Treasure Isla, the beginning of the successful Isla Mujeres Mystery series!

It's a great gift when a reader takes the time to leave a review! 

North Beach, sun, sand, and turquoise water.

A Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun beach read

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2019

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

I totally enjoyed this book. The story has a nice flow. I liked the two 28-ish single ladies who are the stars of the story. I liked the restaurant owner with a secret crush on one of the ladies. 

Motos are an inexpensive mode of transport 

I liked the “moto” they tooled around the isla on (I had one when I lived in Europe, ah memories...). I liked Alfredo the crocodile. I liked the pirate connection. I liked Grandmama. And, I liked the ending in that everything was wrapped up.

There’s a lot of drinking, but I guess they’re in a resort area, and that’s what people often do. 

I found their drunken crypt “borrowing” amusing. I could actually envision two people carrying out things the way these two did. 

Sparky guarding Mundaca's tomb

I like that the author date stamps each chapter; it makes it easy to know when and how fast the story is happening. I really liked a character’s concern about his armpit odor; that’s reality. 

I learned that in Mexico, if a person is arrested, they must remain in jail until they can prove their innocence. Yikes. 

(Author's note: the law was recently changed to the adversarial system, similar to the American judicial system. Defendants can now be released until their trial.)

Another thing I liked: Before the story started, the author dedicated the book to her husband. 

It was a beautiful dedication and also provided the details one might like to know. 

Crocodile, he/she lives at the Mundaca Hacienda

I really appreciated that she shared it. Also, at the end of the story, the author discusses some inspiration for parts of the story. I appreciated that, too.

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Over 50? Take the risk, learn something new, go on an adventure...you're not dead yet!

Lawrie, launching Chris Craft. Me in the water!

Why women over 50 should start something big and new! 

That's the title of an interesting motivational article written by Julia Hook and shared on Facebook by a much younger friend, Kari Skaggs. I read it and I started thinking about my wacky life.

At age 50, I had recently switched careers for the tenth or twelfth time, and I was now managing a hotel in Canada. That year, I wanted to learn two new things. The first was to learn to Rollerblade (in-line skating), and the second was to prepare my income tax returns. Lawrie and I had, over the years, a succession of small businesses and had always relied on an accountant to do the tedious tax returns. Okay, I can do this.

Nana and Evan rowing on Okanagan Lake

Goal number one: I purchased a set of Rollerblades, a helmet, and hand protectors, and proceeded to figure out a five-mile-long route in our neighbourhood of Trout Creek, BC. 

It was a great workout, and I alternated between taking my rowboat out on Okanagan Lake for an hour every morning to strengthen my back muscles. I skated and rowed all year round for the six years that we lived in Summerland, except when the road was covered in snow or my boat was frozen to the dock.

Goal number two: I did my own income tax return. Easy. I was an employee and only had one official form to submit. Then, when an auditor from the Canada Revenue Agency called me at the hotel, asking a bunch of odd questions, I started to laugh.

"Laughing is not the normal response that I get when I call people to tell them we are auditing their files." He said.

I replied, "I turned 50 this year, and wanted to learn two new things." I said, and told him what they were.

He chuckled and asked, "So, how's the Rollerblading working out?"

"Apparently, much better than me doing my tax return."

Dinner on our beach, Isla Mujeres

When I was fifty-seven and Lawrie was sixty-six, we moved to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, to live on a tropical island in the Caribbean Sea. The incredulous comments from friends and family were quite interesting. They worried that Mexico was (according to American newscasters) dangerous! They worried because we would lose our free Canadian medical once we were out of the country for more than six months. They worried. We smiled.

Moving to Mexico was a fun, learning experience; however, retirement on a small island can be boring after a while. At age sixty-three, I decided I wanted to write a book. I self-published The Adventures of Thomas the Cat, then, when I turned sixty-five, I started writing my Isla Mujeres Mystery Series. 

Oh, and I started rollerblading again at age sixty-four, much to the amusement of the people who watched me skate in the little park just south of our house on Isla. I skated like a hockey player, with my broom out in front of me to sweep away the small rocks that the little kids liked to toss onto the concrete pad. 

I am a little taller now. 

Now, I am almost sixty-nine and on my own. I have recently moved to another city in Mexico, where I didn't know anyone. It is a struggle at times to make myself get out and meet people, but I am slowly working my way into the social fabric of the city. Every day I find new places to explore, new streets to walk, and new experiences to savour in San Miguel de Allende. 

The people are very friendly, and I have been invited to join several groups, but as one of my good friends on Isla used to say, "You and I are reluctant extroverts." 

I admit it. I am a reluctant extrovert, but it doesn't stop me from trying new things or starting a new adventure.

To you 50-year-old-youngins, you ain't dead yet, just because you've ticked over another decade. Enjoy the adventure!

Cheers, Lynda & Sparky

~

Murder and Mayhem. Revenge and romance.

Isla Mujeres Mystery series

Grab your copy today!!