One August Night: Sequel to much-loved classic, The Island

Product Information

Hislop expertly delves into the complex history of a fascinating country in this beautifully written family saga' Anne on #Review: Snowbound With The Brooding Lord by Sarah Mallory @SarahMRomance @MillsandBoon @HarlequinBooks #publicationday #histfic #RegencyRomance #RespectRomFic For me, it felt like the story didn’t go anywhere... the story was told through a great deal of narration, with swathes of time being written off, as ‘a year later...’. The dialogue was mostly gentle and sanguine - no family dramas, despite the fact the families had been ‘splintered’.

Firstly, I want to thank Anne Williams who, knowing how much of a Hellenophile I am, kindly sent me a review copy of One August Night. This novel focuses on the story of Anna, Manolis, Andreas and Maria - maybe because I wasn’t invested in any of the characters enough (even Maria, who was so central to The Island), it felt like I was reading a novel based on a soap, or something a lot less substantial. The characters were mostly one dimensionally, and not fully developed enough for the reader to care about the outcome for any of the characters. Manolis suddenly caught the opening notes of a zeibékiko song and felt something inside him stir. The lyrics of this particular song seemed to mirror his life, jabbing at his heart. As if possessed by the power of the music, he rose from his seat… The movements were personal but the tradition of the zeibékiko was known to everyone. It was a dance that should only be performed by a man, and only by a man with grief to express. As the musicians played and the insistent beat thumped and repeated and thumped again, Manolis revolved slowly in a trance-like state, his eyes glazed, unfocused. Someone threw a plate at his feet and one of the girls tossed a flower that she had been wearing in her hair. He was aware of neither.”Review: Murder at the Matterhorn by T A Williams @tawilliamsbooks @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #blogtour #publicationday #BoldwoodBloggers #cosycrime #ArmstrongandOscar #MurderattheMatterhorn November 24, 2023 The author masterfully builds tension throughout the story, creating an atmosphere of anticipation that kept me hooked until the very end. I particularly appreciated the way that the author interweaves themes of identity and self-discovery into the plot. Anna is not looking forward to being a mother nor is she looking forward to her sister, Maria, being released from the island. It is Maria’s return to Crete that triggers a violent act that will change the lives of the two families forever. In the aftermath, the question of how to resume life looms large. Stigma and scandal need to be confronted and somehow, for those impacted, a future built from the ruins of the past.

One August Night focuses on events just prior to and after the return of those exiled on the island, a return made possible by the discovery of a cure for leprosy. You might think it a cause for celebration and indeed for some it is, bringing the prospect of being reunited with relatives and friends, and a return to something like a normal life, albeit that many bear the physical and mental scars of their illness. However, the return of others means bringing to the surface a tangled web of relationships, both past and present. Anna is not looking forward to being a mother nor is she looking forward to her sister, Maria, being released from the island. It is Maria's return to Crete that triggers a violent act that will change the lives of the two families forever. The characters in One August Night are realistically flawed and greatly contributed to my overall enjoyment of the novel. Review: Snowbound With The Brooding Lord by Sarah Mallory @SarahMRomance @MillsandBoon @HarlequinBooks #publicationday #histfic #RegencyRomance #RespectRomFic November 23, 2023Maybe I’m being harsh in my review, because my expectations were too high and I’m feeling disappointed that this book didn’t deliver (hence the two stars rather one). However, anyone who has read Hislop’s previous novels will have the same expectations of a deep, history rich, evocative story - and this book is nowhere near that league. Review: Single All The Way by Elaine Spires @ElaineSWriter @rararesources #blogtour #SinglesSeries #SingleAllTheWay From the synopsis I expected there to be drama, suspense (from the confrontation of the stigma and scandal) and lively dialogue.

One August Night showcases a powerful narrative that effectively captures the intensity of its characters' emotions. When time stops dead for Maria Petrakis and her sister, Anna, two families splinter apart and, for the people of Plaka, the closure of Spinalonga is forever coloured with tragedy. Rosie Amber on #Review: Snowbound With The Brooding Lord by Sarah Mallory @SarahMRomance @MillsandBoon @HarlequinBooks #publicationday #histfic #RegencyRomance #RespectRomFicIt was fascinating to see how each character's individual journey contributes to the larger story arc in One August Night. Review: The Tuscan Orphan by Siobhan Daiko @siobhandaiko @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #blogtour #newrelease #BoldwoodBloggers #histfic #romance #WW2 #RespectRomFic #TheTuscanOrphan August 1957. The island of Spinalonga closes its leprosy colony. And a moment of violence has devastating consequences.

Again there is a lot of historical knowledge shown in the novel about the facts of leprosy and the cure for it. As well as the feeling of somebody who knows about the culture of the area. The affair has consequences and the book goes on to show the life that is lead due to the consequences.

This cookie is stored by WPML WordPress plugin. The purpose of the cookie is to store the redirected language.