Little Bitty Lies

Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews

(Publ 2003)

My Blurb – This is a story about a lady in a neighborhood, where everyone seems to be getting a divorce. Mary Bliss McGowan thinks she has a good marriage until she comes home one day and finds a note from her skunk of a husband. He’s left her – not only left her but taken all the money in the back and mortgaged her house. She is flat broke and in a dire situation. Her best friend - Catherine, who is newly separated from her husband, too - comes up with a great plan to fake Mary husbands’ death down in Mexico and collect the insurance money. Of course, nothing goes quite as planned. Include in this story, a teenage daughter who is angry and having problems of her own, a mother-in-law who is meaner than a snake and living in a nursing home, a retired detective that is snooping around in her husband’s business and Mary’s life, and her trying to find new ways of earning money to survive.

I’d give it a 6 ½.

My thoughts – it was an interesting story with funny characters. It had an interesting ending.

Murder on the Oceanic

Murder on the Oceanic by Conrad Allen

 (George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield Mysteries)

(Publ.  2006)

This book is about a husband and wife detective team who work on ships. They like to work undercover, as single people, while they are on board. JP Morgan owns the ship line they are working for and is on board this trip. His personal head of security is murdered and several pieces of his art collection are stolen. Several other passengers get robbed as well. The detectives have to solve all these problems among hundreds of passengers including - an artist, his wife, and his model who have an odd relationship – a banker and his goofy wife – an engaged couple having problems – a ladies man who has decided to chase Genevieve – two lady writers – and the huge staff of the ship.

My thoughts – I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very interesting and the story moved along quickly.

I’d give it a 7.

Antiques Bizarre

Antiques Bizarre by  Barbara Allan

(a Trash ‘n Treasures Mystery)

Publ. 2010

 Brandy Borne has a lot going on right now. She is divorced with a teenage son who lives with his Dad. Dealing with the early stages of pregnancy isn’t easy (with a baby for her best friend). While living with a mother who is mentally ill, she must make sure her mother takes her medicines and doesn’t get sick again. This same mother drags her into helping set up an auction including a famous Fabrege egg. Add to this – three deaths, a new possible boyfriend, secrets about her own birth, and hundreds of people given food poisoning – well, you can understand her stress.

I’d give it a 7

My thoughts – This was my first time reading the work of this writer. I enjoyed it very much. There was certainly plenty going on and you really connected with the characters. I would like to read more of these cute books         

A Cat Under the Mistletoe

A Cat Under the Mistletoe –  Lydia Adamson

(pub - 1996)

My blurb – Alice Nestleton cat-sits for elderly actor. His cat acts up. When he’s called about it, he tells her to take cat to a pet therapist. When she arrives for appointment, finds the therapist dead. Once she starts to dig into the situation, she finds a May/Dec marriage that has a secret, several clients having their pets treated, and a connection to an old murder. Along the way she follows wrong clues and makes mistakes. Some of the clues she finds are aprons, photography, and blackmail. Alice must also deal with two possible ex-boyfriends where she’s not quite sure what their situations are now.

I’d give it a 6 ½

My thoughts – This is the first book I’ve read in this series. I liked the story but I was left with some questions about some of the characters – especially the boyfriends. It might be better to read these books from the series beginning to have better understanding of the characters and situations.

Malice Domestic – Vol. 2

(PB - 1993)

 – Mary Higgins Clark  – As It Was in the                                       Beginning (short opening)

        - Amanda Cross – Who Shot Mrs. Bryon Boyd - 5

        - Robert Barnard – Dog Television - 5

        - Gillian Roberts – Goodbye, Sue Ellen  - 5

        - Taylor McCafferty – Even Steven - 6

        - Sally Gunning – Water – 4 ½

        - Sarah Shankman – You Never Know – 6 ½

        - Gary Alexander – the Return of Ma Barker– 6 ½

        - K.K. Beck – A Romance in the Rockies - 6

        - Susan Dunlap – Checkout– 4 ½

        - Lucretia Grindle – the Nieman Marcus Body– 5 ½

        - Ed Gorman – Anna and the Snake People - 6

        - Margaret Maron - .. that Married Dear Old Dad – 4 ½

        - Carole Nelson Douglas – Parris Green - 5

        - M.D. Lake – Kim’s Game - 6

        - Jan Grape – Arsenic and Old Ideas – 6 ½

        - Frances Fyfield – Cold and Deep - 4

I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting assortment of stories - some good, some just OK, and some not so good. I liked it so much I've ordered several more in the series - which contain 10 or more by now. Sometimes it just what you need to read, if you only have a little amount of time.