This is a lovely book, with vivid descriptions and rich characterisation.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Sadly, there were issues with my downloads of this read, due to this, and the fact it is archived before I noticed I am unable to leave a full review, my fault.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I know I requested this one just based on the title and the cover alone...sometimes that works in my favor and sometimes it doesn't. What I loved about the book was the setting and the descriptions the author used for it...it made me add this place to my list of places I want to go that I read about in a book. What I did not LOVE about the book was pretty much everything else...maybe a little of the story line but I did not connect with any of these characters...I'm not sure why but they just left me feeling a little off with the whole thing. I can see that I am clearly the opposite of what most people were thinking about it so by all means, do not go by what I have to say. Give it a go and I hope you enjoy it.

When Antonia’s romance with her boss isn’t going anywhere she decides to up sticks and take a housekeeper job in Korcula, Croatia. She helps Damir get his villa ready for paying guests. It was very interesting hearing about the food and customs and of course the scenery. Not quite so pleasant is the fairly recent troubles with Bosnia. Besides hostess duties she helps Damir to come to terms with his past. Wasn’t impressed with Antonia’s whining daughter, Honey and what did happen to Ned?! I did feel that the book was dragged out a bit with unnecessary characters and that some of it came across as stilted but on the whole is a good taster for someone wanting to visit this country and worth a read.

Antonia's life isn't turning out as expected. She committed her life to be a mother but suddenly she isn't needed anymore. In an act of spontaneity, she applies for a job as a housekeeper on a Croatian island. This is a beautiful novel that shows you are never too old to discover new things about yourself. The location setting is described beautifully and I could taste the Croatian coffee that is so ritually made each morning. This a wonderful Summer read and worth packing in the suitcase.

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book

This was a great read. Exploring the lives, problems, and struggles of characters all at different stages in their lives. I enjoyed it, it was well written.

I enjoyed this book which followed Antonia as she embarks on a new chapter of her life.
Her life has been turned upside after a divorce then an affair with a married man who was also her boss. She knows she has to do the right thing and end their affair and then make a clean break.
This clean break sees her leaving behind her daughter Honey and taking up a new job as a housekeeper in a new guest house in Croatia.
It’s here that she meets her new boss Damir and helps him not only to run the guest house but also to delve into his past and face his demons.
A well written story and is full of emotion and seals with several emotional issues.

Antonia leaves her job, her married boyfriend, and her not quite grown up needy daughter to work as a house keeper in a gorgeous guest house in Croatia. She needs to find herself. Fabric seems to be the perfect boss. However as they become friends she discovers he is battling huge demons from the past growing up in war torn Bosnia, and is haunted by the memories as well as the huge gaps in knowledge about his past. He has to come to terms with his past to have any sort of future. Is there a chance they can help each other? Great story, but disjointed at times

What a lovely book. The scene was set so well and I wished I was there as it sounds so beautiful. Would definitely recommend

I was given a copy of The Olive Grove by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The book is set in modern day Croatia. Antonia moves to Croatia to be a live in housekeeper in a small hotel, escaping a relationship with a married man. Damir is running the hotel, he has flashbacks from his past in the Croatian war. Both were really likeable characters. A great well written novel, a must read.

A beautiful story about love, friendship, motherhood and the impact of war on people’s lives. One that stays with you long after you’ve read the last page. 5 stars

Gem of a book with excellent story and writing, which is rare for me to say. The overall feel of the book was wonder and I really loved it

This is such a well written story. The characters are really believable and the setting made me want to visit Korcula. I really enjoyed they way that the ravages of war were so sympathetically woven into the story. Well worth a read.

The Olive Grove was written by a new author for me in a locale I am not familiar with. Eva has delivered a fantastic story with strong characters in a beautiful part of the world - Croatia. Being both dramatic and hopeful, it's about new beginnings and second chances.

“You took a chance on me,” he said, “now I will take one on you.”

Firstly there is Antonia who finds herself at a crossroads and the courage she has to make positive changes. Secondly, is Damir who has to confront the demons from his past. Then, of course, comes Croatia, a place I don’t know a great deal of excepting the war. I believe Eva has done a wonderful job in taking her readers on a journey, making it feel as if they are there taking in all the views and sights.

A book that makes you invested in the characters and desiring a happy resolution for them all is one that is always well written. Eva’s writing allows them to be your fictional friends and you cannot help but become a part of their heart warming and uplifting journey.

‘She shrugged. It really didn’t matter. After all, as he had told her right from the start, what mattered in Croatia was the perfect cup of coffee. And a good friend to share it with.’


This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

A lovely heartwarming story set in Croatia, a country that I love. Great characters, I loved Antonia, all with their own flaws that made them relatable and there was a lot more depth to the story than I was originally expecting

I really loved this book which turns out to be very different from what you think it will be. Initially, it seems to be a tale of Antonia taking a job as a housekeeper on an island in Croatia to get over her love affair with married man Ned. However, it is so much more than that. Antonia's daughter Hollie and her partner Sarah have been having some problems so it gives them space to try to sort out their relationship as all three live together. We meet Antonia's boss, Demir, who has secrets he tries to cover up from his experience as a child in the Bosnian war. This is a book of so many different parts and I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters, the different strands of the story and the beautiful setting. I did think it ended a bit sharpish and it would be nice if there was a follow up but that's just a minor niggle. I am really grateful to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this lovely book.

A beautifully told story with the backdrop of the Croatian as we meet Antonia, a refreshingly slightly older main character, who embarks on a journey to find herself after leaving an unhealthy relationship with a married man. Damir has ghosts of his own the wrestle with from his childhood. Two struggling souls brought together to try to find themselves and ultimately happiness. It was lovely to have a story set in a less than usual location.

This was a totally different book to what I was expecting and it took a while to get my head round that. I found the beginning slow- but maybe because I was expecting something different- but in the end I was totally invested in the story. I enjoyed the characters and found them very well written and developed