Review of Crime Wave By Rose Pressey

• BN ID: 2940148635710
• Publisher: Rose Pressey
• Publication date: 7/23/2013
• Series: A Maggie, P.I. Mystery , #1
• Sold by: Barnes & Noble
• Format: eBook

Rose Pressey is one of my favorite indie authors. Normally she tends to write paranormal books however she went a slightly different direction with this book. This book is a good old fashion mystery. I love paranormal books but I love to switch off to other styles. 

As always Rose wrote a great read. Her lead character Maggie is fun and is someone you can relate to. Jake Jackson is a charming and devilishly handsome male lead character.Not to be forgotten is Maggie's senior assistant Dorthy who I think maybe able to give Betty White a run for her money. Dorthy is also always armed with her knitting needles and peppermints. 

Maggie took over her Uncles P.I business after he passes away. She is happy to take on the challenge because she needs a change in her life. She is also thrilled to get a new client on her first day. A case that should be an easy one just prove his wife is having an affair. Which when she takes the proof to her client she discovers him dead. His cheating spouse is arrested; so she hires Maggie to help prove her innocence. Maggie shouldn't have taken this case between dead bodies, getting shot at and all kinds of other danger she may lose her life before she is able to start her life over. 

This is an excellent read; I would recommend this to any book lover.If you haven't read any of Rose's books before I defiantly think you are missing out by not reading her stories. She has such a way that really brings her characters to life. 

Review of Hollywood Scandal by Gemma Halliday

• BN ID: 2940011916403
• Publisher: Gemma Halliday
• Publication date: 10/29/2010
• Sold by: Barnes & Noble
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 236
• Sales rank: 15,622
• Series: Hollywood Headlines Series , #1
• File size: 810 KB

I know I don’t normally review New York Times Best Selling Authors but I love Gemma Halliday! I discovered her last year when I started reading her High Heel Mysteries! I figured it was going to be one of those series were you read the first one and think why did I start reading this? I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Gemma’s books are fun and laugh out loud stories; with heroines that are smart, witty, and slightly damaged.

Both of Gemma’s series take place in L.A. Which I’ve never been so I get to live vicariously through Tina Bender in this series as she chases down Hollywood’s rich and famous for her celebrity gossip column. Tina works for Felix Dunn at the Informer. If you read the High Heel Mysteries Felix might sound familiar to you. Gemma brought back some of your beloved characters from the High Heeled Mysteries. I love that she did that. It gives you the feeling of continuing the story but with new lead characters.

In the first book in this series Tina starts to get threats because of her column; true to form she isn’t going to take it lying down. She sees it as a could be story and she is going to chase the lead. Felix of course is looking out for his assets; he higher Cal to look out for Tina. This of course doesn’t go over well with her because she is a big girl and can take care of herself.  Or at least she thinks so!

I look forward to reading the rest of this series! It’s always great being able to read a great mystery that is also a fun romance story as well! I would suggest if you haven’t read the High Heel Mysteries pick those up as well!! 

Review of Adventures in Funeral Crashing by Milda Harris

• BN ID: 2940011427909
• Publisher: Milda Harris, via Smashwords
• Publication date: 6/16/2011
• Sold by: SMASHWORDS - EBKS
• Format: eBook
• Sales rank: 6,039
• File size: 436 KB

I don’t know what I expected when I picked up this book. I know it was the title that caught my attention and I figured what the heck let’s give it a try.

This book was refreshing in the way it took me back to younger days. By that I mean it is along the lines of a Nancy Drew or Sweet Valley High books that I used to enjoy. I loved the fact that Kait the lead character although she is a professional funeral crasher at 16 she isn’t the stereotypical “Goth” kid. She is just your average run of the mill kid that has been made an outcast by her former BFF!

Kait got into funeral crashing after her mother died a year and a half prior; because she feels a sense of belonging there. That is until she accidently crashes the wrong funeral! The hottest most popular boy in school Ethan’s sisters funeral. He sees Kait and recognizes her from school and wants to know how she knows his sister. Kait took off because she couldn’t think of a good lie figuring that would be the end of it until he shows up at the video store she works at. Ethan wants to know because he thinks his sister was murdered; so he is looking for answers.

They decide to team up after Kait comes clean about funeral crashing with Ethan; leading them on a deadly game of cat and mouse.

If you don’t mind a book that is going to take you back to better or worse times in your life depending on how highschool was for you check this book out. If you know a teen that like to read this is a fun chick lit book for them. 

Review of the Classmate Murders by Bob Moats

BN ID: 2940000800409

Publisher: Bob Moats, via Smashwords

Publication date: 12/23/2009

Sold by: SMASHWORDS - EBKS

Format: eBook

Sales rank: 1,463

File size: 522 KB

This book was one I picked up looking for something different to read and I almost didn’t finish reading it when I realized the main character was 60 years old. I know shame on me for judging a book by the age of its main character! It’s a bad habit I am trying to break.

I’m glad I kept reading this book I was presently surprised by this story! It kept me guessing until almost the end; which doesn’t happen often. I normally have the story figured out early on. Plus I tend to nit-pick detective novels because something is always written wrong. With a background in Criminal Investigation it tends to put a damper on enjoying it. I really didn’t have that problem with this book.

This book starts out explaining a little bit about Jim Richards the lead character. He logs on to his computer and discovers an email from his high school sweetheart. In the letters she explains that she heard that he was some sort of investigator and she needs his help! He hasn’t heard from her in over 40 years so he is a bit blown away by her contacting him. He isn’t actually an investigator he is a security guard that was recently laid off. But he is more than willing to try to help her; when he tries to call her the phone is answered by a detective. He called just a little too late to help her; however she is only the first of his former classmates that start getting threatened! Jim tries to discover the link between the girls and tries to save them before it’s too late. Jim also manages to find love in the process!

I really enjoyed this book and even though there was a big of over the hill sex in it; I look forward to reading more books in this series.

Interview with Author Kate George

Hello Kate, Thank you for doing this interview.

You’re welcome, Heather, I’m always willing to talk about myself!

     Did you always want to be a writer or did you realize it later on?

When I was in grade school I used to go to the library and think that one day I might have a book on the shelves. I wrote quite bit when I was young, then I took a twenty year hiatus.

Do you do anything other than write?

I’ve done a number of different things. I trained police dogs in my twenties. Then I taught motorcycle safety classes. I was an answering service operator, a coffee girl, an actress and a foreclosure officer. (That last one didn’t last long, it was awful.) Currently I’m working at the K-12 school where my children are students. I pretty much do everything here, from substituting in classes to administrative work.

What do you like to do when you have down time?

I went the whole summer with no down time, so I’m not sure I remember what I like to do! I read a lot. I like to take road trips. Hanging out with friends and either crafting or chatting – that’s my favorite. I love to sew and create things.

Do have a favorite author that inspires you?

Jenny Crusie. Not only does she tell great stories, but she also shares everything she knows. Jenny is very generous with her time and knowledge, I’d like to be that way when I get to the point I have something to share.

Do you have a favorite place you like to go to think when you are working on a story?

I like to be alone in my house when I’m working. It doesn’t happen much these days, but my dogs hang out with me in the silence, or I play music to get the story back in my head. I don’t have to worry about disturbing anyone, and there is no one to distract me.

Where do you come up with the characters for your books?

I really have no idea. The people just pop into my head.

Are the places in your stories similar of places you’ve traveled to or would like to?

I always write about places I know intimately, either from my life or in my imagination. It’s very difficult for me to set a story in a place I’ve never been. It’s so easy to get the details wrong.

I just finished reading California Schemin; are you planning any more books in this series?

Crazy Little Thing Called Dead will be coming out at the end of September, and there will be at least one more book after that.

Are you anything like your lead heroine Bree?

There is a lot of Bree in me. Her love of animals, her ability to ride motorcycle, and a certain fearless approach to life.

What is next for you?

What’s next? A paranormal romance called Glimmer Girls, which is different from anything I’ve written before, and of course more Bree. She’s part of my life.  Hopefully, one day I’ll be able to quit my day job and just write. Then there’ll be even more Bree and whatever else pops out of my head.

Again thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Is there anything else you would like to add?

                Nothing else. Thanks so much for having me. I love meeting new people and making new friends – even when it’s via the internet.

Review of California Schemin’ by Kate George

• BN ID: 2940011232725
• Publisher: Kate George, via Smashwords
• Publication date: 3/7/2011
• Sold by: SMASHWORDS - EBKS
• Format: eBook
• Sales rank: 1,434
• File size: 545 KB

What I didn’t realize when I started reading this book is it’s actually the second book in a series. However it’s one of those series where you can start reading any book and you’re ok because they have their own distinct stories. The only thing is it will reference other stories a little.

This was a great mystery to read. I love the main character Bree. She is so loving and kind but she can scheme and kick butt if needed. In this book while on vacation she has the unfortunate experience of photographing a murder. She doesn’t realize it’s a murder at first when she sees a woman in pink fall from the bridge into the water. When Bree tries to save her she realizes it’s a murder victim. From that point on her world is turned upside down trying live her life and do the right thing.

I like the way the book ended as well leaving a bit of a cliff hanger to let you know there will be another book but also leaving so if you don’t want to read it right away that is alright too. I hate books that leave cliff hangers where you have to read the next book right away. I try to spread the books out I’m reading and not read the same book series one right after another so I can enjoy it longer.

I do plan to get the rest of this series to see what other wild adventures Bree can get herself into. Also what the future holds for her since she seems to be a bit unlucky in love or maybe she just hasn’t found the right one yet.