WHEN PORTUGAL CALLS
Quinta da Saudade, Book 1
Elena Carvalho has built a perfectly sensible life in a seaside Kent town – reliable clients, familiar routines, her own apartment with a sea view – and Martin, her long-term partner who loves her in his particular way. At forty-five, she tells herself that ‘fine’ is enough.
Then she’s offered a three-month translation contract in Lisbon, the city where she was born. The pay is extraordinary. The timing is terrible. She says yes anyway.
From the moment she steps off the plane, Lisbon begins to do something to Elena. The light is different here. So is she. As she immerses herself in a breathtaking restoration project in the historic Bairro Alto, she finds herself drawn into a world she never knew she was missing – and closer to her Portuguese roots than she ever expected.
Then comes the letter. Her late grandmother has left her a crumbling, beautiful farmhouse called Quinta da Saudade in the Torres Vedras wine country. And a landscape architect called Tomás, who listens like no one ever has, is asking questions Elena isn’t sure she’s ready to answer.
When Portugal Calls is a warm, uplifting novel about reinvention, longing and belonging, and the courage it takes to claim the life you were always meant to live.
If you enjoy sun-drenched European settings, midlife reinvention and slow-burn romance, you’ll love When Portugal Calls.
Available now in Kindle e-book or paperback from Amazon UK, US and Australia.
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION TOPICS
sAUDADE
One of the major themes of the story is ‘saudade’ – longing. Elena’s life in Kent is ‘fine’ – and she feels guilty for longing for more. She should be grateful, as her Catholic upbringing has taught her. Is it wrong to long for more than she has? What’s the overall message on this?
RISK-TAKING
Elena fears making changes in her life, particularly her love life, in case she discovers that her existing relationship is ‘as good as it gets.’ But when she does break free, she realises that her risk-aversion may not have been the best course for her partner either. And that they have wasted each other’s time. Is she right? What are the clues that give you your point of view?
Loss and bereavement
Loss and bereavement underlie much of the story. Different characters have dealt with these in different ways: Elena, Beatriz, Margaret, Catarina, Tomas, Martin and his mother. ‘Saudade’ for those loved and lost, preserving memories – what does the novel teach us about how to do these things in a positive way?
Being a dual-national or expat
The story takes place in some wonderful locations in the UK, Portugal and Spain. Elena, James and her parents are all keen travellers who end up living in more than one country. What benefits and challenges does the novel bring out, about being a dual national or an expat? In particular, Elena’s father’s comment about having two souls?
Having it all
The novel deals with the difficult life choices we sometimes make in life, such as those involving change, or whether we want children. Do you agree with James’s view that every choice is a renunciation? Or do you sympathise with Catarina’s view that one choice doesn’t necessarily exclude another? Can we have it both ways, more often than we think – if we use a little imagination?
Some characters, while happy with their choices, are wistful about what the alternative might have delivered. Sophie and Beatriz want to live vicariously through Elena. Is this a good way of dealing with the ‘renunciation’ part of decision-making?
Restore or replace?
Property development and renovation forms a background to the storyline. What’s your position on the debate about restoration of old buildings – with all the costs and challenges – versus building brand new? Is restoration an indulgent option?