Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
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 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. There are so many memorable and amusing moments that I wouldn't want to spoil for you. Suffice to say that these sexagenarians confound all stereotypes about their age and I only hope I am like them when I'm older. 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!
The Cruise by Caroline James - The Grey Brunette BOOK REVIEW: The Cruise by Caroline James - The Grey Brunette
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. A really fun read, I enjoyed reading about this fun group of friends! Some of the things that occurred in this book were very concerning/unrealistic to me, but overall, I loved reading about these ladies re-discovering their passions and inner-selves. Each needs a form of escapism from their own life and a little adventure at the age of sixty-three. This was such a great book. I loved the warmth and humour between the friends. The book was so good and I loved there were no cliques and predictable plot turns. Lovely to read about older ladies and their loved and relationships. Really recommend this book.
A stunning story of friendship, romance, second chances and being true to yourself. I absolutely love, love, LOVED it!! Serena Alleyne is a celebrity chef who has recently been replaced by a much younger chef by the tv network. She’s not ready for her career to end and her fun starts when she meets the couple staying in the penthouse suite that was supposed to be Bridgette’s. 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.
The Cruise by Caroline James | Goodreads
I am not a great reader of romantic comedy, but I really enjoy Caroline James’ books. Not just because the protagonists are ladies in their sixties having a fabulous time, but because everything about them and their adventures is so beautifully observed and the pathos and humour eased out. love the journey these four women go on, they arrive at the spa all set for a weekend of pampering and being away from their claustrophobic lives, away from the control freaks of relatives, a weekend of ‘me time’ with friends and a few glasses of prosecco. It did get me wondering if such a normal and pretty simple plot if it could keep me hooked throughout a full-length book, but then things start happening and I will hold my hands up and admit I was wrong it did keep my attentionI was warned via social media to ‘brace myself’ having ventured as far as chapter one. It was a warning gladly received, as I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was my first read of a Caroline James book and it won’t be the last! 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. But within the fun and frolics are weightier themes that make The Spa Break such a good read. Professional duplicity, fame, ambition, marriage, relationships, identity, the role of social media in the modern world, ageism, expectation, parenthood and so on make this a layered and maturely written narrative that gently teaches even as it entertains. Praise for Caroline James: ‘Fabulous to read…It’s about a girls’ weekend with characters in their 60s and determined to have a good time ’ Woman & Home
The Cruise by Caroline James | Goodreads The Cruise by Caroline James | Goodreads
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. Great fun, entertaining characters and a reminder that you can turn your life around at any age. 4.5* 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. Will the three friends find the comfort and joy they seek aboard the Diamond Star? Praise for Caroline James: What a fun journey these three women embark on, leaving their problems at home and setting off into the sun. One widowed, one unmarried, one almost divorced, all aged 63, but not ready to give up on life. I enjoyed seeing them experience new things, slowly revealing more about themselves and coming into their own as the cruise progresses. There is a great cast of minor characters too, each one brought vividly to life. I particularly loved Selwyn, discreetly scattering little handfuls of his dead wife's ashes around the Caribbean as he lets his old life go and embraces the new. If you enjoyed the author's previous novel, The Spa Break, you will love this one too. Girl power for the over sixties!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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The next best thing to a pampering weekend with your best friends, Caroline James’ The Spa Break should be on every woman’s must-buy list this summer! 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! I enjoyed a recent research trip to France and loved travelling around and visiting the Vienne area, which is the location for my next novel.
The Cruise – HarperCollins Publishers UK
In Caroline James’s fabulous new novel, The Cruise, Jane, Kath, and Anne are three single women in their sixties who decide to ditch the winter weather in the UK and go on a Caribbean cruise for singles over fifty. What follows is a lovely story of making new friends, being your true self for the first time in your life and letting go of all your insecurities and loving life.
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’ A laugh out loud, naughty, enlightening heart-warming story about friendship and discovery' Yours Magazine 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 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).
Great Deal 
New Comment