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Driven to Distraction
Derek Noble wishes now that he’d read the small print in the holiday brochure before booking the luxury coach trip to rural Tenhamshire. Apparently it’s fine for Scrimshaw Travel to make last minute amendments to the holiday without incurring any penalties or reducing the price in any way. That’s what the indifferent courier tells him on day one of the tour as she arrives in a clapped-out, old coach being driven by a partially-sighted driver.
With the spa hotel replaced by a rundown guest house staffed by a neurotic manager, decrepit waitress and under-sexed, Italian waiter there doesn’t appear to be much of the brochure-described holiday left.
Thank goodness for Angela, the rather lovely woman Derek pals up with on the journey down. She might just make the trip bearable. If only the other members of the group would leave them alone long enough to get to know each other, but Derek has always had the ability to attract the eccentric characters to him and he can’t escape them. Still, perhaps they’ll surprise him as he learns about their lives and secrets as they move from one hilarious excursion to another. And maybe Angela will provide one or two surprises herself.
Driven to Distraction is a fun romp through the English countryside with characters finding love and friendship while travelling at twenty miles an hour. (Well, it is a clapped-out, old coach).
With the spa hotel replaced by a rundown guest house staffed by a neurotic manager, decrepit waitress and under-sexed, Italian waiter there doesn’t appear to be much of the brochure-described holiday left.
Thank goodness for Angela, the rather lovely woman Derek pals up with on the journey down. She might just make the trip bearable. If only the other members of the group would leave them alone long enough to get to know each other, but Derek has always had the ability to attract the eccentric characters to him and he can’t escape them. Still, perhaps they’ll surprise him as he learns about their lives and secrets as they move from one hilarious excursion to another. And maybe Angela will provide one or two surprises herself.
Driven to Distraction is a fun romp through the English countryside with characters finding love and friendship while travelling at twenty miles an hour. (Well, it is a clapped-out, old coach).
- GenresHumor
270 pages, ebook
Published April 1, 2016
53 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Bone
5 books28 followersStuart Bone was born and raised in Essex, England. He spent twenty years working as an accountant in the London banking industry before giving it all up to concentrate full time on his writing career.
He started out writing humorous fiction and sets each of these books in his fictional county of Tenhamshire.
Stuart then branched out into mystery fiction. He continues to write in both genres and has seen his writing career go from strength to strength.
He started out writing humorous fiction and sets each of these books in his fictional county of Tenhamshire.
Stuart then branched out into mystery fiction. He continues to write in both genres and has seen his writing career go from strength to strength.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 26, 2017
"Your lives, your secrets, they'll all be revealed eventually. It always happens on a coach trip."
So promises Shauna, the snarky tour guide on Derek Noble's bus trip tohell Tenhamshire.
Still reeling from his divorce, Derek needs to get away from it all. His wife had always chosen their holidays in the past, but Derek thought this excursion sounded like fun. Derek was wrong. Now he's going to be spending a week motoring around the English countryside with a group of insane people he'd rather have never met. There is one woman on the bus, however, that Derek would like to get to know
better . . .
This one was a rowdy, bawdy adventure from beginning to end. Bone proves himself a master of double entendre, as his characters offer up one embarrassing "boner" after another. It turns out that Shauna may have been right after all. Secrets are revealed, and not everything is as it
appears. Derek may return home with a deeper understanding of his fellow human beings. Or maybe just with some bottles of overpriced wine he never wanted in the first place. Holidays are like that.
As this is Goodreads, I thought I'd leave your with a bit of racy literary humor:
"I've left Sooz looking round the antique shops," Josie said. "I went in the first one with her but that was enough for me. I'm not into knick-knacks like she is. I much prefer a good book."
"Something classical," I suggested.
"Oh, yes, definitely," Josie replied. "I love the classics. I did have a look at the ones on sale in the shop."
"But nothing took your fancy?"
"Not really. I was fingering Howards End for a while."
"I bet that brought the colour back to his cheeks," I told her.
If that made you smile, this book is probably a good bet for you. I recommend you STAY HOME and read it. Holidays are overrated.
So promises Shauna, the snarky tour guide on Derek Noble's bus trip to
Still reeling from his divorce, Derek needs to get away from it all. His wife had always chosen their holidays in the past, but Derek thought this excursion sounded like fun. Derek was wrong. Now he's going to be spending a week motoring around the English countryside with a group of insane people he'd rather have never met. There is one woman on the bus, however, that Derek would like to get to know
better . . .
This one was a rowdy, bawdy adventure from beginning to end. Bone proves himself a master of double entendre, as his characters offer up one embarrassing "boner" after another. It turns out that Shauna may have been right after all. Secrets are revealed, and not everything is as it
appears. Derek may return home with a deeper understanding of his fellow human beings. Or maybe just with some bottles of overpriced wine he never wanted in the first place. Holidays are like that.
As this is Goodreads, I thought I'd leave your with a bit of racy literary humor:
"I've left Sooz looking round the antique shops," Josie said. "I went in the first one with her but that was enough for me. I'm not into knick-knacks like she is. I much prefer a good book."
"Something classical," I suggested.
"Oh, yes, definitely," Josie replied. "I love the classics. I did have a look at the ones on sale in the shop."
"But nothing took your fancy?"
"Not really. I was fingering Howards End for a while."
"I bet that brought the colour back to his cheeks," I told her.
If that made you smile, this book is probably a good bet for you. I recommend you STAY HOME and read it. Holidays are overrated.
June 26, 2018
Hilarious book, its about a bloke that has just divorce and take a bus holiday . from the start its very funny, from the driver and tour guide to the interesting mix of people on the bus and the folks they meet along the way.
a brilliant read
a brilliant read
July 4, 2018
The basis of all good comedy is rooted in reality. This had no such anchor and, as a result, was trivial and inconsequential. It's schoolboy humour at best and my advice to the author would not be to give up the day job.
September 9, 2019
Good fun!
This was a very enjoyable read, a mixture of belly laughs and pathos. The characters were all believable and very interesting and the plot was well constructed and devilishly funny. That said, it did include an element of sadness but that only served to enrich the story. Well recommended!
This was a very enjoyable read, a mixture of belly laughs and pathos. The characters were all believable and very interesting and the plot was well constructed and devilishly funny. That said, it did include an element of sadness but that only served to enrich the story. Well recommended!
February 26, 2019
Funny
I chose this as I was looking for something different to read. I laughed so reading it that I'll most likely be reading it again. Will also be looking at other books by the author.
I chose this as I was looking for something different to read. I laughed so reading it that I'll most likely be reading it again. Will also be looking at other books by the author.
June 24, 2019
Witty
I do love a book that makes me laugh out loud right from the opening sentences. This was a humorous tale that was also quite poignant in places. Will certainly look out for other books by the same author.
I do love a book that makes me laugh out loud right from the opening sentences. This was a humorous tale that was also quite poignant in places. Will certainly look out for other books by the same author.
August 19, 2019
School boy/seaside postcard humour.
Double entendres everywhere. Over baked characters. All a bit ‘ooh err mrs’. A bit coarse and actually unfunny. Trying to be like Acorn Antiques and Fawlty Towers..but not clever enough. Sorry but stopped reading it.
Double entendres everywhere. Over baked characters. All a bit ‘ooh err mrs’. A bit coarse and actually unfunny. Trying to be like Acorn Antiques and Fawlty Towers..but not clever enough. Sorry but stopped reading it.
August 30, 2020
Great book
I enjoyed reading this book a lot. It was a lot different from the stories I usually read but was interesting. Everybody having their own problems , trying to work it out and just bringing more heartache.
I enjoyed reading this book a lot. It was a lot different from the stories I usually read but was interesting. Everybody having their own problems , trying to work it out and just bringing more heartache.
October 3, 2020
It'll liven your day up no end
Genuinely good read that I struggled to put down each day. Great mix of characters, nice twists on each of them when least expected, double entendres galore and a dangling ending. What's not to like.
Genuinely good read that I struggled to put down each day. Great mix of characters, nice twists on each of them when least expected, double entendres galore and a dangling ending. What's not to like.
June 22, 2018
Laugh out loud
Best laugh from a book in years, I laughed so much I cried. Well written you feel you know the characters.
Best laugh from a book in years, I laughed so much I cried. Well written you feel you know the characters.
December 22, 2018
Driven to distraction
Quite enjoyable read. A bit different from my usual thrillers. Full of good old fashioned " Carry on" movies type humour but still a decent story line as well
Quite enjoyable read. A bit different from my usual thrillers. Full of good old fashioned " Carry on" movies type humour but still a decent story line as well
July 2, 2019
Storyline ok but clumsy
Frustrating book as passages were well written and engaging but then clumsy and purile puns and jokes shoehorned in spoiling the book
Frustrating book as passages were well written and engaging but then clumsy and purile puns and jokes shoehorned in spoiling the book
August 4, 2020
a good laugh and underlying life lessons
October 13, 2020
Excellent
One of the funniest books I have read lately and mostly so true to life, try it you won’t be disappointed well worth a read
One of the funniest books I have read lately and mostly so true to life, try it you won’t be disappointed well worth a read
June 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this funny description of a trip in the countryside. Hope to read more by this author.
February 1, 2017
Hilarious book, really enjoyed this story, kept me laughing all the way through. The characters are entertaining and very well described. The story itself is great, Derek is going through major life changes, including his recent divorce. He decides to go on a holiday, and what a holiday it turned into. My favorite part of the book is when Shawna says all will be revealed. Secrets, lies, desires, this covers so many areas and should keep the reader engrossed in the book. I would read this again for fun. I was lucky enough to win this book in a goodreads giveaway, thank you.
September 1, 2016
I enjoyed this book a lot, it reminded me of watching a "Carry On" film or an episode of "Fawlty Towers" It is full of humour and saucy bits. Derek Noble,recently divorced books himself on a luxury coach tour only to find from the offset that what the brochure describes seems to differ drastically from reality.
As the weeks holiday progresses we are shown more depth of the characters and there is romance, sadness and fun.
As the weeks holiday progresses we are shown more depth of the characters and there is romance, sadness and fun.
September 14, 2016
An amusing tale of a trip on a tour bus. Crazy characters!
January 26, 2018
To be honest, I wasn’t sure I would like this book as it’s not really a genre I would choose, however I was pleasantly surprised. Someone has previously commented that this book is like a Carry On film, and that is so true. I found myself commuting on the train laughing out loud. It’s definitely worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews