Hello to y’all from Carol Andrews, waving from the Gulf Coast of Florida. I thought I’d share part of a recent adventure with you, as a way for us to get acquainted. Some days aren’t as exciting as this one, but since Jim retired a few years ago, life has provided us with many unexpected adventures. This one started. . .
On The Beach.
“That feels wonderful,” I said, snuggling closer into my husband’s arms. This move was immediately followed by an image of Sister Mary Evelyn, the freshman health teacher at Mount Saint Francis Academy, scowling at me, and intoning, “A proper young lady NEVER allows her hormones to get the better of her in a public place. Girls, you must keep your knees together at all times. And always allow room for the Holy Ghost when you are dancing with a boy.”
That killed the mood, all right. Good old Sister Evelyn. She was even haunting me from the grave. I pulled myself away from my husband’s amorous embrace. “Stop that. Somebody might see us.”
Jim rolled over on his side and gave me a look. “Carol, for heaven’s sake. We’re on our second honeymoon here in Florida. And we’re on Honeymoon Island. It’s paradise here.” He gestured around at the pristine beach and powdery white sand. “I hope you remember what we did on our first honeymoon. It was a lot more than what we’re doing now.”
He waggled his eyebrows for emphasis, in case I didn’t get his meaning. Which I definitely did. My education had progressed way beyond what I learned from Sister Evelyn.
I sat up and brushed the sand off my bathing suit. Truth to tell, it fit a little tighter than it did when I tried it on at Suits R Us in Fairport, Connecticut, last summer. But I hope you won’t tell anyone I admitted that. Fortunately, from the way he was acting, Jim hadn’t noticed there was a little more of me to love these days.
“Why don’t we go for a walk along the beach?” I suggested to my paramour of thirty plus years. “That way, we won’t feel guilty about ordering dessert back at the hotel.”
“I went to a Jesuit school, in case you’ve forgotten,” Jim said, rolling over and getting himself to his feet. With some difficulty, which I pretended I hadn’t noticed. “Jesuits don’t believe in guilt. At least, not where dessert is concerned.”
I laughed and took my husband’s hand. To help me up. I admit it.
“Why don’t we walk that way?” I suggested, indicating a route that we hadn’t tried before. “It looks pretty level, and it’s in the direction of the parking lot, so if one of us gets tired, we’re close to the car.”
I squinted, then said, “Wait a minute, Jim. Do you see something bright?” I sniffed. “It smells like something’s burning.”
The next thing I remember, there was a loud whoosh sound. I’d never heard anything like it before.
Jim grabbed my hand and pushed me into the sand. “Get down, Carol.”
“What? Why?”
“Our car’s on fire. If the flames hit the gas tank, it’s going to explode.”
There was a deafening noise, then silence. I was lying face down in the sand, Jim on top of me. I opened my mouth to scream, but all that did was fill my mouth with sand. Ugh.
I heard the sound of sirens in the distance, then several emergency vehicles careened into the parking lot at once. As Jim and I struggled to our feet, I heard someone scream, “There’s a person trapped in the car!”
I felt sick to my stomach, and it wasn’t from the sand, either. Trust me, having a near death experience can do that to a person.
Weeks later, when Jim and I were safely back home in Fairport, Connecticut, I still had trouble figuring out how our Florida adventure turned into such a nightmare. Except for the tiny fact (which I conveniently ignored) that it all began because of one of my very brilliant ideas.
Second Honeymoons Can Be Murder is the sixth book in the Carol and Jim Andrews Baby Boomer mystery series, published by Suspense Publishing, February 2016.
Carol Andrews can’t believe her luck when her husband, Jim, surprises her with a second honeymoon trip to Florida. But there’s a catch – it’s really a business trip, not the romantic getaway Carol expects. Jim’s been called out of retirement to create a marketing plan for a new television game show aimed at Baby Boomers, The Second Honeymoon Game, and the pilot episode will be shot in the Sunshine State. The honeymoon is really over when the show’s executive producer, none other than Carol’s grammar school boyfriend, winds up dead on Carol and Jim’s first night in Florida. And their son, Mike, is the police’s number one suspect.
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Meet the author
An early member of the Baby Boomer generation, Susan Santangelo is the author of the humorous Baby Boomer mystery series, featuring a typical Boomer couple, Carol and Jim Andrews, as they navigate their way along life’s rocky path toward their twilight years. Book 1 in the series, Retirement Can Be Murder, was suggested for a television series by several national critics. Book 6 in the series, Second Honeymoons Can Be Murder, was released by Suspense Publishing on February 16, 2016. Susan also reviews mysteries for Suspense Magazine.
Susan divides her time between Belleair Beach FL and Cape Cod MA. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers and the Cape Cod Writers Center, and shares her life with her husband, Joe, and two very spoiled English cocker spaniels, Boomer and Lilly. Boomer also serves as the model for the books’ front covers.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a kindle copy of Second Honeymoons Can Be Murder. The giveaway will end February 26, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
A day at the beach sounds heavenly right now (without the exploding car). Second Honeymoons Can Be Murder sounds like a great read. Thank you for the giveaway.
This is a new series to me but definitely interesting since my husband and I are also retired baby boomers. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love the titles in this series…..reminds me of that fortune cookie game, ‘……..in bed’…..
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Loved the excerpt!! Sounds like a great read. I wonder who set that car on fire.
Sounds like a fun series, definitely going to check it out. Thanks for the giveaway.
Interesting title, lol. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Funny how quickly a nice day at the beach can turn nasty. This sounds like a fun book, thanks for the chance to win it.
Sounds like a great read.
Ooh, I love this excerpt. When I read the book’s title, I could hear he soundtrack & Bob Newheart’s voice announcing the show. (Dating myself here). Thanks, Dru, for introducing us to Susan Santangelo & thanks for the chance in the giveaway.
Sounds like a cute series and a great read
Sounds great, Susan! Can’t wait to read it!
Love the title sounds like a fun series
You have to give those nuns credit for their lasting impressions!
Sounds like a fun series.
Sounds like a great series. 🙂
The last two days we’ve seen the sun and I’ve loved every minute of it. From the cover of the book and the plot it sounds like a good way to continue the feeling. robeader53@yahoo.com
This sounds like a great series. Would really like to read, sounds like a fun series.
I would love to be on a beach for a second honeymoon! Of course, I suppose there should be a first honeymoon before that. Love the sound of this series.
I’m ready for Florida–but not for explosions or dead bodies. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love the idea of a second honeymoon mystery! This seems like a book that will appeal to many of us. Thanks for the introduction Dru. 🙂 Thanks to Susan for the chance to win a copy. What fun that would be!
This sounds like an interesting series. Thank you for a chance to get acquainted by winning a copy from this contest.
Thank you for a chance to win a book from an interesting sounding series.
Sounds like a good series. Thanks for a chance to win a copy!
Nice to see older people solving murders and mysteries. This sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance to win.
This is a great series.
I have the feeling this one will be having me laughing as I try to solve the mystery. Being in the Boomer generation and raised Catholic to boot, I can definitely relate.
Sounds a fun read.
Interesting! How is the son a suspect. I guess I’ll have to read it to find out.
Hi everyone. Carol gave me permission to answer everyone’s posts. (She is so bossy!) Good luck to all who are entered to win a free copy of Book 6. And hope you’ll check out the rest of the series!
Susan Santangelo
New author for me as most interested in how this second honeymoon which isn’t a honeymoon, turns out. Still, life is what you make of it. I’d like to she how they do
This is a new to me series that looks like fun! If my hubby wants to help me sleuth when we retire, I think he starts needing to read more mysteries now! Thanks for the chance to win!