Run Rabbit Run by Kate Johnson

I first read Kate Johnson when I got lost in her novel The UnTied Kingdom, a unique novel with a blend of fantasy and chick lit. I was looking forward to another book from her, and that Run Rabbit Run was a mystery. I love a good mystery, and this one did not disappoint! This is actually a series following Sophie Green, but I didn’t have any issue catching right up with the characters. Sophie is an ex-spy, but she is forced back into that world when she is framed for murdering a M15 officer. Her gun with her fingerprints are found at the scene, but Sophie didn’t do it. Her only option? Run. Luke Sharpe is a M16 officer, or was until his girlfriend Sophie was accused of murder. Now he has to worry about her safety as she becomes a fugitive, try to find the real killer, and be able to hold on to his job. Will the power couple be able to clear Sophie’s name in time – and maintain their relationship?

This book was fast-paced and had me on my toes the whole time! The mystery is great, as is the relationship between Sophie and Luke. Luke is a former playboy, who is learning to love one lady and all that comes with being monogamous. It was great to also get the story from his POV. Sophie just gets in one jam after another, and while worrying for her life she also worries about her relationship. Add in a sexy partner-of-sorts in Jack, and Sophie has quite the full plate to worry about. I am definitely going to be checking out the previous books and would recommend the series!

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Trashy Chic by Cathy Lubenski

Bertie Mallowan loves to report the hard-hitting news. But when her job as a reporter has her off the hot stories and more into the “fluff” as talks of more lay-offs circulate, Bertie realizes that she needs a change. A break. Something. So two days after she interviews Robert Bellingham, the sleaze-ball money-maker turns up dead, and Bertie assigns herself to figuring out who killed him. It’s not quite that easy, as over the years Robert has made not only a lot of money, but just as many enemies. Could it be the wife? The kids? The gardener? Bertie makes it her mission to crack the case, and the payoff would be an insider’s story that would surely save her job at the newspaper. But will a second murder and an attack on Bertie scare her away from the Bellingham murder scoop?

Trashy Chic by Cathy Lubenski was a kooky mystery novel with a fun cast of characters. I could relate to Bertie when she frustrated about her job and then worried she might lose it all together. Bertie had a great sense of humor, especially when it came to making up lies to her editors. Her friends were fun to read about, particularly Kate who owns the dog kennel. The mystery had me thinking until the end, trying to figure out alongside Bertie who the killer was. I did have some troubles making a solid connection to the story. I was never really invested in the chapters or felt like I just had to get to the end. Maybe the characters were just a bit too off the wall for me, I’m really not sure. I did keep getting tripped up over Bertie’s age, she seemed to act a lot younger than she really was, and that kind of bothered me throughout the story. It was still a fun book to read but not a favorite of mine.

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Death on Heels by Ellen Byerrum

I received my copy of Death on Heels by Ellen Byerrum via CLP Blog Tours. I was really excited for this tour because I had heard of the Lacey Smithsonian mystery series but had never had the chance to read one of the books. Byerrum and her books are super popular and have such a loyal fan base. Some of her novels were even adapted to film by the Lifetime Movie Network! So, needless to say, I was thrilled to have the chance to work with such an accomplished author.

Diving in the book, I was immediately wanting to be friends with Lacey, fashion reporter living in Washington DC. She moved there from the rugged little town of Sagebrush, Colorado, where she never wanted to return. But with her former boyfriend accused of murdering three women, Lacey is hot on the case. She knows Cole Tucker would never harm another woman, much less murder them. Until he abducts her right from the courthouse. Is Lacey in danger with Cole? Or is there a bigger ploy going on in the small town of Sagebrush?

This was such a fun story! I love a good mystery, and this book featured so many possible suspects. I loved the touch that Lacey was a reporter trying to track down a murderer, but could always be counted on for her fashion forward thinking as well. This was the definition of a chick lit murder mystery. If you haven’t yet picked up a Lacey Smithsonian novel, I suggest you do!

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Your Eight O’Clock is Dead by Kat Jorgensen

Kat Jorgensen is on tour with Your Eight O’Clock is Dead at CLP Blog Tours. Becca Reynolds doesn’t have a good start to her morning when she is late for work, ruins patient files with the oil from biscuit breakfast, and oh yes – finds a dead client in the waiting room. Becca works as an office manager (not really, but she think it sounds better than “gopher” or “door mat,” at a struggling psychiatrists office, and the murder only makes things worse for business. Becca, in danger of losing her only income, decides to take on the murder case herself. While trying to figure out whodunit, Becca gets tied up with a sexy accountant (or is he?) and mixed up with the Russian mob. Can Becca crack the case before the killer sets their sights on her?

I thought Your Eight O’Clock is Dead was a super cute cozy mystery. Light-hearted, humorous, but still with action. Becca was a fun heroine, though sometimes a bit too ditzy – for example – how many times she corrected her inner thoughts and dialogue about calling patients “clients.” I loved the grandfather and his many list of rules, and even the tuxedo cat who seemed to steal the show for me. Overall, a cute mystery that I would recommend to chick lit fans!

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Forged in Fire by Trish McCallan

Trish McCallan is on tour with CLP Blog Tours. Forged in Fire starts with Beth Brown having a premonition. She dreams of a plane hijacking and many brutal murders. Unsure if she is losing her mind or if her dream means something, she heads to the airport – and finds the sexy stranger from her dream that she saw get killed.  Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters is a man with true psychic abilities. Zane sees the dead bodies of his two friends and platoon buddies while they are waiting for their flight, and knows something is about to go horribly wrong on the plane. Beth and Zane soon team up to get the flight grounded, and that sets off a series of breath-taking events to try to find out who is involved in the elaborate plan.

I flew through Forged in Fire like it was nobody’s business. It’s a good mystery, good love story, and a fun twist with the psychic abilities thrown in there. Beth and Zane’s romance is insanely hot and I really enjoyed McCallan’s writing style. The only real downfall I found was that there were still so many questions after I closed the book. This is the first in a series so I know those questions will eventually be answered, but I still felt like I needed a little bit more before I read the final page. Other than that, I definitely recommend this book, and will be looking forward to the next book, Forged in Ice.

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So Damn Lucky by Deborah Coonts

So Damn Lucky by Deborah Coonts is the third installment in the Lucky O’Toole series. I have read and reviewed both Wanna Get Lucky? and Lucky Stiff, and I’ve been having a fun time with these characters. I love the Vegas setting and all the background information on the city, and I also love reading a good mystery. In this book, Lucky is dealing with a group of magicians that may be intent on murder, her mother drops a bombshell, and her live-in lover is off touring the world with a gorgeous pop star. Lucky is trying to hold down the fort at The Babylon and keep a handle on her personal life. The interest of two other men isn’t helping matters either – former co-worker Paxton Dane is still waiting for his chance, and now the French chef is also trying to wine and dine Lucky. Always the one to fix the problems, Lucky wonders if she will be able to fix her own…

I enjoyed this Lucky book, but I don’t think it was my favorite of the three. That still belongs to Lucky Stiff, but I did like the story. The books are all thick but fast-paced and outrageous. I love a good chick lit mystery novel, and that would be how I classify these books from Coonts. I was a little disappointed to see who Lucky ended up with at the end of the novel. No spoilers, but after reading the previous two books about her, I really didn’t see coming who she had chosen. The supporting cast are all back and being their usual selves, and I think they really add a lot of depth to the plot. I hope there is a fourth Lucky book so I can see her end up with the man who I think she belongs with! I definitely recommend this series.

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More Lucky Reviews:

Wanna Get Lucky?

Lucky Stiff

Chosen by Denise Grover Swank

I am a big fan of chick lit (no, really!) but every once in awhile I like to dip into another genre. When Denise Grover Swank questioned me about CLP Blog Tours being a good fit for her second novel––the paranormal romance Chosen––I immediately jumped at the chance. Denise impressed me on a whole new level when I read her debut Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes for her first blog tour go-round. Not surprisingly, my other bloggers jumped at the chance to host her again––even those who don’t normally go for paranormal reads. So how did Denise do with Chosen?

Stellar! Another page-turner that had me biting my nails and desperately clicking the ‘next’ page on my Kindle. Emma Thompson and her five-year-old son Jake have been on the run from bad men for years. Though Emma isn’t positive what these men want with her son, she knows it has to do with Jake’s ability to see into the future. While on the run, Emma meets Will, who offers to help her escape. Little does Emma know that Will is actually on the job––he is a mercenary who has been given orders to capture Emma.  Chosen is full of twists and turns and gasping and heart-breaking and blushing moments. The paranormal/fantasy aspect of Jake seeing in the future and the tattoos that mysteriously appear on Emma and Will are well written and flow with precision.  I was on my seat almost the entire time reading this, and the cliff hanger ending will leave you wanting to yell at Denise to hurry up with book number two! Another five star review for a Denise Grover Swank novel, who clearly shows her writing skills and ability to work with multiple genres.

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**Everyone who leaves a comment on Denise’s tour page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! If you purchase your copy of Chosen from October 31- November 21 and send your receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, you will get five bonus entries!**

http://www.denisegroverswank.com/

http://www.denisegroverswank.com/blog/blog/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4921525.Denise_Grover_Swank

http://www.facebook.com/deniseswank

http://twitter.com/#!/DeniseMSwank

A Parfait Murder by Wendy Lyn Watson

When Wendy Lyn Watson asked on Facebook who wanted to review her latest mystery, A Parfait Murder, I signed myself right up. After reading the first, I Scream, You Scream, and thoroughly enjoying the delectable mystery, I knew I wanted to follow the series. I did miss the second book, Scoop To Kill, but I have that on my list to read. For the third book in the Mystery A La Mode series, Tally’s cousin Bree gets an unexpected visit when her ex-husband appears back in town. Sonny shot off seventeen years prior, after Bree got pregnant with her daughter Alice. After never making child support payments, Sonny shows up with a flashy business proposition for the town- and a stunning female on his arm. Sonny hires Kristen Ver Steeg as his lawyer, but she winds up dead- and Bree is holding the gum. Tally knows her cousin is innocent, but with all the evidence and motives pointing straight at Bree, Tally knows she doesn’t have long to clear her cousins name. Meanwhile, Tally is trying to successfully date Finn Harper, a childhood friend and sweetheart who got away, but when a complicated family secret gets revealed, Tally and Finn’s relationship is forever changed.

Once again, I had a great time diving in to this fun mystery series. And seriously- who doesn’t love these covers? They grab my attention right away. Watson brings back heartfelt characters with a lot of personality, and I really enjoyed getting to know Alice. The ending with the family secret simply shocked me, I really can’t say I saw that one coming. There were a few other plot twists that caught me off guard as well, which I love. The suspense was up there, and I think readers will have a great time reading A Parfait Murder. Be sure to check out the rest in the series as well!

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Savor the Danger by Lori Foster

The drooling continues on with Savor the Danger, the next in line from Lori Foster and her hunky mercenaries. This story focuses on Jackson and Alani, Trace’s younger sister. The two wake up in bed together after a night of passion, but Jackson can’t remember a thing. He knows he’s been drugged, but he doesn’t know by who or why. Alani is devastated that Jackson doesn’t remember being with her, or the words he said to her in the middle of the passion. Jackson and Alani tiptoe around their true feelings, afraid of what the other is truly thinking. I really loved Savor the Danger, and I was a bit worried after Trace of Fever fell flat for me. I loved that the action started right away, and not just the sexual stuff. Since the story opens with Jackson waking up not remembering anything, I was immediately intrigued by what was going on and who was after him. I was gripped throughout the story, and loved learning about Dare, Trace, and their wives. This is such a fun and intense series and I definitely recommend. Will be looking forward to the next book!

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Hotel No Tell by Daphne Uviller

Hotel No Tell is the second book from Daphne Uviller that features Zephyr Zuckerman, after Super in the City. I always worry when I don’t read the first book, as in this case, but it was fairly easy to pick up on the story. Zephyr is working as a junior detective with the New York City Special Investigations Commission, and finally has a great case handed to her- where she gets to go undercover. Working as a hotel concierge at the Greenwich Village Hotel, trying to crack a money laundering investigation, Zephyr finds herself a mystery inside the mystery- why was the guest in room 502 found near death? Was it suicide, or an attempted murder? What does the sweet older guest have to do with it, and could her friend Lucy be involved? Zephyr sets out to solve all the mysteries, but the toughest mystery of all is her love life. Though she is madly in love with her boyfriend, she doesn’t want kids-ever- and he does. Should she compromise for love? And how will she solve her work mysteries and finally be taken seriously as a detective?

Like I said, it was easy to fall into the character’s lives. I really enjoyed Zephyr’s friends and their problems. I thought Lucy was hilarious with her suburban mom crisis, and though Macy was a bit out there, her stories were intriguing to read about. This book is very fast-paced, almost a bit too fast for me in the beginning. I couldn’t really keep up with who was who and where they came into the story and where this plot point was taking me, etc. Maybe that has a bit to do with me not reading the first book? It through me off for awhile, but as I kept at it, I thought the book slowed to a pace that could keep my interest. Uviller has some great comedic moments throughout the story, and the descriptions of New York were a lot of fun to read about. Once the actual mystery stuff got underway, I was really into the story and trying to figure out who did what and how everyone was connected. Overall, funny and interesting read that I would recommend to chick lit fans, but not a favorite of mine.

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