Retreat to the Spanish sun

 

Retreat to the Spanish Sun 

Jo Thomas 
Paperback Original | 23rd June 2022 | £7.99 | Penguin 
Ebook also available 

Jo Thomas' wonderful tales of escapism and foreign delights have captured the hearts of thousands of readers. 

‘Full of wonderful characters, sunshine, food and romance. A winning recipe!’ - Katie Fforde 

‘A fabulous read celebrating the good things in life – fun, friends, family and food’ – Jill Mansell 

Will a summer escape be the answer she’s looking for? 
Eliza has a full house! When her three children grew up and moved out, she downsized to a smaller property... but now they're all back. Every room in the house is taken and Eliza finds herself sharing her bed with her eldest daughter and her daughter's pug. Combined with the online course she's trying to finish, plus her job to fit in, there just isn't the peace and quiet that Eliza needs. 
So when an ad pops up on her laptop saying 'house-sitters wanted', Eliza can't resist the chance to escape. She ends up moving to a rural finca in southern Spain, looking after the owner's Iberico pigs, learning about secret gastronomic societies... and finding a new zest for life and love along the way. 

From the bestselling author of Escape to the French Farmhouse comes a deliciously feel-good new story... 
Praise for Jo Thomas: 
'Rich, warm and sunny. A story that stays with you long after the last page is turned' - Milly Johnson 
'Like the very best kind of holiday' - Lucy Diamond 

 
Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, first for BBC Radio 5, before moving on to Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Radio 2's The Steve Wright Show. 
Jo's debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller and won both the RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the Festival of Romance Best eBook Award. Her recent book Escape to the French Farmhouse was a #1 bestselling eBook and in every one of her novels Jo loves to explore new countries and discover the food produced there, both of which she thoroughly enjoys researching. Jo lives in Pembrokeshire with her husband and three children, where cooking and gathering around the kitchen table are a hugely important and fun part of their family life. Jo is available for interviews, events and written pieces. 

For more information please contact Hayley Barnes, Publicity Manager, Transworld Publishers: HBarnes@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk | 020 8231 6730 

My Review

Jo Thomas has the ability to create characters who become the reader's best friend by the end of the book. From the start, I could relate to Eliza and although I loved her busy, chaotic life, I could totally understand her need for peace and quiet.

The descriptions of Spain and the finca are just as delicious as the Spansih food. The addition of a secret gastronomic society and the threat of underhand means to fulfil their aims means the element of suspense runs through the book. When the owner of the finca goes incommunicado the mystery deepens.

I loved the ex-pat characters at the local tapas bar too. The story is cleverly brought to a satisfying conclusion for all concerned.

I really enjoyed reading this book and the opportunity to escape to Spain for a while.It also got my gastronomic tastebuds tingling for tapas.