Book Reviews

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Book review: Unexpected Gifts by S.R. Mallery

Oh my. After finishing this book I feel like I’ve gone around the world. In a time capsule. Once again, Mallery unfolds her talent with masterful storytelling that makes history come alive. Soldiers fighting the Vietnam War, hippies in Woodstock, suffragettes, emigrants arriving on Ellis island and so much more come to life in this compelling family saga, making it a spell-binding treat you will never forget.

I have read all of Mallery’s books now and I am astounded by her unique gift to make history feel like it’s happening today. She takes historical events and figures from the faded-out, misty past and turns them into living, breathing things that she then, somehow, projects in striking colors onto the mind of her readers. That is a truly magical talent to have and I urge you to sample it.

My rating:

5 stars

Exhilarating storytelling that makes history come alive.

Do you enjoy historical fiction that make bygone eras come alive? How about American family sagas? This could be your next favorite read! Check it out!

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NEW RELEASE BESTSELLER! 370 pages of Corfu summer bliss!
This beach romance will make you fall in love…
Choose between the paperback or 4 kindle episodes!

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Book review: Athora by Kostas Krommydas

This book was a wonderful surprise. Before picking it up, I had already read two other books by Kostas Krommydas. I’d loved them both, finding the common threads of tragic love and twists of fate utterly compelling. Athora’s storyline is equally riveting and heartrending but in different ways and truly stands out among this author’s other novels.

From the first few pages of Athora, I was drawn in and couldn’t put it down. This is a full-blown murder mystery and one of the best I’ve ever read. Being highly reminiscent of Dan Brown’s world-famous bestsellers, truly, the only difference was the setting – a tiny Greek island in this case. Non-stop action and intrigue kept me turning the pages insatiably, down to the reveal of the killer at the very end. The brutal murder scenes are chilling and quite masterful. But even more so than the murders, it was the unprecedented storm that plagued the tiny island of Athora that set the mood for me and swept me away as I read.

Highly descriptive writing from an author who seems to own a magic magnifying glass that allows him to look deep into the psyche of his characters. Being lifelike beyond measure, I had trouble keeping them away from my thoughts for a few days after finishing the book. Whether you like murder mysteries or Greek island reads, this is a must and, most likely, your next favorite read!

My rating

5 stars

A real page-turner!

 

Do you love chilling murder mysteries? How about stories set on Greek islands? Check out this fabulous read today!

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NEW RELEASE BESTSELLER! 370 pages of Corfu summer bliss!
This beach romance will make you fall in love…
Choose between the paperback or 4 kindle episodes!

Did you enjoy this post? GO HERE to follow this blog and get to see all our future posts!

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Book review: Little Thumb by Marina Gioti (Fairytales Retold series)

This is the second book by this author that I’ve now read–the first one being the heart-rending picture book ‘One Heart’–and I loved the concept of questioning fairy tales in this series. It’s a wonderful idea that sparks curiosity in children’s minds, encouraging them to think for themselves.

Filbert Numbscull is the main character throughout the series. Unlike the delightful surname that suggests otherwise when pronounced, this is actually a clever little owl that even plays detective! In the specific book, Filbert investigates the whats, hows and whys behind the story of Little Thumb. A host of pressing questions are addressed for the first time and the findings surprisingly point us to the issue of fear – what it can do to us and how liberating it can be once we find the courage to overcome it.

Mrs Gioti both writes the clever prose and designs the beautiful graphics creating a top notch children’s book that’s bound to entertain young children and teach them a thing or two. If your child tends to question everything, I am sure they’ll enjoy ‘meeting’ Mr Filbert Numbscull! A delightful and clever picture book that I highly recommend.

 

My rating:

5 stars

Delightful and clever!

 

Looking for a children’s book with a difference? This thought-provoking tale will impress! Check it out today!

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NEW! 4-kindle episodes of sweet romance and magic in Corfu, Greece.

Check it out HERE

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A glowing review of The Raven Witch of Corfu by author Hilary Whitton Paipeti

(Review by author Hilary Whitton Paipeti)

Just south of Messonghi, and standing slightly separate from the aerial-capped hill of Hlomos, is the ‘pyramid-shaped’ mountain of Martaouna, one of the main settings for Effrosyni Moschoudi’s new novel, ‘The Raven Witch of Corfu’. Dubbed a ‘fantasy holiday romance’, it’s a step up from Mills and Boon – much more Mary Stewart than Barbara Cartland, with a bit of Gothic horror and Harry Potter-esque magic in the mix. And it’s certainly a page-turner – ideal for lazy afternoons on Messonghi beach (where much of it is set), or indeed at any place or time.

The plot gets going so quickly that it is almost impossible to précis it without giving the game away. Suffice to say that the heroine has returned to Corfu after twenty years, with a task to undertake – namely to claim back her twin brother, who was kidnapped, aged 12, on her previous visit. In a cave. By a wicked witch.

Sounds unlikely? So was Harry Potter, but that turned out OK, didn’t it? Continuous action through nearly 400 pages (how DID she keep it up?) and a number of sub-plots draw you in fast. Reading a pre-publication edition, I was supposed to be proof-reading, but I was so keen to know at every stage what happened next that I forgot!

Approaching the denouement, I really puzzled over how it would work out; I’m usually good at guessing endings, but this one floored me. Would it finish with a cop-out? No, Effrosyni came up with the goods, with a brilliant ‘twist’ that pulled the plot back from the brink.

What anchors Effrosyni’s books in reality is her sense of place. Her Corfu books are set in and around Moraitika, the ancestral home of her grandfather, and the place where she has holidayed every year since childhood. While plots may possess touches of the supernatural (as shown at the end of our serialisation of Effrosyni’s short story ‘A Holiday with Granny’), they are set in a real and familiar world, which renders the incredible somehow plausible. You can walk with the heroine to the secret olive groves on the mountain of Martaouna, and accompany her around Messonghi and to a ‘Varkarola’ festival at Petriti, where you’ll experience a long evening in high summer. These concrete scenes help us accept the surreality of the storyline, just as hobbits, orcs, elves and wizards could justifiably inhabit a world fully recognisable as England.

But the supernatural is not contained only in the book itself. As Effrosyni tells us, ‘something spooky happened when [the artist] got to work on the cover! I only told him my book was set on a beach in Corfu and, of all places, he showed me this image that actually depicts the bay in Messonghi.’ So, if you think you’re going to have to suspend belief when reading ‘Raven Witch’, just consider: There are more things in Heaven and Earth… Who knows what’s really hiding on Martaouna?

The review was published in the October issue of the Corfu e-newspaper, The Agiot.

Author Hilary Whitton Paipeti contributes with articles in The Agiot, mainly about hikes around Corfu, its flora and fauna. Her upcoming book, ‘In the Footsteps of Lawrence Durrell and Gerald Durrell in Corfu’, is a republication of the popular 1990s edition, with new content. Check out Hilary’s work at Corfu Walks and at The Corfu Trail.

The Raven Witch of Corfu is out on Amazon in 4 compelling kindle episodes. The paperback will follow soon. GO HERE to check it out!

 

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Book review: Tales to Count on by S.R. Mallery

Trust S.R. Mallery to never disappoint. And this rings true, once again, with this collection of delightfully diverse short stories. The order they’ve been put in the book (from shorter to longer in terms of word count) also serves as a vehicle that drives the reader deeper and deeper into the author’s mastery of prose. I am not a fan of flash fiction, so I can’t say I particularly enjoyed the first stories that were really short. But, boy, did the reading begin to pay off gradually as I kept turning the pages! For me, short stories of a greater length are those that allow an author to unfold their talent to the max. Mallery’s came shining through the pages like a floodlight. I loved how some of the stories took me to different places or times – reminding me of the equally thrilling experience I had when I read ‘Sewing Can Be Dangerous’ by the same author. Jumping from one place and era to another, on and on, had me starting each story with an element of surprise, which enhanced my reading experience further. In Tales to Count On, Mallery reminds us that nothing is what it seems. I urge you to read this book and explore this notion with these wonderful tales.

My rating

5 stars

Surprising endings and masterful prose!

Do you enjoy short stories that intrigue? How about historical fiction? This gem is for you!

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A Greek fantasy romance set in Messonghi, Corfu.

Check out the book trailer and download a FREE excerpt HERE

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Book review: Dominion of the Moon by Kostas Krommydas

Oh my! Having read and enjoyed Cave of Silence by this fine author I started reading Dominion of the Moon expecting a good read and the same sort of book, but I’ve experienced so much more! Highly mystical and mysterious, this book had me riveted from the first few pages. My father hails from the Greek island of Limnos and I’ve visited the Kaviria archeological site there – it’s similar to the one described in the book at Samothraki where Kavirian Mysteries were also said to be held in antiquity. Therefore, being already familiar with these dark ancient gods, I was fascinated by the story of the cult and its secret gatherings, and felt totally immersed in it.

The romance was sweet and tender, both in the case of the tragic archeologist and his grandson all those years later. Tragedy and hardship struck the former repeatedly in his life and I followed it all with a broken heart. I felt so close to this character and ached for the catharsis in the end that would see the members of the cult paying for their evil deeds.

The ending, as painful as it was for some of the characters, was utterly satisfying. I highly recommend this fresh, original story. The emotions it stirred in me as I read ebbed and flowed in my heart like the tide, exploding at times like a raging storm, similarly to that very special scene in the book.

The island of Samothraki comes alive through the pages, making me want to visit it at first opportunity. The love of Kostas Krommydas for this island is palpable and utterly magnetic.

 

My rating

5 stars!

Mysterious, enthralling and utterly satisfying!

 

Do you enjoy books about secret cults? What about stories where fate intervenes to bring lovers together or to right wrongs? This book could be your next favorite read!

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Check out my interview with author (and actor of The Durrells!) Kostas Krommydas, HERE

 

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Out in Autumn 2018! A Greek fantasy romance set in Messonghi, Corfu.

Check out the book trailer and download a FREE excerpt HERE

 

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Book review: The Dolan Girls by S.R. Mallery

This book is utterly cinematographic. It took me straight to the Wild West, to the time of the pioneers who once rushed there to claim a plot of land and start a new life. The book begins with the arrival of Cora and her family (her parents and sister) at Nebraska for the Land Rush of 1856. The scenes of their preparation for the event and the event itself were intriguing and utterly thrilling. Cora is at the center of this riveting story that caused a plethora of emotions to blossom in me as I read.

Sometimes delightful and humorous, other times harrowing and heart-breaking, this book was hard to put down. As is the case in all Mallery’s novels, the spot-on language is the vehicle that drives you straight into the place and time where the story is set. Once again, this masterful writer has added further excitement to the plot by having her characters interact with famous people of the era. This time it was Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley that paraded before my mind’s eye, enhancing the effect of nostalgia for a time that we all know and love from those old cowboy movies.

Cora’s never-ending heartache for her lost love, Thomas, made me root for her throughout this exceptional second-chance romance. I highly recommend this sweet romance, but please note: it has adult themes that make it unsuitable for some audiences.

My rating

5-stars

An utterly cinematographic second-chance romance set in the Wild West

 

Are you a big westerns fan? Fancy a romance depicting cowboys and horse wranglers? It doesn’t get more macho than that! Find out more:

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Book review: A Kilo of String by Rob Johnson

I have read a lot of books by British authors who moved to Greece or stayed there for long periods. All of these books tell the same kind of story basically… about finding an old house to work on and make a home of. All of the authors experienced endless strife dealing with the language barrier, the culture shock, and the monstrous Greek bureaucracy. Yet, funnily enough, not all these books provided the same reading enjoyment.

Some were interesting, others not so much. Some were hilarious, others didn’t even manage to elicit a chuckle. And a few of them, sadly, put my country and its people in a bad light, highlighting the same bad traits repeatedly, and often blew them out of proportion in an attempt, obviously, to make a bad book with a poor story sound a little more interesting.

But these are all the other books. Rob Johnson’s book, thank goodness, falls under a category of its own.

This is why, for me, it is perfect in all respects. It is both interesting throughout and laugh-out-loud funny while recording life in Greece, its problems and infamous quirkiness, with the kind of exceptional tact and fine precision that makes for excellent journalism. This author doesn’t just know what material to put in; he is also prudent and insightful enough to know the kind of detail that needs to stay out to make his book just perfect.

Indeed, this author, who possesses an unparalleled wit, has a refreshing writing style. You’ll find no nasty rants about the Greeks in this fine memoir, no exaggeration, and no criticism about the Greek way of life. This is an enjoyable read that will take you by the hand and show you the unknown, quaint, quirky world the author and his wife have delved into, and you will live it with all your senses, as if you were there.

Very descriptive writing from an author who can deliver a line and can make every chapter just as delightful as the previous one. This book will have you turning the pages hungrily while laughing like a drain. If you enjoy books on Greek life and especially if you are contemplating taking the same plunge as the author did to make a new start in life in your Greek paradise, then this fabulous memoir is a must!

My rating

5 stars

A hilarious page turner about Greek life!

Do you love memoirs about life in Greece? Interested to read about the type of problems an expat is likely to face while living in Greece?  How about humorous books that make you laugh out loud? Check this out on Amazon today. Chances are you will love it!

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Book review: One Heart by Marina Gioti

You can read this book within five minutes, but it’s staying power in the mind is tremendous. Why? Because it elicits powerful emotions. For me it also brought back a plethora of memories from my own life. Even now that I am a middle-aged woman, my mother continues to be there for me, to listen, to support, and to assist in every way she can. She cheers me on when my life gets exciting, and on the days that I am troubled it takes her just one look at me to know something’s wrong. Words are not always necessary with her, and I cannot possibly fool her… Often, a thought of her pops in my mind out of the blue and within seconds the phone rings… How do I know when she’s about to call? This only ever happens with her… Because of these things, I can speak from experience about the strong bond between a mother and a daughter, and the author has captured this strong bond wonderfully through her lyrical prose and exquisite illustrations.

This poem of a book describes motherhood in a way that speaks straight to the heart… No matter how old a child may grow to be, in their mother’s eyes they will always remain that tiny, defenseless creature they once carried inside them, then held closely against their heart. And I also believe that a mother’s love has tremendous power – it becomes an inner strength that will see her daughter through many hardships in her life. And when she becomes a mother, she will pass on this magical beacon of nurturing love to her own child too.

I defy you to read this little book and not get emotional… For me, the more pages I turned, the larger the knot in my throat grew. I congratulate this author for her amazing feat… How commendable to be able to touch the reader so deeply speaking about the timeless, universal truths of motherhood in such a few words! This little gem is an ode to motherhood and thus makes for the perfect Mother’s Day Gift, or a birthday present for Mum. I also think it’s ideal for a gift to a daughter on her wedding day, or the day she brings her own daughter into the world. On all occasions the powerful prose of this gifted author will say it all eloquently.

Wrap it up and deliver it with a bear hug… for a gift that will just keep giving whenever the receiver opens it.

My rating

5 stars

An ode to motherhood!

 

 

This picture book is the  perfect gift for both mothers and daughters!

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Book review: Pineapple Beach House by Amy Vansant

I am a big fan of the Pinneaple Port Mystery series by Amy Vansant and this latest installment didn’t disappoint. It had the usual wicked humor and intrigue that always have me reading greedily. My only ‘grievance’ with it, if I can call it that, is that I missed Pineapple Port in it! Still, it was refreshing to have the characters in a totally different world acting like tourists. Of course, it turned out to be a holiday from hell. Body parts were found here and there, and the author kept me guessing. I was led down the wrong avenue once or twice but didn’t feel cheated. It was all done very cleverly and I loved how it all made sense right at the end! The ‘snake’ bus was the highlight of the story. I highly recommend this book, just like the others in this series.

Although each book has a separate story and thus can be read as a standalone, I recommend that you start from book one so you can enjoy the wicked humor to the max thanks to a deeper understanding of the delightful characters.

 

My rating:

5 stars

A fantastic read full of laughs and intrigue!

 

Do you enjoy ‘Golden-girls-style humor? How about cozy mysteries that make you laugh out loud? Did you say yes? This book is a must!

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