“You’ve got to have an imagination or you’ll end up with any old life.”
When Alyson Brown, RN is suddenly fired from her high-paying (and completely unfulfilling) job as a pharmaceutical rep, her life veers wildly off course. Still nursing a broken heart—and ego—after being dumped by the man she thought she would marry, she returns to her hometown of Portland, Maine to try to find her way … again.
Yet, before she can even confess to her best friend that her life is in shambles, a chance encounter with a stranger compels Aly to seek solace (and a new job) in a completely unexpected aboard a luxury cruise liner as a member of the medical staff.
As Aly learns to navigate life below decks, she finds herself entangled with a handsome and mysterious man who forces her to confront the fact that it’s impossible to leave your troubles on land. And as the ship sails further and further away from everything she has ever known, Aly must learn to rely on her fellow crew mates (and her own instincts) to weather medical emergencies and stop a murderer in the middle of the South Pacific.
Part mystery, part romance, and all heart, The Unsinkable Aly Brown, RN is a story about staying open to adventure and the possibility of love.
Thank you so much to @agirlineveryport for the opportunity to read and review this delightful story!
Aly Brown is at a personal and professional crossroads - newly single and freshly unemployed, she is looking to switch gears. A chance encounter with a cruise ship nurse opened her mind to how she could use her nursing degree in a new way, and she was soon hired as one of the only Americans on a ship from the US to Australia, with a stop in Tahiti. As Aly learns the interworking of a cruise ship, she befriends numerous cruise ship employees, each with a unique story that brought them to this career. As she navigates this new life, she continues to encounter a handsome stranger, deals with multiple medical emergencies, takes a tentative step into the dating pool, and unravels a mystery in the nick of time.
This cozy mystery, more about Aly's journey than a true page-turning mystery, was a quick and engaging read. The characters and world Smith created were so unique and exciting that I was immediately invested. You don't get into the mystery until well into the book's second half, but Smith adeptly planted clues throughout that made me realize it was there all along. At shy of 250 pages, this is a quick read and the first in a series that I will absolutely continue.
This debut from Kate Smith is a great start to what I hope will turn into many more books! The characters are funny and realistic and the story is engaging and entertaining, with plenty of twists and turns and drama. I love how relatable Aly is in so many ways and hope to see her return in the future!
If you’re looking for a fun read that will draw you in quickly, this is the one!
The perfect vacation read. Unhappy on land, Aly Brown runs away from life ashore and sets sail on a cruise ship working as a nurse. As she begins to adjust to life aboard ship she forges an array of friendships with crew and passengers alike. With a knack for amateur sleuthing, Aly begins to notice some things aren't aren't adding up between a certain group of passengers, in particular one darkly handsome and mysterious man. If you're looking for an easy, fun read to take to the beach or on vacation this is just what the nurse ordered ;) With a splash of mystery, a little romance and a couple hard-earned life lessons, this story takes you on a fun reading excursion all the way from the coast of Maine to the shores of Tahiti.
Get away with Aly in this fun and easy read. Aly is the perfect heroine in this fun story about a nurse who grows tired of her life on land and jumps into life as a nurse aboard a cruise ship. You’ll get to know a great group of characters from all over the world. Throw in a little mystery and a little romance and this is exactly what I look for in a weekend read. I hope this author writes more books in this series. I can’t wait to see what other mysteries Aly finds herself in.
I randomly ran into Author Kate Smith @agirlineveryport on social media & was pleasantly delighted by her debut novel The Unsinkable Aly Brown, RN: A Girl in Every Port. You’ll love reading about Aly’s adventure as she navigates the choppy waters of love & danger aboard a luxury cruise liner. She is faced with uncertainty, unexpected twists, & the realization that sometimes the most surprising destinations offer the greatest opportunities for growth & transformation.
WHAT TO LOVE - Cozy mystery - Unexpected twists - Delightful cast of characters - Self discovery and transformation - Being the girl in every port
DESCRIPTION After being unexpectedly let go from her prestigious pharmaceutical job, Alyson Brown, RN is left reeling. Escaping a failed relationship & a wounded career, she retreats back to her roots in Portland, Maine, seeking a fresh start. A chance meeting with a stranger changes her course forever, & Aly embarks on a journey aboard a luxurious cruise ship as a member of the medical team.
Everything Aly thought she knew was put to the test in this tale of high seas adventure. Aly must rely on her crewmates & trust her instincts to navigate through medical emergencies, unexpected danger, & outwit a cunning murderer.
SUMMARY This was such an enjoyable story! The cozy mystery takes place about half way through but clues are planted along the way that makes the mystery seem seamless. The story is set up for a sequel, which I will definitely read!
I’ve never been on a cruise, so I really enjoyed reading behind the scenes of working aboard a cruise liner.
Aly Brown is having a rough time. She is still heartbroken over her ex, who is now parading a new girl around town, and now she has been fired from her job as a pharmaceutical sales rep. When she meets a nurse who works on cruise ships for a living, she spontaneously applies for the position herself and find herself flying out for her first cruise very quickly. She finds a mixture of romance and mystery during her first cruise, an enticing combination that will leave her coming back for more.
The premise of this one was incredibly fun, and I loved that the author was employed on a cruise ship in real life and could share the details of such a wild job. As a nurse myself, this was not an avenue I’d ever even thought about until reading this story! The portions of the book about Aly’s nursing job are well done, with enough detail to entice someone with a medical background but clear enough for anyone to understand.
Clues to the mystery are planted along the way in a clever manner, keeping the story intriguing. The romance slowly builds as well, and I thought this was a fabulous introduction to a new character that felt like it could be book one in a series. I’ll be looking forward to catching back up with Aly another day!
Thank you to the author for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
I’ve been wanting to read this book since seeing the author interviewed on YouTube by Lucy from Cruising as Crew. An insider look at how the crew gets there, onboarding and behind the scenes of the medical center and more. More chick-lit than I expected but a very entertaining, quick read. Hoping for more from this author.
This was a fun, cozy summer read. A perfect meld of mystery and romance with a glimpse into the inner workings of what working on a cruise ship is like. I am looking forward to seeing what Aly Brown is up to next!
This book was a great light-hearted, easy read. I enjoyed the writing style, the mystery, and the tie backs to her love life. The character development was thorough and I can’t wait for another Aly Brown book!
Really enjoyed learning about Aly and her adventure as a nurse on a cruise ship. The book did leave me confused at times since I didn't know what the focus of the book was. A mystery? A romance? I really liked Aly as the main character and was rooting for her to find her purpose.
Loved this one! It’s a fun, low angst cozy mystery with a tiny bit of romance. The knowledge and insider information about being a cruise ship nurse was fun and enlightening. Really enjoyed this one!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. My wife recommended it as she was reading it. She said I might like it because we’ve been on a lot of cruises. She was right. I enjoyed the mystery, the humor, and learning more about backstage on a cruise ship. Hope there’s another book in this series.