Troubled Sea

Written by Jinx Schwartz

Narrated by Beth Richmond

Hetta and her husband, Bob (Jenks) Jenkins, have finally broken free from the rat race of corporate America. Having forsaken the shackles of deadlines, they have been enjoying the soul liberating life of freedom. For the past five years, they have traveled on their boat, Jensky, meeting new friends and finding their true selves. Freedom, however, comes with a price. As the Jenkins find, the sea is an unforgiving mistress. Hetta and Jenks meet up with an old friend, Bud, a fellow water rat, to discover he has a new flame- a much younger lady (too young, too lithe and too evil, Hetta muses). The Jenkins happen upon a Gps unit and several packs of cocaine when they land in Mexico. Soon, they find that Bud's loyalty seems as shallow as his mistress' personality. Finding themselves followed constantly by two men, they go to the local police for help. However, they seem to care less about this and begin to suspect Hetta and Bob are drug mules. The U.S. Coast Guard finds a boat similar to the Jenksy adrift in the Sea of Cortez; its occupants butchered by machetes. They find in a satellite photo that a small Panga has been blown up, and trace the Jenksy to being in the area. Soon, the Jenkins find themselves caught up in a world of drug runners and arms dealers. On the run from drug cartels and the Mexican police, they are running out of time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books in Motion
• Release date: Apr 15, 2009
• ISBN: 9781605483306

Reviews for Troubled Sea

[debraparmley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was fascinating to read a story set at sea which is written by an author who lives the lifestyle. The question of exactly who all the bad guys were lasted until the end with a few surprises.

[jpodlaski_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was pulled into this read and hooked after just the first several pages. "Troubled Sea" is the first book that I've read from Jinx Schwartz and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She is a wonderful storyteller with a great wit and sense of humor. Her female characters are spunky and strong willed women and sometimes their comments made me laugh out loud. Hetta and her husband are from Texas and cruise the Sea of Cortez until their money runs out. They are professional cruisers, known by the local populous, understand how the weather affects the sea, and enjoy friendships up and down the Mexican coastline. Their terrifying adventure begins when they witness a drug deal gone bad on the high seas. From that point on, they become the hunted and desperately try to evade their pursuers. Who could they trust? Who can help? Finally, when they seek the help of a Coast Guard Captain, whose boat and crew are moored at one of the seaside towns, U.S. and Mexican authorities launch investigations to nab the drug traffickers. They get a tip and the various agencies set a trap. Hetta and her husband are caught in the middle. Who will survive! Will good prosper over evil?I highly recommend this book to all! It's a great story!John Podlaski, authorCherries - A Vietnam War Novel

[1vibrantwoman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Troubled Sea by Jinx Schwartz“…he stood with his feet spread wide for balance, knees flexed to absorb the shock of the boat… “ And so begins this wildly entertaining suspense novel, as the first chapter opens with a Mexican boy trying to navigate his open panga while battling heavy wind in the Sea of Cortez. But he’ll soon be tested to his limits of endurance when his drug-running bosses decide to delete him like so much excess baggage. Enter Jenks and Hetta Jenkins aboard their trawler “Hi Jinx” as they come upon what they think is the deserted panga . As they consider if they should be good Samaritans and tow the little boat into harbor, their boat suddenly takes fire from a helicopter intent on destroying nosy Americans as well as the small panga.Their escape from the bad guys, unfortunately, is only the beginning to their troubles. Lucky for them both the American and Mexican Governments get involved, but just when the reader thinks it will all be fine, it gets worse for the Jenkins’s. I was hooked from the first page until the exciting, and I mean—can’t put down, exciting—conclusion to this rollicking thrill ride. I loved Hetta and her husband Jenks. I found their trust in each other, and Hetta’s humor, even in the worst circumstances, helped keep a balance to the mounting tension as they worked with government agencies to bring these drug dealers to justice. As someone who has cruised and written about the Sea Of Cortez, I can attest to the validity of the stories about Mexico, the government, and the people, both Mexican and foreigners, who live and work around the ever beautiful Sea Of Cortez. RP Dahlke, Author: A Dangerous Harbor