Three and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭒

Santa Cruise by Fern Michaels is a fun, holiday book about a group of friends who all go on a singles cruise over the holidays.

Lifelong friends Amy, Frankie, Nina, and Rachael reconnect during a 15-year high school reunion. Their lives have not turned out the way they wanted, so they make a pact, that if they are all still single by the holidays, they’ll go together on a cruise. Well, they all decided to go on the cruise together and enjoy the holidays.

This was a fun book, and the women were all entertaining. Although I enjoyed this book, I wish it was more emotionally satisfying. The women all enjoyed themselves on the cruise, but I didn’t feel like it changed any of them very much, nor did they learn much about themselves. I wanted more character development and an emotional journey for these women. Instead, the author focused more on the cruise ship stops, and activities as well as what the women were wearing to the different activities. There were some love matches, but they seemed to be in the background and not explored as much as I would have liked.

Santa Cruise is a fun light read, but, that’s about all. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love holiday themed stories. And being a Fern Michaels fan, I'm hardly ever disappointed. And I wasn't. This was great story to get lost in.

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this book. I was looking forward to reading the book on my recent plane ride. The setting of a romance on a cruise (and potentially several romances among the 4 friends) was definitely unique and grabbed my interest.

First, the cruise didn't start until half way through the book, exactly 44% into the book according to my kindle. The first half was mostly character development and backstory, but that could have been integrated into the story after they were on the cruise. It just took to long to get there for me.

And second, the detail provided for things that didn't matter to the story had me skipping over sections of the book. There is a need to set the scene throughout the story, but a quick description will do. Multiple paragraphs about the design of an apartment (as an example) is too much. When I read a book, it's more about the characters and their interaction and dialogue than it is about the minute details of the scene.

This is a fun (and funny) sweet read that will be perfect for the upcoming holiday season. I have no desire to take an actual cruise, but it was fun to take one along with the characters in this latest release from Michaels. Her descriptive prose places the readers right there with the characters. It was a nice, albeit brief, escape from the real world.

Pack your bags and set sail for a Single's Santa Cruise. Lifelong friends Amy, Frankie, Nina and Rachael reconnect during a class reunion. Their lives went in different directions but they are reexamining those decisions.

Navigating new futures, they leave their worries at the shore. Their itineraries were to find love connections but realize that loving themselves is the real destination.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Kensington Books for the early edition of #SantaCruise in exchange for an honest review. Escape reads provide a passport beyond the pandemic's walls. Travel within the pages to discover new countries and cultures. Fern Michaels' Santa Cruise is just the ticket for adventure and laughter this season.

Fern Michaels is a master of her craft. She weaves a story of four women who have know each other since childhood. They each have decisions to make about their lives. They go on a cruise and decide which way their lives will go.

SANTA CRUISE is a cute story, and a definite change of pace for Fern Michaels. Basically, the story is about four friends who meet up at a reunion, and impulsively decide to take a singles cruise together. Nina, who had the lead in every school play, moved to Hollywood and landed a recurring role on a sitcom. Amy, is now a Silicon Valley bioengineer. Outgoing Frankie works for a New York publishing house. Rachael, always the most boy-crazy of the group is now divorced. Four single women with no male prospects for the future and as of yet no date for New Years Eve, all needing a boost to get out of their doldrums. But Frankie has an idea to help solve that a singles cruise for the holidays. And of course, all the gals gave a meet cute with their respective guys.

Nice read, although the ways the author arranged for the besties to all be single 15 years later is a bit far fetched. Good holiday short.

A sweet story about lifelong friends from Fern Michaels! After some tough times, these friends decide they need something different so a vacation together it is! Fun, romance, and more ensues.

Interesting book about four women that were friends in school and their meeting again at a class reunion. They picked up the friendship at the reunion like there hadn’t been any missing time since they had been together. They decided that since they all seemed to be single at reunion time and if they were still single by the end of the year that they would go on a singles only seven day cruise. This was funny and interesting with these four women and their activities. The book was funny in spots and was an easy interesting read. I would recommend this book to others.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Four friends renew their high school friendship and decide to go on a singles cruise. All four go on the cruise to meet men. This book was well written.

At a 15 year high school reunion, 4 friends reunite. As they had all formed a tight bond many years ago, this reunion gave them a chance to catch up, to laugh and reminisce. Nina, who had the lead in every school play, moved to Hollywood and landed a recurring role on a sitcom. Amy, is now a Silicon Valley bioengineer. Outgoing Frankie works for a New York publishing house. Rachael, always the most boy-crazy of the group is now divorced. Four single women with no male prospects for the future and as of yet no date for New Years Eve, all needing a boost to get out of their doldrums. But Frankie has an idea to help solve that: a singles cruise for the holidays. In late December they all board on a state-of-the-art cruise ship, for what they hope will turn out in their favor. Able to leave their everyday lives behind, they are looking forward to fun, adventure and men.

In what turns out as a very funny and sweet read, the reader also goes on this voyage and we too are taken away as we read along. Not only did this novel have me laughing it gave me hours of enjoyment, Although I am not single, my husband and I have enjoyed many, many cruises. As I inhaled this story, I too could see the decks, staterooms and the excursions these adventurous women enjoyed (the whole "enchilada"). Actually, I was jealous!!! After this horrible year, I am looking forward to another cruise as well (but that will have to wait a while).

For a very pleasant and happy experience, I highly recommend this novel. Ms. Michaels as given us a good novel that will not disappoint. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.