Coming Home to Winter Island

Author/Guide: Jo Thomas

Why a Booktrail?

2000s: Do you need to find out where you’ve come from before you can know what the future holds?

ISBN: 978-1472246028
Genre: Fiction, Romance

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What you need to know before your trail

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 …

Locations

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Travel Guide

Tour the Scottish Highlands with Jo Thomas

Ruby heads to a remote Scottish island in the novel and this island is based on several in and around the Scottish Highlands. Jura, Islay and Harris are mentioned in the author’s note for being where the most research was done (the gin distilleries sound interesting!)

The story is written in such a way that it’s a journey of many parts – the unknown gin ingredients became a journey around the island. The story of the gin is also one of the tight-knit community.

There’s lots of islands and distilleries to visit to get an even better sense of the themes in the book. The author mentions LUSSA GIN in particular as showcasing the drink as well as the island, its people and traditions and invites you to visit their website.

Booktrailer Review

If you think you have bad luck, wait until you read about Ruby Mac! Still, I was excited at her going to a remote Scottish island and see what was going to happen next. The setting is amazing – based on a few islands in and around the Scottish highlands. This is no ordinary visit however as it’s done in terms of finding out about gin and the story behind it. I would love to have been a fly on the wall on this author’s research trip hehe. I don’t drink spirits and know little about them but this was really interesting!

It’s a warm hearted story of traditions and family, island communities and of course gin. What was really touching however was the author dealt with the tough issues of dementia. There are a few tears shed in the reading of this novel!

Christmas memories, gin, music, tradition and family are all house guests on Winter Island too however making this quite an emotional read.