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Ház a narancsligetek között
Juno Ryan úgy érzi, végre révbe ért az élete. Befutott radiológus, és a dolgok nem is alakulhatnának jobban szerelmével, Braddel. Ám amikor a férfi egy szörnyű katasztrófa áldozata lesz, Juno világa összeomlik. Szerelme elvesztése már önmagában óriási tragédia, ráadásul a fiatal nőnek a hírekből kell megtudnia, hogy Brad egész végig hazudott neki.
A megrendült, munkájában egyre többet hibázó Juno Spanyolországba menekül, ahol az elbűvölő Villa Naranjában próbálja összeszedni magát. A csodálatos épület, a kék ég és a gyümölcsökkel teli narancsligetek - no és Pep, a jóképű fiatal borász - igazi gyógyírt jelentenek Juno sebzett szívének, de a valódi gyógyulást neki is akarnia kell.
Azonban épp akkor, amikor már késznek érzi magát élete folytatására, újabb sokkoló esemény történik. Képes lesz valaha is maga mögött hagyni a múltat, és újra bízni önmagában?
Sheila O'Flanagan világszerte nagy sikert aratott romantikus regénye a lélek gyógyulásáról és az újrakezdésről mesél a gyönyörű spanyol táj díszletei között.
A megrendült, munkájában egyre többet hibázó Juno Spanyolországba menekül, ahol az elbűvölő Villa Naranjában próbálja összeszedni magát. A csodálatos épület, a kék ég és a gyümölcsökkel teli narancsligetek - no és Pep, a jóképű fiatal borász - igazi gyógyírt jelentenek Juno sebzett szívének, de a valódi gyógyulást neki is akarnia kell.
Azonban épp akkor, amikor már késznek érzi magát élete folytatására, újabb sokkoló esemény történik. Képes lesz valaha is maga mögött hagyni a múltat, és újra bízni önmagában?
Sheila O'Flanagan világszerte nagy sikert aratott romantikus regénye a lélek gyógyulásáról és az újrakezdésről mesél a gyönyörű spanyol táj díszletei között.
479 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2018
734 people are currently reading
1419 people want to read
About the author
Sheila O'Flanagan
95 books1,197 followersAs you can see, a Dubliner all my life. My parents owned a grocery shop in the Iveagh Markets, in the Liberties area of the city and I guess city blood runs through my veins.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
October 24, 2022
This wasn’t I thought it would be not going into detail … let’s just say there were ghost story lines involved.
October 22, 2018
Juno Ryan’s world is turned upside down. She is devastated when she hears about Brad. When it starts affecting her work, Juno knows she needs to do something about it. When her friend Pilar offers her the chance of a holiday at a villa in Spain, she agrees it will give her time to come to terms with what has happened. While there she meets the winemaker’s handsome son,. Pep, who cleans the pool at the villa. She also gets to know others in his family. But life is not done with its shocks for Juno as the past comes back to haunt her in a way she never dreamt possible.
The setting of this in Spain and the people Juno meets and interact with at various festivals and events make this very colourful. However I found Juno annoying. If Brad was as much the love of her life as she believed, then she moves on far too quickly and easily for me to believe. I found many of her attitudes selfish and just unbelievable how easily most people accepted her into their community. It’s definitely chick lit and there were many times I found myself wondering why I kept reading. I did work my way to the end, but I felt it was overlong and the characters never convinced me. However I suspect a lot of people who are into chick lit will really like it. For me it was just okay. The setting was the biggest attraction.
The setting of this in Spain and the people Juno meets and interact with at various festivals and events make this very colourful. However I found Juno annoying. If Brad was as much the love of her life as she believed, then she moves on far too quickly and easily for me to believe. I found many of her attitudes selfish and just unbelievable how easily most people accepted her into their community. It’s definitely chick lit and there were many times I found myself wondering why I kept reading. I did work my way to the end, but I felt it was overlong and the characters never convinced me. However I suspect a lot of people who are into chick lit will really like it. For me it was just okay. The setting was the biggest attraction.
May 18, 2020
Juno ist am Boden zerstört, durchs Fernsehen erfährt sie, dass ihre große Liebe Brad bei einem Erdbeben ums Leben gekommen ist. Doch als ob das nicht schon schlimm genug ist, muß sie auch noch akzeptieren, dass er verheiratet war und einen kleinen Sohn hatte.
Sie braucht dringend eine Auszeit und reist nach Spanien, wo sie in der Villa Naranja, die der Mutter ihrer Freundin gehört wohnen kann.
Schön langsam kann sie hier Kraft tanken, sich an der Schönheit der Landschaft erfreuen und auch Pep, der attraktive Nachbarssohn bringt sie auf andere Gedanken.
Doch dann, als sie wieder neuen Lebensmut gefasst hat, erhält sie eine Nachricht von Max, Brads Bruder, der ihr etwas mitteilen möchte.....
Was für eine schöne Geschichte! Ich erlag dem Zauber Spaniens von Anfang an. Die Autorin hat so einen schönen Schreibstil und hat wunderbare Charaktere erschaffen. Allen voran Juno, die man gerne trösten und in den Arm nehmen würde. Aber die Tatsache, dass Brad verheiratet war und sie die ganze Zeit über belogen hatte, machte es ihr leichter, den Kummer zu überwinden.
Ich konnte mir die Landschaft um Beniflor mit den tollen Orangenhainen so richtig gut vorstellen, habe mit Juno die Zeit im Pool genossen und fand es toll, wie sie nach und nach mit ihrer zupackenden Art nicht nur ihren Kummer geheilt hat, sondern auch bald Anerkennung bei den Einwohnern Beniflors bekommen hat. Juno ist auch sehr tierlieb, was bei immer für Pluspunkte sorgt. Liebevoll kümmert sie sich um eine streunende Katze, der es anscheinend bei Juno sehr zu gefallen scheint.
Anhand des schönen Covers tippt man auf eine eher leichte Sommergeschichte, ich war aber sehr angenehm überrascht, dass die Geschichte viel tiefer geht und auch durchaus spannend war. Die Seiten flogen nur so dahin und auch das Ende fand ich rundum gelungen.
Dies war genau die richtige Geschichte für die momentane Zeit und ich habe sie auf dem Balkon in der Sonne sehr genossen.
February 17, 2019
The Hideaway is a typical but charming romance. A woman goes to Spain to heal a broken heart, learns life lessons and happy ending. It's a cute easy read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2018
It was a pleasant enough read but it’s not a story that will stay with me, at one point thought it was going to turn into a ghost story. I have read better Sheila o’Flanagan books.
July 15, 2019
I loved this novel which is my second book by Sheila O'Flanagan. I adore her writing style which is really pleasant and "airy". Sheila O'Flanagan used to feature inspiring characters showing a real determination despite that sometimes parts of their life could be painful or sad.
The plot and characters are well designed. I liked the story and Juno Ryan's character.
Through easy reading chapters, we follow Juno, a specialist in radiography, in her journey of healing from the grief of the man she loves. Taking a short break from work, she leaves Ireland to Spain seeking quiet and peace. Her character and mental qualities allow her to be a member of a new community and to become again in love.
The "hit" of the book was a wonderful description of Spain to such an extent we come out with a strong desire to visit all places where the story took place. “The Hideaway” is an excellent novel for those who are looking for a quick and inspiring holiday read. I highly recommend it.
Read: June 2019
Source: NetGalley and the Publisher: Headline
The plot and characters are well designed. I liked the story and Juno Ryan's character.
Through easy reading chapters, we follow Juno, a specialist in radiography, in her journey of healing from the grief of the man she loves. Taking a short break from work, she leaves Ireland to Spain seeking quiet and peace. Her character and mental qualities allow her to be a member of a new community and to become again in love.
The "hit" of the book was a wonderful description of Spain to such an extent we come out with a strong desire to visit all places where the story took place. “The Hideaway” is an excellent novel for those who are looking for a quick and inspiring holiday read. I highly recommend it.
Read: June 2019
Source: NetGalley and the Publisher: Headline
June 29, 2018
From the moment the main character Juno made the decision to attend Brad’s funeral early in the book, it was blatantly obvious where this story was heading. So I’m kicking myself for continuing on with the next 350 pages. What a waste of time!
Juno is a shallow character supposedly totally shattered and unable to function by Brad’s death and betrayal. So off she goes to Spain to get her life back together. Ironically she’s not devastated enough to stop her having a sexual relationship with the pool man almost immediately on her arrival in Spain. She also incredibly manages to get through the “five stages of grieving” in a couple of months and improve her relationship with her family at the same time. Considering her total devastation this was a miracle.
As one reviewer described it “what a load of tosh”!
Juno is a shallow character supposedly totally shattered and unable to function by Brad’s death and betrayal. So off she goes to Spain to get her life back together. Ironically she’s not devastated enough to stop her having a sexual relationship with the pool man almost immediately on her arrival in Spain. She also incredibly manages to get through the “five stages of grieving” in a couple of months and improve her relationship with her family at the same time. Considering her total devastation this was a miracle.
As one reviewer described it “what a load of tosh”!
May 28, 2018
Another fantastic book by this talented author . An easy read and one which I loved . After suffering a personal tragedy, Juno
Ryan takes extended leave from her job and heads to Spain to try and come to terms and recover from what has happened . She stays in a lovely villa and whilst she is there it doesn’t take her long to get to know the locals and get into the Spanish way of life. A story filled with some sadness but lots of happiness too. I loved the description of Spain and Spanish life. Great story
Ryan takes extended leave from her job and heads to Spain to try and come to terms and recover from what has happened . She stays in a lovely villa and whilst she is there it doesn’t take her long to get to know the locals and get into the Spanish way of life. A story filled with some sadness but lots of happiness too. I loved the description of Spain and Spanish life. Great story
May 29, 2018
An enjoyable summer read. I like Sheila O’Flanagan’s style of writing but this could easily have been 50 pages shorter. I liked that there were several ways this story could have ended, leaving the reader guessing until the final chapters. Too many references to ghosts though! 3-4 stars
July 3, 2022
Completely lost myself in Juno's story and the Villa Naranja. I felt I was right in Spain with her which helped me forget all the rain falling as I was reading due to being too caught up in the sunny descriptions. Wasn't too keen on the ending of Juno's story but pleased she did find peace/happiness. Definitely looking up more of Sheila's novels.
June 10, 2019
Novel set in Province of ALICANTE / VALENCIA
A note from the author on location: I first stayed in this area of Valencia nearly twenty-five years ago and I was struck by the colours of the countryside. On the one hand, the zone is quite dry. But the vividness of the orange, lemon and lime trees against the backdrop of the blue skies , the mountains and the sea are simply stunning. Although there are a lot of tourists and ex-pats living in the area, it still retains strong links to both its Moorish and Christan cultures and the (almost daily) summer fiestas are a part of that.
I took this novel with me to read in the very area in which it is set and reading The Hideaway, in situ was an absolute joy. The book revels in location and the author is hugely observant of the way of life in this part of Spain. Yes, of course she features fiestas and oranges and good-looking Spaniards and family intrigues! She burrows down and reveals a delightful understanding of the Spanish life. It was lovely to observe life around me further reflected in the novel!
I am also learning Spanish and the author throws in a good few words that you can add to your vocabulary list. This peppering of words of course also adds an authentic feel to the story
Juno Ryan is in a relationship with wonderful Brad. He goes on holiday without her (theirs is an early days relationship) ostensibly to visit his family in Italy and it is in the aftermath of a major earthquake that she learns he has been one of the victims. The story portrayed in the news reveals another side of his life that he has kept from her – the secret is huge and his betrayal shatters her to the core.
Juno happens to work with Pilar and it is she who offers Juno the Villa Naranja, near fictional Beniflor, just a little inland from the Mediterranean in the Province of Alicante (Costa Blanca). Three months off the world is just the ticket and she is soon settled in, with a visiting cat to keep her company. She finds herself being drilled in the vagaries of local life and soon her own sojourn is under scrutiny – providing interest and curiosity amongst the locals.
Juno takes a short trip to Valencia to visit her landlady and to see futuristic buildings at The City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava, situated in the city’s reclaimed riverbed. As a tourist, she even struggles with the city’s traffic systems; I totally concur! It’s a real conundrum to fight your way through the honking and swerving, not something for the faint-hearted!
The author explores the bereavement process in a thoughtful and studied way, as Juno progresses through the stages of her loss. She also has her character reflecting on her place in the world and on her own ways of being which add nice, insightful elements to the storyline. There is also a dalliance along the way….
Juno discovers a little about the history of this villa, built for a nobleman and where also the tragedy of the Civil War struck – there is a certain other-worldly quality about the building.
Juno is described as ‘enjoying reading a book which was partially set in Andalucia during the war, which made it now doubly atmospheric” for her… and of course that is the raison d’être of TripFiction. Enjoying and exploring a location through they eyes of an author.
So, if you are heading to Valencia this is an ace novel to take with you – it will also help you revisit if you want to daydream a little!
A note from the author on location: I first stayed in this area of Valencia nearly twenty-five years ago and I was struck by the colours of the countryside. On the one hand, the zone is quite dry. But the vividness of the orange, lemon and lime trees against the backdrop of the blue skies , the mountains and the sea are simply stunning. Although there are a lot of tourists and ex-pats living in the area, it still retains strong links to both its Moorish and Christan cultures and the (almost daily) summer fiestas are a part of that.
I took this novel with me to read in the very area in which it is set and reading The Hideaway, in situ was an absolute joy. The book revels in location and the author is hugely observant of the way of life in this part of Spain. Yes, of course she features fiestas and oranges and good-looking Spaniards and family intrigues! She burrows down and reveals a delightful understanding of the Spanish life. It was lovely to observe life around me further reflected in the novel!
I am also learning Spanish and the author throws in a good few words that you can add to your vocabulary list. This peppering of words of course also adds an authentic feel to the story
Juno Ryan is in a relationship with wonderful Brad. He goes on holiday without her (theirs is an early days relationship) ostensibly to visit his family in Italy and it is in the aftermath of a major earthquake that she learns he has been one of the victims. The story portrayed in the news reveals another side of his life that he has kept from her – the secret is huge and his betrayal shatters her to the core.
Juno happens to work with Pilar and it is she who offers Juno the Villa Naranja, near fictional Beniflor, just a little inland from the Mediterranean in the Province of Alicante (Costa Blanca). Three months off the world is just the ticket and she is soon settled in, with a visiting cat to keep her company. She finds herself being drilled in the vagaries of local life and soon her own sojourn is under scrutiny – providing interest and curiosity amongst the locals.
Juno takes a short trip to Valencia to visit her landlady and to see futuristic buildings at The City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava, situated in the city’s reclaimed riverbed. As a tourist, she even struggles with the city’s traffic systems; I totally concur! It’s a real conundrum to fight your way through the honking and swerving, not something for the faint-hearted!
The author explores the bereavement process in a thoughtful and studied way, as Juno progresses through the stages of her loss. She also has her character reflecting on her place in the world and on her own ways of being which add nice, insightful elements to the storyline. There is also a dalliance along the way….
Juno discovers a little about the history of this villa, built for a nobleman and where also the tragedy of the Civil War struck – there is a certain other-worldly quality about the building.
Juno is described as ‘enjoying reading a book which was partially set in Andalucia during the war, which made it now doubly atmospheric” for her… and of course that is the raison d’être of TripFiction. Enjoying and exploring a location through they eyes of an author.
So, if you are heading to Valencia this is an ace novel to take with you – it will also help you revisit if you want to daydream a little!
May 10, 2018
I enjoyed 'The Hideaway' and I think it would make a wonderful holiday read. The description of Spain and in particular the Villa Naranja where Juno goes to take some time out is very well-written. I got a real sense of the town and surrounding areas. I liked all the characters. I'm not sure about the man Juno eventually gets together with, not in terms of his character, but because of who he is (can't say any more without giving a spoiler).
This is a story about someone getting to know herself / finding herself / making peace with herself. I liked the sub-plot regarding Juno and her relationship with her mother. Banquo / Ophelia the cat made me laugh. The author leans towards the spiritual side at times. There's a lot to like.
If I had one small criticism it would be that I didn't strongly 'feel' Juno's emotion - perhaps she was a bit too matter of fact at times - but that was part of her character.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story about someone getting to know herself / finding herself / making peace with herself. I liked the sub-plot regarding Juno and her relationship with her mother. Banquo / Ophelia the cat made me laugh. The author leans towards the spiritual side at times. There's a lot to like.
If I had one small criticism it would be that I didn't strongly 'feel' Juno's emotion - perhaps she was a bit too matter of fact at times - but that was part of her character.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2019
Loved it. The description of Spain was beautiful. I would have loved to spend three months at the Villa Naranja, plus Pep was an added bonus. Spain was exactly what Juno needed, along with all the people in the village and the loving affection of Banquo. Juno was definitely unlucky in the love department with Sean and Brad. I can't imagine how she felt when she learned the truth about Brad. This was the perfect summer read. It was full of love, forgiveness, friendship and family. I loved how Juno kept saying that she just thought Banquo was a fat cat wen she finally discovers he was a she. The book just left me with warm and happy feelings and of course the need to travel to Spain.
Definitely recommend the book. I loved the characters, story and writing style. It was the first book I read by the author and I look forward to reading more. It was the cover of the book that first caught my eye and the story didn't disappoint.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Headline through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Definitely recommend the book. I loved the characters, story and writing style. It was the first book I read by the author and I look forward to reading more. It was the cover of the book that first caught my eye and the story didn't disappoint.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Headline through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 17, 2018
Sheila has long been one of my most favourite authors, and I always anticipate her next book with excitement, having read all of them so far.
Devastation hits Juno’s life and she flees to Spain to try to heal. The descriptions of the area of Spain are fantastic and you really feel as if you are there with Juno. The characters are believable, and the whole story is brilliantly written (as are all Sheila’s books!).
A beautiful book that I didn’t want to put down, and was left wanting more when it finished. Absolutely loved it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
Devastation hits Juno’s life and she flees to Spain to try to heal. The descriptions of the area of Spain are fantastic and you really feel as if you are there with Juno. The characters are believable, and the whole story is brilliantly written (as are all Sheila’s books!).
A beautiful book that I didn’t want to put down, and was left wanting more when it finished. Absolutely loved it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
June 18, 2018
I love Sheila O'Flanagan books and this is one of my favourites so far. An excellent storyline, gorgeous location and lovely characters. Beautifully descriptive - I was transported to Spain with the fantastic details in the writing. A story of sadness, new beginnings, love, romance and friendship. Well paced - a very entertaining read. I loved the location particularly.
A perfect holiday or summer read, ideal for the beach or for an afternoon in the garden. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
A perfect holiday or summer read, ideal for the beach or for an afternoon in the garden. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2018
I started this book after reading the reviews but how it was unputdownable I do not know, I gave up shortly after Juno arrived in Spain, I’ve read may of Sheila’s books and enjoyed them, however this was a load of tosh!
April 8, 2019
I always feel guilty leaving a low star review but this was so clunky and slow, just couldn’t get into it at all and ended up speed reading.
July 21, 2018
I have read a few Sheila O’Flanagan books but it’d be quite a while ago now. My grandmother is quite a big fan and buys her books when they come out, a few of which she’s passed onto me. This is the first one I’ve read in a long time and I really enjoyed it.
Juno is in a very bad way. She’s been hit with not only a devastating loss out of no where but then a betrayal that she never saw coming. She finds herself struggling to do her job at work, breaking down at the most inopportune times. Her work places her on unpaid leave and friend offers her several weeks of rest and relaxation at her grandmother’s place in Spain. It’s mostly sitting empty, unable to be sold because it’s a little too far from the ocean for summer holiday home.
Juno arrives bravely in the dead of night, settling herself in, musing at the slight spookiness of it all. As the only practical one in a family of dramatic and theatrical people she’s not usually given to flights of fancy but she can’t help wondering about the possibility of ghosts in her neglected holiday home. By daylight it’s not quite so spooky although it’s looking a little dated and never good at being idle, Juno finds herself mending shutters and painting walls to freshen it up a little.
Juno’s world is so rocked when she arrives in Spain, she isn’t sure she can really see a way forward. She was expecting her life to go one way and that’s been completely turned upside down, not just in one way but in two. I think it would be tempting to hole up at the villa, to just wallow but Juno makes an effort in the local community and quickly becomes a subject of interest. A foreigner, staying all alone apart from a young, handsome pool cleaner who visits regularly. Juno is mostly amused as she joins in the local festivities and a little bewildered. I think she’s long thought of herself as the forgotten member of her family – a later in life baby for her mother, sensible and practical, not quite as given to the drama as various members of her family. She’s not sure why she drums up so much interest and doesn’t see herself as doing anything unusual.
I absolutely adored the setting of this book. The Villa Naranja sounded so enchanting – it’s not right on the coast like a large array of holiday and resort towns but situated a little further inland, among wine country and with its own orange grove. It needed a little TLC, it’s owner having died and the rest of the family not able to visit it often but it’s the perfect setting for Juno to come to terms with her loss and decide how to move forward with her life. I absolutely loved the character of Banquo too, a source of great comfort to Juno and the twist regarding Banquo was very sweet and unexpected.
There’s a small element of romance in this, it’s more a suggestion and I’m in two minds about it. I love the character and I love them together, I just feel as though it was slightly awkward, given who he is and the people it would bring Juno into contact with in the future. But mostly this book is about Juno herself, making her way through this horrible tragic event that is both hers and not hers to grieve over and dealing with it and then learning to move forward. I think Juno also learns a lot about herself during this process as well, the things that she’s capable of and I was really into that whole part of the story. The focus is so much on Juno’s strength as a person, but also her weaknesses as well. Her grief is so raw in the beginning and although she isn’t completely ‘healed’ at the end, you can tell where her life is going and it’s a very positive and uplifting direction.
This was a really engrossing read – the warmth of the setting helped take my mind off the depressing winter weather I’m currently experiencing and it’s definitely made me keen to read Sheila O’Flanagan’s books more often and not leave it so long until the next one!
***A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
Juno is in a very bad way. She’s been hit with not only a devastating loss out of no where but then a betrayal that she never saw coming. She finds herself struggling to do her job at work, breaking down at the most inopportune times. Her work places her on unpaid leave and friend offers her several weeks of rest and relaxation at her grandmother’s place in Spain. It’s mostly sitting empty, unable to be sold because it’s a little too far from the ocean for summer holiday home.
Juno arrives bravely in the dead of night, settling herself in, musing at the slight spookiness of it all. As the only practical one in a family of dramatic and theatrical people she’s not usually given to flights of fancy but she can’t help wondering about the possibility of ghosts in her neglected holiday home. By daylight it’s not quite so spooky although it’s looking a little dated and never good at being idle, Juno finds herself mending shutters and painting walls to freshen it up a little.
Juno’s world is so rocked when she arrives in Spain, she isn’t sure she can really see a way forward. She was expecting her life to go one way and that’s been completely turned upside down, not just in one way but in two. I think it would be tempting to hole up at the villa, to just wallow but Juno makes an effort in the local community and quickly becomes a subject of interest. A foreigner, staying all alone apart from a young, handsome pool cleaner who visits regularly. Juno is mostly amused as she joins in the local festivities and a little bewildered. I think she’s long thought of herself as the forgotten member of her family – a later in life baby for her mother, sensible and practical, not quite as given to the drama as various members of her family. She’s not sure why she drums up so much interest and doesn’t see herself as doing anything unusual.
I absolutely adored the setting of this book. The Villa Naranja sounded so enchanting – it’s not right on the coast like a large array of holiday and resort towns but situated a little further inland, among wine country and with its own orange grove. It needed a little TLC, it’s owner having died and the rest of the family not able to visit it often but it’s the perfect setting for Juno to come to terms with her loss and decide how to move forward with her life. I absolutely loved the character of Banquo too, a source of great comfort to Juno and the twist regarding Banquo was very sweet and unexpected.
There’s a small element of romance in this, it’s more a suggestion and I’m in two minds about it. I love the character and I love them together, I just feel as though it was slightly awkward, given who he is and the people it would bring Juno into contact with in the future. But mostly this book is about Juno herself, making her way through this horrible tragic event that is both hers and not hers to grieve over and dealing with it and then learning to move forward. I think Juno also learns a lot about herself during this process as well, the things that she’s capable of and I was really into that whole part of the story. The focus is so much on Juno’s strength as a person, but also her weaknesses as well. Her grief is so raw in the beginning and although she isn’t completely ‘healed’ at the end, you can tell where her life is going and it’s a very positive and uplifting direction.
This was a really engrossing read – the warmth of the setting helped take my mind off the depressing winter weather I’m currently experiencing and it’s definitely made me keen to read Sheila O’Flanagan’s books more often and not leave it so long until the next one!
***A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
July 1, 2018
I love Sheila’s books, but this one didn’t quite do it for me. Maybe it was the foreign setting. I know a lot of people love getaway books, but I never have. The locals always seem a little too quaint and stereotypical (not necessarily pinpointing this book as being the only one to do that). I find it kind of cliched honestly. British/Irish woman has bad time in a relationship and heads off for a sun holiday.
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There was things I did like. The Brad storyline was interesting and I liked the mother - what a strong and inspiring older woman character! I love Sheila’s style of writing and the depth she gives her characters. The romances - well, actually I kind of liked Pep. I felt a bit sorry for him. I don’t like that sort of situation and would have hated him if it was him doing the using. Made it hard to be all “go girl! “ towards the protagonist. I did get that Pep was going to bounce back pretty quick and was not to be pitied. I did wonder which of the two possible brothers she was going to end up with, and honestly that gave me a bit of an ick too. I could kind of see it coming. Though it wasn’t immediately obvious which of the two it was going to be.
Honestly didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. If it was a different author would probably think it was a decent chick lit, but Sheila has spoiled us over the years with her great novels, so I did find this a little meh.
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There was things I did like. The Brad storyline was interesting and I liked the mother - what a strong and inspiring older woman character! I love Sheila’s style of writing and the depth she gives her characters. The romances - well, actually I kind of liked Pep. I felt a bit sorry for him. I don’t like that sort of situation and would have hated him if it was him doing the using. Made it hard to be all “go girl! “ towards the protagonist. I did get that Pep was going to bounce back pretty quick and was not to be pitied. I did wonder which of the two possible brothers she was going to end up with, and honestly that gave me a bit of an ick too. I could kind of see it coming. Though it wasn’t immediately obvious which of the two it was going to be.
Honestly didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. If it was a different author would probably think it was a decent chick lit, but Sheila has spoiled us over the years with her great novels, so I did find this a little meh.
May 11, 2019
Juno Ryan is in mourning. The love of her life is gone and she’s putting her job at risk through her grief. But things are not as they appear to be and Juno finds herself with a sabbatical, a suitcase and a villa in Spain where she can regroup and resolve her problems.
This was a sweet book with a really interesting premise. I have to admit at about two thirds through I thought it would end one way and it went a totally different direction which I enjoyed. However, I found the characters to be unbelievable and at times unsympathetic.
I have read other books by the author that I preferred.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinions.
This was a sweet book with a really interesting premise. I have to admit at about two thirds through I thought it would end one way and it went a totally different direction which I enjoyed. However, I found the characters to be unbelievable and at times unsympathetic.
I have read other books by the author that I preferred.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinions.
May 14, 2022
Hlavna hrdinka Juno zazije traumu. Jej partner tragicky umrie pri zemetraseni. No k tomu dostane dalsi sok-bol zenaty a mal syna 😲 Manzelka zomrie tiez a syn prezije.
Juno sa z toho nevie dostat, potrebuje zmenu sceny, tak jej kamoska dohodne byvanie vo vile v Spanielsku, kde si ma Juno vyliecit svoje zranene srdce.
Joj, aka skoda, ze to tak autorka zbabrala ☹ Vobec mi to nesadlo, necitila som ziadne sympatie k hlavnej hrdinke. Jedine, co sa mi pacilo, bolo to prostredie a macka, ktora mala stelesnovat ducha zomreleho nevernika 😝
Kedze to asi nebudete citat, tak nevadi, ak dam spojler. Autorka to zaklincovala tak, ze sa Juno zalubila do brata toho svojho milenca 🙈
Tych 400 stran som poctivo docitala do konca, ale teraz si lamem hlavu, ze naco 😇
Juno sa z toho nevie dostat, potrebuje zmenu sceny, tak jej kamoska dohodne byvanie vo vile v Spanielsku, kde si ma Juno vyliecit svoje zranene srdce.
Joj, aka skoda, ze to tak autorka zbabrala ☹ Vobec mi to nesadlo, necitila som ziadne sympatie k hlavnej hrdinke. Jedine, co sa mi pacilo, bolo to prostredie a macka, ktora mala stelesnovat ducha zomreleho nevernika 😝
Kedze to asi nebudete citat, tak nevadi, ak dam spojler. Autorka to zaklincovala tak, ze sa Juno zalubila do brata toho svojho milenca 🙈
Tych 400 stran som poctivo docitala do konca, ale teraz si lamem hlavu, ze naco 😇
July 9, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I especially loved the setting in Spain and the connection of the character to the local community.
October 1, 2018
A really nice read. I was wary at first with the ghost story but the read isn't spooky at all :)
February 17, 2019
I loved it!! I couldn't put it down.
April 23, 2019
I loved juno and her time in Spain, great story and characters. Another brilliant read Sheila x
November 10, 2020
3.5 Rating
would have enjoyed it more if there had been a different ending. Lots of options but chose the least desirable for me.
would have enjoyed it more if there had been a different ending. Lots of options but chose the least desirable for me.
May 25, 2025
gentle read, something to read on holiday.
September 15, 2024
This book has made me want to travel to Valencia! It sounds absolutely gorgeous!
Great read with a lovely strong main character and super supporting characters. A joy to read.
Great read with a lovely strong main character and super supporting characters. A joy to read.
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