Monthly Archives: March 2013

Do You Like Mysteries?

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The Scent of Lies
Do you like trilogies or book series like I do? Sometimes a character will stick with you long after the story is over and you begin to feel about them as not only a living human being, but a friend. You don’t want to let them go. That is how The Scent of Lies makes the reader feel. I am adding a star rating system now for every review based on 1-5 stars:
*hated it; **I can’t recommend it; ***it’s mediocre and needs work; **** I really like it and recommend it: and *****a very high recommendation and will read more of this author.

The Scent of Lies is Book 1 of 4 in the Paradise Valley Mysteries series by Debra Burroughs. This is a romantic mystery, but unlike many of this genre, it is not heavy-handed romance with the mystery as a sideline. The emphasis is on the mystery, or mysteries in this instance. I find that very refreshing. There is nothing wrong with romance, but if you are going to call it a mystery, that should be the focal point. Ms. Burroughs has an excellent balance of both throughout the entire book.

Emily Parker is a young widow whose husband, Evan Parker, Private Investigator, was murdered in his own office 6 months ago. While looking for answers into his death, Emily discovers more questions. Was he really the man that she thought he was? When she is asked by a client of Evan’s, Delia, to investigate Delia’s husband, she is interested and encouraged by her close circle of friend’s to take over Evan’s P.I. business. Then Delia’s husband is murdered. To complicate matters, Emily is introduced to the sexy new police detective, who is convinced Emily’s first client is guilty of murdering her husband. Emily must fight for her client before Delia goes to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Or did she? Emily fights to prove Delia’s innocence as she also tries to fight the budding attraction to the new police detective; who is trying to keep Emily alive long enough to see if she could be the one to mend his heart.

Ms. Burroughs has the beginning to a winning series with The Scent of Lies. The reader is immediately rooting for Emily, for her to solve the case, get the answers about Evan’s murder, and for the new romance building for her. She has several strong female characters and men that support them rather than feel threatened by their resolve. Not all of the answers are given, it is the beginning of a series after all. The reader is given enough to pique the interest to continue reading the series, but not a gratuitous major cliffhanger that makes the reader feel cheated at the end. I highly recommend The Scent of Lies. I will be reading the entire series of Paradise Valley Mysteries. I hope you’ll join me.

MY STAR RATING FOR THE SCENT OF LIES:
*****

As the Sun Goes Down

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This post is a bit different than other I have done. This is not a review, because I haven’t read the book yet. This book is an anthology that was written solely for charity. The charity is for the care and welfare of the Salukis, a breed of dog. Since I am such an animal lover, I agreed to post this because they are in desperate need of assistance. Here is a little background on them:

Saluki Welfare Fund is set up to help rescue and re-home Salukis and also to provide a support network for breeders and owners. This is their website:

http://www.salukiwelfare.org.uk/

Salukis are very different from most other dog breeds. They look beautiful, very elegant, and that is often their downfall. They have very individual requirements from us humans. It is harder to keep them safe and to provide adequate exercise facilities for them than your run of the mill mongrel or common pet breed. But if you can meet their needs the payback is immense. They are a joy to know and to love.

Salukis are probably the oldest recognised distinct breed in the world, having been hunting in partnership with humans in the deserts of the Middle East for thousands of years. Their breeding has remained true to their function. They are lean, they run like the wind, they are intelligent and independent, but still love to share a sofa with their human. To a Muslim, dogs are kelb, unclean, but a Saluki is not a dog, it is a gift from Allah.

The name of this anthology is As the Sun Goes Down, by Jay Howard.

Here is the link for the book:

Remember, it is for charity for these dogs!

I will be posting my new review most likely tomorrow, so stay tuned!