I love the chance to get to explore fun settings in my fiction. That’s one of the reasons OUT OF TEMPER: Bean to Bar Mysteries Book 3 is set Aboard a cruise ship. The ship in my fictional cruise line is sailing out of Galveston, from the terminal just down the street from where I placed Felicity’s shop. In the book, she’s still active in her role as chocolate maker: this time she’s been asked to do demos of her work aboard the ship.
I’ve been on a number of cruises, even done enrichment lectures aboard ships myself. And there are so many things that make me want to go back. Here’s my top 10.
10--Eggs Benedict. Because I’m not going to get up early enough to make Hollandaise for myself at home. I’ve found Eggs Benedict on the breakfast menu of every ship I’ve been on. (Though I’ve by no means been on all cruise lines, so your mileage may vary.) The fictional cruise line in my book offers a Texas-themed menu, so Felicity gets Chicken Fried Steak Benedict.
9--Shore excursions! You never know where you will be able to go. (Bonus: It is always warm in the Caribbean.) It is difficult to get access to some ruins or cultural sites without being on a cruise or other organized tour. The first time we visited a cacao plantation was on a shore excursion. And look where that has lead – 3 chocolate-themed space opera novels, and now 3 chocolate-themed mysteries.
8--The towel animals. Because sometimes it’s the little things that make an experience special. (If you’ve never cruised, I’m sorry to spoiler the surprise.) One of the most fun things on our first cruise was finding that housekeeping had put my sunglasses on a 3-D monkey-shaped towel.
7--Cruising is romantic. There’s nothing like standing at the railing with the wind in your hair, looking out at the waves and up at the stars. Which makes things even more complicated for Felicity, who’s in the middle of a love triangle and finds that both love interests are on the boat.
6--Chances to try new things. From dance lessons to enrichment lectures, there’s something new to try. When I presented lectures, it was a great way to meet people and network. And the people you meet will likely be from all over the world. You also find yourself waking up somewhere new. Without having to lug suitcases or waste time checking into a new hotel. And you can enjoy the time you are traveling as opposed to being stuck in a seat on a plane or in a car. And there are no luggage limits.
5--The onboard spa. I feature the spa in Felicity’s trip in the book. All she wants in to do her demos, relax and get a hot stone massage. Until she gets drawn into solving the murder.
4--The shows. Broadway-style events are right at hand – and you don’t have to worry about what to do after, or even about where to park. There are often other activities, too. In Out of Temper, Felicity finds herself on a theme cruise, with murder mysteries and a LARP.
3--Duty free shopping. Because you know I’m a bargain hunter!
2--The photo ops. The views. Formal night. I Instagram and blog, so you know I’m always looking to take great photos. And if I can get my books in the pictures, so much the better. Felicity is a small business owner, so social media is a big thing in these books.
1--The best sleep of my life! I often suffer from insomnia, and I’m always looking for ways to improve my sleep. The gentle rocking of the boat…there’s no way to replicate that.
Felicity Koerber's bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston's historic Strand has been the scene of two murders - both of which she has been instrumental in helping solve. So when she gets invited to demo her chocolate skills aboard a cruise ship sailing out of the local port, she's excited at the chance to get away from the shop long enough to regain her equilibrium. She even brings her best friend along, and makes plans for time at the spa. But when she gets on board, she finds out that she's been booked for a mystery-themed cruise, and said best friend, Autumn, has to finally deal with the real reasons she quit writing mysteries. Only - if that wasn't stressful enough - it doesn't take long before there's a real murder on the cruise, and someone Felicity knows becomes the prime suspect. When said suspect asks her for help, she can't exactly say no, can she?
Felicity finds herself surrounded by cruise goers who all had connections to the victim - and finds that both Logan (her business partner, whom she recently kissed) and Arlo (the cop who was once Felicity's first boyfriend, before she moved away from Galveston) are dealing with the case until more official help can arrive. How will Felicity survive the ensuing awkwardness?
One thing that helps: the retired police dog turned therapy dog she meets on board. Satchmo helps Felicity deal with being back on the water after tragedy in her past - and also helps her uncover a vital clue to the case. Can Felicity unmask the killer and keep a friend from being framed before all the suspects leave the ship?
Mystery Woman Sleuth [Author Self-Published, On Sale: February 1, 2022, e-Book, ISBN: 9781952854125 / eISBN: 9781952854132]
Amber Royer writes comic space opera set in the Chocoverse, where chocolate is the only thing Earth has that a hungry galaxy wants to get its hands, paws and tentacles on. She also teaches enrichment and continuing education creative writing classes for teens and adults. She spent five years as a youth librarian, where she organized teen writers’ groups and teen writing contests. In addition to two cookbooks co-authored with her husband, Amber has published a number of articles on gardening, crafting and cooking for print and on-line publications. She’s an avid reader, cook and language geek – and a fan of cheesy old science fiction films.
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