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Sex, Lies, and Cruising
"BRIDGET JONES' DIARY meets SEX AND THE CITY, on board THE LOVE BOAT" - Herald Sun Newspaper
Exotic locations, sexy men, and crazy crew parties… Ellie has her dream job… or does she?
When Ellie's fiancé cheats on her with a younger, slimmer, blonde from the office, she boots him out of her life and finds solace in a fabulous photography job aboard a Caribbean cruise ship. Twenty-four hours on board and she’s already shagged her sexy Texan colleague, who happens to love her muffin-top. Unfortunately he’s leaving in a week, and his ex-girlfriend, a hot-headed Brazilian with stripper moves right out of the 90s and a talent for stealing boyfriends, is still on board and out for revenge.
Ellie must work out how to deal with the loco ex, sort the lying scumbags from the good guys, and figure out how many crew members in a cabin it takes before officially becoming group sex. Who the hell knows? (It’s five, actually.) It’s a world completely unlike the one she left behind, but as she tries to find her place on board, Ellie discovers laughter and tears in equal measure. And in the midst of the craziness, she realises the greatest thing this lifestyle change has given her is the chance to rediscover herself.
Exotic locations, sexy men, and crazy crew parties… Ellie has her dream job… or does she?
When Ellie's fiancé cheats on her with a younger, slimmer, blonde from the office, she boots him out of her life and finds solace in a fabulous photography job aboard a Caribbean cruise ship. Twenty-four hours on board and she’s already shagged her sexy Texan colleague, who happens to love her muffin-top. Unfortunately he’s leaving in a week, and his ex-girlfriend, a hot-headed Brazilian with stripper moves right out of the 90s and a talent for stealing boyfriends, is still on board and out for revenge.
Ellie must work out how to deal with the loco ex, sort the lying scumbags from the good guys, and figure out how many crew members in a cabin it takes before officially becoming group sex. Who the hell knows? (It’s five, actually.) It’s a world completely unlike the one she left behind, but as she tries to find her place on board, Ellie discovers laughter and tears in equal measure. And in the midst of the craziness, she realises the greatest thing this lifestyle change has given her is the chance to rediscover herself.
280 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2015
8 people are currently reading
668 people want to read
About the author
Cathryn Chapman
2 books15 followersCathryn Chapman nearly gave up her writing career when her eighth grade English teacher refused to believe her sensual poem could have been written by somebody so young. Two years later, when Cathryn was fourteen, that same English teacher declared she should start writing for Mills & Boon, and a women’s fiction writer was born. Cathryn graduated from university with a Business Degree and spent seven years travelling the world – working on cruise ships, and living in London, New York, Paris and South America. In her thirties, she left a successful marketing and public relations career to pursue her dream of gracing the stages in London’s West End. When this failed dismally, Cathryn settled down with a husband and baby boy, and stayed in one country long enough to finally write her first novel, SEX, LIES, AND CRUISING.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 31, 2015
5 Words: Photography, cruises, relationships, sex, lies.
I have been sitting on this review for almost two months and it's been killing me because this book was all kinds of awesome fun.
This book was so much fun to read, and I loved the main character. I could identify with her so much, and it meant that when I could see her making a mistake I'd be admonishing her in my head as I was reading.
I think that hand-down, Ellie's plots and plans were the best bits of the book. I could recognise myself and my friends in each of them, it was just such a real thing for someone to do.
There are so many characters in this book to love and hate that you end up becoming quite invested in them, and it makes the whole reading experience so much more... More. You really feel that little bit extra for the story.
Sex, Lies and Cruising was very easy to pick up and keep reading, and very hard to put down. It was a relatively quick read that is perfect for summer days and rainy nights.
I reviewed this as part of the blog tour with Chick Lit Plus and a review copy was provided free as part of this. And cruises are my NA cat nip.
Looking for more NA Cruise Ship action? Give Full Steam Ahead a go, it's what started me off.
I have been sitting on this review for almost two months and it's been killing me because this book was all kinds of awesome fun.
This book was so much fun to read, and I loved the main character. I could identify with her so much, and it meant that when I could see her making a mistake I'd be admonishing her in my head as I was reading.
I think that hand-down, Ellie's plots and plans were the best bits of the book. I could recognise myself and my friends in each of them, it was just such a real thing for someone to do.
There are so many characters in this book to love and hate that you end up becoming quite invested in them, and it makes the whole reading experience so much more... More. You really feel that little bit extra for the story.
Sex, Lies and Cruising was very easy to pick up and keep reading, and very hard to put down. It was a relatively quick read that is perfect for summer days and rainy nights.
I reviewed this as part of the blog tour with Chick Lit Plus and a review copy was provided free as part of this. And cruises are my NA cat nip.
Looking for more NA Cruise Ship action? Give Full Steam Ahead a go, it's what started me off.
September 4, 2015
Review originally posted on my blog http://www.livinglifewithjoy.com
Sex, Lies, and Cruising is a fun novel that had me laughing and entertained from page one! This one has a bit of mature content (if you couldn’t tell from the title!) so I caution those that don’t like anything above a 6/10 on the romantic blush meter. Filled with entertaining characters and real life situations and important themes, this novel was a fun read. I can’t wait to see what else the authors written!
In less than 24 hours, good girl Ellie has already managed to sleep with one of her coworkers. Up until now, Ellie had spent the last four years being engaged to a man that turned out not to love and respect her and left her for someone else. To say that she’s looking for a little fun to get over Dan is an understatement, but she didn’t expect it to happen so soon! Life working on the ship is fun and goes by quickly, but no one could have prepared Ellie for the drama that comes with hopping into bed with practical strangers, especially where the Brazilian Bitch is concerned.
Despite the drama that Ellie has seemed to gotten herself into, she makes some seriously awesome friends aboard the ship; Caitlin – the energetic, flirty roommate that’s saving up money to study fashion design at Parsons, Nick – the campy, over-the-top friend that has some serious dancing talent and rocks a feather boa like it’s no one’s business, and Jock – the Scottish bartender with a warm spirit that becomes an instant friend and shoulder to lean on when things don’t go the way Ellie wants.
Cruise life isn’t all fun and games and this novel was filled with unfortunate real life issues; betrayal, eating disorders, infidelity, dishonesty and being afraid to show other’s the real you in fear of rejection. One of the most important themes of the novel is the importance of listening to your gut instinct and learning to be true to yourself and not settling for anyone that doesn’t respect you for who you are. Just because someone desires you, doesn’t mean they value and respect you. It’s important to look past people that seem too good to be true – actions speak louder than words and this is proven throughout the novel. Sometimes people surprise you by disappointing you and sometimes they surprise you by being fully accepting and loving. This novel was surprisingly thoughtful and sweet and I recommend it to anyone that’s looking for a fun and flirty chick-lit read.
Sex, Lies, and Cruising is a fun novel that had me laughing and entertained from page one! This one has a bit of mature content (if you couldn’t tell from the title!) so I caution those that don’t like anything above a 6/10 on the romantic blush meter. Filled with entertaining characters and real life situations and important themes, this novel was a fun read. I can’t wait to see what else the authors written!
In less than 24 hours, good girl Ellie has already managed to sleep with one of her coworkers. Up until now, Ellie had spent the last four years being engaged to a man that turned out not to love and respect her and left her for someone else. To say that she’s looking for a little fun to get over Dan is an understatement, but she didn’t expect it to happen so soon! Life working on the ship is fun and goes by quickly, but no one could have prepared Ellie for the drama that comes with hopping into bed with practical strangers, especially where the Brazilian Bitch is concerned.
Despite the drama that Ellie has seemed to gotten herself into, she makes some seriously awesome friends aboard the ship; Caitlin – the energetic, flirty roommate that’s saving up money to study fashion design at Parsons, Nick – the campy, over-the-top friend that has some serious dancing talent and rocks a feather boa like it’s no one’s business, and Jock – the Scottish bartender with a warm spirit that becomes an instant friend and shoulder to lean on when things don’t go the way Ellie wants.
Cruise life isn’t all fun and games and this novel was filled with unfortunate real life issues; betrayal, eating disorders, infidelity, dishonesty and being afraid to show other’s the real you in fear of rejection. One of the most important themes of the novel is the importance of listening to your gut instinct and learning to be true to yourself and not settling for anyone that doesn’t respect you for who you are. Just because someone desires you, doesn’t mean they value and respect you. It’s important to look past people that seem too good to be true – actions speak louder than words and this is proven throughout the novel. Sometimes people surprise you by disappointing you and sometimes they surprise you by being fully accepting and loving. This novel was surprisingly thoughtful and sweet and I recommend it to anyone that’s looking for a fun and flirty chick-lit read.
June 28, 2015
Ellie is off to have some no strings attached fun after breaking up with her fiance. She is finally chasing her career goal to become a photographer and has joined the photography team on board a cruise ship.
Life on board this cruise ship is fast paced and full of partying. Ellie makes some good friends and as the title suggests, gets plenty of experience in sex, lies and cruising. My lifestyle was a lot tamer when I was in my 20's, so I enjoyed reliving it vicariously through Ellie. Although there were plenty of sex scenes throughout the novel, it had more of a chick lit feel than erotica.
I liked Ellie. I wouldn't have made the same decisions that she did but I cared enough about her to keep mentally giving her advice on her love life. I liked that she wasn't superficial. I related to Ellie in that she could be a bit naive like me. She always looked for the good in people and accepted what they said at face value.
I had guessed the ending, but I would have been very disappointed if it had turned out any other way. I'm looking forward to reading Love, Drugs and New York to find out what happens next.
Life on board this cruise ship is fast paced and full of partying. Ellie makes some good friends and as the title suggests, gets plenty of experience in sex, lies and cruising. My lifestyle was a lot tamer when I was in my 20's, so I enjoyed reliving it vicariously through Ellie. Although there were plenty of sex scenes throughout the novel, it had more of a chick lit feel than erotica.
I liked Ellie. I wouldn't have made the same decisions that she did but I cared enough about her to keep mentally giving her advice on her love life. I liked that she wasn't superficial. I related to Ellie in that she could be a bit naive like me. She always looked for the good in people and accepted what they said at face value.
I had guessed the ending, but I would have been very disappointed if it had turned out any other way. I'm looking forward to reading Love, Drugs and New York to find out what happens next.
June 26, 2020
I don’t read a lot of chick lit, I’m not really sure why, but perhaps the indie authors of that genre don’t stumble onto my goodreads page or blog to request reviews often.
Regardless, I was excited about reading this. It sounded fun, sexy and a nice light-hearted read.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be.
Ellie, our main character, should have spoken to me on a personal level. But unfortunately instead of a realistic, complex character, she was vapid and painfully neurotic when it came to blaming herself for everything that went wrong. Then in the next breath blamed the men in her life for all her personal problems.
I probably would have forgiven this sort of thinking if it only occurred once or twice in the book, but alas she rehashed this drivel every other day and kept making the same stupid decisions over and over. At a few points in the book I was sure she had turned into a Too Stupid To Live (TSTL) character.
Ellie started the book hating her pale, frumpy body (complete with frequently mentioned muffin top) and almost no self confidence. She placed her value firmly into the sexual desirability the guys on the cruise ship showed her. She frequently compared herself to her best friend and roommate Caitlin. This got really, really annoying.
As Ellie continued to stumble her way through the gauntlet of fuckwits on board the ship, she was told by her friends over and over about the lifestyle on board but she seemed incapable of listening. Instead falling hopelessly in love with asshat after asshat. It was insta-love of the worst kind!
I hated that almost every guy on the ship was a sex-God look-a-like, and every woman was a super model. Those that weren’t superstar material were barely mentioned. Relegated to the background and never mentioned again. Also, the supposed twist at the end was glaringly obvious from the first few chapters. A bit more subtlety would have been good.
Despite the above, there were some actual good moments. The setting of the Caribbean islands were colourful and full of interesting day trips. I particularly enjoyed the trip with Jock and his friends and the Harley’s.
The writing overall was pretty good. Quite easy to read despite some of the annoying content. However, I did notice a few things:
16% - ... and i(t) wasn’t as if I’d planned to act an angel...
49% - It was obviously (delete the ly), as we sorted...
- ... I wasn’t at all disappointed they(delete y) others couldn’t join us.
64% - Jock and Ellie talked yesterday, not today as Jock said.
84% - ... think of him as another(replace with anything) other than a mate.
89% - ... you can’t avoid going alone it (going it alone).
92% - ... she was saying mad(e) her sound a lot like Caitlin.
**I was provided an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
Regardless, I was excited about reading this. It sounded fun, sexy and a nice light-hearted read.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be.
Ellie, our main character, should have spoken to me on a personal level. But unfortunately instead of a realistic, complex character, she was vapid and painfully neurotic when it came to blaming herself for everything that went wrong. Then in the next breath blamed the men in her life for all her personal problems.
I probably would have forgiven this sort of thinking if it only occurred once or twice in the book, but alas she rehashed this drivel every other day and kept making the same stupid decisions over and over. At a few points in the book I was sure she had turned into a Too Stupid To Live (TSTL) character.
Ellie started the book hating her pale, frumpy body (complete with frequently mentioned muffin top) and almost no self confidence. She placed her value firmly into the sexual desirability the guys on the cruise ship showed her. She frequently compared herself to her best friend and roommate Caitlin. This got really, really annoying.
As Ellie continued to stumble her way through the gauntlet of fuckwits on board the ship, she was told by her friends over and over about the lifestyle on board but she seemed incapable of listening. Instead falling hopelessly in love with asshat after asshat. It was insta-love of the worst kind!
I hated that almost every guy on the ship was a sex-God look-a-like, and every woman was a super model. Those that weren’t superstar material were barely mentioned. Relegated to the background and never mentioned again. Also, the supposed twist at the end was glaringly obvious from the first few chapters. A bit more subtlety would have been good.
Despite the above, there were some actual good moments. The setting of the Caribbean islands were colourful and full of interesting day trips. I particularly enjoyed the trip with Jock and his friends and the Harley’s.
The writing overall was pretty good. Quite easy to read despite some of the annoying content. However, I did notice a few things:
16% - ... and i(t) wasn’t as if I’d planned to act an angel...
49% - It was obviously (delete the ly), as we sorted...
- ... I wasn’t at all disappointed they(delete y) others couldn’t join us.
64% - Jock and Ellie talked yesterday, not today as Jock said.
84% - ... think of him as another(replace with anything) other than a mate.
89% - ... you can’t avoid going alone it (going it alone).
92% - ... she was saying mad(e) her sound a lot like Caitlin.
**I was provided an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
July 5, 2015
Favorite Quotes:
“I’d never seen anything quite so big or impressive since the summer I spent working in a Turkish steam room.”
“Oh Lord. A sexy, confident man I’d known for less than an hour was flirting with me in a completely obvious way. And he was sober. I’d never experienced anything like it.”
“They call it ‘clothing optional,’ which is really code for being full of naked old men with wrinkly wieners nobody needs to see.”
“Just when you least expected it, the boy with the feather boa came out with a pearl of wisdom.”
My Review:
Ellie has left her cheating arse fiancé, home, and long-lost self-confidence behind and signed on for 6 months of employment on a cruise ship, aka, “The Lust Boat,” hoping to find herself again. What happens instead is that she remains true to form and her naïveté, continued poor choices in men, and tendency to live in denial leave her continued prey for even more deceptive Lotharios, and a target for a petty and malicious barracuda, all of whom happen to be her co-workers. Quickly suckered by three different wankers within a matter of weeks, she must be rather dense as she just doesn’t seem to learn from her mistakes, despite her self-talk and best intentions. The storyline and writing are light, humorous, descriptive, and easy to follow. The characters are rather hapless in their love lives but shrug it off with the idea that everyone is living a lie and just there to have a good time while working on board. A quick and entertaining read for an afternoon or beach day.
“I’d never seen anything quite so big or impressive since the summer I spent working in a Turkish steam room.”
“Oh Lord. A sexy, confident man I’d known for less than an hour was flirting with me in a completely obvious way. And he was sober. I’d never experienced anything like it.”
“They call it ‘clothing optional,’ which is really code for being full of naked old men with wrinkly wieners nobody needs to see.”
“Just when you least expected it, the boy with the feather boa came out with a pearl of wisdom.”
My Review:
Ellie has left her cheating arse fiancé, home, and long-lost self-confidence behind and signed on for 6 months of employment on a cruise ship, aka, “The Lust Boat,” hoping to find herself again. What happens instead is that she remains true to form and her naïveté, continued poor choices in men, and tendency to live in denial leave her continued prey for even more deceptive Lotharios, and a target for a petty and malicious barracuda, all of whom happen to be her co-workers. Quickly suckered by three different wankers within a matter of weeks, she must be rather dense as she just doesn’t seem to learn from her mistakes, despite her self-talk and best intentions. The storyline and writing are light, humorous, descriptive, and easy to follow. The characters are rather hapless in their love lives but shrug it off with the idea that everyone is living a lie and just there to have a good time while working on board. A quick and entertaining read for an afternoon or beach day.
August 5, 2015
I received a review copy
I am seriously on a roll with a great chick lit recently! From the first few lines of the blurb I was already laughing, and the book itself had me in stitches. There is a lot of mature content if the title didn’t give that away so if you enjoy a little scandal in your reading, this one you should enjoy! Oh Ellie. I just wanted to hug her most of the time, but she was so fun and super relatable and her journey was an absolute blast to follow along with. The writing is fast-paced, humorous and light-hearted, perfect for your summer nights or to go in your vacation bag.
4.5 stars
I am seriously on a roll with a great chick lit recently! From the first few lines of the blurb I was already laughing, and the book itself had me in stitches. There is a lot of mature content if the title didn’t give that away so if you enjoy a little scandal in your reading, this one you should enjoy! Oh Ellie. I just wanted to hug her most of the time, but she was so fun and super relatable and her journey was an absolute blast to follow along with. The writing is fast-paced, humorous and light-hearted, perfect for your summer nights or to go in your vacation bag.
4.5 stars
July 27, 2015
Review coming soon!
August 17, 2015
In her debut novel, Sex, Lies & Cruising, author Cathryn Chapman weaves a thoroughly entertaining and sassy tale that is sure to keep you in stitches.
Told in the first person narrative, Ellie leaves her ex-fiance in London and takes the reader on a madcap adventure when she embarks on a six month stint working as a photographer on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Crew life on a cruise ship brings drama, romance, heartbreak, crazy new adventures, self-discovery and an unexpected life change.
The author uses her prior experience of working on a cruise ship to weave a hilarious tale that has the reader living vicariously through Ellie's journey, while wishing that they could be on that cruise ship. *wink, wink*
This is a fast paced and easy book to read, it easily kept me engaged and turning the pages. I absolutely loved Ellie, she is a sassy girl who is realistic and easy to relate to, you can't help but embrace her and cheer her on as her cruise ship journey allows her to rediscover herself, and make changes that will bring happiness in her life.
So come aboard and get a behind the scenes look at the cruise ship lifestyle from Ellie's eyes! From the inevitable cruise ship crew romantic hook-ups, to the crazy partying and drama of living together on a cruise ship, to the tantalizing exotic destination port locales, to Ellie's humorous daily trials and tribulations, Sex, Lies & Cruising is one heck of an entertaining chick lit / romantic comedy story that is a perfect summer beach read!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Told in the first person narrative, Ellie leaves her ex-fiance in London and takes the reader on a madcap adventure when she embarks on a six month stint working as a photographer on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Crew life on a cruise ship brings drama, romance, heartbreak, crazy new adventures, self-discovery and an unexpected life change.
The author uses her prior experience of working on a cruise ship to weave a hilarious tale that has the reader living vicariously through Ellie's journey, while wishing that they could be on that cruise ship. *wink, wink*
This is a fast paced and easy book to read, it easily kept me engaged and turning the pages. I absolutely loved Ellie, she is a sassy girl who is realistic and easy to relate to, you can't help but embrace her and cheer her on as her cruise ship journey allows her to rediscover herself, and make changes that will bring happiness in her life.
So come aboard and get a behind the scenes look at the cruise ship lifestyle from Ellie's eyes! From the inevitable cruise ship crew romantic hook-ups, to the crazy partying and drama of living together on a cruise ship, to the tantalizing exotic destination port locales, to Ellie's humorous daily trials and tribulations, Sex, Lies & Cruising is one heck of an entertaining chick lit / romantic comedy story that is a perfect summer beach read!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
July 29, 2015
In an effort to get away from London and a cheating fiancé, Ellie impetuously takes a job on a cruise ship. No place better to find a sexy fling than aboard ship, I say.
Right away, she meets Seth, the "Grecian god."
Unfortunately, life on a boat is not as exciting as one would think, especially if all you do is drink, dance, and sleep with the first guy your finger lands on. "Basically, I’d been on board for about five minutes, downed drinks like a university student, and jumped right into bed with a virtual stranger. The fact that he also happened to be a colleague I’d see daily for the next six months only made things worse." (13)
Mundane and somewhat predictable, this story did not intrigue me as much as I thought. I'm sure this would be considered a fun, flirty, beach read, but it just wasn't quite for me.
Right away, she meets Seth, the "Grecian god."
Unfortunately, life on a boat is not as exciting as one would think, especially if all you do is drink, dance, and sleep with the first guy your finger lands on. "Basically, I’d been on board for about five minutes, downed drinks like a university student, and jumped right into bed with a virtual stranger. The fact that he also happened to be a colleague I’d see daily for the next six months only made things worse." (13)
Mundane and somewhat predictable, this story did not intrigue me as much as I thought. I'm sure this would be considered a fun, flirty, beach read, but it just wasn't quite for me.
December 16, 2016
Well I love cruising, so when I spotted this book, I couldn't resist buying it. As an ex-holiday rep, I have lived a similar lifestyle to main character Ellie, and I feel confident in saying that although a lot of the wildness in the book may seem exaggerated, it is also incredibly believable. It's a fun and light hearted book featuring plenty of sex, partner swapping, loose morals and a general party lifestyle, while they are cruising around the Caribbean. However I would have loved to have seen more of the ports that Ellie visited as a contrast to the madness of staff life on board a cruise ship. I did get a strong feeling though of the enclosed living situations, and in sharing small inside cabins with a colleague. Sex, Lies and Cruising is pure escapism and will make you relive your wilder younger years!
December 4, 2015
This book had everything...except burnt toast as there was mention of a kitchen-well there was room service which kind of counts, right?! Amazingly candid, carefully written and enjoyable! This Author will go far, especially in the romcom genre! While it is Adult fiction, it comes very close to the New Adult genre many are enjoying these days. Her characters are hysterically honest, while some are down right mean (that mean kind where you just want to go slap their parents and say "What the hell were you thinking?!". If you can't afford to buy this little book of naughtiness,make sure you get your library to order it in!!!
June 25, 2016
I loved every minute of this book.
Ellie is so relatable. Her feelings, worries, mistakes, insecurities - everything she feels is so realistic you feel it with her. You feel her passion, her anger and her joy throughout her journey of finding herself.
The guys are such pricks though - it's like...I would've believed too except for *ahem* sorry not going to spoil it. But honestly, I would be so gullible too. I would've fallen for some of the things they would've said. And that scares me. To trust someone just to be played.
Anywho! I enjoyed it and loved. And the ending was like FINALLY! Eek! SQUEAL! Haha.
Ellie is so relatable. Her feelings, worries, mistakes, insecurities - everything she feels is so realistic you feel it with her. You feel her passion, her anger and her joy throughout her journey of finding herself.
The guys are such pricks though - it's like...I would've believed too except for *ahem* sorry not going to spoil it. But honestly, I would be so gullible too. I would've fallen for some of the things they would've said. And that scares me. To trust someone just to be played.
Anywho! I enjoyed it and loved. And the ending was like FINALLY! Eek! SQUEAL! Haha.
November 13, 2015
Perfect time to read this book as I was on a repositioning cruise from Corfu, to Italy, Spain, Gibraltar and down to the Canaries!
A well written book that I didn't want to put down. The storyline went exactly in the direction that I wanted it too. I'm now looking forward to the next book.
I found myself looking at the crew in a whole new light, wondering what kind of shenanigans they were up to when not in the public eye!
A well written book that I didn't want to put down. The storyline went exactly in the direction that I wanted it too. I'm now looking forward to the next book.
I found myself looking at the crew in a whole new light, wondering what kind of shenanigans they were up to when not in the public eye!
December 21, 2015
Interesting theme. We always wanted to know about the cruising crew. Woman, Always never learn a lesson from previous experience cuz they fall in love too quickly. I would read another book of this author.
January 28, 2016
This book was a light, easy, funny read, if a little predictable. Sometimes frustrating being the third party watching the mistake made but over all something I enjoyed and will look forward to the next book.
July 29, 2016
What a great book! Nicely paced, easy to read - loved it from page one till the end. If you love cruising you will enjoy reading this account of what the crew do! Perfect holiday read. Cant wait to read more books from Cathryn!
December 11, 2021
This is a fun chick lit read with a little british humor and a very cliche british girl who stumbles from one wrong guy to the next. The writing is entertaining and the characters likeable. I enjoyed it and was grinning somtimes at all the things that might or might not happen on a cruise ship among the crew.
March 27, 2018
A steady read
Not a great book but still good enough to finish. I was looking for a fun read about vacationing and this is what I found.
Not a great book but still good enough to finish. I was looking for a fun read about vacationing and this is what I found.
October 5, 2019
Good read
I enjoyed reading the book whilst cruising on the Sapphire Princess in New England Canada and look forward to the follow-up in the series
I enjoyed reading the book whilst cruising on the Sapphire Princess in New England Canada and look forward to the follow-up in the series
May 10, 2015
A fun and light-hearted read rated at FOUR STARS by The Schwartz Reviews.
I was acting like a pathetic schoolgirl, and failing miserably at projecting a cool image. But in my defence, I’d been living with a soulless twat for four years and had become completely starved of attention.
Schwartz Synopsis
This story follows our lovely Ellie on her life journey after a split from her fiancé. She jumps ship, and jumps onto another ship, literally! She gets her dream job for her photography career on a cruise ship and finds herself incredibly lucky to live a life full of adventure. However, when things get sailing at a break neck pace Ellie begins to question her choice of working on a cruise ship. Is she really the luckiest girl in the world? Or has she made a horrible mistake?
Great. I had unleashed a scorned, potentially violent woman. And it was only my second day.
Schwartz Thoughts
First things first. I absolutely love the cover of this book. So bright and colourful and fits this book perfectly. The story inside is a fast paced story of love, love lost, rumours, and so much more colourful and creative things that I’m sure are found on a cruise ship. Not that I have ever worked on a ship, or even been a passenger on a ship. Nevertheless, I would like to think that it is this much fun on said ship!
This book grew my interest more with each passing chapter. At the end of chapter one, slightly intrigued. Chapter two, interested. Chapter three, held captive to the story I was reading. This is one interesting page-turner. However, and I believe it is said at some point within the novel, I felt as though I was reading my high school days! Which, I would have liked to leave in the past but was interesting to read someone else’s high school days.
The writing style of this book was fabulous. I did not find any errors or anything wrong with the style of writing for that matter. Which allowed me to fully enjoy the story. I did find some predictable moments, however, there were plenty of moments that shocked me and had me devouring the book even faster.
There were plenty of my emotions that rose to the surface thanks to this book. Moments that made me laugh…silently…in my head like… But the book was fun all the same.
Overall, the novel was well written and will be well recommended by The Schwartz Reviews!
At that moment, because my life really needed to get more complicated, Ruby appeared in the doorway, spotted us, and practically waltzed over.
Recommendation
This book is highly recommended for any readers looking for a fun loving, fast paced, story of…well…sex, lies, and cruising! The title really does say it all and it really is a fun read!
She had what was almost certainly a post-coital glow, and I was tempted to chuck the salt shaker at her pretty face.
I was acting like a pathetic schoolgirl, and failing miserably at projecting a cool image. But in my defence, I’d been living with a soulless twat for four years and had become completely starved of attention.
Schwartz Synopsis
This story follows our lovely Ellie on her life journey after a split from her fiancé. She jumps ship, and jumps onto another ship, literally! She gets her dream job for her photography career on a cruise ship and finds herself incredibly lucky to live a life full of adventure. However, when things get sailing at a break neck pace Ellie begins to question her choice of working on a cruise ship. Is she really the luckiest girl in the world? Or has she made a horrible mistake?
Great. I had unleashed a scorned, potentially violent woman. And it was only my second day.
Schwartz Thoughts
First things first. I absolutely love the cover of this book. So bright and colourful and fits this book perfectly. The story inside is a fast paced story of love, love lost, rumours, and so much more colourful and creative things that I’m sure are found on a cruise ship. Not that I have ever worked on a ship, or even been a passenger on a ship. Nevertheless, I would like to think that it is this much fun on said ship!
This book grew my interest more with each passing chapter. At the end of chapter one, slightly intrigued. Chapter two, interested. Chapter three, held captive to the story I was reading. This is one interesting page-turner. However, and I believe it is said at some point within the novel, I felt as though I was reading my high school days! Which, I would have liked to leave in the past but was interesting to read someone else’s high school days.
The writing style of this book was fabulous. I did not find any errors or anything wrong with the style of writing for that matter. Which allowed me to fully enjoy the story. I did find some predictable moments, however, there were plenty of moments that shocked me and had me devouring the book even faster.
There were plenty of my emotions that rose to the surface thanks to this book. Moments that made me laugh…silently…in my head like… But the book was fun all the same.
Overall, the novel was well written and will be well recommended by The Schwartz Reviews!
At that moment, because my life really needed to get more complicated, Ruby appeared in the doorway, spotted us, and practically waltzed over.
Recommendation
This book is highly recommended for any readers looking for a fun loving, fast paced, story of…well…sex, lies, and cruising! The title really does say it all and it really is a fun read!
She had what was almost certainly a post-coital glow, and I was tempted to chuck the salt shaker at her pretty face.
June 6, 2015
If the shenanigans described in this book really do go on below decks, and I was a bit younger, I’d either think getting a cruise ship job would be awesome, or my introverted self would totally want to run the other way. Whether this book accurately portrays ship life or not (having only been on the top decks of a cruise ship, I really can’t say), it sure sounds like the crew might have more fun than the passengers.
The books title definitely describes what you’ll read: nonstop hanky-panky, a good bit of heartbreak (that’s where the lies come in), and wild fun in several Caribbean ports. Makes you wonder if anyone on this particular cruise ship even works, but of course that’s not the point of the book. Writing about the job aspect too much would get in the way of the fun.
I enjoyed the book, although several times I wanted to slap our main heroine, Ellie, for being such a nitwit when it comes to men. She keeps falling for the same lies and then has the audacity to be surprised. At the same time, that naivety is what makes her character appealing.
Sex, Lies and Cruising is well-written but a tad long in spots (that’s mostly because I have the attention span of a gnat) and filled with juicy scenes. This is definitely a chick-lit book—I doubt it would appeal to most men—and better suited to younger women, as us more mature ones will more than likely than not want to shake Ellie and shout “girl, what are you thinking?” than commiserate with her adolescent-y love mistakes.
But, that’s why this book makes such a lighthearted, fun read. Take it along with you on vacation, or on a cruise, or if you’re just sitting on your own couch wishing you could be somewhere warm and sandy.
The books title definitely describes what you’ll read: nonstop hanky-panky, a good bit of heartbreak (that’s where the lies come in), and wild fun in several Caribbean ports. Makes you wonder if anyone on this particular cruise ship even works, but of course that’s not the point of the book. Writing about the job aspect too much would get in the way of the fun.
I enjoyed the book, although several times I wanted to slap our main heroine, Ellie, for being such a nitwit when it comes to men. She keeps falling for the same lies and then has the audacity to be surprised. At the same time, that naivety is what makes her character appealing.
Sex, Lies and Cruising is well-written but a tad long in spots (that’s mostly because I have the attention span of a gnat) and filled with juicy scenes. This is definitely a chick-lit book—I doubt it would appeal to most men—and better suited to younger women, as us more mature ones will more than likely than not want to shake Ellie and shout “girl, what are you thinking?” than commiserate with her adolescent-y love mistakes.
But, that’s why this book makes such a lighthearted, fun read. Take it along with you on vacation, or on a cruise, or if you’re just sitting on your own couch wishing you could be somewhere warm and sandy.
July 8, 2015
I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy of the book to read and just the cover alone was enough to get me excited to read it - so colourful and just screams "read me, read me!!".
I very quickly felt drawn to the character of Ellie although, being an older woman, probably in a very protective motherly kind of fashion. I really liked that she kept an innocent kind of naivety whilst actually experiencing a very worldly and totally non-innocent journey.
The book was very compelling to read and with such a likeable main character, I was constantly wanting to know what would happen to her next. The style of writing was very good and, for me, struck just the right balance of being quietly comfortable and interested to being ridiculously surprised! I could laugh along and at times blush right along with Ellie even whilst wanting her to wake up and smell the roses (or, rather, something else not smelling quite as sweet!).
All in all, a very fun and light hearted book to read - perfect holiday reading. I can envisage lots of people lying on sun beds around pools and on beaches with a copy of this book in hand and a smile on their faces.
I very quickly felt drawn to the character of Ellie although, being an older woman, probably in a very protective motherly kind of fashion. I really liked that she kept an innocent kind of naivety whilst actually experiencing a very worldly and totally non-innocent journey.
The book was very compelling to read and with such a likeable main character, I was constantly wanting to know what would happen to her next. The style of writing was very good and, for me, struck just the right balance of being quietly comfortable and interested to being ridiculously surprised! I could laugh along and at times blush right along with Ellie even whilst wanting her to wake up and smell the roses (or, rather, something else not smelling quite as sweet!).
All in all, a very fun and light hearted book to read - perfect holiday reading. I can envisage lots of people lying on sun beds around pools and on beaches with a copy of this book in hand and a smile on their faces.
June 15, 2015
This is a fun easy-read chick-lit to escape life and gain insight into the underworld of working on a cruise ship. I enjoyed it immensely and am now feeling that void which comes after you've formed a bond with the characters and have to wait for the sequel... :(
I was drawn to this book as a previous (& future) passenger of cruises and couldn't help but wonder what goes on behind the scenes and this book delivered! Whether there's any truth in it or not, your eyes are opened to what might be going on among staff during their downtime and and away from public view. It's a very believable story of infidelity, the search for love and acceptance, and a juicy voyeuristic journey into some pretty wild antics that happen as a result of being trapped in the confines of a ship for long periods of time.
I was drawn to this book as a previous (& future) passenger of cruises and couldn't help but wonder what goes on behind the scenes and this book delivered! Whether there's any truth in it or not, your eyes are opened to what might be going on among staff during their downtime and and away from public view. It's a very believable story of infidelity, the search for love and acceptance, and a juicy voyeuristic journey into some pretty wild antics that happen as a result of being trapped in the confines of a ship for long periods of time.
June 26, 2015
“What a fab book! I have read loads of chick-lit; some great, some not so great and some, like this one; a brilliantly observed page-turner, that will not portray our heroine as a stranger to us but instead just like us!! At times she's quirky, insecure and naive - I can really identify with that!! She finds herself in situations she never dreamed of when she leaves home and it's reassuring to read about her struggles to navigate the choppy waters of romance rather than float through life succeeding, which can be the unrealistic theme of similar books. This book will make you laugh and, possibly cry as it tugs at your heartstrings when times are tough for Ellie. There is a lot of fun in her new life but also a lot of changes to be adapted to which makes for a riveting read. What is going to happen to Ellie............I can't wait for the next installment so I can find out!!”
July 25, 2015
In reading this book I noticed a lot of differences between the U.S. and Britain. We spell things differently and have way different slang. Just name a few. Don't get me wrong this was a good book and I can't wait until the next one but for me it was a little hard to get past the differences.
I think it was the subject matter to that kinda put me off. I've never been on a cruise and there was words and phrases I had no clue what they meant. It made it hard to follow completely.
Then the story of Ellie falling for the same type of guy multiple times. I know it happens and the way the story progressed made me want to smack her and tell her to open her eyes, these guys are losers.
Argh it's so hard to write this without giving away the story. I enjoyed the book eventually, it started slow and confusing but did end up making sense in the end. I would give this book 4 stars.
I think it was the subject matter to that kinda put me off. I've never been on a cruise and there was words and phrases I had no clue what they meant. It made it hard to follow completely.
Then the story of Ellie falling for the same type of guy multiple times. I know it happens and the way the story progressed made me want to smack her and tell her to open her eyes, these guys are losers.
Argh it's so hard to write this without giving away the story. I enjoyed the book eventually, it started slow and confusing but did end up making sense in the end. I would give this book 4 stars.
April 24, 2015
Sassy and sexy Caribbean romp in the style of Bridget Jones' Diary and Air Babylon
★★★★★
“As the review title suggests, this story is a cross between the behind-the-scenes antics of Air Babylon and Hotel Babylon, with the hilarious sexual awkwardness of Bridget Jones' Diary. Ellie is new to the cruise ship industry, and she takes us on a trip through the below-deck shenanigans few passengers ever glimpse. There are bitchy female staff, flamboyant male dancers, promiscuous girls, Lothario officers from many lands, and then there are the oblivious passengers! If you want a look at cruising from a different, and amusing perspective, get aboard Sex, Lies, and Cruising.”
★★★★★
“As the review title suggests, this story is a cross between the behind-the-scenes antics of Air Babylon and Hotel Babylon, with the hilarious sexual awkwardness of Bridget Jones' Diary. Ellie is new to the cruise ship industry, and she takes us on a trip through the below-deck shenanigans few passengers ever glimpse. There are bitchy female staff, flamboyant male dancers, promiscuous girls, Lothario officers from many lands, and then there are the oblivious passengers! If you want a look at cruising from a different, and amusing perspective, get aboard Sex, Lies, and Cruising.”
April 25, 2015
You won't get your housework done while you read this! My housework had to wait because I couldn't put Sex, Lies, & Cruising down! I am avid reader who reads a lot of deep books that educate me. Sometimes I just want to read a book that is a bit of fun and a break from too much thinking... This ticked all the right boxes for me: it's easy to read, fast paced and just plain and simply an enjoyment to read. I can't wait to read more form this witty writer who isn't afraid to write the other side of the story.
May 13, 2015
From the first line I was giggling and hooked! I was suddenly swept into the life of Ellie and her new found life on a cruise boat, with all its excitement, highs, lows, friends and lovers. I’m not usually much of a chick-lit gal but Sex, Lies and Cruising was a beautiful combination of fun, entertainment, characters and good writing. What a perfect book to read whilst basking in the sun, as the words immerse you into a whole new world of adventure.
April 24, 2015
This was an engaging, thoroughly fun and light-hearted read. I felt like I wanted to return to the world of Ellie, a character any female trying to discover herself would relate to, so that I could see how she grows and learns from her many cruise ship experiences!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who just wants to switch off and get lost in a fun & light-hearted read.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who just wants to switch off and get lost in a fun & light-hearted read.
June 27, 2015
good book but these girls needed to open there eyes these men were users. Ellie needed to look and see who really liked her.
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