A Proper Family Adventure By Chrissie Manby

[amazon_link id=”1473615364″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]Chrissie Manby is back with the third instalment from her Proper Family book series called ‘A Proper Family Adventure’

Thanks to an unexpected windfall, the Bensons are treating themselves to a luxury cruise. With stop-offs in Barcelona, Rome and Marseilles, plus constant entertainment onboard, it’s a dream come true . . . Or is it? Last time Chelsea Benson went on holiday with this lot she nearly went crazy. Her mum and sister are convinced Chelsea’s boyfriend Adam will propose on the ship. Chelsea’s sure he won’t, but she can’t help feeling butterflies as they set sail. Is Adam going to pop the question, or will the only thing to pop be Chelsea’s ego?

‘A Proper Family Adventure’ is the return of the Benson’s, a close and dysfunctional family who embark on all manners of journeys that always make for entertaining reading and the latest book in the series is just as fun.

After years of proclaiming that he has won the bloody lottery, Grandad Bill has finally gotten the winning numbers and treats the Benson family to a cruise with his windfall. Unfortunately everyone can’t make it, Grandad Bill is struck down with a chest infection, Annabel is afraid to travel with baby Humphrey and particularly with her daughter Izzy still recovering from her recent kidney transplant and decides to stay behind and care for her two new lodgers, Grandad Bill and Sophie, Ronnie’s eldest daughter who has work experience in a popular, glossy social magazine. The rest of the Benson’s, along with Adam and Lily, Chelsea’s boyfriend and his daughter enjoy their cruise on the high seas of the Mediterranean stopping of at some cities along the way. Like Chrissie’s previous books, the chapters are short and snappy and concentrate mainly on the Benson’s and Annabel’s but in an interesting twist, Chrissie has included two new characters by the names of Jane and her best friend Kirsty. Jane is still coming to terms with her fiancées sudden death, fulfilling his and dream of wanting to go on a cruise, she brings Kirsty along to keep her company, which is just what Jane’s needs as Kirsty bubbly personality is the perfect distraction.

As the story flows along, there are plenty of smaller stories that make ‘A Proper Family Adventure’ an addictive read, there’s the adventures and chaos with the Benson’s and the sweet little Jack with his sweet and inquisitive nature and his challenges with Lily. Chelsea and Adam begin to take tentative steps into their future but there is ghost from Adam’s past looming in the background. Meanwhile back on the land, Annabel is having to deal with a sick grand-daughter and Izzy is having to deal with the guilt of the upset she caused her family.

The story is wittily written with funny one liners and entertaining characters that I’ve grown to love and that had me chuckling throughout, filed with eccentric grandparents, glamorous cities and a loving family, ‘A Proper Family Adventure’ is a wonderful summer story providing the perfect escapism read minus the expense!

You can buy [amazon_link id=”1473615364″ target=”_blank” ]A Proper Family Adventure from Amazon[/amazon_link] and is available to buy from good bookshops.