by: Denise Jaden
Series: Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: September 26, 2024
Murder at sea!
Olivia Ocean’s dream job aboard the Moonlit Majesty turns into a nightmare when she witnesses an attempt to dispose of a helpless kitten at sea. Rescuing the kitty entails a chase, which leads her to discovering a dead body!
Armed with her camera and newfound feline friend, Olivia must navigate the ship’s dark corners, pounce on the clues, assist the swoon-worthy security manager, and capture the killer before the ship reaches its final destination.
The Life of a Cruise-Ship Photographer
by Olivia Ocean (aka Denise Jaden)
Hi! I’m Olivia Ocean and I’ve recently joined the Moonlit Majesty Cruise Ship as a junior photographer.
I’ve always loved the arts. My gran and gramps raised me and had me in every dance class I begged to take. Gran had once been a cruise ship dancer, and when I was eight she got me started in daydreaming about the day when I could be one as well. She told me all sorts of tales about how the cruise ship crew she worked with became her second family and all the beautiful and remote locations she had visited.
When Gramps got sick, and then Gran, that dream in me quickly faded. I used all of my efforts to care for them, and while I had less time for performances, I was able to teach dance classes in order to support us. In my time at home I taught myself a great deal about photography so I could capture some of my grandparents’ best moments while they were still with me.
After they passed on, I was lacking direction. I had no family left, but while I packed and sorted my grandparents’ possessions, I came across a photo of Gran in her cruising heyday. It got me to thinking, and while I wasn’t terribly interested in being on stage again, on a whim I sent in an application for a cruise ship photography job. I didn’t have much beyond photos of my grandparents to show in my portfolio, but apparently capturing the warmth and joy of senior citizens was exactly what the Moonlit Majesty was looking for.
However, when I came aboard, it was a different story. There was little time to be artistic or to get to know passengers to I could make their photos unique and personable. My boss was demanding and I definitely couldn’t envision the backbiting people I was going to be working with as being like family.
Even though it’s not what I expected, though, it’s getting better and better every day. There are some bright spots, including the gorgeous private island I got to visit the other day. The sand is like powder; the sunsets are breathtaking. The ship I’m living aboard is the size of five hotels all strung together, and has multiple restaurants serving drool-worthy food. My roommate Becky is the sweetest and just wait until you get a look at the security manager on board. Sa-woon!
And there’s one more guy you have to meet, but you’ll have to venture aboard the Moonlit Majesty to meet him. I won’t tell you much about him, except that he’s tiny and orange and covered in fur! Plus, he seems to have a nose for mystery and adventure.
I hope you’ll join me as I’m ready to set sail again very soon!
Love,
Olivia
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Prior to becoming an author, Denise worked at everything from mushroom farming to acting and Polynesian dancing. Now she does most of her writing in a holding tent in the background of one of the many film sets in and around Vancouver. Sign up for updates, exclusive bonuses, and find out more about Denise, her books, and her crazy cat on her website.
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Thanks so much for featuring Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold! I really appreciate it.
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DeleteI love finding "New to Me" authors and the books sounds fantastic! Thanks for the giveaway!!
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