Helvetia, The Voyage of 100 Days

In this second novel of the Baines Saga trilogy, Baines and Judi Peake are now cruise ship musicians. As a scintillating, dazzling love affair develops, they encounter numerous eccentric and often bizarre passengers and events: a woman carrying a Koala bear, the "own goal" footballer who self-destructs in interview, a divorce announced during a wedding vow renewal ceremony, the Neapolitan Eternals, and countless others. On the luxury Fabergé Express Trans-Australia train, chartered by the cruise line, they learn of a catastrophic engine-room fire aboard the liner. Appointed as Roving Ambassadors by Graf von Lemke for his global hotel chain, they are now Signora and Signor Cantatore. But this rapidly leads to complications, leaving both with a highly uncertain future.