
Spending long, languid weekends in St. Thomas would seem like a dream job for most people. For single, thirty-something Ashley Farrell, however, it comes with the humiliation of having to act as chaperone for the various bachelor and bachelorette winners of a popular TV dating show. But this dead-end junket shows signs of new life. Between safeguarding the morals of curvaceous Melissa and voracious Randy and avoiding the diamond-dripping wife of a reputed crime boss, Ashley is attracting the serious attention of a tall, deliciously sexy stranger she met on the airplane. Things are definitely looking up!Until she discovers a dead bodyguard on the beach...Until she finds herself surrounded by FBI agents...Until she is arrested for murder...And now there's big trouble in paradise for sure!
A routine chaperone assignment in the Caribbean turns into a fight for survival when Ashley Farrell is implicated in a murder investigation. Ashley Farrell, a thirty-something professional tasked with managing the behavior of reality TV contestants in St. Thomas, finds her mundane work interrupted by a series of escalating threats. After discovering a deceased bodyguard on the beach, she becomes the primary suspect in a criminal case involving federal agents and dangerous underworld figures. The narrative follows her attempts to clear her name while navigating the unpredictable social dynamics of the dating show participants and her own burgeoning romantic interest in a mysterious stranger. The story utilizes a third-person perspective to track Ashley's transition from a bored employee to a target of both law enforcement and criminal elements.
Readers often note the balance between the lighthearted premise of reality show antics and the darker elements of the murder mystery. Discussion frequently centers on the protagonist's development as she moves from a cynical observer to an active participant in her own defense. Critics highlight the effective use of the island setting to create a sense of isolation despite the presence of cameras and crowds. The pacing is generally described as brisk, focusing more on the immediate situational complications than on deep psychological introspection. Readers who enjoy humorous crime fiction often find the juxtaposition of professional obligations and criminal peril to be the most engaging aspect of the narrative.
Page Count:
320
Publication Date:
2002-07-02
Publisher:
HarperTorch
ISBN-10:
0060002530
ISBN-13:
9780060002534
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!