GUERNICA: Dave Boling: As summer holiday reads go, a wartime love story is always going to go down well astyou laze on the beach in the sunshine.

Especially when the story is based in Spain, set in the Basque town of Guernica at the time of its destruction by the Luftwaffe on the eve of World War II.

Its 1935 and Miguel Navarro finds himself in conflict with the Spanish Civil Guard and flees the fishing village of Lekeitio to make a new start in Guernica, which is the region’s centre of culture and tradition.

Once there he finds more than just a new life – he finds someone to live for, Miren Ansotegui , the charismatic and graceful dancer, and together they discover a love they believe nothing can destroy.

It is an absorbing story tracing the fate of the Navarro family through those early decades of the 20th Century, a saga of love, family loyalty and fierce patriotism as it is caught up in the horrors of war.

Rich in the history of the region, the Red Baron, the Luftwaffe and even Picasso make appearances in Guernica to add even more colour!

Dave Boling is a journalist in Washington state, USA and this is his first novel which has been chosen by Waterstone’s as a ‘New Voice of 2009’. It was also chosen by TV’s Richard and Judy as their summer read of the year.

Published by Picador, May 27, £7.99 (paperback).