Review: The Cowboy’s Prize (Sweethearts of the Rodeo) by Jamie K. Schmidt

 

She vowed she’d never date a cowboy…

LeAnn “Killer” Keller is determined to be the first woman in the WPRCA to win a buckle in bull riding. She’s sworn off the distraction of rodeo cowboys, until her sister hires veteran bull rider Dylan Porter, not knowing that LeAnn and he indulged in a steamy one-night stand last season. LeAnn intends to keep their night together a secret, but Dylan’s kind, sweet and oh so tempting.

Dylan Porter was eager to reconnect with the woman who rocked his world last season, but he never imagined he’d be training her to ride bulls. She wants to keep their hook up a secret from her overly protective family, which is disappointing because Dylan felt like she could be the one. He’d like to walk away, but he needs the money.

When a male rider is killed by a bull gone wild, Dylan tries to keep LeAnn from competing. He knows she’ll never forgive him if she misses her shot, but he’d rather have her safe, even if he loses her forever.

 

My Review:

Rodeo excitement and romance.

An action filled story about a cowgirl with big dreams and the cowboy who trains her.  LeAnn “Killer” Keller always wanted to compete in bull riding and the WPRCA is about to make it possible.  There was just one problem.  LeAnn didn’t expect the coach, that her sister insisted on hiring, would be Dylan Porter, the man she had a one-night stand with, after she broke up with her cheating boyfriend.  Will LeAnn and Dylan be able to keep it business only, or will they find themselves in each other’s arms again? 

I enjoyed the rodeo scenes and the family dynamics in this book, along with the budding romance between LeAnn and Dylan.  This book is the first in a new series and I can’t wait to read the following books. 

Review: Someone Rotten Riding the Rails (The Accidental Detective Book 6) by Kris Bock

 

Kate Tessler and her crew of misfits set out to blow the whistle on two feuding crime families . . .

Former war correspondent Kate Tessler has solved multiple murders since returning to her Arizona hometown, to the grudging appreciation of the local police. Now Detective Padilla and the FBI approach Kate with a proposal. Two Russian crime families have rented a private historic train to the Grand Canyon for their children’s wedding. The route is scenic and remote. No cell phones. The FBI needs to surveil, but anyone infiltrating the train must be above suspicion.

Kate poses as herself, sent by the newspaper to cover the society wedding, while her sister Jen is the photographer. Their multi-generational and eccentric crew pose as train staff. The goal is to observe, but that quickly derails when the groom disappears, and a search for him turns up a dead body. Everyone’s a suspect and trapped on the train.

The mob families won’t contact the police, so it’s up to Kate and friends to uncover the truth before their whole mission goes off the tracks.

 

My Review:

Exciting and unpredictable.

A wedding on a train between rival Russian mafia families.  What could go wrong?  This book is a nail biter and I had a hard time putting it down.  I just needed to know what happened next.  It is the perfect mystery story; interesting and unpredictable.  I enjoyed catching up with Kate, Jen and the Coffee Shop Irregulars.  Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. 

Review: A Stolen Shadow (Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery Book 7) by H L Marsay

 

This winter, the York pantomime opens as a farce but closes as a murder scene…

Chief Inspector John Shadow returns from a rare holiday to Italy but before he can unpack, he’s investigating the theft of an antique sabre. Everyone involved assumes it’s a prank, however later that evening, a reluctant Shadow attends the local pantomime—his least favorite form of entertainment—with his star struck sergeant. They watch stunned as Prince Charming dies on stage. Shadow suspects poison and launches an investigation. When he discovers the missing sabre backstage, Shadow realises the theft was no joke and the entire cast and crew are murder suspects. Then another body is found….

John Shadow is a man of contradictions. A solitary figure who shuns company but is a keen observer of all he meets. A lover of good food, but whose fridge is almost always empty. He prefers to work alone but is assisted by the eager Sergeant Jimmy Chang. Together, the two men must work through an ever increasing list of jealous husbands, angry fathers and spurned lovers to discover the identity of the killer.

 

My Review:

Intriguing and unpredictable.

First, it’s a stolen antique sabre, then it’s the murder of a pantomime actor and his business partner.  Chief Inspector Shadow and his sergeant, Jimmy Chang, have their hands full solving this crime where anyone could be the killer.  I have to admit, I did not figure out who the killer was until their identity was revealed.  It came as a total surprise.  I really enjoy it when a mystery book is written so well, with lots of suspects, that could have possibly been the killer.  When I find out the killer is one of the last ones I expected, that makes a great story.  This is a great addition to the Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery series and I highly recommend it.