It’s always an occasion when there is a new novel by Zoe Folbigg! Under One Sky was published by Boldwood Books on March 4th.
From bestseller Zoë Folbigg comes this beautiful, romantic
tale of finding love in the most unexpected places.
Under the midnight sun of Arctic Norway, Cecilie goes online
looking for friends, and stumbles across Hector Herrera. They start chatting
and soon realise that they might have just fallen in love. But there’s a
problem: Hector lives thousands of miles away in Mexico. And he’s running from
a tragic past.
Cecilie’s whole life has been anchored by sticking to what
she knows and her job at the cafe in the town in which she grew up. Can she
really make a leap of faith for someone she’s never met? And will Hector break
free to change the path he’s on?
An unforgettable story about two people, living two very
different lives under the same sky, and whether they can cross oceans, seas and
fjords to give their love a chance.
Please note this novel was originally published with the
title The Distance.
My Thoughts
Cecilie and Hector are like ice and fire. Cecilie’s home in Norway in Tromso, in the Arctic Circle is cold and lacking sunlight for much of the year. Meanwhile, Hector’s life in Mexico is hot and sunny, the polar opposite. They meet accidentally on line and are drawn to each other. However, outside the bubble of their chats, their real life and relationships get in the way. The story goes back and forward through their friendship, showing you the story from both points of view.
There is also a third character, living in the UK, Kate, who is older but who we discover met Hector years ago and had a relationship. Her homelife is difficult with a husband who is preoccupied and who she suspects is drifting away from their marriage. Her children are growing up but she tries to fill her days with PTA school stuff and feels overworked and stressed for most of the time, feeling like an outsider from the other parents.
I did find it quite hard to warm to Hector for most of the story although I’m not too sure why. In addition to his handsome looks and charm, he has retained a link with the children’s refuge which helped him when he was younger. Cecilie has had a privileged upbringing by her high flying Mother but you sense that she has missed out on family elements, although she has had a close relationship with her twin. She has protected herself by keeping her interests close to home and her friendship group small.
It seems that all three characters need to get the courage to make a leap of faith and to step outside their comfort zones. When they do, there are surprising results.
In short take a leap of faith
About the Author
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Zoë Folbigg is author of Amazon number-one bestseller The
Note, based on the true story of how she met her husband on her daily commute
and Amazon Prime’s biggest selling Kindle book of 2018. Zoë has written for
magazines and newspapers in the UK and around the world; she wrote a weekly
column in Fabulous magazine documenting her year-long round-the-world trip with
‘Train Man’ – and now lives with him, their sons and their cat Margot in
Hertfordshire. Her seventh book Five Days is out 26th July 2024.
You can follow Zoe here: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | newsletter sign up
Thanks to Zoe Folbigg, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Check out the rest of the tour!
