Twenty-five-year-old Lily Harrison just lost her dad.
Orphaned, unemployed and saddled with student debt,
she discovers an envelope full of cash in her dad's
closet with instructions to take his dream trip to
Pamplona, Spain, for the Festival of San FermĂn. In the
summer of 2010, practical Lily reluctantly embarks on
this adventure to fulfill her dad's last wish.
Immersed in the celebrations of the festival and the
electric atmosphere of World Cup football, she meets
the complicated Miguel. Lily's once-in-a-lifetime trip to
Spain teaches her about the value of community,
friendship and the possibility of love.
Twenty-five-year-old Lily Harrison just lost her dad.
Orphaned, unemployed and saddled with student debt,
she discovers an envelope full of cash in her dad's
closet with instructions to take his dream trip to
Pamplona, Spain, for the Festival of San FermĂn. In the
summer of 2010, practical Lily reluctantly embarks on
this adventure to fulfill her dad's last wish.
Immersed in the celebrations of the festival and the
electric atmosphere of World Cup football, she meets
the complicated Miguel. Lily's once-in-a-lifetime trip to
Spain teaches her about the value of community,
friendship and the possibility of love.
    CHAPTER ONE
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          Lily cupped his sweaty, quivering hands. Breathing deeply to stop the queasiness, she parked herself in front of his chair. Their knees fused like sticky sugar.
âThe police will find her.â
     Miguelâs pallid face blended in with the sterile yellow walls of the comisarĂa. He said nothing, as his head rocked in rhythm with the rattling fan in the corner of the office. The moisture in the air enveloped them, as the sharp odour of alcohol drifted from the main reception area, overflowing with drunk partygoers. The street festival music mocked his anguish. âHow can this be happening?â
     Lily mulled over the same thought, as her watery eyes fixed on Miguelâs wrist tattoo. Two days ago, his cutting words had ravaged her. It was over. Now, she brought comfort to his crushed spirit as they waited to complete the Missing Personâs Report.
     Her once in a lifetime trip to Spain had taken a cruel twist.
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Lily sat hunched on the blemished parquet floor beneath her Popsâs closet. Her beat-up grey sweatpants kept catching on the lifted planks. Warmth and familiarity reverberated through the damaged tiles. She could feel his presence, even though he had died last fall.
With their lease terminating at the start of May, cleaning up her fatherâs belongings could no longer be delayed. The modest flat they shared for most of Lilyâs twenty-five years was simple but treasured. Leaving this home orphaned marked another devastating milestone in this challenging year.
Lily examined the peeling wallpaper inside the closet, concealing the crumbling surface. The once packed space now accommodated few items. The navy custodianâs uniform that Pops wore proudly during the night shift at the bank, dangled like a mobile in a nursery. A single spike secured the horizontal clothes rail. Lily applauded the nailâs tenacity in holding up the rod, despite limited support.
Her oldest friend, Jade, had cautiously agreed to help Lily purge. A morning of sorting had decluttered his room, but the smell of pine air freshener remained. So had the empty bottles of whisky buried between Popsâs sneakers on the flimsy shoe rack. Jade had tried to quietly remove them earlier, but Lily uncovered her mission in the blue recycling box.
His weekend drinking was steady. Rubbing her slim legs, Lily could hear her father crooning his beloved drunken ABBA tune, âTonight the super trouper lights are gonna find me/ Shining like the sun/ Smiling, having fun/ Feeling like a number oneâŠâ The corners of her mouth reluctantly turned up.
Jade sat on Popsâs bed, watching Lily explore. She was not accustomed to any domestic chores. Her ballerina posture supported her curvy build. An Aegean blue Gucci tracksuit was Jadeâs cleaning uniform, easily afforded by her flourishing PR career. A pyramid of casual wear rested beside her. âWill Goodwill even take these hideous jeans? He had so many.â
Rescued from her contemplation, Lily smirked back at her closest friend. âMost were cast-offs from a buddy at work who gained too much weight. I didnât realize he had so many T-shirts. What a hoarder!â
âWell, you certainly didnât inherit that trait from him, Ms. Organization!â Jade propped her chin and gawked at Lily.
âItâs easy to stay tidy when you have fewer things to organize, Princess.â Lilyâs wink was stained with a touch of resentment.
âMy new personal assistant, Anita, keeps my life in perfect order.â Jade stuck out her tongue in defiance.
Lily launched a charcoal slipper. Gracefully dodging to one side, Jade narrowly escaped the smelly projectile. The pile of clothes plunged off the bed. An eruption of laughter permeated the room. The tension Lily held broke loose. They were nine again; huddled inside Jadeâs treehouse, as her brotherâs army lofted mud balls at them.
âOk, joker. Letâs get serious. Goodwill closes at five today.â Lily was ashamed to know their schedule so intimately. At least this time Iâm donating.
Lily retrieved a dusty Nike shoebox from the closet. âGross.â The chalky air collected in the back of her throat, as she lifted the ripped lid.
âMore running shoes?â Jade flung an armful of clothes back on the bed.
âI canât believe he kept these.â Tears dripped on the cards that Lily removed from the box. Her friend intuitively clutched Lilyâs shoulder. Rainbow-hued sparkles floated through the air, as a parade of homemade cards marched out of the box.
âWe made this monstrosity in Mrs. Garnerâs class, Lil. That was my final year in public school, before transferring to Hawthorne Private.â Jade displayed a Fatherâs Day card constructed in the shape of a turquoise tie.
Trying to subdue the throat lump, Lily smiled. âHe howled when I gave it to him. When have you ever seen my Pops wearing a tie?â A beat-up sweatshirt would have been a more appropriate shape for his Fatherâs Day card.
Her forehead wrinkled as she noticed a wedding picture. Jade plucked the photo. âHeâs wearing a tie here! So, 1980s! Daddyâs second wife wore a frock like this. Look at your motherâs puffy sleeves and oversized skirt. She resembles a child doing her First Holy Communion.â Jade rattled her head.
âShe was young. Fifteen years younger than Pops! How did they ever think it could work?â Pops looked radiant beside his pregnant young bride.
âI bet the sex was extraordinary.â Jade bounced on the bed and gyrated her hips. Lily flung the matching slipper.
 âYou exhaust me, Jade.â Lily kneaded her temples. Thinking about her mother was the real cause of her fatigue.
âOn a serious note, you do get your beauty from her, Lil. You have her green eyes and youthful freckles.â
âWhatever ⊠they would be the only gift I ever received from VĂ©ronique.â Lily wrestled the photograph back and tossed it into the box. She had little time for this woman who walked away from her family when Lily was a child.
She drew a book that peeked out of the box. A frayed copy of The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway settled on Lilyâs lap. Jade examined the dark blue cloth cover with gold and silver lettering.
Slumping back onto the bed, Jadeâs analysis continued. âWhat a surprise! I assumed Pops only read the sports section.â
Biting the inside of her cheek, Lily took a gulp. âIt was my grandfatherâs book.â Lily caressed the cover.
âIs it a first edition? Could be valuable.â Her steel blue eyes flickered.
âItâs not a first edition ⊠but itâs priceless. Pops loved this novel.â Lily leafed through the musty pages. She delighted in the perfume of old books. âIf I remember correctly, itâs about a group of friends, British and American expats, who travel to the Festival of San FermĂn in Pamplona, Spain.â
âPlease donât bore me with another lecture, teacher.â Jade hopped off the bed and headed to the kitchen.
âI am a teacher. I canât help myself.â After graduating last June, Lily spent a frustrating year looking for a full-time teaching position. The next round of interviews would hopefully secure a job for the coming fall.
As she caressed the book, a black and white photograph dropped out. Lilyâs face beamed with recognition. The book housed her grandfatherâs last remaining photograph. How appropriate! Taken during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, her lanky grandfather stands erect and grins, as a cigarette dangles from his mouth. He leans on a rifle with his left arm. His right drapes the shoulder of a shorter man, wearing spherical eyeglasses and a beret. This Spaniard saved his life and cemented a bond to Spain that fascinated her Pops. âTime for lunch?â
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After gulping down leftover Pad Thai, the two friends got back to work. âPut the rest into the garbage.â The trunk of Jadeâs SUV provided ample room for Popsâs belongings. April drizzle coated the silver vehicle; the damp air drilled into Lilyâs bones. It was nippy, but the fertile smell of earthworms reminded her that spring would come soon. Toronto winters were too long and too grey. Lily craved sunshine.
She scooted back into the unassuming bungalow. âI think this lamp is in good shape. Someone could use it.â Standing at the front door, she clutched the light fixture, anticipating a wisecrack from Jade that never landed.
Back inside, Lily combed her fatherâs bedroom for any last-minute donations.
âEnough with playing the philanthropist! Naomi is doing my nails at six, Lil.â Jadeâs voice projected through the flat from outside.
Lily scooped Popsâs favourite hoodie and threw it in the direction of the Nike box. Iâm keeping this one. The box tipped on impact, unveiling more treasures.
Lily lifted a bursting kraft envelope. Her fatherâs scrawled cursive writing appeared on the front: For my precious Lily Bear. Take the trip I never could. The throat lump reawakened.
âAll right. You can bring the decrepit lamp. But thatâs it!â
Oblivious to Jadeâs screeching, she ripped the seal. Her misty eyes overflowed as she thumbed the crammed five-, ten-, and twenty-dollar bills. A silky red scarf peered from beneath the pile. Lily instantly comprehended her fatherâs request. With lamp and envelope in hand, she bolted outside.
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The potent scent of orange spice perfume circulated in Jadeâs car. âWhat do you mean you canât take this trip?â The seatbelt felt rigid across Lilyâs chest as crumbled bills overflowed the box on her lap. The frosty leather seat would take some time to warm.
âPops always had a fascination with Spain because my grandfather fought there and fell in love with the country. He fantasized about Hemingwayâs journey to the Festival of San FermĂn but never followed through because he couldnât afford it, or his health prevented him from travelling.â Lily straightened the bills as she envisioned her father, wearing the bright scarf, dancing around their tiny kitchen, describing the Running of the Bulls. âThis was his dream, not mine, Jade.â As these words left her mouth, the guilt set in. I would love to do this for Pops.
Jadeâs knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel. âYou are missing the obvious fact: he wanted you to go and has financed it, for once.â Pops had consistently provided the basics for his only daughter. âExtras,â like nice clothes and shoes, books, movie tickets, bus fare, and lunch money were Lilyâs responsibility.
âHe would understand if I used this money to pay down my student loan.â Lily closed the box and wiggled to ease her stiff legs. Her five years as a university student had left her in debt. âI will hopefully have a full-time teaching job in September. Iâll be able to do some travelling in the future.â Picking at her cuticles, she drew blood.
âWhen was your last vacation? Weekend camping doesnât count.â
The sound of a European adventure charmed Lily. Unable to find work as a certified teacher, she had spent the last year juggling three part-time jobs. Her defeated eyes gazed out the tinted window.        Â
âIt would be reckless of me to take a trip with so many bills to pay! Besides, I have enough to cover the flight, but then what? Iâll need money once Iâm there.â Lily nudged the power window switch to let in some air. A trip to Spain was such a luxury for a young person who kept her meagre savings in a Tim Hortonâs coffee tin.
âI know you will flatly refuse any money I might offer, but I have another solution.â Lily considered her friendâs plan, as she massaged cream onto her splintered hands. âWhat about a working vacation? I may have a connection at a school in Northern Spain.â
Jadeâs proposal and the smiling face on the blue Goodwill sign calmed her nervous stomach. Maybe I can go to Spain.
After losing her father, Lily Harrison discovers that he left her money for a trip to Pamplona Spain for the Festival of San FermĂn. Lilyâs friend, Jade, helps her get a teaching job at a language school in Northern Spain so Lily will have no choice but to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. There she meets Miguel and the festival and football isnât the only reason she likes Spain. But Miguelâs complicated life and Lilyâs dream adventure collide and suddenly issues ensue. Can the love of Spain and love for each other win in the end?
Camino to Love reminded me of Jenna Evan Welchâs Love and Gelato, just more adult and set in Spain instead of Italy, however, I should have tailored my expectations.Â
The novel doesnât give the reader much setting to work with in the beginning or even once our heroine, Lily, arrives in Spain. There is a lackluster description that barely lets the reader see or feel what Lily is experiencing. Rather, the reader is told what is happening and we donât get to experience the story through Lily.Â
Another aspect of the novel I donât like is the quick pacing. The reader isnât given enough time to sit in the scene before the story time skips to the next scene, sometimes the next day. There are no transitions in between scenes or a setup to let the reader know where weâre headed next. One minute weâre at the school with Lily and the next weâre at the bar watching the World Cup. I would have liked to enjoy the journey a bit more with the reader, hearing Lilyâs thoughts on her day or her hoping to meet up with Miguel, reflecting on what she might say or do. This is a love story and the love is a little lost on the reader at times.Â
Also, the reader doesnât get enough of each characterâs thoughts. Lily is the main character but unless she is speaking with someone, the reader doesnât get her inner thoughts. As I mentioned before, I donât get an in-depth sense of her feelings towards her job, Miguel or even being in Spain. Just one-off sentences about how she likes it here, but no deep dive. At least we get more of a sense of feeling from Miguel, like how he doesnât want to run a Bed and Breakfast but he feels he must for his sister who is in the hospital. But those thoughts are short-lived and Miguel is in the throes of something else, leaving the reader wanting more.Â
Although, one thing the novel did well was the interactions between characters. Despite how fast-moving the scenes are, the characters speak and act genuine towards one another. Lily and Jade have a wholesome friendship, where Jade pushes Lily to be more adventurous and Lily tends to be more level-headed and practical. They balance each other really well. Also, Miguel comes off as complex yet caring with having to take care of a Bed and Breakfast despite not being a people person. He loves his family and cares for Lily but suffers from past trauma that adds to his standoff and reluctant nature. Even Lilyâs interactions with her colleagues at the school or locals in the area feel real because we do feel as out of place as she does yet still welcomed.Â
Camino to Love had all the makings of a great novel, but the lack of description and quick pacing and slow start of the novel just made it hard to get into. Not a bad read, just wish it had been better. A 2 out of 5 stars.