An unusual setting for a Christmas book, but no less delightful.
It was certainly a whim that takes Jen off to Greece. A whim that turns out to be quite a trip. I'm not going to spoil the plot here but it's quite an adventure. Went to some unexpected places. All enjoyable though.
I love the pigeon, too!
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC to review. All views are my own.

Always enjoy Mandy Baggot stories and the adventures to Greece. Jen was a good character along with her best friends. Loved the Christmas aspect of the novel too.

This book is wonderfully written by Mandy Baggot. Her brilliant characters come to life on the page and and you can just imagine yourself in the places she describes so well. This is a Christmas book, but also a book about friendship, loyalty and romance that starts with a Candy Cane. Jen leaves her business and temporary home to travel with her best friend Bonnie to surprise her boyfriend, It does not go well and Jen is taken on an emotional journey she did not expect. Lots more top this than I can put in a review, it's just a great book!

As always with the is authors books this was an absolute delight to read. I love how this author writes about real people and their journeys and was the Perfect escapism read.

After reading lots of books about greece it is definitely on my list of places to visit and this one made a lovely change for it to be set during the winter season.

This was so much more than just a romance story and also made the reader feel like they had just stepped off the plane into a Greek midwinter

A unique take on the Christmas troupe. This saw Jen jet off to Greece on a whim after being let down by her boyfriend who she was supposed to be in Paris with. Jen eats, sleeps ans breathes Christmas, so much so she has made a livelihood from it but in Greece she meets Astro who despises all things festive. Lovely characters and great to read about how the festivities are enjoyed in other parts of the world. Thanks to netgalley and boldwood books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book; it reminded me of when I spend Christmas in Greece.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

I was attracted to this book by the title and the setting. I have read lots of Summer stories that are set in Greece but this is the first Winter book that I have read that was set in Greece.
I really enjoyed reading this book, I loved the setting, and trying to find out what had happened to David.
This book was funny, heartwarming and entertaining.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my ARC.

the perfect combination greece and christmas!!
a fun festive light hearted read, you can always rely on this author to keep you wanting more.

I had just gotten back from Greece and just felt I wanted to read this and I am glad I did it ended up being a fun easy read. If your in the mood for a good holiday getaway romance I believe you will enjoy it !

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.

First: the descriptions of Greece in this were exceptional, particuarly around the food/nightlife/bar scene. These images just jumped off the pages and I honestly wanted to book my vacation right away.
This story is very wholesome, with just the right amount of christmasy cuteness...but I think the characters were nothing to write home about. Jen was just ok, David was particularly awful but pretty predictably so, and while I loved the artistry behind Astro, the rest of him was just ok. I struggled to really feel the chemistry between Astro and Jen, as I think too much focus was on their hugely opposing views of Christmas and just not enough real tenssion. I agree with a few other reviews I saw: I would LOVE to see a book that surrounded Bonnie. That would be super cute.
This book seems to dawdle a lot, which while isn't a complete deterrence, does make it all around a bit of a 'meh' reaction.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another great book from Mandy.

Jen finds herself off work and with nowhere to go after her boyfriend David cancels their romantic trip away to Paris. He tells Jen he needs to travel to Athens urgently for work. With Jen finding herself at a loose end she decides that travel to Greece and surprise David. When she arrives in Greece she finds that David has lied to her and is not I Greece after all. Should she stay and enjoy the time she has off or should she return home. Jen meets Astro whilst doing some research into how Christmas is celebrated in Greece. Astro hates Christmas, can Jen change his mind and get him into the Christmas spirit

Jen's dream Paris trip with her boyfriend David takes an unexpected turn when he cancels to travel to Athens for work. Jen, with the encouragement of her best friend Bonnie, decides to surprise him and arrives in Greece to find David missing. Faced with questions and uncertainties, Jen contemplates whether to go home or stay awhile. With the assistance of Astro, a Christmas-hating waiter, Jen embarks on a Greek Christmas adventure, turning what was supposed to be a "business trip" into something more. The novel blends romance, holiday magic, and the picturesque setting of Greece, exploring the unexpected turns that can lead to love and joy.

Once upon a time if you mentioned travelling to Europe, my first thought would be France. These days, I am a little more equal opportunity and the thought of France will be folowed pretty quickly to Italy, and more recently, Greece. I seem to be going through some kind of Greek period. I've bought a Greek cookbook, watched movies set in Greece, and one of my close friends recently visited so I was living vicariously through her photos.

Jen also had a plan to visit Paris on a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, David. Unfortunately David needs to cancel the trip as he needs to take a last minute trip to Athens for work. Jen's friend Bonnie is determined to make the romantic trip still work so she convinces Jen to head to Athens and surprise David. Let's just say things don't exactly go to plan.

Jen loves Christmas, and she even owns a party/events company called Christmas Every Day. This is her busiest time of the year, and she really needs this year to be successful, as the business is struggling a bit, well, a lot. She hasn't told anyone that things are so bad that she has had to give up her flat. Given how badly things are going, the disastrous trip to Athens is the last thing she needs, but a series of unfortunate events means that she is unable to get home. She therefore has to rely on her Ukrainian assistant Natalia, to keep her business afloat, whatever it takes.

In directly inverse proportions, Astro hates Christmas, and he wants to ensure that not even the slightest hint of Christmas enters into the bar he works at. Unfortunately, his co-workers have decided that a bit of festive cheer is exactly what the accountant has ordered. Among them are a young boy called Achilles whose mother works hard to just make ends meet and Astro's uncle Phillipos is at a cross roads in his life

When Jen stumbles into Astro's bar, little do they know that their path's will continue to cross. Soon Astro is showing Jen the real Athens, and revealing the secrets that he has kept hidden for so long. And Jen is sharing her truths, including her very rough childhood, and the reasons why she loves Christmas so much.

I must confess that I haven't really ever considered what Athens would be like as a Christmassy destination but the world that the author shares with us in the pages of this book is definitely one that sounds enticing. We do visit the obvious sites such as the Parthenon, but Astro also shows her off the beaten track locations - the real Athens.

Overall I enjoyed this book. There were times when everything felt a bit frantic, especially as Jen tried to manage her business issues back home from a distance, with David and to get home. I really loved the final scenes. I also loved seeing Athens in a different light!

I have read one other Mandy Baggot book set in Greece. Now I need to find some time to read more!

If you believe that everything happens for a reason, then this is the book for you! The fates conspired to bring this sweet romance to an unlikely couple and you'll be delighted that you found them on the pages of this book! She's Christmas on overdrive and he's the Grinch that stole Christmas, two more opposites, you will never find and yet they found each other! What starts out with the potential for heartbreak and backstories for the main characters that will tear at your heart, ends with a wonderful adventure and the possibility of a brighter future! If you like a sweet romance with a happily ever after that has a Christmas theme, then you'll want to travel to Athens with these characters to find that happily ever after with them! This was my first book by this author and I was happily impressed so will be looking for more from her very soon!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood books and Mandy Baggot for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The basis of the book…Jen’s lying boyfriend David cancels their winter break in Paris and instead informs her he has jotted off to Athens for work. So, encouraged by Bonnie, the BFF, she jumps on a plane to surprise him (thankfully with Bonnie in tow). BUT David isn’t in Athens - cue heartbreak. It’s ok though because Bonnie convinces Jen to enjoy well deserved time away and encourages her to get a little closer to Astro - the gorgeous Greek waiter/Christmas Grinch.

So yes, this is 100% a cliched Christmas romance novel which can’t be beaten at Christmas. It sets a lovely scene of Athens and makes you almost want to jump on a plane to see it for yourself. It’s a shame though, the characters didn’t have as much depth as the setting. Bonnie was rich in description, and her personality shone out but everyone else was a little too reserved - not only in the story but also to the reader too. For this - it puts me at a 3.5. Still enjoyable but needs a little more to be a high Christmas favourite.

a great story - started out a little woe is me, but soon escalated into a great story with fabulous, evocative setting, realistic characters and the belief that you don't have to be all alone with your unhappiness. Another gem from this reliable and relatable author.

This is a festive story with a twist as it is set in Athens and you certainly get a feeling for different parts of the city. At its heart is the Parthenon which stands as a symbol of the history which surrounds the city. Jen turns out to be an interesting character with a complicated backstory. She has lacked a traditional family as a child but as you come to realise, there are people who care about her. She has tried to protect herself in the past by burying herself in her work. However, she is also immersing herself in all that has made her feel safe in the past.

Astro has a lot in common with Jen. He too has felt a lack of family in his past and buried what he really wants to do so as to avoid criticism. There are plenty of humorous moments as the story unfolds. Some are associated with the children in the story but others with a rather curious pigeon. Others in the story have their own issues to work through but what emerges is a sense of the Universe clicking into position and hope for the coming year.

In short: cultures clash as the stars collide

In the Greek Midwinter is the seventh book by Mandy Baggot that I have reviewed. Many of hers in Greece have been set in the summer months, but it was a surprise to have one in winter. I’ve never been to Greece.

I liked the title and synopsis.

Mandy Baggot is brilliant at immersive atmospheres and details. This novel had those, but I felt very pulled out of the story because I felt like everyone except Bonnie was an underdeveloped character who it was hard to get to know. I did like Bonnie, and would have liked to have had her as a friend. I did find, though, that Jen seemed very wrapped up in her life at times, and not as appreciative of Bonnie’s presence/help or the smallhings in life as she should have been.

I was angry at David for canceling the Paris trip, but glad Jen had Bonnie. I liked Bonnie.

I found the idea of Astro, a waiter who hates Christmas, a little cliché, and Jen’s meeting him happened too quickly and too easily (meeting in a bar when she has had a bad experience). I was hoping for Jen to have done more soul searching or have tried to have made sense of what had happened with David in her mind, or take more quiettime for herself first.

However I was wondering what was going to happen since David let Jen down.

I had so many questions….What will happen to Jen and David? Will anything happen with Astro? Will Jen stay in Athens or head home? Sadly, I didn’t get all of them answered because the book did not hook me enough to make me want to keep going. I did persevere with the book, but it did not work for me and was a DNF. My first ever DNF for Mandy Baggot. I feel sad about that. I wanted to love the book.

Thanks to Mandy Baggot, Boldwood Books andRachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

2 stars.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'In The Greek Midwinter' by Mandy Baggot.


Read and reviewed for Mandy Baggot, Boldwood Books, Book & Tonic, NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources Tours.



Publication date 6th October 2023.


This is the first book I have read by this author but it definitely won't be my last!


This novel consists of 70 chapters. The chapters are short in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of Athens and really sucks you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you feel and see all the emotions, characters and scenes. The synopsis and stunning cover suits the storyline perfectly.

Love, love, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous, emotive page turner that I devoured in one sitting!!!

I have absolutely loved this stunning book by the amazing Mandy!! Honestly if you are ever in need of a break and fancy the gorgeous Greece then grab this stunner and prepare to be whisked away on a beautiful holiday!!! The storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heartwarming. There was plenty of events going on throughout and it kept me hooked from start to end, I read it in one sitting and was completely absorbed throughout. This is the first book I have read that is set in Greece over Christmas time as they are usually based over Summer and I absolutely LOVED the uniqueness of "seeing" Athens in Winter time. Jen is overdoing the drinks at a bar in Athens when she meets Astro. Jen loves the festive season but Astro despises Christmas!!! They couldn't feel any different about it if they tried but even with these differences they stille manage to start a beautiful friendship and the reasons for this hatred of Christmas are heartbreaking. This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and was heartwarming and had love, romance, humour, relationships, family, friendship and much more all going on in this beautiful atmosphere. There was also heartbreak, tragedy and tears. Amongst all these emotions there are also stunning settings, an abundance of amazing and memorable characters, magic, delicious food and drink, festivities and so, so much more!!! I could literally go on and on about how beautiful this book is but I am trying to shorten my reviews not turn them into even longer essays but I highly recommend you grab this stunning book today!!! Thanks to Mandy's stunning evocative descriptions it felt like I was on a gorgeous festive break away from Wales!! I loved how the story ended and I would love to read more about the life on the gorgeous Athens. I was absolutely devastated when I came to the end of this book as I was truly whisked away to Greece feeling the emotions, seeing the sites and looking at the stunning views. I absolutely loved the gorgeous atmosphere and am hoping to return in another of Mandy's books. This storyline was so heartwarming and emotional and it was such an easy and relaxing read that I just could not put it down and know you won't be able to either!! It ended absolutely perfectly and I would love to see more of the amazing characters soon!! Hint, hint Mandy 😉!!! The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch their friendships and relationships grow, develop and change throughout the the storyline. Every one of the characters had a part to play and they each played it perfectly and beautifully!!! Mandy's amazing evocative writing skills brought them to life as much as possible and they all leapt out of the pages as well as the stunning atmosphere and the rest of the characters!!! Anyway, I best not say anymore as don't want to give anything else away for future readers!! It's just so easy talking about this fantastic book and so much I want to tell you all about but i really need to control myself!!! Needless to say I absolutely adored the majority of characters each for a different reason. All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to meet them again!!! This book would make a stunning movie and I would definitely be first in line to see it!!!



Well done Mandy on an absolutely gorgeous book!!! I will definitely be looking for your books any time I need to be swept off to another country!!! Welcome to my favourite author club and here's to your next success 🥂!!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue of Mandy's 'Those Summer Nights' which promises to be just as stunning as this book and is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!!


Overall an absolutely perfect light hearted, stunning unputdownable romance that will sweep you off your feet and land you in Athens.



347 pages.


This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £11.99 in paperback via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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I enjoyed reading this cute Christmas romance story set in Athens. It was interesting to see how the author depicted Greek tradition in celebrating Christmas entwined with romance.