About the Book

Book: Cruise to Death

Author: Sara L. Jameson

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 1, 2021

When opera singer Riley Williams agrees to sub as a musical-theater performer on a luxury Rhine/Moselle riverboat cruise, she gets more than she bargained for. Not only must she come up with 250 Broadway songs, she is required to dance with the male passengers. Dance—the subject she nearly failed in her Conservatory courses, and the cause of her recent flop in a European Opera House. To make matters worse, she overhears two terrorists at a café in Antwerp, Belgium, discussing the transfer of deadly agent X to the highest bioterrorist bidders.

Interpol agent Jacob Coulter, an anti-terrorism desk analyst in Brussels, Belgium, insists on serving as an undercover agent after his best friend Noel is murdered by terrorists from the Brussels cell he infiltrates. Shortly before Noel dies, he manages to tell Jacob snippets of the terrorists’ plans. Plans that seem to involve the same riverboat cruise Riley is on. When Interpol learns of Riley’s encounter with terrorists, Jacob’s supervisor insists he work with her to identify the terrorists and retrieve agent X. But their relationship is fraught with distrust because of Riley’s suspicious past and a romantic attraction neither of them wants.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sara L. Jameson won Scrivenings Press’s grand prize publishing contract in January 2021. They released her debut romantic suspense novel, Cruise to Death, in June 2021. Death in High Places, (Book 2 in the Troubled Waters series), released February 2023, followed by Vengeance in Vienna, July 2024.

In real life, Sara is a multi-published, former university professor who writes non-fiction under her real name and edits book manuscripts for other authors. She also pens WWII historical novels. When not at her computer, she enjoys reading, swimming, cooking, dog-sitting, and spending time with friends.

More from Sara

For someone who loves to swim and enjoys cruising on a ship as long as land is in sight, a European riverboat cruise solved my anxiety. Cruise to Death was conceived during a Uniworld cruise that originated in Antwerp, Belgium, where my family had lived twenty-fives years prior and fallen in love with the country.

But the lack of security on the cruise concerned me. Especially when our ship docked parallel to another cruise line, and all passengers passed through the other boat to disembark and re-embark without staff scrutiny. Perfect place for someone not on your cruise to hide, right?

Perfect fodder for a romantic suspense novel. Add in a pickpocket who craftily robbed a family member, and a budding novelist determined the crime wouldn’t go unremembered. You know those writers’ T-shirts warning you whatever you say and do might end up in a novel—sometimes it’s true.

Part of the fun writing this story was a chance to retrace the stops along the Rhine and Moselle rivers and stay in settings that appear in the novel. If you have a chance to take a riverboat cruise, I highly recommend it!

My Impressions

“Yes, she’d lied. Something she’d been brought up not to do, something she knew was wrong. A sin she’d have to bring before the Lord. But she’d do anything to protect Jacob.”

I enjoyed this light, romantic suspense novel by Sarah L. Jameson. Cruise to Death explores the betrayal of an Interpol agent and his best friend, Jacob’s, vow to find the leaked link. It also explores the experience of an opera singer, Riley, who subsequently for her sick friend on a European river cruise. Unfortunately, Riley overheard a terrorist plot and spends the cruise trying to help Jacob and Interpol uncover the terrorists. Terrorists suspects are great at disguise, and tensions are high as nearly all passengers on the cruise are closely monitored. Evidence suggests that Riley may be part of the plot. If safety precautions are in short supply, so is the trust factor. Will Riley and Jacob figure out who can be trusted? Better yet, will they put trust in God above their promises to themselves?

I was happy to see Jacob working in his cover professional as waiter. Jameson convincingly has him on job often, as well as portraying Riley onstage singing or (ouch!) dancing. So often in cozies, the main characters forget their jobs in favor of sleuthing. 

I enjoyed the many pop culture references to TV shows and stars. One such involved a true quote we can all learn from: “Lone Rangers didn’t win the war, teamwork did. Teamwork between the military and civilians. Female civilians.” This is Riley’s response when Jacob tries to leave her out of sleuthing. We can all learn to accept help, rather than trying to go it alone. 

Full of non-stop action, suspects, suspicions, danger, twists, and some truth revelations, Cruise to Death is an enjoyable read. 

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“One thing you learn as a singer—never play the what if game.”– Riley

“Relationships are built on trust.” “And forgiveness.” -Riley, Jacob

“All her life she’d done what she wanted to do, what others wanted her to do. Not once had she asked God what He wanted for her.”

“Everyone needed a rescuer.” – Riley

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Excellent! I’m happy to recommend this suspense novel.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , August 14

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 15

Stories By Gina, August 16 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, August 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 17

Texas Book-aholic, August 18

Simple Harvest Reads, August 19 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 21

Artistic Nobody, August 22 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 23

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 24

Guild Master, August 25 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, August 25

Holly’s Book Corner, August 26

Fiction Book Lover, August 27 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sara is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54278