Widows Waive the Rules

by Julia Jarman

The BRAND NEW novel from bestselling author Julia Jarman! Perfect for fans of Maddie Please and anyone who thinks age is just a number.The Widows Wine Club of Viv, Janet and Zelda have navigated choppy waters before.

Having supported each other through the first shaky years of widowhood, the future was starting to look brighter. But when Janet is dealt another blow, it’s all hands on deck for the firm friends.

Deciding what Janet needs is a change of scenery, Viv and Zelda book a luxury cruise on the Queen Mary 2, heading for the bright lights of New York. And once on board, the women are entranced. A floating pleasure palace, the Queen Mary is just what the doctor ordered. From tai chi to dance lessons, cocktails to crafting, there’s nothing they can’t do to while away the miles at sea.

But when they are joined at their first supper by fellow widow Primrose Carmichael, the holiday takes an unexpected turn. Because not only does Primrose share Janet’s surname, but their late husbands were both called Mal… As the similarities between the two women stack up, so do Viv and Zelda’s suspicions. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery before they’re in sight of the Statue of Liberty, the friends are ready to waive a few rules…

Julia Jarman’s warm, wise and witty novels are perfect for everyone who believes age is just a number. Perfect for fans of Caroline James, Judy Leigh and Maddie Please.

336 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2025

About the author

Julia Jarman is a British author of books for children of all reading ages and ability.

Reviews

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three friends, Janet, Viv and Zelda who are all widows, decide to go on a cruise the week before Christmas, on the QM2. They found the cruise was only going to New York and decided they would do it. Little did they know what they would discover on the cruise. They had arranged it so they would only have a table for three, but the first night they discovered it was a table for four. Primrose Carmichael, was going to be at their table.
This is the start of an adventure, that intrigues, all the women, are trying to solve the mystery, that is now part of their journeys.
I have never been on a cruise, but this was my kind of cruise. Friendship, excitement, and them coming together to figure out what was going on, that I forgot I was on a ship in the middle of the ocean. The adventure continues as they pull into New York, and it was nice seeing the sites of New York.
The author did an amazing job on telling this story, it made me feel like I was right there with them. Sometimes reading is the best way to have an adventure, and this was one of those times.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

[Sonia Bellhouse]

This is exactly what it promises to be, entertaining light reading. It’s part of a series, but it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the earlier books .Part travelogue for the Queen Mary Two and part mystery ,the book straddles both with ease .Female friendships and romance add to the mix.