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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. Four female friends, all in their sixties, are on their way for a weekend break at the Sparadise luxury resort to celebrate Bridgette’s seventieth birthday – what happens there (allegedly) takes you to paradise, they’re all very familiar with the enticing images in the glossy brochure (particularly the stunning yoga instructor), and they certainly intend to make the most they possibly can of their weekend of freedom. 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’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is the first Caroline James book that I’ve read and I really enjoyed her writing style. She was witty and was able to write the characters in such a way that had me rooting for them all by the end. There were some really funny moments in this book and I liked the way that the author weaved those in without making the characters or the story feel at all cheesy.
The Cruise by Caroline James - Fantastic Fiction
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: 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! The Spa Break’ is well written. Caroline has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading this book felt more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. Caroline clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes the characters seem just as real as you and I. I began to think of the four main ladies as friends rather than characters in a book. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That’s how I felt anyway.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. I recently had the pleasure of reading “The Cruise” by Caroline James, and I must say that it was a lovely read. This novel tells the story of three extraordinary women, all of whom are in their 60s and refuse to let age hinder their zest for life. The book is a perfect fit for this blog, The Grey Brunette, as it shows us that age is just a number, and it is never too late to pursue your dreams and enjoy life to the fullest! A stunning story of friendship, romance, second chances and being true to yourself. I absolutely love, love, LOVED it!! Book Blog Tour & Giveaway: Finding Comfort by Kimberly Fish | Boys' Mom Reads! on Book Review & Giveaway – Finding Comfort by Kimberly Fish
The Cruise | Caroline James | 9780008611750 | NetGalley The Cruise | Caroline James | 9780008611750 | NetGalley
Description: #audio #13NightsofHalloween #flashfic #dogs #petownership Excerpt: “What if it’s really a symbiotic life form, bent on taking over the planet?” Links and References Read the text of Fur Guest Voices n/a Support: The Bathtub Mermaid is now on Patreon! If you like the stories and essays I share, and want to have occasional visits […] TBM-2310.30 – Whatever It Is That You Think You Remember Really enjoyed this. The highs and lows of life are delivered in a relatable story of three friends from different walks of life. Really fun story about friendship, love, getting older, taking chances… So hard to put down!” - Kristin⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Praise for Caroline James:
The operating table had been draped in protective material designed to collect any leaking fluids or stray bits of flesh, and the lighting had been adjusted to illuminate the field with no confusing shadows. Tlanchana I loved the theme of your never to old to start a fresh chapter in your life. This is something I believe strongly in. After all, age is just a number and we all deserve happiness at any and all ages. I loved watching these four women realize that and grab on to the changes needed to make happiness a reality. 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'????? 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!
The Cruise on Apple Books
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. Will the three friends find the comfort and joy they seek aboard the Diamond Star? Praise for Caroline James:One complaint I had while reading is that while I understand Marjory is heavier than the other women, I don’t think every description of her needed to remind the reader of that. A few examples -> “Plopped Her plump bottom” “her ample bottom wriggled” “she patted her ample bottom” It was too repetitive for me. Linda Hill, Book Reviewer for MY WEEKLY magazine says, "Just what the worlds needs, The Spa Break!"
The Spa Break: A laugh out loud and heartwarming novel about
Caroline is a natural story-teller with a gift for humour in her writing." The Write Stuff, London Book Fair. I was originally drawn to this book by its unique eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being One More Chapter. I have yet to read a book published by One More Chapter that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book). Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Each needs a form of escapism from their own life and a little adventure at the age of sixty-three. Bridgette Haworth is the birthday girl. A well-respected horticulturalist, she gives lectures on cruise ships and tends to her own award-winning gardens. Thinking she had secured the best room at the spa, Bridgette’s fun starts when she finds out that not only did she not have the penthouse suite but that she had to stay in one of the spa’s glamping tents. 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. 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. 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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