View source for The Gessami Residence by Jane L Gibson

{{infobox
|title=The Gessami Residence
|sort=Gessami Residence
|author=Jane L Gibson
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Women's Fiction
|summary=A cosy holiday read: just hope that your accomodation lives up to The Gessami Residence!
|rating=3
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|pages=448
|publisher=Matador
|date=February 2016
|isbn=978-1784625030
|website=http://www.janelgibsonauthor.co.uk/
|video=
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784625035</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1784625035</amazonus>
}}

Jenny Walker has been a widow for three years.  She's had support from her parents (Dad's still a bit protective), her two sons, who are at university, and her three girl friends.  The four women have had a meal together every week but now they've decided to go on holiday for a fortnight.  One of the women - Rose - is in the business so she's in charge of making the arrangements and she insists that they have to turn up at the airport before they find out their destination.  Ibiza wasn't ''quite'' what they were expecting, but then three of the four women are unattached (Amanda is married - in an unenthusiastic sort of way) and they all like to drink and flirt.  What couldn't go right?

Jenny's obviously not completely in training because she can't stand the pace on the first night of heavy drinking and heads back to the hotel alone.  She's just about back at the hotel when a combination of wedge heels, sand and far too much alcohol sees her taking a tumble sideways - not quite at the feet of the handsome stranger at a nearby table but he comes to her rescue.  Ethan is good looking, chivalrous, rich and seemingly smitten with Jenny - and their paths cross constantly over the next few days.  Jenny never had any thoughts of a relationship when she left home, but could it work out?  Is she ready to risk something more than a casual fling?

I'll get my reservations about the book out of the way first.  It ''is'' rather too long for the weight of the story it carries - some dramatic tension would have helped and I had to suspend disbelief that a handsome, wealthy man would be smitten so totally by an inebriated middle-aged woman, but then, I suppose that such things ''do'' happen.  Dialogue is rather wooden in places.  Finally, certain words seemed to be used inappropriately - 'sarcasm' and its variants was ''overused'' where it didn't seem to make sense, as was 'smirking' and it took me a while to appreciate the sense in which they were used.  OK - onto the good stuff.

Heavy drinking aside, Jenny is a darling and you really find yourself dreading something going wrong in the relationship with Ethan.  She's best described as 'salt of the earth' and has a big heart, with a lot of loyalty to her friends and family.  I loved that she was embarrassed by the way her sons were eagerly grabbing at what Ethan could offer them in the way of holidays.  They'd never been brought up like that!  The descriptions of The Gessami Residence (a hotel in Ibiza) are gorgeous and some of the food made my mouth water, but Jane L Gibson isn't shy about pointing out the downsides of Ibiza for many older visitors - without going into too many graphic details!  If you're looking for an undemanding holiday read then have a look at ''The Gessami Residence''.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

For more Ibizan romance have a look at [[Hippy Chick by Louise Harwood]], or [[How We Met by Katy Regan]] for a rather more serious look at the holiday island.

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