Nights of Rain and Stars: Four strangers, a beautiful Greek island and a summer that will change their lives forever...

Maeve Binchy

Dec 2009 · Hachette UK

About this ebook

'They were still talking as the first stars came into the sky...'
Four strangers meet at a taverna on a beautiful Greek island, with nothing in common except a need to escape. But over one magical summer they'll discover that sometimes, the people who understand you the best can be the ones who don't know you at all...

Fiona left her nursing career in Ireland to be with the man everyone thinks is wrong for her. Elsa fled Germany and her high-powered television job once she learned what the man she loved was hiding from her. Thomas mourns his failed marriage and misses his young son in California, while David yearns to reconcile with his family in England without having to go into the family business.

Chance has brought them together, and together they will find new ways of looking at the lives they left behind.
___________
Find out why millions of readers adore Maeve Binchy...

'A story to lift your heart and bring you peace.' (Five stars)

'Maeve Binchy in the sunshine of Greece - what more could one want?' (Five stars)

'Happy and life-affirming' (Five stars)

'The Greek island itself was so real, it made you want to pack a suitcase an rush off to live there.' (Five stars)

'Set on a beautiful Greek island, and as you get caught up in the story you feel as if you have been there yourself.' (Five stars)

'Romance, disappointments, opportunities taken, beautiful Greece all tied up in a holiday package.' (Five stars)
___________
SPECIAL EDITION FEATURING 'MEMORIES OF MAEVE' FROM:
Minnie Driver - Marian Keyes - Cathy Kelly - Veronica Henry
Jilly Cooper - Lorraine Kelly - Jenny Colgan - Katie Fforde - Ruby Wax
Patricia Scanlan - Liz Nugent - Megan Nolan - Maeve's friends & colleagues
Introduced by Maeve's husband, Gordon Snell.
___________
'One of my all-time favourites' LORRAINE KELLY

'An absolute joy. Maeve sweeps you away to an island paradise!' VERONICA HENRY

'A brilliant storyteller' GRAHAM NORTON

'A master storyteller' NEW YORK TIMES

'Maeve Binchy was my hero' MARIAN KEYES

'The Queen of Fiction' IRISH TIMES

'A true star' JILLY COOPER

'A remarkable writer' RUBY WAX

'Wielded her pen with dizzying genius' CATHY KELLY

Ratings and reviews

Another re-read from many years ago and as good as ever! Aghia Anna is far off the beaten tourist track in Greece; and yet four people from separate countries all find themselves there at the same time, each having left home and looking for somewhere to settle. When a tragedy strikes the small community, they feel affected and it brings them together with the locals. Vonni is an Irish woman who has lived in the village for what feels like a lifetime and she becomes intertwined in all their lives. You can’t fail to become interested in each life in this novel; they are so beautifully crafted that each and every person seems real, as do their issues. There is, however, far more to this story that just a few tourists; each character has their own part to play and wisdom to impart. It is an absolutely gorgeous story from beginning to end – the kind which sweeps you up and into it until you can imagine the hot Greek sun beating down. A glorious read, so very enjoyable; I wonder how I ever forgot it? A full five glowing stars, without any hesitation and my highest recommendation.

Nice place set on a Greek Island where four strangers lives become entwined and live the sad fate of an aftermath of an accident in the community. Romance friendship and responsibility are themes but its escapist and romantic. An easy read even though its not one of her best novels.

This book is a must read, i first read this when i was about 15, although family members thought it would be too old for me in the nature, i thoroughly enjoyed it, even now i remember the story well, almost like a movie, in fact it should be made into a movie it was that good, id pay kindly to see it, definately read this book!!!

About the author

Maeve Binchy was born in County Dublin and educated at the Holy Child convent in Killiney and at University College, Dublin. After a spell as a teacher she joined the Irish Times. Her first novel, LIGHT A PENNY CANDLE, was published in 1982 and she went on to write over twenty books, all of them bestsellers. Several have been adapted for cinema and television, including TARA ROAD. Maeve Binchy received a LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at the BRITISH BOOK AWARDS in 1999 and the Irish PEN/A. T. CROSS AWARD in 2007. In 2010 she was presented with the BOB HUGHES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at the BORD GAIS IRISH BOOK AWARDS by the President of Ireland. She was married to the writer and broadcaster Gordon Snell for 35 years, and died in 2012. Visit her website at www.maevebinchy.com