Jo Thomas – Best Crime Books and More

CHASING THE ITALIAN DREAM BY JO THOMAS

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Synopsis: A summer escape she’ll never forget . . .

Lucia has worked hard as a lawyer in Wales, aiming for a big promotion she hopes will shortly come her way. Finally taking a well-earned break at her grandparents’ house in southern Italy, the sunshine, lemon trees and her nonna’s mouth-watering cooking make her instantly feel at home.

But she’s shocked to learn that her grandfather is retiring from the beloved family pizzeria and will need to sell. Lucia can’t bear the thought of the place changing hands – especially when she discovers her not-quite-ex-husband Giacomo wants to take it over!

Then bad news from home forces Lucia to re-evaluate what she wants from life. Is this her chance to carry on the family tradition and finally follow her dreams?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: Jo Thomas is certainly becoming one my favourite easy to read and pure escapism type of author. This latest book I have read of hers is no different. With the weather turning to Autumn here in the UK at the moment it was the perfect time to pull out a book with a cover as inviting as this one.

Lucia our main character is an Italian and Welsh girl who gave it all up in Italy and stayed in Wales to pursue her own career in law. When she leaves her job for her annual visit back to Italy to see family she is excited to catch up with her Grandparents. What she hadn’t planned on was arriving to find that the family business was being sold as her Grandfather plans his retirement.

As with other Jo Thomas novels she actually takes you to the place. Her beautiful descriptions literally transport me to the destination of choice and I feel like I am sitting front row watching all the characters. Lucia is a likeable character (but not one of my favorite’s JT has created) along with plenty of others including Lucia’s estranged husband Giacomo.

The plot wasn’t particularly surprising but that made it no less enjoyable and I look forward to reading any other books of hers I have yet to read. A definite recommendation from me!

RETREAT TO THE SPANISH SUN BY JO THOMAS

Synopsis: 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.

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: Eliza is a mum with three grown up children, however Eliza has had enough and needs a break from real life. She decides on a whim to sign up to be a house-sitter and as luck would have it somebody is in need of a house-sitter for a farmhouse in Spain. Eliza packs up her things and leaves her adult children to it, determined to make the most of the few weeks of peace enabling her to finish an online course she is currently working on.

When she arrives to the house, the owner is somewhat abrupt but Eliza sees him off and is left in charge of the beautiful house and two dogs. Eliza is a nice enough character to read about, and I have certainly enjoyed all the Jo Thomas books I have read before this one. However, for some reason there was an element of disbelief to this story. Don’t get me wrong it didn’t make the book any less enjoyable it just didn’t quite live up to her other books I have read and thoroughly enjoyed.

There are a few funny moments as Eliza manages to get herself into quite a predicament whilst doing something as simple as house sitting. Stolen prized hams, ex-pat Spanish language classes and tapas bars make for some amusing scenes and likeable additional characters. This was still a reasonably enjoyable book that is perfect getaway material, maybe just not quite as enjoyable as some of her other books.

ESCAPE TO THE FRENCH FARMHOUSE BY JO THOMAS

Synopsis: Del and her husband Ollie moved to a beautiful village in Provence for a fresh start after years of infertility struggles. But six weeks after they arrive, they’re packing the removal van once more. As Del watches the van leave for England, she suddenly realises exactly what will make her happier…a new life in France – without Ollie.

Now alone, all Del has is a crumbling farmhouse, a mortgage to pay and a few lavender plants. What on earth is she going to do? After discovering an old recipe book at the market run by the rather attractive Fabian, Del starts to bake. But can her new-found passion really help her let go of the past and lead to true happiness?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I am a recent fan of Jo Thomas books and was pleased to see another one I had yet to read. Del is our lead character and she has been living in France with her husband Ollie. She has a moment of realisation as she decides that their relationship is over and she wants to make a go of it in France on her own. Once alone she wonders what on earth she has done.

Jo Thomas has an amazing knack of being so descriptive that you are in the place with the character. As we see Del start to tackle her current predicament we also get to meet other people living in her village. Del slowly starts to become a part of the village and creates new and lasting friendships. Stefanie becomes another character that has a huge impact in Del’s life along with Fabien and a number of other characters.

This story is escapism at it’s finest and was a pure joy to read. It transported me to somebody else’s world where village life and the farmhouse along with its lavender became the focal point. I really am a true JT fan now and will look forward to reading another book by this great author.

Coming Home To Winter Island by Jo Thomas

Synopsis: Do you need to find out where you’ve come from before you can know what the future holds?

Ruby’s singing career is on the verge of hitting the big time, when her voice breaks. Fearing her career is over, she signs up for a retreat in Tenerife to recover.

But an unexpected call from a stranger on a remote Scottish island takes her on a short trip to sort out some family business. It’s time to go and see the grandfather she’s never met. Continue reading “Coming Home To Winter Island by Jo Thomas”

My Lemon Grove Summer by Jo Thomas

Synopsis: When life hands you lemons … is it ever too late for a second chance?

Zelda’s impulsive nature has got her precisely nowhere up until now. A fresh start in a beautiful hilltop town in Sicily looking for new residents, together with her best friend Lennie, could be just what she needs. And who better to settle down with than the person who knows her best?

But the sun-filled skies and sparkling seas can’t hide the shadow hanging over Citta d’Ora, which means not everyone is pleased to see their arrival. The dreams Zelda and her fellow new residents had of setting up a new life might be slipping away. But a friendship with restauranteur Luca could be about to unlock the possibilities that lie in the local lemon groves. And there’s a wedding on the horizon that might be just what the town needs to turn it around…

Could a summer in Sicily help Zelda learn to trust her instinct and follow her heart?

My Rating: 4/5

Sunset Over The Cherry Orchard by Jo Thomas

Synopsis: It’s time for Beti Winter to dance to her own beat.

After three failed engagements Beti is in desperate need of a fresh start. What better place than the sun-drenched hills of southern Spain?

But it’s not all sangria and siestas. Beti finds work on an old Andalusian cherry farm where there are cherries to be picked, trees to be watered and her fiery boss, Antonio, to win over.

As the sun toasts her skin, Beti finds herself warming to the Spanish way of life. Embracing the art of flamenco, she discovers there is much to learn from the dance of passion. She just has to let loose and listen to the rhythm of her heart.

My Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Sunset Over The Cherry Orchard by Jo Thomas”