This was a fun festive story about friendship, love, and moving on....

Just as the title implies this is a story about five ladies that go skiing ⛷ I have read several books lately that were about ladies in the twilight of their lives.... as someone who is knocking on the door of 50 I have enjoyed these stories immensely, it never being too late for adventure or to start over... this was a lovely story of laughter and tears set in beautiful Switzerland....

Ginny and her four friends the “flowers“ plan a skiing trip on the anniversary of Ginny‘s husband’s death... I loved the bond between these ladies, even though they all had some secrets they were hiding... I enjoyed them all learning to ski, it was kind of a metaphor for life... it really made me want to take a girls trip, it also made me wonder what secrets my friends are hiding?

The pace of the story was that of a skier going down the bunny slope rather than a black diamonds run... it was a bit slow especially in the beginning... but just like a novice skier at the end of the day, by the end of the book it picked up some steam.... I really enjoyed watching these ladies grow as individuals and as friends throughout the story...

Recommend as the perfect winter Reid especially when you’re all snug and warm....

*** many thanks to HQ Digital for my copy of this book ***

I was really looking forward to reading this book, attracted by the cover and the title and the blurb. I am really enjoying the current trend of books featuring older protagonists and I have thoroughly enjoyed the ones I’ve read this year. I think it is refreshing to read about women who are a bit older, although there was quite a lot of talk in this book about having a body of a younger woman which actually slightly detracts from the appeal of a book of this nature for me. I like heroines who are happy to be and look their age!

The setting of the Swiss Alps, a cosy chalet in a bustling ski resort and all the trappings that go with a ski holiday were the main draw of the book for me and this aspect fully lived up to my expectations. I love to ski, and I think the author did a fabulous job of bringing the scene and the whole experience to life, especially the food! I loved the fact that four of the ladies had never skied before and the trials and tribulations of that learning experience in later life were marvellously portrayed. The theme of being young at heart and it never being too late to experience new things were delightful and the book gave me everything I had hoped for in this regard.

The heart of this story is the friendship between these five women, which has lasted through the years and seen each of them through some tough times. However, it also explores the ideas that people still keep secrets from each other, however close they are, and that these secrets have the potential to destroy even the closest of relationships. Again, I think the author brings the characters to life very well and they are all warm and likeable and the relationships they have are genuine and plausible and really reflect how women interact and relate to one another. So far, so great.

However, there were parts of the prose that needed cutting because they dragged the pace of the book to a crawl, especially at the beginning. I understand that the author was trying to establish the characters, and this took some doing as there were five of them and the book is telling the story from multiple points of view. However, there was simply too much description early on, too much telling, rather than showing, of the ladies’ back stories and a lot of repetition of points that had already been covered.

It was a bit of a shame, because it made the reading a little laborious to begin with of what was otherwise a warm, seasonal, uplifting and enjoyable book about female friendship and enjoying life.

4☆ A Tender, Inspiring and Uplifting Read!

Five Ladies Go Skiing is A beautifully Uplifting story of Friendship, Adventure, Secrets, Grief and Finding Oneself.

I don't want to go into the plot as the blurb says enough to get you intrigued. Plus I don't want to risk giving anything away.

But what I will say, is Five Friends, all of the older generation, decide to go on a skiing holiday together. All but one of the ladies are Novice skiers.
Each of the Ladies there for their own reasons, but most importantly there for friendship.
I completely admired the 'Flowers' Which is what they called themselves. (All is explained 😉) it just proves you're never to old to try new things and experience life.

I found the pace to be much slower than I would normally like, and the story did take time to get going. But once I got into the story and warmed to the Characters I really enjoyed it.

The characters are beautifully observed, warm and endearing, who spring to life on the page.
The plot is tender, inspiring and uplifting.
There are some laugh out loud moments, romance, weaved together by friendship, Secrets, lies, as they bond and learn to have fun, open up and let go.

If you enjoy Festive Reads set in beautiful locations, filled with Five Endearing Older Ladies, Humour, Romance and Friendships then you will really enjoy Five Ladies Go Skiing .

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I so want to go skiing after reading this glorious book by Karen Aldous; the cover is fab-u-lous and the story - while a slow-burner at the start - soon develops into an absorbing read about a group of five friends in their sixties with a fair few secrets beneath those thermals, many of which are freed via copious amounts of alcohol and cheese fondue.

There are a lot of characters and backstory to contend with at the beginning, but I kind of like that. After all, people come with baggage, we're not one-page resumes especially after sixty years. Hats off to the author for creating such rich details that span all emotions!

Ginny (the widow), Kim (from Oz), and Cathy seemed to play a greater part in the story, but aided and abetted in no uncertain terms by Lou and Angie.  Getting kitted out on day one was hilarious, but oh to have been with them on the nursery slopes as they faced real fears of a) messing up and b)letting the others down by being a burden in some way - it was a touching read. No-one wanted to be the wallflower that ruined the holiday for the others - and so, on they plowed!

The après-ski sessions, the Swiss village and the welcoming restaurateurs gave the story a real feel of authenticity (or maybe just sold me on the idea of a skiing holiday - not sure which is closest to the truth).

The essence of the story lay in the bonds shared by the five friends. Despite years of friendship amongst them, even they had a tendency to hold back now and then. For me, their angst and consideration for each other's feelings proved that even with maturity, those same insecurities often considered the domain of the adolescents still existed albeit for different reasons.

It was a refreshing read, with complex characters who still knew how to have fun and challenge themselves. This was a story of love, friendship and "joie de vivre" set during the festive season, in a gorgeous environment. Touching and humorous, entertaining and motivational, this is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys women's fiction that explores the hopes and dreams of real women who have already lived, laughed and loved - and who intend to do so for many more years to come.

I love the cover. You might think you are in for a playfull story and you are, but it's about so much more.

Grieve, lies, betrayal are all ingredients in this book but there is also a lot of laughter, love and friendship in the mxiture.

In the beginning the story was a bit confusing, because a lot of information about the ladies was thrown your way, but little by little you get to know them and you become familar with their families and issues.

The main goal is to help Ginny becoming the person she used to be and by doing this the girls start seeing their own lives in a different way as well.

Will this trip cement their relationships even more or will they fall apart?

I liked the story, but I struggled with it as well. I had the feeling that there was an overload of details sometimes that made you lose the essence a bit. What I found refeshing was the fact that the story was about ladies a bit older than those you normally find in feel good books.

Thank you, Karen Aldous and RachelsRandomResources.

I must say that at the start I struggled to work out who was who as we are introduced to five friends and then when you add their families into the mix -it all seemed a bit overwhelming. However, once I got into the story, it was so heart-warming. It's a story of friendship, love, loss and self-discovery as well as a secret that will test friendship to its limits. It was refreshing to read about a group of older women who haven't given up on love and whose lives have been shaped by all that has happened to them - something you are unlikely to find to the same degree when writing about twenty-year-olds. This added depth to the characters really shines through. The setting is pretty fabulous too adding a realistic dimension to the story.

This is a bustling book, with lots of action and plenty of emotion. Our five ladies are all mature, and have accumulated plenty of figurative bumps and bruises along the way, and now may accumulate some physical ones as they meet for a skiing holiday. Their goal is to support recently widowed Ginny but they all have need of a break for one reason or another. And then there’s a threat to their close friendship to contend with too.
We see the family backgrounds to our main characters of Ginny, Angie, Kim, Cathy and Lou. Five is quite a lot of balls to keep in the air, but the author does it beautifully. Each gets the attention they deserve and plays their role to the full. They’re distinct and so there’s no confusing who’s doing what, and which one’s which. Five makes for plenty of variety. Between them they present many of the problems familiar to women of a certain age – loss, health problems, flagging libido, regrets – but with optimism and energy, thus sending a message that there’s hope for us all!
The Christmastime action is festive and fun, but not without tension and a few tears. Our five valiant ladies all discover something about themselves, and go home richer and better people.
This is an extremely enjoyable, touching and entertaining book, most definitely to put on your ‘TBR before Christmas’ list!

This was an okay book, the characters were nice enough but none of them really connected with me. The story was fun, I liked the skiing aspect which was new to me as I haven't ever been skiing. I did appreciate the older age of the women as it is usually younger ones in these stories. Overall I am glad I read it but don't think it will stay with me.

I would like to thank Rachel Gilbey for asking me to review this book and for organising the blog tour. Also I would like to thank HG Digital. The title interested me as I go skiing and once I saw the cover I was quite literally captivated by it. Such a lovely cover.
Meet the F.L.O.W.E.R.S aka five 60 year olds who are best friends and have been since their younger years. Ginny has lost her husband and her friends decide that a year later it is time to go on holiday and spend some quietly time together to support her.
I enjoyed the start of the book where you can an insight into each of the characters lives. It is well written as you gain so much in such a small amount of writing and sets you up nicely for the rest of the read. The story is written from all five ladies perspectives which I like. Each women has her own issues to deal with and this skiing holiday comes at a time in there lives where they need to deal with them. Emotions are high during this ski trip but with friendship close at hand all she be well right? I delighted in the descriptive settings and could feel myself being completely lost in Karen's world.
A brilliant story full of friendship, hope and drama. I found myself laughing and crying along with the girls. This is a lovely contemporary, uplifting story where real life plays our in an exotic location.

A new novel by Karen Aldous is always a major cause of celebration and excitement for me! A writer who pens enchanting, atmospheric and enjoyable contemporary novels, she is back with a sensational new tale that is the next best thing to a winter getaway: Five Ladies Go Skiing. Poignant, uplifting and gloriously compelling, Five Ladies Go Skiing is another unmissable treat from this gifted storyteller.

In times of great stress and anguish, it is our friendships that get us through the darkest of times and nobody knows this better than Ginny Watts. Having just buried her husband, Ginny thinks that coping with grief and devastating loss is as bad as it gets – until she discovers that her husband was not quite the man she thought him to be. It turns out that Ginny has just buried a man who wasn’t completely honest with her. A man who had secrets he went to great lengths to keep hidden. As Ginny finds herself having to cope with the earth-shattering revelations that come to light after her spouse’s passing, she is grateful for the support of her four best friends, Lou, Cathy, Angie and Kim who together have come up with an ingenious plan to cheer Ginny up: a skiing holiday to Switzerland. Snow-capped mountains, picturesque surroundings and hunky ski instructors, what’s not like? But are the five women prepared for just how eventful this holiday is going to be?

From the outside, the ladies seem to have perfectly ordered lives, however, scratch beneath the surface and you will find women who all have a cross to bear and who are fighting a secret battle. All that glitters is certainly not gold and the five ladies each find themselves needing all their strength and tenacity – not to mention support from one another – as they must muster up all their courage to face their demons head on, conquer their fears, lay old ghosts to rest and emerge victorious.

Is happiness within reach for the five ladies? Or will their battles defeat them?

Readers can always count on Karen Aldous to deliver entertaining and escapist novels that sweep them away to exotic and glamorous locations and keep them riveted to the page and she has certainly achieved this with Five Ladies Go Skiing. A fantastic tale of friendship, grief, love, loss and the ties that bind. Five Ladies Go Skiing is a novel richly imbued with pathos, emotion, drama and hope that will bring a smile to readers’ faces and have them wiping away a tear or two.

Full of wonderful characters you cannot help but love, humour and heart, Five Ladies Go Skiing continues to cement Karen Aldous’ standing as one of the brightest stars in women’s fiction!

What a wonderful book, I don't know where to start or if I will be able to shower enough praise to give it the justice it deserves. But I shall start by saying that this is a story filled with heart and emotion that showcases that age is merely a number and life is worth taking chances and dreaming big. I loved each and every member of the Fun-Loving Older Women Embracing life with a Renaissance of Spirit gang, otherwise known as the Flowers. They were gutsy and had a relish for life that was refreshing and appealing. Their skiing trip was laced with highs and lows but packed full of love and friendship. I loved how tight-knit the group was and their love for each other was a joy to see.

Whilst reading this book I witnessed five women blossom and grow through the love of friendship and adventure for life, which was inspiring and motivational, proving that you can do anything you put your mind to. Ginny was such a loveable character and when we first met her she was a shrinking violet hiding away from life through grief and loss but her journey was uplifting and through her challenges, I was right behind her every step of the way. Kim's love for Ginny, as a sister, was incredibly moving and their bond resonated with such sincerity throughout the book. Lou, Angie and Cath also brought wonderful moments to the story and made such an impact but I won't divulge too much as I don't want to give away any hints or spoilers.

This is a perfectly written book of love, friendship and determination to grab life with both hands and live to the fullest degree. I loved everything this book stands for and I applaud Karen Aldous for creating such an inspirational story showcasing that dreams, adventures and love are not reserved solely for the young. Life is for living and this book portrayed that in spades. I highly recommend that you grab your nearest copy and start reading immediately.

My Rating:

3.5 Sassy Senior Stars

Favorite Quotes:

What are we like? I mean, sixty-year-old women, pissed as old farts, falling about in the snow. What would our children think?

Goodness me, if I had a penny for each time Anthony annoyed me, I’d give Bill Gates a run for his money. I thought it was just Anthony. It’s quite a relief to hear you’ve got grumpy old men too.


My Review:

Copious amounts of wine and consumption of delicious food in a beautiful setting during the holiday season for five ladies over sixty, four of which were novice skiers on their first ski trip – what could possibly go wrong other than leading me astray from my diet? If only they could have left all their life stressors and secrets behind. Each of the five main characters was either struggling or feeling less than satisfied with their life, yet they were more concerned with the special handling their widowed friend rather than sharing their own worries and scandals. I admired the premise and subplots, however, the storylines moved at a glacial pace. The plot was gradually developed yet insightful and realistic with glimmers of humor and brightly detailed descriptions that conjured keen visuals. The pervading aura was angsty and fractious with various connubial and familial concerns and complaints, which unfortunately became rather tiresome as the ladies repeatedly obsessed over their issues in their inner musings before finally giving voice to their troubles and working through them. Fun new additions to my Brit and Aussie word lists were garnered with chook (Aussie slang for a chicken or older woman), arvo (Aussie talk for the afternoon), wide boy (a nefarious or deceptive business operator), and screaming abdabs (extreme anxiety and also an alcoholic’s DT).

This was such a lovely read about a group of nearly 60 year old friends. They have agreed to go on a ski-ing holiday together and have been following a fitness regime in preparation.

I loved the description of the ski resort and the nerves of the friends, most who have never been ski-ing before. It sounds such a perfect festive holiday. Ginny will be marking the first anniversary of losing her husband and the other friends are also going through some troubled times of their own.

It was lovely to read a book about mature friendships and the different outlooks they have. I felt as though I was learning to ski myself and almost tempted me to think about booking!

This was a cherry pop for me as I haven't read anything by Karen Aldous. In the early part of this book you get to know the five friends, you are given an insight into their current relationships and tensions as well as introducing the reasoning behind why they are all meeting up for this momentous post Christmas break.

During this book I laughed and I cried, it oozes friendship and understanding and makes you consider how you would feel in the shoes of all of these lovely women. I found this a really touching story and could feel the emotions of all of the women as the book progressed both the highs and the lows and found myself wanting to keep turning the pages to see how it would all turn out for the five ladies.

5 mature ladies (The flowers) who are lifelong friends decide to go skiing a year after Ginny loses her husband Mike to cancer. The other ladies Kim, Cathy, Angie, and Lou all want to be there for the first anniversary of his death so off they go on their trip to the Swiss Alps.
On his deathbed, Mike reveals a secret to Ginny and she has held onto it up till now. Kim also has a secret that could spoil her friendship with Ginny.
I found this book very airy-fairy, with lots of darlings and sweethearts. It seemed to grind on very slowly and seemed very drawn out. I didn't really enjoy it but stuck it out till the end.
It isn't a book i would recommend as i was pretty bored with it.
Sorry NetGalley, thank you for the opportunity.

This is a first for me by this author... but won't be my last.

When Ginny Watts’ husband passes away, she is left grief-stricken, not only over her husband’s death but the secrets he has left behind…
Luckily for Ginny, she has four wonderful friends – Lou, Cathy, Angie and Kim – poised to whisk her away on a ladies’ skiing holiday to beautiful La Tzoumaz, Switzerland.
While all of them appear to have their lives together from the outside, little do the ladies know that every single one of them is fighting a secret battle.
As the trip unfolds, they realise that fears of tumbling down the slopes after too much après-ski fun is the least of their worries and all is not what it seems…

Set in the beautiful alps of Switzerland... this story is of loss, friendships and heartbreak... the journey of moving forward and learning to be happy again... along with the possibilities of romance no matter your age.

A group of five almost 60 year old women, who go on a skiing holiday in the Swiss Alps to bring in the New Year whilst helping one of the group mark the one year anniversary of the loss of her husband.
They all have their own stories to tell... information and secrets comes out whilst learning to ski on the nursery slopes...

A story about discovering a new path in life whilst rediscovering yourself... something that's been pushed aside while dealing with life*s daily requirements and compromises
A wonderful heart-warming, funny and enjoyable read.

Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC.

I would definitely call this Womens Fiction. It is about a group of women of a mature age.
All are going through changes in their lives, being widowed or having husbands in various stages of career change.
It has been a year since Ginny's husband died. Near the end, when he did not know what he was saying, he apologized. For what, Ginny is unsure. Now he is gone, will she ever know?
Before he became too ill, he had wanted to go skiing with his wife. Now, she is going with her friends, and will have a brief memorial for him.
Only one member of the group is a skier. She arranges the plans, but she seems to have an ulterior motive herself. Another of the women does not live in the UK, as do the others. Her kids are grown and she misses her friends and wants to move back. She also knows something about Ginny's husband*s secret. Even those who talk frequently don*t know everything that each of the others deals with regularly.
As happens when women take trips, there will be some flirting with men they meet.

This is a book about discovering a new path and rediscovering oneself that has gotten pushed aside while dealing with life*s daily requirements and compromises. Secrets will be revealed and friendships are tested.
This is a book you*ll want to take your time to absorb as you get to know the ladies.

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

A lovely heartwarming story of lost love friendship and new horizons . Loved this book would recommend it to read . Definitely be reading more of this author

Five friends are “Flowers”- Fun-loving older women embracing life with a renaissance of spirit- which is their philosophy. Ginny lost her husband Mike a year ago to cancer. She knows he held a secret. Kim now lives in Australia with her consultant husband Will. She longs to return to the UK and her friends but Will isn’t finished with his work yet. Cathy is now living her dream having given up her teaching post and is now writing. Angie is married to Rob and has a voracious appetite- not for food- much to the surprise of her husband. Lou when packing is remembering one of her first loves whom she has now dug up on social media. They have all met up for a skiing holiday- four of them never having done this before- however each is holding their own secrets in one way or another. It looks like there could be more than just skiing on the agenda. I enjoyed this. I loved the camaraderie between the ladies. Some had tough beginnings in life and owed others for being there when they needed them- even as children. I felt for Ginny and her predicament and for Kim- I won’t spoil it- but being between the devil and the deep. A story of life and loves and how friendships help the world an easier place when sometimes all it seems to throw at us appears to want to knock us down. A wonderful enjoyable read.
(rest of links as past of blog tour)