Sail away to beautiful Croatia for summer sun, sparkling turquoise seas and a will-they-won’t-they romance you won’t be able to put down!
When no-nonsense, down-to-earth Maddie Wilcox is offered the chance to work on a luxury yacht for the summer, she can’t say no. Yes she’ll be waiting on the posh guests… But island-hopping around the Adriatic sea will more than make up for it – especially when … than make up for it – especially when Nick, her best friend Nina’s brother, is one of them.
Sparks fly when they meet on board and Maddie can’t believe self-entitled jerk Nick is really related to Nina. But in a secret, picture-perfect cove, away from the real world, Maddie and Nick discover they might have more in common than they realise…
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Julie Caplin clearly loves to travel as her descriptions of the Dalmatian coast made me feel like I’ve been – even though it is still on my bucket list. I loved her characters – such an interesting cast – and her approach to the narrative through the eyes of both the heroine and the hero. It was great fun to read their different perspectives.
Sexy, funny, and swoon-worthy descriptions – highly recommended.
I have read each of Julie Caplin’s books and thoroughly enjoy them! Great characters and believable stories.
I’m generally not a fan of books with titles that can be described by The Adjective Noun Preposition Noun, but this was pretty good. Maddie is a girl from the midlands with a degree and no job who takes a job crewing on a yacht with an assortment of passengers including some horrid models and public school boys and a couple normal people. Not surprisingly, Nick, a farmer from the North and Maddie eventually realize they love each other, and all ends well. The story of how they arrive at that point is more engaging than many.
Great summer read 🙂
Favorite Quotes:
With big bones, Maddie was never going to be a size ten; she was a healthy twelve to fourteen and her stomach had never, and was never going to be, flat and, yes, she had muffin tops – double chocolate chip muffin tops. All bought and paid for.
‘… those shorts. Serious fashion crime… Oh, dear God. A travesty. Those are men’s shorts. No wonder you look like a pudding on legs. Fabulous legs, by the way.’ She actually walked around Maddie as if she were a prize pig on show.
We were the kids on free school meals. I’m the first to go to university, which my mum views with deep suspicion. The way she carries on, you’d think I’d taken up witchcraft.
Honestly, you young people. Every communication tool under the sun and none of you seem able to talk to each other.
My Review:
This was a fun and amusing read that entertained with clever observations and mocking wit while simultaneously taunting me with delectable descriptions of mouth-watering dishes and lush exotic locals as the characters cruised the Croatian Coast on a luxury yacht. Well, the lovely main character of Maddie was actually employed as a last-minute addition to the crew on said luxury yacht. Poor Maddie, she was required to clean up unspeakable messes and smile as the vile and petty “stick insect” models squealed like toddlers, pranced like show ponies, and barked orders and insults at anyone who dared to offer a differing opinion to their plans while they fleeced a wealthy boyfriend and enjoyed an extravagant vacation at his expense.
This was my first experience dabbling in this cunning wordsmith’s skills and my willpower to abide my diet regime was sorely tested by her deviously penned and artfully detailed meals. It took all I had not to succumb, although I did dream of a succulent pasta and wine-fueled binge after feeling compelled to Google Croatia and several of the items and places mentioned. Ms. Caplin’s oddly enticing characters were intriguingly and comically drawn; even the villainous harpies kept my interest primed as I was curious as to if or how their duplicity would be exposed, although I will also admit to gleefully hissing my displeasure at their unrepentant self-absorption. I seem to love to hate narcissists.
In addition to falling into a circuitous yet interesting and educational Google stoked lesson on Croatia, Mr. Google also assisted me with several fun new additions to my Brit Word List with duff them up – hit them many times; oik – an uncouth or obnoxious person; and cadge – ask or beg for something. Mr. G is one of my all-time favorite boyfriends, as unlike most of the human variety, he never fails to perform.
Oh my gosh!!! I just absolutely fell in love with this book and the characters! It is described as the best feel good romance for the summer, and that is most definitely a true statement! It is one of my top reads of 2019 and one of my all-time favorite reads.
Maddie is an aspiring artist, but she has to find a job in the meantime to support herself. She gets an incredible opportunity to work on a luxury yacht. However, she isn’t expecting the arrogant guests on board, especially her best friend, Nina’s brother, Nick. Nick is dating one of the guests, a model with a nasty attitude. Despite her first contentious meeting with Nick, she finds that the two of them have a lot in common and a friendship grows and maybe possibly much, much more!
The story is told from both Nick and Maddie’s POV. As I have written countless times before, these are my favorite as it gives me a look into the characters’ inner thoughts. Maddie is such a sweetheart, and she doesn’t realize her own self-worth even though she is sassy! She challenges Nick at every turn, and she doesn’t let the other snobby guests trample all over her either. Her talent is amazing. The author doesn’t just let that be an afterthought. She describes her art in such detail, and like, Nick and others, I could see it clearly in my head, and it told a story in and of itself. I just loved watching Maddie come to believe in herself which Nick and other characters, such as Bill, Glo, Siri, and Ivan, helping her along the way.
I, like Maddie, wasn’t such a huge fan of Nick in the beginning. Some might say he waffled a bit when it came to his girlfriend, Tara. He most definitely was blinded by her physical beauty. To be fair, Tara was a master manipulator. However, when he realized the beauty he had in Maddie, he was all-in. How could I not love the fact that he was such a huge support to Maddie?
In a sense, this was a book about Maddie and Nick really discovering who they were. Maddie needed to stoke that passion for art burning inside of her and learn how to let others in. Nick needed to realize who he was…a jet-setter boy toy for Tara, or a man comfortable in his own skin back home with his family. So, I loved their journey of self-discovery!!!!
Now, to the good part, the romance! It was a slow burn of a romance, but I loved it! Maddie and Nick had something quite special and that was due to the friendship they created over the few weeks of their trip. I had butterflies anytime the two of them were together. Their chemistry was amazing! It was a sweet romance with a touch of spice added!
I cannot leave this review without telling you how incredible Julie Caplin’s writing is! Her attention to detail was phenomenal. In all of my reading, I have never come across a writer who literally transported me in my mind to all the lovely settings on this holiday jaunt. She engaged every single sense…sight, taste, hearing, smell, and feelings! This is a book that is to be savored!!!! I think you will agree after reading it!!! As a side note, I have downloaded her other books, and I can’t wait to read more from her!!!!
Sun, sea and luxury yachting set the scene for a sweet romance
4.5 stars
What a fun escape to exquisite food, stunning views and the sun kissed seas of the eastern Mediterranean! No heroine could be more down to earth than Maddie, who rises above the pettiness and snobbery of some obnoxious guests on the luxury yacht she agrees to crew in a last minute staffing crisis. I was drawn in to her story and the way the cruise transformed her professional aspirations as an artist and her love life. This is a great summer read; its descriptions of the local Croatian scene made me feel I was right there with Maddie and the gang.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book provided through NetGalley; this is my voluntary and honest review.