Retreat to the Spanish Sun: Escape to Spain with this feel-good holiday romance from the #1 bestseller Paperback – 23 Jun. 2022

I eagerly await every new Jo Thomas book and have read each one in turn. This new one did not disappoint and was full of as much fun, sun and food as every one that went before.Eliza thought she was in for a life of peace and quiet when she downsized to her small flat after her children and husband had all flown the nest. Yet one by one the children are returning. Eliza decides she needs to find her own space again and takes a job house sitting. Not just any old house sitting though, Eliza takes herself off to the Spanish sun and takes up residence in a Spanish farmhouse. Complete with prized pigs.This book is full of the usual problems for our main character to solve, but along the way she discovers friendship, food and love. Full of the usual Jo Thomas magic, evoking feelings of skin warmed under a Spanish sun, dry, dusty heat, wonderful scents and flavours of food you could almost taste and the sounds of insects gently making their own music in the distance. I devoured this book in 2 days and must now return to my usual wait for the next trip around the globe with Jo Thomas. Wonderful read.

Lovely holiday read.

I used to work with Jo many years ago and when her husband told me she had written her first book, The Oyster Catcher, immediately ordered it on my Kindle. I have been reading her books ever since and never been disappointed. Each one takes you to an amazing location and I love the way the story unfolds. In this one we go on a great Journey to Southern Spain with Eliza and learn all about Iberico Pigs. It's funny, sad and everything in between. Thanks Jo and keep them coming.

Always enjoy this author

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.

I really enjoyed this book as I was in Spain but only on holiday for ten days a very easy relaxing read

Not read yet but love books by this author so am sure this will be another great read.

This story was so relatable,as someone of a similar age and a single mum with adult children.Beautifully written,heart-warming and unputdownable.Would thoroughly recommend.Look forward to reading some of the author’s other books.

I so enjoyed the characters in this book. I loved that they all seemed so real to me.The setting was just so wonderful as well.I suppose that the last part was a bit farfetched, when dealing with a criminal element but the human part of the story and heart of the book was done so well that it didn't much matter.I would definitely recommend this book.

Story line was easy relaxing reading well constructed so it did not seem like rubbishEveryone loves the idea of get away lifestyle replacing our often ordinary ones with city life this book certainly leaves you wanting to go there and enjoy life

I generally love Jo Thomas books but felt slightly out of step with this one. Nice story in all, but maybe it was just my mood when I read it. Sorry Jo, your books usually lift me to happier places. Bless you anyway.

Beautifully choreographed, with insightful awareness of how people interact and learn about each other. And nature. Truly a very special book.

Once again this author keeps me up late at night with a book I just can't put down. Live Eliza who funds herself in a peculiar situation and has gumption to extract herself from it and find happiness along the way.