DNF. I couldn't connect with this book at all and found it really hard to get into. I had high hopes for this, which is a shame.

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.

Sunset over the Cherry Orchard is another brilliant book by the fantastically talented Jo Thomas. Here we follow Beti as she runs away from her third failed engagement and attempts a fresh start in sunny Spain and to fulfil her dreams.

But it is not quite as easy or as tranquil as it seems and after a while she finds herself on a cherry orchard with more  to offer than she originally realised. Beti really goes on a journey throughout as she lets loose and finally decides what is important.

Along the way Beti finds out that her dreams are bigger now than in Wales. While enjoying herself, she slowly becomes more involved in the local community and immerses herself and the cherry farm in the community.  Beti does this ever so slowly and in the end you are screaming in pride for everything that she has achieved.

I do hope that at some point we go back to Beti and her story as I do feel like there is so much more to tell!

Sunset over the Cherry Orchard is about finding yourself, accepting yourself and most importantly believing in yourself. Because then you can achieve all your goals.  This was an enchanting tale that you definitely do not want to miss.

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it.
Sun, Food and Romance is there anything more you could ask for in a summer read? I don't think so!!!

Beti... the main character moves to Spain with her Fiancé, who makes decisions without Beti's knowledge and that leaves Beti in a predicament that she faces head on... she starts to listen to her hearts desires, in all wakes of her life, and learns just who she is as a person.

There are lots of ups and downs... it has humour and emotion... unexpected relationships and new love.
It makes you want to run out to a little village in Spain and live a different life!

Yet again Jo Thomas has the most impressive, gorgeous cover that makes you want to dive straight into the scene and soak up every element of the story. It's bright, colourful and eye catching and shows off the setting for this wonderful book to a T. They even managed to slip in the cat - read the book and you'll know what I am referring to. Every time I read a book from this author, I think oh this has to be my favourite and then she goes and writes something even better and my opinion changes. Again this was the case here and Sunset over the Cherry Orchard is just a brilliant book that you'll easily lose yourself in.

You'll forget everything going on around you as you are transported to the hot Spanish sun and to a special little place where Beti Winter is attempting to transform her fortunes. Jo always excels at creating settings where you wish you were yourself whilst reading. Her writing is so visually descriptive that you can picture everything so precisely in your head. So much warmth, love and affection goes into her writing that these feelings come across as you read through her excellent stories. There are characters you might love to hate but equally so there are plenty where you fall in love with them and want nothing but the best for them. Throw in plenty of challenges, obstacles and hurdles to overcome and of course the endless, glorious descriptions of food and cooking and you have a real treat of a summer read.

Beti Winter loves the summer, it's the hope of what's to come, the possibilities of days spent with loved ones enjoying the sun and all the summer has to offer. It's just a pity that she spends her days working in a fast food restaurant in an airport and she can but dream as so many people pass through on their way to sunnier climes. She longs to jet away and buy a bar or restaurant to run in the sun but it has never come to pass. She lives with her fiancée Will but these days he barely notices her, they live separate lives and are well and truly stuck in a rut having become very complacent.

Given she has three failed engagements behind her she wants to make a go of things with Will and not throw in the towel so easily. It doesn't help that ever since they were young, glamorous cousin Olivia throws everything in her face at every available opportunity. Taunts about her brilliant lifestyle and her wonderful fiancée begin to wear Beti down. She feels like a failure in comparison and she believes her family are beginning to think will she ever get her act together? But the simple act of buying a magazine sees a spark ignite in Beti. She feels inspired and grabbing the bull by the horns decides to travel to Spain. Here she will buy the Butterfly Bar and fulfil her dream.

Beti and Will arrive in Spain to stay in Lado Del Puerto to take over the bar from the lovely and supportive Breda and Harold. Everything is within touching distance for Beti but with one foul swoop all her hopes and ambitions are shattered. Will shows his true colours and departs in the most horrid of circumstances.To be honest I would have killed him and gone off myself to search for him not to try and sort things out but to get revenge and to give him a good slap. It was just the most despicable act and shows he never had any commitment to Beti in the first place. How must she have felt left in a foreign country with barely a euro to her name and faced with telling Breda and Harold no you can't return home to England to live with your daughter because I can no longer buy the bar.

It was just crushing and heartbreaking and I really don't know how Beti had the guts to carry on. She didn't want to appear to be yet another disaster and failure in front of her family so she kept things to herself. Admirable in one way but then I thought surely a problem shared is a problem halved. After careful consideration and an alternative offer from Harold that with some work and dedication could ensure things turned out OK, Beti decides to go things alone. Fair play she realised she didn't need a man by her side and she was going to give everything 100%.

Over the course of the story we saw a real transformation in Beti and that's thanks in part to the wonderful setting of the farm where she finds lodgings in a small little finca. Oh my this area with it's horses grazing in the fields and the lovely restaurant, even if it wasn't performing as well as it should have, and the glorious sight of all the cherry trees waiting to come into full bloom and fruit was just amazing. Combined with the introduction of some brilliant characters, the story just took on a life of its own and it became a book that was increasingly hard to put down but at the same time I didn't want to rush through it because I knew I would be sad to leave such a gorgeous read behind.

Beti really starts to show that underneath it all she is no push over, that for too long life has not gone the way she had ultimately planned for and now was the time despite opposition and stand offish characters she was going to make a success of things. She had several months to get the money together for the bar and through hell or high water she was going to do this. Being a washer upper in the restaurant wasn't her ideal job in Spain but she took everything she could get. I loved how Beti wasn't the sole focus of the story, that cherry orchard owner Antonio despite being a very closed book began to come to the fore. I sensed he was hiding things and that his relationship with Valentina was on a knife edge and now having his son Miguel living with him was testing the waters even more.

So much happens to Beti as she navigates towards her long term goal and their are many challenges sent to test her to the max. But the more she coped with things and showed her true character the more I respected and admired her. I'd almost forgive her for not telling her parents what exactly was going on. Living under a lie must have put enormous strain and pressure on her but in another way the situation allowed a new side to her nature to emerge demonstrating qualities she never knew she possessed. Traditional Spanish, food, wine, the cherry trees and flamenco all play pivotal roles in this story and despite Beti initially experiencing humiliation, heartbreak and loss, Cortijo Ana and its surrounding land may well just begin to work it's magic.

Will Beti fulfil her dreams or will things just prove too much to conquer? Will the Butterfly Bar be hers? Can she find love and happiness doing what she has always wanted to do? Can she show her family and cousin Olivia that she is made of a lot sterner stuff than they giver her credit for? Can Beti embrace what the cherry farm is offering her and learn to listen to her heart? All these questions and so many more will be answered should you choose to pick up this amazing, incredible, heartwarming read that I loved from start to finish. What's more for the first time we have a winter book to look forward to from Jo Thomas as A Winter Beneath the Stars publishes in October. Two books in a year from a brilliant author what more could one ask for?

This is a wonderful book that truly transports you on a Spanish adventure, complete with flamenco, paella and patatas bravas.

I loved the beauty of this cover that perfectly encapsulates the rural Spanish feel of the book with the cherry blossom and our protagonist Beti picking the cherries on the farm (supervised as always by Ana, the cat). I can definitely see this will be a really eye-catching cover in shops that will pull you in from off of the shelf.

The characters in this tale are endearing and full of charm in various ways, and I liked that they are all honest and a bit imperfect. Beti was good-hearted, if frustratingly naïve and meek at times, but her transformation throughout the difficult times she faced was uplifting, proof not to give up on your dreams.

The "dirty dancing" style secrecy was a great plot device as you truly got to see the town's hidden history and character. Though there are unlikely elements to the plot  (hey it's a romance book, there's always an element of fantasy) it was captivating, fun and just pure escapism. I did very much want to see something hideous happen to certain despicable characters, looking at you Will and Esmeralda, which was a bit of a disappointment but...well you'll just have to read it to see what happens.

There is a lot of drama, a lot of passion, and a lot of heart-warming love; it's not only the cherries that blossom on this farm!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest, unedited review.

Wow! Flamenco meets Dirty Dancing!!
I have been a fan of Jo Thomas since I read The Oyster Catcher and her books always whisk me away to a different destination. This book however went to a whole new level.
The vast range of characters ( all easy to gel with), Beti's journey to coming out of her shell and the descriptive text of the setting in the cherry orchard and the Spanish town and the sights, sounds, smells and tastes make this book a total wonder.
Having been to Spain it transported me straight back there and even if you've never been by the time you finish this book you would feel like you had experienced it first hand.
Plus the icing on the cherry is when the girl gets her man, but which one?

Totally loved this book, thank you so much to NetGalley and Headline for allowing me to read in return for an honest review.

A pleasant read, although I wasn't gripped by this story. Beti, the main character, was nice, but perhaps a bit too nice (bland even). For me some of her introspection went on for too long. Nor did I feel her pain / passion came through strongly enough. And the romance was a bit rushed at the end.

I loved the descriptions of Spain and learning about cherry farming. There was a strong sense of community too. I enjoyed the way Antonio developed a relationship with his son, Miguel. A good read all in all.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beti works in a burger bar at the airport and watches everyone jetting off to holidays/new lives in the sun, wishing she was going too. She has had three failed engagements and after another put-down by her cousin she decides that she is going to make a big change. So she jets off to Spain with current fiancee Will to take over the lease on the Butterfly bar. But once there Will dumps her, clears out her account and leave her to fend for herself. I did feel she was a bit of a wet blanket at the beginning of the story, lugging her wedding planning portfolio around with her everywhere, even to Spain!

Luckily the English owners of the bar she wants to lease feel very sorry for her, and befriend her, giving her time to find the money. Beti meets various people but ends up leasing a finca at an old cherry farm in a sleepy old fashioned village, not that far away from the harbor where she wants to lease the bar. There she meets a variety of people, mostly good, some a pain(!), along with the grumpy (but very handsome!) owner Antonio and his lovely son Miguel.

Various things happen and Beti ends up learning flamenco with Antonio as her tutor in order to win a bet. The last part of the book is so lovely, the whole village is out partying and watching the flamenco after a lot of them help to get the cherry harvest in. There was such a community feeling of all pulling together. Beti really finds her own way in life and becomes a much stronger character. Really lovely book, makes you want to run out to a little village in Spain and live a different life!

A brilliant read. Its a slow paced book but certainly a delicious and romantic novel to keep you smiling. Beti is in a long term relationship and moves to Spain with her fiancé to run a bar, or at least that what they planned until her Fiancee finds another woman. He clears out Betis bank account and she is totally heartbroken but decides she won't be beaten and stays to continue on her plan. She moves to a smaller cheaper room to get by and has a couple of jobs at the cherry orchard. Antonio who runs it isn't the typical romantic man you expect in a book so watch them materialise. The romance of the story took quite a long time to get into it, and felt a little rushed towards the end but i really did enjoy it.
Thank you to net galley

Wow just wow, its a shame I have to come back to England, after being so thoroughly transported to southern Spain in this wonderful story of Beti learning to listen to her hearts desires in all wakes of her life, and learn just who she is as a person.

I'm at a loss to describe this book, I can either wax lyrical about everything, or I can just tell you to read it if you are looking for a great summery read, that will literally make you forget about real life while you are finishing it,.

There are so many ups and down, humour, emotion, fiery flamenco dancing, a storyline that reminds me of Footloose, unexpected relationships and new love, spanish food, spanish bars, a big dream, a message about social media, assorted storylines about family and a whole lot more besides.

I wouldn't want to tell you any specifics as the writing is so encompassing, and such a joy to read, that the only thing that can be said, is read this book, as I'm sure you will love it as much I as did. It is warm hearted, perfect escapism, either for summer holiday reading, or when you are wishing you were abroad in sunnier climes.

Beti is a character that I really did enjoy, especially seeing her own personal growth as the story proceeds, and seeing how her hopes and dreams change so gradually I think the reader is 3 steps ahead of her.

I have never read about a Cherry Farm before and this one sounds gorgeous, and the descriptions the cherries, made me almost be able to taste them for myself. The owner of the farm is tricky to get to grips with to start with but as the story unravels he was becoming my favourite character by a mile, matched closely by his 17 year old son.

Jo Thomas writes so warmly and its clear she is passionate and knowledgeable about the various aspects of Spanish life and how some villages are are more for locals and wanting traditional ways of life instead of the tourist trade.

This is my new favourite Jo Thomas book and I have adored all her others previously too, and I think Beti's story may stay with me for a while. It was my sheer pleasure to have been able to read this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Seemed based on a very flimsy and unbelievable premise about flamenco dancing. Couldn’t warm to the characters at all. Struggled to keep going to finish it.

When I was sent a copy of this book I was intrigued and couldn't wait to find out what was instore in this new novel from Jo Thomas.  Sitting in my sun-filled garden, I delved in, and was caught hook, line, and sinker by this captivating story. 

The main character – Beti – and her journey in sunny Spain, learning more about herself than she could possibly imagine, had me right beside her on her rollercoaster adventure.  Taking a brave leap of faith & emigrating to the country of fire and flamenco, Beti was enchanted by the sunshine filled Spanish orchard, and so was I.   

The insightful and brilliant way that Jo Thomas used to describe everything, from the cherry blossoms to the sparkling, busy harbour, transported me from my little back garden to the sights/settings she described. 

 I definitely recommend this book, it's a great 'holiday read', even if you aren't venturing farther from your own back garden like me! 

****stars from me!

I received a free copy of the book via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic sunny summer read.. great setting and wonderful characters. Definitely one to pick up this Summer.

Sunset over the cherry orchard is a slow moving but enjoyable romance. Beti has moved to Spain with her fiancé of 5 years intending to rent a bar and work and live there together, but when he runs off with another woman and clears out Beti's bank account she is heartbroken but determined to stay and carry on with her plans, having no money she moves into a cheaper room which a friend has arranged for her on a cherry orchard.
There is a restaurant on the grounds of the orchard managed by the owner Antonio's girlfriend, an unpopular woman whose ideas to make the restaurant more popular are having the opposite effect. Beti obtains a job washing up at the restaurant as well as working at a burger bar in the town.
Antonio appears to be a bad tempered man with little time for manners and small talk, he worries about the cherry harvest as it will make or break his business.
Beti, although having loving parents has always been put down by some relations and made to feel inferior and unable to see any plans through.
During her time at the orchard she begins to bloom, throw in horse whispering, flamenco dancing, an ex wife and cherry picking and you have a nice easy read, I would of liked the romance to have developed a bit sooner than it finally did, seemed a bit rushed at the end.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book.

sun, food and romance. jo thomas at her best. lovely to have this author back, once again she didnt disappoint