for fans of Lee Strauss and Beth Byers.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3YyhANi

Author Bio – 

T A Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances for HQ and Canelo and is now turning his hand to cosy crime, set in his beloved Italy, for Boldwood. The series will introduce us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, will be published in October 2022. Trevor lives in Devon with his Italian wife.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TAWilliamsNews

My Review

Another engaging book in the series! Set in luscious Florence, murder knows no bounds when a film crew set up shop. As Dan finds himself caught up in the middle of it all, everybody is under suspicion. This means he has to put his feelings on hold for a special person but is she hiding a secret? 

This series is getting better and better as the reader gets to know the characters. Stunning location and set. Bravo.

The Paris Maid

 

Paris, 1944. “Traitor!” yells the crowd as they push me down onto a stool. “Nazi collaborator.” Tears blur my vision as the razor grazes my scalp, waves of blonde hair falling to the ground. As men paint a swastika across my face, I hold onto one small glimmer of hope. They have no idea who I am.

Louise Basset works as a housemaid at The Ritz Hotel, home to the most powerful Nazis in France. As she changes silk sheets and scrubs sumptuous marble bathtubs, she listens and watches, reporting all she can to the Resistance. The only secret she never tells is her own.

Everything changes for Louise on the day a young Allied pilot, hunted by the Nazis, is smuggled into the hotel. As he and Louise share a small carafe of red wine hidden amongst her cleaning bottles, she feels her heart begin to open. But if Louise trusts someone with the truth, what will happen?

Years later, her granddaughter Nicole looks up at the ornate façade of the infamous Paris hotel. She is reeling from her recent discovery: a black-and-white photograph of her grandmother as a young woman, head shaved, branded a traitor. Devastated by her new legacy and about to start a family of her own, Nicole searches for answers.

When a French historian calls Louise by a different name, Nicole realizes there must be more to her grandmother’s story. Was the woman who taught Nicole so much about family and loyalty a resistance fighter, or will her granddaughter have to live with the knowledge that she is descended from a traitor? And will Nicole be able to finally move forward with her life if she can uncover the truth?

An utterly heart-shattering and gripping novel about love, betrayal and how one courageous young woman paid a terrible price to save those she loved. From top-ten bestseller Ella Carey, fans of Fiona Valpy, The Nightingale and Rhys Bowen will never forget The Paris Maid.

Author Bio:

Ella Carey is the international bestselling author of The Things We Don’t Say, Secret Shores, From a Paris Balcony, The House by the Lake, and Paris Time Capsule. Her books have been published in over fourteen languages, in twelve countries, and have been shortlisted for ARRA awards. A Francophile who has long been fascinated by secret histories set in Europe’s entrancing past, Ella has degrees in music, nineteenth-century women’s fiction, and modern European history. She lives in Melbourne with her two children and two Italian greyhounds who are constantly mistaken for whippets.

Ella loves to connect with her readers regularly through her facebook page and on her website.

http://www.ellacarey.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/ellacarey_author/

https://twitter.com/Ella_Carey

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Ella Carey here: https://www.bookouture.com/ella-carey

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BRQQXRZRsocial

Audio:

UK: zpr.io/HUt3bRnq9dNZ
US: zpr.io/hK8UezPXf6Et

Listen to a sample here:

https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the-paris-maid-by-ella-carey-narrated-by-charlie-norfolk

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnz

My review

Although I enjoyed both stories in this dual timeline historical novel, I found the historical element more engaging. Perhaps this was because I am a fan of historical fiction or perhaps because the book is more heavily weighted towards the historical story. Nicole, I have to say, didn't particularly grab me as a character yet her grandmother did.

The unravelling of secrets toward the end was very well done and the setting of the Ritz seemed very well researched.

Perfect for fans of WW2 fiction.

Never too late

 

Never Too Late

A second chance to realise her dreams…

A classically trained pianist, Steph works as a recording engineer for a small studio when she’s offered the job of a lifetime – travel to the Italian Riviera to help world-famous band, Royalty, record their reunion album after a decades-long hiatus.

Steph could definitely do with the distraction. Her boyfriend – who also happens to be her boss – is increasingly unreliable and erratic, and she’s awaiting news from her doctor after a recent biopsy. So an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy is the perfect escape.

What she doesn’t expect is an instant connection with Rob, the son of Royalty’s lead singer. With her career – and her heart – at a crossroads, what path will Steph follow?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/NevertooLate

Author Bio – 

I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only nine years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract.

The fact that I am now writing escapist romance is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels and I now also write cozy crime, but my first love is romance. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations, even if travel to them is currently difficult.

Social Media Links – 

Website: www.tawilliamsbooks.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawilliamsbooks

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

My review

A romance set in Italy is just what the reader needs in these difficult times. I enjoyed Steph's second chance as life takes her in a totally new direction. However, after being thrust into the limelight, is it what she really wants? Sometimes love is more important, but can Steph find a way to have both?

This book is the perfect escape in which to lose yourself. If you like music then that is an added bonus. If not, a luxurious villa on the Italian riviera and a rock star lifestyle might just convert you.

Chasing Greek Dreams

On the lush green island of Corfu, Melodie’s new husband, Anton, is missing. With no clues to his whereabouts, Melodie and her step daughter Gaia are broken from the fear that they may never see him again. When Anton’s car is found by the side of the road, Gaia fixates on the idea that Melodie’s malicious half-sister is somehow involved.

Will Melodie ever find out what has happened to Anton, the love of her life? Can Melodie accept the final piece of her lost past when she is faced with so much confusion? Can she get back her life in Corfu, or will she have to give up on chasing dreams and return to England?

It's time to return to Corfu in the third book in the Little Blue Door series. Read Chasing Greek Dreams now to find out the final part of Melodie's story.

About the author

I write passionate love stories featuring flawed and sometimes broken characters as they face a crossroads in their life. Sometimes these issues can be resolved, but what if they can’t? What if things outside of their control take root? I like to explore heart breaking themes and, at times, thrilling and dangerous narratives loaded with tension and suspense, all interlaced with meaningful and passionate love stories. Human emotions are always at the centre of my novels whilst also being whisked off to beautiful locations. To date, all of my published books are set on the lush Greek island of Corfu. 

Escapism is key, I like my readers to get caught up in the unpredictable lives of my protagonists, as though you are catching up with a best friend whose life has hit a messy point. Not everything can be happily-ever-after, but there is beauty and love in all of my stories. I hope you enjoy them! 

My review

I love books set in Greece and this series is no exception. The characters are skilfully drawn, the story well-plotted and the magic of Greece is there in the descriptions of the scenery and the food.

This is the last book in this series and perhaps the most moving as Melodie's story draws to a close. The disappearance of Anton and the possible involvement of Melodie's half-sister keeps the reader guessing until the end.

Thoroughly enjoyable series for lovers of Greece who enjoy a bit of mystery.

Murder in Chianti

 Murder in Chianti

Murder in broad daylight…

When millionaire magnate, Rex Hunter is found with his head bashed in on the eighth hole of his prestigious golf and country club in beautiful Chianti, it’s a clear case of murder. Hunter was rich and successful and the envy of many, so retired DCI Dan Armstrong thinks the case will be a hole in one to solve….

A despised victim…

But as Dan and his trusty sidekick Oscar begin to dig deeper into Hunter’s lifestyle, they discover a man despised by many. A renown womaniser, ruthless boss and heartless family man, it seems no one is particularly sorry to see Hunter dead. And the list of possible suspects is endless…

A murderer covering their tracks.

Dan is determined to catch this clever killer, but it seems every new lead brings another dead end. Will this be one case Dan and his canine companion won’t solve?

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3sOnfkv

Author Bio – 

T A Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances for HQ and Canelo and is now turning his hand to cosy crime, set in his beloved Italy, for Boldwood. The series will introduce us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, will be published in October 2022. Trevor lives in Devon with his Italian wife.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

My Review

Like eating a favourite chocolate bar, these cozy mystery/crime stories are becoming addictive. Although there was no love lost for the murder victim, it was great fun trying to work out who killed him and why.

Of course TA Williams always satisfies the reader's desire for the authentic italian touch and we are not disappointed - from the lovely Italian countryside to the delicious tasty treats, this book is a delight.

I also enjoyed catching up with our retired policeman and his Italian counterpart. There were more developments on the marriage front too which made for interesting reading.

All in all, a lovely read.