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Sunshine Boulevard
Who or what is killing the seniors on Sunshine Boulevard? Jim and Gloria Hart are snowbirds who annually migrate to Florida for warm sunshine, fun, and golf with friends in snow-free winters. However this season, Jim Hart, a volunteer First Responder in his retirement community of Citrus Ridge, is drawn into the investigation of the mysterious deaths. Even in the midst of the unfortunate demise of the residents on Sunshine Boulevard, the Harts try to get together with friends. They don't realize that their friends are getting together for their own kinds of affairs with each other. The neighbors are in a dither over the deaths, but perhaps more intrigued by the gossip about the affairs and why the naked lady was found lying in the geranium bed.
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First published February 27, 2011
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About the author
J.Q. Rose
13 books34 followersWhether the story is fiction or non-fiction, J.Q. Rose is “focused on story.” She offers readers chills, giggles and quirky characters woven within the pages of her mystery novels. Her published mysteries are Deadly Undertaking, Terror on Sunshine Boulevard and Dangerous Sanctuary released by Books We Love Publishing.
Using her storytelling skills, she provides entertainment and information in articles featured in books, magazines, newspapers, and online magazines. With her non-fiction book for girls, Girls Succeed! Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women, she returned to her first love, writing about real people. J.Q. taught elementary school for several years and never lost the love for teaching passed down from her teacher grandmother and mother. She satisfies that aspect of her character by presenting workshops on Creative Writing and Writing Your Life Story. She penned a book, Your Words, Your Life Story, based on her workshops to help writers spark memories, share them with family, friends and/or publish them to share with the world.
Taking the advice she gives to her workshop participants to sit down and write their stories, she combined her experience in non-fiction reporting and her storytelling skills in fiction, to write her memoir, Arranging a Dream, The award-winning, best-seller, published by BWL Publishing, is the feel-good story about the first year JQ and her husband purchased and operated a floral shop and greenhouse business in 1975-76.
Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. She and her husband spend winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandsons, one granddaughter, two grand dogs, four grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.
Using her storytelling skills, she provides entertainment and information in articles featured in books, magazines, newspapers, and online magazines. With her non-fiction book for girls, Girls Succeed! Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women, she returned to her first love, writing about real people. J.Q. taught elementary school for several years and never lost the love for teaching passed down from her teacher grandmother and mother. She satisfies that aspect of her character by presenting workshops on Creative Writing and Writing Your Life Story. She penned a book, Your Words, Your Life Story, based on her workshops to help writers spark memories, share them with family, friends and/or publish them to share with the world.
Taking the advice she gives to her workshop participants to sit down and write their stories, she combined her experience in non-fiction reporting and her storytelling skills in fiction, to write her memoir, Arranging a Dream, The award-winning, best-seller, published by BWL Publishing, is the feel-good story about the first year JQ and her husband purchased and operated a floral shop and greenhouse business in 1975-76.
Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. She and her husband spend winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandsons, one granddaughter, two grand dogs, four grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 20, 2022
The senior citizens living in Citrus Ridge Community Centre on Sunshine Boulevard are terrified when there are peculiar deaths. The first person to die was healthy when his neighbour saw him on the previous day. There is no explanation for his mustard-yellow body and the stench emanating from it. When a paramedic touches his corpse, it turns to powder. Were he and subsequent victims of these unnatural deaths poisoned by an unknown substance?
“The unsolved murders clouded the carefree feeling in the once lively community and the pall of death overshadowed the usual activities of the residents.”
With a cast of interesting characters to keep me entertained while I found it impossible to solve the mystery, Ms Rose’s novel gripped me from the first page to the last. She is to be congratulated on the unforeseen, unique cause of the victims’ deaths.
Available from Amazon and other online retailers.
“The unsolved murders clouded the carefree feeling in the once lively community and the pall of death overshadowed the usual activities of the residents.”
With a cast of interesting characters to keep me entertained while I found it impossible to solve the mystery, Ms Rose’s novel gripped me from the first page to the last. She is to be congratulated on the unforeseen, unique cause of the victims’ deaths.
Available from Amazon and other online retailers.
June 16, 2011
Who or what is killing the seniors on Sunshine Boulevard? Jim and Gloria Hart are snowbirds who annually migrate to Florida for warm sunshine, fun, and golf with friends in snow-free winters. However this season, Jim Hart, a volunteer First Responder in his retirement community of Citrus Ridge, is drawn into the investigation of the mysterious deaths. Even in the midst of the unfortunate demise of the residents on Sunshine Boulevard, the Harts try to get together with friends. They don't realize that their friends are getting together for their own kinds of affairs with each other. The neighbors are in a dither over the deaths, but perhaps more intrigued by the gossip about the affairs and why the naked lady was found lying in the geranium bed.
J.Q. Rose’s writing is as “bad” as Steven King’s. When I read Salem’s Lot, I couldn’t put it down and I slept with a Bible, a Lutheran prayer book, and a Catholic prayer book for several weeks. I didn’t pick up another of his books for twenty years.
I read Sunshine Boulevard in bed and it’s a miracle I did not have nightmares. Somewhere in the horror, I missed the humor. If I were the naked lady in the geranium bush, I’d have been farther-gone—in Canada possibly North of the Arctic Circle still screaming. The fact that I read the whole book, however, is a testament to J.Q. Rose’s writing. She had me from the first truly weird death to the ominous ending. If I ever retire to a warmer climate, it won’t be Florida. I can’t even offer the caveat if you’re phobic about… Florida has plenty to be phobic about—roaches you can saddle and ride, alligators in your back yard, sharks at the beach, and seniors on the road who probably shouldn’t be driving any longer (see the trailer). All I can say is—if you’re prone to nightmares, I suggest you read it earlier in the day.
Me, I’m off to Wal-Mart to see if they have any caulk guns. I may live in Illinois, but I’m not taking any chances. Prayer books or pentacles and crystals won’t work against this foe, and I don’t have a blasting rod like Harry Dresden (of Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files) so I can’t just hold it out and yell “Forzare” if I see ‘em coming.
J.Q. Rose’s writing is as “bad” as Steven King’s. When I read Salem’s Lot, I couldn’t put it down and I slept with a Bible, a Lutheran prayer book, and a Catholic prayer book for several weeks. I didn’t pick up another of his books for twenty years.
I read Sunshine Boulevard in bed and it’s a miracle I did not have nightmares. Somewhere in the horror, I missed the humor. If I were the naked lady in the geranium bush, I’d have been farther-gone—in Canada possibly North of the Arctic Circle still screaming. The fact that I read the whole book, however, is a testament to J.Q. Rose’s writing. She had me from the first truly weird death to the ominous ending. If I ever retire to a warmer climate, it won’t be Florida. I can’t even offer the caveat if you’re phobic about… Florida has plenty to be phobic about—roaches you can saddle and ride, alligators in your back yard, sharks at the beach, and seniors on the road who probably shouldn’t be driving any longer (see the trailer). All I can say is—if you’re prone to nightmares, I suggest you read it earlier in the day.
Me, I’m off to Wal-Mart to see if they have any caulk guns. I may live in Illinois, but I’m not taking any chances. Prayer books or pentacles and crystals won’t work against this foe, and I don’t have a blasting rod like Harry Dresden (of Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files) so I can’t just hold it out and yell “Forzare” if I see ‘em coming.
August 15, 2012
I won a copy from the author of this book.
First things first: I enjoyed the novel and its premise. The descriptions of the retirement community and its characters are fantastic. Even if some of those characters die shortly after being introduced, I still felt enough of a connection to them to touch my emotions. I enjoyed (although "enjoy" may not be the proper word) the depiction of the corpses. I could picture them clearly.
Despite my connections to many characters, I didn't feel strongly connected to one character in particular (even though one couple seemed to be the focus of the story). I am not exactly sure why. I wish that the plot had focused more on the efforts to find the snakes and/or being active in the story. More often than not, the characters seemed to be cowering in their homes. There were people hunting down the snakes with dogs; the male MC was not one of them (if I recall correctly -- I am writing this review from memory).
Still, I liked it, and I look forward to seeing more from this author. If you like light suspense with tickles of goosebumps, I'd recommend reading it.
First things first: I enjoyed the novel and its premise. The descriptions of the retirement community and its characters are fantastic. Even if some of those characters die shortly after being introduced, I still felt enough of a connection to them to touch my emotions. I enjoyed (although "enjoy" may not be the proper word) the depiction of the corpses. I could picture them clearly.
Despite my connections to many characters, I didn't feel strongly connected to one character in particular (even though one couple seemed to be the focus of the story). I am not exactly sure why. I wish that the plot had focused more on the efforts to find the snakes and/or being active in the story. More often than not, the characters seemed to be cowering in their homes. There were people hunting down the snakes with dogs; the male MC was not one of them (if I recall correctly -- I am writing this review from memory).
Still, I liked it, and I look forward to seeing more from this author. If you like light suspense with tickles of goosebumps, I'd recommend reading it.
September 3, 2013
Baby Boomers are coming into their own as Snowbirds. J.Q. Rose brings them into the realm of Crafty, Amateur Detectives with LOTS of time on their hands to devote to this new passion...solving murders.
What do they have in their arsenal to qualify them? They've been around, they're intelligent, they have wit, and have far more stamina than generation X gives them credit for.
SUNSHINE BOULEVARD is a delightful murder mystery extravaganza taking place in Florida during the cold days of Northern Winters, when Snowbirds flock like geese to the warmer climes of Sunny Florida.
Thrillingly funny, this is entertaining and a lighthearted romp with just the right amount of "danger".
SUNSHINE BOULEVARD 4 1/2 stars I can easily boost up to five because it IS that good and that entertaining, so much so I really can't wait to read the next Jim and Gloria escapade.
What do they have in their arsenal to qualify them? They've been around, they're intelligent, they have wit, and have far more stamina than generation X gives them credit for.
SUNSHINE BOULEVARD is a delightful murder mystery extravaganza taking place in Florida during the cold days of Northern Winters, when Snowbirds flock like geese to the warmer climes of Sunny Florida.
Thrillingly funny, this is entertaining and a lighthearted romp with just the right amount of "danger".
SUNSHINE BOULEVARD 4 1/2 stars I can easily boost up to five because it IS that good and that entertaining, so much so I really can't wait to read the next Jim and Gloria escapade.
March 26, 2016
There's much to like about Sunshine Boulevard. I especially get a kick out of it since I happen to live in a 55+ community, so I can relate. I also know people who live in Florida and wonder about their sanity.
But there is a little bit of a muddle about the method of death of the senior citizens which I can't get around. I don't want to include a spoiler, so I'll just have to say I did not find it believable. I think there was more that J.Q. Rose could have done to make it more complete.
On the whole, however, the writing is good and the story moves with a good pace (much faster than the seniors could). It's a fun and fast read.
So I can only award 3 stars, which is still "I Liked It." I just couldn't work my enthusiasm up to 4 stars or more.
But there is a little bit of a muddle about the method of death of the senior citizens which I can't get around. I don't want to include a spoiler, so I'll just have to say I did not find it believable. I think there was more that J.Q. Rose could have done to make it more complete.
On the whole, however, the writing is good and the story moves with a good pace (much faster than the seniors could). It's a fun and fast read.
So I can only award 3 stars, which is still "I Liked It." I just couldn't work my enthusiasm up to 4 stars or more.
March 2, 2014
I don't read a lot of horror, but I won a copy of this book from the author during a Halloween blog hop, and I decided to give it a chance. I'm really glad I did, because I enjoyed it. There was mystery, some humor, and some creepiness. I can't say what kind of creepiness lest I spoil the mystery, but I really had fun reading this one.
November 16, 2014
This fast, fun read follows snowbirds Gloria and Jim as they worry over the mysterious deaths of several neighbors. With lots of humor and quirky characters galore, I found this book very entertaining. And though I dream of someday being a snowbird myself, this book is just creepy enough to give me second thoughts!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews