This story encompasses a good mix of issues—including honesty with yourself and others, facing up to fears and second chances. A Greek Affair tells the story of Leah, a travel blogger, and her daughter, Rosie. Leah has been nominated in the Top Travel Blog category and is attending the awards ceremony with no expectations of winning. She is the new kid on the block, as it were, having expanded her freelance photography website to include holiday destinations. After a lucky chance encounter which resulted in an interview going viral, Leah’s website is well and truly out there. She’s had a rough several years after being deserted by her husband, who disappeared with her twin sister leaving a mountain of debts and two devastated families. As a single mother, it’s taken her years to pay off the money owed.

(Quote) It’s clear some things are missing as the top drawer is half empty. When I pull out the bottom drawer, though, it’s stuffed full of letters. All I can see is red ink staring back at me as if it’s become the new black. I grab a handful and stare down at them for a moment in sheer disbelief before throwing them on the desk.

Overdue … final demand … debt collection agency … notice of enforcement … County Court Judgement. Looking down at the open drawer, there must be over fifty similar letters and I collapse down in a heap onto the chair. My head is spinning and my hands are trembling. (Unquote)

It looks like Leah’s fortunes are about to turn around as she is completely unprepared and incredulous when the name of her blog is announced as the winner. It’s an important award and will mean big sponsorship deals and a lot of travel, not to mention more money which will alleviate much of the stress she been under.

We follow Leah as she tries to balance her working and personal lives with bringing up her daughter, while trying to make sure their needs are met as much as possible. Her parents are very supportive as Leah is still trying to deal with the fall out from the disappearance and deceit of her twin and husband, but losing a daughter means they are also suffering. Leah, and Rosie who contributes to the blog, meet people during Leah’s assignments who have a huge impact on their lives. They all, including Leah, have issues to work through before they can move on.

The characters are well drawn and the writing flows nicely. Leah’s relationships with her daughter and parents is particularly well portrayed. I enjoyed the blogging aspect of the story and the descriptions of the travel destinations really popped, bringing much colour and interesting facts to the narrative. Leah’s first assignment is a Mediterranean cruise, then a trip to Greece. The detailed account of Athens is incredibly vibrant but I think I’d have much the same trouble as Leah when it comes to heights and glass walkways.

There are serious and relevant themes covered sensitively in the story which give it depth and realism as well as empathy for the characters.

What better way to brighten up any dreary January day than to dive into a delectably descriptive novel that whisks you away to dreamy destinations. Linn B. Halton has created the perfect book that allows you to travel amongst the delights of Europe without leaving the comfort of your couch.

Leah is a character of two halves. To everyone else she is a strong independent woman who has clawed her way back from the brink of despair to create a successful life for herself and her daughter. But beneath the mask of strength she leads a fragile existence, afraid to trust again. Her relationship with her daughter Rosie is my favourite element in the book. Their solid little team of two is heartwarming and endearing and Rosie, for me, is a shinning star in this story.

The plot literally and figuratively takes you on a journey. Leah's travel blogging line of work sees her jet off to idyllic locations. But only by stepping out from the comfort bubble of home life, can she truly begin to see what is missing. I loved the juxtaposition of placing Leah, a flawed character, on a decadent and dazzling backdrop of the jewel's of Athens and it is here amongst the azure surroundings that love can begin to grow.

This love comes in the form of Leah and Daniel's relationship. But as with many a story the course of true love never does run smooth as Daniel is also harbouring a past that has dealt him a cruel and tough hand to play. This highlights that Linn does not shy away from the ugly side of life when it comes to character creation by any stretch of the imagination.

A Greek Affair is the perfect book to snuggle down with on a cold dreary January day. A story filled with flawed but real characters, dazzling descriptive backdrops and a love story to melt any heart.

Bringing a blast of sunshine and warmth into a cold January evening, A GREEK AFFAIR by Linn B. Halton is a contemporary romance with a lot more to it than meets the eye.

Abandoned by her husband in the most despicable of ways, Leah and her daughter Rosie are finally starting to see the sunshine through the trees almost seven years later. Setting up a travel blog, Leah has found her passion and when she wins a prestigious award, it isn't long before their dreams are becoming reality. New opportunities are providing them both with new friendships and widening their horizons as they travel to different locations. But is Leah able to let go of the hurt from the past to let someone new into her life? And when her no-good ex slithers back onto the scene, will he take her precious daughter away from her?


With plenty of drama, laughter, friendship, and tears, A GREEK AFFAIR by Linn B. Halton takes you on a journey of the senses as her characters and settings come alive for the reader. While the story did not always go in the direction that I thought it would, it never stopped fascinating me and I wanted to know how things would end up for Leah and the lovely Rosie.

​I highly recommend A GREEK AFFAIR by Linn B. Halton for fans of contemporary fiction everywhere and it will definitely give you more travel destinations for your bucket list.

A Greek Affair by Linn B Halton is pure escapism, and the perfect antidote to the winter blues. This is a charming novel partially set in the sunny locale of Athens, Greece, and we are transported there by Halton's beautifully descriptive prose.

The novel's protagonist is Leah Castelli, the successful blogger behind The Sun Seekers Guide to a Successful Holiday. We learn very early on that Leah's husband, Antonio, had run off seven years previously with Leah's twin sister Kelly, leaving Leah with a young daughter, Rosie, and mountains of debt. Through determination and hard work, Leah has found success in photography and blogging, and seems to be thriving as a single mother to nine year old Rosie,

On a brief work related cruise, Leah meets Harrison, a man who becomes a close, albeit platonic, friend, eventually sharing with Leah that he is struggling with telling his family that he has found love with a man. Harrison encourages Leah to seek out a therapist to help her deal with issues of trust, and coming to terms with the dual betrayals of her husband and sister. Through her relationship with Harrison, Leah realizes that she is ready to move forward, and to perhaps take a chance on love. As Harrison tells her "the universe gives us what we need to move forward, but it is up to us to recognize that and act upon it."

Following the cruise, Leah is tasked with reviewing several properties in Athens, including Vila Panorea, where she meets Dr Daniel Preston. Leah is instantly attracted to Daniel, and opens her heart to possibility. The pair, along with their daughters, enjoy several blissful days enjoying the sights and delights if Athens, but when Leah must return to the UK they realize that geography is only one of many obstacles they must overcome. As Daniel muses, "falling in love with someone is ecstasy, but it is also painful."

This is a delightful novel that will have you rooting for Leah until the end, and will have you longing for your own bit of romance under the Grecian sun.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Impulse for this lovely ARC.

Warm, uplifting, and wonderfully descriptive!

A Greek Affair is the heartwarming, engaging story of Leah, a hardworking, single mom, whose life takes a turn for the better when her success as a travel blogger enables her to enjoy more time with her daughter, explore idyllic locations, develop new friendships, confront a past full of hardships and heartbreak, and potentially meet the man of her dreams.

The writing is light and precise. The characters are compassionate, supportive, and dependable. And the plot is an enchanting mix of drama, emotion, funny mishaps, friendship, family, love; as well as an insightful view into the city of Athens.

Overall, A Greek Affair is pure escapism. It's another entertaining, thoughtful tale by Halton with such exquisite imagery it will leave you yearning to travel and dreaming of blue skies, sunny days, and endless nights.

Lose yourself in Linn B. Halton’s wonderfully escapist and gloriously uplifting new novel, A Greek Affair. As sparkling as French champagne and as delicious as chocolate ice cream, A Greek Affair is a gorgeous romantic read that’s the next best thing to a Mediterranean getaway!

Leah’s plate is pretty full and she has no qualms about putting herself second – or maybe third or fourth! – for the time being. With a daughter to look after, a busy job to keep her occupied and a divorce from her untrustworthy ex to think about, Leah is keen to channel all of her time and energy into achieving those objectives. She isn’t really concerned with the fact that she might be missing out on a few things – after all, life keeps her her on her toes and she could do with some stability and a little less surprises. However, Leah hadn’t counted on a change in fortune that sees her winning a prestigious travel blogger award that will take her all over the world reviewing glamorous holiday destinations!

Lady Luck is definitely smiling down on Leah. She is the brand new kid on the block when it comes to travel blogging and while she had been absolutely thrilled to be nominated, the last thing she had expected was to win the coveted award. It had been Leah’s ambition to give up her day job and focus solely on her blog, so she is over the moon when she is crowned the winner of this terrific prize. Sitting by the pool, with the sun beaming down on her and with a cocktail in hand, what more could a girl possible ask for? Leah cannot remember a time where she had felt so happy. The last thing she is expecting on her travels is to find somebody who can breach the defenses which she had built around her heart, but when on a visit to Greece she finds herself connecting to a man who unleashes feelings deep within her she had thought long buried, will Leah find the courage to run the risk of falling in love again? Or will she find herself still being held hostage by her past?

Linn B Halton is on fine form with A Greek Affair! A wonderful story about taking chances, healing from past wounds and fighting for one’s own happiness, A Greek Affair is a stylishly written tale that I simply could not stop reading. Full of characters that jump off the pages, beautifully rendered descriptions of foreign climes, poignant romance, delightful humour and compelling drama, A Greek Affair is a feel-good charmer no reader will be able to resist!

Linn B Halton is a writer who gets better with every book she writes and she has penned another winner with A Greek Affair. I cannot wait for her next book!

When she wins the Travel Blogger Award doors open for Leah and her daughter Rosie. A short solo cruise for Leah and a meeting with Harrison makes her realise that she has never really dealt with the emotions of being a single parent. Harrison is the perfect gentleman and a wonderful friendship builds up. A trip to Greece with Rosie during half term is another eye-opener for Leah as she meets another single parent in the form of Daniel. Rosie strikes up a friendship with his daughter Belle and it gives Rosie a chance to realise that she is also missing something in her life.

This is a fabulous mix of travel, family, home-life, separation and difficult pasts. As I read, especially the sections that gave descriptions about Greece, I couldn’t help but think that this author has surely been here as her descriptions were wonderful. I have never been to Greece and I loved the quirky little asides about structures, doorways, a little about the architecture and foods. It had such a great feel to it and it was easy to lose myself in the vivid imagery that she had created.

I really liked that the young daughter had a say in her mum’s blog and in fact had her own segment. Working together and encouraging each other really stood out for me with this mother and daughter team.

The story has its emotional up’s and down’s as things progressed at a pace that felt very appropriate. Again this was where the author really got it right as far as how she portrayed the dilemma’s, anxieties and uncertainties when entering relationships where children are involved. Mixing various scenarios and giving things priorities for the main characters made for a really interesting read, with a few surprises along the way for good measure.

It is a romance but not the slushy lovey-dovey type and this made for a more realistic read. The main characters are 30 something parents who lead very different lives, I felt the romance had a more practical, no-nonsense approach with the adults dealing with not only their own possible futures but also that of their children and families. It played out very well indeed.

This is a book that has a good selection of things that I enjoy in this style of book, yes there is drama and romance but it is nicely balanced with the more practical everyday feeling of life in the real world and with a tantalising Greek backdrop. One I would definitely recommend.

For the last seven years Leah has focused solely on providing for herself and her young daughter, Rosie. With help from her wonderfully supportive parents, she and Rosie have overcome despite unimaginable heartbreak. Thanks to her hard work and success as a travel blogger, Leah has the opportunity to vacation in some gorgeous places, where despite her tunnel vision, she just might meet the person who helps widen her aperture and inspire her to live life to the full.

Linn B. Halton has created fully developed characters with whom you can't help but fall in love. The family relationships she depicted were strong and relatable. Even Rosie was a believable nine year old who added value and depth to the storyline rather than simply being shoved off to the grandparents' so we could focus on the romance aspect. Daniel is a loving, devoted father himself, with a rich backstory. Harrison is lovable, and quite honestly written. The tightly woven story is definitely a strength of Halton's. So is the ability to describe the gorgeous Athens.

It was wonderful to experience Leah as she held true to her convictions, and became a stronger woman who refused to compromise. I loved her relationship with Rosie, who was the focus of her life, and her love and mutual respect for her parents. She strove to be an honest friend, and was level headed when faced with her own deficiency. Leah was a main character I could respect even if I may have handled things differently from the way she was written. Same thing with Daniel.

The main criticism I have is that I did occasionally get bogged down in the minute details of Leah's everyday life. This is one area where the descriptiveness tended to be a hindrance. There were a couple of minor editorial slips in the story that took me out of it for a moment, but overall, this was wonderfully crafted fiction, and I felt satisfied and complete when the story came to an end.

When I heard that Linn B. Halton had a new novel coming out, I couldn't wait for it to land on my Kindle. I read The Secrets of Villa Rosso back in July and adored it so I was hoping that I would feel the same about A Greek Affair. I am delighted to say that it did not disappoint!

A Greek Affair is a contemporary romance novel which follows 31-year old single mum and travel blogger Leah and her 9 year old daughter Rosie as they transition through an important part of their life after Leah wins a prestigious blogger award and the offers start rolling in.

I warmed to Leah instantly. We are around the same age and both have interests in photography and blogging. I think it is worth highlighting that Linn B. Halton illustrates very well how much time and effort it takes to run a blog, let alone to make it award winning. As a blogger, it was endearing to read.

Rosie is just a delight and very mature for a 9 year old. I also adored Harrison, who Leah meets on one of her assignments. Every woman should have a Harrison in their lives. You'll have to read the story to find out what I mean by that!

Linn B. Halton's writing is so fluid that it makes A Greek Affair an easy read and her description is immersive - both of which I know are not easy to produce. I read this story in cold, rainy December and was instantly transported to summer in Athens, sitting by the pool, visiting tourist sites early in the morning to avoid the heat of the midday sun and then chilling in the shade whilst sampling the delights of Greek cuisine.

I don't know what it is about Linn B. Halton's writing but as in The Secrets of Villa Rosso, there were occasions where her words jumped off of the page and touched me so deeply. Something in me really resonates with Linn's writing and I love that connection between a reader and writer.

This story goes so much deeper than the cover and blurb suggest. It's fabulous and I am very much looking forward to reading Linn's next book.

So, in these grey, dreary, post-Christmas days of January, when the glitter and sparkle of the Christmas decorations are a dim memory and we are waiting for the plop of the credit card bills on the mat, our thoughts inevitably turn with longing to the hot, sunny days and relaxed, scented evenings of our summer holidays. Or is that just me?

This is the first year for the last five when January holiday planning hasn’t meant organising and selling them to other people, so instead I am indulging my daydreams through reading and my first book set in in warmer climes has been A Greek Affair by Linn B. Halton, and it has been the perfect one to cheer up these early days of the new year which can often feel a little flat and depressing.

Linn is whisking us off, firstly on a cruise in the Med, and then to the ancient and imposing city of Athens with the heroine of her new book, Leah, a struggling single mother still dealing with the fallout of being abandoned by her husband and trying her best to make a good life for her daughter, Rosie. She is single-minded and focused on her goals until fate (or is it the Greek gods) throw not one, but two, handsome men in to her path!

This book was everything you would expect from a novel with travel as a central theme and I really enjoyed the blogger angle, which I am surprised has not featured in more recent books (maybe I’m just reading the wrong books) but actually, the book goes far beyond a superficial, holiday romance story.

As a single parent myself, this book tackles some real emotional truths about the hardships of that condition in an honest but sensitive way and I was totally in tune and sympathetic with what Leah was going through in this book. Trying to balance the needs of young children with the emotional demands of your own life is a very tricky path to navigate, and one which more and more women will be able to relate to in modern times, and Linn has dealt with it with a real depth of understanding and sensitivity which was a pleasure to read.

There is a lot to enjoy in this book. The characters are all wonderfully drawn – I particularly loved Leah’s parents and Harrison, and the exotic settings are brought to life in such a way to satisfy the pickiest armchair traveller. Beware though, her descriptions will give you a serious craving for Greek food! I am still thinking about the saganaki as I type this. However, the real standout aspect of this book for me is the personal struggle of Leah in balancing her own needs with that of her child and the honest portrayal of this dilemma raises this book above the level of simple beach read.

Highly recommended for those needing a little sunshine in their lives, coupled with an involving, emotional story.

A dazzling story about love, friendship, family, and second chances!

This book will bring some much needed sunshine into the darkest of winter days.... nothing better than a book that allows you to vacation without the need of a passport or to get on an airplane.... in this book we got to virtually take many trips the best of them being a trip to Greece... Lin B. Halton did such a wonderful job of describing the sites, the sounds, the smells, the people, and the food of Greece that I feel as though I can scratch it off my bucket list....

Leah is a single mother with a lovely 9-year-old daughter Rosie... Leah has had to claw her way back after her ex not only left her for another woman, but left her in financial ruin... Leah is now an up and coming travel blogger... she is also surrounded by some pretty amazing people including her parents who are supportive and helpful and pretty darn stellar grandparents! While on a cruise she befriends a remarkable man name Harrison, I really found the friendship between them quite wonderful.... when in Greece she meets Daniel an archaeology professor on a dig, An amazing tour guide, and a man with a secret.... there is definite chemistry between Leah and Daniel, but they both have some reservations as well as some issues... when it comes to matters of the heart, nothing is ever easy....

This book was so realistic, filled with a few complicated love stories and several fantastic characters.... I was probably frustrated with almost every character in this book at one time or another... how could they not see what was right in front of them? Every character in this book was really likable and Rosie was downright adorable! I loved that Rosie had such an important part in her mother’s travel blog... I also loved that this book addressed how time consuming blogging can be... although I must admit Leah got some pretty fantastic perks!

An enchanting story full of warmth and heart, absolutely recommend!

*** many thanks to Harper Impulse for my copy of this book ***

I had a hard time sticking with this book. It did not keep my interest and I found that I didn't care enough about them to keep reading. It was a fairly simple story and didn't take that long to read really.

This book was not what I expected. It dragged a lot and the endless minor details of the character's life seemed boring.

When I saw that this book was set in Greece, I knew I had to read it. From the start, I was sucked into Leah's life as we discover in the first chapter that her cheating husband leaves her to bring up their baby daughter. Fast forward several years and when she meets archaeologist Daniel in Athens, there is definitely a spark. However, true love never runs smoothly as there are obstacles which prevent them being together.
The author does a great job of taking the reader on an emotional journey as well as taking us on a journey around the sights of Athens. I loved following in their footsteps in a city I know well. This is a wonderful book from start to finish which I thoroughly enjoyed.

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My Thoughts…

I am a blogger, I can relate to Leah’s time and energy that she puts into her travel blog. I love that she is able to support her family, take vacations that she doesn’t have to pay for but has to write about, and can enjoy life after being left with a ton of debt, a baby, and life to rebuild when her husband bails on her. She shows her strength, determination, and motherly grit just to make ends meet and make a great life for her daughter.

I took away from this book how it really takes a village to raise a child. Leah’s parents step up and help her with daughter anytime they can. They enjoy spending time with her, shower her with love, and support her every time they can. They also support Leah’s blog, her travels, and encourage her to find happiness again.


The friendships, the blogger relationships, and the amazing parenting all make this book realistic. I found myself wanting to be part of their family. I wanted to travel with Leah and meet the amazing people she did.

Perfect. The storyline is a wonderful escape and, quite honestly, I have told everyone I know who would even remotely be interested to read A Greek Affair. I absolutely loved it.

Leah Castelli has had a tough few years. Forced to raise her young daughter as a single Mum whilst contending with the devastating aftermath that was the sudden end of her marriage, she is absolutely thrilled when she wins a prestigious travel blogger award. Suddenly, doors are opening up to her and she is receiving offers to review glamorous travel locations. Closed off to the idea of love, suddenly she finds herself in Greece, meeting a man who makes her feel for the first time in a long time. But can she trust him?

Now that we're deep into dark mornings and even darker nights, I was very much looking forward to a little sunshine from my reading. A Greek Affair was exactly what I needed to dust away the doldrums. It had everything I was looking for; likeable characters, a beautiful setting, romance and of course, no love story would be worth it's salt if there wasn't a little bit of conflict involved!

Leah is a great main character. She is lovely, endearing and very normal. She could very easily be one of your friends. For this reason I instantly warmed to her and even felt myself bristling in anger on her behalf at certain points in the story. Her relationship with her daughter, Rosie, is truly heart warming and the author has done a fantastic job of capturing the dynamic between them.

The novel also features some brilliant secondary characters, Harrison in particular. A plea to the author - can we please have a Harrison spin off!?

A Greek Affair is a take on the complications of relationships for single parents. It's not just a story about romantic love, but about the love a parent has for their child. A thoroughly enjoyable novel, perfect if you're in search of a bit of winter sun) or if you're lucky enough to actually see some real winter sun!).

This was the perfect book to end the year on! Amongst all the dark and gloomy weather, winter woollies and roaring fires, this book shines like a sun-ridden beacon! I mean, could this cover be any more enticing at the end of December!?

Leah is a single mum who is just going through a divorce. Her and her daughter, Rosie decide to set up a travel blog and this leads to Leah winning a prestigious travel blogger award. This means that they both have countless offers of holiday destinations and when the chance of a trip to Greece comes up, will Leah finally meet the man of her dreams and help her move on with her life?

This whole book is bought to life with the beautiful descriptions of Athens, where Leah and Rosie end up going! I’ve never been to Athens, but thanks to this author I now feel like I have been! The experience is added to further by the descriptions of the food and people of Athens also! I love Leah’s relationship with her daughter, Rosie and they come across as the perfect team together. It’s obvious that Leah has trust issues when it comes to men, and who can blame her, so when she meets Daniel and his daughter Bella in Athens, it takes a lot for her to be able to trust him.

This was a lovely heart-warming read filled with family, love and relationships. A story about learning to trust, move on and be happy, it is absolutely perfect to read whilst under a blanket on a cold winter’s day or lazing around by the pool during the summer! Lovely characters, an emotional storyline and beautiful locations! Would definitely recommend.

I love reading Christmas stories but on the other hand I am quite happy to leave them behind for about a year and I was so looking forward to start a book partly taking place in sunny Greece. I do admit that the festive season also gives you a warm feeling but I am still more a sun, sea and sand kind of girl. Give me blue skies and seas and white beaches and I am packing my suitcase.

Well this book made me want to jump on a plane and read it under an umbrella basking in the warm weather, but I will have to make do by reading it at home under a cosy blanket.

There are a lot of descriptions in the book about nature and interior designs. I like that because I am a very visual person and I like to be able to picture exactly what the background is. In this case it was very detailed but I think it was a very good call due to the main character’s occupation. It was like killing two birds with one stone resulting in a perfect fit.

The story is about love lost and found again, coming to terms with the past and looking forward to the future and about making difficult decisions in the process.

I liked the book and I was pleased there was an epilogue to give us a glimpse into the future. I can say, without any doubt, that my first read of the new year was a success. 4 stars.

Personally, I think it’s pretty cool that Leah is able to win an award for her blog. With so many people are blogging these days, it’d be pretty hard to make a living off of blogging alone.

Personally, I’m lucky if I can crack double digits when a new review goes up! That’s not to say I’m not grateful for all those who have followed me. I just have no idea how many of them are reading them, so I can really appreciate her achievement.

Linn’s descriptions of the locations in and around Athens really struck a chord, in a way a photo never could. Which means I now have even more possible locations I didn’t know about on my list of places in Athens to visit!

With Daniel and Antonio involved in Leah’s life at the same time I started to get a little bit obsessed. I spent probably a good quarter of the book trying to figure out what could be happening. Was Leah going to end up with her child’s father, or the new guy who doesn’t quite add up?

For that reason, I found a number of surprises along the way, but I enjoyed each and every one of them. By the time I got to work I just had to spend another 10 minutes reading while I ate my breakfast. Just so I could finish the chapter here Leah and Antonio talk for the first time in over 7 years! I was hooked, and I needed to know what went down with that phone call!

What irked me a little was that at the end of the last chapter it simply says “The End”. Yet I knew from looking at the contents that there was still the epilogue to go.

It made me feel cheated a little bit. If I hadn’t have looked at the contents I wouldn’t have known there was a little bit more. And that little bit more wraps it up beautifully!

So I don’t get why you’d trick your readers into thinking there’s nothing else when you want them to finish the story? So when you read this one, make sure you read the epilogue after it say’s “The End”!