A comfortable, entertaining read, ’Saints and Sailors’ is the fourth in the ‘Dunbridge Chronicles’, following the career of curate, now vicar Neil Fisher and the characterful folk that surround him. ‘Saints and Sailors’ departs village life and sets sail around the coast of Britain, with Neil’s parishioners providing amusement and heartache. The author herself joins this Christian Cruise, with hymns, prayers and a mini Songs of Praise also making an appearance. Pam Rhodes shows off the coast to its best advantage and with simple clear writing, portrays life in all its pain and glory. Although this contains more of a religious undertone than the previous novels, it is a light and enjoyable read. ~ Liz Robinson
Three groups of people come together for a more-or-less godly cruise around the British Isles: to Lindisfarne, the Loch Ness Monster Museum, Iona and Mull, Dublin and the Scilly Isles. There are familiar faces from St Stephens, Dunbridge; some new folk from Neil's new parish in Derbyshire; and the slightly long-suffering crew, not least her skipper. A cruise is a great place to make new friends, with leisure for decent conversations. It can also be an awkward, confined space with those you would really rather avoid. Some of the party are facing tough decisions - not least of which, whether to say 'yes' - and some tensions just cannot be left on land. This book is a delight: full of compassion, humour, and Pam's acute observations.
Pam Rhodes is best known as the familiar face of BBC Television's SONGS OF PRAISE, interviewing people as varied as The Pope and Dolly Parton. She’s also popular as a radio presenter, from PAUSE FOR THOUGHT on Radio 2, to her own Premier Radio programme HEARTS AND HYMNS. Pam is already a successful novelist, author of With Heartsand Hymns and Voices and four other novels, as well as many other books, short stories and feature articles. A Mum and a Grandmum, Pam lives with her husband in Bedfordshire where she runs a cat sanctuary.
