I’m delighted today to be joining the blog tour for the latest book from Eva Glyn, The Santorini Writing Retreat, and sharing my review. Published as an ebook on all major platforms and in paperback by One More Chapter on 22nd May, the audiobook will be available on 19th June. Or you might like to try to win a copy? You’ll find the link for that below my review – another beautiful cover for your bookshelves. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
This was a book I was very much looking forward to. I’ve read and very much enjoyed every one of Eva Glyn’s books (and those by her alter ego, Jane Cable) – you’ll find all the many reviews if you pop her name into the search bar on the right hand side of the page. I really didn’t think she could write anything better than The Collaborator’s Daughter, one of my Books of the Year in 2023 (you’ll find my review here) – such a powerful wartime story, a moving exploration of the enduring impact of the more recent Balkan conflict on those who survived, and a gently told love story set in a vividly drawn present day Dubrovnik. But I really think she outdid it with The Dubrovnik Book Club – one of my Books of the Year in 2024. It was a contemporary story, with a strong feel for Dubrovnik’s culture and history – a diverse group of individuals facing their own challenges, with the most wonderful storytelling and perfect emotional touches (you can read my full review again here).
So – let’s take a closer look at her latest…
Three women, one writing retreat, endless possibilities…
Bestselling author Jessica Rose needs to escape from a terrible secret that’s robbed her of her creativity. Could leading a retreat on a gorgeous Greek island be just what she needs?
Coming home to Santorini was never in Zina’s plans, but now she’s determined to make her new business a success.
And then there’s Karmela, who just wants to write her book and make her mother proud.
In the heat of their Greek island paradise, these new friends find the courage to shape their own stories, and write endings they can all be proud of…
Leaving their stressful jobs in Athens behind, Zina and husband Lambros have returned to her family’s farm in rural Santorini after her father’s death – he has begun to revitalise the land, tending the goats and hoping for a pistachio crop to turn their fortunes around, while she’s put her energy into converting the neglected holiday apartments into a boutique retreat. They might appear to be living the dream, but their marriage is suffering – they don’t spend enough time together, and living in close proximity with her grieving mother brings its own stress and strain. But all the renovations, with their luxurious touches, are now complete – and it’s time for Zina to host her first retreat, hoping for happier times ahead.
The retreat is to be led by Jessica Rose, the author of a bestselling novel – she’s glad of the opportunity to escape her toxic marriage for a while, but worries about her inability to write another book, a number of secrets she’s kept deeply hidden, the likely impact if they were to be revealed, and her sketchy credentials to be taking the lead. The group assembles – all with their own reasons for being there – and includes Karmela, the professor we previously met through the book club in Dubrovnik, hoping to finally leave her difficult past behind and produce a historical novel that will make her mother proud of her.
This was a particularly emotional read, perfectly paced and quite beautifully written, the different relationships especially well drawn – the friendships between the three very real women at the book’s heart slowly blossom and become increasingly supportive, they share their personal stories and open up about the challenges in their lives, face up to their mistakes and the possibilities of starting afresh, and find strength and inspiration in each other. There are plenty of surprises along the way, moments of joy and more than a touch of heartache, difficult decisions to be made, times when everything might fall apart – and I felt totally invested throughout in their stories and the possibility of happiness in their futures.
There’s an exceptional sense of place throughout – plenty of opportunities to see the beauty of the volcanic island visited by tourists in their droves, drawn in the most vivid and well-researched detail, but also to witness the real hardship of attempting to eke a living from the sun-baked and barren land. Everything combined to make this a book I really loved – the lives of its characters a pleasure to feel part of as I was completely drawn into their stories, the uplifting ending everything I could have asked for. Very much recommended.
Giveaway
With thanks to Eva and Rachel, I’m delighted to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a paperback copy of The Santorini Writing Retreat (open internationally). Here’s the rafflecopter for entry:
Terms and Conditions
Worldwide 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 Rachel’s Random Resources reserves 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 Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize
About the author
Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.
Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary stories are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests, and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives. Her latest book, The Santorini Writing Retreat, is her first set in Greece.
In addition Eva has written two Second World War dual timeline romances, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter. All her books are published by One More Chapter, a division of Harper Collins.
Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.
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I am really looking forward to reading this book.
This was my first Eva Glyn book but it won’t be my last.