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From the very first pages, I was hooked on this story and its main character. Kearce made for an intriguing protagonist — his past moral choices were a bit questionable, but I quickly grew to like him and found myself rooting for his success. What began as a seemingly straightforward mystery took one unexpected turn after another, spiraling into a head-spinning twist. It's no exaggeration to say — I never saw it coming!

The fast-paced plot never slowed, with a quirky cast of characters who helped Kearce along the way. They added just the right amount of humor without overshadowing the story, leaving me hoping to see more of them in future books. This was my first read from this author, and it definitely won't be my last.

(It wasn’t until after finishing that I realized this was actually the second book in a series — but rest assured, it works perfectly as a standalone!)

This story was utterly captivating. The characters felt so real, their struggles so raw. I found myself completely immersed in their world. Every turn of the plot hit me like a wave, leaving me breathless and emotionally drained in the best way possible. The way this author wove together love, loss, and hope was nothing short of masterful, making this a story that will stay with me long after I’ve turned the final page.

This book was intense and absolutely unputdownable! I couldn’t stop when life tried to interfere so I utilized the text to speech format and continued gobbling this up as quickly as possible.

Bowie and Beth were both characters that were relatable given that their emotions felt realistic and their flaws genuine. Things were not easy for them in any way as they began to work together on a case that had so many twists and turns, I wasn’t sure what to expect. This storyline could have been plucked right off of a current podcast and in the same manner, kept me glued until the end.

Things really start coming together in this latest Finlay Donovan episode. While we meet new characters, we also get to know others better. The hijinks and shenanigans continue with all characters involved and the laugh out loud moments are even more hysterical because I’ve come to adore Finlay and her crew so much. On top of it all is a mystery that is multi-layered, once more giving us twist upon twist. And that’s not a spoiler because if you’ve read the series, you already know to expect the most perfect unraveling of the mystery.

And now to wait for the next one…

Holy heck this book gave my brain whiplash, in the best way! This was not what I was expecting. I loved the little twists that were constantly popping up throughout this story. I never knew what was going to happen next and when something did, it was nothing that I had foreseen.

This has a lot of back and forth between several characters which threw me off a time or two. I found it hard to keep track at times but after a few moments of running backwards in my mind, I quickly caught up with where we were and could move forward. While I really loved the basic storyline, there was a bit that I found to be unbelievable which gave my excitement a little hiccup and had me hesitating to reevaluate. However, I’m a very lenient reader and I was able to suspend belief and continue on this wild ride.

There is nothing like the mayhem and shenanigans that reigns whenever Finlay and Vero get caught up in whatever new adventure has them scrambling to set things right in their world. Their time at a citizen’s police academy is the perfect backdrop for their struggle to solve who the bad guy is this time around. The romance remains on the edges even though it’s definitely kicked up a notch, the humor is perfectly layered throughout, and the mystery is smartly developed.

I’m definitely recommending that you read the previous books in this series prior to this one. I didn’t feel it was necessary to read book 1, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, prior to book 2, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, but this one definitely pulls on details from them for this story.

There’s no doubt I’m becoming a huge Finlay Donovan fan and thereby a Elle Cosimano fan as well.

Finlay and her sidekick Vero are caught up in a wild ride as her ex-husband has a hit on his head. The journey of these characters as they are caught up in this madcap mystery intrigued me. Who other than Finlay would want Stephen dead? Things are also hilarious because that’s just how things roll wherever Finlay is concerned especially when you add Vero into the mix. Add in the decidedly dangerous turns that follow and I’ve found the perfect rom/com/suspense/thriller.

This is the second book in the series and while it has characters that we met in the first book, this story could stand alone. However, I suggest you read the first book so you are aware of all the dynamics between characters despite some background having been shared in this book.

What a fun, engaging read and perfect to curl up on the sofa or stretch out on the beach with.

I am a new Finlay Donovan fan! It didn’t take but a few pages for me to become one. Finlay is the type of character that is easy to picture yourself in her place. Except for the hitwoman for hire part. LoL! But please do not let that idea stop you from diving into this story. She’s newly divorced and is struggling to hold things together with finances and children along with her two timing ex husband. I loved her immediately.

This was such a fun, engaging read. The story really pulled me in and I loved her sidekick that added depth to the story along with humor. Even as there is one crazy thing after another happening, the danger begins to feel very real. I appreciated the layers this author created along the way. And of course there’s the touch of romance that Finlay is exploring. Not sure where that’s going to go but I’m definitely reading the next book to find out more about all of these incredible characters.

Wow! This series just keeps getting better! I love the feeling of danger that lingers at the edges of this story with each turn of the page. I never know what to expect or when something alarming and terrifying is going to happen. Which of course keeps me turning the pages. When you add in that Laurel is a character unlike any I’ve read before I have found myself totally addicted.

This storyline, at times, gave me creepy crawlies…and it was awesome! While this book gives us a resolution to these murders, there are still issues to be dealt with and I just know Abigail is going to show us what she’s really made of at some point. The fact that I don’t know where, when or how keeps me on edge constantly. Mrs. Zanetti is a master at romantic suspense and I’m for the ride til the very end!

While this is all about a woman who hates Christmas, the romance is no bah-humbug. I absolutely adored Graham and Charlotte’s story. This was nothing as I expected yet everything that I love. I have become a huge fan of Ms. Waters and this book, like her previous works, is fresh and original. The storyline kept me engaged and I could not turn the pages fast enough. Everything about this pulled me in. There is just something about the way this author writes that I find highly addictive and Christmas is All Around is another example of the magic she wields.

Wow! This book was rich! And I mean rich as in the emotion, the atmosphere, the danger and drama. Everything was so well developed and written that I felt as though I were enveloped within Zo’s world experiencing her loss and grief, the move into something more and then the ultimate revelations that were waiting for her. And holy heck did things start to twist and turn until I was turning pages as quickly as I could. This book consumed me and I am desperate to know what happens next!

These were two wonderful Christmas stories and despite reading them in August when it was 100 degrees outside, they gave me all the Christmas emotions and feelings that are good in the season. It’s hard to say which was my favorite as they both were original and carried their own morals. I did like the light comparison A Cedar Cove Christmas had to the original Christmas story so it might have a slight edge over 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. Both have a bit of romance, but so much heart and warmth in true Macomber Christmas tradition. The latter did have a little something that was irksome but I’m a lenient reader and was over it and moving on. Each is perfect for a quick read and I would imagine they will be wonderful little morsels during the hectic rush of holiday preparations. In fact, I’m planning to reread them myself at that time.