Princess Charming

Jane Heller

Elaine reluctantly agrees to join her two friends, Jackie and Pat, on a Caribbean cruise vacation. The "Three Blonde Mice" are best friends, all divorced. Elaine is paranoid about illnesses and conspiracies and hates all men. Jackie is looking for a new man to have a romance with. Pat wants to get back together with her ex-husband.

Elaine narrates this story about their trip. The reader discovers in the prologue that one of the ex-husbands has blackmailed another man into killing his ex-wife on the cruise. Elaine overhears part of a ship to shore conversation discussing the plot, but does not know who is involved. She does not want to tell her friends because they will scoff at her.

Five men keep showing up as Elaine and her friends sail into the warm Caribbean. Elaine finds herself falling in love with one of them. Another one attaches himself to Pat. Jackie gets sick and ends up in the ship's hospital. Why are these men hanging around? Can Elaine trust the devastating Sam when she has never been able to trust any other man in her life? Will Pat ever get over her husband? Was Jackie sick, or poisoned?

This is a delightful book, full of fun. Elaine's self descriptions in her wry, teasing tones are amusing. The mystery keeps the reader guessing. Can Elaine convince her friends they are in danger? Can she save them or herself in time?

Talk of the Town by Sherrill Bodine