Nikki HaverstockBesprekingen
Auteur van Death on the Range
Besprekingen
The author did the narration on this. I’m not a big lover of authors narrating their books. However Nikki Haverstock did a good job. I think, because of the number of characters and the snarky drama, having a couple narrators would have been more enjoyable. But the author didn’t stumble,mumble, or bore me as others have. She was easy to listen to.
I recommend the audio version as well as the book. I had an enjoyable morning listening to it.
Aspiring other Melissa gets asked to take part in a reality show after one of the original cast members has been kicked out of the show. Things don't quite go as planned, and when she is accused of murder things really take a turn for the worse.
Things I liked
This was a quick and light read but there is still a bit of a mystery and some suspense. Melissa also goes through a lot and some important issues are discussed in the book. I like that this book also reminded me that it is important to do things you are passionate about in your life. Don't try to be something you are not.
The supporting characters are also interesting and I especially like Ryan a lot.
I don't think there is much negative to say about this book but my state of mind at the beginning might have affected my early experience with the book and the fact that I found the book to have a bit of a slow start.
* ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley
Casino Witch Mysteries #4
Being a Monza Mage is not for everyone but it is what Ella has chosen for herself. She is coming into her powers as she practices with mentors and uses her mage-skills in solving crimes...especially crimes that deal with finding out who has murdered recently deceased clients. Her sidekick, Vanessa, and she are an unbeatable team as they deal with spells against them, cast a few spells and do some sleuthing. In this book the owner of a business dealing with magic is killed and his wife wants to know who did it so Ella and Vanessa join the team looking for the culprit. While on the case she seeks the murderer, saves a dragon, finds out how the murder was accomplished, runs into a shopaholic, meets a woman in distress, saves a life and adds a familiar to her stable. She also runs into a past heartthrob and has to deal with the feelings that drums up.
This was a cozy mystery that grew on me as I read. At first I thought it a bit silly but as the story progressed I became involved and through a few twists and turns that had me guessing I began to wonder what the incentive for the murder was and then who was behind it. I am still wondering why spells were cast on some of the characters and though the one person who nearly died was saved did wonder why she had been spelled…while also wondering if perhaps Ella had been hexed or perhaps spelled, too.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Casino Witch Mysteries #3
Author: Nikki Haverstock
Elle has spent six months working on her witch-skills and trying to settle into celibacy as a Monza witch when she is asked to go undercover to help find out who is killing people at a nearby casino. And, who should she meet when she enters the new workspace but violet-eyed Thomas who seems to believer that the Monza celibacy thing can be worked around…not bothered at all…not like Vin was. And, Vin is in a relationship with Tiffany which is not good news, either. So, with a murder to solve, people being given a drug that can kill, a show to put on, magic to use, new clues to the loss of her uncle and father and a whole lot more going on this was definitely a fun new addition to a series I thoroughly enjoy. I do hope that Elle finds a way to overcome the Monza celibacy thing so she can find a “true love” at some point in the future.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Casino Witch Mysteries #2
I did NOT see the twist that might thwart true love! Good job, Nikki!
Ella has been working at the casino and learning how to use her magical abilities with the help of family and a few of her deceased father’s friends. She is growing in the craft but still not quite at full power when another murder takes place and she is asked to read the scene. Finding out who the murderer is and why it happened all are dealt, a vision is shared by a seer, a romance might occur between Vin and Ella when she unwittingly says something that may have put paid to that idea. I am hoping that a book she is given may provide a solution to the path she may have set herself on and am eager to read the next book to find out what happens next.
This is:
* a cozy mystery
* filled with magic
* solves a murder
* sets the stage for the next book in the series.
Did I like it? Yes
Do I want to read the next book in the series? Yes
Will you like it? I think so
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book – this is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Casino Witch Mysteries #1
Magic, murder, mages and more in this cozy murder mystery by Nikki Haverstock!
The blurb for the book says it all so won’t go into the details but will say that in her new job Ella has a LOT to learn about her new skill set, has murders to solve and friends to make (feline and human) as she finds her way and learns more about her father and those working with her in the casino. I look forward to reading book two to find out just what Bear and Badger have to share with her, how Auntie Ann will assist her in honing her magical skills and wouldn’t mind finding out if Vin will play a significant part in her life as they get to know one another better.
Great beginning to a new series and just what I needed to read last night. Thank you to the author for the ARC – this is my honest review.
4 Stars
I liked the focus on women athletes.
Target Practice Mysteries #6
Within a short time after Eastern European Bordistan’s archery team arrives in Wyoming for practice at the Westmound Center for Competitive Shooting Sports a corpse is found and Di is forced to work with Ivana, one of the team members, to uncover who the murderer might be. As investigation begins it is found that the coach who died has many enemies to choose from. In addition to uncovering who the murderer might be there is the romance between Di and Liam that might finally become public. The supporting characters, including Moo-the Great Dane, are there to assist and a bit more is revealed about a few of them.
If you are looking for a clean cozy murder mystery then this might be the series for you!
Thank you to the author for the ARC – this is my honest review.
4 Stars
Delightful cozy murder mystery boxed set based on archery that hits the bullseye! The books are educational, well written and have wonderful characters, is clean and appropriate for all ages. Moo, the Great Dane, often steals the show.
DEATH ON THE RANGE:
Debut novel. Wyoming is an interesting site to locate a huge training facility for archers and shooters with Olympic potential and goals. It introduced characters that might be suspects or end up together in the future. The story lay groundwork for future interactions and solved a murder. It might have been fleshed out a bit more but each new author has to find their own pace and way of presenting their stories. As an introduction to a series it has great potential. I loved Moo, the Great Dane, and found he added a fun element to the story.
DEATH AT THE SUMMIT:
Death at the Summit is definitely a book that I can see being read aloud by a family and/or one that I can see teenagers reading and discussing as an English assignment. Westmound Center for Competition Shooting Sports in Wyoming is gearing up for a summit at which all of the companies that Westmound owns will bring their products to show and share with the others. The staff is busy and some are tense as they prepare for the gathering. When a murder takes place Di and her friends decide to unearth the murderer since they were so successful the previous month in solving their first case. Once again Moo, the Great Dane, is a worthy and fun addition to the story and often steals the show.
DEATH AT THE TRADE SHOW:
Di and Mary, working for Westmound Center for Competitive shooting in Wyoming, luck out when two other employees fall ill and are unable to attend the Outdoor Industry Trade Show. Thinking they will be bored sitting behind a table fielding questions from potential customers they soon find themselves caught up in trying to solve a murder instead. With plenty of suspects this Holmes and Watson wannabe team sets out to solve who murdered the man who died in the first chapter of this story. Through many interviews with various persons, some interactions with friendly employees and much time spent with Moo the Great Dane wonder dog the sleuths eventually figure out who did Cash wrong and solve the case before leaving the OIT Show.
DEATH INDOORS:
Di, sponsored by Westmound, is competing in her first archery competition in 10 years. She has moved to Wyoming after separating from her husband, works at a complex set up for Olympic hopefuls working in in the fields of archery and shooting and has made quite a number of friends over the past year. Di is confident then nervous about her first competition. With friends to support her and new people to meet she does as well as she can. A few times she steps in to help out a few of the younger archers even giving a few nicknames that they treasure. When one of the rather annoying coaches ends up dead in the snow Di is on the trail quickly to try and find out who killed him and why. The love interest between Liam and Di is perfectly discrete and Moo, the Great Dane, plays an excellent chaperone.
DEATH IN THE CASINO:
Book five in the series is as much fun as, or perhaps more fun, than the previous four! Di and her friends are out to solve another mystery – this time – is there a plot against the male pro archers and if so just what is it and who is behind it. Di is growing as a character. She has more responsibilities at work, is improving her archery skills and has great friends that surround her – oh – and Moo the Great Dane is there for her no matter what. Her friends have their ups and downs, there is a mystery to solve, more than one person dies and there is romance in the air.
Great fun for every one of every age in this cozy murder mystery series!
Thank you to the author for the books. This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Westmound Center for Competition Shooting Sports in Wyoming is gearing up for a summit at which all of the companies that Westmound owns will bring their products to show and share with the others. The staff is busy and some are tense as they prepare for the gathering. Within a short space of time all of the characters are introduced, interactions take place and a certain amount of friction between characters has occurred. There are some people from first book that appear again along with enough new people to make the story interesting. When a murder takes place Di and her friends decide to unearth the murderer since they were so successful the previous month in solving their first case. Once again Moo, the Great Dane, is a worthy and fun addition to the story and often steals the show.
I see that this series may do well as it progresses and grows. I would like to see more discussion of target practice, equipment, dialogue, backstory of the characters and what competitions are like.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book to read and review.
TV Cozy Mysteries #2
The Savvy Socialites of Fishcreek Falls return in book two of this series only this time they are filming an overlap episode that has the Texas Shore Cowboys featuring heavily with them. The dynamics between the women on the virtual reality show are as fraught with ups and downs as in the previous book but this time as Melissa works to solve who the murderer is she also has someone vying for the attention of Ryan Sethi – the man she has her eye on. The singing group adds more than a murdered band member with their own antics stirring things up.
There is plenty of fodder for future books in this series as the town is explored throughout the seasons, the women in the virtual reality TV show are showcased in future episodes, the possibility of romance is looked into and more murders may occur that need to be solved.
If you are looking for a cozy murder mystery with zany characters, a tiny dog that steals the show and a story that will make you smile then this book just might be the one for you.
Thank you to the author for the copy. This is my honest review.
3.5 Stars
Reality TV Cozy Mystery #1
Savvy Socialites of Fishcreek Falls is the reality TV program setting for this cozy mystery that is told in first person from the perspectives of Melissa McBallister and Ryan Sethi.
Melissa is a ghost writer of many books but has never achieved her goal of writing best sellers like the ones her mother is famous for. When approached to be on a reality television program she thinks it might provide fodder for writing so accepts and signs on to be one of the cast. Ryan is a man who likes to play it safe and usually produces advertisements instead of reality TV but with his sister, Rebecca, wanting to break into the TV business he is willing to work with her to make the reality TV program a success.
The characters on the show vary from persnickety to prickly with some that are placid but when a woman is shot during filming and one nasty woman blames another for the murder the plot thickens. Melissa decides she has to find the murderer and sets out to do so. With Rebecca and Ryan helping he out they become sleuths in the pursuit of finding out who killed Stacey.
This was a fun, easy read that met all of the criteria of a cozy mystery. I enjoyed it and look forward to what will happen next in this series. Will Melissa figure out her writing dilemma? Will Ryan and Melissa grow closer to one another? How will the series finish and will it be renewed for further seasons?
Thank you to the author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for m honest review.
4 Stars
Di is growing as a character. She has more responsibilities at work, is improving her archery skills and has great friends that surround her – oh – and Moo the Great Dane is there for her no matter what. Her friends have their ups and downs, there is a mystery to solve, more than one person dies and there is romance in the air.
Great fun for every one of every age in this cozy murder mystery! Thank you to the author for the ARC to read for an honest review.
Di is confident then nervous about her first competition. With friends to support her and new people to meet she does as well as she can. A few times she steps in to help out a few of the younger archers even giving a few nicknames that they treasure.
This would not be a cozy mystery without murder. When one of the rather annoying coaches ends up dead in the snow Di is on the trail quickly to try and find out who killed him and why.
I believe this is a story that will appeal to a wide age range. It is a story that can be read by youth or by adults to a younger audience. The love interest between Liam and Di is perfectly discrete and Moo, the Great Dane, plays an excellent chaperone.
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book to read and review.
Di and Mary, working for Westmound Center for Competitive shooting in Wyoming, luck out when two other employees fall ill and are unable to attend the Outdoor Industry Trade Show. Thinking they will be bored sitting behind a table fielding questions from potential customers they soon find themselves caught up in trying to solve a murder instead. With plenty of suspects this Holmes and Watson wannabe team sets out to solve who murdered the man who died in the first chapter of this story. Through many interviews with various persons, some interactions with friendly employees and much time spent with Moo the Great Dane wonder dog the sleuths eventually figure out who did Cash wrong and solve the case before leaving the OIT Show.
The writing is educational, clean and appropriate for all ages. I learned about recurve bows, trade shows, television hunting shows and writing articles for magazines while enjoying the story and the characters. I like the way the relationship between Liam and Di is growing slowly and the introduction of a potential relationship for Mary and Orion. This series has a GREAT future and I can see Di and Mary solving not only murders but all sorts of other mysteries in the future, too.
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book to read and review.
They are starting a new archery coaching program. There are new archery standards and all coaches have to take a class to learn the proper methods. The first class includes four members of the Olympic Summer Games archery team. They are Tiger, Minx, Honey, and Owley. The four of them do not seem to be getting along very well. They is contention among the troops as soon as they arrive. Honey (the diva) announces that she is writing a memoir of her life and is planning to include juicy gossip from those in the field of archery. That evening Di is unable to sleep and goes into the complex to run. She enters the weight room and notices Heidi on the floor (shocker)! Di screams and panics. Liam finds her and calms her down so he can contact the police.
Mary and Di (when she finally gets over her shock) decide to investigate the murder. They want to protect the reputation of the center for Jess (who is upset that her new programs are ruined when they have just begun). Mary and Di stumble and bumble along looking at the clues and interviewing the suspects. Death on the Range is a very short story (about half the length of a normal cozy). The characters are very basic and underdeveloped (we do not even get last names to 90% of the main characters). We get a little more information on Di and Mary towards the end of the book (after they have been drinking). The murder is extremely simple and easy to solve. I really only liked two of the characters in the book: Liam and Moo. They were the most likable (especially the dog). I felt that the novel was rushed. I think we were given more information on the Westmound Center than on the characters. I give Death on the Range 3 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Death on the Range from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
Wyoming is an interesting site to locate a huge training facility for archers and shooters with Olympic potential and goals. This was a fun read though not a very long one with about 80 pages total. It introduced characters that might be suspects or end up together in the future. The story lay groundwork for future interactions and solved a murder. It might have been fleshed out a bit more but each new author has to find their own pace and way of presenting their stories. As an introduction to a series it has great potential. I don’t see a lot of murders taking place on site BUT with archers and shooters traveling to various locals, coaches providing tutelage and such…more murders and mysteries could present themselves and romance might occur. I loved Moo, the Great Dane, and found he added a fun element to the story. Another likable bit was that the revealing of issues in some of the characters’ lives did not occur till nearly the end…and I have a feeling there are more life issues of other characters that might be revealed in future episodes.
I wish the author well and hope to see her name and her books in the future and would like to thank her for the copy of this book to read and review!
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With her time rapidly coming to an end in Purgatory Falls Brooke tangles with a serial killer and her own heart in the third installment in this series. The story was intriguing, her internal conflict completely believable with a very satisfactory ending.