I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of ReaAnne Thayne, Debbie Macomber, Sarah Morgan, Milly Johnson, Jenny Colgan, Robyn Carr, Cecilia Ahern and anyone needing a gorgeous break away.

The Cruise | Caroline James | 9780008611750 | NetGalley The Cruise | Caroline James | 9780008611750 | NetGalley

I was drawn by this lovely cover, to be honest, it felt as if it was promising fun and mischief. But this fun and mischief simply felt so surrealistic and I've read this book all the time having this feeling of disbelief and rolling my eyes. Some of the situations were SO overdone that I just couldn't. It felt as if the author thought, oh hell, let's add some ridiculous scene, no matter what it is. This was a lighthearted, enjoyable read about 3 women on a cruise , leaving thier problems at home.Serena Alleyne is a celebrity chef who has recently been replaced by a much younger chef by the tv network.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. 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. The Spa Break is an absolute joy. It’s slightly mad, funny, uplifting and filled with warmth and friendship so that it’s impossible not to feel happier as a result of reading it.

The Cruise – HarperCollins The Cruise – HarperCollins

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. 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! 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. Oh. Difficult. I think I know what the author wanted to achieve with this story, to show the power of friendship and that love doesn't know any limits... But. On so many, many levels it felt forced and overdone and I simply couldn't buy all the changes and the comedy of errors - like situations. At the beginning, the friendship felt so wooden and yes, throughout the story and wit time it started to feel more real and genuine but because they've drunk a green juice??? Erm, no. Not buying it.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. 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. 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. 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 attention

The Cruise - One More Chapter The Cruise - One More Chapter

I had a bit of a confession to make- yes yet another one. Although I have a few of Caroline’s books on my ‘to be read’ mountain, I haven’t actually read one yet. What a mistake to make as the saying goes. ‘The Spa Break’ is being marketed as being perfect reading for fans of Judy Leigh and Maddie Please. I am a huge fan of both authors and so I knew that I was going to enjoy ‘The Spa Break’. I was spot on too because I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Spa Break’ but more about that in a bit. 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 Spar Break is a great story all about friendship, there are other things going on but essentially this is all about the power of good friends. It’s heart-warming, gentle and full of cheerful feel-good vibes. Thank you to @0neMoreChapter_ and @CarolineJames12 for this advanced copy of The Spa Break in return for an honest review. At times elements of Sparadise reminded me of Caroline James previous books, specifically Boomerville and I kept thinking Hattie and Jo would appear. But instead we have a whole brand new cast of equally fantastic characters that Caroline James is so talented at creating.

Caroline James | Goodreads The Spa Break by Caroline James | Goodreads

Will the three friends find the comfort and joy they seek aboard the Diamond Star? Praise for Caroline James: Four women in their 60s are off for a spa weekend, to celebrate their friend Bridgette’s up coming 70th birthday. The brochure for the spa promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation but the ladies get so much more. Each on wants to escape from their boring lives, be it jobs, husbands, children but find themselves going on a journey of self discovery.I haven’t read any of Caroline James’ books before (why ever not???) I fell instantly in love with her incredibly easy to read and delightfully amusing writing, I will certainly be reading more from her., I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." 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. You know those books that as soon as you start reading you instantly know that this is going to be a firm favourite?