If "I Love Lucy" were to meet "ER" on "The Love Boat" the result would be something like Candy Calvert's new mystery series, which has received rave reviews for its premier novel, "Dressed to Keel" (ISBN 978-0738708799, Midnight Ink, 2006). This quirky series is a lively departure from Calvert's literary debut - her inspirational true story, "By Accident," which appears in the New York Times bestseller "Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul."

Calvert's new "Darcy Cavanaugh Mystery Series" is a funny and romantic cruise-ship based series of adventures featuring a young, feisty redheaded nurse who inadvertently gets involved in mayhem at sea. "Dressed to Keel" introduces the series' heroine, 31-year-old Darcy Cavanaugh, who jumps aboard a glitzy New England cruise for some much needed time away to recuperate from a failed romance, and job burnout.

Instead of rest and relaxation, this "underdog" crusader quickly finds herself caught up in a madcap drama of theft, murder and unexpected romance. When her best friend, Marie Whitley, the wise-cracking shipboard nurse, is accused of jewel theft and murder, Darcy is determined to prove her innocence and turns her suspicions on to the handsome shipboard "dance host," coincidentally seen schmoozing each of the elderly female victims.

"I love writing about women who must summon strength despite self-doubt and vulnerabilities; it allows great opportunity for growth," says Calvert. Darcy reflects the dreams and desires of many 30-something women today; she's strong, independent and perfectly capable of standing on her own, but still hopes that "happily ever after" might be in her future as well.

"Dressed to Keel" sustains readers with fast pace, snappy dialogue and plenty of humor and romance to break up the suspenseful moments. Offbeat and amusing characters raise the entertainment factor, and mystery buffs will appreciate the challenging clues and surprises that Calvert spills along the way.

Fans of "Dressed to Keel" who are craving more of Calvert's writing, can catch her recently-released second "Darcy Cavanaugh Mystery Series" novel entitled, "Aye Do or Die," about a wacky wedding cruise. "Mai Tai to Murder," the third installment set in the Caribbean, is due out in September, 07.

Boerne, TX (PRWEB) April 30, 2007