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!

Interview with Sara

What is your real-life work schedule like when writing?

Over the past few years, it has changed from my days as a university professor, when I devoted my weekends to novel-crafting and an hour of pre-dawn writing on weekdays. Right now, I travel frequently and am often home for only a week or two. I cram in the writing while recovering from the trip and repacking for the next one. And on flights and in airports. Sadly, the internet doesn’t always work while I’m a hotel guest, which can be problematic. Hence, the opportunity to establish a writing schedule is rare. I guess you could say this is a season of learning extreme flexibility.

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

Honestly? Fleshing out the scene outlines with plot points and writing the first draft. Recently, my hairdresser asked which I prefer, editing or writing. She posed the question because I am also a professional editor. I compared editing to embarking on an exciting house reno and writing the novel as a mother in advanced labor for months, trying to birth an oversized baby. With some novels, the plot lines and story fall into place fairly easily. For me, the solution always lies in much prayer.

Do you base your characters on real people?

Sometimes, yes. Riley Williams, the female protagonist in Cruise to Death, was named for my friend’s precocious, four-year-old granddaughter. When we were together, I used to wonder what Riley would be like as an adult. Definitely bold and adventurous and probably a bit saucy. And I confess, my writer’s T-shirt that warns people to beware what they say (and do) has occasionally landed them a role in the series. Most notably, a particular villain in Cruise to Death.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

Thank you for asking! They can check out these social media links.

Facebook:   https://bit.ly/SLJAuthorFBPage

Instagram:   https://bit.ly/AuthorIGPage Website: https://www.saraljameson.com X: https://x.com/saraljameson Newsletter signup: https://bit.ly/SLJCommunitySignup Goodreads: (Sara L. Jameson) https://bit.ly/SLJGRPage BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-l-jamesonl

Cruise to Death Amazon paperback shortened link:https://amzn.to/4lrvo8w

Cruise to Death Amazon e-book shortened link: https://amzn.to/3G9x46v

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

Ooh, thank you for letting me share about my current projects. At the moment, the front-burner MS is a mystery/suspense story (The Deadly Key) in which a Cat-Five hurricane is barreling down on Jacksonville, Florida. But the answers to the murder and puzzling events lie in another country. Another culture. Under the watchful eyes of assassins determined to kill Carly Watkins before she uncovers the truth.

I am also finishing book four of Riley’s series, Troubled Waters, for Scrivenings Press. When Riley auditions in Greece, an MI6 agent asks her to pose as their missing spy, who is Riley’s dead ringer. She encounters royalty in danger and criminals determined to eliminate her as she and her Interpol fiancé race to uncover their plots.

My third project for 2025 is to complete final edits on a WWII historical novel set in Manila, Philippines, a courageous people very dear to my heart. 

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