Let the shenanigans begin at the Best Boomerville Hotel …
Jo Docherty and Hattie Contaldo have a vision – a holiday retreat in the heart of the Lake District exclusively for guests of `a certain age’ wishing to stimulate both mind and body with new creative experiences. One hotel refurbishment later and the Best Boomerville Hotel is open for business!
Perhaps not surprisingly Boomerville attracts more than its fair share of eccentric clientele: there’s fun-loving Sir Henry Mulberry and his brother Hugo; Lucinda Brown, an impoverished artist with more ego than talent; Andy Mack, a charming Porsche-driving James Bond lookalike, as well as Kate Simmons, a woman who made her fortune from an internet dating agency but still hasn’t found `the One’ herself.
With such an array of colourful individuals there’s bound to be laughs aplenty, but could there be tears and heartbreak too and will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?
Let the shenanigans begin at the Best Boomerville Hotel …
Jo Docherty and Hattie Contaldo have a vision – a holiday retreat in the heart of the Lake District exclusively for guests of `a certain age’ wishing to stimulate both mind and body with new creative experiences. One hotel refurbishment later and the Best Boomerville Hotel is open for business!
Perhaps not surprisingly Boomerville attracts more than its fair share of eccentric clientele: there’s fun-loving Sir Henry Mulberry and his brother Hugo; Lucinda Brown, an impoverished artist with more ego than talent; Andy Mack, a charming Porsche-driving James Bond lookalike, as well as Kate Simmons, a woman who made her fortune from an internet dating agency but still hasn’t found `the One’ herself.
With such an array of colourful individuals there’s bound to be laughs aplenty, but could there be tears and heartbreak too and will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?
After seeing an advertisement where they claim, "Boomers! Give us your body and we'll bring back your brain." Kate Simmonds was intrigued to know more. At fifty years old, she remained unmarried without children but hadn't given up the dream of finding someone special. Remembering the words her mother often said, "Somewhere in the universe, there is someone who will love us, understand us and kiss and make it all better," Kate decided a luxury retreat is just what she needs and who knows, maybe 'Mr Right' will be there too?
With the beautiful Lake District backdrop, the former Kirton House becomes the Boomerville Hotel and a fascinating luxurious retreat for those looking to enhance their lives. With a motley crowd of characters to help the shenanigans along, you can't fail to laugh out loud at their antics, the double entendres and commiserate when life throws them a lemon! Yes, we encounter a few moments when 'trouble in paradise' threatens to spoil the frivolity and entertainment, however, there's a delightful 'happy ever after' to keep everyone satisfied.
The concept of this narrative had a retro-feel to it resembling a comical script from a Carry-On film or an episode of Fawlty Towers. I enjoyed the contrast between nostalgia and slap-stick humour, all tied together with a steady pace, befitting everyone and not just those over fifty-years-old.
Hats off to the author for writing a fun and entertaining narrative featuring protagonists of a more mature age. I've never picked up one of Ms James' novels before so I don't know if she normally features characters belonging in this age range but even so, it's a refreshing change for me to read about the antics of a female protagonist like Kate who is a year younger than myself, even if I identify as generation x, rather than a baby boomer.
***review copy received courtesy of Ruby Fiction via NetGalley***
