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See the Stars by Eleanor Ray #Review

  See the Stars by Eleanor Ray will be  published on February 5th 2026 by Piatkus .  Do you ever feel that life isn't going to plan?   When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life - steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city - isn't everything she'd hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn't fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.  Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother's best friend and Alice's teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?  Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel...

Staying Out for the Summer by Mandy Baggot, #Review #PublicationDay

 

I am delighted to be taking part in the celebrations for Mandy Baggot's Staying Out for the Summer, especially on Publication Day today. 


This is one summer that won't end in tiers!

For NHS nurse, Lucie Burrows, it's time to put the past behind her and embrace Greek life.

Finally free from the UK restrictions, Lucie is excited for the summer of 2021. When her best friend, Gavin, finds the perfect Greek island getaway, Lucie is sure that this holiday to Corfu is going to be one to remember.

But when a landslide puts the village into a local lockdown, Lucie is thrown together with Michalis Andino, the super sexy village doctor. It's not quite the escape she had planned, but things could certainly be worse.

As Lucie relaxes into the Greek way of life, she begins to wonder whether this lockdown might just end in a new beginning – and a new love..

My Thoughts

Although on the one hand, this is an escape to the glorious island of Corfu, Coronavirus is never too far away as it is very much part of the working lives of the central characters. This roots the story very firmly in the present and taps into people's desire to escape to the sun. Corfu shimmers in the sunshine and is an eyeopener to Lucie who has demons of her own stemming from the death of her mother years ago. Away from home, she begins to gain in confidence and re-assess her wishes for the future and her relationship with her great- aunt who has been a substitute mother figure to her. 

    There are plenty of humorous moments because of the antics of the Greek villagers. Lucie's best friend Gavin is also good value with his larger than life personality but he too develops a more thoughtful side. You realise early on that Michaelis has returned home from the mainland with issues to work through and the chemistry between him and Lucie is obvious. Family ties and responsibilities are themes which run through the story. In all, it is a warm story which captures the way of life and transports you to the sunshine!

In short: Escape to Corfu   

About the Author


 

Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

You can follow Mandy here: Facebook   |  Twitter

Book links:  Amazon UK   |  Kobo   |  Google Play  | ukbookshop.org

 Aria links: Website  |  Twitter   |  Fiction   |  Instagram

Thanks to Mandy Baggot, Aria and Victoria Joss for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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