Sunset over the Cherry Orchard


Book Description

'Warm, romantic and funny' Katie Fforde Jo Thomas's new novel invites you to a special cherry orchard in Spain, where sunshine, romance and family secrets are the order of the day. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews, Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard is a heartwarming, hilarious tale that is 'like the best kind of holiday' (Lucy Diamond). 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. Readers love Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard: 'I loved it!!! I can't recommend this book enough' 'Such an enjoyable journey that I just couldn't put it down' 'A real feel good book' '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' 'Amazing, incredible, heartwarming read that I loved from start to finish' 'If you want to be transported to another country and another way of life, with fantastic characters and an utterly addictive story, then you really must read this book!' 'I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book' 'The plot of Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard is perfect' 'There is laughter, tears, friendship, jealousy, and passion all vying for attention against the stunning backdrop of rural Spain' 'This is a delightfully sweet, escapist read that's perfect for holidays or anyone wishing to get away for a bit, as it whisks readers away to beautiful Spain' 'Sun, Food and Romance is there anything more you could ask for in a summer read? I don't think so!!!'




My Lemon Grove Summer


Book Description

'Rich, warm and sunny. A story that stays with you long after the last page is turned' Milly Johnson Could the lemon groves of Sicily be the perfect place to start over? This irresistible novel from Jo Thomas, author of Escape to the French Farmhouse, will transport you to the island of mountains and sparkling blue seas. When life hands you lemons ... is it ever too late for a second chance? Zelda's impulsive nature has got her precisely nowhere up until now. A fresh start in a beautiful hilltop town in Sicily looking for new residents, together with her best friend Lennie, could be just what she needs. And who better to settle down with than the person who knows her best? But the sun-filled skies and sparkling seas can't hide the shadow hanging over Citta d'Ora, which means not everyone is pleased to see their arrival. The dreams Zelda and her fellow new residents had of setting up a new life might be slipping away. But a friendship with restauranteur Luca could be about to unlock the possibilities that lie in the local lemon groves. And there's a wedding on the horizon that might be just what the town needs to turn it around... Could a summer in Sicily help Zelda learn to trust her instinct and follow her heart?




Home on the Stage


Book Description

Nicholas Grene explores the subject of domestic spaces in modern drama through close readings of nine major plays.




Theory for Theatre Studies: Light


Book Description

What properties of light can be manipulated for aesthetic effect? What role does the perception of the audience play in how stage information is received and processed? How do changes in technology affect methods or approaches to design and practice? This book is designed to introduce key ideas about light and to generate questions and perspectives that will encourage readers to explore light in the theatre more fully in their own critical and creative practices. Examining the theories behind stage lighting practice to help students learn to analyse the aesthetic and critical impacts of light in performance, this book traces the development of lighting practice by focusing on important shifts in technology and aesthetics from the classical period to the modern era. Central to this study are ideas developed by 'New Stagecraft' theorists and designers Adolphe Appia, Edward Gordon Craig and Robert Edmond Jones. Case studies include semiotic approaches to Loïe Fuller's combination of light, movement and costume, Robert Wilson's Einstein on the Beach and Tadashi Suzuki's The Trojan Women. Further case studies including the installation work of James Turrell and Refik Anadol, the Winston Salem Light Project and David Byrne's American Utopia, examine the use of light in theatrical and non-theatrical spaces by focusing on phenomenology, community engagement and the evolution of lighting technology. A companion website features links to images, chapter summaries, questions and further resources for study.




The Red Sky At Night (A Short Story)


Book Description

It's time for Layla to recapture the magic of her childhood... A sparkling, feel-good short story from the bestselling author of The Oyster Catcher, The Olive Branch, and The Honey Farm on the Hill available exclusively in ebook. When Layla arrives in the Welsh coastal village of Swn-y-Mor with new fiancé Rob in tow, she plans to carry out her dad's final wishes, then return to Cardiff quickly, before too many unwanted memories surface. But the longer Layla remains, the harder it is to resist the lure of the autumn skies and memories of family holidays gone by. With fishing trips and firesides to enjoy, is Rob really Layla's future, and is Swn-y-Mor going to remain in her past for ever? What readers are saying about Red Sky at Night: 'Fabulous as always! Jo makes you feel like you are right there with the characters. This book took us to beautiful West Wales and you can almost smell the sea air as you are reading' 'A lovely believable story. Hard to put down' 'Another heart-warming short story from Jo Thomas. You won't be disappointed'




The Olive Branch


Book Description

Can love bloom in the groves of Italy? 'I loved it!' Katie Fforde Escape to Italy with The Olive Branch - the irresistible summer novel from Jo Thomas, author of ebook bestseller The Oyster Catcher. 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 family... 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. What readers are saying about The Olive Branch: 'Characters that come to life and each chapter comes with a smile. An uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable read providing a little escapism, a little romance and a lot of determination' 'A heart-warming book you will find hard to put down' 'A feel-good book. Great for a holiday read'




Summer at the Ice Cream Café


Book Description

'Full of love and warmth, tears and laughter, another gorgeous book from Jo Thomas' Katie Fforde --- 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?




The Oyster Catcher


Book Description

It's sink or swim in the search for love. . . Ebook bestseller The Oyster Catcher is Jo Thomas's first irresistibly feel-good novel, set on the coast of Ireland. 'A world you long to live in with characters you love' Katie Fforde Dooleybridge, County Galway: 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 brooding local oyster farmer, Sean Thornton, she jumps at the chance. Now Fi must navigate suspicious locals, jealous rivals and an 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 as she learns the rules of the ocean - and picks up a few pearls of Irish wisdom along the way... What readers are saying about The Oyster Catcher: 'A fantastic debut novel which was the perfect escapism read; I literally could not put it down and read it at every opportunity I could get' 'Beautifully written. You feel like you are breathing in the sea air and walking along the sand' 'A realistic romance with some strong and colourful characters, set in a fascinating, modern Irish coastal community'




Coming Home to Winter Island


Book Description

Wrap up warm and explore the breath-taking beauty of a remote Scottish island and an old house waiting to unlock enchanting family secrets. Fans of Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson will love this irresistible new winter novel from Jo Thomas. Do you need to find out where you've come from before you can know what the future holds? Ruby's singing career is on the verge of hitting the big time, when her voice breaks. Fearing her career is over, she signs up for a retreat in Tenerife to recover. But an unexpected call from a stranger on a remote Scottish island takes her on a short trip to sort out some family business. It's time to go and see the grandfather she's never met. City girl Ruby knows she will be happy to leave the windswept beaches behind as quickly as she can, especially as a years-old family rift means she knows she won't be welcome at Teach Mhor. But as she arrives at the big house overlooking the bay, she finds things are not as straightforward as she might have thought. There's an unexpected guest in the house and he's not planning on going anywhere any time soon ... Praise for Jo Thomas: 'Magically romantic...best read in front of a crackling log fire' Milly Johnson 'The characters went straight to my heart' Katie Fforde 'A sparkling, heartwarming hug of a story' Miranda Dickinson 'Like the best kind of holiday' Lucy Diamond




Retreat to the Spanish Sun


Book Description

'Warm and life-enhancing, I wanted to move to Spain with these wonderful characters' Katie Fforde 'A fabulous read celebrating the good things in life - fun, friends, family and food' Jill Mansell From the bestselling author of Escape to the French Farmhouse comes a deliciously feel-good new story... __________________________ Sometimes you just need to get away... Eliza has a full house! When her three children grew up and moved out, she downsized to a smaller property... but now they're all back. Every room in the house is taken and Eliza finds herself sharing her bed with her eldest daughter and her daughter's pug. Combined with the online course she's trying to finish, plus her job to fit in, there just isn't the peace and quiet that Eliza needs. So when an ad pops up on her laptop saying 'house-sitters wanted', Eliza can't resist the chance to escape. She ends up moving to a rural finca in southern Spain, looking after the owner's Iberico pigs, learning about secret gastronomic societies ... and finding a new zest for life and love along the way. ___________________________ Readers have fallen in love with Retreat to the Spanish Sun 'Perfect for a summer holiday read' 'A lovely read from Jo Thomas, her books never fail to make me happy' 'A lovely, warm and sunny read' 'Fabulous location, delicious descriptions of food & drink & wonderful characters, an all round feel-good book' If you love Jo's books, her newest summer novel, Love in Provence, is available now!