Countdown to Christmas by Jo Thomas

Chloe can't wait for Christmas . . . to be over! Her son Ruben is staying with his dad and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays altogether. Her only festive touch is her son's advent calendar, to help count down the days till he's home again.

But a surprise call changes everything. Chloe might be the unexpected owner of some land in Canada! Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'

In a flash, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .

I do love books written by Jo Thomas as she really does have such a beautiful creative writing style with the ability to really bring the characters to life and the settings feel so vivid and her new release Countdown to Christmas is no exception.

Chloe’s Son Ruben is spending his first Christmas with his dad she wants to erase Christmas this year altogether. When a surprising phone call offers not only an opportunity to get away from it all but also a possibility of changing her and Ruben’s life for the better she takes the plunge and travels to Canada.

If like me you get to December and are still lacking in Christmas spirit and you turn to books to ignite that spark then let me save you the time of hunting through all of this years offerings and tell you this is 100% the book you need to read that will kick off that warm festive feeling. This isn’t one of those books we see every year with Christmas in the title and yet the book only containing a brief sprinkling of festivity, oh no, this is Christmas in its biggest and yet most natural and purest form. Set in the most idyllic location with its snowy backdrop and a small welcoming community. We join Chloe as she helps save the Winter traditions that this village usually creates. 

There has clearly been a lot of research into the process of tapping the trees for the production on maple syrup I almost feel like I could do it myself after reading this book! Maple Syrup is flowing through this book and it is the heart of this community too. As I have come to expect from a Jo Thomas book, there are so many delicious treats that are baked and they all contain the golden sugary treat. I sat reading this yesterday morning salivating at the maple syrup pancakes and finding myself with an overbearing craving! How does she do this to me every time!

Community spirit is a large part of this book and this little village and its occupants all lured me in and made this feel like the most welcoming and supportive place to live, I wanted to pack up my case and uproot right away! 

This was one of the most exciting Christmas books I have read in years it made feel like a child again, all warm and fuzzy with the magic of Christmas all ignited again after skiing away with Chloe to cut down a Christmas Tree, singing Christmas carols at the fair and opening advent calendars with the exciting anticipation if what is inside. This was such an atmospheric read and I can honestly say I feel as if I have been there to experience it all myself it really was so well written.

Ok so the ending is a little fairytale like and far fetched but do you know what I wouldn’t have wanted it to end any other way. This book has put the biggest smile on my face and has made me a little excited for Christmas this year which I haven't felt in a few years.

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe by Jo Thomas

 

A dream home
Beca Valentino is ready to escape the city. When she sees the perfect house for sale in her hometown, it seems like fate. Is this her chance to build the foster family she dreams of, on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast?


A big mistake?
Returning home isn't as easy as she thought, however. Her family's beloved ice cream café is gone - turned into a soulless wine bar by her hateful ex-boyfriend. Reconnecting with her oldest friend, fisherman Griff, isn't straightforward either. And when, instead of the children she expected to take in, two wary teenage boys appear on her doorstep, Beca fears she's made a terrible mistake.


A recipe for change
But an old family recipe book is just the inspiration she needs. Soon, with a little help from friends old and new, Beca is selling mouth-watering homemade gelato from a pop-up café on the beach.


Then disaster strikes. Will the Valentino family legacy be lost forever? Or can Beca create a new recipe for happiness?

I always look forward to a new Jo Thomas novel and I love any books that feature a foodie business so when I saw Summer at the Ice Cream Café I was full of excitement and wasted no time in diving straight in to meet our protagonist Beca Valentino who is returning to her hometown after fleeing many years ago.

So much has changed since she has left but the biggest change of all is in her families old Ice Cream shop but one thing sure hasn’t changed, the village gossip!

As Beca attempts to set her roots back down she battles with that fine line of being a local and at the same time feeling like an outsider but as she begins to try and help others to have a better life she soon finds the comfort of friends are their to give their support.

As ever Jo Thomas is going to play havoc with those taste buds as she teases us with mouth watering hand made gelato in a whole range of flavours. We don’t have an exotic location to explore this time as we come to expect from this author but instead we have a home comfort in our setting set along the coast of Wales and for the storyline that is explored in this book this setting was perfect as it provides distraction, familiarity and a safe place, essentially a place to call home.

We have a great mix of personalities in this book and a mix of generations too with characters who will touch your heart. Beca really had a heart of gold and was a selfless character who does so much for others so you can only wish for a happy ending for her too. Joe and Blake were both great characters and I loved watching their barriers come down and see their trust and enjoyment begin to blossom. I haven’t read many books that feature fostering as a main subject matter in a book so I found this was a great insight into the world of fostering from both sides of the coin, the thoughts of the children as well as the nerves of the foster carer.

This really was a delightful novel from Jo Thomas, a little different from her usual books but still full of delicious delights but added to that a bucket full of love, nurturing. Hope and new beginnings.

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Keeping a Christmas Promise by Jo Thomas

 

Four friends
Twenty-five years ago, Freya and her three best friends created a bucket list. The future seemed bright, full of hope and most importantly guaranteed . . .

One promise
Now they are travelling to Iceland in memory of the friend they've lost, determined to fulfil her dream of seeing the Northern Lights at Christmas.

A life-changing adventure
They didn't count on an avalanche leaving them stranded! Handsome local, Pétur, comes to the rescue, showing them how the community survives the hard winter. With Christmas approaching, Freya and her friends throw themselves into the festivities, decorating and cooking for the villagers using delicious local ingredients.

Jo Thomas strikes again with another dreamy winter escape that has a community that pulls you in and you never want to let go whilst you are tantalised with the most mouthwatering Icelandic cuisine.

Best friends Freya, Meg and Joanna head to Iceland to fulfil a promise to their late friend Laura, to complete her bucket list by seeing the Northern Lights on what would have been her 40th Birthday. They planned a 3 day stay but the elves and trolls of Iceland had other ideas for them when they find themselves trapped in a rural part of Iceland whilst chasing the lights. They find themselves unexpectedly thrown into the heart of the community as they see the real dangers and beauty of Iceland are rather than a tourists brief created view,

The novel explores how differently people deal with grief and the effects it can have on friendships and relationships around you, The girls friendship was already under slight pressure even just trying to get them all onboard with the trip but then the effects and events that occur during their time in Iceland test that friendship even more. 

My husband and I always had it on our list to see the Northern Lights and sadly he is no longer here and this novel sparked something in me, a determination to fulfil this wish and this was helped by the authors incredibly descriptive writing style that made this such an atmospheric read. The scene and elements were set so vividly the culture and traditions of Iceland were explored and the food, oh the food, Jo gets me every time with her tantalising descriptions of food so any dieters out their approach this book with caution! 

This was an exciting winter warmer that ticked all the boxes for me.

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Celebrations at the Chateau by Jo Thomas

 

When their grandfather dies, Fliss and her sisters are astonished to inherit a French chateau! Travelling to Normandy to visit the beautiful if faded house, they excitedly make plans over delicious crepes and local cider in the town nearby.

They soon discover the chateau needs major work and a huge tax bill is due . . . Unable to sell but strapped for cash, Fliss determines to spruce up the elegant old rooms and open a B&B.

But Jacques, the handsome town mayor, is opposed to her plan. When it becomes clear that the only way to save the magnificent castle is to work together, Jacques and Fliss discover that they have more in common than they think...

Jo Thomas has done it again, delivered an uplifting atmospheric novel that whisked me away to an idyllic setting with a whole host of loveable and loathable characters whilst salivating over the delights on offer!

Fliss and her two sisters have found out they have inherited a chateau from their Grandfather yet they knew nothing about it. When they arrive in France expecting that they would be able to sell the chateau to share the inheritance they soon find out that there is a live in Chatelaine which prevents them from being able to sell.

Fliss decides to stay behind and try to get the chateau up and running and earning a profit again but with hostility from the locals can she really make the Chateau not only a financial success but bring the heart and life back into this once much loved part of the community.

I am a sucker for an episode of Escape to the Chateau and this novel was definitely channelling this vibe so I was hooked from the moment Fliss got stuck in on turning the chateau around. I would have loved to have read more on the clean up and fix up of the Chateau but I do love seeing a determined woman setting out to start a business so I loved seeing the bookings rolling in for Fliss.

Fliss was the perfect main character for me, she was your ordinary down to earth woman who has had her challenges in life with dyslexia and never quite finding her confidence and niche in work, however all her experiences she had learnt from previous jobs she managed to pull together to help her in her Chateau task.

There is a bumpy romance bobbing along for us romantics who enjoy watching relationships blossom. This was another wonderful storyline by Jo Thomas who never seems to disappoint, she is an author whose books I know I can always rely on to take me somewhere new and enticing with engaging characters and danger to the waist line!

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Chasing the Italian Dream by Jo Thomas

 

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?

One thing I have certainly missed since covid wrecked its havoc is jetting off around the world discovering hidden gems and tasting various cuisines, but I have had a little taste of what I am missing through Jo Thomas’s books!

This time we are taken off to Italy in her latest release Chasing the Italian Dream where our main character Lucia is heading back to see her Nonno and Nonna but when she discovers that due to her Nonno’s recent health issues he has decided he needs to step away from the family restaurant and that he had picked her not quite ex Giacomo to take over! Could this be the push that makes Lucia discover what and who she wants in life?

Jo Thomas has fast become one of my favourite authors as she never disappoints me and I think she has delivered her best book yet she reveals another masterpiece that transports me away to an exotic location with mouth-watering delights, strong independent female leads and a storyline that will capture my attention and not let it go meaning each book of hers has to be read in one greedy sitting!

This is certainly a book to be avoided if you are on a diet because this book has so many tantalising delights and left we with a mad craving for pizza and a desperate need to try tiramisu! I enjoyed the competition to see if the old traditional food would beat the new modern take on the pizzeria, I just would have loved to have had a sneak peek at the end!

Lucia was an instantly likeable and determined character and I loved how she brought women together to challenge the tradition of male pizzaiolo and the use of sourcing all local ingredients. There were new chances and fresh beginings for a number of characters which was humbling to see, it just shows we are never too old to make a big change in our lives sometimes we just need something to open our eyes to opportunities.

The romance that flowed through the storyline didn’t overpower the storyline which I liked but it also kept me intrigued and guessing what way it was going to go.

This was such a joyous read that I definitely will be recommending to all of my bookworm friends who love a feel good uplifting read.

Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas

 

Residential-home caterer Connie has had one online-dating disaster too many. Hurt in the past and with her son to consider, now she's feeling hesitant. Then one of Connie's residents sets her up on a date at a beautiful German Christmas market - with the promise she'll take a mini-bus full of pensioners along with her...

Amongst the twinkling lights and smell of warm gingerbread in the old market square, Connie heads off on her date with a checklist of potential partner must-haves. Baker Henrich ticks all the boxes, but when Connie meets Henrich's rival William, she starts to wonder if ticking boxes is the answer.

This years festive reads have been amazing, in previous years more often than not our teasing seasonal book jackets and our fabulously festive titles lure us in only to find barely a whiff of festivity inside but not this year, they are all oozing the festivity feels including my latest read Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas.

Jo Thomas has really blown me away with her last two novels and has crept up there with my favourite authors. This book is fast paced and packed full of love, friendship, hope and cheer. The descriptive writing style was bad for my waistline, I felt as though I was walking through the market and into the Bakery with our characters inhaling all the sweet heady rich smells from delicious warm gingerbread to the rich sweet hot chocolate all making my mouth water.

The traditional Bakery and the wooden cabins for all the stalls to hold their festive offerings at the market were so enchanting and I am so desperate to visit my first Christmas market now so Covid could you kindly do one now please!

Connie was a wonderful main character with a heart of gold who deserved a real chance at love and to find someone who will cherish her and have the same interests to live a wonderful life together and I enjoyed watching her journey to happiness.

The love and passion Connie and WiIliam both have for baking is infectious and I would have loved to see the masterpiece that they made. 

This book ticked all the boxes for me and will definitely be a book I will be gifting to friends this Christmas. I absolutely loved this book and I am excited to see what this author has lined up for us next.

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Escape to the French Farmhouse by Jo Thomas

 

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?

With Covid putting an end to all our holidays it is a treat to escape to glorious destinations through the pages of books and one trip I have thoroughly enjoyed is heading to Provence in France in Jo Thomas’s recent release Escape to the French Farmhouse.

Del and husband Ollie have recently made the move to France to start afresh but it is merely weeks before Ollie decides this life isn’t for him and wants to head back to England but Del calls time on their marriage and decides to try and make a new life for herself.

With a roof over her head but no money Del really needs to find a way to make money and she dreams of bringing the farmhouse back to life and see the grounds with a sea of lavender again.

Del was a brave woman who made a life changing decision which I admired her for and her dreams of a new start and the vision she had for her farmhouse got me all fired up and intrigued to see how she was going to achieve all she hoped for.

The supporting characters all played an essential part in this novel with Fabien offering support and a sprinkling of romance, Carine offered a friendship and encouragement at Del’s time of need. Stephanie was my favourite character though alongside Del, she was another determined woman who has not had an easy start to motherhood and needed a help in hand and guidance along with a chance to show that you can change your ways. It makes you think that at times we are too quick to judge people’s actions without knowing the whole reason behind their actions.

I love a new business venture in my novels be that cake baking, waffle making you name it I am hooked so I was pulled in as Del began her little business selling baked goods at the local market bringing back the tradition of lavender used in the recipes which is something that was new to me but a pure hit with the customers.

Jo Thomas has an incredibly fast paced writing style that wraps you up leaving me unable to put it down meaning I finished this book in unbelievable time even though I didn’t feel quite ready to leave Del and her friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel which is no surprise as Jo Thomas is such an incredible author who teases us with such idyllic locations and makes our mouth water with delicious delights. If you love a novel that will warm your heart with new beginnings and leave you with an uplifting feel from the wonderful community spirit then Escape to the French Farmhouse will not disappoint.

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Sunset over the Cherry Tree Orchard by Jo Thomas

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. 

Looking at the positives of lockdown and it means I finally have time to enjoy and tackle some of my TBR books on my list. I wants to escape somewhere warm and idyllic so Sunset over the Cherry Orchard by Jo Thomas seemed like the perfect novel to provide this.

Beti has had her fair share of misfortunes when it comes to romance and she has never quite made anything of herself. Her dream is to get married and run her own bar abroad and when she sees a bar available in Spain she convinces Will that this would be a fabulous opportunity for them both and would set her dream in motion but do dreams really come true?

This was such a wonderful uplifting read that follows such a determined, kind hearted main character in Beti. No matter how many times things go wrong for Beti she soon brushes herself off and gets up and tries and tries again so you can not help but admire her character and will her to get her happy ever after.

This novel is set in Spain and thanks to the authors beautiful skill in descriptive writing we are transported off with Beti on her journey walking amongst the beautiful Cherry Trees, smelling the sweet aroma and having our taste buds tantalised by the wonderful cuisine that has left me with a craving for potatas bravas.

The author has clearly undertook a lot of research for this novel especially in regards to Flamenco dancing where not only does she educate us in the origins of this traditional dance but she also talks about the passion involved and how it is more than just merely learning a few steps and how powerful this dance is.

There is as we expect a sprinkling of romance weaved around this storyline which only adds to the appeal of this wonderful uplifting and enjoyable read that gave me the pure escapism I craved. Another winner for me by Jo Thomas.

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A Winter Beneath the Stars by Jo Thomas

Halley has been running from her problems for years.

On a courier trip to Tallfors, deep in Swedish Lapland, everything is going to plan. Halley has her bag, with two precious wedding rings inside for delivery... until she doesn't.

The only way to save the wedding is to team up with mysterious reindeer herder Bjorn, the one person who can lead her across the snowy tundra to be reunited with her bag.

On a journey of a lifetime beneath the stars, with only the reindeer and a bad-tempered stranger for company beside the fire, Halley realises that she will need to confront her past heartaches in order to let the warmth of love in once more...

Jo Thomas won me over with her debut novel The Oyster Catcher four years ago and I have loved each of her novels that she has released since then. The author has such a unique descriptive writing style that manages to create such vivid settings that transport me to places I could only ever dream of visiting. What I was looking forward to most when I saw the cover and title of her new release A Winter Beneath the Stars was seeing the author step away from the warmth of her summer settings and submerge us in the chilliest of climates setting the idyllic scene in a true winter wonderland.

Our main character in A Winter Beneath the Stars is Halley who is on her way to deliver a special package to the couple due to be wed in Tallfors in North Sweden but luck is against her when she arrives to find she has the wrong case! Desperate to relocate her bag containing the special package as well as her travel journal she embarks on the trip of a life time that will put her to the test when she helps the gorgeous but ill-tempered Bjorn to move his reindeers down from the hills.

This was such an adventurous storyline that made me feel so envious of the journey Halley was undertaking and the experiences she faced in the wild. Discovering the traditions and the way of life of the Sami families was a real pleasure and interest to me.

Halley was an instantly likeable character but it didn’t take long to figure out that she had a heartbreaking secret that she keeps buried from anyone not that she lets anyone close enough to risk exposing her secret. I did know from the very early start what the secret she was hiding was but I have spoken to someone else who read the book who didn’t realise what it was until it was exposed so I won’t say anymore incase I give away and spoilers!

Although there was no decorations, celebrations or appearances from the big man in red I still thought this was a beautiful read perfect for this time of year as the setting was representative of a Christmas card scene and the inclusion of the reindeer and the snow with added helping of the Northern Lights which I have always dreamed of seeing all comes together to make a winter novel perfect.

I did find the storyline very predictable but this didn’t stop my enjoyment as there was so much more to discover in the storyline that held my interest the whole way through. There was some tender moments which were portrayed well and a dashing of romance that warmed the heart. This will definitely be making its way into a number of Christmas present packages from me this year.

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Late Summer in the Vineyard by Jo Thomas

Emmy Bridges has always looked out for others. Now it's time to put down roots of her own.

Working for a wine-maker in France is the opportunity of a lifetime for Emmy. Even if she doesn't know a thing about wine - beyond what's on offer at the local supermarket.

There's plenty to get to grips with in the rustic town of Petit Frère. Emmy's new work friends need more than a little winning over. Then there's her infuriatingly brash tutor, Isaac, and the enigmatic Madame Beaumont, tucked away in her vineyard of secrets.

But Emmy will soon realise that in life - just as in wine-making - the best things happen when you let go and trust your instincts. Particularly when there's romance in the air...

Jo Thomas is an author who whisks us away to such idyllic locations and in her latest release Late Summer in the Vineyard we enjoy an escape to the South-West of France. Our heroine Emmy finds herself in a desperate situation, she is about to lose the house she lives in with her father and with her job hanging on by a thread she needs to get some money together fast. In the right place at the right time Emmy is given a life line, a chance to prove herself and earn big she will learn about wine ready to sell to the supermarkets when she gets home.

Emmy is well out of her comfort zone but she embraces the challenge that is thrown at her, more from her loving and caring nature of helping others than the career drive of her competitors. Spending time on a traditional working Vineyard soon see’s Emmy blossom as a character as she learns how the wine is produced and she begins to trust her own judgement and actually finds something she is rather good at.

There is a love triangle too involving Isaac and Charlie that has us guessing early on in the book what way things would go but I have to say by half way through I was sure I knew which path Emmy would take but I didn’t mind the predictability of it I was happy to watch things pan out.

I warmed to Emmy from the start of the book but I also loved a lot of the supporting characters too from the wise and guarded Madame Beaumont to the free- spirited Isaac, they all brought their own little something to the storyline.

Yet again the author has quite clearly thoroughly researched the development of wine and this comes across in great detail in the book, it is not something that has ever interested me but having read the book I would love to visit a vineyard and watch the process in action.

This is perfect Summer holiday reading with a glass of wine to keep you company, it didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as her previous books but it is still one I would gladly recommend, it is an uplifting and insightful read full of romance a splash of humour and a journey of self-discovery.

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The Olive Branch by Jo Thomas

You can buy almost anything online these days. For Ruthie Collins, it was an Italian farmhouse. 

Yet as she battles with a territorial goat and torrential rain just to get through the door of her new Italian home, the words of Ed, her ex, are ringing in her ears. She is daft, impetuous and irresponsible. But Ruthie is determined to turn things around and live the dream. 

First, though, she must win over her fiery neighbour, Marco Bellanouvo, and his tempestuous family...and then there's the small matter of running an olive farm. 

As the seasons change and new roots are put down, olives and romance might just flourish in the warmth of the Mediterranean sun.

I was instantly drawn to The Olive Branch thanks to its alluring cover and inviting synopsis, having thoroughly enjoyed The Oyster Catcher last year I couldn’t wait to lose myself in Jo Thomas’s new release.

After her recent break up with Ed, Ruthie is dreading the prospect of having to return to her mother’s she makes a bold and somewhat crazy decision and buys a rundown Italian Farmhouse.

It soon became apparent as soon as Ruthie arrived in southern Italy that things were not going to be quite as rosy as she though it would be as she faces the first hurdle of the torrential rain and a territorial goat and that is before she even makes her way inside the farmhouse! To top matters off she then finds out that she is now in charge of running the olive farm which she doesn’t have the first clue about. Could this be the distraction she needs or will she be going home to her mums just as everyone expects.

I loved Ruthie she was such a fun character who had so many different qualities to her she had such strength and determination and even if she has doubt she would still pull herself back up and crack on with the task in hand. Her heart is in the right place and I was really routing for her the whole way through, I really wanted to see her settle down and enjoy this new life she holds in her hands. A book set in the idyllic setting of Italy wouldn’t be complete without an Italian gentleman who makes us weak at the knees! Marco was a pure gentleman who is on hand to help Ruthie and although he is finding it hard to accept that Ruthie now owns Masseria Bellanuovo he still finds himself unable to step away.

The book flows at a gentle pace and is a perfect holiday read as it has a light storyline that isn’t challenging but still manages to pull you in and at points it will even have you chuckling away as there were some witty parts to this book as well as a humorous goat called Daphne!

Jo Thomas has again managed to describe this charming Trullo in the exquisite countryside setting of Puglia in great detail that it makes it easy to visualise and the descriptions of the tastes and smells of the olives and Olive Oil were tickling the tastebuds!

This book has given me such a strong urge to visit Italy although I wouldn’t want to take on such a large challenge like Ruthie did! I would still say that The Oyster Catcher is my favourite but I still found myself charmed by this storyline.

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The Oyster Catcher by Jo Thomas

Dooleybridge, County Galway. Population: 482 (or thereabouts). The last place Fiona Clutterbuck expects to end up, alone, on her wedding night. 

But after the words 'I do' have barely left her mouth, that's exactly where she is - with only her sequined shoes and a crashed camper van for company. One thing is certain: Fi can't go back. So when the opportunity arises to work for Sean Thornton, the local oyster farmer, she jumps at the chance. Now Fi must navigate suspicious locals, jealous rivals and a wild, unpredictable boss if she's to find a new life, and love, on the Irish coast. And nothing - not even a chronic fear of water - is going to hold her back.

Join Fi on her romantic, unpredictable adventure as she learns the rules of the ocean - and picks up a few pearls of Irish wisdom along the way...

 I have just finished reading The Oyster Catcher, I literally didn't put it down and ended up devouring it in one evening! The author Jo Thomas has such a beautiful and skilled writing style and she manages to draw you into the storyline with such ease. Never before have I read a book or even had any kind of knowledge when it comes to Oyster Farming so I was surprised at how. Ugh my interest was piqued in this book, I found myself getting quite tense and mad with the arrival of Pirates!

Our main character Fi quite clearly has a dramatic reason for arriving in Dooleybridge and I loved how the author slowly fed us snippets and clues as to what had really happened to her. Fate seems to occur when she is in desperate need of a job and lodgings she meets Sean who is also in desperate need for someone to help on his Oyster Farm. Sean was a lovely if somewhat spiky character but I soon felt he had a hard shell ( see what I did there!) with a soft centre. There were some wonderful characters in this book and also some wonderfully bad characters, I found the characters were all so engaging. 

There really is so much to commend in this book, from an interesting and unique storyline, a well written romance, a lot of down to earth humour, the odd touch of secrets and scandal, well written characters and a big dose of community spirit, what more could you ask for?

I was so excited and immersed in this storyline that now I am finished I feel a little flat! This is such a wonderful read one of my favourites of the year, I do love it when I find a new talented author and I am so shocked to find that this is a debut as for me this book was flawless, I can not wait for another book by this author.

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