Death, Taxes, and Peach Sangria by Diane Kelly

Death, Taxes, and Peach Sangria by Diane Kelly is the 4th book in the “Tara Holloway” romantic mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, January 2013

When it comes to exposing tax fraud, Tara and her partner Eddie are really cleaning up. From their brilliant takedown of the disappearing “Tax Wizard” to their perfectly planned downfall of the “Deduction Diva,” they’ve earned the respect of their peers at Criminal Investigations. Now Tara’s ready to celebrate with an ice-cold pitcher of peach sangria—even if her next case is totally the pits.

Tara’s looking forward to a challenge but, back at the office, everyone’s looking for love. Her boss Lu “The Lobo” Lobozinski and office virgin Josh Schmidt are signing up for an online dating service, and—to Tara’s dismay—so is her crush, Special Agent Nick Pratt. Tara’s trying to act chill. But when she learns that her next case involves cash-funneling to terrorists, it’s not just her love life that’s on the rocks. It’s her life, period.

Oh what a fun time I had with Tara as she goes on a hunt for tax cheaters. Diane sure knows how to tickle my funny bone with the laugh a minute tome that is delightfully entertaining. The writing is crisp; the dialogue witty and engaging and the action is unstoppable. But what I like most about this book and series is that Tara is so lovable and I enjoy her relationship with friends and her parents. This is a great read and I look forward to the next exciting cases that crosses Tara’s desk.

Death, Taxes, and a Sequined Clutch by Diane Kelly

Death, Taxes, and a Sequined Clutch by Diane Kelly is the first novella in the “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, October 2012

IRS special agent Tara Holloway isn’t going to let a perfect opportunity to collect pass her by. Especially when she can do it in sequins and a bedazzled hip holster.

Death and taxes wait for no woman. And if anything can take Tara’s mind off gorgeous temptation Nick Pratt, her new coworker, it’s a case at her old accounting firm—involving none other than the arrogant womanizer who humiliated her years ago. Taking down brothers who’ve lied and cheated their way into millions is a professional satisfaction, but catching Nathan Jamison with his pants down is the most fun Tara can have without Nick. That is, until the bullets start flying.

It never fails…a simple IRS case always ends with someone shooting at Tara, but rest assured, Tara has her glock at the ready for a hoe down shoot out. This was a fun read and I especially enjoyed how Tara enacted her revenge on an old co-worker. A visit from her parents brings humor and I can’t wait to read the next exciting adventures with Tara and her friends.

Death, Taxes, and Extra-Hold Hairspray by Diane Kelly

Death, Taxes, and Extra-Hold Hairspray by Diane Kelly is the third book in the “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, June 2012

When you’re an agent for the IRS, it’s always tax time. And this season, Tara is up to her neck in work with two very knotty cases. One involves a charismatic minister who’s using his mega-church as a tax shelter. The other is a crazy militant who’s trying to turn Texas into a separate country. With her boyfriend out of town and her partner reassigned, Tara is on her own—and things are getting hairy.

If dealing with the Lone Star State isn’t enough, Tara has other new issues to take into account: There’s a sexy new agent named Nick, who’s got her head in the clouds…and Tara’s boss, Lu, who’s having a hair problem of epic proportions: not even her Chinese contraband industrial-strength hairspray is enough to keep her signature strawberry blonde beehive from falling flat. Can Tara help Lu find a wig—and keep from wigging out over Nick? Love, updos, taxes—this time, Tara’s got a whole lot of kinks to iron out.

This is such a fun read that you can’t help but laugh as you turn the pages. This time Tara is after a minister and the repercussion of his arrest leads to some trying times for our feisty investigator as she set out to close the book on this tax cheat. In the middle of all of this, Tara is dealing with some personal issues that make this book doubly humorous and I look forward to the next book in this enjoyably entertaining series.

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.

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.

Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte by Diane Kelly

Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte by Diane Kelly is the second book in the “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, February 2012

It’s all in a day’s work for Tara Holloway, the U.S. Treasury’s latest, greatest, soon-to-be-skinniest weapon against the biggest, richest tax cheats in the nation.

When she joined the Criminal Investigations Division, Tara knew she’d be investigating some very real crooks. Forget about waitresses hiding tips from the IRS or babysitters not declaring income! Tara and her partner, Eddie, are going after one of country’s richest, dirtiest felons. Being on a diet doesn’t help Tara’s mood much. Hopefully, by the time the investigation is over, she’ll be sitting somewhere in a string bikini, far, far away.

But first: Reality. Marcos Mendoza is a suspected loan shark with connections across the Mexican border. He’s never been accused of any crimes, yet his business associates have a history of disappearing…and resurfacing…in body bags. Will Tara risk life, limb, and the pursuit of filing a joint tax return with her maybe-serious boyfriend Brett? Fighting crime, like drinking a cup of coffee with low-fat milk and artificial sweetener, is often bittersweet.

What a fun read. Tara and her partner are after a dangerous loan shark and romancing her boyfriend has to take a back seat until she can closes this case. Along the way she gets assisted from an unlikely source and her life will never be the same. I knew the moment I turned the first page that there will be non-stop laughing and full speed ahead action. The mystery is more of how will Tara and the gang get their man and the journey to the end is an amusing and humorous escapade. This is a very enjoyable read and I can’t wait for the next chapter in the entertaining series.

Death, Taxes and a French Manicure by Diane Kelly

Death, Taxes and a French Manicure by Diane Kelly is the first book in the new “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, November 2011

Tara Holloway has got your number. A special agent on the IRS’s payroll, she’s dead-set on making sure that money crimes don’t pay.

Tax cheats, beware: The Treasury Department’s Criminal Investigations Division has a new special agent on its payroll. A recovering tomboy with a head for numbers, Tara’s fast becoming the Annie Oakley of the IRS-kicking ass, taking social security numbers, and keeping the world safe for honest taxpayers. Or else.

Tara’s latest mission finds her in hot pursuit of ice-cream vendor Joseph “Joe Cool” Cullen. Along with frozen treats he’s selling narcotics—and failing to report his ill-gotten gains on his tax returns. Over Tara’s dead body. Then there’s Michael Gryder, who appears to be operating a Ponzi scheme…with banker Stan Shelton…whose lake house is being landscaped by Brett Ellington…who happens to be dating Tara. If following that money trail isn’t tough enough, now Tara must face a new conundrum: Should she invest her trust in Brett—or put him behind bars? New love always comes at a cost but justice? Priceless.

What a fun book! Tara is an IRS special investigator who enjoys going after tax cheaters and is quite a sharp shooter, if necessary. Her latest case has her going after two tax cheaters, one of whom, her new boyfriend may be involved, or is he? This page turning story will have you laughing at the antics that Tara finds herself in; enjoying her down-home style while she pursues the criminal elements and delighting in her energetic spirit that makes her a lovable character. This amusing and entertaining story was very enjoyable and I look forward to the next book in this likable series.