Book Review: "Death by Panty Hose" by Laura Levine

Book Description:

Freelance writer Jaine Austen has never been able to resist the siren call of an Eskimo Pie, just like she can't resist renewing her romance with Andrew, an old crush. With her bank account hitting new lows, she's also just agreed to write jokes for Dorcas, a stand-up comic who throws her pantyhose into the audience as a punch line. — Not only is Dorcas's act a bomb, she is heckled by Vic, a gorgeous fellow comic. Naturally when Vic is murdered with Dorcas's pantyhose and that same Dorcas is standing over his dead body, the police arrest...Dorcas. They figure it's an open-and-shut case, although Jaine figures no killer can be that dumb.

But when Jaine sets out to find the real culprit, she is distracted by one dating disaster after another with Andrew -- and she may not see the dark side of comedy until she faces the business end of a gun and a cold, deadly grin...

Book 6 in the Jaine Austen series - another great book in the series. I couldn't put it down.  Jaine's antics remind me a lot of Stephanie Plum in the famous Janet Evanovich's series, but I don't mind.  It keeps me entertained in between her series.  

The characters I believe are well written - lots of smiles and laughing in this book.

As always I didn't guess who did it.  I am HORRIBLE at it.  

Happy Reading!!   ... more »

"The PMS Murder" By Laura Levine - Book Review

 

Book Description:

 

On the frontlines of the battle of the bulge, otherwise known as trying on bathing suits in the communal dressing room at Loehmann's, freelance writer Jaine Austen makes a new friend--a wannabe actress named Pam--and gets a new job: sprucing up Pam's bare-bones resume. Their feeling of connection is mutual, so Pam invites Jaine to join T... more »he PMS Club-a women's support group that meets once a week over guacamole and margaritas.

But joining the club proves to be more a curse than a blessing for Jaine. Though she is warned that Rochelle, the hostess, makes a guacamole to die for, Jaine never takes the warning literally. Until another PMS member, Marybeth, drops dead over a mouthful of the green stuff after confessing she is having an affair with Rochelle's husband.

While Rochelle and her husband are the obvious suspects, everyone at that night's meeting is under suspicion, including Jaine. So, instead of dishing dirt with The PMS Club, Jaine has to dig up dirt on the surviving members. And soon it becomes clear: someone in this club thinks getting away with murder should be a privilege of membership...

 

This is the 5th book in the series.  I have read the other 4 and have loved them.  This is a funny cozy series.  There are a couple of things that sort of annoy me about these books.  A couple of times throughout the book she will mention the other book titles and say "available at a store near you."  At first it was cute but it is kind of annoying.  Annoying enough to stop reading?  No.  These books make you smile and laugh at her antics.

 

I have #6 already on my TBR so I am reading that next.  I will continue on the series.  They are a nice quick read.

 

Happy reading!

"Already Home" by Susan Mallery

Book Description:

 

After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She's supported her ex-husband's dreams for so long that she can't even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents' home and envisions her very own cooking store. — Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise... more » store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents -- aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.

Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….

 

I am a  BIG fan of Susan Mallery's and this book didn't disappoint.  She is the type of author who just mesmorises you from Chapter 1.  This book was no exception.  I loved the characters and the story.  I think this book could have a sequel with more of Violet's story, but it is fine the way it is too. 

 

If you haven't tried Susan Mallery - she is a MUST read author!!

 

Happy Reading!

Patti