Samantha appears to have everything going right in her life until one bad decision changes everything. After finding herself to be a villain in the press, she flees London to spend time with her sister and her family on their farm in Greece. Little does she know this time away will change her view on her life. A light-hearted, fun read, Sue Roberts' The Great Greek Escape reminds us all what is really important in life and that people are not as they always appear.

This was a sweet story of a woman who finds the support of her family and a good man. It was wonderful to see Sam develop and fall into a healthy supportive relationship. There were not any heavy smut scenes and the descriptions of Greece were beautiful! It really made me miss traveling. I cannot wait to get back to our regular world with easy travel. Overall, it was a cute book, just slightly anticlimactic. I think it might have just been the male lead did not appeal to me directly. Overall, it is a great light summer read!

I've been craving more uplifting romance reads and I always love a story that takes me to a foreign destination, so I thought I was going to hit the jackpot with The Great Greek Escape. I mean, a Greek setting and the promise of a summer romance with a local? That sounded exactly like what I was looking for to take a little break from my darker reads. I've been looking forward to dive in, and to my surprise I ended up having mixed thoughts instead... And the fun, laugh-out-loud and sizzling romance read that was promised might have been just a tad false advertisement. I'll try to explain my thoughts below.

First of all I have to say that I did love the Greek setting. The author really made both the setting on Rhodes and its inhabitants come alive through the detailed descriptions, and I loved the incorporation of local food as well as Greek phrases. Not only did it make me crave Greek food, but it also set the perfect backdrop for this story and it makes me keep my fingers crossed that I can return to the Greek islands one day. The locals were among my favorite characters (especially Spyros and Sofia), and they were without doubt part of the reason I kept reading.

Talking about the characters... I also really liked Fiona and her family, and I had a great time reading about them. BUT. I really didn't like Sam's character at all. She felt considerably flat and cliche and quite self absorbed, and I simply never really warmed up to her... Likewise, her whole interaction with Aaron felt one dimensional too, and lacked the background and development that would have made it feel credible. I also feel that the story didn't deliver what was promised here: where is the connection and romantic development with the local as the blurb seems to promise, and where is the sizzling romance in general?! Trust me, I'm not complaining that there aren't any steamy scenes involved, but I wanted a summer romance and the story was very light on the romance indeed.

Then we arrive at another point I struggled with: the introduction of a love triangle and a cheating element that is repeated in multiple characters. Both pet peeves of mine and highly annoying to encounter in what I thought would be a fun summer romance story. And especially the love triangle was a real let down, as the main focus wasn't even on the local romantic interest and instead kept repeating the rather one dimensional connection between Aaron and Sam without proper background or development. Where is my sizzling romance with a Greek character?! It feels like the final part of the story wants to make up for all that, and as a consequence the ending felt both rushed and unsatisfying.

I wasn't sure what to make of the TV celebrity and reality TV angle either. I liked the idea behind the premise of Sam hiding away with her family after a scandal, and it does make for a good excuse why she suddenly spends the whole summer on Rhodes. BUT. Her pushing the reality TV program on her sister and her family while they don't really seem to feel like doing it, and not even considering what other people think in general while pushing her own ideas? This was yet another reason why I wasn't impressed by Sam's character at all.

In short, I felt like The Great Greek Escape had so much potential and I did love the Greek setting and various characters, but as a whole this wasn't the sizzling romance that was promised and not at all as fun as I hoped it would be.

This is definitely the book for a lazy summer afternoon. Full of family, friendship and great descriptive writing about Greece.

Samantha is a workaholic whose life takes an unexpected turn. Her error of judgement gives her a chance to experience the slow pace of life in Greece. While staying with her family she begins to see more clearly what is really important to her.

The characters are excellent, I loved the twin girls, and I felt I had escaped to a beautiful tourist destination while enjoying the Greek food and hospitality.

From someone who doesn’t enjoy reading romance books, this is a full five-star read! I was suffering the effects of my vaccine and this book was able to make me forget about the aches and pains and whisk me off to Rhodes, Greece.

The first thing I noticed was the beautiful, descriptive writing. I’ve been to Rhodes, but for someone who hasn’t, Roberts will give you enough information to immerse yourself. She’s captured the charm and slower-paced life perfectly.

The characters were outstanding! Roberts has crafted them with irresistible personalities. They are people you’d instantly connect with and want to spend time in their presence. The ‘villain’ is so expertly represented that you’d want to throw your ouzo at him! The children will make you smile because Roberts has captured the simplicity and innocence of their nature. Ahhh! The reclusive old lady next door! I’d love to spend an afternoon with her. The star of the show is Spyros. Did I mention I don’t care for romances? Well, Roberts showed me that a character CAN be described without lust and scenes can be written without salacious behaviour. Furthermore, she renewed my faith in romance because she was able to put the reader in Samantha’s ‘shoes’ and readers could actually feel the excitement about a new love interest. If this book is any indication of her previous works, she’s converted me. I’m off to search out her backlist. High five for Sue Roberts! She's found the perfect recipe for escape reading with a touch of sweet holiday romance for all of us armchair travellers. THANK YOU!.

The plot was even paced and absorbing. A workplace scandal sends Samantha off to her sister and family in Rhodes. She’s eager to relax and enjoy her time in a place where nobody knows her. Just as she takes interest in the local milk distributor, an old flame comes back into her life. Samantha is faced with choices, both in her career, her choice of ‘home’ and in her love life. Roberts explores the influence family has on our decision making as well as the influence social media plays on shaping our life.

You must put this wholesome, dreamy, vacation romance onto your radar come May 28, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Sue Roberts, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Great Greek Escape by Sue Roberts ticks all of the boxes for a breezy and lighthearted read, perfect for those days when you just need to escape to a sun-drenched and exotic locale. You can always bank on Ms Roberts to provide an irresistable cast of characters who will whisk you away to somewhere magical, and this time around we are jetting off to Rhodes for a spot of romance under the Grecian sun.

Following a scandal in London that forces television presenter Samantha into a career break, she seeks comfort in the bosom of her family on the beautiful island of Rhodes. While licking her wounds, Sam luxuriates in the anonymity of her surroundings while enjoying the company of local Spyros. But when an old flame from home turns up, will he be the man to claim Sam's heart, or will Spyros win her over with his Grecian charm?

This book is the perfect diversion from our current reality. It is light, charming, and just good fun.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

This was such a light hearted summery read! Overall the writing was good and I found it easy to read! Some parts were a little too cringey for my liking. Sam finds herself in the middle of a scandal back home in London and escaped to her sister’s house in Greece for the summer to let it all blow over. She also finds her self reconnecting with an old love and kindling a new relationship while in Greece. Summer romance? Yes please. I was so frustrated with Sam for not making up her mind sooner though!! I absolutely love the small town of Rhodes that the book is set in though. It’s described beautifully and all the residents are so nice. I definitely fell in love with all the characters, they all had a way of pulling you in. I find Sam’s relationship with her family to be so wholesome that it makes me sad that it’s over. I wish there was more to read! I’m definitely going to check out Sue Roberts other books now!

The Great Greek Escape has great world building with the Greek setting and yummy food descriptions. I would love to travel there one day. I adored Sam's family, and especially the twins. I loved Sofia and Spyros as well. It's a great summer escape book, in that there's not a lot of drama. It's just Sam going about her days while she hides after a scandal and enjoying Greece. Eventually she has to choose between city and country life, but it seems like an easy choice, just like the choice between the guys should be easy, but somehow isn't for her.

I don't think Sam has much agency, and may have a flat character arc, so I was left wanting more. I think she could've had more internalization with thoughts and emotions to help me connect with her better. The description says 'sizzling romance' and I don't think there is one. There's an ex and a Greek gentleman, but the heat level is very low. The romantic gestures from Spyros were nice though.

If you'd like to read about a city girl's day to day life as she spends time with her nice, funny family and their neighbors while visiting Greece, then this book is for you.

You always know what you are getting with Sue's books. Whisked off your feet to a beautiful location.

Sam a TV Presenter runs off to her sisters farmhouse after escaping the media.

This book drew me in immediately, the stunning villages of Greece the cute quirky restaurants and Moussaka that I could just devour right now.

Whilst reading I could feel that I was there with Sam strolling along those sandy beaches with the warm breeze blowing through my hair.

I absolutely loved this and enjoyed all the characters, the twins were just a joy!

A perfect pick me up that we all need right now.

Highly recommended and a well deserved ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.

A cute cheerful read that makes you want to take a plane and travel somwhere sunny!
(Even more nowadays)

I felt the beginning a little bit slow, with so much telling (and almost not showing) about her, her job and the status in her relationships. But I really appreciated Sam to be so abissious about her job. The Twitter moment at the beginning after *that* was really funny, because, same girl

Also... Dark-haired male? Sign me in! Ugh, I loved Spyros, he was a love on first sight and I couldn't wait for the sparks with our protagonist while we read about Aaron. He really is THE man (and maybe also Nick) and I aprove it!

On a more personal preference, I felt like there were so many descriptions that, at some points, it took me out of the story. It's great to help it with the image, but sometime there were too much it almost made me *unconfortable* where you only had description upon description about what is she wearing, how the table is dressed, and the details about how she lives. I always prefer the showing part, with the emotions and the sensations rather the telling how Sam loves her live (at the beginning of the book).

But rather than this bit, i really enjoyed the story! It felt light and fun, and at some points you wanted to jump inside the pages to feel this warm sensation of living the Greece fantasy. It was really lovely.

I was completely enraptured while reading The Great Greek Escape. Sam’s life turns upside down with one kiss and photograph. Facing public scorn she escapes to Greece and into the folds of her family. She meets dreamy neighbor Spyros, but does a snake linger in the luscious Greek landscape? I loved the setting and the people. Polly and Rose added small fry relief. I drank in the cover art. It’s absolutely exquisite. Reading this story left me feeling happy and optimistic. I loved how it ended and Sam was open to change and new adventures. It also demonstrates the fickle nature of the media and online platforms. It’s a relaxing, lovely book.

Sun, sea and a sizzling romance… the perfect holiday, right? Wrong.

This was such an enjoyable book! I was immediately sucked in. Absolutely wonderful writing.

The Great Greek Escape
by Sue Roberts

Three Stars ⭐⭐⭐
This book was a nice pleasant story set in Greece with lovely descriptions of the Greek countryside.

Book Overview: Samantha (Sam) damages her career as a TV presenter after a work party went badly. With her job on hold during the summer, she decides to escape to her sister's farmhouse on a Greek Island. Relaxing in the Greek sunshine, she meets some of the neighbors to include a handsome cheesemaker named Spyros.

During her visit, she runs into Aaron, the only man she’s ever been with in a long term relationship. Old feelings are stirred up with Aaron, but she’s also starting to have feelings for Spyros. And, she needs to figure out how to save her flagging career back in London.

Review: I enjoyed the scenic locations and Sam’s sister’s family, Fi, Nick, and the twins, Polly and Rose. The village was a place I would love to visit someday, and the outings Sam takes are fun.

I never felt a connection with Sam, the main character, as she seems self-absorbed and one-dimensional. And I didn’t ever figure out her connection to Aaron, the old boyfriend. I also didn’t care for the reality TV plot line. I would think if a couple moves to Greece for a simpler life, reality TV would be the last thing they would be interested in doing.

I did enjoy the farm, the island and all the interesting characters on the island. The writing flowed well and the pacing was also good.

About the Author: Sue was born in Liverpool and moved to Lancashire as a teenager where she has lived ever since. She has written three books, the third 'My Summer of love and limoncello.' will be published on March 6th and she is busy working on a fourth book. When not busy writing, Sue spends her time with her ever growing family. She enjoys walking, cinema and travelling. Her first book 'My Big Greek Summer.' was inspired by frequent visits to the Island of Rhodes in Greece. All Sue's books are available from Amazon in kindle and paperback format.

I recommend this book and I would read other books by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this advanced readers copy.

Glorious Summer Sun....
Escape to some glorious Summer sun in the Greek islands with Sue Roberts’ latest romcom. With her life in disarray Samantha is more than ready for an escape and when an opportunity comes her way for just that she jumps at the chance. With trademark humour and engaging characters this is perfect escapism not to mention some glorious armchair travelling.

What a lovely summery feel good read! It whisked me away to the Greek island of Rhodes, with wonderful descriptions of the food, scenery and glorious weather.

Sam appears to have it all - an amazing TV career, a beautiful London home, friends she adores. Then one night, a mistake causes it all to come crashing down around her. She finds herself fleeing to stay with her sister and her family on their farm in Rhodes, where she meets local man Spyros and bumps into her ex Aaron out of the blue. Follow Sam and her experiences in Greece, will she find the love she's had missing from her life?

I really enjoyed the story, I was firmly caught up in Sam's life and adored her twin nieces Rose and Polly!