The Cruise by Caroline James #ContemporaryFiction @CarolineJames12 @rararesources @OneMoreChapter #BlogTour #BookReview

I’m delighted to share my review for The Cruise for the blog tour organised by Rachel’s Random Resources.

My Thoughts

Three good friends in their 60s, Anne, Jane and Kath, all dealing with the changes in their lives, made a spur of the moment decision to go cruising for Christmas. Jane is single, has just been sacked from the job she loved and is uncomfortable with her appearance. Kath is a widow who had been downtrodden and abused during her marriage, leaving her lacking in confidence and prone to second guessing herself. Anne, a former air hostess, is divorced from a cheating husband. It’s time they had some fun and the Caribbean, sunshine and cocktails sounded like the perfect panacea.

Jane held her drink in one hand and phone in the other. She squinted at the screen as she began to narrate her Google search. “The Diamond Star is a small ship that prides itself on luxury cruises for the over-fifties.”’

‘Perfect,’ Anne said, ‘but are there any spaces?’

‘Yep, I’ve checked on the online booking system and reserved inner cabins, that’s all they have left, and we only have twenty-four hours to confirm and pay in full.’

There are some wonderfully realised characters on the cruise, apart from the ladies who had a wonderful friendship, most notably the lovely and recently widowed Selwyn, who is taking the trip his wife never would. Also The Captain, an elderly man whose favourite place is sitting at the bar on a cruise ship. The other side of the coin is Dicky Delaney, the second rate ship’s entertainer, full of schemes and untrustworthy.

I enjoy stories with mature characters who are relatable, and following the ladies’ stories was a pleasure, especially seeing Jane gain confidence and really start to enjoy herself, thanks in no small part to Selwyn. There’s humour, compassion, more serious topics and a twist I didn’t see coming. 

The vivid descriptions of the ship and the destinations really put the reader right there, the imagery was delightful. A very enjoyable read with satisfying conclusions, showing second chances can materialise at any age.

My thanks to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Rachel for my copy.

Three friends set sail on a luxury cruise… will they be able to catch a husband on the open seas?

Leaving behind the heartache, guilt and disappointment of their real lives, three friends decide that now they’re in their sixties, it’s time they finally did something for themselves!

Swapping Christmas turkeys and BBC reruns for crystal waters, white sandy beaches and smooth golden rum, Anne, Jane and Kath throw caution (and tradition) to the wind as they set sail on a luxury two-week Christmas cruise around the Caribbean.

Will the three friends find the comfort and joy they seek aboard the Diamond Star?

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/CruiseK

Best-selling author of women’s fiction, Caroline James, has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that often features in her novels. She is based in the UK but escapes whenever lockdown allows. A public speaker, which has included talks and lectures on cruise ships worldwide, Caroline is also a consultant and food writer. Caroline writes articles and runs writing workshops, is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association, the Society of Women’s Writer & Journalists and the Society of Authors. In her spare time, Caroline can be found walking with Fred, her Westie and in summer, wild water swimming. In winter, when not working, she relaxes with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

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