Zelda, Viv and Janet are back, and this time they are taking a trip on Queen Mary 2 from the UK to New York. Zelda has managed to find an affordable repositioning cruise, to convince Viv to share a cabin and for Janet to join them, although she will be travelling in style in a fancy suite.
It wasn't easy to convince Janet that she needed to come on the cruise. She has recently lost her second husband and so, even with her luxury suite, she isn't always in a party mood. That isn't helped when they meet another woman, Primrose Carmichael, who seems to have a lot in common with Janet, including perhaps the same former husband!
Zelda and Viv aren't convinced that Primrose is telling the truth, and that she might be some kind of trickster and so they put on their sleuthing hats and try to find out once and for all what is going on. They are somewhat hampered by intermittent internet outages which makes finding documentary evidence of any kind difficult, a massive storm and more. Zelda is also a little distracted when she hits it off with one of the musicians on the ship, a blind cellist by the name of William and his guide dog, Billie.
This is the third book in the Widows Wine Club series, and for me, this is the best of the series so far. I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters, the setting on the cruise ship, and the quick visit to New York at the end of the book. I also really enjoyed getting to know William and Billie, and the work that they did in spreading the word about the important work of guide dog associations. My reviews for the first two books can be found here and here.
I have done a couple of cruises now. The first was with a friend and our boys, who had just turned 18. The biggest mystery for us was if we could find them on the ship and how much money they could spend on board over the course of 10 days. Those balloon glass cocktails are expensive!
My husband and I are going on our next cruise in a couple of months time. I hope it is a lot less eventful than the one in this book.
I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.
About the book
Widows Waive the Rules
The Widows Wine Club of Viv, Janet and Zelda have navigated choppy waters before.
Having supported each other through the first shaky years of widowhood, the future was starting to look brighter. But when Janet is dealt another blow, it’s all hands on deck for the firm friends.
Deciding what Janet needs is a change of scenery, Viv and Zelda book a luxury cruise on the Queen Mary 2, heading for the bright lights of New York. And once on board, the women are entranced. A floating pleasure palace, the Queen Mary is just what the doctor ordered. From tai chi to dance lessons, cocktails to crafting, there’s nothing they can’t do to while away the miles at sea.
But when they are joined at their first supper by fellow widow Primrose Carmichael, the holiday takes an unexpected turn. Because not only does Primrose share Janet’s surname, but their late-husbands were both called Mal… As the similarities between the two women stack up, so do Viv and Zelda’s suspicions. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery before they’re in sight of the Statue of Liberty, the friends are ready to waive a few rules…
Julia Jarman’s warm, wise and witty novels are perfect for everyone who believes age is just a number. Perfect for fans of Caroline James, Judy Leigh and Maddie Please.
Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/widowswaivetherules
About the author
Julia Jarman has written over a hundred books for children, and is now turning her hand to uplifting, golden years women’s fiction. Drawing on her own experience of bereavement, female friendship and late-life dating, The Widows’ Wine Club will be published by Boldwood in June 2023.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: @julia.jarman.9
Twitter: @juliajarman
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JuliaJarmanNews
Bookbub profile: @julia454
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