Final Sail by Elaine Viets

Final Sail by Elaine Viets is the 11th book in the “Dead-End Job” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, May 2012

Husband and wife PI team Helen Hawthorne and Phil Sagemont each have their hands full, but only Helen has to carry drink trays—in her latest dead-end job/undercover assignment as a stewardess on a private yacht…

To catch a jewel smuggler on a luxury yacht, Helen needs to pose as the ship’s new stewardess—but between serving drinks to the snobs, scrubbing floors, and cleaning up after seasick passengers, she’s starting to miss dry land almost as much as she misses Phil.

While Helen’s cruising to the Bahamas, Phil’s got his own job—trying to catch a sexy gold digger who may have killed her elderly new husband for his fortune. Good thing he’s a self-proclaimed master of disguise, playing it cool as everything from an air-conditioning repairman to a Rastafarian.

Helen’s a help to Phil in his case, but when she’s on her own on the high seas, Helen needs to watch her step as she searches out the smuggler—or she may end up going from undercover to overboard…

Phil and Helen are back and in their latest projects as private detectives, Phil dons multiple disguises when their client insists that her father is slowly being killed by his new wife and Helen’s dead-end job skills comes in handy on a smuggling case. This action-filled and fast-paced drama was a great read that I could not put down. The witty dialogue and humorous escapades the guys have when they are pursuing their suspects is such a fun ride that I don’t want to see end. The author did a great job in describing each scene as I imagined myself tagging along with them. This engaging mystery boasts a lovable cast and a comfortable tone and I look forward to the next exciting adventures in this pleasingly enjoyable series.

The Scarlet Pepper by Dorothy St. James

The Scarlet Pepper by Dorothy St. James is the second book in the “White House Gardener” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, April 2012

As the official organic gardener for the White House, Casey Calhoun is usually up to her elbows in something or other. But when someone starts tampering with the Presidential vegetable garden, she soon finds herself in way over her head.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that red peppers are growing instead of green ones and cabbage is popping up where the First Lady’s favorite lettuce should be-a hard-nosed investigative reporter is found dead after targeting the President’s unpopular Chief of Staff.

Raking over the clues and rumors, Casey knows that someone is sabotaging both her garden and the First Lady’s reputation. But when she has one close call too many, Casey realizes that the next thing buried in the dirt might just be her

This was a very enjoyable read. Someone is digging up the vegetable garden and leaking information, putting Casey in jeopardy. When a reporter is found dead and Casey starts receiving threatening messages, Casey will have to dig deep to find the culprit. This was a fast-paced, action-packed drama with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing. The author did a great job at keeping me in suspense as the story moved forward with spurts from Casey’s traumatic childhood. Gordon, Alyssa and Jack are back in this charming whodunit and I look forward to more exciting adventures with this crew.

Perfectly Matched by Heather Webber

Perfectly Matched by Heather Webber is the fourth book in the “Lucy Valentine” mystery series. Publisher: Blue Dandelion Press, May 2012

The heat is on…

When Boston psychic Lucy Valentine finds herself involved with a group of eccentric mediums trying to fine tune their abilities, she is convinced a rare spring heat wave has flushed all the local crazies out of hiding.

Adding to her theory is her newest client in the Lost Loves division of Valentine, Inc., her family’s lucrative matchmaking firm. He’s an animal whisperer who hires Lucy to locate his soul mate—because his cat told him so. Finding his purrfect match, however, isn’t as easy as it seems.

But craziest of all is the Beantown Burner, a serial arsonist who is targeting private eye Sam Donahue, brother of Lucy’s boyfriend, Sean. With the help of her kooky psychic group, Lucy must tap into hidden abilities to catch the firebug before the fires turn deadly. She never expected to discover that the motive behind the flames hits a little too close to home…and dangerously close to her heart.

Like fine wine, this series keeps getting better and better. I love it! The heat is definitely on in this tale of mystery and intrigue. Someone is setting fires and it will take Lucy’s hidden abilities to stomp out those flames. All the familiar people are back from Marisol, to Sean to Preston, to Em, to Dovie and of course Lucy as she tackles several cases including a missing person; the search for a soul mate; an arsonist causing havoc and the usual family quirkiness that has her searching for answers. This non-stop, fun-filled and fast-moving story was a great read that I could not put down. This mystery kept me guessing and that ending…WOW! With a lovable cast, entertaining dialogue and a very comfortable tone, this is the best one ever in this delightfully appealing series.

A Day In The Life Of Melinda “Mel” Langston by Sparkle Abbey

You’ve already met my cousin, Caro Lamont, the pet therapist in Desperate Housedogs. Even though we’re both former Texas beauty queens, have overbearing Mama’s, and have fallen head-over-heels in love with southern California, we attack life differently. While my lovely cousin is determined to save the world, I’m a little more rebellious.

Much to the dismay of my Mama, I tossed aside my pageant tiaras for Swarovski crystal dog collars. See, I own Bow Wow Dog Boutique. It’s the perfect little set-up for a disgraced beauty queen. I love my new life.

Up until last week, a typical day included a relaxing morning walk with my bulldog, Missy, a yummy chai latte from the Koffee Klatch, dodging phone calls from my well-meaning Mama and advising my customers on the best bling for their canine loved ones. Oh, and hanging out with my best friend, Darby Beckett.

That was before the Fur Ball, Laguna Beach’s annual animal rescue charity benefit. Before Mona Michaels, (the customer from hell) pushed someone so far they killed her. Before Mona’s dog, Fluffy, a daytime TV star, somehow became my responsibility.

Worse than that, Darby’s suspect number one on Homicide Detective Judd Malone’s “whodunit list.” Just because she has a secret. Seriously, we all have secrets. Okay, maybe not as huge as Darby’s, but still. So while I’m juggling my growing business, my on-again-off-again fiancé, Grey Donovan, and Fluffy’s snob-dog attitude, I’ve decided it’s up to me to prove Darby had nothing to do with Mona’s death.

Easier said than done. Did I mention Darby’s Texas-sized secret? Oh, did I forget to tell you, Detective Malone has made me promise to stay out of his investigation? I’m sure you can see where this is headed.

But if Caro can help uncover a crazed killer, I can too. Hopefully I can dig up the truth before the killer buries me.

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You can read more about Mel in GET FLUFFY, the second book in the “Pampered Pets” mystery series.

Meet the author
Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of mystery writers Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often write at ML’s dining room table or at the Starbucks up the street. If they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and, depending on the time of day, either an iced tea or a margarita. When their publisher, Bell Bridge Books, asked them to choose a pen name, they chose to use Sparkle Abbey because they liked the idea of combining the names of their two rescue pets – Sparkle (ML’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). Mary Lee is President and Anita is Vice-President of Sisters in Crime – Iowa. Readers can contact them through their website at: www.sparkleabbey.com

Books are available at retail and online booksellers.

A Day In The Life Of Dandy Gilver by Catriona McPherson

I awaken early, six-ish as like as not, since that is when Bunty, darling dotty dog, dog of my life, begins her day, trampling on my counterpane, shaking her ears and letting out her unbearthly moaning yawn until I get up and let her out of my bedroom. She can always be sure of finding a housemaid somewhere to open a garden door.

I doze until the arrival of the tweenie to light my fire and at her heels Becky, the head parlourmaid, bringing my tea. Two cups with sugar are needed to fortify my morning self for the third entrance: that of Grant, my maid, with her curling irons and her latest thoughts on my wardrobe, gleaned from the fashion magazines to which she has persuaded me to take out subscriptions.

I breakfast upon perfectly poached eggs and strong coffee, opposite the front and back pages of The Times, behind which Hugh, my husband, eats his porridge. I sometimes yearn for a little desultory conversation but I am glad that the eating is hidden from me. My husband is a Scot and the Scots’ idea of a nice dish of porridge is anyone else’s idea of a hideous stodgy mess one would not feed to a hungry sow. And salted too.

After breakfast, Hugh retires to his business room to commune with his steward on the endless fun of the estate and I, after a short walk with Bunty in the drizzle, rain, hail or snow (depending on the season), retire to my sitting room in the south-east corner of the house to open my post, pay bills, accept or decline invitations and read what letters my acquaintance might have sent me.

Thus far my life mirrors that of my mother before me, and hers before her, except in the matter of corsetry. When it comes to the letters I read, however, my life is as far from theirs as if I had pulled on britches and joined a pirate band. For in my correspondence might be missing diamonds, vanished lovers, moonlight maraudings, even the threat of murder. I have lately added to my address book miners and farmers and suffragettes and – once, I am almost sure – witches. My acquaintance, in short, is wider than it used to be.

I have stopped mid-morning for ashy potatoes around the campfire with circus folk, dined at noon off bacon and cabbage in a millworker’s cottage, supped with twelve others in a servants’ hall who thought I was one of their own. So you see, my day might begin with breakfast in my own dining room, and the front and back pages of The Times, but since I took up detecting, where I shall be by luncheon is anyone’s wager.

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You can read more about Dandy in DANDY GILVER AND AN UNSUITABLE DAY FOR A MURDER, the sixth book in the “Dandy Gilver” mystery series.

** Thanks to the Catriona, I have one (1) copy of DANDY GILVER AND AN UNSUITABLE DAY FOR A MURDER to give away. Contest open to residents of the US only. Contest ends May 26. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. Book will be shipped directly from the author. **

Meet the author
Catriona McPherson is the author of the Dandy Gilver series of mysteries, set in Scotland in the 1920s where – but not when – she was born. The series has been nominated for a CWA Dagger and a Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year award in the UK and launched in the US last year, with Dandy Gilver and The Proper Treatment of Bloodstains, which Hallie Ephron named one of the top ten crime novels of 2011 in the Boston Globe. The latest installment – Dandy Gilver and An Unsuitable Day for a Murder – is published in hardback on the 29th of May. Since 2010, Catriona has lived on twenty acres in a beautiful valley in northern California where she is slowly learning to garden in a Mediterranean climate. The plants don’t look good but the blogs about them can be entertaining. Visit the Dandy Gilver website at www.dandygilver.com or Catriona’s at http://catrionamcpherson.blogspot.com

Books are available at retail and online booksellers.

Bare-Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

Bare-Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez is the third book in the “Lola Cruz” mystery series. Publisher: Entangled Publishing, May 2012

Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she’s out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento’s professional basketball scene in a barely-there cheerleading outfit is one thing—but parading around in nothing but smile? If she has any chance of hiding this from her traditional family and on-again/off-again boyfriend Jack, she’s going to have a lot more than her duct tape bra and killer dance moves to keep under wraps.

What a great read. Lola latest case has her going undercover as a cheerleader. When a clue points her in the direction of a nudist resort, how far will Lola go to get the job done? Well, you’ll have to get your own copy to find out. What a great read. This was one fun and sexy drama that I did not want to see end. The mystery kept me guessing but the comedic exploits and the romance, oh the romance had me smiling as the story progressed. With sexy and spitfire Lola on the case, the killer does not stand a chance. With amusing and witty repartee and a lovable cast, this story was muy excelente and the best one ever. I look forward to more exciting adventures with Lola and her friends in this enjoyably entertaining series.

A Day In The Life of Olivia Davis by Tonya Kappes

Sometimes breaking up with someone is impossible. Trust me. I know. I make a living from it. I own and operate an on-line break up service, Splitsville.com. Why would I want such a ruthless job and break people’s hearts?

Easy. You can’t see people’s auras behind a monitor. You see, I have a “gift.” Well. . .my Aunt Matilda calls it a gift. I call it chains. I’ve never been able to hold down a job because when too many people’s auras collide, I faint.

It’s no fun walking around fainting all day. So a couple of years ago when Erin, my best friend, wanted to dump her boyfriend. She was a big chicken, so I did it for her. Called his ass up, broke the news and Splitsville.com was born.

Here’s how it works. Clients contact me through an online form where they give their name, email address, working phone number for the dumpee, reason for dumping, a few details of their relationship, and a picture of the victim and, the most important part, payment in full. The reason for the cashola up front was in case the dump was a joke. In that case, they deserved to lose their money for being an ass and I deserved to keep it for having to deal with them.

I offer three “Breakup” packages. The cheapest and most popular is “the general breakup” for a low price of fifty dollars. “The engagement breakup” is a little steeper at one hundred dollars. It totally should be more because I can’t imagine being in the fiancé’s shoes on this one. And the worst and most expensive breakup of all is “the divorce breakup” setting the big jerk or jerkette back a mere two hundred dollars.

Of course it’s all done under my alias, Jenn, because you wouldn’t believe how many death threats I get. Some might be harmless, but some I have to take as serious.

It just so happens that two of my clients showed up dead. Low and behold the police tracked me down through the internet and it’s gotten me into a lot of hot water. This is where my “gift” will come in handy.

Someone is setting me up. Little do they know I’m psychic. . .

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You can read more about Olivia in the first book in the “Olivia Davis” paranormal mystery series.

** Thanks to the Tonya, I have two (2) digital copies of SPLITSVILLE.COM to give away for either the Kindle or the Nook. Contest ends May 25. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. The e-book will be sent directly from the author. **

Meet the author
Tonya writes fun humorous fiction about quirky characters in quirky situations, some with romance and some with a little mystery. More than anything Tonya loves to connect with readers! I’m a huge fan of them and LOVE getting to know them. I love to make readers smile, and remember not to take life to seriously. KARMA plays a big role in my life, and I believe in being kind to everyone, even if they aren’t kind back. I’m addicted to coffee, McDonald’s Diet Coke, and Red Hots Candy! When I’m not writing about quirky characters and even quirkier situations, I’m busy being the princess, queen and jester of my domain which includes my BFF husband, three teenage boys and two dogs. Visit Tonya at http://tonyakappes.blogspot.com

Books are available at online booksellers.