Can a stay at a magical villa help her find her way to start again?
When Cleo arrives at Villa Ariadne on the sun-drenched island of Crete, she’s hoping for space to breathe – and perhaps some clarity about the life she no longer recognises. Newly divorced and estranged from one of her children, she’s not sure what comes next.
Sharing the villa with a small group of women, each carrying their own private heartaches, Cleo is drawn into the gentle rhythm of island life. Beneath the lemon trees and endless blue skies, friendships begin to form and long-buried hopes stir.
But when an unexpected event shakes their peaceful escape, the women are forced to come together in ways none of them anticipated. And as Villa Ariadne works its quiet magic once more, Cleo may discover that even in uncertainty, second chances are still possible.
Review: Like the last book I read from this author (Beside the Turquoise Sea), this one features the Villa Ariadne, a large, luxurious and somewhat magical villa on Crete. As well as being reacquainted with the villa itself, it was nice to catch up with some of the local people from the seaside village near to it.
In this story, Katerina, the elderly lady who owns the Villa Ariadne, has been persuaded to rent it out for use as a wellness retreat. It goes on to follow the fortunes of the first group of women who have arrived to spend a week at the retreat. Taking centre stage is Cleo Frobisher, who, like others in the group, has been having a tough time lately. She is recently divorced, and her daughter has suddenly been avoiding contact with her. The other women also have their tales of woe which emerge gradually. As the week progresses, friendships form within the group and everyone relaxes aided by the peaceful atmosphere, sunshine and good food. However, the peace is suddenly shattered by an unforeseen event, forcing the women into difficult situations and they find themselves doing things they never imagined they could.
This was a very enjoyable and compelling story with a twist in the middle. Like the characters who arrived at the Villa Ariadne, I relaxed in the peaceful atmosphere of the picturesque Greek island so vividly described by the author and could imagine the taste of the mouthwatering dishes being served up. I really liked the way in which the friendships among the women and also with some of the locals developed gently. At the same time, stories of their lives were revealed. When their calm visit became a bit of an adventure, everyone learned more about themselves than they expected when they set off from home. Definitely a book I would recommend for anyone looking for a bit of escapism.
To order your copy now, just click here!
No comments:
Post a Comment