Author: Tricia Stringer
ISBN: 9781489246806
RRP: $32.99
Publication Date: 24 September 2018
Publisher: HQ Fiction
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Tricia Stringer is a favourite Australian author of mine and we have featured her a few times for the book club. Table For Eight is her latest release and a change of pace for the author who deftly weaves sweeping historical sagas and rural romances with skill.
Table For Eight is a contemporary character based tale that takes place on a cruise ship, and is enough to make anyone in need of a holiday jealous.
This is a very character driven tale with a large cast of leads, most of whom I loved. Past releases have proven that Tricia has no trouble juggling a large cast and ensuring we get to know and connect with them, Table For Eight is no different.
Ketty Clift is a seasoned traveller who has been on many cruises throughout her long life, quite a few on the Diamond Duchess. The news that the Duchess is being retired prompts her to book one last cruise, at a time that she needs to be focusing on her business, Ketty Clift Couture. Ketty is an interesting character and I must admit I found her fascinating. Ketty is older, a veteran cruiser, a business owner, a single lady and she’s a fixer. There is something inherent in her nature that is nurturing and just wants people to find their happiness and feel special. Her business has been built based on the philosophy of making her clients feel special.
There’s an interesting dynamic with Ketty and the maître d’, they have cruised together in the past, and I just can’t put my finger on what the story is with them. They do know each other relatively well and the maître d’ has control of the dining room, and the seating plan. He has seated Ketty on a much larger table than usual, with a group of passengers in dire need of a helping hand.
I found Ketty to be a lovable and caring character but she doesn’t always seem that way to her table mates, they find her to be a bit nosy and even meddling. I tend to think that the way characters view Ketty has a lot to do with what they might be trying to hide.
Table for Eight takes us inside the cruise ship with its luxury and pampering and Stringer paints a vivid picture of life on board. It certainly left me considering the idea of a short break sailing the seas.
Ketty has quite a few worries of her own this cruise but is determined to do what she can for her tablemates, and what a mixed bag they are. Christine is the character I feel I should identify the most with, she’s the busy mother with children at home, but she’s probably the character I liked the least. All of the characters at Ketty’s table are facing troubles; from grief, loneliness and financial worries to troubled relationships.
Ketty is a veteran cruiser so many of those on her table eventually look to her for advice and guidance. I loved reading of the way she was able to become a fount of wisdom for them all but what I loved the most was her desire to help out all of the communities they visit on the cruise; especially if their economies have suffered due to weather events or the like.
This cruise really does seem to be an escape of a sort for most of the characters, even if that wasn’t the express reason for booking. Not everyone found what they were looking for but they all found what they needed the most; closure, second chances, new beginnings and a new sense of self.
Ketty Clift Couture was a fascinating business model, Ketty built the business on her own and even in 2018 it has no real online presence. She has always prided herself on custom making garments and giving customers the personal touch; which isn’t possible online. She does have a basic outdated website but before going away she allowed the new shop assistant to organise a new web presence, which leads to a complete makeover in her absence. In these times of internet shopping and instant gratification it is no wonder Ketty Clift Couture is in a lean time but a little creativity and nothing is impossible.
The characters are all quite troubled and they are drawn well, in all their complexities. Christine was the character I liked the least, she seemed to be very self-centred and greedy. The more I read and the better I got to know her, the more I could understand her and see where she was coming from. Not that it was quite enough to completely redeem her, but it certainly went a long way to explaining her behaviour even if it didn’t excuse it.
Maître d’ Carlos has brought together a very mixed bag for Ketty’s table and it really is interesting to contemplate how he could manage to do that, how does he know enough about passengers before they even board to know who needs a little Ketty nurturing to help them find what they need and place them on her table.
Table for Eight was a book that captivated me start to finish; if it wasn’t the wishing myself on board for a relaxing and pampered break from reality, it was connecting with the characters and hoping they managed to find what they were looking for. Definitely a book well worth the read and I look forward to sharing it with the cruise lovers of my family.
Table For Eight is book #43 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2018.
Available now from Harlequin, Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Tricia can be found at Tricia Stringer.com and Facebook.
Thanks to Harlequin 20 of our Beauty and Lace Club members will be reading Table For Eight so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I haven’t cried so much since I read the book Marley and me and it was so beautifully written by the very talented Tricia Stringer well done
I thoroughly enjoyed Table for Eight by Tricia Stringer. I think everyone who reads this book will wish to go on a cruise once they’re done! The descriptions given paint a wonderful picture of cruise life – while still giving a realistic view to what it would be like to travel on the one boat with hundreds of other passengers for days on end.
Tricia tells us a story about a clever dressmaker who loves to travel and loves to help others. Discovering Ketty and the other cast of characters and their problems was enjoyable and intriguing. Some characters definitely left a bit to be desired but they all managed to worm their way into your brain and have you pondering over what could have made them that way.
Definitely a book I didn’t want to put down!
Thank you for the opportunity to read Table for Eight by Tricia Stringer. I have loved many books by Tricia and was eagerly anticipating this one. This may have something to do with the fact I’d like to do a cruise as well.
The story centres around Ketty, a mature lady from Sydney who has a couture business which is not going as well as it could. She has been on many cruises and has a friend in the head waiter Carlos. The ship is on its last voyage and Ketty is ready. She is normally placed on a table where the people may need a helping hand with a situation in their lives.
This is where the story comes together. We see couples, families and singles all involved and having their own stories. Some of these are easier to like than others, but the interactions are all interesting. Everyone changes on this voyage, and it may not always be in the way they expect. I don’t want to give away too much about the characters but most people should be able to identify with someone there.
I also enjoyed the day visits to different locations as it gave me a lot imagine, tropical locations and different activities to enjoy.
I thoroughly loved this book and would recommend it for travellers, those interested in relationships and interactions and lovers of great writing.
I absolutely loved this book!! The whole time I was reading it I felt like I was on the cruise with the characters.
Tricia Stringer is one of my favourite writers and she never disappoints.
I started reading slowly and had myself engrossed in this great story of relationships,struggles, love and hope.
What a delightful story Tricia writes so well, I felt like I was right there and could picture in my mind the scenery and characters aboard the Diamond Duchess.
Highly recommended Australian author, thankyou so much Beautyandlace, Harlequin and the fantastic Tricia Stringer!
Table for Eight. By Tricia Stringer
A cruise brings a variety of people together for 10 days or so in a vastly different space to normal, and sometimes they act in ways they usually would not.
Ketty Clift is off again on another cruise, where she is delighted to be seated for meals at a table for 8. She sees this as a chance to make new friends and learn something about them.
Reading this book is just like being on a cruise. It describes the day to day happenings, the ports of call, the dining, the crew, the actives on the boat, and the (sometimes!) outlandish behaviour of some of the passengers.
Ketty delights in all this. She strives to see the best in people, and gently goes about righting the bumps in their lives. As she has cruised so many times, she is well known to the crew, especially Carlos, the maitre d’.
A nice story set on the sea around the Pacific Islands.
Thanks to Beauty & Lace Book Club and Harlequin HarperCollins books for the chance to read this book.
Table for Eight by Tricia Stringer is an amazing read.
Set on a Cruise Ship, the title describes the Seating arrangment
for the nightly dinner for the guests travelling together.
Most of the guests do not know each other before the start of the cruise,
except for a married couple and her Father.
They are a mixed lot and seemingly not much in common,
but as the story unfolds, the dynamics twist and turn
and bring the most unlikely people together.
A highly entertaining read that Stringer describes the day to day life on a cruise ship in detail,
that shows a depth of understanding (or a love of the cruise life)
and you will picture yourself standing on the upper deck watching the ocean,
sitting in a secluded alcove having a coctail
or even bathing under a waterfall on a tropical island port of call.
I definately recommend this book.
This book caught me hock line and sinker. A story about 8 people on a cruse ship and the up’s and down’s. Everybody has a back story and a different personality. Thank you Beauty and Lace.
What an enjoyable read! I’ve read quite a few of Tricia’s books and always enjoy them, she writes on a range of topics and all are very intriguing and page turning!
Table for Eight follows 65 yr old Ketty Clift owner of her own dress maker shop going on a cruise. Ketty has been on many cruises over the years and this one may very well be her last.
On previous cruises Ketty with the help of the Maitre d’ Carlos, has worked her magic and helped changed the lives of her dinner companions with her kindness and helpful hints.
This cruise though her table of eight is proving rather difficult, she fears she may not be able to help her dinning companions, throw into the mix a long lost love showing up, leaving Ketty is not only focusing on her dinning companions problems but also her own and doing some soul searching.
The mix of characters in the book is great, there are some you adore instantly, while others you hate, Tricia has down a great job of interweaving the story, I can’t help but feel there is a sequel lurking, there was many unanswered questions about where Ketty was headed next at the end if the book!
A huge thanks to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin books for the chance to read and review a Table for Eight.
Table for Eight by Patricia Stringer has a large cast and a good story to tell, and really tugged at my emotions and I liked the setting. This is my first book of Patricia’s that I have read also, so it is always great to find new authors to be introduced to as part of the book club.
The premise is set on a cruise ship, which I found interesting in itself as I have never been on a cruise so it was really different to read about that. I found myself learning a lot of what it’s like to be with so many people on board a vessel and mingling around. The story follows Ketty, who I thought was a well written character, some of the others just didn’t quite gel with me personally, but then the others started to appeal to me. It’s just one of those books that you can keep pace with and not trying to figure out who is who and what’s going on. Ketty is a dressmaker, and usually finds herself helping people out, and this is how the story unfolds from there.
It is quite an interesting concept, set on a ship, and someone wanting to help people she has never met. There are ups and downs and stories you like and don’t like, but it doesn’t feel disjointed or boring. There is enough happening to keep you intrigued and wanting to find out how the character will evolve or not.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read my first Patricia Stringer book – Table for Eight.