Member Reviews

In the Greek Midwinter is a charming holiday romance that transports readers to the sun-kissed beauty of Greece, even in the midst of winter. Mandy Baggot delivers a heart-warming and entertaining story that blends romance, hum or, and a dash of Christmas magic. Jen’s spontaneous trip to surprise her boyfriend in Athens takes a surprising turn when she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about her relationship.

Baggot excels in creating a vivid Greek setting that provides the perfect backdrop for Jen’s personal journey. The characters are vibrant and fun, with Astro, the handsome Christmas-hating waiter, offering a great contrast to Jen’s festive spirit. Their chemistry is delightful, and watching their relationship unfold brings plenty of heart-warming and swoon-worthy moments. The storyline also offers a nice balance of humour and emotional depth as Jen navigates the challenges of love, life, and unexpected detours.

The warm, festive atmosphere and engaging characters more than make up for it. In the Greek Midwinter is a perfect winter escape for anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a touch of Greek sunshine and holiday cheer. Mandy Baggot’s signature style shines through in this cozy, uplifting read.

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This was a perfect Holiday Romance getaway to warm climate, without having to pack my bags or deal with stress of travel. This was a fun quick read that offered me a quick escape. Although I did enjoy the vividness of the writing, the brilliant descriptions of Greek Food had me literally dialing for some Take Out, and the way she drew her Jen and Astro had me rooting for them from page one!

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This sounded like the sort of book I’d like. The story line was good, but it was drawn out too much, I got bored reading through it. There was something missing to keep me wanting to read. It’s a shame as I think with some reconfiguring it could be a lovely read.

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I love a good romance and this is such a lovely story.

I've never been to Greece but reading the descriptions from the characters has made me bump it up my wish list. The food and the surroundings are described so well it makes you feel as though you're there.

I adore Christmas and I love reading books with hints of it and books that are full on Christmas. This book is based at Christmas time but it's not the main focus of the book. It's more about the relationships and I love that.

Also loved the ending of this book, it felt right.

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A quick and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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A feel good story that is easy to follow, some fun and light hearted drama with the right touch of warmth, Love Mandy Baggot's writing style.

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I love a Mandy Baggot book, whether warm or cold she is one of my go to authors for a book I know will leave me warm and smiling by the end, sure there maybe some tears along the way but I know there’ll plenty of laughter too. This is why I automatically buy her books, she’s a sure bet for guaranteed happiness.

I adore her characters , they always feel like old friends and not just our leading characters, the supporting cast too such as Bonnie, she was the kind of friend anyone would love to have, Bonnie is Jean’s godsend when David cancels Paris , which I would have killed him, you get so mad ! But then we have Astro, and Jen’s meeting him was as much a lifesaver as Bonnie. I am not going to say much more as no spoilers here.

Will Jen stay in Athens ? What will become of Jen and David? Well read In The Greek Midwinter and you will find your answers , you won’t be disappointed, looking for some winter sun from the comfort of your own home, some romance, a little bit of drama, an entertaining and addictive read. Then look no further, you need to read In the Greek Midwinter.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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No one really does Greece and romance like Mandy Baggot. She transports you to the place, the tastes, the sounds and smells in an instant. Of course, Jen should be in Paris with her boyfriend David, but when he says he has a work event in Athens, Jen's friend Bonnie persuades her to use her holiday time and surprise him. Jen and Bonnie arrive in Athens to no David. It turns out he decided to do Paris without her. Jen isn't convinced by the surly restaurant owner Astro that Athens is for her, but then he may change her mind. #inthegreekmidwinter #mandybaggot #netgalley

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Jen's romantic trip to Paris is cancelled when her boyfriend David has to work in Athens. Her friend Bonnie suggests they surprise David in Athens, leading Jen to embark on an unexpected Greek holiday. However, upon arrival, she discovers David isn't there, prompting her to reassess her life choices. As Jen navigates the ups and downs of her trip, she forms an unlikely friendship with Astro, a bartender with his own emotional baggage. Together, they explore Athens during the festive season, uncovering the city's charms and confronting their own pasts. The story delves into themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the magic of Christmas, offering readers an emotional and heartwarming journey. With engaging characters and a captivating setting, this Christmas tale is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and poignant moments that will leave readers feeling uplifted and festive.

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Another winner for this author. This book was just what I needed. It was so funny. Light hearted. Easy to read. I love Greece. So it gave me a bit of Greece in this horrible British winter. Lovely to be there in winter for a change. Usually all these books are summer reads. Great plot. Very well put together

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It was a miss for me, the way the women's fiction and the romance intertwined wasn't my favorite so when the book finished i was like was that it. not necessarily a bad story

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This is another whisk the reader away to foreign climes book by Mandy Baggot. Unusually though this one is set in winter so no sunkissed beaches but we still have brooding, taciturn hunks and descriptions of delicious Greek food to salivate over. And of course the story wouldn't be complete without precociously cute children, eccentric relatives and strange pets, in this case a pigeon. While there are plenty of laughs here there are also some tear inducing moments so have a box of tissues and a pot of tea at hand at all times.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

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I really enjoyed this book so much. I had a fmgreat time reading it and I felt like I was there with them. Such great writing! 6 out of 5 stars!
I just reviewed In the Greek Midwinter by Mandy Baggot. #IntheGreekMidwinter #NetGalley
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A wonderful holiday read and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It's cute, romantic, sunny, fun. It is everything you want from a good, cosy holiday read.

I love the setting and the characters as they all made me smile. The story is just a cosy, Heart-warming read about adventure, life and love. A great read and I would give it a 3 1/2 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

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I was right to look forward to this brilliant festive read
If you enjoy festive romcoms it could be just what you need!
Jan is meant to go to Paris for Christmas this year
But her boyfriend has to work, so no trip he fears.

He cancels their holiday and goes to Greece instead
Jen is coerced to surprise him - much to her dread.
Discovering that he's not there after all
Leads to more than one dramatic phone call.

A story about learning to trust and to give love a chance
Which may help lead on to a heartwarming romance.
An candy cane, a bracelet, an accident and fate
All intervene for Jen and Bonnie, her best mate!

Staying in Athens, helping a lovely, young Greek lad...
Discovering the helpful Greek waiter finds Christmas sad.
Can this Christmas loving Brit help him to discover
That Christmas is great to spend with each other?

A fun, heartwarming story with family dramas, too,
And Jen endeavouring to work all the way through.
With art, new friends and surprises galore
As well as some new Greek customs to explore.

I really enjoyed reading this gorgeous book
And hope you have the opportunity to give it more than a look.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

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It was the Greek location that really made this book stand-out for me. Undoubtedly, the writer clearly favours the setting and I thought it made the novel different from so many festive reads. Furthermore, when snow does appear, it felt like my brain was boggled! Trying to comprehend snow in a place where characters had been wandering around in a brisk but not chilly country before the true Christmas weather descends, just shows how unpredictable our climate today can be.

Yet, for the most part I thought this was quite a slow story and the romance between Jen and Astro was not completely convincing. I did not get the sense of their simmering feelings for one another and I don’t think this was helped by the frequent interruptions from friends and family surrounding them. Jen just comes across as quite hopeless and I was not surprised when her financial situation was revealed. I could not picture her as self-employed and whilst her backstory did inform her character actions, I think I was hoping for a more business-minded woman. Thank goodness her friend, Bonnie, pulls Jen up for most of the novel.

As for Astro, he becomes Jen’s guiding light, so to speak, helping her realise that she does have the power to change her life. On the other hand, he is Mr Grinch personified and I did enjoy understanding the extent of Astro’s feelings. Astro is the antithesis of Jen’s other boyfriend in the novel and I found this sub-plot to be too predictable. As this character kept appearing in the story later on, I thought David’s appearances to be awkward and I wish he had been written out of the novel, the lying scumbag.

Jen’s Christmas business remained a mystery to me. I could not understand how she had survived so long with a Christmas-themed concept that would provide her with financial security all year long. Even when she is in Greece, Jen (rightfully) continues to worry about whether her business will succeed and I thought the many phone calls to her employees at home just made the narrative disjointed and chaotic; a distraction from the developing romance plot.

For sure, Baggot takes readers away to Greece in Christmas and I thought the setting descriptions were really vivid and interesting. I did feel like I was wandering the streets with the characters but, as for the romance itself, I was not too convinced in the main characters of Jen and Astro.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was very good! I loved the setting and the characters! I would definitely recommend and I’m excited to read other titles by this author!

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A great pun of a title had me singing each time I pick the book up and the feel-good enjoyment continued as I read.
I love accompanying Mandy Baggot’s characters to Greece & the Greek isle of Corfu, as the author’s affection for the country shines through each description.
A wonderful winter read, bringing a little sunshine to cold & dreary winter days. Full of interesting characters & a storyline that held my interest from beginning to end, this is a wonderful winter read.

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A good read. When Christmas loving Jen's boyfriend cancels their trip to Paris claiming he has to go to Athens for work her friend Bonnie persuades her to go out there but all is not as it seems .Its a lovely story of friendships, relationships and much more and the setting is beautiful perfect for a festive novel. Some good characters and I especially enjoyed Peri the pigeon a great addition to the story which was quirky, funny and warmhearted in equal measures.

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Thank you to NetGalley, Mandy Baggot and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to review this book.

When Jens boyfriend David has to cancel their planned trip to Paris due to work commitments in Athens Jen decides to fly out there to meet him as a surprise (well she had already booked the time of so it would be a shame to waste it.) However, when she lands David is there and when she finally finds out why she is left with two choices; either go back home to her business ‘Christmas Every Day’ or take some time off to do some research into how the Greeks celebrate the festive season. She decides on the latter and not wanting to go alone takes her best friend Bonnie as well.

It is in Athens that we (and Jen) meet Astro who is the total opposite to Jen as he really is no fan of Christmas and we later learn why they both have totally opposite feelings about this time of year and that they really do have more in common than it first appears. As the story progresses Jen tries to convince Astro to get into the Christmas spirit and in turn, he shows her the ‘real’ Athens away from all the tinsel and sparkle of the lights and tourist hot spots.

It was certainly different to read a story set in Greece in the wintertime but as usual Mandy creates a wonderful cast of characters that really bring the story to life. I love the ‘slow burn’ romance and how we are gradually let into the backstories of all the characters as their relationships blossom and grow with the stories progression. I also found the description of Athens during the winter to be a pleasant and interesting ingredient in this book, and Mandy is fantastic at adding the little details that really help the reader to immerse themselves in the story.
Another cracking Christmas read from Mandy.

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