We went to the lobby, where Ivy was talking on the phone. On the east side of the lobby, a brick fireplace stands against the wall. Facing the front of the hotel, two newly-upholstered chairs flank the fireplace. Opposite them, a couch covered in the same dark green fabric stands. A round coffee table sits between. A tall man who was dressed in jeans and a tweed jacket was seated on one of the chairs, and he looked up as we came in. It was impossible not to notice that, even though he looked to be in his sixties, he was incredibly attractive. He had green eyes like Stefan’s and dark hair with just enough unruly curl to give him a roguish appearance. We approached the couch to wait for Ivy to finish on the phone, and he gave us a smile that indicated he was delighted to meet not just one, but two women. “Ladies,” he said, as he got up with a little nod and shook hands with both of us. “We’re Maggie’s aunts,” Andrea said. “I’m Andrea Flynn, and this is my sister, Kathleen Williamson.” “I’m Laszlo Novacek, Stefan’s uncle.”
~
“Certainly. You can ride with me. I have a rental car. Stefan and Maggie can go with Franz and Erika.” I wasn’t so sure I wanted to ride with the suave Laszlo Novacek. In spite of his good looks, or maybe because of them, he was a mite too suave for me. I didn’t want to rock the boat, however, so I didn’t say anything."
~~~ |
Showing posts with label cozy series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cozy series. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Helen Fanick Moon Mystery Series Takes Cozy Lovers to West Virginia!
20+ years, Blogging/Reviewing, Worked PT with Christian Publisher, various positions at West Virginia University, last Associate Director, FPM
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Latest in Cozy Series Flavored With Chick Lit...Cool Merge!
| "Didn't you hear about the agent who was shot through the head and left to die in a penthouse condo just last week? And another one yesterday, first a head-shot and then a tumble down a split-level colonial's flight of basement stairs."...Across this great country of ours more than twenty agents were killed on the job last year....they're now carrying guns to protect themselves while working." |
Triple Shot
By Sandra Balzo
I hadn't had the chance to read Balzo since the beginning of her Maggy Thorsen Mystery series, so I was pleasantly surprised that her latest, Triple Shot had taken on the maturity of a seasoned, well-grounded series that both feels comfortable to sink into, but had been updated enough to bring readers new enthusiasm and enjoyment. I don't profess to be a reader of Chick Lit, but I could not help but notice the inclusion of new terms that you might hear on reality television or entertainment programs that spotlight on the dress, activities and life of the rich and famous (or wannabees)...especially when discussions by or about the "Barbie table"--a group of the social elite who came to spend time at Uncommon Grounds after their tennis to gossip and enjoy their free time while Maggy and her staff served them. Of course, once in a while, one of the customers would even share with Maggy:
![]() |
| http://commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:JimmyChooshoes.jpg |
"As in Jimmy Choo, the shoe designer. [Maggy thought] All I could do these days was visit the high-end shoes at Saks Fifth Avenue, like I was touring a museum. Once a salesperson even let me touch one. "The 'other Choo' being?"
Aside from that, however, Balzo continues to bring us fun whodunit mysteries that quickly pull you in and guessing, trying, if you're like me, to solve the puzzle before the author shares it...especially when Maggy Thorsen takes personal interest and decides that she needs to solve the case, even though her "boy-toy" and sheriff, Jack Pavlik is "officially" on the case!
Maggy and Sarah Kingston are partners in Uncommon Grounds which is located next to a commuter rail line to Milwaukee. The shop had been recently relocated into a building in the older part of Brookhills, Wisconsin, that had been inherited by Sarah. In fact, Sarah had become even more involved with the new shop--to the detriment to her realty office. So much so that her staff had dwindled down to one new agent, who was not yet really able to act on her own and had filed a legal suit against Sarah for the lack of leadership and training she had expected to receive.
But Brigid Ferndale was found murdered not too long after that... Found because a certain strange smell had invaded the coffee shop above!
Her death followed two other agents and the other women had all been involved in showing a listing when they were found. But Brigid had been found in a secret underground room that was located under Uncommon Grounds! Interestingly though, neither Sarah nor Maggy had known the room was there... But, there was no question that Sarah would be suspected so Maggy really had no choice but to try to help her friend and business partner, right?
The underground room actually had been the location where members of the mob would privately wait for the train. It was historically significant as part of a group of buildings that had been involved in a deadly shootout during which many of the mob, the FBI and a local restaurant owner had been killed. Part of the story was that a million dollars had been onsite and had never been discovered.
So, while a real estate agent mystery is being investigated, there is also a television celebrity who has come to town to shoot live from the area, making the claim that he knows where the money is hidden and will reveal all during his televised documentary which would include a tour of the restaurant where the incident had occurred as well as revealing a secret tunnel to a next-door slaughterhouse where it was rumored that more than cattle met their death and where the money was supposed to have been stashed.
Being asked to cater the activities surrounding this program placed Maggy right where she wanted to be--and where she was most likely to be in danger!
In case you didn't know it, in a cozy mystery, the "civilian" nearly always solves the case...LOL And that's exactly why readers enjoy them. Of course, cozies also many times come in a series and we begin to look forward to reading more about the wonderful characters that we all come to love! Try Sandra Balzo's Maggy Thorsen mystery series if you haven't already! Be prepared and relax with a...Triple Shot of your favorite beverage! Highly recommended!
Book Received Via
Bostick Communications
GABixlerReviews
http://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2011/02/review-sandra-balzos-new-series-winner.html
http://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-cozy-mystery-bring-your-own-cup.html
Labels:
cozy series,
Maggy Thorsen mystery,
Sandra Balzo,
Wisconsin
20+ years, Blogging/Reviewing, Worked PT with Christian Publisher, various positions at West Virginia University, last Associate Director, FPM
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Review: Bree MacGowan is Fantastic Fun!
By Kate George
What a Fun Read! Time stood still while I read California Schemin' in one sitting! No doubt about it, Bree MacGowan is a fantastic, fun force to be around. This main character grabs you and pulls you into action after action barely giving you time to breathe. But when she does, she forces you to begin to love her with her love for her animals and her family. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and look forward to meeting her again in this series!
There was no hesitation, Bree went into the water to hopefully save the individual and worked to pull the woman to shore. She could still be alive, but when the blood flowed and Bree saw the bullet, she knew there was no chance for survival. She called the police on her cell and began the wait...
Bree was in California living with her lover while he worked. She was a reporter from Vermont and had realized that she was getting homesick. But, for now, she was called back to the present as she heard noises in the bushes surrounding her and the waiting body. A bear came roaming through...
Then from another direction, a man came out of the woods...
Just as the police were wading their way to her...
Fortunately, the bear and man ran and the police were soon there, immediately working their way to the body for their initial review. As Bree described what she had seen, she mentioned taking pictures as the reason for being there. Soon her latest pictures were turned over. Actually, Bree had seen little and knew nothing of help; however, that didn't mean that the individuals who had killed the woman would realize that or, more importantly, accept that.
Soon Bree was the prey and we follow her as she goes home (by way of Virginia, which was to be her destination for purposes of records) only to be abducted once she finally got to Vermont. The fun part of the book is how often and how quickly Bree is in the midst of "escape." Sometimes she escapes from protective custody, sometimes she escapes from those actually after her, and sometimes she escapes from the Feds. Let's just say that this is one gal that does not stay where she is told to stay or do what she is told to do. The result for readers is hilarious cat-and-mouse adventure.
I especially liked the shape-shifting alien who was one of the individuals following Bree. She was so outlandish in her disguises, but would openly talk to Bree about what she was going to look like next. Okay, weirdly funny...
As she realizes who is probably behind the murder, even if maybe not the guilty party, she is threatened, bribed, and, of course, forced to escape time after time. Even if she's beginning to like the looks of one of her captors and thinks the other is a cuddly bear. Really.
As I read this book, there were tornado warnings...and actual happenings surrounding my area. Bree may not have destroyed homes, trees and cars like the real one did. But when you read California Schemin' you may also begin to think of Bree as a tiny tornado! I loved the book and am looking forward to much more in this new series.
Delightfully fun adventure!
Book Received
From Author
GABixlerReviews
Labels:
adventure,
Bree MacGowan Series,
cozy series,
humor,
Kate George,
murder mystery
20+ years, Blogging/Reviewing, Worked PT with Christian Publisher, various positions at West Virginia University, last Associate Director, FPM
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Review: When You Need to Relax and Enjoy...Find Cozy Author, Carolyn Hart!
| "I'd attended charity balls and civic functions there. Every small town has its aristocracy... The Humes...Suffice it to say that J.J. was a hard-drinking, rabble-rousing, iconoclast...(p. 9) |
Ghost in Trouble
By
Carolyn Hart
I have to tell you, I really enjoy Carolyn Hart's Bailey Ruth mysteries...So when I wanted to take a break over the weekend and relax, I chose Ghost in Trouble from my TBR stack... This is only third in the series, but I see the little changes being made as both the author and the characters become better known to each other.
Especially between Bailey Ruth and her supervisor, Wiggins, who heads the Department of Good Intentions.
This time, she is sent back to ensure the safety of Kay Clark, now staying at "The Castle" which was a private home owned by the Hume family. Bailey Ruth had attended many formal events there when she was living, so it would be glorious to see it again--and, of course, help the woman who was in trouble...
But who knew Kay would now be living by a married name and that she was formerly known by Bailey. Needless to say, neither was thrilled to be meeting like this, especially since Bailey Ruth had chosen to live her life in Heaven as she was when 27--young and beautiful and full of life. And Kay was now in her 50s. And what was worse, Kay couldn't believe that a ghost had come to help her! But after they became reacquainted, Kay was willing to share that she thought that one of the Hume sons, with whom she had been close, had been murdered.
Besides, after Bailey Ruth had saved Kay's life before she ever appeared to her, Kay didn't have too much choice but to ultimately realize she could use her help...especially since Bailey Ruth could pop in and out invisibly to gather information.
The family had refused to allow a police investigation of Kay's "apparent accident" when a huge outdoor vase had fallen just as she was standing underneath. So Kay and Bailey Ruth find themselves using the story that Kay had been asked to write a memoir by Jack Hume, about his life in Africa--and including the obviously importance of his dying at home.
As usual, a cozy mystery will bring you lots of suspects--in this case, besides obvious members of the family and inside help, there are many secrets and criminal acts outside of the murder through which the author takes readers so that we can play at mystery solving - and yes, I solved the crime well before the ending. But then again, isn't that part of the plan by the author?
Character driven, fact-finding and a careful review of Bailey's Ruth constant clothes changes and self-admiration, are just more reasons to verify that when you want fun, giggles and a touch of mystery, you'll want to check out Carolyn Hart...Her latest, Ghost in trouble, only shows that the series is getting better and better! I loved spending time with Bailey Ruth...you will too!
Book Received Via
Amazon Vine
GABixlerReviews
Labels:
Bailey Ruth,
Carolyn Hart,
cozy series,
Ghost
20+ years, Blogging/Reviewing, Worked PT with Christian Publisher, various positions at West Virginia University, last Associate Director, FPM
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Review: Sandra Balzo's New Series A Winner!
| "The man's wearing a blaze-red shirt--" "Vermilion," AnnaLise interjected.".. Chuck looked skyward. "What?" Annalist protested. "It's still deep red, just with an orangish--" |
A Main Street Mystery
By Sandra Balzo
I had to add this lovely picture of Sandra--I can just imagine her creating her new character, a news reporter, AnnaLise Griggs, who is going to be interrupting and correcting all the other characters, as she does above...
Or writing the dialog for Mama and Daisy as they shared their secrets as best friends...
LOL, you are right Sandra, it is funny for readers. I'm not so sure about how your other characters put up with it though...
I enjoyed meeting Maggy Thorsen in A Cup of Jo (See My Review), which is the latest book in Sandra Balzo's Maggy Thorsen Mysteries, but I loved meeting the new characters in Running On Empty, the first book in Balzo's new Main Street Mystery Series.
Now I should quickly point out that Mama is the owner of the Main Street restaurant and all the patrons call the present owner Mama...
AnnaLise calls her mother Daisy, although that's not her real name.
There seemed to always be some type of trouble going on in Sutherton, North Carolina, people being drowned in Lake Sutherton and other events that occur in towns where there are many visitors on vacation or sightseeing, but this time it involved her mother so AnnaLise left immediately for a long weekend to find out what was going on.
Of course, AnnaLise went immediately to the restaurant upon arrival in town. There you will quickly see the atmosphere and quality of discussions that are routinely going on in this small town. Of course, the first thing offered is food! Mama is not a creative cook, but she does follow recipes making them into scrumptious treats, leaving the main ingredient name the dish--Baker's German Chocolate Cake or Bacardi Rum Cake...
Anyway...AnnaLise quickly found out her mother was not expecting her. But she seemed quite logical as she explained that she had made a mistake and would not even accept its being an accident. Sooooo, most of the time, her mother seemed fine. But not always--and when AnnaLise saw what happened, she knew it would be longer than a weekend that she would be staying.
Finding her old friends again was fun though, Bobby, whose mother was the individual who had too much blood removed, was fine and was quickly forgetting it ever happened. Bobby, who had been a good friend of AnnaLise quickly brought her up to date, while Chuck who was now in the Sheriff's Office was still as good looking as ever, but unfortunately took the time to announce to AnnaLise that he was gay. Bummer...
It was with Sheree Pepper, her close friend, that she discussed the possibility of her mother's Alzheimer's or a vitamin deficiency, noting that her behavior was "downright spooky."
Of course, danger arrived. Rance Smoakes had been found on the beach dead. Dickens Hart was wounded, but was with AnnaLise at the time--could it have been her the individual had been aiming for? Interestingly, in addition to Chuck's having come out, it was also now openly being discussed that Bobby was the son of Dickens Hart and that he had purchased the home for he and his mother many years ago.
Actually, there were quite a few secrets that had been kept for many many years that were now coming out.
But when AnnaLise is seriously hurt by someone pulling a garage door down on her. And they find what was used in one of the murders in their garage, there was fear that Daisy was going to be blamed. After all, there were times she didn't seem to remember what had happened or where she had been. There was no way that AnnaLise, a crime reporter, was not going to conduct her own investigation and clear her mother!
Balzo has created a fun set of characters that are uniquely individual but small-town close neighbors, caring about those that live there in town and putting up with the visitors who help them make their living. Dickens Hart, a supposed playboy millionaire seems to be at the center of many of the problems, or is he? Flushing out the old connections between town members now, after so many years, does indeed lead to sadness and anger...but also to new relationships? Hopefully, this series will be around for awhile! I thoroughly enjoyed Running on Empty.
I purposely didn't include earlier that Dickens Hart had commissioned AnnaLise to work with him as a collaborator to create his memoirs... This, a man, who ran a version of the Bunny Club in NC, called the White Tail Lodge (and, yes, the girls wore white tails)...just imagine the possibilities for future stories!
Book Received Via
Bostick Communications
GABixlerReviews
20+ years, Blogging/Reviewing, Worked PT with Christian Publisher, various positions at West Virginia University, last Associate Director, FPM
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Review: Another Dirty Business...The Big Dirt Nap!
A Dirty Business Mystery
By Rosemary Harris
Minotaur Books
ISBN: 9780312369682
246 Pages
There is only one flower in the second novel, The Big Dirt Nap, by Rosemary Harris--a corpse flower! It had gotten the name by its smell... When the police find Paula Holliday's business card in the pocket of a corpse and she explains that she is just here to do an article on the titan arum on display at the hotel, Detective Winters quips, "This should be right up your alley. You're in a dirty business and he's taking the big dirt nap." (p.16)
Nick Vigoriti maybe, sorta, kinda was hitting on Paula she had thought earlier in the bar. But when she had given him her card and explained about the flower, he realized that she wasn't the woman he was scheduled to meet. But he did provide information about the Titans Hotel owners when Paula mentioned that she may have a buyer for the Titan.
Paula's friend, Lucy Cavanaugh was that individual, but neither Nick or Paula knew that at the time. Nick had been killed--execution style. And soon Paula realized that Lucy was not coming to spend the long weekend with her as they had planned. The article gig had been added by Paula to help pay the incidental expenses, since this was supposed to be an all-expense trip!
Paula didn't know whether to be angry or worried about Lucy. She had been known to take little side trips if she had met somebody, male, that is, interesting along the way. But when Paula began to receive text messages about 2 men, duct tape... Paula was at least nervous enough to start asking questions.
Soon all the employees knew Paula and she met the young student who was daily taking care of the corpse flower, so was able to learn details of the pollination for her article. Soon she had learned that the hotel owners were looking for a new partner to help get back on sound financial ground and that a Chinese investor was looking over the place. Obviously having a murder occur was not something that anybody was willing to talk about.
They were, however, quite willing to discuss what was happening in the background, between several groups who were trying to get authorization to open an Indian-owned casino! Was Nick Vigoriti killed because he was involved with those dealings?
As Paula interviewed and gathered clues to find out about Lucy, she received another text and was able to find her--only to be followed by several men who had earlier been following Paula!
This cozy is much more a whodunit with mystery that keeps readers involved as Paula, Babe and Lucy get in and out of trouble or save each other! Babe is the owner or a bar back in their home town, but she comes racing to the rescue when Paula calls! I'm trying to decide whether I like the cozy atmosphere or the whodunit better...so I think I'll go on reading to see what her next book presents! Dead Head is next, but, in my opinion, I still recommend you start with Pushing Up Daisies and The Big Dirt Nap--you can't go wrong reading this series!
Book Received Via
BRH from Author
G. A. Bixler
Labels:
cozy series,
dirty business mystery,
Rosemary Harris
20+ years, Blogging/Reviewing, Worked PT with Christian Publisher, various positions at West Virginia University, last Associate Director, FPM
Review: A Dirty Business...
By Rosemary Harris
I'll let you read how she left New York for a small town in Connecticut--and her best friend Lucy who is still there but visits often. Paula is still finding her place but was able to talk the president of the Historical Society into giving her the job of restoring Halcyon's Garden, which had just been endowed to them upon the death of the owner of a magnificent estate. Both of the last residents had been very old and had not been able to attend to the garden so extensive cleanup would be first, but there were garden rooms, a maze, a greenhouse and even a Herb Cottage that could once again be a beautiful center for the small town.
Winning the job was a tremendous opportunity for Paula, although it would not be a profitable one. Hopefully, it would lead to other jobs once the Garden would showcase her work. Not wanting to wait, she quickly drove out to the Garden and started to tour, making notes on what needed to be done, what Hugo, her assistant could do and what should be started first. By the time she had seen most of everything, she found herself in The White Garden and there she couldn't wait any longer, she started to dig! Was it fate that had her dig exactly there? For before very long, Paula had hit something hard. Discovering a box, she lifted it up and found a small object completely covered in cloths--but a tiny head dropped out and rolled across the garden, leaving Paula screaming and sitting on the ground.
Fortunately, there had been nobody to hear her; however, she knew what she had to do. Calling in the police and learning that the body had been a baby was "not" something that brightened her first day on a new job! One of the enjoyable relationships for cozy mysteries is the love-hate relationship between the amateur sleuth and the local police. So it wasn't surprising that Sgt. Michael O'Malley was prepared to either arrest her or send her packing away from the crime scene. But not before Paula got a few digs in about Springfield police comparing to that of Mayberry.
Everybody immediately assumed that the baby had belonged to one of the sisters who had owned the garden. So amidst the work taking place to restore the Halcyon's Garden, Paula began looking around and asking questions. When one of her competitor's is killed and her assistant Hugo is the prime suspect, Paula immediately goes into high gear to save her friend!
I had to laugh when Paula discovers that Anna, who is an unpaid office assistant, is also in love with Hugo! Kind of puts our amateur sleuth on the spot, doesn't it, missing what is there right under her nose...but it was fun to watch and even have the wedding as part of the book! I loved the characters and enjoy the relationships that are developing in the series...Now I'm on to second in the series, The Big Dirt Nap! But do start with Pushing Up Daisies--start at the beginning of this great series!
St. Martin's Minotaur
ISBN: 97803123696675
291 Pages
Book Provided Via
BRH Blog by author
G. A. Bixler
Labels:
cozy series,
dirty business mystery,
Garden,
landscaping,
New York City,
police,
Rosemary Harris
20+ years, Blogging/Reviewing, Worked PT with Christian Publisher, various positions at West Virginia University, last Associate Director, FPM
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