OK, gushing review coming up – I thought this book was just fabulous, sheer enjoyment from the first page to its perfect end. There can be nothing much better than taking a diverse collection of quirky but perfectly drawn characters, placing them in a well-defined setting, throwing in a few fireworks, then sitting back and seeing what happens. I’ve been a fan of Caroline James’ writing for some time now – but in this book, it’s better than ever.

The Boomerville Hotel itself is such an original and perfect concept – catering for singles past the first flush of youth, offering a bit of luxury and a few new experiences – and if I came across a well-placed advert next to the crossword in the local paper as Kate did I think I’d be on-line making a booking too. Writing workshops, pottery and art classes, bread-making and curry, walking in the gorgeous Lakes countryside nearby, chef-inspired food, drink flowing, wood-burning stoves, great company… yes, sign me up please!

The characters in this book are just wonderful – all drawn in perfect detail, all with their own histories, those full and rich back stories that make them completely rounded (however eccentric), all interacting in a way that’s never less than totally believable. The truly eccentric few are superb, quite outrageous at times but never too over the top to be real and recognisable. When combined with Hattie’s efforts to come up with new and original ideas to entertain the guests (with a rolling pin in her cleavage to deal with unwelcome advances), they’re a wonderful source of humour than ranges from the very gentle to riotous laugh-out-loud slapstick.

It was so good to see Jo – her emotional story central to some of the author’s earlier books – comfortably happy, taking a step back to enjoy her own life. The focal point for this book – in terms of new characters – is Kate, ready to move slowly forward after nursing her father through dementia: I immediately took her to my heart, and was so pleased when she linked up with Andy, and it looked like she was going to find some unexpected happiness and hope for the future. Oh, and now I’m slipping into telling the story… and I really mustn’t do that, there are so many wonderful threads, and they’re something you really need to enjoy discovering for yourself, as I did.

There’s a perfect balancing act throughout this book – tears and sadness at times, some significant villainy, a touch of the supernatural, edge-of-seat drama and suspense, all sitting comfortably alongside Caroline James’ wonderful light touch with a story and wicked humour. There are set pieces in this story that are immensely touching – and others that make me laugh just thinking of them, and will for some time to come.

This book is just a perfect package – I absolutely loved it. And – Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction – what a superb book to have chosen to launch a new book imprint!

I have said this once and I will say it again I love Caroline’s style of writing and I want to visit Boomerville Hotel now! I absolutely love this book

The Author draws you in right from the very first page where we meet Kate who I adored Kate is 50 and hasnt had the best life and feels like life won’t get any better because she will never meet the right man. So she decides to have a break at Boomerville Hotel where she meets an array of individuals. Each one bringing personality in one way or another to the story. Some that you will love and others that you wont…..like Andy what a snake...That is all I have to say about him.

Caroline tells a story about it's never too late to begin again. I devoured this book in just one day it is a fun ,engaging and highly entertaining read with plenty of laugh out loud moments. I felt right there in the story.

It is a top quality read which I guarantee you will love because there is nothing not to like about it.I cannot recommend this book enough giving it 5 massive gold stars

4.5 star review of The Best Boomerville Hotel by Caroline James

This is a new author to me and wow what an introduction. I laughed so much I cried in this book; it was fabulous and I couldn't put it down. The writing is well executed, hilarious, sweet, dramatic and honestly a great read.

The clientele are eclectic and made for some seriously funny moments in this book.Jo Docherty and Hattie Contaldo have decided to create a holiday retreat with a difference, targeting a specific type of client.It kind of reminded me of the cast of characters found in an Agatha Christie book, diverse and entertaining.

I love the sound of The Boomerville Hotel, set in the Lake District and would love to visit the area. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and one that I recommend.

This book gives you hope that even if you are slightly older, you never know when love will find you. A book full of diverse stories that will take you on an entertaining journey.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

The Best Boomerville Hotel appealed to me having done a stint in my younger days living in as a waitress in a hotel in the Lake District. While this hotel doesn’t resemble any I’ve worked in or visited, it was fun seeing places I know and love featured. Seriously, there needs to be more books set in Cumbria!

The cover gives the style away really – this is a bit of good old British fun which Caroline James captures in full spirit. Packed with eccentric, larger than life characters and lashings of witty humour , there’s something cosy and uplifting about Carolines writing which made me smile.

I’m going to be honest, I’m a bit more down to earth and gritty usually in my tastes and when I first started this book found myself rolling my eyes a little at what I thought were stereo-typically spoilt baby boomers and the “I say old chap” language, however the author creates such endearing characters it was hard not to be won around. After all, the guests at Boomerville want pretty much what we all want – companionship and a sense of purpose and belonging.

The Best Boomerville Hotel is a complete contrast to the fast paced thrillers and emotionally taught books I usually read. It was more of a leisurely, gentle amble than a rollercoaster, but I enjoyed some touching moments along with the laugh out loud ones. If you want pure feelgood escapism in your reading, then this is a good bet for you – with an endearingly eccentric cast and a good dose of British Humour, you won’t go wrong.

This was a fun, feel good read with a wide range of characters that made it very interesting.
It is about a retreat for boomers or people of an older age that has been set up with the belief that it is never too late to find love or start again.
From the vulnerable Kate to the bohemian artist Lucinda, sophisticated Jo to saucy Hattie, everyone craves companionship and has their own way of getting it.
Their varied natures and stories make this a light read with enough adventure thrown in to keep it interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for organising the Blog Tour.

My first Caroline James book, although I have heard good things about this author. The book introduces us to the Best Boomerville Hotel. Based in the heart of the Lake District and recently refurbished, the hotel caters for guest of a ‘certain age’. We first meet Kate, a middle aged Dating Agency owner, Kate has yet to meet the perfect man. She books herself in at the Boomerville Hotel in the hope that her luck will change!

The book is a light-hearted read into the running of a hotel catering exclusively for people of a certain age. I haven’t worked out what that age is yet, but I’m hoping I’m not quite ready to check in yet! As it’s quite exclusive, it also appears to be quite expensive and the majority of residents are people with money! I love the characters, particularly Hattie, and they are all a mixed bunch of personalities. There is also a mixture of stories and each character brings their own little story to the book.

A funny feel-good read with plenty of laugh out loud moments! Would definitely recommend!

Welcome back to Jo and Hattie and their fabulous new business venture, the Best Boomerville Hotel! I’ve enjoyed the mid life adventures of this pair of friends so far and so was really looking forward to meeting up with them again.

There’s certainly a nod to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel here maybe with a touch of Kellermans from Dirty Dancing thrown in there too. The 50 plus patrons of the hotel are able to take part in all sorts of activities and wellbeing experiences and I can quite understand why most of them were reluctant to leave! As the supporting cast began to assemble at the hotel, there was a variety of different characters coming together and, although I knew romance was probably in the air, I never really worked out who was going to end up with who! My favourite “boomer” was Kate who showed me that you’re never too old to follow your dreams and I greatly admired the way Caroline James brought her to life within this setting. Kate’s love life looked like it was on the up as well when she meets fellow boomer and James Bond lookalike Andy, but things are never quite as simple as she would like and the path of true love is still as rough no matter how old you are.

Regular readers of my reviews know that I’m a big fan of fiction featuring more mature characters, showing that age is no obstacle to a happy, healthy sexual relationship so I’m thrilled that Caroline James has written this funny and insightful look at how the “baby boomers” are living their lives in the 21st century. And they are having a great deal of fun whilst doing it! This was an enjoyable and satisfying romp around the Lake District that really hit the spot for me-a romcom with a zest for life and plenty of playfulness for those who know how to teach those youngsters a thing or two!!

Do not read this book if you want to read about things that you need to think about.
Do not read this book if you want things to move slowly and calmly.
Do not read this book if you do not want to smile!

I really want to start a Boomerville Hotel and I would also like to go there! Great characters, larger than life and round the bend but its a fun, feel good read which made me feel better about the dreadful weather!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story is about a hotel for middle aged people looking for fun. I want to go and stay for a few weeks now! !
The characters are lovely, well rounded and full of fun. There are also darker characters too, but will they get away with their plans? This is an easy read that flows beautifully. If you want to smile, feel good and really enjoy a tale, read this book now.

Jo and Hattie run the Boomerville Hotel, a place for new beginnings, rest button for people in their golden age.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters were so warm it was liking spending a grand old time with friends.

The Best Boomerville Hotel is situated in the Lake District. The resident holidaymakers are of a 'certain age', the 'baby boomer' generation, and they have booked into the hotel to put the spring back in their step.

This is a light-hearted and quirky read with quite a few zany and colourful characters. Some of the humour is a little slapstick for my tastes and sometimes it reminded me of 'Fawlty Towers'. The plot has its bizarre and whacky moments. Nevertheless, it's well written and it does keep you entertained! If there ever was such a place, I wouldn't mind booking in myself if only as a fly on the wall!

A fun and lively read just right for a bit of escapism.

3.5*

Jo and Hattie have turned a tired old hotel into a bit of a resort for baby boomers, offering all sorts of courses and special treats. Eccentric and interesting characters abound in this book, both as guests and as tutors of the courses being held.

Kate is a guest who was looking for a bit of time and opportunity to re-discover herself, after many years of taking care of her father. On her first day she meets the charming Andy but is there more to him than meets the eye?

In a lot of ways, this is a funny and charming read. Sometimes, it strayed a little bit too far into the stereotypical and cliched though, particularly with the portrayal of Hattie's character. I found her quite unlikeable at times, I have to admit.

All in all, this is a good read and someone could make a lot of money by actually having a hotel like this, I am sure!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ruby Fiction and The Book Club. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Couldn’t put this one down. A thoroughly enjoyable read. A little big of intrigue, a pinch of espionage, a splash of comedy and a little bit of reality, two unlikely heroines and a long term friendship deliver a wonderful recipe for a good tale. A pure bit of escapism.

This was my first Caroline James book and a real feel good story. I loved all the characters as well as Caroline's writing style, the idea as well as the setting of the story. This book was a great in-between book to read instead of my normal fantasy genre. I look forward to reading more books by Caroline James. I also loved the book cover as I like picking books by looking at the cover.

It has been absolutely ages since I was last fortunate enough to be able to read a new Caroline James. Was it worth the wait though? Yes 100% definitely this was fantastic, just a shame I now have to wait for the author to write another!

All of this authors books are standalone and this is no exception but at the same time fans will recognise assorted characters from previous books, and I was delighted that we had more of Hattie and Jo's story.

The Boomerville Hotel is set in the Lake District and is a hotel with huge grounds that has been opened up to give the Baby Boomer generation a new lease of life, with all manner of creative courses, some more normal than others!

Over the course of the story we hear a lot about the various course, but not only that their tutors and all the guests at the hotel. And what a varied bunch they are. Where else but in fiction would you find such an eclectic mix of clientele - from a modern day looking James Bond, the titled eccentric brothers Sir Henry and Hugo, a down on her luck artist and Kate who is the other main character in the book.

I absolutely loved hearing the antics of all of these characters, and when the tutors include a Shaman who seems to have rather impressive mystical qualities you know you are in for a book that is incredibly entertaining.

There are so many funny moments that I wouldn't want to spoil them for you. It is always nice to read a book full of characters that are older than me, as it gives me great hope that my life could become a lot more exciting as I age disgracefully!

There is certainly romance occurring all over the Boomerville Hotel, but I challenge you to at the start correctly predict the pairings that may occur - I would hazard a guess that you will be wrong about most of them. This really is one of those expect the unexpected sort of books, which makes it all the more entertaining.

Absolutely adored this latest book from the author, and already want to read the next book by her, which probably hasn't been written yet!

Thank you to Netgalley and Ruby Fiction for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2300510590

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The eclectic range if characters gelled together pretty well. Hattie, of course, was something else! I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighthearted read.

I absolutely loved this book, it skipped its way through the pages throwing in a mixture of laughter, tears, heartbreak and happiness. Add a sprinkling of magic and all put together you have a heartwarming novel. A well written book, thank you Caroline James.