A life – changing trip to Corfu…

Synopsis

Eve Collins is looking forward to the holidays.

Her job as a counsellor has been as taxing as it has been rewarding, and she can’t wait for some downtime on the Greek island of Corfu with best-friend, Gabby. But between Eve’s brother, Ben, unexpectedly joining and Gabby’s job at the animal rescue centre keeping her busy, Eve might have to start mucking in…

When Gianni arrives in the village of Episkepsi, it’s like a model has stepped straight off the pages of Vogue Italia… with an uptight personality to match. He may be super-sexy but there are obvious chips on those broad shoulders.

As Eve and Gianni get to know each other and both start to lean into the Greek customs and avrio mentality, an initial attraction starts to turn into something more. But with so much family drama in both their lives, neither of them were looking for a holiday romance…

My review

Eve Collins is truly looking forward to spend her holidays visiting her best friend Gabby on Corfu. Being a counsellor is a very rewarding but also tiring job, so she needs to unwind. But things don’t go as planned as suddenly her troublesome brother Ben also joins her. Ben has been through a rough time, and Eve feels that Ben will equally enjoy being away from everything and everyone.
And once in Corfu, Eve is dragged by Gabby into helping out and not only helping at the animal rescue centre.
It’s at one of these ‘helping out’ moments in a hotel that Eve meets Gianni, a handsome Italian man, but also with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Because Gianni discovered on the deathbed of his father a well – kept secret… and he needs answers that will hopefully come.
But will all their worries, will their mutual attraction have time to blossom into something more?  

I always love it when a book takes me to a place I haven’t seen before, and yet makes me feel like I am right there too along with the characters. As I have never been to Corfu, this book for sure made me ‘see’ and even enjoy the Greek way of life, with all the nice oddities of its inhabitants. 

Eve’s character was one that initially confused me a little bit. We can see how caring she is, and has a way to find see what is truly troubling the students that come to her sessions. And I liked that bit, as everyone knows that with Eve they can take their own time to open up, as she will never ‘force’ the truth out of you.
Together with the lengths she goes for her brother Ben, taking him to Corfu with her, and always keeping an eye on him, only was extra proof of her caring nature.
Seeing that patience and kindness in her, was in strong contrast with the way she behaves towards her mother.
Saying that that relationship is a strained one, would be an euphemism…  And while I could see her point, her behaviour was just over the top in my modest opinion. 

Once in Corfu, she is also immediately ready to help Gabby however Eve can, with the very admirable cause of the animal rescue centre, with its peculiar animal residents.
Gabby also has her spotlight moments in this book, together with Ben, but I kinda would have liked to read more about the both of them! 

Gianni is in Corfu for a while different reason. Not only has he just recently lost his father, but his father also told his a secret that devasted Gianni. And obviously his reaction was a natural one, as I wouldn’t even know how I would react if I received that kind of news.
Not only now is he in Corfu to find out more about it, but now he also has to worry about the family business that feels more foreign to him than ever… 

Can I just say on a small sidenote, that as an Italian, I truly understand the importance of a good coffee? It’s not just because you offer me a dark substance that you can just call it ‘coffee’! While you drink coffee you should taste all the different aromas, feel the injection of caffeine and enjoy the drink! 

Back to the story now!
Eve and Gianni meet each other on a hilarious way, yet we can all see how important they will turn out to be for each other.
While they have their own demons to find, they seem to find solace with each other. And while their worlds couldn’t be more different, yet they have also a lot in common.  

There are also other people in this book who deserve their little moment de gloire, as they may not have the biggest in this story, but for sure are an addition that makes this book eve better. And I am talking about Pan, but also the villagers that perhaps may seem like a cliché, but are also very recognizable for anyone who lives in a village!
Each and one of them added a layer of funniness and laughter in the chapters.  

In this story we see that not everything is how it seems, just like Eve’s story will show you. But also that, just like in Gianni’s tale, you are not just one kind of person. But you are *you* in your unique way. And even if a revelation turns your world upside down, even that most hurtful bit can turn into something beautiful with time.
I loved reading this book, but especially how towards the end every character has its own closure without having that overly soppy ending!