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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! Things don’t start well for Bridgette herself – she’d treated herself to a stay in the penthouse suite, but as other regular guests took it at short notice, she’s been relegated to a tent in the gardens (not a bivouac – she’s “glamping”!). And she eventually resigns herself to her lot, until she notices the naked man in the next tent – things were never like this when showing guests around her pristine gardens at Flaxby Manor. Marjory’s life revolves around her pigeon-fancying husband (sadly, he doesn’t seem to fancy her as much any more) – she’s looking to let her (cornflower blue) hair down a little (and my goodness, she most certainly does). Emily’s life is centred on her two adult sponging sons, and she’s become largely invisible (and, if truth be told, a little boring) – there really must be more to life that that. Perhaps the most exotic of the four is Serena – but she’s been supplanted as the nation’s favourite TV cook by a younger model, and she’s desperate to use all the social media tools at her disposal to draw herself to public attention again. The Cruise by Caroline James is an easy feel good book, great for reading when you want to be transported to another place in your mind.
The Cruise - One More Chapter The Cruise - One More Chapter
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Jane Bellwood, Anne Amberley and Kath Taylor. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. I liked that the author gave each of these women her own story, though Jane’s arc was the most dramatic, and I appreciated that she was able to truly find herself on her voyage. I also liked the way the friendship between all three women was depicted. Too often women in novels are catty to each other. These women tease each other but are also supportive, which is how the best friendships should be. There’s a relatively simple plot set over a long weekend that is all the more realistic because all the action takes place in the hotel and its grounds, making the reader believe any of the events could, genuinely, have happened. I loved the concept that, whist supporting one another and celebrating Brigitte’s seventieth birthday, each of the ladies is able to be an individual, find what works for her and doesn’t need to be just another adjunct to the group. All the minor characters are equally memorable too so that The Spa Break feels natural and engaging. A stunning story of friendship, romance, second chances and being true to yourself. I absolutely love, love, LOVED it!! Fabulous to read...It's about a girls' weekend with characters in their 60s and determined to have a good time' Woman & Home
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I must say that the whole supporting cast in this lovely book is wonderfully drawn too – the staff at the spa, the guests they get along with and who enhance their stay, and the miserable or antagonistic ones who feel that women of their age should be confined to a nursing home – every one of them a distinctly drawn individual playing their part in the story. My new book is THE CRUISE,and there are many onboard shenanigans for a group of friends celebrating singledom in their sixties. Thank you to all who have read The Cruise and left a review. Caroline James always wanted to write but instead of taking a literary route, she followed a career in the hospitality industry, which included owning a pub and a beautiful country house hotel. She was also a media agent representing many celebrity chefs. This was such a lovely read, written in the third person and from the three main characters' points of view. James writes with fantastic characters who you can’t help but warm to from the start and want to follow their journey throughout.
The Cruise (Audio Download): Caroline James, Linda Hargreaves The Cruise (Audio Download): Caroline James, Linda Hargreaves
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. Please get in touch - I love to hear from readers. Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated. Thank you sincerely for all your support.Emily is a thin, spry lady who feels completely invisible. Her husband left her for a much younger woman and even started a family with his young bride. Emily’s grown sons liv When I read the blurb about 3 women in their 60s setting off on a cruise, I knew I had to read this book, especially as I’m almost there myself. The Cruise is the first book I have read by Caroline James and I can definitely say it won’t be my last. Oh my word …I couldn’t put this down it was so good, following the adventures of Anne, Kath and Jane was brilliant and happy endings throughout’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fans of Grace and Frankie and The Golden Girls are going to love Caroline James’ fun, irreverent and immensely entertaining new novel, The Spa Break. Each needs a form of escapism from their own life and a little adventure at the age of sixty-three.
The Cruise by Caroline James - Fantastic Fiction
The glossy brochure promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation, but what best friends Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory get is a weekend that upends their lives! A laugh from start to finish this book shows you that although you grow older in years, you don't have to grow older in attitude” - Lilac ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I so enjoyed meeting Serena, Bridgette, Emily and Marjory. It’s absolutely wonderful to encounter women in their sixties with all their attendant anxieties, routines and habits amassed over the years so that they feel much more real and relatable than so many thirty somethings in books. As The Spa Break allows them to discover sexual, emotional, artistic and professional creativity, there’s a joie de vivre that makes the reader feel they can achieve what they want too. It’s as if Caroline James is giving her readers the chance to be reminded of who they are and who they might like to be every bit as much as the four ladies in the book. That’s not to say that everything runs smoothly, but the bumps along the way add authenticity and the immense pleasure in reading The Spa Break.Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Caroline James, One More Chapter Publishing and Rachel's Random resources Tours. This boo is in one word; enjoyable! It made me smile all the way through, I really liked the gentle pacing, it’s not taxing and keep you reading and before I knew it I was a good halfway through in one sitting – believe me for an incredibly slow reader who never has two minutes spare is not bad going. I just couldn't wait for it to end, and forced myself to read on, naively hoping for something better. Now two questions remain unanswered:
The Cruise by Caroline James - The Grey Brunette BOOK REVIEW: The Cruise by Caroline James - The Grey Brunette
Caroline James certainly knows how to give her readers an escapist and enjoyable treat that will inspire them not to let their inhibitions get in the way of living their lives to the full. Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.As well as the main characters in the story, there are others for readers to fall in love with. I particularly liked Robin and Stevie; such a great couple and I loved the way they rallied for Serena. Norman was hilarious and I think everyone needs a Norman in their life if they find themselves in a bit of a rut. Three 63 year old friends, one of whom is widowed, one is single and the third going through a divorce, decide to take the holiday of a lifetime and go on a Christmas Caribbean cruise. It gives them some respite from the different issues each one of them are dealing with at home, and their adventures made me laugh out loud several times (to the amusement of people around me!) I happily enjoyed face masks, foot spa and sipped green tea whilst reading this book – whilst the four ladies entertained me and encountered so much more! The ending held many surprises. It’s a happily ever after story which is to be expected but that didn’t mean that the end is predictable. There were so many fun surprises and I loved each one. These ladies are anything but predictable and that is a large part of what makes the story so fun to read. Lovely read about four women who go to the Spa for a weekend get away and to celebrate one of their birthdays and most importantly finding themselves. Light hearted, romance, friendship and lol moments.
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