When a romantic grand gesture turns into something complete different…

Synopsis

It was supposed to be a holiday of a lifetime…

But when Jen’s boyfriend David suddenly cancels their romantic Paris trip, needing to urgently travel to Athens for work, it’s best friend Bonnie who suggests they surprise him.

Having already booked the time off from her events company – Christmas Every Day – Jen decides an impromptu and romantic gesture might be just what their relationship needs?

Arriving in Greece and finding David is not there, Jen has a lot of questions. And when she gets her answers she has a choice – should she go home or should she stay a while?

With the help of Astro, the handsome yet Christmas-hating waiter from the local bar, she sets about a little Greek Christmas research. But what starts as a ‘business trip’ soon turns into something more…

My review

Jen is truly looking forward to the planned holiday to Paris with her boyfriend David. So obviously Jen is devastated to hear that David has to cancel as he is needed in Athens for his work.
And when her best friend Bonnie has the idea to travel to Athens to surprise him, how can Jen refuse the idea?
But when arriving in Athens, there is no David to be found anywhere. And then the truth comes out…as apparently David hasn’t been that honest…
Having already taken the time off from her Christmas – business, Jen and Bonnie decide to stay in Athens. A place that she wants to discover its traditions. And with the help Astro, Jen get to know Athens in a way that tourists never could. Meanwhile Jen is determined to show anti – Christmas Astro the beauty of the holiday that is always filled with much love. And perhaps that these two find something more too? 

I always enjoy reading books that somehow have Christmas involved. And I always enjoy reading books where a main character goes to another country for one reason or another and find love.
So as this book seemed the perfect mash – up, how could I not read it? 

Grand gestures are a weak spot of mine also, so I liked it how Jen wanted to surprise her boyfriend David by showing up in Athens.
Of course, we as a reader, will already know it will end in heartbreak for Jen, but yet I couldn’t dislike her for her optimism and her love for David (even if undeserved…). 

My heart went out to her, discovering how deceitful David has been, on so many different levels. I could even understand that Jen has had enough of men for the moment. 

But I also understood how she couldn’t give up on the opportunity of discovering Athens. And is there a better way to discover it than with a best friend like Bonnie?
These two friends are in a way very different from each other, but also so very alike at the same time. Bonnie understands the hurt Jen is feeling, but she wants Jen to rediscover joy again. Even if that involves some not so innocent drinks! 

I liked it how Jen was completely into Christmas. But what made it extra special, was learning the reasons for it. The holiday means so much for her, because of her past, and she wants everyone to feel the joy. 

And that couldn’t be more different than Astro’s feelings about the holiday. If someone would hate Christmas, there had to be a very good reason for it. And unfortunately, Astro has…
Anything concerning Christmas is a reminder of what happened when he was a child, and so even if I didn’t agree with his thoughts, I could understand where he was coming from. 

But that isn’t the only worry Astro has. I felt that he still was at loss, he wants to do what’s right for his family, but he also wants to have the chance to do what he wants, to follow his own dreams, without being a disappointment. 

And that made Jen and Astro meeting perhaps the best thing that could happen to then. They both have somehow the same fear of disappointing, yet together they try to make each other see that following your own dreams isn’t wrong, and that asking for help isn’t something to be ashamed for. 

But they also experience that deep feelings don’t always need years and years to grow. Sometimes when the right person comes on your path, even a short holiday in Athens is more than enough to restore your faith in love again. 

And that when it happens, the physical distance is just a small hurdle to jump over, as solutions can be found. 

This was a lovely story about broken people, yet finding the courage to restore their hopes and dreams. And it was also amazing to discover another side of Athens, showing real people, with all their hurt and doubts included. But it also shows us that for love, whether the romantic kind, the family kind or friendship kind, we would do anything for our loved ones…