Found in Corfu

Little Blue Door #4

by Francesca Catlow

Theadora’s beloved Kassiopi is her home. From the tapestry of paved streets and the glittering shingle bays, to the technicolour of fishing boats lacing the harbour, she feels she belongs here. It doesn’t matter that she was adopted from Romania and brought to live in Corfu. This is her home.

When she decides to find out more about her heritage, her whole life begins to unravel. She could never imagine her loving family could be riddled with secrets. Her bright blue eyes and flowing blonde hair meant her parents could never keep her adoption a secret, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been telling the truth.

Theadora tries to push the revelations about her adoption to one side and enjoy her time with her boyfriend. It’s only when she can’t share a new discovery with him, but instead confides in her lifelong friend Dinos, that things truly unravel. Theadora isn’t safe. Her life is falling apart, and she doesn’t know who to trust.

With secrets and lies pulling her life apart, will Theadora pick safety or happiness? And who can she really trust? If she can find the strength to pursue the family that left her behind all those years ago, will they even want to see her at all?

Found in Corfu is a romantic Greek escape with emotionally charged twists and turns that can be read as a standalone or as part of the Little Blue Door Series. It features a young protagonist finding her way in the world after discovering life changing secrets.

415 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2024

About the author

Francesca Catlow writes bestselling fiction filled with passionate love stories that feature flawed, and sometimes broken, characters as they face a crossroads in their life. She often explores heartbreaking themes while also whisking readers off to beautiful locations.

Francesca loves to travel. Born and raised in the heart of Suffolk, England, she has travelled extensively in Europe with her French husband and, more recently, their two children. In 2024 she relocated to France where she spends her days dreaming up stories and her evenings sitting in her garden relaxing with her family.

In 2023 Francesca was a finalist for the prestigious Kindle Storyteller Award, and was nominated for an Innovation Award for her work with libraries in Suffolk.

Francesca loves to hear from her readers – if you would like to contact her, you can do so on her social pages, or subscribe to her newsletter.

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For trigger warnings visit: francescacatlow.co.uk/trigger-warnings/

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the author.

Found in Corfu is book four in the Little Blue Door series and can be read as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading each book in order to avoid spoiling reveals in the plot.
In this instalment, we follow Theodora (Dora) as she embarks on discovering who she is and where she originally came from. Dora has always known she was adopted at birth and longs to find out her roots, especially as she doesn't typically look Greek with her tall stature, fair skin, and blonde hair. But as Dora starts to discover and unravel the past, she discovers more than she bargained for putting her adoptive family on dangerous ground. With no one else to confide in, she turns to her childhood friend, which angers her boyfriend Sebastian, showing an ugly side of jealousy and possessiveness, which also puts Dora and her family at risk of being ruined.
I really felt for Dora with her situations with both her family and boyfriend. I was so happy at the end and hope to hear more of her story going forward. What I love with Francescas books in this series is how the main characters overlap into each book making the series so endeering to read as its like seeing an old friend whenever one of them appears within one of the books.

[Jinxy_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been eagerly awaiting the next Francesca Catlow book and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. The background of Corfu always so beautifully described transports you there. This story is mainly set in lovely Kassiopi but of course Agios Stefanos also plays its part. Theodora is a teenage girl innocently looking into her history which then turns everything upside down! I loved the different relationships and seeing Theodora mature over the three years covered by the story.

[Salli · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh dear, such a wasted opportunity. The psychology of the piece just seemed all weird to me.

I spent all of my time worried that 'Dora was going to be attacked by Sebastian, every time she met Dinos, that I failed to enjoy the book at all. And Sebastian's final downfall was so sudden and unexplored. At no point did we have any understanding of what Sebastian's hold over the family might be (Just a simple rumour about a place burning down). And we never met the third daughter, also just a told rumour, we never really see what she wanted. it felt like she was there to create the effect of rejection not to server any other purpose. the two aunts’ rift with the grandparents also told not shown.
All too vague and too scary at the same time for me.
If the missing information is in the first three books, then some effort should be made to include elements of it in this book.

[Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, #4 in the Little Blue Door books. It pulled together Theodora's story with Melodie's. I wish Theodora had been more open with her parents which would have saved her from the years of abuse by her then controlling boyfriend (and saved readers from "listening" to her ruminations and dithering about Sebastian while she was in love with Dinos!).

[Paula Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely could not put this book down!

Loved this book and sat up until 1:50am as I couldn’t put it down. An amazing story line, great characters and downloading the whole series. Thank you so much for a great read, thrilled to have found a new author.

[Carole Handel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape to Corfu

Escape to Corfu with this story about family values, no matter how a family is made up. Follow Dora as she negotiates changing friendships and a challenging relationship. Complicated by the fact that she is adopted and decides to take a DNA test.

[Christineeagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

The whole series of books are filled with, love, relationships and intrigue that keep you engrossed and give you a feeling for the Island and it's people loved every page

[Maureen Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect way to finish this series

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put down. So glad Dora and Melodic found each other and it gave Dora the strength to do the right thing and tell her family the truth