Buyer, Beware

Samantha Kidd Mystery #2

by Diane Vallere

Out of work fashion expert Samantha Kidd is strapped, until the buyer of handbags for a hot new retailer turns up murdered. When Samantha is recruited for the job, it comes with a caveat: she’s expected to find some answers. The police name a suspect but Samantha's convinced the label doesn’t fit. With patent determination and a tote bag of tenacity, she turns to a sexy stranger for help. As the walls close around her like a snug satin lining, Samantha must get a handle on the suspects, or risk being caught in the killer’s clutches.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Chick Lit, Amateur Sleuth, Fiction, Humor

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2013

About the author

Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania where she spends her free time discussing classic movies or curled up with a book. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.

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Reviews

[Jane Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buyer, Beware is amazing. Let me tell you a little about it.

Buyer, Beware takes place six months after the action in Designer Dirty Laundry. Since she's been out of work during these six months, Samantha has become a "starving fashionista" with her "savings account rapidly dwindling." So when she saw an ad for a sanctioned heist contest ("Interested in a Heist?") in the local newspaper, she knew the contest was "right up my alley."

Samantha gets a high school friend to be her partner in crime, and he, in turn, recruits two more would-be criminals. Their heist didn't quite work out as well as they'd hoped. At the Pilferer's Ball, though, Samantha's results and "unique skill set" attract the attention of the owner of Heist. He offers her a job as an undercover investigator into the murder of his handbag buyer.

Samantha has experience as a buyer (her old job, before Designer Dirty Laundry) and as an investigator (during Designer Dirty Laundry). This job at Heist should be a piece of cake, right? Of course not.

Samantha's job, and the intriguing mystery to be solved, produce many interesting and humorous situations. One character sums up Samantha's investigative skills very nicely: "You have some kind of talent for this stuff, but you also have a knack for finding trouble."

When she finds serious trouble, Samantha discovers that her "inner tough girl had run screaming for the hills, and what was left was the scared voice inside of my head. Only that voice wasn't inside my head anymore. 'Why am I doing this? What is wrong with me?' " But don't worry, everything comes together for Samantha in a very satisfying manner at the end of Buyer, Beware. I really enjoyed reading it, and I think you will, also.

I recommend Buyer, Beware to all cozy mystery fans, especially those who like madcap caper cozies. If you're a fan of Gretchen Archer's Davis Way Crime Caper series or Diane Vallere's other series (Madison Night Mad for Mod Mysteries, Polyester Monroe Material Witness Mysteries, and Margo Tamblyn Costume Shop Mysteries), I think you will particularly enjoy reading about Samantha Kidd in Buyer, Beware.

I absolutely love Buyer, Beware, which has earned my highest rating of Five Stars!



Note: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of Buyer, Beware. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Originally published on my blog Jane Reads.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Kidd is excited about another fashion store opening up in her hometown of Ribbon, Pennsylvania. She and some friends attend the opening night party, but the party ends abruptly when Samantha stumbles on the body of a dead woman in the handbag department. The woman was the store’s handbag buyer, and the police quickly rule it a murder. Then Samantha gets another shock – the store’s owner asks Samantha to take over the dead woman’s job and use her position to help figure out what happened. But is Samantha putting herself in danger by taking a dead woman’s job?

I might not normally have picked up this book because of the fashion theme, but I already knew that author Diane Vallere can craft a great cozy mystery. Yes, fashion is certainly an aspect of the book, and even plays into the plot, but it never overwhelmed the story or bored me since the book never loses sight of the fact that it is a mystery first and foremost. And what a mystery! The suspects are all outstanding and do a great job of misleading us. Samantha has to deal with twists and red herrings galore until she finally figures things out. I did feel a few of the details could have been smoothed into the story better, but that’s a minor complaint overall. I enjoyed this book and need to make time to visit with Samantha again soon.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Diane Vallere]

Can Samantha get a handle on an inside job without getting caught in the killer’s clutches?

🎧NOW AVAILALBE IN AUDIO!🎧

Buyer, Beware is the second cozy mystery in the humorous Samantha Kidd mystery series. If you like friendship fiction, fashionable drama, and mysteries that keep you guessing, you’ll love Diane Vallere’s humorous mystery​.



EXCERPT
This wasn’t how I’d planned to spend my Saturday night.

It was one thing to be home alone waiting for the phone to ring. The man I wanted to call was in Italy, and I’d gotten used to Saturday nights by myself. Maybe that’s why I was hiding in a bathroom with a naked man. He quickened my pulse, shortened my breathing, and inspired thoughts that would make a more innocent woman blush. Never mind that he was made of wood and tucked inside my handbag. Never mind that five minutes ago I’d stolen him from his place of honor in the admissions hall of the local design school.

​I’m not a thief, my inner monologue cried out. I’m not a crook, or an opportunist, or the kind of person who breaks the law.

​Well, maybe, on occasion, I was the kind of person who broke the law, but only in very specific situations of the life-or-death variety.

I bargained with the patron saints of thieves and fashion: If I make it out of here safely, I promise to never wear sweatpants in public again.

From the hallway, I heard the resonant strike of leather soles on the marble floor. I promised myself if I could make it fifteen more seconds without breathing, I could have two bowls of cherry vanilla ice cream when I got home. If I got home. If I didn’t get caught.

Not the best strategy for not breathing.

The footsteps faded, and I exhaled. The naked statue shifted lower in my handbag. I relaxed for a moment and rooted around, making sure my wooden companion was hidden inside the slightly worn Birkin handbag I bought on eBay back when I had a disposable income. At least if I was hauled off to jail, it would be locked up with the rest of my outfit, patiently awaiting my release. How long do you get for stealing art? Ten to twenty years? Good thing the Birkin was a classic.

The door to the bathroom creaked open. Before I could scream, climb through a vent, or adopt a really cool fighting pose, a man in a black turtleneck, black knit hat, black gloves, black cargo pants, and black Vans grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the exit. It was Eddie Adams, my closest friend and occasional bad influence.

“Did you make the swap?” Eddie whispered.

I nodded.

“Good. The security guard is on the other side of the building. We have to go. Now!” He shoved me into the bright hallway. We raced past closed classroom doors and bulletin boards filled with colorful slips of paper that announced campus activities and tutor sessions. We burst out the exit, down the concrete stairs, to the parking lot. I dove into the back of the waiting getaway car, otherwise known as our other friend Cat’s Suburban, and pulled an open sleeping bag over my body. Eddie disappeared into the night on foot. I snuggled against the backseat and remained curled in the fetal position around my Birkin while Cat drove to the edge of the lot.

The car stopped. Why did the car stop? There was no way we were out of the parking lot. It was too soon to stop.

​“Can you tell me how to get back to the highway?” Cat asked in an innocent tone. I pictured her flipping her red hair over her shoulder and tipping her head to the side. A male voice described a series of exits and turns. She thanked him. A set of tires peeled out of the lot past us, the voices ceased, and off we drove, me clinging to the naked man like it was our third date.

And that describes my first premeditated robbery.

The night was a success, if success can be measured by things like theft and clean getaways. We’d done it. We’d pooled our collective resources and talents and swiped a statue from the Institute of Fashion, Art, and Design, or I-FAD, as it was known in fashion circles. My careful planning had taken us from concept to execution, but success was a team effort. Eddie, visual manager for Tradava, Ribbon, Pennsylvania’s oldest retailer, Cat, owner of Catnip, a discount designer boutique in the outlet center, and Dante, Cat’s brother, had made it happen. Even more impressive than the success of our mission was the fact that I’d planned the whole thing less than a week ago.

Things had been quiet around my hometown of Ribbon, Pennsylvania. Life was normal, or as normal as it can be when you’re in your early thirties, out of work, trying to figure out how to pay the bills. Six months ago, I’d given up my glamorous job as the senior buyer of ladies’ designer shoes at Bentley’s New York for a chance to move into the house where I grew up. Things hadn’t turned out exactly as planned thanks to a murder investigation. I lost my job and my mentor and came darn near close to losing the house. I’d taken to obsessively reorganizing my wardrobe, first by color, next by silhouette, and finally by decade. With my savings account rapidly dwindling thanks to things like the new mortgage payment and cat food for Logan, I was a starving fashionista living off the contents of my closet.

And then the contest had been announced in the Ribbon Times.

Interested in a Heist?

Ribbon’s hottest new store opens on July 14. Join us for the Pilferer’s Ball to get a sneak preview of our unparalleled assortments at criminally low prices. Daring attendees are challenged to arrive with one of the following items in tow, “borrowed” from their current place of residency. Should you successfully lift said loot without notice, you can win a $10,000 shopping spree at HEIST. Rules and regulations listed below.

It was right up my alley.

Eddie, a high school friend I’d reconnected with during the aforementioned murder investigation, seemed the perfect person to help. Plus, safety in numbers and all that.

“The best time for the theft is in the early morning, like three or four o’clock. It’ll be dark, the night guard will be tired, and there will be minimal traffic on the campus since the bars and parties shut down at two. Anyone wandering around will probably be drunk and not a credible witness,” I had said to Eddie, while we hung out in my living room, discussing my plan.

When I first moved in, the house was a study in post-college hand-me-down. I’d painted an accent wall with a gallon of aqua paint from Home Depot’s “Oops” rack and decorated the wall with fabric cuttings framed in black plastic document frames from the dollar store. Three rows of nine frames each filled the wall opposite the large bay window. A white afghan, crocheted by my grandmother, covered the back of the gray flannel sofa Eddie bought me from a prop sale at Tradava, the store where he currently worked (and I thought I’d be working—but that’s a different story for a different time). Two black and white chairs sat opposite the sofa, set off by blue tweed fabric I’d found in the markdown bin at the local fabric store and fashioned into curtains.

“We need to not look suspicious around the campus, because people might remember us if we seem like we don’t belong,” I added. “I think you should pretend to be a security guard. That way the real guard won’t spend too much time watching the areas where you already are.”

Eddie sat sideways in one of the black and white chairs, his knees bent over the arm, his checkered Vans bouncing on the outside of the fabric. His pencil flew over a pad of drawing paper, making sketches.

“I don’t think I’ll make a very convincing security guard.”

I ignored him. “My new neighbor is the head of the fabric curriculum at I-FAD. I’ll volunteer to talk to one of her classes or something.” I was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Hold that thought,” Eddie said. He spun to a sitting position and pushed himself out of the chair.

“You invited someone to my house?” I asked, shoving incriminating plans and schematics under the sofa. I followed him to the door.

Standing on my porch were a man and a woman. I recognized the woman as Catherine Lestes, the Catnip boutique owner. The last time we’d spoken, we shared a couple of not very nice words. (She’d accused me of murder, and I don’t take well to that.) Next to her was a stranger, attractive in a bad-boy way. His outfit could have been assembled from the greats: black leather jacket from Brando, white T-shirt from James Dean, faded denim jeans from Paul Newman. His jet-black hair and sideburns looked like Elvis’s in the 1968 comeback special. His scuffed and worn black leather boots probably protected his feet from snakes while walking through the jungle. Out of Africa, maybe. Redford. I looked back at his face. Dangerous and brooding. Not Redford.

“Are you Samantha Kidd?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” He held out a hand. His black leather sleeve rode up, exposing flame tattoos around his wrists. “I’m Dante. You know my sister, Cat.” He tipped his head to the side.

Not sure of the protocol to welcome a formerly hostile fashionista and a strange biker dude on my doorstep, I looked at Eddie. He stepped to the side and held the door open.

“Glad you guys could make it. Come on in,” he said.

Not what I’d expected. I glared at him, communicating thoughts that he appeared able to tune out.

“I get the feeling you didn’t know we were coming,” Dante said to me.

“Eddie invited me. We’re here to help with the theft,” Cat added. “I invited Dante to join us. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Sure, fine, no problem.” I turned to Eddie. “Can I see you in the kitchen for a moment?”

Logan, my frisky black feline, slinked into the room. I turned to Cat and Dante. “Watch out for my cat. He’s very selective about the company he keeps,” I said. Logan crossed the room and sniffed the toes of Dante’s boots. Fickle cat.

In the kitchen, Eddie said, “Before you say no, think about it. We can’t pull this thing off by ourselves.”

“Cat doesn’t like me.”

He waved my protest away like the scent of stinky cheese. “She didn’t like you when she thought you were a murderer. Things change. Let them stick around and listen what they can do. Cat has connections at I-FAD, so she can be our person on the inside. And she tells me her brother has all kinds of hidden talents.”

“Like what?”

​“I don’t know, sneaky stuff, by the looks of him. But listen, we might need another man besides me.”

The problem was, I already had another man besides Eddie: Nick Taylor. Only, I didn’t.

In terms of style, Nick was Redford. And Clark Gable and Cary Grant. He was Hamptons preppy with a side of early Duran Duran. Nick was a shoe designer I’d worked with in my former (glamorous, financially successful, emotionally draining) life. When I gave up that job for a lifestyle makeover and moved from the Big Apple to the small town—Ribbon, Pennsylvania—Nick’s name moved from the “colleague” column of my life to the one labeled “you’ve got potential.” And then, like all good shoe designers, he left for Italy, where he’d been for the past month. I was pretty sure that, in addition to keeping the secret about our planned theft at the museum, keeping the secret of the hot tattooed biker who had all kinds of hidden talents might be a bit of a challenge.

“Fine,” I said, though it was anything but.

Find our more at https://dianevallere.com/buyer-beware

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha is still looking for a job when the handbag buyer in a local upscale store is murdered. She gets the job but has to find out what is going on behind the scenes before she ends up like last year's handbags, dead! The wacky characters continue to delight in this series of fashioned oriented murders. A fun adventure that will have you falling off your chair laughing in delight!

[Lily (Night Owl Book Cafe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! Got this book for free through goodreads first reads.

Oh gosh I always love discovering new Cozy Mysteries series to me.

Buyer, Beware is the second book in Style and Error mystery featuring Samantha Kidd, an out of work fashion expert who is strapped for money. In order to remedy her situation, she enters a contest sponsored by one of the new big companies that moved into her area called Heist. The objective was to steal a statue from a college and bring it to the opening day party at Heist in chance of winning thousands of dollars. Enlisting in the help of some friends and a hot dangerous piece of man by the name of Dante, Samantha and her group manage to steal the statue. Too bad that the handbag buyer of Heist is bludgeoned to death by the replica that Samantha's friend made in order to swap the statues.

Now Samantha finds herself recruited for the very same job by Tony Simms, the owner of Heist who wants answers to his staffs murder. This time Samantha ends up in cahoots with the police detective instead of snooping around him. Even if he is still being unreasonable.

There were funny moments, amusing moments and cute moments. Of course I didn't have to read book one to follow along this one just fine. Samantha has helped find a murder in the first book, so they recruit her and her skills in order to snoop around and find the murderer in this one. The only thing that probably made it feel different to me is that I loved Dante and wasn't overall fond of Nick – her overseas boyfriend. Dante is sexy and owns a bike and through the book shows care for Samantha. He kind of wedged himself into her life, making a shamble out of her feelings. I loved that he cared for her and was helping her despite her not wanting him to at the beginning of the book. Meanwhile, she had a hard time confiding in Nick because there grew a point were he was tired of listening to her talk about the case. I hope Dante comes back in the next book, because I would I thought their interactions were cute (romantic in me I guess) and they fit together well. Who doesn't love a good love triangle in books?

The plot was interesting and kept me guessing through the book. When it was finally revealed who the murderer was, I have to admit I did not see it coming. Not when all the suspects had quiet a bit of motive, but in the end it kind of made sense.

And in all, I liked Samantha. She wasn't perfect. There was times she was actually scared, which made her seem very human even if she was a strong character. She also has her flaws when it comes to men, especially of her confused feelings towards Nick and new feelings towards Dante.

I enjoyed this mystery a lot and am looking forward to more from this author!!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buyer, Beware is an independent publication. (Polyester Press) This is a March 2013 release and part of the Style & Error Mystery Series.

Samantha Kidd and her friends participate in a publicity stunt by the new retail establishment- Heist.
When store host a party to announce the winner, a handbag buyer is found murdered.
With Samantha's experience, she is offered a job at Heist, replacing the murdered woman.
There is more to her job than meets the eye, however. She has been approached by a detective about seeing if she can uncover any information about the murder.
On a more personal note, Samantha's boyfriend, Nick, is on a buying trip out of the country and they are trying out a long distance relationship. Samantha's friends are concerned about her. Since taking the new job at Heist, she has been isolating her friends. Samantha also finds herself attracted to Dante, her friend Cat's brother.

Samantha is not hard up for suspects in her investigation. She hilariously jumps from one person to the next, convinced they are the murderer.
The plot is built up around they buying aspect of the fashion industry, especially concentrated on handbags. The business is cutthroat and the competition brutal. Samantha finds her motives being questioned by her friends.

This is a cozy type mystery with elements of chick lit. There are some pretty funny moments. The mystery is a little silly though. The plot takes an unusual twist at the end. There was no way anyone could have figured it out because there was no hint this situation was even possible. You won't guess who the killer is, at any rate. Samantha comes to a decision regarding her love life, that you may or may not feel satisfied with. Love triangles are not normally agreed upon. It was surprising in a way the advice Samantha's friends offer about her romantic relationships.
This book will of course appeal to a female audience. If you are in the mood for a light humorous mystery that will satisfy the girly, girl side of you, then you will love this one.

[Samantha March · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to pick back up with Samantha Kidd after Designer Dirty Laundry and Buyer, Beware did not disappoint! Vallere once again brings her knowledgeable fashion skills to the forefront, along with comedy, mystery, and a saucy romance. Samantha takes over the position of buyer handbag for a new retailer in the area – but only after the previous buyer is murdered. Samantha assigns herself the case of solving the whodunit – but are her accessories enough to keep her safe from the killer?

I know sequels aren’t supposed to be as good or better than the first, but I think I liked this even more! I enjoyed jumping right into Samantha’s life and already having a beat on the characters. It was interesting to watch her romance play out, because I did not have a clue what was going to happen. I also had a few suspects in mind for the murderer, and it wasn’t until the end that I started clicking the pieces together- something I enjoy in mysteries. Who likes to know the identity right off the bat? I hope there is more from this series!
**4.5 stars**

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unemployed fashion expert Samantha Kidd isn't having any luck finding a job since moving back to her hometown of Ribbon PA. Her first job at a major retailer only lasted a few days and the guy she wants to be her boyfriend is in Italy.
Samantha and her close circle of friends Cat and her brother Dante and former classmate Eddie work on plans to swipe a statue for the Pilferer's Ball being hosted by a new retailer in town.
But things get ugly when the handbag buyer at the new retail store is murdered and Samantha is offered her job, but not without strings attached. Sam is at the store to observe anything odd for the police, but when the police believe they have caught a killer Samantha doesn't agree and she takes up her own investigation with help from Dante.
This book is the second in the series "Style and Error" by Diane Vallere. I like both the books in this series both have humor and mystery. I also like the main character Samantha, who loves ice cream, her cat and getting involved in solving murders.

[Cheryl Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a First Reads win for me, and I'm so glad I got it!!! I highly recommend this book to mystery readers who enjoy light single-girl-in-the-city mysteries with a hint of romance.

This is a delightful read with a winning sleuth, Samantha Kidd, and an interesting collection of friends, frenemies, and - after a handbag buyer is murdered - suspects.

Samantha is back in the fashion game when she is hired to fill the position of the freshly murdered buyer. She has to juggle supicious friends, backstabbing co-workers and the law, all while sorting out her feelings for long-distance love, Nick and new interest, Dante. Oh, yes, and while investigating the murder. The milieu of retail fashion in Samantha's small hometown is always fun, and the story is shot through with mystery, suspense and romance.

I began the series with this book and I'll certainly be reading Style and Error #1, Designer Dirty Laundry.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buyer, Beware was the second book in the Style and Error Mystery series. It was such a fun read that I now have the first one on my Kindle and ready to go! If I have any minor complaint, it would be that I was a bit lost in the beginning not knowing exactly who was who due to reading out of order.

But there was a lot to like about this book. If you like any of the following: cozy mystery, romance, danger, chick lit, fashion or humor... This is the book for you because this book has it all!

The plot was interesting and I liked the characters especially the main one, Samantha. The mystery part had me jumping back and forth over who I thought the killer was going to be. Lots of suspense going on in this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a very entertaining book!

* Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read and review. Every word of this review is my own honest opinion.

[Diane Vallere]

🎧Available in Audio!🎧
Narrated by Melissa Strom!

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[Talitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from Goodreads First Reads

Loved the book. Wonderful series to add in for when I need a break from my other books!

[Sapphyria · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the employment debacle from book 1 in the series, Samantha finds herself still unemployed. Even after the dust settled, Travada didn't make good on offering her a job. No worries though. There's a new store called Heist holding a contest that will provide a cash prize worth enough to assist her financially until she's able to find a job. When the object that Samantha and her friends commandeer as part of the contest winds up a murder weapon used on one of Heist's employees, the game changes.

Samantha is recruited as the replacement employee, who also happens to be the handbag buyer. Armed with both an expense and wardrobe account, Samantha has one very important criterion to her job - look for clues that lead to the person who killed the previous buyer. When additional bodies start dropping, Samantha fears she may be next.

I loved Buyer, Beware. It seems that all of the mistakes Samantha made in book 1 she actually learned from. She didn't make nearly as many stupid decisions in book 2. She did push her friends Cat and Eddie away for a time but it was a necessary evil in this book. Samantha is a humorous character and I love the dynamics between her and Damien. He has a large presence in Buyer, Beware as Cat's brother and someone who can see right through Samantha. Her loyalty to Nick, however, is refreshing.

One of the best parts about Buyer, Beware is the buyer talk after she assumes the role of handbag buyer at Heist. I spent 9 years of my working life as a buyer for reproduction and aftermarket parts for 1953-82 Corvettes. Obviously not the same as fashion buying but the methods are similar. Being a buyer/purchasing agent isn't just about making sure items are stocked on the shelves. Buying involves costing, inventory levels, time of the year, overhead, and so much more. I'm currently getting my Master's degree in Acquisitions Administration (fancy for buyer) in the hopes to rejoin the industry (any market) as a buyer. In other words, I was able to connect with the book on a different level from what I'm used to and it was refreshing.

The story was fast-paced and engaging. The road taken to find the culprit was paved with red herrings, questions, and a surprise twist. I thoroughly enjoyed Buyer, Beware and look forward to book 3.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Buyer, Beware provided to me by the author.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha's On the Case . . .

Samantha Kidd has moved back to her hometown and is delighted when a retailer shows interest in hiring her as their handbag buyer. Unfortunately, the reason for the job opening is that the last buyer, Emily Hart, was murdered, and it would be helpful if Samantha could sort of investigate from the “inside” based on her “previous experience” with murder.

Then just when Samantha phones Detective Loncar that she has solved the crime and knows who did it, he tells her general manager Belle DuChamp’s body was just found in the parking lot outside of Tradava. (Darn, that had been Samantha’s suspect!) Samantha needs to go back to her investigation and review the evidence again. Can she track down this murderer before she gets caught up in the danger or targeted to be silenced by the real murderer?

I enjoyed reading this exciting book. The characters are well developed, likable, and engaging. The story line flowed smoothly from beginning to the end and kept the reader fully involved. Grab your copy and see if Samantha can finally figure this out!

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigh, I’m not sure Samantha knows what day it is 1/2 the time. Plus we have the “love triangle troupe”🙄🙄🙄 ughh basically, there’s a murder using a fake statute. Samantha is hired to investigate due to her experience at her prior job. Her best friend’s brother, Dante, is in town and with Nick out of town she’s “suddenly” having confusing feelings about Nick and oh do attracted to Dante… but wait there’s Nick.. but oh there’s Dante 🙄🙄oh brother 🙄🙄🙄 seriously, it’s just annoying.

Samantha does her airheaded thing, the mystery solved itself for her and things are okay for now.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

Buyer, Beware is a fun murder mystery. It made me laugh as Samantha was jumping around from one suspect to another. You were never sure who to trust. It was a clean read. The plot had some nice surprises in it. I enjoyed Samantha's character and her friends. This is book 2 and I did not read the first book. I would like to read it now.

Samantha was a shoe buyer in New York City. She moved back to her home town because she wanted a different life style. She bought her family home when her parents decided to sell it and move to warmer climate. Her last job did not work out after she found a dead body at work. Her boyfriend is a shoe designer who is in Italy for sometime.

A new store is moving into town and is offering a contest of a heist. The person who can steal one of four items around town and bring it to Heist on a certain night will win 10,000.00. Samantha needs the money so she got a friend that she worked with Eddie to help her. Eddie brought two others into the plan Cat and her brother Dante. It took them a week to make the plan and steal the statue at the collage.

The night at the party where they were having champagne at Heist. Samantha wandered off and was looking at the handbags when she spotted a dead body. Emily who was Heist's handbag buyer.
The murder weapon was their copy of the statue. She told the cops why she had the statue in her purse the one they stole.

Later that night the owner of Heist Tony Sims offered her the Emily's job as a handbag buyer. Also if she could find out who killed Emily. She got company credit card in fact he already had it with her I.D. card already made for her. She was to start right away.

She went to the police homicide detective and told him what she was doing. She wanted to work with them to help the case.

Samantha idea of fashion was different to wear for her detecting she wore a trench coat in bright Pink. Talked like she was in old detective movie. No one new what she was up too except the cop and her boyfriend in Italy. She did not really trust her new boss that much.

Her team that planned the heist she did not tell and they were really suspicious of her starting to work for Heist.
I will lookout for other books that Diane Vallere has written based on this book. It kept my attention.

03/05/2013 PUB Polyester Press 256 PAGES ISBN:9781939197016

[Melody May (What I'm Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on What I'm Reading

All right everyone, I just finished Buyer, Beware by Diane Vallere. First off this is not my normal read for sure. I actually got this by accident, but I might as well try something different, right?

There is a couple of reasons this isn't my normal read:

1) I don't normally read mysteries.
2) When you read mysteries you need to be ready to commit to the series, because they aren't normally a single book.

Don't get me wrong I have read a couple of mysteries, and have continue with the series. Plus, there's one I like, but haven't gotten a chance to read the next book. Anyways. However, I picked up Buyer, Beware which is actually book two of Style and Error. I must say that was cute and funny.

Well, in the story Samantha Kidd finds herself in a bit of trouble when she finds herself embroil in another murder. Now she is working for this the particular retailer and hoping to be able to solve this murder.

So, this story is a cute and funny read if you are into mysteries. I'm kind of on the fence if I want to commit to Style and Error series. I did enjoy the story and I kind of want to go back and read the first book, but at the same time I look at my TBR pile and think can I really commit. So, you never know what might happen, you might actually see more of Samantha Kidd on my reading list. Who knows. Well, if you are looking for a fun mystery I would suggest Buyer, Beware. Another great thing about this particular book I didn't feel like I was missing something, because I didn't read the first book.

Copy provided by NetGalley

[Cynthia Archer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book and I'm thankful to NetGalley and the publisher, Polyester Press for the chance to read and review it.
Samantha Kidd and several of her friends plot to steal a famous art statue in an attempt to win a prize when a new department store opens in town. The contest is a PR stunt by Heist (the new store), where the prices are a "steal". They appear to have carried it off, but a whole new can of worms opens up at the party where they are to turn in the statue and claim the prize. The murder of the store's head shoe buyer creates a job opportunity for the out of work fashionista, Samantha. She takes the job that comes with a catch, she is to be an undercover informant for her boss keeping her eyes and ears open for the murderer. She also makes a deal with the police chief to reveal any information she uncovers to the police. Things snowball when Samantha's prime suspect becomes the second murder victim. An added bonus to the story is confusion in Samantha's love life as she meets her friend's hunky motorcycle riding brother while her current potential love interest is out of the country on business. Just who is a girl to trust and how far will the murderer go to keep her quiet. Buyer Beware is a classic who-done-it with a fashion twist. It's a fun and quick read that will appeal to light mystery fans.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buyer, Beware is the first book that I have read by Vallere, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. Even though this is not the first book in the series, I was able to dive right in. Vallere does a great job with her character development giving each of the main characters a personality of their own. The book's heroine, Samantha, is in a transition period of her life being unemployed and living back in the home she grew up in. As the book progresses, Samantha becomes a stronger character as she sees what she is capable of as her murder investigation moves forward. I think that Samantha made a good investigator, and it was her talents as a buyer that helped lead to the solving of the case and setting an innocent man free. The book's mystery was well done full of many twists and turns. I also enjoyed Vallere's writing style that smoothly transitioned from chapter to chapter keeping the reader turning the pages. The book's secondary characters also really added to the story, and the book is left open for the opportunity of future adventures. Overall this was a fabulous read that I would most definitely recommend if you enjoy action, adventure, twists and turns, and fashion with your mystery. I look forward to reading another adventure with Samantha Kidd.

Received from Net Galley in return for an honest review

[Andrea Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Style & Error Mystery series. I'm reading out of order again, but this one was so fun and so different that I know I'll go back and read the first.

I mean, how many cozy mysteries start with the main character stealing a work of art that happens to be a naked man? And she's doing that to win a contest from a new local store, Heist.

That's the only spoiler you get, but that should be reason enough to make you want to read!

Along with the mystery there's a bit of a love triangle going on too. Things are hot with Samantha and her long distance boyfriend, Nick, but there's also Cat's brother Dante in the picture too. Dante has that mysterious sexiness to him that makes you think of Ranger in the Stephanie Plum novels. He just oozes sex. It is hard to imagine her holding out for Nick who is across the ocean in Italy with him around.

The mystery has plenty of twists and turns and just when you think you know who did it you will find out that you're wrong.

I liked the combination of fashion and mystery and I really loved Samantha, she is a fun character to get to know

[Megan Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buyer, Beware by Diane Vallere was an awesome book. It really is too bad I have other things going on, or I would have been done with this book in one sitting! While there were a couple distracting typos(copy/paste issues), they weren't bad enough to distract from the story. (Nor was the fact that this was the second book in the series, and I hadn't read the first one - ooops!) I like her use of first person to limit the reader's knowledge of what's going on, though it doesn't feel like it's limiting at any point in time. It does a pretty good job of pulling you in (enough that while I was waiting for a chapter break to do something, I could find one for at least 45 minutes, although there had to have been at least two in that period of time!)

There were a couple twists at the end that I was definitely not expecting. I thought I had a good sense of who everybody was about halfway through the book - turns out I was pretty far off base. I was really surprised, but it made perfect sense once it was explained.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buyer, Beware (Style & Error Mystery #2)
Vallere, Diane *
Ms Kidd is an out of work fashion purchaser who moved back home to Pennsylvania only to find her self in a pickle, she was accused of a crime. This is the second book in the series, still looking for a job she finds herself involved in another murder. She used her knowledge and private contacts to attract the attention of Heist, a new mega store that was evolving new ideas in their corporate motivation. But not only does it land her a job, but it also makes her life endangered.... this is a suspenseful mystery and a great quick read.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: This ebook was provided to me free of charge through NetGalley for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.

Really interesting tale that had my attention the whole time. The pace was wonderful and the characters engaging. Beautiful storytelling that kept me on the edge of my seat!

[Kathy Broyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice cozy mystery. It is the second book in this series and I am now going to have to go back and read the first one (and a short prequel is also available). It worked well as a stand along novel. Mention was made of the past adventures, but the story line was not dependent upon having read the other book.

[Kendel Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Vallere is an up and comer who writes like a true pro. Buyer, Beware shines with sharp wit, engaging prose, and a twisty mystery filled with fashionista fun. One simply cannot ask for more. Other than the next in the series, please... Highly recommend!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did read the previous book in the series before this one, so I was familiar with Samantha Kidd's troubles. I appreciated how she developed in this second novel. Her relationship with shoe designer Nick Taylor is still on a bumpy path, with him being out of the country making it more difficult. Add in a "bad boy" who is oh-so-attractive as well as being a shoulder for Sam to literally cry on, and she isn't sure how she should be feeling. She is trying so hard to straighten out both her career and her personal life. At least she has Logan.
The book starts with Samantha and her only local friend, Eddie, planning a robbery, a heist. How legal or ill chosen this caper is, we can not be sure. You know something has to go wrong. Eddie is certain it will take more than two to pull it off. The brother-sister duo he chooses would not be Samantha's first choice.
Who knew the fashion industry was so cut throat on so many levels! From fake merchandise to the administrative offices of two top stores, to the factories in Italy, there is deception and corruption everywhere! When the top buyer for a new store is murdered, there are so many motives to sort through.
A well written cozy with characters you care about and worry about and so many twists and turns that you won't see who is coming until you are hit over the head with the solution.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha and her friends in Ribbon, Pennsylvania are back in Diane Vallere's book Buyer, Beware. Out of work and needing money, Samantha and her friends decide to participate in a publicity campaign contest for the store--Heist. Contestants are required to show up with a "borrowed item" at the Pilferer's Ball. They choose the wooden Puccetti statue that is on permanent loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to I-FAD. After successfully pulling off the heist, they leave a replica in its place. Unfortunately that replica is later used to bludgeon handbag buyer, Emily Hart, to death! Shortly afterward, Samantha is offered a job as her replacement and asked to keep her eyes and ears open to anything suspicious. She maintains contact with Detective Loncar while the investigation is going on. She concentrates on his words for why this crime happened--Love, family, money. Samantha has lots of possible suspects to wade through. I enjoy this series because of the interesting characters and the situations they get into! Once I start reading about them, the pages seem to fly! I am looking forward to reading The Brim Reaper, book 3.

[Teresa Kander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second story featuring Samantha Kidd. The fashion expert is out of work, and in order to keep her head above water, she and a group of friends enter a contest sponsored by a new store in town called Heist--a contest which involves stealing a statue from the local fashion institute and bringing it to the opening night party at Heist. The robbery goes off without a hitch, but at the party, Samantha discovers a dead body--the handbag buyer for Heist. She is then recruited by the store's owner to take the job and try to solve the murder. She works with the cops, as well as with her friend's very sexy brother, while trying to keep her almost boyfriend, Nick, from worrying about her while he's half the world away in Italy. Will Samantha solve the case, or wind up the next victim?

Samantha is such a fun character. She bases most of her sleuthing on what she's seen in old movies or on television shows, which of course results in her getting into a few tight spots here and there. Based on her interactions with both Nick and Dante in this book, I have a definite favorite when it comes to resolving the love triangle. I also enjoyed her interactions with Detective Loncar--they definitely know how to push each other's buttons.

I would recommend this book (in fact, the entire series) to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all starts off with a heist. Yes, Samantha goes rogue but it is almost legal. There they are doing a harmless job and then of course murder happens. Poor Samantha, seriously this poor gal can’t keep being chic and a sleuth. No, actually she is amazing but you do feel for her. However, this time she has a smoldering Dante to help her.

Dante, seriously you gave me chills. You had a unique style, that stood out in a room, but your sexual innuendos made the story. You were the weak point to Samantha, even if she doesn’t want to admit it. Dante stole the story for me. His charm, humor and skills to help Samantha made me thrilled to read about him.

Another successful story for Samantha, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on the next.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fashion is murder

Another fun Samantha Kidd mystery. This is a series, but it is not necessary to read them in order. I love that Samantha is such a fashion girl that she is accessorizing while trying to solve a murder. As a refugee from the garment industry I really appreciate the peeks back into the fashion industry. As a mystery reader I enjoy a mystery that keeps me guessing.