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.

I usually really appreciate Mandy Baggot's novels but I must admit this one was a miss for me.

I couldn't pass the main characters' negativity (particularly Jen's) and struggled finishing the book.

Nice representation of Greece as always but this time it is pretty much the only thing i liked. Loved the pigeon though :)

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for provinding an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's that time of year when we pull out the Christmas romance books and enjoy the sparkle of the lights and blushes of first love. In the Greek Mid Winter gives us Christmas, romance and a sun drenched holiday, but it left me feeling like the sparks had blown.

The story is predictable; when one relationship ends another begins just in time for the magic of the season. And being predictable isn't usually an issue, it can be sweet and comforting. However, with the weak characters this book just didn't offer the magic or sparkle of a winter sun romance.

On a personal note I did get very irritated by the repetition of Jen's business every few pages.

Grab this book for a Christmas advent calendar read, maybe a chapter a night wont be quiet as tarnishing as a binge read.

There's a pigeon pet. That isn't a pet. But is like a pet hahaha and I loved Peri.

Now, the characters? I loved them!!!! All of them. Every single one of them and THAT my dear readers is weird in me so you have to believe me. They're all so good.

There's a lot of xmas talk and vibes. Also the Greek vibes. I really enjoyed this mix of xmas, friendships, family, romance, tragedy... !!!!

I highly recommend it for fans of xmas and slow burn romance ❤️ be aware that if you enjoy spice and lots of romantic action you won't get it.

The story is super sweet!!! You pick this one up if you're looking for Xmas reads that will make you smile.

In the Greek Midwinter is an addictive and perfect travel Christmas romp that I could not put down.

Goodness gracious, this book is utter perfection. Mandy has quickly become another insta-buy author for me. In the Greek Midwinter is such an easy book to fall in love with. Mandy is a master at writing a story that transports her readers to various places in Greece. This time, we get to visit Athens right before Christmas. I would never consider visiting Greece in December, but I really want to now. The city and its people just come to life in this book. Mandy captures that Greek essence perfectly. Also, if you are a fan of delicious food talk, you will love all the food scenes in this book. They are so yummy. The story itself is sweet, heartfelt, and full of festive magic. There are plenty of fun, fluffy moments in this story, but also moments with tremendous depth. I felt so happy and content reading this story. That’s probably why I read it in one sitting.

I have to talk about Jen’s friends. They stood out most marvellously. I’ve never fallen so in love with a group of women as I did with these ladies. Bonnie, Natalia, and Kathleen are chef’s kiss perfection. Bonnie is the best kind of friend you can have. She is Jen’s biggest cheerleader and is always there to help Jen when she needs it. She is also quirky, adorable and a hoot. I am secretly hoping she gets her own book. Natalia was hilarious, and I just loved that kind of mafia mentality she had. It added some comic relief to the story at the right moments. Kathleen is like a surrogate mother to Jen. She is 82 and a firecracker. I love her different sayings; they are wack-a-doodle in the best possible way. This group of ladies created this found family for Jen. They support and help each other out, and their love for each other just leaps from the pages. Their friendship with each other is what really makes this story stand out for me.

I liked Jen. She is a great MC, and I only wanted good things for her. At the beginning of this book, it felt like Jen was walking under this little rain cloud. She is kind and compassionate to everyone around her, and her passion for Christmas is contagious. But when it comes to her own well-being and happiness, she becomes more unsure and unwilling to believe that she deserves her own HEA. One thing I liked about her character is that she stands up for herself when needed. When David does her wrong, she doesn’t hesitate to tell him to take a hike, which I love. Jen’s character is too independent though, a product of her upbringing. She doesn’t ask for help. I love watching her character grow and open up to those around her.

The romance in this story is sweet and heartfelt. If you love vacay love stories, you will enjoy the relationship between Jenn and Astro. It was wonderful and so much fun exploring Athens with these two. I loved how Astro showed Jenn those hidden gems that exist within Athens. He also took her to places that meant something to him. I adored the chemistry and connection that Jenn and Astro had. I loved every moment when they were together. I had to keep on reading because I wanted to see what their next interactions would look like. That bond they had just leapt from the pages and stuck with me. Their relationship had this deeper connection almost right from the very beginning. They understood and supported each other.

In The Greek Midwinter is a stunning and heartfelt love story that is hard to put down.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from Netgalley.

I heard really good things about Mandy Baggot as a writer and was really excited to read this arc but I don't not I didn't feel invested in the plot and characters due to the writing. I think her style of writing is not for me therefore I dnf'd around 10%.

Having lived in Athens, I was immediately enthralled by this book as most novels set in Greece focus on the islands. it was also refreshing to see the book set in winter, a complete contrast to the usual balmy summers. As a reader, i enjoyed watching the relationship between Jen and Astro develop and their back stories were quite heart-breaking. The supporting characters in the nursing home and Jen's Ukrainian employee were an absolute delight. This really is a book with a difference and as such I loved it from start to finish.

This is my second book by Baggot and so enjoyable. It's the perfect winter escapism read, jetting off to Athens and spreading your love of everything Christmas - even if it's not appreciated by certain people.

Jen runs her own company Christmas Every Day, which sounds my idea of perfect and has decided to surprise partner David by visiting him in Greece, except he's not there, she's been ghosted!

It's an entertaining and highly enjoyable, heartwarming story of friends, family and finding love.

⚠️ Do not read this book on an empty stomach, the food descriptions are guaranteed to get your belly rumbling ⚠️

Do I look forward to Mandy Baggot’s ‘festive’ books? You bet I do. Do I love when Mandy whisks us away to glorious locations? Always. Have I loved the combination of both? ABSOLUTELY!!
After some of my favourite festive reads over the years, In the Greek Midwinter is yet another gem that left me ready for the season ahead. It is heartwarming and romantic but at it’s core it’s about people allowing themselves to believe – whether that’s in other people or a little bit festive magic. It’s a story of two people who both had difficult starts in life, coming together and discovering they have so much more in common than they realised.
Jen is a festive fanatic, the season reminds her of the moments in life she can think of fondly. She doesn’t let people in, not easily and never completely. She can put hurt behind her – or so she thinks. When a romantic break doesn’t go as planned, a change of scene leads to some life changing discoveries.
Astro cannot stand the season and rallies against his uncles plans to decorate everything. The season intensifies a pain he cannot move on from. His hidden passion is a way for him to unleash his feelings, even if it risks getting in trouble.
When their worlds collide, can they find a way to get along with each feeling so strongly. I loved the dynamic between these two characters, seeing how their relationship developed over the course of the book.
A whole cast of supporting characters make this book so entertaining and really funny. I loved Natalia – Jen’s ‘colleague’ from the Ukraine who looks after her business whilst Jen is in Greece. She is very “gangster- esq” but in a humorous way, someone to keep onside. Achilles is a brilliant character, his enthusiasm for all things jumps off the page.
A great book to cosy up with this festive season, let the snow fall (no matter where you may be!) and enjoy the read. Another great story from Mandy Baggot, festive and in Greece; what a fab combination.

Book courtesy of Netgalley.

I have loved this book , so much I slowed my reading down so I could enjoy it for longer.

Jen's friend Bonny convinces her to leave her Christmas every day business and follow he boyfriend to Athens as she has a feeling he was going to propose to Jen, when he booked them a trip to Paris, which he had to cancel when he was given a job to do in Athens.

When they get there all is not what it seems, they meet a local restaurant worker Astro who is the complete opposite to Jen and despises Christmas and tries to convince his uncle who owns the restaurant that they don't need Christmas decorations.

These two learn about each other's lives and help each other to heal their childhoods.

This was the first Christmas book I have read this year and I absolutely loved it, I would suggest everyone starts their Christmas season in Athens with this book

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was cute, fun and I wanted to find out how things were going to work out. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

I love festive reads and normally they take place in small villages full of the christmas spirit, so reading about a festive book with Athens as the setting really appealed to me.

When Jen is planning a festive romantic trip to Paris with her boyfriend when work commitments get in the way, so off she sets to Athens to surprise him, but when she gets there he isnt there, and here begins the reader getting to experience Athens at christmas time, I really enjoyed the different setting and the characters were likeable a great alternative festive read.

Jen is invested in her festive business and is still deciding about leaving it on the approach to the big day, but David, her boyfriend, wants to take her to Paris, so she relents. When he cancels due to work commitments at the last moment, she is wary and uncharacteristically accepts Bonnie, her friend's idea that she should surprise David at work in Athens. Things do not go to plan, but the reader experiences Athens in the festive season through vibrant sensory imagery and a cast of delightful characters. There is also an unlikely romance that develops from friendship and understanding between Jen and Astro. I like the festive Greek setting and the cast of characters that are believable and add humour and poignancy to the story and the romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A romantic break in Paris, at Christmas? Now that’s something we’d all be getting excited about – even Jen, although it means leaving her events company, Christmas Every Day, in the slightly questionable hands of others. She’s understandably disappointed when the trip is cancelled at short notice by boyfriend David, caught up by work commitments in Athens – until best friend Bonnie suggests that they surprise him, and take their own Greek holiday. She’d planned to be away anyway – so why not? The “surprise” element proves a little different from what they’d planned – but hey, they’re in Athens, it’s nearly Christmas, they might as well call it a research trip and enjoy themselves a bit too.

And they certainly do – stumbling into the bar where Astro works carrying a giant candy cane, where Jen receives her first bit of bad news and overdoes it a bit on the brandy cocktails. And the worst news? He hates everything to do with Christmas, but for the very soundest of reasons. As their unlikely friendship develops and deepens, the whole story moves into a different gear – the reasons for Astro’s underlying sadness becomes clear, as does the real complexity of his character, while Jen follows her own path to self-discovery as he introduces her to the real Athens at this wonderful time of year.

And the story is a considerably deeper one and far more emotionally engaging – heartbreaking at times – than I ever expected. At first, the focus is very much on Jen’s disappointment and the fun to be had on holiday with your closest friend – and Bonnie really is quite a character, just the person you need in your corner when your life’s rather falling apart. But after the meeting with Astro, Jen’s real character emerges – the sadness in her own background, the reasons for her passion for the festive season, but also her fascination with the creative arts, including enjoying the crafting of Christmas decorations she does with young Achilles (a wonderful young character, who provides plenty of laughs but also becomes a bit of a catalyst for moving the story into rather deeper waters).

The romance was everything I could have possibly wished for – Jen and Astro were two damaged individuals I entirely took to my heart, and the joy they slowly find in each other intensely moving. I’ve mentioned Bonnie, but the other supporting characters were quite wonderful too – especially Astro’s bar-owner uncle Philippos (I so loved their relationship…) who throws everything a little off-kilter for a while, the magnificent Natalia managing everything at home (after her own fashion… and with the help of her strong-arm Ukrainian family when called for…), and the totally loveable Kathleen who is Jen’s chosen family. And I haven’t even mentioned Peri – now there’s a character with a difference!

After a slightly frenetic start, the humour was all just so perfectly judged – but so was every bit of the emotional content, and some of the story’s twists and turns really touched my heart as I became involved and immersed in the characters’ journeys. But then there’s the setting – and Athens in the midst of the festive season is just the most magical place. The familiar tourist sites without the usual sunshine, the back streets holidaymakers don’t usually get to see, the insights into Greek Christmas customs, the food and drink – goodness, it was so wonderfully done, armchair travel at its very best, as I felt every moment of the experience, present in every moment. The book’s finale – a fantastic set piece that really deserves to be in a Christmas movie – was magnificent, and when the book drew to a close my heart was just overflowing with love and warmth and festive feelings.

A Christmas book unlike any I’ve read before, devoured in a single glorious sitting – the author’s writing really has never been better, and can only urge you to add this book to your festive reading list. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it entirely captured the spirit of Christmas – I absolutely loved it.

I loved the title of this book and hoped it would as good as it sounded. In fact, it was amazing. A lovely, cosy read for those autumn nights. Thank you for the ARC.

Disappointed by her boyfriend having to cancel on her, Jen decides to surprise him in Athens with her best friend Bonnie, but when they arrive David is not there. Having a lot of questions Jen must now make her own decision, and it might just be what she needs.

My favourite character was Bonnie, Jen's best friend as I loved her attitude and spark throughout the novel.

Jen and Astro have similarities and differences and I enjoyed how this was teased through the narrative and you could see their characters building.

The biggest thing I love about this author is their description to take the reader into the story; I love the scenes that Baggot set and felt myself there.