The Cruise by Caroline James

 

The Cruise by Caroline James.

Published 20th April 2023 in ebook and 11th May in paperback by One More Chapter.

From the cover of the book:

Three women.
One widowed.
One unmarried.
One almost divorced.

All aged 63, but not ready to give up on life!

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?

***********

Spurred on by an enlightening experience at the latest reunion for Garstang Grammar School for Girls, three old friends decide to take the plunge and book a cruise to the Caribbean over the Christmas break. Each one of them has good reason to take some time out from their real lives - Anne is going through a messy divorce with her philandering ex; Kath is recently widowed after a long marriage to a controlling husband; and never-married Jane feels overweight, frumpy and uncomfortable in her own skin. They figure at sixty-three it is time to do something they want for a change, and look forward to an adventure aboard the Diamond Star with the over-50s crowd.

Cruising the exotic Caribbean islands proves to just as exciting as they thought it would be, with all the glamour and luxury they have been hoping for, but will it also bring them the Christmas magic they crave?

The Cruise is a sweet, escapist story about three old friends that have reached a crossroads in their lives, and are looking for something more from the years that spread out before them in retirement. Anne is the glam-queen of the bunch, laid low by the amorous antics of a husband she should have ditched years ago, and she is on the hunt for a new romance among the wealthy bachelors of the cruising scene. Kath is reeling from the death of a husband that has kept her firmly under his thumb for the entirety of their married life, but she also feels guilt over a secret she is harbouring - and a fear that she might well be losing her marbles, as her ungrateful sons keep telling her. Jane (my favourite) has always felt in the shadows, has zero confidence, is terrified of letting herself go, and is convinced she has made a massive mistake going on a cruise where she feels exposed to the scrutiny of others. Each of them is looking for something different from this experience, and there are surprises ahead for all three. 

James fills the pages with the sights, sounds, smells and culture of the Caribbean islands and makes the most of all they have to offer through her characters. On and off board, there are enjoyable moments of drama and romance, and she touches on subjects that are very relatable to older readers around loneliness, post-retirement, tricky family dynamics, and secrets about what goes on behind closed doors in outwardly seeming happy marriages. There are some intriguing case studies among the passengers too - even some melodrama around the unscrupulous charmer dodgy Dicky. I am a cruise phobic, as can imagine nothing worse than floating round the ocean with hordes of people you cannot get away from, but I think if you are a fan of sailing the seven seas you will find yourself giving a wry chuckle to much of the situations that play out in these pages.

This is a light and easy read, about second chances, with plenty of gentle warmth and humour. I especially enjoyed Jane's story arc, and the heart warming ending made me smile.

The Cruise is available to buy now in ebook, and from 11th May 2023 in paperback.

Thank you to One More Chapter for sending me a Netgalley copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Rachel's Rabdom Resources Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour. 

About the author:

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. 

When she finally glued her rear to a chair and began to write the words flowed and several novels later she has gained many best-seller badges for her books. 

When she's not writing, Caroline likes to go wild water swimming or walk with Fred, her Westie. 

A member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Women's Writers & Journalists, Caroline writes short stories and articles, contributing to many publications.