Floating Solo:

by Shelley Wilson

FINALIST IN THE ROMANTIC NOVELISTS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT ROMANTIC NOVEL AWARD 2025

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'
'Grumpy sunshine'

Praise for Floating Solo

“Funny, sweet and deliciously romantic. An absolute gem of a book. Romance tied up in a narrowboat package.” Susan Buchanan

'It's such a heartwarming feel-good read! I loved the setting, the friendships, and the relationships! Everything really! Felt like I was watching a romcom film. More please!" Kim Nash

Genres: Contemporary

Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2024

About the author

Shelley Wilson is a genre straddling English author of motivational self-help titles and young adult fantasy/supernatural fiction.

She's published nine non-fiction self-help books including her bestseller - How I Changed My Life in a Year - as well as six young adult (YA) novels. Book one of her werewolf series was a finalist in the RONE YA Book of the Year Awards and has been combined and re-released with book two under the new title - Hood Academy.

Shelley lives in the West Midlands, UK, with her three children. She has a crazy black cat called Luna and is obsessed with vampires, Tudor and Viking history, and exploring castles.

Find her on:
Twitter www.twitter.com/ShelleyWilson72
Facebook www.facebook.com/FantasyAuthorSLWilson
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Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorslwil...

Reviews

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books]

Looking for a gentle, relaxing but entertaining read?
This is probably just the book you need!
Instead of travelling around at top speed
Chill, take time to see what you need to succeed!

Kat Sinclair lives on the Creaky Cauldron canal narrowboat
Taking solo guests on an adventure afloat.
She has plans to expand but is thwarted and let down
Leaving her with no extra funding and wearing a frown.

Someone who has been inspired by her stay
Is reported about in the press one day.
This leads to contact from a Hollywood film crew
Asking if they can come to stay and film, too!

This could be the way to achieve her dreams!
But nothing is quite as easy as initially seems.
Get ready for a film star and a film crew
Who know nothing of narrowboats or what to do.

A brilliant read with plenty of laughter
And an enemies first leading to a happy ever after.
There's plenty of drama as they travel away
A really fun read, I have to say!

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't help but fall under the spell of life on the canals when you read this story. Kat has big dreams for her business but seems to lack confidence to put it into action. Her Floating Solo holidays are very successful for her clients and many use the experience to sort out their thoughts and plan their future. During her journey with her American guests, Kat seems to benefit from this herself. You find out quite a bit about Kat's life and why she has chosen to live alone with a very small group of trusted friends. She is wary of strangers at the moment.

The American travellers are an entertaining bunch, full of warmth and together they all form a family. It takes Kat some time to work out the dynamics between them and Jordan, the film star, is the most complicated of them all. There are moments of light and shade in the story but overall, the tone is uplifting and engaging.

In short: lively characters and a gentle romance
Thanks to the publisher

[Lisa of Hopewell]

I learned of this book via this review: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2....

[Shreen Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book a simple concept but put together beautifully. I got lost in the characters and read it in an afternoon.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Floating Solo' by Shelley Wilson

OMG WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS ESCAPISM!! What an absolutely beautiful page turner!!! Well done Shelley!!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! This may be the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely will not be my last!! As for your note at the start of the book saying you cannot promise another romance will follow, what? why?? Come on now lady THIS book should be part of a series!!!!! I would absolutely LOVE to go on more trips with Kat Sinclair and I am sure I am not the only one so none of that nonsense!! get started lady as I need more YESTERDAY!!!!

This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading the next book, and the previous one in this series.

I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible author's books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by the very talented Shelley, even if they are just half as good as this page turner they are guaranteed to be addictive!! OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE ,LOVED THIS BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, LAUGH OUT LOUD AND PAGE TURNING MUST READ!! MY FAVOURITE READ OF 2025. Honestly, if you are looking for a stunning escapism then please do not waste your time reading any more of my review and grab your copy of this gorgeous page turner now!! You seriously have to grab your copy of this absolutely gorgeous page turner today!! The descriptions, the characters and the absolutely brilliant and hilarious storyline!!! I mean seriously I cannot describe just how fantastic, unique and gorgeous this book is!!! If you love romance, friendship, community, humour, enemies to lovers, holidays, drama, fun, small town romance… Do you know what...whatever you like to read just give this a go and you will NOT regret it!!! As you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed this addictive and stunning page turner!!! I mean I have read loads of books this year but THIS book has just shot to my favourite book of 2025 and I will be very surprised if anyone manages to knock it off that spot!! In this beautiful escapism Shelley transports us to Warwickshire and on to the narrow boat 'Floating Solo' where we meet the owner Kat Sinclair. Kat loves her business of taking singletons on a waterway escape on her narrowboat 'Creaking Cauldron' and has even inspired a journalist to write a book about her and her 'Floating Solo' holidays. She has a whole board of the people that she has taken on holidays with many happy endings attached. Kat's dream is to expand her business and wants to get more narrowboats like the Creaking Cauldron' travelling all the way around. However, to do this she needs financial backing and this is where her long term partner Paul come in to it. Kat has asked Paul to get his company on board with her plans. However, when she goes to the meeting it not only turns out that Paul did not bother speaking to them about 'Floating Solo' as he does not think his company would want to invest but also tells her he wants a break just after telling her this!! Kat is broken hearted and angry but with the help of her friends Stephanie and Tom's help and advertising on social media they are determined to show the world how fantastic Floating Solo is!!! Things start looking up when agent Martha gets in touch wanting to film a 2 week holiday docuseries with the one and only handsome Jordan Harrington!!! However, when Jordan and his team arrive Kat has doubts when Jordan has a face like thunder and things don't look like they are going to improve anytime soon when he continues complaining about the size, speed and more of her beloved 'Floating Solo'!! Has Kat made a huge mistake agreeing to allow Jordan and his team to do their docuseries? Will Jordan learn to love the peace on the narrowboat or will he make her life even harder? Well, if you want to more then you will just have to grab your copy of this absolutely stunning page turner today and I can absolutely GUARANTEE you will not regret it! Sit back, relax, grab this book and get ready to go on a beautiful journey on the 'Creaky Cauldron' discovering the scenery Warwickshire has to offer With a storyline ram packed with friendship, humour, stunning escapism, beautiful scenery, fun, drama, heartache, determination, romance and so much more what on Earth are you waiting for??? This book is a real genuine pick me up and will definitely turn any frown upside down!! Shelley will take you on a gorgeous adventure that you will not want to leave!! It captured my attention from the very first page and kept me glued to the pages until the very last word and definitely left me wanting more!! Shelley's beautiful and evocative writing skills and vivid descriptions will transport the reader into Warwickshire and onto the Creaking Cauldron where they will hear the water splashing, feel the warmth of the narrowboat and absolutely fall in love with the stunning settings and the amazing and larger than life characters! I know I did! This is one of those fantastic books that is perfect to read anywhere and everywhere from curled up next to a roaring fire to sunning yourself on a beach as regardless of where you are Shelley will whisk you away with the storyline and transport you onto the Creaking Cauldron!! I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting as there was no way I could put it down!! Each and every time I even thought about it to get some actual house work done the characters called me back to demand their attention!! The chapters are quite short which is ideal to pick up and read a few here and there whether on a break or on a bus, the problem is trying to put it down!! One of the things I really enjoyed about this storyline is that it is unique to me as I had never read a storyline like it which always makes a lovely change after reading so many books as it is getting harder and harder to find something new. An absolutely brilliant read that will make your day brighter! I have never read a book set on a narrowboat before and I loved looking up locks and how to manoeuvre them as a single handed sailor on your own. I just really, really hope that Shelley sees how much everyone loves this book and decides to turn it into a series where we can continue following Kat's adventures on her 'Creaking Cauldron'.

Clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you get lost in this laugh out loud, addictive page turner!!

I absolutely loved the larger than life, unique and just fantastic characters that Shelley has created for this book!! Thanks to her fantastic descriptions it truly feels like you are right next to Kat, Jordan, Martha, Beth, Cole and Ted and on the Creaking Cauldron with them throughout this gorgeous book. I absolutely loved meeting them all and was rooting for them throughout. I absolutely adored watching the personalities and confidence change and develop from the start to the finish as well as friendships and relationships. All of the characters are unique with their own personalities, weaknesses, flaws and strengths and I loved meeting and getting to know them all, well, almost all. The only downfall with the characters along with the Creaking Cauldron itself is that they are entirely fictional even though Shelley brings them to life unfortunately, no matter how much I would love to, I am unable to meet up with them in the real world!! I was completely invested in them all throughout and I was gutted when the time came to say Goodbye! Shelley truly does an absolutely amazing job of bringing the story to life and the characters leap out of the pages as your turning them thanks to her evocative writing skills and I enjoyed getting to meet them all!! It really goes to show how talented she is creating such a wonderful storyline and all these brilliant characters in her beautiful book and cannot wait for the next book, which I am really hoping will be another book set on the Creaking Cauldron when she realises she just has to make this into a series!!

Clear your schedules as this is one gorgeous, unique and unputdownable stunning escapism ❤️ Shelley Wilson welcome to my favourite author list as well as for writing my FAVOURITE READ OF 2025!!! I CANNOT WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT GUARANTEED SUCCESS and the next book in this series after you make it one!!!

Overall an absolutely gorgeous escapism that will sweep you away, make you laugh out loud and fall in love with Floating Solo, Kat and the gang!!

#FloatingSolo #ShelleyWilson #HillfieldPublishing #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources #Bookstagrammer #Bookblogger

@ShelleyWilson @RachelsRandomResources @rararesources

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[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Floating Solo is a fun, lighthearted read. The characters are loveable, and I especially loved the main protagonist, Kat. She is down to Earth, a bit quirky, and I was rooting for her happiness and success all the way through.

This is the first book I've read that is set on a narrow boat on the canals, and I loved the unusual setting.

Kat is working so hard to make her business a success even though her confidence wavers at times. She would never have believed she would be hosting for a Hollywood film crew, including a very grumpy star.

Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite romance tropes, and this one was done really well. Jordan began as the clichéd l, spoiled Hollywood star, but before long, he was swayed by the gorgeous English countryside and the Creaky Cauldron.

A funny, buoyant read that was just perfect for a sunny afternoon in my garden.

[Bookshortie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat is the owner of the Creaky Cauldron, a narrowboat that caters for solo holidays. When Kat is approached by a film crew who want to film Hollywood actor Jordan’s holiday on the narrowboat, is this the opportunity Kat is looking for to expand her business?

I always love discovering local authors and I was really pleased to see that this author is very local to me. As soon as I saw the front cover and the synopsis I just wanted to go on a solo trip on the Creaky Cauldron. Having been born and raised in Birmingham I regularly take walks along the canal towpaths and always look at the narrowboats wondering what it would be like to live on one and explore new places. Reading this book has cemented my interest further.

The storyline was cosy, sweet and about unexpected connections and taking a chance. I loved the concept of the Creaky Cauldron and solo trips especially because travelling alone can be daunting. What I loved about the trip that Kat offered is that it’s not just a holiday where the traveller is ferried around. Travellers get a hands on experience of learning about canals, they get to visit places on route, help out on the narrowboat and even learn to drive it.

Kat has a big dream to expand her business but this dream isn’t shared by her boyfriend who doesn’t think it’s a feasible business and doesn’t take Kat seriously. However, Kat isn’t deterred. She strikes gold when she is approached by a film crew who want to feature her business for a solo trip featuring Hollywood star Jordan. This sounds like a brilliant idea in theory because of the publicity it will attract but in practice it doesn’t quite go as planned.

The film crew are amazing and Kat bonds with them straight away but Jordan isn’t the person she thought he’d be. He doesn’t seem to be interested in the solo trip or learning about the Creaky Cauldron. But then something happens and Kat tells Jordan a few home truths. She calls him out on his behaviour and doesn’t hold back. This is one aspect of Kat’s character that I loved because she’s honest and open about how she is feeling. It’s this that makes Jordan think not only about how he is acting but also about his life including the things that he needs to change. It is also the moment that Kat and Jordan start to mutually respect each other and something between them grows. One of the most memorable scenes for me was when Kat receives some bad news and without asking any questions Jordan comforts her. It was such an adorable scene.

The perfect weekend read.

[ella ‧₊˚🖇️✩ ₊˚🎧⊹ ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“jordan harrington is an asshole”, immediately obsessed.

enemies to lovers is my fave fave fave trope. looooved the idea of bringing hollywood to warwickshire, and adored all the characters in this one 🥹

a gorgeous, romantic and funny read. LOVE LOVE LOVE🤍

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Floating Solo is a romance novel focussing on Kat, a woman with a goal. She's been burned in relationships, and her focus on building her business, Floating Solo, holidays for singletons on her narrow boat, is wavering, as her most recent (ex)partner labels it a whim that will never really succeed.
Kat is given a reprieve with the help of her best friend and her partner when they help her raise her profile on social media, and they are all astounded when a fantastic offer comes her way.
Suddenly, Kat finds herself on a two-week mission to help a group of Hollywood types film a reality-style show with a famous male actor as the guest.
Only he's as grumpy as anything. Even though the other four people joining them on the trip (on a separate boat) are excellent company, Kat has to spend most of her time and share her living space with Jordan Harrison.
I enjoyed reading this, following the slow pace of the narrowboat journey and the accompanying fast pace of the relationships between the characters on the trip, especially Kat and Jordan.
The ups and downs and misunderstandings between two very different strangers as they navigate unfamiliar situations in close proximity make for a brilliant read!

[S.C. Skillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, easy read about a young woman whose passion is to run her own business hiring out narrow boats to single people for holidays. Very early she encounters major discouragement and betrayal as her hopes of funding fail, and she loses the support she had counted on.

She wins the reader’s empathy as she fights opposition, gains allies and begins the long journey forward again. The story is set on the canal system in the Midlands, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of the novel and the beguiling descriptions of the canal boat journey and the surrounding countryside.

The story is essentially a romcom and I particularly liked the group dynamics between our main protagonist Kat and the film crew who bring their celebrity star to film a canal trip with her. I found the details of life on a narrowboat absorbing and loved the tetchy relationship between Kat and Jordan (the self-absorbed star), as I felt their interactions building up to some kind of explosion or revelation. Kat’s way of dealing with the situation does not disappoint!

An engaging romance novel which I greatly enjoyed.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saved this delight for a holiday read and I can honestly say it didn't disappoint.

For anyone who knows Shelley's books, this is her first Romance and she smashed it out the park!

Kat was just so lovely I was rooting for her all the way through. This book has a good old enemies to lovers - small town romance buzz but its written so beautifully i wanted the exes to get what they deserved, nosey Betty made me chuckle, Roger just sounded like the best surrogate father figure ( every shop needs stationary) Stephanie/Tom were the best BFFs and the American crew .....well youd just have to read it to find out. Not sure if I was swooning for Jordan or Ted.

I have devoured this book in a few hours as I couldn't put it down. This made me laugh, cry and left my heart full!
Highly recommended!

[Duckfacekim09 (Kim Howell) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I found this book too slow at the beginning and the chapters too long the whole way through. I didn't enjoy the 'boat talk' (also mainly at the beginning) but I did really like the concept of the whole story. If I wasn't married and seasick, I'd definitely take a trip on the Creaky Cauldron!

At about halfway through though, I started to enjoy it a lot more and was glad I'd persisted. Once the big dramatic thing happened, the book became way more interesting, the romance was something I could get behind and I started liking the characters. There was also a nice steamy scene which included consent 🙌

Overall it was a fairly enjoyable, easy read which had a lot of heart.

[Little Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this book was just so lovely to read, but don’t worry it had it’s drama! But the book was just so easy to read. The female main character was so easy to relate with and to sympathise with her through her journey. I honestly could see this easily being made into a feel good movie. I liked the idea of the quirky narrowboat solo holidays and how it had helped it’s passengers find themselves. The book had its funny, sweet, suspenseful and romantic moments that made it very enjoyable. I give it a 5 out of 5 stars.

[Tyler Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect weekend read!

I picked this up as a leisure read and when I say I’m so glad I did, this was such a relaxing and fun read that kept me entertained all day. Shelley knows how to not only get you hooked with her story but also with her characters, Kat quickly became a comfort character for me I felt so connected to her and her story.

With the vivid story telling I devoured this in under a day, I could clearly picture every scene that this author was painting during this. The perfect pick me up read for your TBR!

[Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelley Wilson blends humor, heart, and just the right dash of grumpy-sunshine banter to make you smile all the way through. The setting feels like a warm hug, the characters are loveable, and the romance flows as smoothly as the canal water. A charming, feel-good read I’d happily revisit, more, please!

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Floating Solo was my first foray into a book by Wilson and I can safely say I certainly picked the right one!

I've always wanted to live on or have a narrowboat holiday, so it was an absolute delight to jump on board the Creaky Cauldron and join Kat in her new venture.

It's an uplifting story and was the perfect book to see me into Spring.

It has a cast of extremely likeable characters, a fun-filled plot and my favourite trope, enemies to lovers.

A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read.