A heartwarming and uplifting book that had me quickly turning the pages and staying up late at night to want to read more. I’m now excited to read the sequel, Our Little Piece of Paradise. (Eileen Tilley Book Tour Reviewer)
Another Day in Paradise by Karen Telling is a gentle meander through the memoirs of the author as she and her husband leave England to settle in Portugal. I can imagine it would be interesting for someone who has done the same or is about to do so. Karen and her husband had some amazing experiences and showed true grit to overcome them. I love their dedication to the animals they took with them and the ones they adopted while there. (Eleanor Dixon Book Tour Reviewer)
I really enjoyed this well written account of Karen’s and her husband, Nick’s, decision to move to the Algarve and create a new life, having lost their hearts to the country when they first visited as tourists. For anyone considering moving from the UK to abroad, this engaging story covers some of the challenges faced as Karen and her husband set out to achieve their dream of paradise. What I particularly loved about this story is the way in which Karen shares her frustrations in a manner that demonstrates her strength of character, her ability to accept situations for what they are, and to look beyond them, having not given up at the first hurdle. Particularly when she is faced with her greatest challenge yet, the decline of her health and disability diagnosis. Her story is truly heartwarming, as she and her husband open their arms to those in need of love and a supportive home, and extend their family, despite their own apparent difficulties. The photographs throughout the book were a lovely touch to help readers connect emotionally to the events that were shared. Karen’s story moves at a good pace, keeping her readers engaged. Although the story does jump around in places where Karen moves between events in time. This doesn’t spoil the reader’s enjoyment of the story, but if you are one who likes to follow an account in the order of events as it occurs, it may at times be distracting. As Another Day in Paradise is a true account of events, it is hard to comment on the author’s character development, but the way in which Karen describes herself, husband, and family in the story, is written in such a way that is easily relatable and takes the reader on the journey with them. Therefore, I was able to form an emotional connection. There were moments in the book that reminded me of a film I particularly enjoyed, called the Money Pit, which really made me smile and like the characters in the film, Karen and her husband persevered through their difficulties. I admire their determination and courage to keep on working to achieve their aspirations. (Kirsty McKay Book Tour Reviewer)
I enjoy travelogue/adventure books like this, but it takes a special writer to make the tale enthralling from start to finish. Karen Telling definitely is special. A move to another country is something a lot of people dream of, and there are a lot of British expats across Europe. We all have a nightmare of needing major surgery in another country, and this is a factor that dissuades some from making the dream a reality. It is all dealt with increasingly well in Karen’s book, and without giving too much away, we are sympathetic to her plight and wish her recovery is speedy. The couple’s menagerie has a starring role throughout the book, we can feel their emotions when the good and the bad strikes. An excellent and entertaining read! (Yvonne Marrs Book Tour Reviewer)
Another Day in Paradise offers glimpses into retrospective moments of the author’s life as she moves to the Algarve in Portugal. It’s written in a very personal style, with memories of sometimes small and sometimes very large moments told with varying degrees of detail, told in the same way that one might relate any story. It doesn’t necessarily have a definite structure or a clear intent of message, but it’s a story about life, which isn’t always so smooth. My favourite parts of the book were those that related to animals or the more heartfelt moments such as the unexpected kindness of strangers. (Tim Marshall Book Tour Reviewer)
Not a genre I would ordinarily have chosen, this book is an autobiographical snapshot of a time in the author’s life that is both inspiring and enjoyable. Produced in paperback, the grammar, punctuation, and formatting are of a high standard, making for an easy read and allowing the reader to immerse in the story effortlessly. For me, the first section of the book read a little like a private journal or a travel log, and it did slow a little. I did also wonder, more than once, why Karen and Nick decided to move to Portugal after their first holiday experience. Crowds of tourists, parking spaces as rare as rocking horse poo, grumpy waiters, and a near-death cliff-top experience would not have made me want to return. However, the joy given by the many animal companions, and the pace of the latter stages of the book certainly quashed my earlier doubts, and made up for the slower first chapters. The photographs interspersed throughout the book added depth to an already well-rounded prose. The author’s style – chatty, personal, and very relatable – makes this a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys true-life adventures, has a love of animals, or perhaps is thinking of seeking a new life abroad. Lots of useful information is included within the pages about the many pitfalls of moving to sunnier climes. (Deb Barwick Book Tour Reviewer)
Good things, happen in their own time and the lack of routine and structure can quickly spoil the idealistic vision. The dream is always better than reality. (Andrew Bell Book Tour Reviewer)
Overall we award 4 stars.
