I always really look forward to a new book from Linn B Halton – under her own name, or written as Lucy Coleman – and my only frustration (but a nice one) is that she writes them more quickly than I can read and review them. But today I’m delighted to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of A Greek Affair – published for kindle by HarperImpulse on 28th December, and available in paperback on 7th March.
More than just a holiday romance?
Her daughter, her job and divorcing her untrustworthy ex are Leah’s main priorities. She isn’t really bothered that her life might be missing a few things. But after winning a prestigious travel blogger award, she’s inundated with offers to review glamorous holiday destinations. Lying around drinking exotic cocktails and being paid for it! What could be better?
Perhaps a romantic trip to idyllic Greece to find the one man who might make Leah risk her heart again…
I can always rely on Linn B Halton for vividly described locations – making Leah a travel blogger was rather inspired! – and if you’ve never visited Athens you’ll feel as if you’ve explored all the sites yourself when you reach the end of this book. I haven’t visited in many years, and I thoroughly enjoyed my tour.
But there’s a great deal more to this book than the Greek settings – it’s a great story about resilience, recovery and hope for the future, with more than a touch of the power of friendship, family and relationship issues, and the damage that can be caused by the keeping of secrets. The friendship thread was one I particularly enjoyed – something a little different, and I really warmed to Harrison as he wrestled with his issues. The family problems were well-handled too, with real threat and tension about their outcome.
I will admit that the book took me in a slightly different direction from the path I expected, but that was just fine. I did struggle a little with the big romance though, mostly because he didn’t completely win me over – but perhaps it’s the sign of a particularly good book when you have total belief in its very real characters but don’t always agree with their actions and choices.
As always, the writing is excellent – the author has a real gift for characterisation, and I particularly like the naturalness of the dialogue. These are real people, wrestling with very real personal issues, but the whole book is infused with warmth and kissed by sunshine.
Giveaway
With thanks to Linn and tour organiser Rachel’s Random Resources, I’m pleased to offer the chance to win rose wine and chocolates (UK only). Here’s the rafflecopter for entry:
Terms and Conditions UK entries welcome. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
About the author
From interior designer to author, Linn B. Halton – who also writes under the pen name of Lucy Coleman – says ‘it’s been a fantastic journey!’ Linn is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels and is excited to be writing for both Aria Fiction (Head of Zeus) and Harper Impulse (Harper Collins); she’s represented by Sara Keane of the Keane Kataria Literary Agency.
When she’s not writing, or spending time with the family, she’s either upcycling furniture or working in the garden. Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her ‘rock’, Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she freely admits she’s an eternal romantic.
Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award; her novels have been short-listed in the UK’s Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards. Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love and relationships.
That book cover makes me smile everytime I see it.
Because I read on kindle, covers sometimes rather pass me by – but I do agree, this one’s rather gorgeous…!
Funny you should say that, Anne – but I feel the same way! But I love my bookshelves and I still like hugging a paperback. But there are all pristine now as I read on Kindle ha! ha!
Thanks, Rosie. It’s perfect for this story and a blessing when that happens!
For some reason I still can’t click ‘like’ on this page. Need to sort that out. Congratulations to Linn, it looks like a super read.
Thanks, Lizzie – happy Saturday!
Waves, Anne – thank you so much for being on the tour and taking the time to read and review! I love visiting with you and your reviews are always a joy to read. I also know how swamped you are – so MUCH appreciated! Have a super weekend! xx