I really loved getting lost in this sunshine-packed story by Lucy Coleman. Lainey is a food writer for a renowned magazine. We are introduced to Lainey as she is about to review one of the hottest restaurants in London – Aleatory. Having interviewed the very good-looking) Chef, Rick, Lainey hopes this will help boost her career. What she wasn’t expecting is the invitation from Rick to accompany him to film a cooking competition in Andalucia, Spain.

The more time they both spend working together in the beautiful Andalucia, the more they become attracted to each other. There is just one problem. Rick is already engaged. I really enjoyed following both Lainey and Rick’s journeys, the ups and downs, and all the emotions in between. I don’t want to give anything away – you will have to read the story to see what happens with Lainey and Rick!

Summer in Andalucia is an incredible story of friendship, romance, incredible food, and idyllic settings. The perfect book to curl up with now that we have this cold weather and enjoy getting lost in the incredible sights and sounds of Spain – I swear I almost could feel the sun on my face as I was reading it!

I was drawn to this book by the gorgeous cover and not having read anything by this author before I wasn’t sure what to expect, Well this book was utterly charming, I felt I was on the southern coast of Spain with these characters, a lovely, gente read that I thought was utterly charming.

Are you ready to take a trip to the Spanish sun?
Because Lucy Coleman will delight you with a beautiful and sweet story around cooking and the historical Andalusia, believe me, you’ll need sunglasses!
This is a slow paced story, with a little bit of romance, culinary experience and family love; this is the story of Lainey Summers; she will be “enchanted” by a famous chef, Rick Oliver, but their relation will not be easy, are you ready to travel with them to Andalusia?
I have to say that I didn’t feel much connection between the characters; there’s a lot of descriptions about their travels but not how they feel between each other or if it’s just a one sided relationship. I’ll admit that my favorite part is when they are both filming the culinary program and the pressure they feel, it was like being there! If you love food, you’ll be delighted with all the dishes (and descriptions) that Lainey makes of Rick’s creations, it made me really hungry and I would love to be able to replicate them.
Also, it was interesting how the author mixed up the pandemic at the end of the book, I think this is the first time I’ve read it, she made it quite simple but shared the difficulty of traveling, shortage of work and isolation; the need to keep active with small jobs to make life more easy.
If you need some sunshine and love, this is your book, believe me.
Are you ready for a “Summer in Andalucia”?

A wonderfully descriptive novel which will have you feeling like you are right there in the Andalucian countryside with the characters. The descriptions of the food was mouthwatering and the location sounded idyllic. I really enjoyed this summery novel and I recommend you give it a read.

This was a great getaway book to escape a few grey spring days. I whisked myself off to the Andalucian sunshine as well as to the heart of the French countryside. Bliss.
I liked the main characters of Lainey and Rick and wanted to see how things panned out in the end. (No spoilers here!)

A chance to eat fantastic food and travel to lovely locations Lainey's job as a food writer is idyllic. Meeting celebrity chef Rick at his fashionable restaurant is a memorable experience and not just for the food. The chance to work with Rick in Andalucia is a dream job she can't resist even if she risks getting her heartbroken again.

This story is full of vivid sensory imagery that immerses the reader in the Andalucian culture and history. The characters are relatable, and Lainey is easy to like. Instilled with emotion and romance, Lainey and Rick are the perfect forbidden couple.

There are many thought-provoking ideas woven into the narrative. Such as standing up for your beliefs, living your best life and the importance of family and friends.

This is an enjoyable and heartwarming read.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Lucy’s work for a little while now. I love the fact that her books have travel in them in that you are whisked away from a damp and chilly Britain to a bright and sunny destination, which in this case is Andalucia. I read the synopsis for ‘Summer In Andalucia’ and it certainly sounded like I was in for a treat and then some. So without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for an afternoon’s reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Summer in Andalucia’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me next to no time to get into this story. In fact the bright and breezy cover as well as the promise of sunnier climes was enough to draw me in. As soon as I started to read the story that was it. I knew that it was pointless planning to do anything else for the rest of the afternoon as I just couldn’t put the book down for any length of time. It was as though the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. I would pick he book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd half hour or so but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would read way more than a couple of chapters. I think that I was enjoying the exotic locations too much (Andalucia may not seem that exotic to some but living in Lockdown Britain anywhere outside of the house is exotic!). I seemed race my way through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the book and I had to say ‘goodbye’ to the various characters.
‘Summer In Andalucia’ is well written but then that is true of all of Lucy’s work in general. She has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact, reading one of Lucy’s books seems more like a chat between friends than reading an actual book. I love the way in which she describes the locations in the story so beautifully that if I closed my eyes, it would be easy to imagine that I was there in Andalucia with the sun beating down on my face. I felt as though I was part of the story which is all thanks to Luc’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. I found ‘Summer In Andalucia’ to be a joy to read, which kept my attention throughout and it certainly cheered me up.
In short, I really enjoyed ‘Summer In Andalucia’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Lucy’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

With everything that is going on in the world right now, we are all in need of some escapism whilst we are stuck where we are, and this is something that Lucy Coleman never fails to deliver to her readers.

Lainey is a feature writer for an upscale dining magazine, and when she is sent to interview Chef Rick Oliver at his new restaurant Aleatory in London’s Green Park, a tentative friendship begins to form between them. Rick’s new restaurant is a joint venture with his rather hostile fiancée Cathy – a singer who’s contribution has made his dreams a reality, so although they can’t deny the chemistry that is there between them, they both realise that nothing can ever come of it.

When Rick offers Lainey the opportunity to cover an exclusive story on a cooking competition that is taking place in Spain, it is an offer she cannot refuse. As Lainey and Rick spend more time together exploring Spain in a far more informal setting, they grow closer with every passing day, however the constant reminder that Ricky is off limits is at the end of the phone throughout..

I refuse to give away any spoilers about this book as it is such a joy to read!. The characters are fantastic and well developed, with each of them having so many unique qualities and stories to share, they really do reel you in and have you fully invested in their lives throughout this book. The friendships and relationships that develop throughout this story are an absolute delight to follow and truly warmed my heart.

Lucy Coleman has been a favourite author of mine for quite some time now, and her refreshing way of bringing a story to life always lives up to my expectations, or in this case goes above and beyond. Heart warming, full of charm with a storyline that has you immersed to the very end, I loved this book.

After reading, I can see why Lucy is such a popular and best-selling author. There have been so many things I have loved about this one and the tantalising romance has made this book difficult to put down.

I really loved the fact that Lainey and Rick were taking me away to somewhere brighter, sunnier and happier than the current situation. I thought Lucy’s descriptions were gorgeous and animated enough to bring the setting to life, but also subtle enough to not overwhelm the read, or effect the flow of the story.

I loved the developing relationship between Rick and Lainey. It is clear that they both have issues to contend with but they become a huge comfort to one another and that is beautiful to see.

I loved the cookery scenes, especially the cooking competition, as this added another sensory element to the book and another layer of tension, on top of the secrets and rumours that threaten the whole project…

This has been a wonderfully uplifting read that has reminded me what is important in life. Work of course, has its relevance and its important to enjoy what you do, but what is life without love?

I would definitely recommend this gorgeously romantic book to fans of Holly Martin and Portia Macintosh.

Food, romance, fun, and sun! This was such a delightful story filled with delicious food and summer vibes. Laney works for a magazine and is sent to Andalucia to cover a prestigious cooking contest hosted by famous chef Rick Oliver. Things start heating up both in and out of the kitchen between Laney and Rick. The problem is Rick is involved with notable musician Cathy. So things are a bit complicated.

This truly was the perfect escape! Loved everything about this book the food, the location, the characters, did I mention the food? Laney and Rick were great characters and I really loved the chemistry they had between one another. And fortunately the story was less of a love triangle then it sounds like. Laney also had complicated relationships with her parents and I liked how that was addressed in the book. There really was a lot of delectable fabulousness packed into this little treat of a story!

*** Big thank you to Boldwood Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Prepared to be transported to Andalucia and we could all do with that at the moment! The book has some lovely descriptions that you can visualise that you are actually there.

If you’re feeling as suffocated as I am after being confined to home for such a long time, I thoroughly recommend Lucy Coleman’s lovely books. This time it’s Andalucia, and I loved every moment of my virtual visit – the Hotel Monasterio de San Francisco in Palma del Rio and the Castle of Almodóvar del Río are now added to my growing bucket list, enticed by the great descriptions that are always a feature of the author’s writing. She has a quite wonderful eye for detail, particularly with the interiors – all the small features that bring a setting to life, with just enough history to fascinate – and it’s something I thoroughly enjoy. And it’s not “only” the wonderful descriptions, but the way she sees the settings through the eyes and emotional responses of her characters – but I think I might just have chosen to climb out of the car with Lainey on those hairpin bends on the approach to the castle too.

But this book is much more than an opportunity for some much needed armchair travel – there’s also an excellent story, with a growing romance at its centre that I very much enjoyed. Lainey is a feature writer at Upscale Dining magazine, who has developed a tentative friendship with chef Rick Oliver after an interview about his new restaurant Aleatory on London’s Green Park. His restaurant is a joint venture with his fiancée Cathy, a volatile and driven singing star whose investment has made the restaurant a reality, so although there’s a spark of chemistry between them she knows there’s no possibility of it being anything more. But when he offers her an exclusive, the opportunity to join him in Spain to cover a televised cookery competition featuring some of Europe’s emerging top chefs, it’s something it’s impossible to refuse.

I have to say that I found reading about all the wonderful food in this book sheer torture – I’m on an 800 calorie a day diet at the moment, and was salivating from the moment Lainey and her photographer were presented with three taster desserts on their initial visit to Aleatory. And my extreme suffering only continued – if the author has a special touch with describing interiors, she certainly also has a particular skill in describing food. This book is a foodie’s dream, as we follow the cookery challenge where the competitors create their own dishes using key ingredients from others that Rick creates. I loved being behind the scenes in the way the book allowed – with all the moments of drama, and the reversals in fortune of the key contenders (all well drawn individual characters).

The initial spark between Lainey and Rick continues to grow when in close proximity and a more informal setting, as they share meals and go exploring together, but Cathy is always the presence (albeit at the end of a phone) that makes anything more impossible. And that’s as far as I’m going to go… for any more, you’ll need to read it!

I very much liked Lainey’s back story too – the changing fortunes of the magazine she works for, her workplace friendships, and her relationship with her estranged parents. Her father was also a journalist, now a writer of best selling books, while her mother now lives in France, running a cookery retreat – and the book explores their relationships, and Lainey’s guilt about the part she might have played in creating the current situation. I will mention too, for those of you averse to the intrusion of the real world in your books, that are some signs of the approaching pandemic in the story’s denouement – but very gently done, and very much part of the story, only making it feel more like real life than it already did.

I read this book in a single sitting (glass of water in hand to stave off the hunger pangs) and must say that I enjoyed every moment. Had you asked me, I might have said that I sometimes prefer the books of Linn B. Halton (the author’s alter ego) to those of Lucy Coleman, but this was the book that changed my mind. The settings, the food, the characters and relationships, the focus on family and friendships, the slow burn romance with an uncertain outcome – everything combined to make this a book I really loved.

Food, family, friendship and fabulous places to visit.
So many changes and opportunities, new starts and fresh beginnings, as Lainey decides to follow her dreams. She enjoys her job as a food writer, and the friends she has made at work, but her apartment, romance and relationships with her parents all need attention and effort.
Given a primo assignment to cover a new restaurant owned by a power couple, an award winning chef and a popular music star, Lainey can't think of anything better. Until she gets there.
There is much more behind the scenes drama than she and her photographer are prepared for, and only so much she is allowed to share. Add to that her own reaction to being in the company of Chef Rick.
When her whole world turns upside down, Lainey begins putting the pieces back together in a better fitting pattern. But are some pieces still missing?
tho
Reality television afficionados, foodie readers, and those who don't like a simple romance will eat this book up. Bonus scenes for those who love descriptive scenes from places we may never visit in person

A mouthwatering read full of Andalucian flavours and fragrances. Lainey Summers, features writer for Upscale

Dining magazine is sent on an assignment to cover an international cookery competition.. With a cast of

interesting people including celebrity chef, Rick Oliver, she learns more about the world of journalism and

the magical spell of the kitchen.. This is a lovely and powerful story filled with wonderful places, people and

summer romance. I couldn't put it down.

Precisely the treat I thought it would be!

Lainey Summers has worked hard to get to where she is as food writer for an upmarket foodie magazine. She has made her career her priority - and she's not finished yet. When she goes to a new restaurant to interview the head chef, she has no idea it's going to lead to a summer in a monastery in Spain, following Rick as he heads up a new cookery competition to be broadcast in Spain and featured in the magazine. As they spend time together both during filming and in their down time, Lainey and Rick grow closer but all too soon it's back to the day job for both of them. However, life doesn't stand still and with them both facing changes and new challenges, do they have a future?

I love it when I have a Lucy Coleman book on my list as I know I'm in for a good time when I finally reach it. The research involved must be quite daunting as she has the knack of describing foreign parts as the most desirable place to be and I learn so much about the people, the countryside, the culture and the cuisine. As we near the end of lockdown and everyone is quite desperate to get out of their homes, this is an easy gateway to all the benefits of a trip abroad before it's actually possible to board a plane! The heat, the smells and the senses are beautifully conveyed and there is an amazing cast of characters to get to know and learn all about. An absolutely delightful read which will bring a smile not only to your face but also to your heart. 4.5* and my sparkling recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and to Rachel Gilbey for my spot on this tour; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Lainey is a food writer who travels to Spain with the latest trendy chef Rick, who is filming a tv series. That's the basic scenario but this book is so much more. The characters are beautifully fleshed out and as you would expect with Lucy Coleman, you find out what the lead character, Lainey, is really thinking.
The descriptions of food are mouth-watering - you certainly want to be there tasting the food! I also loved the mini-history lessons dropped in about Spain, the Moors, the architecture. I got a few hints about how to best photograph food too.
A gentle, warm love story, set mainly in beautiful Andalusia and great food - what's not to love?

Another great read from Lucy Coleman, an easy read and a lovely story to follow. Strikes me as the perfect holiday read, its certainly the sort I would take.

Well worth a read in my opinion,

I do enjoy Lucy Colemans books but this was not my favourite, at times it was hard to follow and i didn't feel these was much of a spark between the 2 main characters.

I always love reading a Lucy Coleman book. She transports you to magical places and this time includes wonderful food and a beautiful setting to help entice you into the story. I love how this read is all about the relationships, although the history of the monastery and surrounding areas of Andalucia is fascinating, the main theme is about love - both new and surprising and established and secure.

Great characters, great settings and a foodie side as well. What more is there to lie about this book except that it has been written by Lucy Coleman, great author every time. A perfect read to lose yourself in a book for a few hours. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.