An adventure that can be life – turning

Synopsis

Are you single?
Have you lost your confidence when it comes to travelling?
Would you welcome a few weeks away to find that missing spark?
Climb aboard the Creaky Cauldron for an adventure like no other!

Budding entrepreneur Kat Sinclair wants to grow her quirky solo narrowboat holiday enterprise but faces rejection at every turn. Until a Hollywood film crew gets in touch with the potential to change her business, dreams, and love life forever.

‘Enemies to lovers’
‘Small town romance’

My review

Kat Sinclair gives experiences of a lifetime to her customers. Because where else can you climb aboard of a narrowboat and not just have a holiday, but also learn how to handle the boat yourself? Many customers have come and left with a happy and content feeling. Kat has also big plans for her business, as she wants to expand it and make a real success of her unique holiday experience and also attract more customers. Meanwhile, at the moment, she has a Hollywood film crew to show the ropes, while they are making a documentary with Jordan Harrington, famous Hollywood celebrity. Somehow this trip will turn out to be an experience that both Kat and Jordan will never forget, because even if Jordan’s behaviour isn’t always a pleasant one, being on the narrowboat with him and the team, limited space will bring people closer…

Starting a new book, from a new author for me, is always an adventure. It’s not only about liking the story itself, but liking the style, the uniqueness of the author. And even if I am not a (narrow)boat – person myself, I am always eager to discover new authors and trying at the same time to try to get the (narrow)boat – thing. 😊

I always like it when there are characters that are truly hands – on and also have an eye for not only good business but also have great ideas to expand it. And Kat is exactly that, but more too. At the start of the book, she is in a relationship, but it’s clear that she and her partner are not seeing things the same way. And even if we as a reader know it’s not gonna last and will end really early in the story, well, seeing the end of a relationship is always difficult.

Yet she never loses her focus and she always keeps her eye on her big dream, expanding her business involving the Creaky Cauldron. She is that determined kind of person. But not only that, she is also a kind, gentle and also patient person. She sees a whole arrange of different kind of customers and welcomes them all with open arms.

Even the most difficult of customers/ passengers get a chance with Kat and her amazing experience on the Creaky Cauldron. All of the filming crew are very nice and pleasant characters. Even if they come from Hollywood and could be all presumptuous. But I was pleasantly surprised to see just how lovely they all are!

Yet at the same time, Jordan doesn’t make the best of first impressions. And if  have to be honest, nor were the second or third. He for sure initially confirms the cliché of Hollywood actors who believe that they are all that. And while on the calm and peaceful trip, he for sure only adds fuel to my initial negative thoughts as he only shows his best behaviour when a camera is pointed at him.

But while the Creaky Caudron calmy passes by and everyone on the boat learns the tips and trick of managing it, just like Kat, we slowly get to know another side of Jordan. A side that his crew know, but he keeps hidden from Kat. A side that is the total opposite from what we have seen from him a long time.

I found it sweet to read how the story is not only about Kat and Jordan, but how the trip on the Creaky Cauldron affects everyone. Not only the team and Jordan, but also Kat. And slowly, inch by inch, mile by mile, Kat and Jordan see each other for who they really are. And understand each other on a level that perhaps not many do…

Yes, this is a romance, but I didn’t feel it like the ‘romance’ category is doing justice to the whole story. Because this is not only an adventure on the water, but also an adventure, a journey for the characters. So much happens, all of them learn so much from not just each other but from themselves too. There is so much progress in each character, so much understanding and also lots of love, in every sense of the word.

I enjoyed discovering this author, and I enjoyed reading this book with great characters. Even if boats are not my thing, I felt like I was actually on the Creaky Cauldron myself and I loved every bit of it. Even the few scary moments didn’t take my enjoyment away!