Book ~ "Snow Place for Murder" (2023) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ International resort developer Nigel Goodwin has traveled all the way from London, England, to Misty Murphy’s little corner of North Carolina and bought out the Mountaintop Lodge for the week prior to Christmas. Their intention? To pitch an exclusive new resort concept to wealthy American investors.

But locals are at odds over the idea and when a group comes to the lodge to express their worries to Mr. Goodwin and the potential investors, a blizzard hits Beech Mountain. Like the weather outside, things quickly get frosty and Misty has to call local police to intervene. Handyman Rocky Crowder plows the lodge’s drive and, in an attempt to regain a jovial holiday atmosphere, smooths the snow pile into a makeshift sledding hill for the guests to enjoy.

Misty’s boys have finished their exams and are “home” from college for the winter break, planning to spend most of their time snowboarding at the ski resort. While taking a few runs down Rocky’s sledding hill, they discover a funny-looking, nose-shaped rock. Only it’s not a rock. It’s the frozen nose of Nigel Goodwin, who’s found dead and buried under the mound of snow.

Who put the developer on ice and why?

Misty is fiftyish and has started a new life ... she recently bought a mountain lodge which she'd visited many times with her now ex-husband and their two sons and has fond memories of. Brynn is her assistant, the restaurant across the street provides a buffet breakfast in the mornings and Rocky, a local handyman, lives at the lodge and does maintenance in return for a room. Her sons have a break from college so are working at the lodge while Brynn takes some time holiday time off.

Nigel is a resort developer from England and has invited some potential investors to learn about a property in North Carolina he would like to develop. He invites them to stay nearby at Misty's mountain lodge to learn more and to get to know and enjoy the area. Though Misty is happy to lodge is filled for the week (Nigel is paying for everything), she's not sure she's happy with his plans to knock down the trees to build his resort and is concerned about what will happen to the wildlife that currently lives there. Local people aren't pleased with this either and aren't shy about letting Nigel know. So when Nigel turns up dead and the police determine it's murder, there are a number of people, both local and in his investors' group, who could have wanted him dead.

I've read many books (and series) by this author and I liked this one ... it's the third in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series.  I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Misty's point of view and occasional third person perspective from Yeti, Misty's cat's point of view (the author has done this in other series ... had dogs and cats share their point of view, which as an animal lover I find cute).

It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  I liked the characters and look forward to reading others in this series.  And I liked that Misty is a more mature age (so closer to mine) than a younger woman.

Book ~ "Primer and Punishment" (2023) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are looking once again to rehab and resell a house, only this particular house is made of fiberglass, floats and has been dubbed the Skinny Dipper. The old houseboat sure could use some work but the unusual project has Whitney bubbling with excitement.

The charming and handsome Grant Hardisty lives on the cabin cruiser in the adjacent slip but the cousins soon learn he’s left a half dozen angry ex-wives in his wake and made enemies of all sorts of unsavory folks. The man is clearly caught in an increasingly dangerous current with no life preserver in sight.

Whitney and Buck are spraying primer on their houseboat when - KABOOM! - Grant’s boat blows sky high with the man himself inside. Detective Collin Flynn has no shortage of suspects but the waters become muddied when several of them confess to the crime. Is one of those who confessed truly guilty, or are they taking a dive for someone else? When anonymous threats are made against the cousins, Whitney must quickly determine who killed their neighbour at the lake or she and Buck might also be sunk.

Whitney and her cousin, Buck, buy fixer-uppers, repair them and then flip them for a profit and then move on to their next project.  This time they buy something different ... a houseboat.  It should only take a couple weeks to renovate it so they move in.  In the meantime, Buck and Collette, Whitney's best friend and roommate, are getting married and the houseboat would be the perfect spot to have the bachelorette and bachelor parties.

Docked next door to the Skinny Dipper is Grant, who is currently not working because he recently had an accident and needs a cane to walk.  But that doesn't stop him from going fishing with buddies or looking for wife #6 (wife #5 is in the process of divorcing him so he needs to sucker someone else into supporting him).  His boat blows up one day, luckily out in the water so no other boats were damaged, and Grant is killed.  Was it an accident or murder?

I've read many books by this author and I thought this one was okay.  Though it's the fifth in the House-Flipper series, it works as a stand alone (I've read the first four).  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity (there's no heat at all between Whitney and Collin).  It is written in first person perspective from Whitney's point of view and third person perspective from Sawdust, Whitney's cat's point of view.

Book ~ "A Trip With Trouble" (2022) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ When the ladies of the Dangerous Curves Motorcycle Club take over the Mountaintop Lodge for their annual autumn ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Misty Murphy couldn’t be more thrilled. Every room is full and the adventurous women even invite Misty and her assistant Brynn to join them on a ride to admire the colorful fall foliage. Hotel handyman Rocky Crowder is happy to keep an eye on the lodge for the day and the ladies set out for a fun ride on the scenic road.

The skies are clear, the air is crisp and the leaves are gorgeous. But what starts as a perfect ride turns worrisome when the tail gunner - the last rider in their group - fails to show up at the Craggy Gardens overlook. Cell phone service is spotty in the remote mountainous area and the group is unable to connect with their friend. Might the missing woman have simply run out of gas? Or is something far more sinister afoot?

The ladies are determined to locate their ride or die and Misty is equally determined to help them. But will they be able to solve the mystery when the scenic route seems intent on hiding its secrets?

Misty is fifty and starting a new life and recently bought a mountain lodge which she'd visited many times and has fond memories of. Brynn is her assistant, the restaurant across the street provides a buffet breakfast in the mornings and Rocky, a local handyman, lives at the lodge and does maintenance in return for a room.

A women's motorcycle club has booked the lodge for the week so they can ride the roads, go for hikes and enjoy the fall colours.  Misty and Brynn are quite envious so jump at the chance when they are invited to spend the day on the back of the bikes touring around.  But the fun ends when the leader of the group, who was bringing up the rear of the pack, disappears and everyone heads out to find her.  

I've read many books (and series) by this author and I liked this one ... it's the second in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series.  I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Misty's point of view and third person perspective from Yeti, Misty's cat's point of view (the author has done this in other series ... had dogs and cats share their point of view, which as an animal lover I find cute).

It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  I liked the characters and look forward to reading others in this series.  And I liked that Misty is a more mature age (so closer to mine) than a younger woman.

Book ~ "Batten Down the Belfry" (2022) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ Here is the church, here is the steeple ...

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin, Buck, have successfully flipped houses but this is the first time they’ve attempted to renovate a house of worship. Still the colorful stained glass in the country church has caught Whitney’s eye and she’d love to breathe new life into the abandoned building. What’s more, the place has perfect acoustics. Could the worship hall be reborn as an entertainment venue with its parsonage repurposed as a pre-show bistro?

Open the doors and see all the trouble ...

The owner of the horse farm next door has asserted a legal claim to the church property, rendering their title uncertain. If that’s not bad enough, while rehabbing the church, Whitney’s cat, Sawdust, discovers a bombshell in the bell tower - the body of the man who’d delivered their beautiful new replacement windows. What transpired in the spire? Who rang the man’s bell and why?

The steeple is keeping its secrets and, when a second body turns up, things become even less clear. Can Whitney help Detective Collin Flynn solve the crimes before someone else is sent to meet their maker?

Whitney and her cousin, Buck, buy fixer-uppers, repair them and then flip them for a profit and then move on to their next project.  They buy an old church and parsonage and instead of selling them, they envision the property as a playhouse and bistro.  Whitney's best friend (and Buck's girlfriend), Colette, is a chef and is excited to run the bistro.

After some windows are delivered, Whitney discovers the delivery man dead in the bell tower.  Whitney's boyfriend, Collin, is the police detective in charge of finding the killer.  Then a couple days later, Whitney and Buck see their neighbour next door, who they were having issues with, dead in his yard.  Are the deaths connected or just a coincidence?

I've read many books by this author and though the whodunnit is a bit convoluted, I thought this one was okay.  Though it's the fourth in the House-Flipper series, it works as a stand alone (I've read the first three).  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity (there's no heat at all between Whitney and Collin).

I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Whitney's point of view and third person perspective from Sawdust's point of view (which is funny since it's written from the perspective of Whitney's cat), although Sawdust wasn't in this book much.

Book ~ "The Moonshine Shack Murder" (2021) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ The Hayes family has made moonshine in Chattanooga since the days of Prohibition and Hattie is happy to continue the tradition, serving up fun, fruity flavors in mason jars for locals and tourists alike. All signs indicate her new 'shine shop will be a smashing success. What's more, mounted police officer Marlon Landers has taken a shine to Hattie. For the first time ever, the stars seemed to have aligned in both her work and romantic life. But when a body ends up on her store's doorstep alongside a broken jar of her Firefly Moonshine, it just might be lights out for her fledgling business.

The homicide detective can't seem to identify the person who killed the owner of a nearby bar. The only witness is Hattie's longhaired gray cat and Smoky isn't talking. When the detective learns that the victim and Hattie had a heated exchange shortly before his murder, she becomes her prime suspect.

Lest Hattie end up behind bars like her bootlegging great-grandfather a century before, she must distill the evidence herself and serve the killer a swift shot of justice.

Hattie recently gave up her job to open a shop selling the moonshine she makes from recipes passed down from generations.  Marlon is a local police officer who rides by on a horse.  He stops by her store often and they become friends, though Hattie hopes it will become more.  He annoyingly refers to her as a "filly" and I hope he stops that.  

To promote her business, Hattie goes around and meets the business people in the neighbourhood, hoping there will be some synergies for working together and cross-promotion.  She gets resistance from the Cormac, the pub owner across the street.  Late one night Hattie heads to her store because she doubts she had locked up properly.  She hears a commotion in front and finds Cormac murdered and the weapon seems to be a bottle of her moonshine, which makes Hattie a suspect.  Though Marlon and the police officer in charge tell her to stay out of it, Hattie starts snooping around to find out who murdered Cormac so she can prove her innocence.

I've read many books (and series) by this author and I thought this one was okay ... it's the first in the Southern Homebrew Mystery series.  I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Hattie's point of view.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  Having it set in moonshine country made an interesting and different setting.

Book ~ "Getaway With Murder" (2021) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ As if hitting the half-century mark wasn’t enough, Misty Murphy celebrated her landmark birthday by amicably ending her marriage and investing her settlement in a dilapidated mountain lodge at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With the old inn teetering on both a bluff and bankruptcy, she must have lost her ever-loving mind.

Luckily handyman Rocky Crowder has a knack for rehabbing virtual ruins and for doing it on a dime and to Misty’s delight, the lodge is fully booked on opening night, every room filled with flexible folks who’d slipped into spandex and ascended the peak for a yoga retreat with plans to namastay for a full week. Misty and her guests are feeling zen - at least until the yoga instructor is found dead.

With a killer on the loose and the lodge’s reputation hanging in the balance, Misty must put her detective-skills to the test. Only one thing is as clear as a sunny mountain morning - she must solve the crime before the lodge ends up, once again, on the brink.

Misty is fifty and is starting a new life.  She and her husband have amicably split after many years and her sons are off to college.  She buys a mountain lodge which she'd visited many times and has fond memories of.  It needs some repairs and luckily Rocky, a local handyman, will do them cheaply and stay on to do maintenance in return for a room.  Misty hires Brynn as her assistant and the restaurant across the street will be providing a buffet breakfast in the mornings so she's good to go.  She even has a group booked for a week for a yoga retreat.  Things become not so zen when the leader of the yoga retreat is found murdered.  Misty is concerned because there may be a killer staying at her lodge, which is not a good way to start a business.

I've read many books (and series) by this author and I liked this one ... it's the first in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series.  I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Misty's point of view and third person perspective from Yeti, Misty's cat's point of view (the author has done this in other series ... had dogs and cats share their point of view, which as an animal lover I find cute).

It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  I liked the characters and look forward to reading others in this series.  And I liked that Misty is a more mature age (so closer to mine) than a younger woman.

Book ~ "Dead in the Doorway" (2020) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES

Whitney Whitaker has scored the perfect piece of real estate: a ramshackle white Colonial at the top of a hill with views of downtown Nashville. What more could a self-taught home-improvement maven and occasional house-flipper ask for? Ideally, the property of Whitney’s dreams would not have come with a dead body blocking the entrance to the foyer. But Whitney, always quick to take heavy-duty matters into her own hands, also happens to be a skilled amateur sleuth. So that helps.

AND SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET

Who is this older woman - and how did her corpse end up at the bottom of the staircase of this locked, unoccupied house? That is what Whitney, along with the support of her wood-working cousin Buck, Detective Collin Flynn, and, of course, feline partner-in-crime Sawdust, intends to find out. Her friendly-neighbour investigation takes a sharp turn, however, when Whitney discovers that the house’s former owner was a gourmet baker whose secret recipe for peach pie was to die for - perhaps literally. Now it’s up to Whitney to learn the truth about what happened before she loses this killer real-estate deal ... and the killer comes knocking at her door. 

Whitney works part-time for a property manager so has connections in the building and repair world.  Her uncle is a carpenter so she's learned how to fix and build things over the years.  She and her cousin, Buck, want to buy fixer-uppers, repair them and then flip them for a profit.  

Whitney and Buck buy a house from the family of an elderly woman who had recently passed away to fix up and flip.  When she arrives one morning, Whitney can't open the door because something is blocking it.  So she goes in through another door and discovers an elderly woman dead, after apparently after falling down the stairs.  It turns out it she is a neighbour and friend of the former owner and she hadn't accidently fallen down the stairs.  Was it a random burglary gone wrong?  Or did one of the other elderly neighbours have enough of her nastiness and kill her?

I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Whitney's point of view and third person perspective from Sawdust's point of view (which is funny since it's written from the perspective of Whitney's cat).

I've read many books by this author and I liked this one.  Though it's the second in the House-Flipper series, it works as a stand alone (I read the first one a couple years ago and the third one a couple weeks ago).  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Book ~ "Murder with a View" (2021) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ A DREAM PROPERTY

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker, her cousin Buck, and guard-cat Sawdust just scored a hot property near downtown Nashville in a tax sale. While the Music City Motor Court might not be much to look at now, the two plan to transform the motel’s twelve units into six one-bedroom condominiums with popular mid-century styling. But surprises await when Whitney discovers a squatter living in Room 9 and her cat, Sawdust, uncovers a body in the bed next door.

A LIVING NIGHTMARE

The murder victim is none other than Beckett Morgan, an up-and-coming country-western singing sensation who’s taken Nashville by storm with his number-one hit “Party in the Pasture.” Beckett’s left a long trail of broken promises and broken hearts, and the list of suspects seems endless. So does the line of female fans intent on halting the flip and turning the construction site into a shrine for the deceased star. If Whitney and Buck don’t help Detective Collin Flynn nail the killer, they’ll never be able to clear out the star-obsessed groupies, complete the remodel, and recoup their investment. But just who silenced the singer and why?

Whitney works part-time for a property manager so has connections in the building and repair world.  Her uncle is a carpenter so she's learned how to fix and build things over the years.  She and her cousin, Buck, want to buy fixer-uppers, repair them and then flip them for a profit.  

When a rundown motel comes on the market, Whitney and Buck snatch it up with the plan to renovate it and sell as condos.  It's in a great area in Nashville so there shouldn't be any problem.  Except a young popular country singer is found murdered in one of the rooms.  He was considered difficult and arrogant in the business so there are many who might have killed him, including the mysterious drifter who had been squatting at the motel.  Whitney's boyfriend, Collin, is the police detective in charge of finding the killer.

I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Whitney's point of view and third person perspective from Sawdust's point of view (which is funny since it's written from the perspective of Whitney's cat).

I've read many books by this author and I liked this one.  Though it's the third in the House-Flipper series, it works as a stand alone (I read the first one a couple years ago but not the second one, which is now on my list to read).  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity (there's no heat at all between Whitney and Collin).

Book ~ "Bending the Paw" (2020) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ A bloodbath is a shocking new challenge for Megan and Brigit when Detective Audrey Jackson calls them to the scene of what could only be a brutal murder. But the one thing the nightmarish scene is missing is a victim. The frantic homeowner’s husband is gone, seemingly without a trace - and so is the money he was holding. Has a vicious killer committed what might just be the perfect crime? 

Meanwhile, it’s hailing cats and dogs all over Fort Worth, and roofing contractors have descended on the city in droves. With plenty of damage and continuing storms, work delays are building up like so much runoff but Megan is suspicious that one roofer may be a scam artist. Determined to leash every lawbreaker she and her K-9 partner find, Megan is building a case for prosecution, all while Brigit has her nose to the ground for a murderer.

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  Megan has aspirations of becoming a detective and is being mentored by Detective Jackson.  Jackson has been called to the scene of a potential kidnapping and/or murder and invites Megan along.  A wife arrives home to find her kitchen awash with blood and her husband is missing.  Blood tests show that it's the husband's blood and his car, also full of blood, is eventually found, but there's no body.  The couple seem to have had a great relationship so it's puzzling as to who would kill the husband and why.

A roofer is taking money from new clients but isn't doing the work.  He is blaming the rest of his crew and a shortage of supplies and Megan isn't sure if he's telling the truth or if he's a scam artist.

This is the ninth in the Paw Enforcement series (I've read them all) but can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and the Slasher's perspective (the chapters alternate and are labeled).

I like Megan.  She's gotten more confident and ambitious as time goes on.  Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head.  Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (like figuring out how to open a cupboard that has been child-proofed and eating a box of Megan's crackers).

Book ~ "Paw of the Jungle" (2019) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ Police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner in crime, Brigit, are on all fours as they try to solve their latest Lone Star mystery.

AT THE ZOO
The weather is beautiful, work is slow and her canine colleague could use a walk. What better day for Megan to take Brigit to the Fort Worth Zoo, where they can let loose and witness the law and order of nature unfold? But what begins as a fun field trip turns serious when a pair of rare hyacinth macaws named Fabiana and Fernando goes missing. Is the new custodian, a gentle soul who happens to be an ex-convict, to blame? Or is something far more sinister afoot?

AND ON THE HUNT
The birds are worth thousands of dollars and the list of people on the premises who might have stolen them is long. Soon other animals start disappearing ... and Megan and Brigit have their hands and paws full of suspects. But when a rare black rhino is taken from the zoo, presumably for its black-market-friendly horn, time is of the essence. Can Megan and Brigit find out who’s behind the mystery - before they too become prey? 

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  She has two cases on the go.  Women are losing their rings and Megan is determined to find out who is stealing them and how.  The second case involves animals that are disappearing from a zoo and it's up to Megan and Brigit to figure out who is stealing them.

I've read many books by this author and I liked this one.  Though it's the eighth in the Paw Enforcement series, it can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and the Poacher's perspective.

I like Megan.  She's gotten more confident as time goes on.  Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head.  Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (like stealing tennis balls or being a bum at supper time).

Book ~ "Dead as a Door Knocker" (2019) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find - and flip - the home of one's dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can't resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. But soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune.

Sawdust is the name of Whitney's cat, of course. Whitney's passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don't belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it's up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgage property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment ... and maybe her own life.

Whitney works for a property manager, in addition to working part-time with her uncle's construction company.  This helps because as a property manager because she's able to fix things for free or cheaply at the properties she manages.  She's currently living in a renovated shed in her parents' backyard to save money.  One of her clients offers to sell her one of his properties ... it needs a lot of repairs because the former tenants trashed the place.  This is Whitney's dream so and her construction worker cousin, Buck, agree to buy the house ... they'll fix it up and flip it.  No problem, right?

But then there is a fire that destroys part of the house.  And someone is found dead, buried in the flower bed and Whitney is a suspect.  And the neighbour next door is a busybody who won't tolerate any noise or disturbance.

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Whitney's point of view and third person perspective from Sawdust's point of view (which is funny since it's written from the perspective of a cat).

I liked Whitney ... she's young and ambitious.  I liked other "likable" characters like Buck, Colette, Whitney's best friend, and Detective Flynn.

I've read many books by this author and I liked this one.  It's the first in the new House-Flipper series (this is the author's third series and I've read them all).

Book ~ "The Long Paw of the Law" (2018) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ One night, while on duty with her four-legged crime-fighting companion, Megan gets an urgent call from her boyfriend, Seth, who works for the Fort Worth fire department. A baby girl has turned up at the station with only two clues to her identity: One is a peace-sign symbol stitched into her blanket. The other is a word, written in string: help.

Megan follows every loose thread and, along with Brigit, ends up on a twisted path that leads to the People of Peace compound, the site of a religious sect on the outskirts of the city. Its leader, Father Emmanuel, keeps his followers on a short leash - and his enemies even closer. Could this be the abandoned baby’s original home? And if so, why was she cast out? Now that Megan and Brigit are on the case, the secrets of this reclusive cult are bound to be dug up.

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  One night Megan gets a call from Seth, her boyfriend who is a fireman.  A baby was just left at the fire station where he works.  Because of Texas laws, people are allowed to abandon their children at places like this.  As the baby is being taken away to a foster home, Megan notices the word "help" stitched into the baby's blanket.  Assuming this is the mother's cry for help, Megan is determined to find the mother.  This leads her to a cult called People of Peace, run by the controlling Father Emmanuel.  Convinced she is on the right track, Megan does all she can to see if the mother is indeed in the compound and needs her help.

In the meantime, someone is stealing garage remote controls from cars with the intent of going back later to rob houses now that they have access and Megan and Brigit are on the case.

I've read many books by this author and I liked this one.  Though it's the seventh in the Paw Enforcement series, it can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and Father Emmanuel's perspective.

I like Megan.  She's gotten more confident as time goes on.  Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head.  Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (especially if there are treats or squirrels involved).

Book ~ "Death, Taxes, and a Shotgun Wedding" (2017) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ For IRS Special Agent Tara Holloway, this case is personal.

Wedding bells are ringing as Tara and her soon-to-be-husband, Nick, prepare for their big day. But along with all the RSVP cards are a series of death threats from an unknown source. The culprit must be someone from an earlier investigation - a white-collar criminal with a red-hot grudge - but Tara has run across too many lawbreakers to narrow down the search. And time, like her biological clock, is ticking. 

Now, while dodging attempts on her life, Tara also finds herself embroiled in a rental scam in which a heartless crook is ripping people off left and right. Will she be able to track down the con artist and make it down the aisle in one piece? Or will "til death do us part" come before Tara can even say "I do"? 

Tara is a Special Agent with the IRS.  She has recently gotten engaged to fellow Special Agent, Nick, and they are planning their wedding.  While mailing their wedding invitations, someone tries to run Tara over.  She doesn't initially take it personally until she starts getting death threats.  Then she starts digging into her past to see who would be seeking revenge ... and that list is long.

In the meantime, Tara is looking for a scammer who is renting out apartments ... but doesn't actually own the apartments.  He's collecting the down payments and then disappearing.  The renters doesn't realize this until they go to get the keys and move in.

I've read many books by this author and I thought this one was just okay.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic at times. It is written in first person perspective from Tara's point of view.  As a head's up, there is some swearing.

It is the twelfth and final book in the Tara Holloway series (I've read them all and like this series).  Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on but it helps, especially this one since it's the last one and there are lots of references to cases in the past.  I thought the "whodunnit" was a let down and was a bit disappointed that it ended that way.  And the escapade just before the wedding was ridiculous.  While I'm going to miss this series, yes, it was time for it to end.

Book ~ "Enforcing the Paw" (2017) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ When a case of he-said/she-said turns criminal, it s up to Megan Luz and her devoted K-9 to dig for the truth.

A TAIL OF TWO LOVERS 
When relationships go south, some people just can't or won't let go. When Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz and her pawed partner, Brigit, investigate a series of stalking incidents involving a couple who recently broke up, their detective powers are put to the test. Is this a case of a controlling creep who refuses to accept rejection or one about a woman scorned whose fury has been unleashed? 

WHO END UP IN THE DOGHOUSE?
As hostilities escalate between the former lovers, the situation goes from romantically dysfunctional to downright dangerous. He insists his former flame has become a crazy ex-girlfriend intent on vengeance. She alleges that he is a master of manipulation and lays blame entirely at his feet. Who s the culprit and who s the victim? Can Megan and Brigit sniff out the truth ... before somebody ends up dead?

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  The majority of their job is patrolling the streets and responding to calls.

They get a call from Adriana that someone has thrown a brick through one of her windows and she suspects it was her ex-boyfriend, Ryan, because he hasn't gotten over their break-up.  When Megan goes to Ryan's apartment, she discovers evidence that makes her suspect that it was indeed Ryan.  But Ryan says it's Adriana who is the crazy one and is trying to frame him.  Both make a strong case and Megan doesn't know who to believe.  As things happen and the situation escalates, Megan bounces back and forth thinking it could be either one of them.

In the meantime, Megan and Brigit are also trying to track down a thief who disguises himself in hospital garb, robs convenience and gas stations and only steals grape suckers.

I've read many books by this author and I liked this one.  Though it's the sixth in the Paw Enforcement series, it can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and the Devoted One's perspective.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I like Megan.  She's gotten more confident as time goes on.  Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head.  Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (especially if there are treats or squirrels involved).

Book ~ "Death, Taxes, and Sweet Potato Fries" (2017) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ When the IRS is tasked with assisting the border patrol in pursuing unscrupulous “coyotes” who’ve transported illegal immigrants across the border, Tara finds herself at odds. Not only must she investigate Brett Ellington, her old flame whose landscaping business employs such workers, but now Tara has to convince her romantic partner in crime, Nick Pratt, that she doesn’t still carry a torch for Brett.

Now in addition to proving her love to her own fiancé, Tara is on the hunt for a trail of bogus 1099s in the Dallas area. Someone, somewhere is using the IRS as a pawn in a cunning game of revenge. Will Tara be able to identify the culprit making the false tax reports - before her sweet-potato-fry addiction forces her to get her engagement ring resized? That is, if jealousy doesn’t get the best of Nick first.

Tara is a Special Agent with the IRS.  She has two cases on the go.  Someone is transporting illegal immigrants into the U.S.  Sometimes they live in the process but sometimes they are abandoned and left to die.  In the other case, someone had filed false tax reports on contest winnings never won and Tara has to follow the clues to see how the people are connected.

In the meantime, Tara has recently gotten engaged to Nick and they are planning a fall wedding.  Since they are busy with their jobs, they have left all the planning to their mothers.  In any other story, there would be a clash but Tara and Nick's mothers get along and things are progressing well.  She has also developed an addiction to sweet potato fries and a Spanish soap opera.

I've read many books by this author and I liked this one.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic at times. It is written in first person perspective from Tara's point of view.  As a head's up, there is some swearing.

It is the eleventh book in the Tara Holloway series (I've read them all and like this series).  Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on.

Book ~ "Above the Paw" (2017) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ WILL THEY DIG UP THE TRUTH? 

When a rash of college students falls seriously ill after ingesting Molly, a “club drug” also known as ecstasy, Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner, Brigit, are tasked with tracking down the dealers. Going undercover at the university leads Megan closer and closer to infiltrating the drug trafficking ring. But when the investigation implicates her former partner and workplace nemesis, Officer Derek Mackey, Megan’s powers of discernment are put to the test. 

OR ARE THEY BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE? 
Thwarted when the Feds seize control of the investigation and frustrated by the lack of attention the DEA is putting into the case, Megan continues her own unofficial investigation with Brigit’s help. But when the trail leads them in an unexpected and dangerous direction, Megan and Brigit find their own lives at risk. Can the K-9 team take down those in power? Or are some criminals simply above the law - and paw? 

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  The majority of their job is patrolling the streets and responding to calls.  There has been a rash of overdoses by university students on a drug nicknamed "Molly".  Megan jumps at the chance for her and Brigit to go undercover as a university student and her service dog, enrol in classes and move into a dorm so she can determine if the dealer is connected to the university.

I've read many books by this author and I liked this one.  It's the fifth in the Paw Enforcement series ... reading the first one had introduced me to this author and then to her Tara Holloway series, which I'm enjoying.  Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on.

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and the Dealer's perspective.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I like Megan.  She's getting more confident as time goes on and her ambition is to become a detective.  Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head.

Book ~ "Against the Paw" (2016) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ Police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner are on the lookout for a convict who has been unleashed.

PAW PATROL IS ON THE CASE 
Megan has her sights set on finding a convicted burglar who’s broken his parole and she has the perfect partner to help sniff him out. Unfortunately, her shepherd-mix Brigit’s dog bowl is already full. A peeping Tom has been spotted in an affluent Fort Worth neighborhood - and concerned citizens are looking for a few good watchdogs.

TO COLLAR A CRIMINAL 
To catch the creep, residents start enlisting volunteers to beef up their Neighborhood Watch group. Which is fine with Megan. She needs to focus on catching a burglar who’s still at large. But when the Peeping Tom patrol grows into a virtual vigilante mob, Megan and Brigit have to jump in paws first - before some very angry people take the law into their own hands.

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  The majority of their job is patrolling the streets and responding to calls.  An escaped convict is on the loose and up to his old trips ... breaking into houses and forcing the occupants to give up their ATM cards and access codes.  There is also a peeping Tom going around peaking into women's windows and taking pictures.  Could it be the same person?  In addition to the police looking into it, the local Neighbourhood Watch is also trying to help but are more of a hindrance.

Megan's roommate, Frankie, works in a grocery store and in the roller derby.  She has recovered from her broken heart and is willing to have Seth, Megan's boyfriend, set her up ... as long as the guy is tall and hot.

This is the fourteenth book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  It's the fourth in the series ... reading the first one had introduced me to this author and then to her Tara Holloway series.  Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and the peeping Tom's perspective.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I liked Megan.  She's getting more confident as time goes on and her ambition is to become a detective.  I find Brigit funny and likeable and determined to get rewarded with her treats (Megan has her on a diet to lose some weight).  I liked Seth better in this one ... in the last one, he was too focused on having sleepovers with her.  This story is happening around Mother's Day which brings back bad memories of his mother leaving his family so we see a different side of him.

Book ~ "Laying Down the Paw" (2015) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ Police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner are back-with a vengeance.

IT'S A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD.
When a raging tornado hits Forth Worth, Megan's squad car is flipped over-and her devoted police dog, Brigit, is not amused. But that's not all that's upside-down. The streets are littered with looters-and members of a violent street gang-and no local business is safe. It's time to get back on all fours and see that the job of protecting the public is done.

BUT WHO'S LEADER OF THE PACK? 
But Megan, outmanned and outgunned, has no choice but to let the gang members get away. Later, when she learns that one of them is a suspect in an unsolved murder case, Megan is determined to see that justice is served. But will she end up in the doghouse? Her investigation has her and Brigit barking up the wrong tree at every turn. Meanwhile, a killer's on the loose ... who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  The majority of their job is patrolling the streets and responding to calls.  When a body is found brutally murdered in a park, Megan is the first to arrive.  The detective who will be in charge knows how keen Megan is to advance so lets her tag along with the investigation.

Dub is a 15-year-old who has been in and out of juvie and foster homes.  His mother is a drug addict and his father is unknown, though Dub suspects it's the guy who keeps feeding his mom drugs and beating her up.  He currently has a sweet deal living with Wes and Trevor but moves back with his mom because of a sense of guilt.  That puts him in a bad neighbourhood and an even worse crowd.  He does what he has to do to survive.

After a tornado hits, Megan comes across four guys who had just looted a liquor store.  She suspects one of them is tied to the murder in the park and a string of burglaries in the area.

This is the thirteenth book I've read by this author and I liked it.  It's the third in the series ... reading the first one had introduced me to this author and then to her Tara Holloway series.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and Dub's perspective.  As a head's up, there is some swearing.

I liked Megan.  She's getting more confident as time goes on.  Though I find Brigit funny and likeable, I find it hard to believe that a trained K-9 dog would be as undisciplined as she is at times when she is on the job.  For example, she steals a toy from another dog or eats food given to her by a bad guy rather than being alert to defend Megan.  Seth, Megan's on again boyfriend, is a bit annoying because all he seems to want to do is have a sleepover with her.

Book ~ "Death, Taxes, and a Satin Garter" (2016) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ Can IRS Special Agent Tara Holloway break up a clever ring of tax cheats who love money, dishonor the IRS and disobey the laws of justice?

When Tara agreed to be her best friend’s maid of honor, she knew it would be a ton of work. But planning a bachelorette party is a piece of (wedding) cake compared to her latest mission for the IRS. Her target is radio host Florence “Flo” Cash, star of “The Flo Cash Cash Flow Show.” Not only has Flo been giving her listeners shady tax advice, she’s set up an elaborate barter system that leaves Uncle Sam out of the equation - and Tara tied in knots.

While Flo flouts the IRS at every turn, Tara has yet another case to tackle: a catfishing Casanova who’s relieved several lonely ladies of their cash, credit cards and dignity. 

When her best friend’s big day arrives, it’s all Tara can do to keep from crying uncle. But when Tara snatches the bridal bouquet and her boyfriend Nick catches the satin garter, could Tara’s days of filing single tax returns be over?

Tara is a Special Agent with the IRS.  She has two cases on the go.  Florence Cash is the owner of a once thriving radio station.  She lives lavishly yet is paying herself a low salary, thus paying not a lot in taxes.  Tara knows something is up and determines that Flo is running a barter system ... giving out free advertising time on her radio station in return for stuff.  She's not cooperating and Tara is determined to bring her down.  The other case is that of a guy who is using online dating sites to attract women and then have them cash bad cheques for him.  Tara poses as a potential dater to get justice for the women he's taken advantage of.

The other focus for Tara is that her best friend, Alicia, is getting married soon (hence the satin garter reference in the title) and Tara is one of her brides maids ... which means planning the bachelorette party and helping with the wedding preparations.

I enjoyed this book and thought the two plots were interesting.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic. It is written in first person perspective from Tara's point of view.  Tara and Nick (Tara's boyfriend and fellow IRS agent) are good together.

It is the tenth book in the Tara Holloway series (I've read the previous ones and really enjoy this series) and the twelfth book I've read by this author.  It works as a stand alone as there was enough information from the past ones so you know what's going on.

Book ~ "Death, Taxes, and a Chocolate Cannoli" (2015) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ He's no Tony Soprano. Still, local crime boss Giustino "Tino" Fabrizio is one shady character that Tara Holloway would love to see behind bars. He operates a security business - or so he claims on his tax forms - but his clients don't feel so secure when it's time to pay up. Problem is, no one can get close enough to nail this wiseguy for extortion. No one, that is, except Tara.

Going undercover, Tara lands a waitress job at Benedetta's Bistro - which is owned and operated by Tino's wife. Being surrounded by cream-filled cannolis could be hazardous to Tara's waistline, even though the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right? Only thing Tara can't afford to do now is blow her cover. Because serving Tino his just desserts will surely come with a price.

The FBI are trying to bring down Tino Fabrizio, a crime boss who had moved from Chicago to Texas.  They ask the IRS to help and Tara is the Special Agent in charge of the IRS team.  Tino owns a security business and it's suspected that he also robs his clients and/or forces them to give him extra money to avoid something unpleasant happening to them or their families.  Some of his staff have disappeared or turned up dead in a violent way.

Tara goes undercover as a waitress in Tino's wife's restaurant, which is next door to Tino's security company.  This way, Tara can see if Benedetta, his wife, is also involved and it potentially provides access to Tino's office.  Nick, Tara's boyfriend who is also an IRS agent, sets up a business across from Tino and Benedetta's businesses so he can keep an eye on them.

In addition, Tara is investigating a case for three elderly men who had been ripped off by a travel agency.  They had been approached to go on a casino trip and had given a deposit in cash.  The guy didn't show up on the day it was supposed to happen and not surprising has disappeared.

I enjoyed this book.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic. It is written in first person perspective from Tara's point of view.  I like the characters.  Tara and Nick are good together.  Other characters are quirky and comical (like Tara's boss, Lu).

It is the ninth book in the Tara Holloway series (I've read the previous ones) and the eleventh book I've read by this author.  It works as a stand alone as there was enough information from the past ones so you know what's going on.