Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Elizabeth Sails was a great escape, a travel read centered around a mystery (but not of the murdering kind) with a mix of comedy and past tragedy to balance things out. The mystery was especially well done, centered on a scavenger hunt that led our protagonist, Beth, to reflect on her past and share about her deceased Aunt Ethel, who had organized the scavenger hunt to find her missing will (the mystery).

Beth suffers from anxiety and has become a bit of a shut in, which her past flashbacks explain. The flashbacks were perfectly placed in the story and by the end I was surprised by how much I learned about her with such artful placement and writing. Other characters, like her older dinner mates, provide levity in the story and the way the cruise ship Beth travels on and her destinations are described transport the reader. Beth’s character development was also well done, and I cheered for her personal developments. I really enjoyed this and the hints that this may spin into a series. Highly recommended for those looking for lighter general fiction, Kristin Owens has written a wonderful and quaint story with Elizabeth Sails.

Not only has this debut author written an extremely compelling book about my favourite type of holiday, she’s actually taken 3 cruises on the liners she discusses!

Kristin Owens’ main character is a handful - even her name suggests it - Ethel Papadopoulos Lorenzo Birnbaum! Thankfully, at the heart of her flamboyant personality is the kindest and most gracious soul. Ethel is a permanent guest on the Cunard line and rotates her stays between the line’s three ships. When she suddenly dies, her niece’s life is turned upside down.

If Elizabeth Schiff doesn’t find her auntie’s will before November 25th, Ethel’s sizable estate goes to Max, the next of kin and Ethel’s husband’s no-good son from his first wife. In an effort to provide the best life for Elizabeth, Ethel plans a treasure hunt for her niece. Elizabeth must travel on the Queen Elizabeth and find clues which will lead to the will. She has 21 days to find the will and inherit 50 million.

This was a fantastic read! I loved following the clues, visiting the ports, and hoping for a winning conclusion. It brought back memories of our own shore excursions, particularly to Blandy’s, and kept me laughing, particularly with the fig leaf episode. Owens has given readers a great glimpse of life at sea; from the eclectic dining companions, to the whining children, to racing to get back to the ship before sail-away, to the bounteous help from the cabin stewards. She’s shown that there’s a whole new world out there just beyond our comfort zone. I saw a lot of myself in Elizabeth and it was easy for me to enjoy the cruise from her perspective. This book has encouraged me to plan a treasure hunt for my niece and nephew this summer!

I heartily recommend this to my fellow cruising bibliophiles, those with a panache for treasure hunting and following clues, or those who love cozy mysteries. For those vacationing in Europe this summer, Owens may have left her own clues for you to follow! You’ll have to read this for yourself.

Congratulations on a fantastic cover!

I was gifted this copy by Rising Action Publishing Co and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This was such a good read. I think it’s going to be a hit this fall! I recommend it to readers of fiction or romance. Great book!