Waiting For Kitto: Romance and intrigue. Cornwall, the Greek Islands & France

by Stephenson Holt

From the time of her first schoolgirl love, Rebecca decided to live a controlling life which left her friendless and loveless. Working for an organisation that didn't officially exist she cracked a traumatic case in her native Cornwall that saw her travel to Greece (chasing the bad guys and also her feelings) and eventually to the vineyards of France. Her Greek housekeeper needed bringing into the 21st century and Rebecca was the one to do it - but who will teach who? Will they both find the love that they are looking for? Will they both get the men that they deserve.

310 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2016

About the author

Stephenson Holt is an author that physically writes between 5am and 8am each morning, leaving that painting to sketch and dream for the rest of the day. Sometimes he returns into normality but not for long periods. For most of his life he is constructing one novel while sketching the next novel – it keeps the mind fresh.
His favourite sketch and dream places are;-
I. Lying on a beach listening to the waves.
II. A favourite armchair in the conservatory with heavy rain on the roof.
III. Laying in a hot bath staring at a tiled wall.
IV. Sitting next to a canal where he used to fish as a boy.
V. Motorway driving.
VI. That chair in the corner of the greenhouse, shielded from the sun by that grapevine and next to the olive tree, full of bird feeders.
VII. Gardening with a corner of his eye on the sparrow returning to the nest in the eaves above him and imagining he’s the sparrow looking down on himself.
VIII. Running a familiar route where he doesn’t have to concentrate on where he’s going.

When stuck for inspiration he will;-
I. Listen to an episode of “The Invisible College” a series of ten minute podcasts from BBC Radio 4 that sit nicely on an iPod.
II. Listen to a three album collection converted to CD of Jack Kerouac reciting and backed by either piano or saxophone. Including “Poetry for the beat generation” and “American Haikus.”
III. Fight like a superhero with a six year old grandson.
IV. Walk in the hills.

Reviews

[Stephanie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about the "bonus features". I settled in for some suspense and was rewarded with an exciting, intriguing adventure, as our main character, Rebecca, hopscotched her way around Great Britain and Europe fighting crime and corruption with precision and ease, complete with code names and chase scenes. I was pleasantly surprised to have the opportunity to stop and smell the roses along the way, enjoying breath-taking imagery, thoughtful exploration of cultural norms, and even the occasional well-worded poem. I also enjoyed not one, but two steamy romances, of both the whirlwind and the "finally-came-to-your-senses" variety, complete with passionate embraces and touching declarations. There were even a few life lessons to ponder well after the last page was read. My favorite aspect of the story, though, was the humor. For instance, I loved the quirky tangents Bec's mind drifted off on, whether she was facing a serial killer and remembering the bird she had failed to identify earlier was a blue tit or she was having sex and cursing the fact that she had never done the sit-ups she had read about in magazines that would have strengthened her core. The humor, coupled with thorough character development, allowed for believably flawed, likable, 3-dimensional characters that were easy to cheer for. Bravo and thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable read!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of Stephenson Holt’s The Three Girls Trilogy, Waiting for Kitto has something for many readers, all built around the central character, Rebecca, with whom I felt some affinity, although sadly not with ownership of houses in St Ives, Greece and France respectively; I want them, I just don’t have the wherewithal to buy them. But I digress; in Rebecca we have a crime-fighting, hard-drinking and hard-loving (although this last is in abeyance at the start of the story) woman. The love interest in the first part of the novel is provided by Paraskevi, her friend-cum-housekeeper-cum-partner-in-crimefighting on the Greek island where Rebecca owns a house, until the latter realises what she could be missing out on and ups her game.

Elsewhere, there are references to the local people of St Ives being priced out of the housing market by incomers from elsewhere, as well as the poor state of the fishing industry and the effect on the fishermen trying to make a living from it; plus the effect of mass migration on the section of the Greek economy which depends upon tourism. These effectively site Rebecca’s activities, both professional and personal, in a world familiar to the reader, along with other cultural references to London and Greece. There is a donning of disguise to evade one of the bad guys, a car chase through France and a couple of hunky guys in Petros and Kitto; oh, and some erotic action, of course.

A plot which holds together, believable characters and well-painted scenery; a good read in a story held together effectively by Rebecca; I like her; she deserves five stars.

[Onia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have now read my first Stephenson Holt novel Waiting For Kitto; the first in the Three Girls Trilogy. The book is set in Cornwall, France and Greece. I was fortunate enough to read the book on holiday, sat on an Aegean beach, it made a perfect holiday read. The characters are addictive, the plot gripping and the locations beautifully brought to life. Becs, our hero, is flawed and vulnerable, but equally brave and sassy. Some of the storyline made me reaffirm my own beliefs around female emancipation and feminism.
I will now read the remaining books in the series. Highly recommended.
Beautifully set, intriguing plot and strong characters.