Memories of Santorini (Once Again Book 6)

Cover of Memories of Santorini - where today outshines the memory - by New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Skully

There’s magic on Santorini, beneath the beautiful bougainvillea, under the blue domes, and in the enticing Aegean Sea.

Angela Walker spent three glorious weeks on Santorini after she graduated from college. Three weeks that changed her life forever. Thirty years later, it’s time to go back to that beautiful island and the warm blue sea, the only place where she was ever completely happy.

Thirty years ago, Xandros Daskalakis fell in love with a summer girl who came to his beloved island. When Angela had to return home, they agreed they’d meet in one year, and he believed he’d spend the rest of his life with her. But Angela never returned. Not for thirty years.

Now she’s back. And she’s brought her daughter with her. Suddenly they all have questions that could cause an eruption massive enough to destroy their lives. Or bring them the happiness they lost so long ago.

Take a holiday to the gorgeous Greek Isles and feel the magic for yourself in this later in life, second chance romance.

All books in the Once Again series are stand-alone stories. No cliffhangers!

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What Readers Are Saying:

Second chances are sweeter

For a 30 year old Sienna was exceptionally immature and selfish, but she did wake up and grow. Matthew was so mature and accepting. Who knew??? Donald , the ex was a shrewd, soulless, manipulative bully. Beyond despicable! I loved how Angela and Xandros just picked up where they left off like it was all… Read more “Second chances are sweeter”

Amazon Reviewer

Emotional & Adventurous Second Chance

Still loving this Series, the stories are really deep and get on down below the surface and to the Heart of some real life-like matters. Very touching story and heartfelt romance that kept me glued to the pages. Love Angela, her strength is admirable and the rekindling of her first true love had the perfect… Read more “Emotional & Adventurous Second Chance”

Amazon Reviewer

I loved this book!!!

MEMORIES OF SANTORINI is book 6 in the Once Again series by Jennifer Skully.If you love exotic locales, this book has it all—the magic of the Greek Isle of Santorini, the Aegean Sea, and tiny towns built into the cliff with bougainvillea climbing the walls.Angela Walker returns to Santorini thirty years after her first trip… Read more “I loved this book!!!”

Amazon Reviewer

Kept me riveted from page one!

Once again Skully has hit a home run! The romance, the inner character of the protagonists, the theme (love and hope) and settings to die for.So glad I get notifications for upcoming books! This series has everything I… Read more “Kept me riveted from page one!”

Amazon Reviewer

loved it, I loved it, I just loved it

I’ve always wanted to go to Greece and the Author was excellent at letting my imagination run with it by reading her descriptions of Santorini amidst a beautiful love story. I couldn’t stop reading , I was awake the whole night reading to the conclusion and it was worth it. Thanks so… Read more “loved it, I loved it, I just loved it”

Amazon Reviewer

Greek Island Romance

Just an awesomely good read. Angela Walker, 22 years, just graduated university, though engaged to be married to someone she’s not crazy about decides to go to the beautiful island Santorini in the Aegean Sea. There she falls in love with her travel guide a 6’3″ Xandros and they spend the time together making love… Read more “Greek Island Romance”

Amazon Reviewer

Great setting for a 2nd chance at romance

4.5 starsI am a pushover when it comes to good second chance romances (probably my favorite romance trope) and this latest in Jennifer Skully’s Once Again series I thoroughly enjoyed. It has a lot of pluses, including:- the Greek setting- lead characters in their 50’s- a love that lasts for decades- a secret that needs… Read more “Great setting for a 2nd chance at romance”

Amazon Reviewer

Reunion of a Thirty Year Love

Not a second chance at love romance, but a reunion with a love that has lasted thirty years. Angela Walker has been divorced, from her controlling husband, for the past year. She has secrets, who doesn’t, but she needs to find a way to talk, maybe confess to her daughter. She realizes that her daughter,… Read more “Reunion of a Thirty Year Love”

Amazon Reviewer

NOOOOOO. DONT END! Not yet!

Where is the Sequel? This story must continue – A beach bum, an almost married American woman, and the blue tile roofs of Santorini. What a… Read more “NOOOOOO. DONT END! Not yet!”

Amazon Reviewer

A Beautiful Novel

‘Memories of Santorini’ is another wonderful book of second chances by the talented author, Jennifer Skully.Her main characters, Angela Walker and Xandros Daskalaris are realistic and compelling. I have so enjoyed all of the ‘Once Again’ novels and this one is no exception. I highly recommend this… Read more “A Beautiful Novel”

Amazon Reviewer

Excerpt

Memories of Santorini
© 2022 Jennifer Skully

“You should just tell her the truth.” Teresa rolled the stem of her wineglass between her fingers on the cloth-draped table. Everyone except their parentscalled her Teresa instead of Teresina.Their mother had never allowed nicknames.

“You know I can’t tell her,” Angela said, her teeth clicking on the words.

She’d had ample opportunities to tell Sienna the truth in the two years since the divorce. But her relationship with her daughter was already on tenterhooks It had been for years, probably since Sienna was eight years old. And the truth was not going to endear her.

“Angelina,” Teresa said her name the way her mother would, as if she’d done something wrong. “It’s time Sienna knew what he’s like.”

They didn’t need to define who “he” was. Her ex-husband Donald had been the driving force in her life for the last thirty years, controlling everything, from the way she interacted with the kids to the charity endeavors she participated in to the country club ladies she was supposed to make friends with.

Angela breathed in deeply, pursing her lips. “Sienna adores him. If I tell her anything, it’s only going to backfire. If I didn’t think so, I would have told her the truth years ago. But I know that somehow he’ll use whatever I say to break the last link I have with her.”

Teresa spread her hands, cajoling, her voice suddenly gone soft. “I know that things seem to be just a tiny bit better between the two of you. And Sienna—”

Angela cut her off. “That’s why I’m not going to endanger anything. At least not right now. I need time.”

The waiter chose that moment to ask if they wanted refills on their wine. They were born of Italian parents, and they’d been drinking wine with just about every meal since they were ten years old. Of course, when they were youngsters, it had been watered down. But now that she was fifty-three, Angela chose the best wines, never watered down. Both she and Teresa knew how to handle their wine. They were Italian. They were from hardy stock. Their father was a multimillion-dollar contractor, and even though her husband wasn’t in the tech industry, their mother had been trying to make it to the top of the Silicon Valley elite for thirty years.

The restaurant, an upmarket establishment in San Francisco, was relatively quiet for a mid-week lunch in March. The conversations were quiet, the ambience sophisticated and elegant even at lunch time, the tables decorated with fresh hydrangea blooms, crystal goblets, and real china.

Nothing but the best for the Corelli girls, even if neither of them really cared about that.

When the waiter was gone, Angela went on with her thought. “That’s why I want to take Sienna on this trip to Santorini. I want to give us the chance to make things better. I want to tell her the truth about everything. Or try to explain.” She came from good Italian stalk, and she used her hands to describe everything. “So I want to do anything that could jeopardize the relationship right now. And the truth would definitely jeopardize everything. She doesn’t want to hear about things about her father. She only wants to think bad things about me. Just the way he always wanted her to. I’m not going to give him any ammunition before I’m ready.”

“It’s not ammunition. Haven’t you ever heard the old saying that the truth will set you free?” Teresa looked at her sadly, and Angela wished she’d never told Teresa the truth about her marriage.

Sienna blew in then, all eyes drawn to her lithe figure, her beautiful chestnut hair curling in ringlets to her shoulders. While Angela’s hair was closer to black, in her twenties, Sienna had decided to dye hers. As if she didn’t want anything that resembled her mother. But now, at thirty, she couldn’t erase the likenesses. Sienna had Angela’s classic bone structure, the patrician nose, and the figure of the classical Roman statue of the Empress Livia, married to Augustus.

Over fifty, Angela knew she was a pale imitation of her daughter. She no longer turned men’s heads. A good thing, because turning men’s heads was the furthest thing from her mind. But she did wish, oh yes she wished she still had her youth, her beauty, and the alluring figure of a twenty-two-year-old.

The hug Sienna gave Teresa was effusive and heartfelt. “Aunt Teresa, I’m just so glad you’re here today.”

When she turned to Angela, the hug could only be called standoffish, as if she couldn’t bear more than her fingertips on her mother’s shoulders and the air kiss that never quite connected.

Angela accepted that the rift was her fault. She’d allowed this to happen. She’d never done anything to stop it, because she could never fight Donald. And now, after all these years, she realized her mistake. She should have fought for her daughter’s love every step of the way. If only she had.

Sienna practically threw herself into her seat. “Oh my God, thank you so much for the ordering the wine.” She smiled glowingly at Teresa as if her aunt was responsible for everything good.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart.” Angela forced enthusiasm into her voice. “I’m so glad you could make it today. I know your birthday was last week.” She held her hand out in a that-doesn’t-matter gesture even though it mattered a lot. “But I’ve always said we should have a birth month, not just a birthday.”

Teresa raised her glass. “Here’s to turning thirty. And may the next ten years of your life be just as amazing as the last ten.”

Angela was sure her daughter’s face pinched before, in the next moment, she painted a beautiful smile on her lips.

If only things between them could be different. Maybe on Santorini, they would be.

More in the Once Again series…

  • Holiday in Paradise (Once Again, Box Set 1- 3)
  • Love On Vacation (Once Again, Box Set 4 – 6)
  • Dreaming of Provence (Once Again Book 1)
  • Wishing in Rome (Once Again Book 2)
  • Dancing in Ireland (Once Again Book 3)
  • Under the Northern Lights (Once Again Book 4)
  • Stargazing on the Orient Express (Once Again Book 5)
  • Memories of Santorini (Once Again Book 6)
  • Siesta in Spain (Once Again Book 7)
  • Top Down to California (Once Again Book 8)
  • Cruising the Danube (Once Again Book 9)
  • Margaritas In Mexico (Once Again Book 10)