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Sailing Solo
A fun-filled romance, perfect for long, hot summer days...and nights.
Love isn’t always plain sailing.
Willa Daventry knows what she wants. She’s thirty-two, single and eager to make her 'singles sailing holidays' a successful part of her family’s travel business. She doesn’t usually mix business with pleasure but the attentions of three handsome men under the blazing Greek sun are enough to turn any girl’s head, however hard she tries to keep things strictly professional.
She needs to negotiate a new deal with Greek hotel owner, Aristaios Nikolades. Advertising executive, Harry ‘Banner’ Bullen has skills that could boost her business, and a five-star review from award-winning travel writer, Mark Thornton would be a dream come true.
But these three gorgeous men have a few ambitions of their own, and everyone knows that sun, sea and alcohol make a heady combination.
Can Willa achieve her goals and possibly find love along the way? Or, when she learns the truth, will she feel she’s better off simply sailing solo?
Love isn’t always plain sailing.
Willa Daventry knows what she wants. She’s thirty-two, single and eager to make her 'singles sailing holidays' a successful part of her family’s travel business. She doesn’t usually mix business with pleasure but the attentions of three handsome men under the blazing Greek sun are enough to turn any girl’s head, however hard she tries to keep things strictly professional.
She needs to negotiate a new deal with Greek hotel owner, Aristaios Nikolades. Advertising executive, Harry ‘Banner’ Bullen has skills that could boost her business, and a five-star review from award-winning travel writer, Mark Thornton would be a dream come true.
But these three gorgeous men have a few ambitions of their own, and everyone knows that sun, sea and alcohol make a heady combination.
Can Willa achieve her goals and possibly find love along the way? Or, when she learns the truth, will she feel she’s better off simply sailing solo?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2013
115 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Emily Harvale
77 books220 followersEmily writes novels, novellas and short stories about friendship, family and falling in love. She believes in love at first sight and she loves a happy ending but knows that life doesn't always go to plan. Her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.
Emily loves to connect with her readers. In addition to her newsletter, she has a readers' group on Facebook, where she shares all her latest news and even gets readers involved in choosing titles, book covers and more. To catch up with Emily, find out about the group, or connect with her on social media, go to her website at https://www.emilyharvale.com
Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her home town of Hastings where she writes full-time. She’s a member of the SoA, an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. When not writing, Emily says she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, but she’s more likely to be found with friends, enjoying a glass of wine or a cup of coffee, and definitely some cake. Emily has two mischievous rescue cats, Beatrix and Portia, who like to sprawl across her keyboard, regardless of whether Emily is typing on it, or not.
Catch up with Emily on her website https://www.emilyharvale.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/emilyharvalew... or Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emilyharvale
Emily loves to connect with her readers. In addition to her newsletter, she has a readers' group on Facebook, where she shares all her latest news and even gets readers involved in choosing titles, book covers and more. To catch up with Emily, find out about the group, or connect with her on social media, go to her website at https://www.emilyharvale.com
Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her home town of Hastings where she writes full-time. She’s a member of the SoA, an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. When not writing, Emily says she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, but she’s more likely to be found with friends, enjoying a glass of wine or a cup of coffee, and definitely some cake. Emily has two mischievous rescue cats, Beatrix and Portia, who like to sprawl across her keyboard, regardless of whether Emily is typing on it, or not.
Catch up with Emily on her website https://www.emilyharvale.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/emilyharvalew... or Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emilyharvale
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 9, 2020
Disappointing
Only plot to "Sailing Solo" was how to get somebody, anybody to have sex. Unbelievable that one of the main characters who is responsible for a new travel adventure for her father's company spends so little time actually working, and more time scheming with her friend.
Only plot to "Sailing Solo" was how to get somebody, anybody to have sex. Unbelievable that one of the main characters who is responsible for a new travel adventure for her father's company spends so little time actually working, and more time scheming with her friend.
January 21, 2023
I’ve read a fair few books by author Emily last year and I’m really enjoying them all. My only regret is that I didn’t get around to reading any of her books sooner.
This was a lovely story, delightful and fun, plenty of laugh out loud moments. Wonderful characters, all well written as was the story.
Already looking forward to my next read by Emily Harvale in the future.
This was a lovely story, delightful and fun, plenty of laugh out loud moments. Wonderful characters, all well written as was the story.
Already looking forward to my next read by Emily Harvale in the future.
January 13, 2018
Great!!!!!!
A very believable love story!! I know love can and does happen on first sight, but when it has time to mature it ends up being the most solid. A very well written book!! Thank you for the pleasure.
A very believable love story!! I know love can and does happen on first sight, but when it has time to mature it ends up being the most solid. A very well written book!! Thank you for the pleasure.
January 8, 2019
Great chick lit
I love all Emily Harvales book they’re just easy summer reads/chick lits! There’s enough doom & gloom in the world I like my stories happy
I love all Emily Harvales book they’re just easy summer reads/chick lits! There’s enough doom & gloom in the world I like my stories happy
June 16, 2019
Wonderful
I really enjoyed this book and the characters are really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys cozy stories
I really enjoyed this book and the characters are really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys cozy stories
June 28, 2020
Funny but prefer her later books
August 6, 2021
Entertaining
Another fantastic book from Emily. Loved the storyline and enjoyed the outcome which I thought would never happen. Thank you Emily
Another fantastic book from Emily. Loved the storyline and enjoyed the outcome which I thought would never happen. Thank you Emily
April 27, 2016
Well I'm single, I love Greece, holidays and sexy men, and I don't mind sitting on a boat while someone sails, so a Sailing Solo holiday would be a fantastic fit for me. Based on what I was reading I would have loved every second of my trip, had I really gone on one of these holidays.
Willa runs the singles sailing holidays and wants to make it a successful part of her family business, despite her father not letting her forget an incident from her first summer season when she was 18 years old. She generally won't mix business and pleasure, unlike her good friend and colleague Blossom.
However this is the summer where things change, and within the first week of the season, there are three men all so determined to date Willa, that they make a bet. Needless to say it isn't exactly all fun and games for Willa, although it is for the reader, as we see the men compete for her attentions.
I had strong feelings towards one of the men right from the start, and there is a clear connection between them even if they are both determined to mask their true feelings with large amounts of witty banter. There are a lot of laughs to be had in Sailing Solo, and I definitely felt transported to the coast of mainland Greece.
There is great Greek food, lovely scenery and sexy greek men, in addition to the other fantastic looking men. Although there isn't a whole deal of sex in the story, there is a large amount of suggestion, and flirting. I felt utterly transported to the scene of these singles holidays including the magnificent hotel that was being used as a base, and the writing was very descriptive and a joy to read.
This is another superb book by the very talented Emily Harvale and I loved every minute of it.
Willa runs the singles sailing holidays and wants to make it a successful part of her family business, despite her father not letting her forget an incident from her first summer season when she was 18 years old. She generally won't mix business and pleasure, unlike her good friend and colleague Blossom.
However this is the summer where things change, and within the first week of the season, there are three men all so determined to date Willa, that they make a bet. Needless to say it isn't exactly all fun and games for Willa, although it is for the reader, as we see the men compete for her attentions.
I had strong feelings towards one of the men right from the start, and there is a clear connection between them even if they are both determined to mask their true feelings with large amounts of witty banter. There are a lot of laughs to be had in Sailing Solo, and I definitely felt transported to the coast of mainland Greece.
There is great Greek food, lovely scenery and sexy greek men, in addition to the other fantastic looking men. Although there isn't a whole deal of sex in the story, there is a large amount of suggestion, and flirting. I felt utterly transported to the scene of these singles holidays including the magnificent hotel that was being used as a base, and the writing was very descriptive and a joy to read.
This is another superb book by the very talented Emily Harvale and I loved every minute of it.
July 30, 2013
An enjoyable little chick-lit read centred around Willa Daventry who runs singles sailings holidays on a gorgeous Greek island with her best friend Blossom. When travel writer Mark Thornton arrives to review the holidays on offer, his reputation comes before him, and right from the word “go” you know that things are going to start sizzling between them.
The story is cosily predictable in a nice chick-lit way – a fun story that is easy to read, that you don’t have to think too hard about, which sometimes is all you really want although it did get a bit corny sometimes with the dialogue.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the Greek island, they were very vivid and really made me long for a spot of lazy, Greek, sunny island life. However, I was a little disappointed to find that not a lot of actual sailing goes on in the book. Despite the holidays being sailing orientated for singles, although we were told people were spending time sailing, we only actually “went sailing” in the book once. That one trip wasn’t really described much at all, and it would have been nice to get that feel of sailing on the open sea with the wind in my hair, but it just didn’t happen. My other gripe was to do with Suki – when she goes off to practice what she learned from her ex-husband (don’t want to say more in case I spoil it for anyone else), we find out what happens through a conversation after the event, whereas I would have liked to have read that part in full, it sounded fun and could have made some good reading.
However, despite the gripes this is still a pleasant way to while away a sunny afternoon.
The story is cosily predictable in a nice chick-lit way – a fun story that is easy to read, that you don’t have to think too hard about, which sometimes is all you really want although it did get a bit corny sometimes with the dialogue.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the Greek island, they were very vivid and really made me long for a spot of lazy, Greek, sunny island life. However, I was a little disappointed to find that not a lot of actual sailing goes on in the book. Despite the holidays being sailing orientated for singles, although we were told people were spending time sailing, we only actually “went sailing” in the book once. That one trip wasn’t really described much at all, and it would have been nice to get that feel of sailing on the open sea with the wind in my hair, but it just didn’t happen. My other gripe was to do with Suki – when she goes off to practice what she learned from her ex-husband (don’t want to say more in case I spoil it for anyone else), we find out what happens through a conversation after the event, whereas I would have liked to have read that part in full, it sounded fun and could have made some good reading.
However, despite the gripes this is still a pleasant way to while away a sunny afternoon.
July 30, 2013
A light hearted fun filled romantic comedy with madcap characters and inevitable misunderstanding - all of which get sorted out in the end. A lovely book to relax and chill with when you are looking for something to pass a lazy weekend.
August 5, 2016
An enjoyable story, with distinctive characters (Blossom reminds me of someone, but I can't think who!), and plenty of misunderstandings, relationship ups-and-downs, and humour.
The setting was pretty great, too. This was an easy, light read, ideal for holidays and lazy weekends.
The setting was pretty great, too. This was an easy, light read, ideal for holidays and lazy weekends.
September 22, 2013
The plot was obvious from the start and none if the characters were particularly likeable. Not a good read.
February 23, 2014
A lovely chick lit
this book made me want to pack my bags and rush off to Greece! The sun, the sailing and of course love is in the air!
this book made me want to pack my bags and rush off to Greece! The sun, the sailing and of course love is in the air!
June 8, 2016
Story was OK, but a bit silly in places, preferred her other books
January 3, 2019
Another great book
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews