It’s absolutely ages since I last read and reviewed a book from Mandy Baggot – certainly not from choice, just that the timing hasn’t been right (sorry Mandy!) – but I’m so delighted today to be helping launch the blog tour for In the Greek Midwinter, and sharing my publication day review. Published today (6th October) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an e-book (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks (as always) to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading copy (provided via netgalley).
That last book of Mandy’s that I reviewed? It was Staying Out for the Summer, back in April 2021 – a Corfu escape from the Covid cloud for both the front-line workers of the story and readers alike, a great story with plenty of drama and poignancy, a perfect romance, but with the next laugh never too far away (you’ll find my full review here). I’ll admit though that I do particularly enjoy Mandy’s writing at Christmas – I can still remember how much I loved One Wish in Manhattan way back in 2015 (you can read my review again here), and I might have enjoyed A Perfect Paris Christmas (2020) even more (review here). I’ve enjoyed quite a few of her Greek summery books too, but this time she’s giving us the best of both worlds – we’re off to Athens, and it’s Christmas…
It was supposed to be a holiday of a lifetime…
But when Jen’s boyfriend David suddenly cancels their romantic Paris trip, needing to urgently travel to Athens for work, it’s best friend Bonnie who suggests they surprise him.
Having already booked the time off from her events company – Christmas Every Day – Jen decides an impromptu and romantic gesture might be just what their relationship needs.
Arriving in Greece and finding David is not there, Jen has a lot of questions. And when she gets her answers she has a choice – should she go home or should she stay a while?
With the help of Astro, the handsome yet Christmas-hating waiter from the local bar, she sets about a little Greek Christmas research. But what starts as a ‘business trip’ soon turns into something more…
A romantic break in Paris, at Christmas? Now that’s something we’d all be getting excited about – even Jen, although it means leaving her events company, Christmas Every Day, in the slightly questionable hands of others. She’s understandably disappointed when the trip is cancelled at short notice by boyfriend David, caught up by work commitments in Athens – until best friend Bonnie suggests that they surprise him, and take their own Greek holiday. She’d planned to be away anyway – so why not? The “surprise” element proves a little different from what they’d planned – but hey, they’re in Athens, it’s nearly Christmas, they might as well call it a research trip and enjoy themselves a bit too.
And they certainly do – stumbling into the bar where Astro works carrying a giant candy cane, where Jen receives her first bit of bad news and overdoes it a bit on the brandy cocktails. And the worst news? He hates everything to do with Christmas, but for the very soundest of reasons. As their unlikely friendship develops and deepens, the whole story moves into a different gear – the reasons for Astro’s underlying sadness becomes clear, as does the real complexity of his character, while Jen follows her own path to self-discovery as he introduces her to the real Athens at this wonderful time of year.
And the story is a considerably deeper one and far more emotionally engaging – heartbreaking at times – than I ever expected. At first, the focus is very much on Jen’s disappointment and the fun to be had on holiday with your closest friend – and Bonnie really is quite a character, just the person you need in your corner when your life’s rather falling apart. But after the meeting with Astro, Jen’s real character emerges – the sadness in her own background, the reasons for her passion for the festive season, but also her fascination with the creative arts, including enjoying the crafting of Christmas decorations she does with young Achilles (a wonderful young character, who provides plenty of laughs but also becomes a bit of a catalyst for moving the story into rather deeper waters).
The romance was everything I could have possibly wished for – Jen and Astro were two damaged individuals I entirely took to my heart, and the joy they slowly find in each other intensely moving. I’ve mentioned Bonnie, but the other supporting characters were quite wonderful too – especially Astro’s bar-owner uncle Philippos (I so loved their relationship…) who throws everything a little off-kilter for a while, the magnificent Natalia managing everything at home (after her own fashion… and with the help of her strong-arm Ukrainian family when called for…), and the totally loveable Kathleen who is Jen’s chosen family. And I haven’t even mentioned Peri – now there’s a character with a difference!
After a slightly frenetic start, the humour was all just so perfectly judged – but so was every bit of the emotional content, and some of the story’s twists and turns really touched my heart as I became involved and immersed in the characters’ journeys. But then there’s the setting – and Athens in the midst of the festive season is just the most magical place. The familiar tourist sites without the usual sunshine, the back streets holidaymakers don’t usually get to see, the insights into Greek Christmas customs, the food and drink – goodness, it was so wonderfully done, armchair travel at its very best, as I felt every moment of the experience, present in every moment. The book’s finale – a fantastic set piece that really deserves to be in a Christmas movie – was magnificent, and when the book drew to a close my heart was just overflowing with love and warmth and festive feelings.
A Christmas book unlike any I’ve read before, devoured in a single glorious sitting – the author’s writing really has never been better, and can only urge you to add this book to your festive reading list. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it entirely captured the spirit of Christmas – I absolutely loved it.
About the author
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’s bringing 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!
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Love Mandy Baggot’s books, such great stories! On my Christmas TBR. Thanks Anne