Oh. It looks awfully small from up here.
I’m looking out the window of the plane as it circles over my new home. I guess I didn’t realize just how small Grand Victoria Island is. Or that, being an island, it’s surrounded by water.
Unlike most Canadians, I don’t much care for water. Not in quantities larger than can be found in my bathtub or the average swimming pool, anyway.
Still, I’m sure it’s going to be fine.
I’ve come to the Victoria and Albert Islands almost on a whim. I got sick at work one day and came home early to find my fiancé in bed with his best friend’s wife. Yeah, same old story.
So I yelled and threw things and ordered him out of the house. It was his house, so I was the one who found herself on the street. One of my co-workers let me stay with her for a while, but not for long as she was moving to take a new job. Nice job, too. She’d been hired to work as a paramedic on Grand Victoria Island and was really looking forward to it. Sun and sand, rich people on vacation, she said. She couldn’t wait to get there.
Then she broke her leg skiing and the job was suddenly open.
I’m a paramedic in Toronto. I love the job, love the city. But somehow I found myself agreeing to take her place.
And now I’m here, in this plane, circling a county with a smaller population than can be found at some concerts I’ve been to. Surrounded by water. Lots of water.
It’ll be fine. An easy job in a beautiful, relaxing tourist place. They told me my new boss will be at the airport to meet me, so I went to some trouble to look nice in a new dress and expensive sandals.
I’m sure nothing bad ever happens here.
Meet Ashley Grant as she starts her new life in White Sand Blues, the first in a new series from Orca Press. This is a Rapid Reads novella, written for adults with literacy difficulties, ESL students, reluctant readers, and those just wanting a quick, fast-paced read.
When paramedic Ashley Grant finds her boyfriend in bed with another woman, she moves out of her house (okay, his house), quits her job and takes a new one in a tiny Caribbean country, the Victoria and Albert Islands. Ashley is thrown into the deep end when she arrives. Her new colleague picks her up at the airport in the island’s only ambulance, which is called to the discovery of a body floating off the beach at the exclusive Club Louisa.
The body is that of a man vacationing with his daughter and glamorous new wife. Coincidentally, Sally, the daughter of the dead man, recognizes Ashley from high school. She is convinced that her stepmother killed her father and begs Ashley to help her prove it. Before she can even unpack her bags or enjoy the view from her ocean-side apartment, Ashley is unwittingly dragged into a murder investigation.
First in a new series from award-winning author Vicki Delany.
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Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of White Sand Blues. U.S. and Canadian entries only, please. The giveaway ends November 1, 2017. Good luck everyone!
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About the author
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than twenty-five books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy, including White Sand Blues. Under the name of Eva Gates, she writes the Lighthouse Library cozy series for Penguin Random House. Her newest novel is Body on Baker Street, the second in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane.
Vicki is the past president of the Crime Writers of Canada. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com. On Facebook and on Twitter @vickidelany
All comments are welcomed.
Hey Dru, Happy Monday Morning (1:26 am). This looks like a great read. Especially since Ashley is a paramedic… just like son #2 and SIL #2 (he’s also the NYPD cop). I’d love to add this to my collection.
This one is going on my list right now.
Sounds fascinating and I haven’t read a book about EMT’s before. 🙂 I am also impressed with the author’s decision to write a book especially for the ELS/literacy issues needs. I want to support that and will definitely be reading this one! Thanks Dru Ann!
I have been excitedly anticipating this release! I enjoy Vicki’s writing.
Sounds good.
Love this story. Vicki’s novels are captivating and special. Thanks.
I can’t wait to read this story. I love Vicki’s Lighthouse Library books. Thank you for the great review and the giveaway.
Sounds like a great read. I love the idea of working on a Canadian island.
The plot and character sounds great. Vicki’s books are so well written and unique.
Sounds like a unique setting. I’m always open to a new mystery and so I’ll give this one a try. Thanks so much for sharing Vicki Delany’s latest book on your blog. It’s always great to be able to stay on top of new releases.
Sounds like an interesting new series.
I’ve enjoyed several of Vickie’s other books. This one sounds as if it has a great setting and an interesting character. Can’t wait to read it. .
This sounds like it’s going to be a great new series! Certainly new geography for me!
Can’t wait to read this new series by a favorite author.
I look forward to reading this new series by Vicki Delany. Thank you for the great chance to win this new book.
I really enjoy Vicki Delany’s books and this sounds like another great book. I like the island setting and Ashley being a paramedic. Adding to my TBR list. Can’t wait to read.
I love all books about first responders. Thanks for the chance.
I’d like to read more of Ashley’s paramedic (& non-paramedic) adventures on Grand Victoria Island.
This sounds like a series with great possibilities I’d love to win this one.
Thanks for inviting me to visit your blog, Dru. It’s always a pleasure. And thanks everyone for commenting.
Thanks for participating. It’s always a pleasure to have you visit.
I have Vicki’s books on my book shelves and I would love to include this one.
As I’m a former health worker this sounds like an interesting read.
Sounds like a winner….
Thank you for the giveaway….
**** WINNER ****
White Sand Blues is Pearl
Congratulations!