Grave Reservations (The Booking Agents #1) by Cherie Priest

Publication: October 26, 2021

Publisher: Atria Books

Source: Publisher

 

 

Synopsis:

A psychic travel agent and a Seattle PD detective solve a murder in this quirky mystery in the vein of Lisa Lutz’s The Spellman Files and Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series.

Meet Leda Foley: devoted friend, struggling travel agent, and inconsistent psychic. When Leda, sole proprietor of Foley's Flights of Fancy, impulsively re-books Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt’s flight, her life changes in ways she couldn’t have predicted.

After watching his original plane blow up from the safety of the airport, Grady realizes that Leda’s special abilities could help him with a cold case he just can’t crack.

Despite her scattershot premonitions, she agrees for a secret reason: her fiancé’s murder remains unsolved. Leda’s psychic abilities couldn’t help the case several years before, but she’s been honing her skills and drawing a crowd at her favorite bar’s open-mic nights, where she performs Klairvoyant Karaoke—singing whatever song comes to mind when she holds people’s personal effects. Now joined by a rag-tag group of bar patrons and pals alike, Leda and Grady set out to catch a killer—and learn how the two cases that haunt them have more in common than they ever suspected.

 

 

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Grave Reservations is a light and easy mystery that was just what I needed.

 

Leda is a fun and pretty optimistic travel agent/psychic. Detective Grady is down to earth and level-headed. He’s followed every possible lead he could with this case he is working on and gotten nowhere. The only thing he hasn’t tried by now is an actual psychic. Enter Leda, the psychic who saved his life. They both bring something to the table and they complement each other very nicely. 

 

Even though Grady asked for Leda’s help, I’m glad he didn’t pin all his hopes on her psychic abilities. He used logic and real evidence to further investigate and see if it matched what Leda saw or remembered.  Leda’s best friend Niki tagged along with them also which was something I didn’t quite understand. She had no reason to be involved in the case, but I went along with it anyways. Especially since she brought more fun to the story with her unfiltered and often comedic personality.

 

The mystery aspect of the story wasn’t super thrilling or suspenseful, however seeing all the different interactions between Leda, Grady, Niki, and her friends at the bar was fun and made things more interesting.

 

This cozy mystery is a little quirky, a little funny, and very entertaining. It’s also the first book in a series, with the second book, Flight Risk releasing November 1, 2022. 

 

 

 

RATING: 3-3½ OUT OF 5.

 

 

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Book Spotlight: Gonzo Girl by Cheryl Della Pietra

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to Cheryl Della Pietra and her debut book Gonzo Girl! Gonzo Girl, a story that is mixed with both fact and fiction, is sure to grab readers attention. It is a fast paced adventurous story that takes the reader on one ride after the next. Take a look at more info about the book and the author below. Happy reading! :)

Publication: July 28, 2015

Publisher: Touchstone

Long after the last drink is poured and the final gunshot fired, Cheryl Della Pietra's novel inspired by her time as Hunter S. Thompson's assistant will linger in your mind. Alley Russo is a recent college grad desperately trying to make it in the grueling world of New York publishing, but like so many who have come before her, she has no connections and has settled for an unpaid magazine internship while slinging drinks on Bleecker Street just to make ends meet. That's when she hears the infamous Walker Reade is looking for an assistant to replace the eight others who have recently quit. Hungry for a chance to get her manuscript onto the desk of an experienced editor, Alley jumps at the opportunity to help Reade finish his latest novel. After surviving an absurd three-day trial period involving a .44 magnum, purple-pyramid acid, violent verbal outbursts, brushes with fame and the law, a bevy of peacocks, and a whole lot of cocaine, Alley is invited to stay at the compound where Reade works. For months Alley attempts to coax the novel out of Walker page-by-page, all while battling his endless procrastination, vampiric schedule, Herculean substance abuse, mounting debt, and casual gunplay. But as the job begins to take a toll on her psyche, Alley realizes she's alone in the Colorado Rockies at the mercy of a drug-addicted literary icon who may never produce another novel and her fate may already be sealed. A smart, rollicking ride told with heart, Gonzo Girl is a loving fictional portrait of a larger-than-life literary icon. This debut novel is raucous, page-turning, head-spinning, and side-splitting as it depicts a boss and mentor who is both devil and angel, and a young heroine who finds herself tested in the chaos that surrounds him. An intense story, Della Pietra's tale about writing, firearms, psychotropics, and the pros and cons of hot tubs will suck you in and take you on ride. "Gonzo Girl is a ticket you want to buy."-Piper Kerman, author of Orange Is the New Black

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About the Author

Photo credit: Helen Barnard.

Cheryl Della Pietra is a longtime New York City magazine editor, writer, and copy editor. She has published numerous stories in such magazines as Marie Claire, Redbook, and POV Magazine. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she lived with Hunter S. Thompson in Woody Creek, Colorado, for several months in 1992. She currently lives in Branford, Connecticut, with her husband and son.

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The Unsuitable Secretary (Ladies Unlaced #4) by Maggie Robinson

Publication: September 16, 2014

Publisher: InterMix /  Penguin

Source: Publisher

From the author of In the Heart of the Highlander, a romance proving that inappropriate desires can provide the most passionate encounters… Harriet Benson takes her work at the Evensong Agency seriously, but lately, between convalescing from an illness and tending to her father and two young brothers, she’s had to shorten her hours. So when a promising position opens up for part time work, she immediately accepts, despite the fact that her new boss is scandalously indecent—and dangerously appealing. Though his reputation paints him as a scoundrel, Sir Thomas Featherstone is more proper than anyone would guess. But Harriet’s wit and luscious curves are driving him to distraction. She’s the perfect woman to fill his office requirements, and other desperate needs he’s been ignoring… Harriet has always held firm to the rule that a secretary must never fall in love with her employer. Only Thomas is determined to win her affections—and he’s willing to risk any cost to make her his…

Harriet Benson is a bright and determined young woman (although she is considered a spinster) who lives at home with her father two 15 year old twin brothers.  Harriet wants a job, but her father is dead set against. But Harriet, being her own woman decides to go to Eversong Secretary Agency in hopes of finding something for her. Enter Sir Thomas Featherstone, who has the naughty reputation of a rake. Once he sees Harriet is is instantly attracted to her and wants her to come work for him. But what is a lady supposed to do when she begins to develop feelings for her boss?

Harriet aka Harry was such an interesting character to get to know. She is smart, brave, beautiful and is all about rules and propriety.  She went through a lot; including her father abusing her. I loved that Thomas was there for her when she needed him.

Thomas was an interesting character. He is strong, doesn’t care that much for rules, confident, and caring. For someone who has a reputation as a rake and keeps questionable company, I was surprised to learn that he wasn’t as bad as the rumors made him to be. I thought it was a unique twist to his character.

There is romance, sexual tension, and misunderstandings throughout the story.  Thomas and Harriet have a great chemistry and it was a lot of fun to watch their romance unfold. He is usually known for being a smooth talker, so it was funny to see him not be very smooth around Harry.  I had fun reading this one and it turned out to be a quick romantic weekend read.

RATING: 3½ out of 5.

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Playing For Keeps by R.L. Mathewson

Synopsis:

Done with being the world's biggest pushover, Haley decides that things are going to change starting with the aggravating neighbor who has too much charm and not enough restraint. What she didn't expect was to be sucked into his world, but Haley has a game plan and she won't let herself forget just what the bad boy next door is capable of.

The last thing Jason expected was for his little shy neighbor to go Rambo on him over some ruined flowers. After he decides to take her under his wing he can't help but notice that she fits very nicely in his life. Now the only thing left is to convince her that this is anything but a game.

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“She spied the rolled up hose and made a snap decision. This ended here and now.
The days of being the world’s biggest pushover were over.”  -R.L Mathewson, Playing for Keeps

This book was cute and funny. There were some moments that felt a little over the top and I rolled my eyes, but other than that I enjoyed it more than expected.

Haley is on the shy side and used to not being listened to/having people walk over her. Jason is pretty confident, a little too confident at times, he can be very much like a little child, but funny also. 

They are not only next door neighbors, but they work as teachers at the same school. Despite this, they haven’t spent any real time together. Then one day after an incident involving her flowers and a swarm of bees, the two begin to strike up a friendship that pretty much takes off after that.

They have more in common that they expect like, baseball and food. Jason has this weird obsession with food, especially sweets, which turns out to be a good thing for him because Haley loves to bake goodies. From then on, they are pretty much inseparable. They do almost everything together. Their relationship eventually turns into a romantic one, but even though they were close friends before, they find that being together is not without its difficulties.

One of the main things I enjoyed about this story is that Haley and Jason become friends and their friendship grew into something more. Their chemistry and playful banter had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. If you are in search of a light and fluffy romance that is also sweet and funny, then I would recommend you try this one out.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Etiquette for the End of the World by Jeanne Martinet

From Goodreads: A romantic comedy of post-millennial manners, apocalyptic career moves, and a woman's last chance to get life right...

RULE #1: DON'T PANIC—IT ONLY ATTRACTS THE SHARKS

It's not the end of the world. That's what 39-year-old Tess Eliot has to remind herself after losing her newspaper column ("Tess Knows Best") and being dumped by her boyfriend for a younger woman (a feng shui expert? Really?) Then Tess is hired to write an etiquette guide preparing readers for the Ancient Mayan doomsday of December 21, 2012, and she has to ask herself: Could the world really be coming to an end? At first, Tess fakes her way through chapters like "Boundaries in the Bunker" and "Cannibalism: Yes or No?" But after uncovering a secret plot for world destruction, she is forced to embark on a life-changing odyssey of her own—involving all-too-close encounters with touchy-feely survivalists, conspiracy theorists and one handsome guy who seems way too perfect.

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What would you do if you thought the world was going to end on December 21, 2012? Would it be safe to go out in public if you were one of the lucky people that survived?

That is the issue that writer, Tess Eliot is tasked with when she is asked to write a guide regarding the preparation for the end of the world by a company called W.H.O.O.S.H: The World Organization for Omniscient Solstice Harbingers. Now that is a mouthful right?

When Tess meets these people, she finds out that they actually believe the world will end and are quite serious about this project. She however thinks they sound more like a cult and does not take the whole world ending thing very seriously at all. Since Tess recently lost her “Tess Knows Best” newspaper column, she is in desperate need of a job, so she agrees to write the book.  With her personality and quick-wit, this writing assignment is perfect for Tess. And even though the end of the world is a heavy and serious topic to write about, she gives it a light and upbeat tone that readers will find engaging.

While she is working for W.O.O.S.H, she meets Peter Barrett, who is head of Donor Relations for the company. Peter becomes enamored with Tess and they start spending some time together outside of work. Peter is handsome, charming, and seemingly perfect. A little too perfect possibly…

The premise might sound a bit out there, but don’t let that fool you. Etiquette for the End of the World is a witty and light hearted weekend read that will take you on a crazy journey filled with memorable and funny characters, and a woman who will question W.O.O.S.H’s real motives and begin to wonder if there is some truth behind their belief after all.

The author, Jeanne Martinet adds just the right amount of humor to this story.  I laughed numerous times while reading. It wasn’t one of those books that I couldn’t put down, but it was entertaining and fun nonetheless.

I would give this book a 3/12 out of 5 rating.

                                                   

**Thank you to NetGalley and the Author, who I received this ARC from in exchange for my honest review.** 

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