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For Love or Money
When Holly Price trips over a friend’s dead body while hiking, her life suddenly takes a nosedive into a world of intrigue and danger. The verdict is murder—and Holly is the prime suspect.
Of course, the fact that the infinitely sexy—and very pissed off—cop threatening to arrest her is JC Dimitrak, who just happens to be Holly’s jilted ex-fiancé, doesn’t help matters.
To protect her future, her business...and her heart...the intrepid forensic accountant must use all her considerable investigative skills to follow the money through an intricate web of shadow companies, while staying one step ahead of her ex-fiancé. She better solve the case before the real killer decides CPA stands for Certified Pain in the Ass...and the next dead body found beside the river is Holly’s.
Of course, the fact that the infinitely sexy—and very pissed off—cop threatening to arrest her is JC Dimitrak, who just happens to be Holly’s jilted ex-fiancé, doesn’t help matters.
To protect her future, her business...and her heart...the intrepid forensic accountant must use all her considerable investigative skills to follow the money through an intricate web of shadow companies, while staying one step ahead of her ex-fiancé. She better solve the case before the real killer decides CPA stands for Certified Pain in the Ass...and the next dead body found beside the river is Holly’s.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2013
182 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Perkins
17 books138 followersAn award-winning author, Cathy Perkins works in the financial industry, where she's observed the hide-in-plain-sight skills employed by her villains. She writes financial-based mysteries but enjoys exploring the relationships in her characters' lives.
A member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers, she is a contributing editor for The Big Thrill, handled the blog and social media for the ITW Debut Authors, and coordinated the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.
When not writing, she can be found doing battle with the beavers over the pond height or setting off on another travel adventure. Born and raised in South Carolina, the setting for CYPHER, HONOR CODE and THE PROFESSOR, she now lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.
A member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers, she is a contributing editor for The Big Thrill, handled the blog and social media for the ITW Debut Authors, and coordinated the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.
When not writing, she can be found doing battle with the beavers over the pond height or setting off on another travel adventure. Born and raised in South Carolina, the setting for CYPHER, HONOR CODE and THE PROFESSOR, she now lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 6, 2013
I don't usually enjoy romantic suspenses. I used to read them on and off, but I just started feeling the plots were, well, really lame, which made the romance also really lame, almost like the thriller/suspense stuff had been thrown in to distract the reader from the fact that the heroine's life was so incredibly dreary that the murder/stalking/whatever was the only interesting thing about her before she settled down to pop out the hero's babies.
Well, I've read two other books by this author, The Professor and Honor Code and really enjoyed them. They had strong plots, with interesting, but ordinary people, and the romance was nicely balanced out.
This one didn't disappoint. The plot is strong, but also realistic. It is set in small-town Washington state, and the crime is very dramatic, but is just the sort of violent crime which comes out of nowhere and shakes up small communities, and so, didn't feel out of place. The ensuing plot tracked along exactly as you could imagine - there's no mafia or Colombian drug lords running around in this one to leave credibility behind - just relatively ordinary people, some with secrets, some with pasts, and some with overbearing or distant mothers.
The hero and heroine are also ordinary, but not tedious. They're both struggling to cope with the mature adult in front of them (rather than the teenager they last made out with 6 years ago), but they are accessible and NORMAL. I can visualize these people moving in next door to me, she working as an accountant and he as a cop.
And I think this is what I particularly like about this author's style. She writes about everyday people, but she doesn't make them boring, nor does she give them exotic backstories. They are interesting in the way the people around you are essentially interesting once you get to know them a bit. Even the descriptions of the mechanics of running a professional business in a small town and the way police ask the same questions over and over and over again, but give nothing in return, make for a good read.
This one is a bit less dark and the romance is a bit more up-front than in the previous two books, but the steamy bits are nicely restrained, and I appreciated that. I don't much like steamy smut in suspense/thriller romances. Unless it's carefully handled, it always ends up feeling creepy or irrational.
So, 4 stars, I really liked it. Looking forward to the next one by this author.
I received a copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Well, I've read two other books by this author, The Professor and Honor Code and really enjoyed them. They had strong plots, with interesting, but ordinary people, and the romance was nicely balanced out.
This one didn't disappoint. The plot is strong, but also realistic. It is set in small-town Washington state, and the crime is very dramatic, but is just the sort of violent crime which comes out of nowhere and shakes up small communities, and so, didn't feel out of place. The ensuing plot tracked along exactly as you could imagine - there's no mafia or Colombian drug lords running around in this one to leave credibility behind - just relatively ordinary people, some with secrets, some with pasts, and some with overbearing or distant mothers.
The hero and heroine are also ordinary, but not tedious. They're both struggling to cope with the mature adult in front of them (rather than the teenager they last made out with 6 years ago), but they are accessible and NORMAL. I can visualize these people moving in next door to me, she working as an accountant and he as a cop.
And I think this is what I particularly like about this author's style. She writes about everyday people, but she doesn't make them boring, nor does she give them exotic backstories. They are interesting in the way the people around you are essentially interesting once you get to know them a bit. Even the descriptions of the mechanics of running a professional business in a small town and the way police ask the same questions over and over and over again, but give nothing in return, make for a good read.
This one is a bit less dark and the romance is a bit more up-front than in the previous two books, but the steamy bits are nicely restrained, and I appreciated that. I don't much like steamy smut in suspense/thriller romances. Unless it's carefully handled, it always ends up feeling creepy or irrational.
So, 4 stars, I really liked it. Looking forward to the next one by this author.
I received a copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 14, 2013
I was given a copy for review purposes, but the words and opinions expressed are my own.
For Love or Money is an enjoyable mixture of modern/contemporary romance and murder-mystery. It is the story of one woman's hunt for justice, with a modern twist and a hunky ex!
The story begins with Holly Price on a somewhat unsuccessful hiking trip with her sort-of-new-boyfriend, Alex. Her inner commentary on the trip was really funny:
Today, he'd morphed into some kind of Neanderthal maniac - me mighty hunter, you Jane. It was a mixed metaphor, but a slow burn started in her belly. She'd tried to be a good sport, but this was ridiculous.
Their trip comes to an abrupt end when Holly and Alex discover the dead body of her friend Marcy. This leads Holly on a mission to find out what happened to her friend and find her killer. With Holly looking like the prime suspect in the murder, things get worse when the detective on scene is Holly's ex-fiancee, JC (I know, what are the chances?). Throw in a creepy stalker and Holly's having a terrible time.
A magnet for trouble, Holly is a great heroine who really made me laugh. She's extremely witty and plucky. On a personal mission to avenge her friend and clear her name, Holly becomes an unofficial P.I, a super-sleuth and sometime meddler. Her relationship with JC was really interesting - There's a lot of history between them which is examined throughout For Love or Money. The spark between them is obvious and I was waiting (somewhat impatiently) for the big reveal i.e. what the hell had happened in the past to destroy their relationship!
The hunt for Marcy's killer exposes a lot of secrets and lies. It was interesting to discover these along with Holly. As a reader I felt really involved in the plot, often wondering if Tim, Lillian, Alex, Yessa and so on were guilty or not. I did manage to work out some of the ending, but the eventual direction was a pleasant surprise with a nice twist to keep readers guessing.
JC is an upfront and interesting character. And although he is a cop and does display some possessive qualities, he never really comes across as controlling.
Cathy Perkins has created a great read with an interesting back story. I enjoyed seeing Holly going all Jessica Fletcher and loved the banter between the two leads!
Also reviewed on my Blog Zili in the Sky!
For Love or Money is an enjoyable mixture of modern/contemporary romance and murder-mystery. It is the story of one woman's hunt for justice, with a modern twist and a hunky ex!
The story begins with Holly Price on a somewhat unsuccessful hiking trip with her sort-of-new-boyfriend, Alex. Her inner commentary on the trip was really funny:
Today, he'd morphed into some kind of Neanderthal maniac - me mighty hunter, you Jane. It was a mixed metaphor, but a slow burn started in her belly. She'd tried to be a good sport, but this was ridiculous.
Their trip comes to an abrupt end when Holly and Alex discover the dead body of her friend Marcy. This leads Holly on a mission to find out what happened to her friend and find her killer. With Holly looking like the prime suspect in the murder, things get worse when the detective on scene is Holly's ex-fiancee, JC (I know, what are the chances?). Throw in a creepy stalker and Holly's having a terrible time.
A magnet for trouble, Holly is a great heroine who really made me laugh. She's extremely witty and plucky. On a personal mission to avenge her friend and clear her name, Holly becomes an unofficial P.I, a super-sleuth and sometime meddler. Her relationship with JC was really interesting - There's a lot of history between them which is examined throughout For Love or Money. The spark between them is obvious and I was waiting (somewhat impatiently) for the big reveal i.e. what the hell had happened in the past to destroy their relationship!
The hunt for Marcy's killer exposes a lot of secrets and lies. It was interesting to discover these along with Holly. As a reader I felt really involved in the plot, often wondering if Tim, Lillian, Alex, Yessa and so on were guilty or not. I did manage to work out some of the ending, but the eventual direction was a pleasant surprise with a nice twist to keep readers guessing.
JC is an upfront and interesting character. And although he is a cop and does display some possessive qualities, he never really comes across as controlling.
Cathy Perkins has created a great read with an interesting back story. I enjoyed seeing Holly going all Jessica Fletcher and loved the banter between the two leads!
Also reviewed on my Blog Zili in the Sky!
May 27, 2013
Purchased Copy
Life is an unpredictable roller coaster, filled with twists and turns, ups and downs. Even with this knowledge, we all have certain expectations. Especially Certified Public Accountant Holly Price—that is until her career in Seattle jumped the track and took a curve she never saw coming.
When Holly learned her father ran off with the yoga instructor (talk about a midlife crisis!), she couldn’t say no to her mother’s plea for help. She agreed to help run Desert Accounting until her parents worked out their personal and professional issues. The detour landed her in Richland, Washington—her hometown.
Months of hard work and bringing in new clients like Tim Stevens have grown the business. Holly even starts to date. She’s hiking with Alex Martinez (who’s actually pheasant hunting) when they discover a woman’s body near the Snake River.
Tragedy is joined by its twin irony when Holly recognizes the woman as Marcy Ramirez, Tim Stevens’ employee—and the detective investigating the case is Holly’s ex fiancé JC Dimitrak. (Things are heating up now!)
Holly finds herself listed as a suspect by JC, labeled a bad girlfriend by a jealous Alex (they’re only casually dating), and treated like a home wrecker by Nicole Stevens—all in the same week. And since Holly knows she’s done none of the things she’s accused of, she starts investigating on her own to prove them all wrong.
I loved this story! I downloaded my copy, started reading and was hooked. The characters are engaging, layered with emotional depth and humor. Each twist revealed in the plot kept me turning pages. I wanted to know not just who killed Marcy and why, but if JC and Holly could get beyond their past and have a future together.
If you like your books equally character and plot driven, filled with mystery and suspense, and laced with a romance that deepens instead of overshadowing a story, pick up For Love or Money. You won’t be disappointed!
Life is an unpredictable roller coaster, filled with twists and turns, ups and downs. Even with this knowledge, we all have certain expectations. Especially Certified Public Accountant Holly Price—that is until her career in Seattle jumped the track and took a curve she never saw coming.
When Holly learned her father ran off with the yoga instructor (talk about a midlife crisis!), she couldn’t say no to her mother’s plea for help. She agreed to help run Desert Accounting until her parents worked out their personal and professional issues. The detour landed her in Richland, Washington—her hometown.
Months of hard work and bringing in new clients like Tim Stevens have grown the business. Holly even starts to date. She’s hiking with Alex Martinez (who’s actually pheasant hunting) when they discover a woman’s body near the Snake River.
Tragedy is joined by its twin irony when Holly recognizes the woman as Marcy Ramirez, Tim Stevens’ employee—and the detective investigating the case is Holly’s ex fiancé JC Dimitrak. (Things are heating up now!)
Holly finds herself listed as a suspect by JC, labeled a bad girlfriend by a jealous Alex (they’re only casually dating), and treated like a home wrecker by Nicole Stevens—all in the same week. And since Holly knows she’s done none of the things she’s accused of, she starts investigating on her own to prove them all wrong.
I loved this story! I downloaded my copy, started reading and was hooked. The characters are engaging, layered with emotional depth and humor. Each twist revealed in the plot kept me turning pages. I wanted to know not just who killed Marcy and why, but if JC and Holly could get beyond their past and have a future together.
If you like your books equally character and plot driven, filled with mystery and suspense, and laced with a romance that deepens instead of overshadowing a story, pick up For Love or Money. You won’t be disappointed!
June 13, 2013
A woman wanting/needing to clear her name of a murder before the family business went up in smokes. It was also time to stop making excuses, running from the love of her life and see if a second chance could happen.
This is my first read by Ms. Perkins and I have to say that I really did like it. The one thing that I loved was the location of the story. Since I live in Pasco, WA I was a little startled when I learned that Holly lived in Richland, WA. To read about the common streets I drive by or on, the bridge that connects one city to another, Handford area it just seemed surreal. I even told a friend she so needed to read this story because it took place in her hometown. The Tri-Cities is a beautiful place to live in and not so busy like major cities.
Holly is back home to help her mother sell the family business since her father had a mid-life crisis and left her mother for a yoga instructor. Only she expected not to run into her ex-fiancee so early, maybe expecting never to run into him. But no such luck and he is as yummy as ever. Only JC is still trying to tell her what to do and she will not have it. She was in the middle of a murder investigation and she was pin pointed as the person of interest. If she did not clear her name their accounting business was going to lose clients and she was not going to be able to sell the family business.
So what does Holly do, she starts her own investigation but she is also helping JC but to certain point. Marcy’s family, friends and co-workers are able to talk to her and tell her more than the cops. But the more she digs the more incidents start happening to her. The more suspects come to light but why would they want to kill Marcy. Not only that but the stalker she had in Seattle, WA is now in Richland and is following her again. JC is getting on her case because she will not stop butting into his investigation but he is also concerned after someone tried to run her over then the other incident that happen that involved gun fire. JC and Holly know that it all has to be connected Marcy’s killing.
Holly is a strong, determined young woman that will not allow a man to tell her what to do but she can also be stubborn to the point that she risks her life. JC is a young alpha male that thinks he can tell Holly what to do and make decisions for her but he has another thing coming. I enjoyed watching Holly play detective and how she tried to solve the crime but what she uncovered was not only murder.
This story is filled with betrayal, murder, fraud, danger and romance. I enjoyed watching Holly and JC banter as they fought the attraction that was slowly building between them again. The chemistry was there from the moment that they saw each other at the crime scene. Then when they shared their first kiss it was passionate, animalistic. There were a couple of surprises that were revealed that had me lost for words and my mind kept racing trying to follow what was going on. Only that there were a couple of characters that I felt I didn’t get closure with. I wanted to know if one specific character was involved in the fraud, if he knew and also what happened with the stalker. What was he doing following Holly around? This story is written in Holly’s point of view. Ms. Perkins has a vivid imagination and her writing style is wonderful. The plot was intriguing with wonderful characters.
For Love or Money is a very good story that will have you guessing till the very end to solve the mystery of who killed Marcy. Pick this book up today.
This is my first read by Ms. Perkins and I have to say that I really did like it. The one thing that I loved was the location of the story. Since I live in Pasco, WA I was a little startled when I learned that Holly lived in Richland, WA. To read about the common streets I drive by or on, the bridge that connects one city to another, Handford area it just seemed surreal. I even told a friend she so needed to read this story because it took place in her hometown. The Tri-Cities is a beautiful place to live in and not so busy like major cities.
Holly is back home to help her mother sell the family business since her father had a mid-life crisis and left her mother for a yoga instructor. Only she expected not to run into her ex-fiancee so early, maybe expecting never to run into him. But no such luck and he is as yummy as ever. Only JC is still trying to tell her what to do and she will not have it. She was in the middle of a murder investigation and she was pin pointed as the person of interest. If she did not clear her name their accounting business was going to lose clients and she was not going to be able to sell the family business.
So what does Holly do, she starts her own investigation but she is also helping JC but to certain point. Marcy’s family, friends and co-workers are able to talk to her and tell her more than the cops. But the more she digs the more incidents start happening to her. The more suspects come to light but why would they want to kill Marcy. Not only that but the stalker she had in Seattle, WA is now in Richland and is following her again. JC is getting on her case because she will not stop butting into his investigation but he is also concerned after someone tried to run her over then the other incident that happen that involved gun fire. JC and Holly know that it all has to be connected Marcy’s killing.
Holly is a strong, determined young woman that will not allow a man to tell her what to do but she can also be stubborn to the point that she risks her life. JC is a young alpha male that thinks he can tell Holly what to do and make decisions for her but he has another thing coming. I enjoyed watching Holly play detective and how she tried to solve the crime but what she uncovered was not only murder.
This story is filled with betrayal, murder, fraud, danger and romance. I enjoyed watching Holly and JC banter as they fought the attraction that was slowly building between them again. The chemistry was there from the moment that they saw each other at the crime scene. Then when they shared their first kiss it was passionate, animalistic. There were a couple of surprises that were revealed that had me lost for words and my mind kept racing trying to follow what was going on. Only that there were a couple of characters that I felt I didn’t get closure with. I wanted to know if one specific character was involved in the fraud, if he knew and also what happened with the stalker. What was he doing following Holly around? This story is written in Holly’s point of view. Ms. Perkins has a vivid imagination and her writing style is wonderful. The plot was intriguing with wonderful characters.
For Love or Money is a very good story that will have you guessing till the very end to solve the mystery of who killed Marcy. Pick this book up today.
June 28, 2013
If you are looking for a great romantic suspense, heavy on the suspense, look no further than For Love or Money. I found it to be a thrill-ride that I could not get off of.
Characters:
Holly, I loved Holly, she is so every woman. She's leery of men with good reason. She's home to help her mother with the business and she's longing to get back to her high-stakes job in Seattle, or is she? She's also curious as to what happened to her friend and becomes very embroiled in the case that her ex-fiance, JC is lead detective on. Of course this leads to sparks of the very interesting kind. JC isn't as developed as Holly, but I liked his wit. He's also very determined to solve this case and keep Holly out of it, but finally realizes she won't stay out of it. The real fun is in their back and forth. The dialog between them had me laughing and fanning myself as the sparks flew.
Plot:
The plot drives this one and that's why I say it's heavy on the suspense. There is romance, but I think the book is mainly about what happened to Holly's friend. And this isn't one of those books where the lead character bumbles into everything. Holly genuinely sets out to learn from the various people that surrounded her friend and learns more than JC does sometimes. I never felt her being involved was far-fetched and I liked how she went about trying to solve things while the whole time she is also facing her demons and learning more about herself.
For Love or Money is a great romantic suspense read. I had a hard time putting it down and I look forward to reading more by Cathy Perkins. And also I would like to say how great the new Entangled Suspense imprint it. This is the second book I've read in the imprint this week and both have been stellar. If you want to add some suspense to your summer I highly suggest this book!
My Rating: 4.5/5.0
Characters:
Holly, I loved Holly, she is so every woman. She's leery of men with good reason. She's home to help her mother with the business and she's longing to get back to her high-stakes job in Seattle, or is she? She's also curious as to what happened to her friend and becomes very embroiled in the case that her ex-fiance, JC is lead detective on. Of course this leads to sparks of the very interesting kind. JC isn't as developed as Holly, but I liked his wit. He's also very determined to solve this case and keep Holly out of it, but finally realizes she won't stay out of it. The real fun is in their back and forth. The dialog between them had me laughing and fanning myself as the sparks flew.
Plot:
The plot drives this one and that's why I say it's heavy on the suspense. There is romance, but I think the book is mainly about what happened to Holly's friend. And this isn't one of those books where the lead character bumbles into everything. Holly genuinely sets out to learn from the various people that surrounded her friend and learns more than JC does sometimes. I never felt her being involved was far-fetched and I liked how she went about trying to solve things while the whole time she is also facing her demons and learning more about herself.
For Love or Money is a great romantic suspense read. I had a hard time putting it down and I look forward to reading more by Cathy Perkins. And also I would like to say how great the new Entangled Suspense imprint it. This is the second book I've read in the imprint this week and both have been stellar. If you want to add some suspense to your summer I highly suggest this book!
My Rating: 4.5/5.0
June 19, 2013
For Love or Money has plenty of suspense to keep you on your toes. With plenty of "guilty" parties to various crimes, I enjoyed how this book kept me guessing as to the motives behind the murder and who the real culprit was. I also liked that not everyone was as they appeared, including the murder victim. The relationship between Holley and JC was stormy and tension filled, and I wanted more of their interaction. Unfortunately, the (re)building of their relationship took a backseat in the first half of the book a little too much. Perkins did bring their relationship back into the story soon enough so it didn't feel tacked on.
There were several characters I wanted to strangle throughout the story with Holley's parents topping the list. Haha! It's never an easy thing when the child is the most mature adult in the room because the parents decide to shirk their responsibilities. Holley's mother, Donna, seemed just as willing to dump her responsibilities on Holley almost as much as Holley's father was to run away with the yoga instructor. While aggravated, Holley does a wonderful job picking up the pieces and keeping things afloat while her parents deal with the breakup of their marriage. Even so, I still felt as though Holley's mother dumped everything on her--as if Holley owed it to Donna to throw away her career for a woman who was less than willing to do what she needed to do in order to make her business work. The fact that Perkins didn't not write Donna as a sainted mother was refreshing.
For Love or Money is a good book, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a romance suspense with a host of suspects and motives for murder.
(I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
There were several characters I wanted to strangle throughout the story with Holley's parents topping the list. Haha! It's never an easy thing when the child is the most mature adult in the room because the parents decide to shirk their responsibilities. Holley's mother, Donna, seemed just as willing to dump her responsibilities on Holley almost as much as Holley's father was to run away with the yoga instructor. While aggravated, Holley does a wonderful job picking up the pieces and keeping things afloat while her parents deal with the breakup of their marriage. Even so, I still felt as though Holley's mother dumped everything on her--as if Holley owed it to Donna to throw away her career for a woman who was less than willing to do what she needed to do in order to make her business work. The fact that Perkins didn't not write Donna as a sainted mother was refreshing.
For Love or Money is a good book, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a romance suspense with a host of suspects and motives for murder.
(I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
July 1, 2013
A page turner that will keep you guessing
For Love or Money is an entertaining romantic suspense. Cathy Perkins does an excellent job of keeping you guessing as you enjoy the romance between the head-strong accountant and the sexy, alpha detective.
Holly Price returns home to help her mother with the family accounting business after her father ran away with the yoga instructor. Besides coping with the accounting business, quirky clients, and her frustration with her mother’s reluctance to help much, she finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of a woman whose body she accidently stumbled upon. While juggling her responsibilities, she puts her efforts into solving the murder in order to clear her name.
But the biggest obstacle she faces isn’t the many could-be suspects she uncovers, but the investigating detective, JC Dimitrak, her jilted ex-fiancé’. Sparks fly and things heat up whenever Holly and JC are in the same room. But in order to solve this murder, they need to keep their emotions in check, even though the chemistry between them still sizzles.
For Love or Money is an enjoyable read that will keep the reader turning the pages as they try to figure out the identity of the murderer. This book has everything a great romantic suspense novel should have - sizzling chemistry, witty dialogue, a well-written story line, steamy romance, engaging characters and plenty of twists and turns. This novel is guaranteed to please while it grabs your attention.
I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing
in exchange for my honest review.
Janna Shay
Author of Fair Play
For Love or Money is an entertaining romantic suspense. Cathy Perkins does an excellent job of keeping you guessing as you enjoy the romance between the head-strong accountant and the sexy, alpha detective.
Holly Price returns home to help her mother with the family accounting business after her father ran away with the yoga instructor. Besides coping with the accounting business, quirky clients, and her frustration with her mother’s reluctance to help much, she finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of a woman whose body she accidently stumbled upon. While juggling her responsibilities, she puts her efforts into solving the murder in order to clear her name.
But the biggest obstacle she faces isn’t the many could-be suspects she uncovers, but the investigating detective, JC Dimitrak, her jilted ex-fiancé’. Sparks fly and things heat up whenever Holly and JC are in the same room. But in order to solve this murder, they need to keep their emotions in check, even though the chemistry between them still sizzles.
For Love or Money is an enjoyable read that will keep the reader turning the pages as they try to figure out the identity of the murderer. This book has everything a great romantic suspense novel should have - sizzling chemistry, witty dialogue, a well-written story line, steamy romance, engaging characters and plenty of twists and turns. This novel is guaranteed to please while it grabs your attention.
I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing
in exchange for my honest review.
Janna Shay
Author of Fair Play
June 10, 2013
Amateur sleuth Holly Price could've run away screaming after she stumbled over the murdered body of her friend. Instead, she wanted to know why her friend died. Initially driven to clear her own name—she's a suspect because she found the body in the middle of nowhere—and protect the business she's trying to expand, parallels between the victim's circumstances and her own life draw Holly deeper into her mystery.
As she pokes into her friend's life, she also discovers disturbing information about her clients, information that may—or may not—be part of the murder investigation. Throw in a few more flaky clients, a not-so-ex-stalker, issues between her parents that brought Holly back to her hometown in the first place, and her plates already overflowing before the reunion with her ex-fiance is added to the mix.
The chemistry between Holly and JC Dimitrak—the detective assigned to the case and Holly's former fiance—is delightful and I enjoyed watching the growing respect and attraction overcome the initial hurt and anger of their first interaction. Bits and pieces are revealed about their past and bitter breakup and I waited (a bit impatiently) to find out what happened to break them up.
I heard about this book at a conference and thought it sounded interesting. I'm glad I bought it. It appears to be the beginning of a series, with issues introduced that can carry into the next book. I'm looking forward to (or should I say, I'm waiting a bit impatiently for) the next book from this author.
As she pokes into her friend's life, she also discovers disturbing information about her clients, information that may—or may not—be part of the murder investigation. Throw in a few more flaky clients, a not-so-ex-stalker, issues between her parents that brought Holly back to her hometown in the first place, and her plates already overflowing before the reunion with her ex-fiance is added to the mix.
The chemistry between Holly and JC Dimitrak—the detective assigned to the case and Holly's former fiance—is delightful and I enjoyed watching the growing respect and attraction overcome the initial hurt and anger of their first interaction. Bits and pieces are revealed about their past and bitter breakup and I waited (a bit impatiently) to find out what happened to break them up.
I heard about this book at a conference and thought it sounded interesting. I'm glad I bought it. It appears to be the beginning of a series, with issues introduced that can carry into the next book. I'm looking forward to (or should I say, I'm waiting a bit impatiently for) the next book from this author.
June 21, 2013
I received a copy of For Love or Money from the publisher for an unbiased review.
I love suspense novels that have you looking for clues in all the wrong places. Cathy Perkins does a good job of building up the suspense by providing just enough information to make multiple people look guilty. For Love or Money was filled with corruption and characters who were so temperamental that it was difficult to discern who could be trusted. There were several people in Holly’s life from love interests to her clients that either had a shady past, made questionable statements, or acted bizarre. Then there was Holly’s mom who occasionally made an appearance. She was so undependable, and I began to think that she was hiding something.
And Holly, Holly, Holly. All I can do is shake my head and say her name. This is another case of a strong-willed heroine who thinks that she can take care of herself. She got herself in so deep with the murder investigation, because she couldn’t stop snooping. Yeah, her character was believable enough; because she’s similar to the people out there that just don’t know when to stop asking questions. I guess being in a series of dangerous situations wasn’t satisfying enough—she needed answers. Her actions just led to alarming outcomes that kept me turning the pages in search of answers. Read More
I love suspense novels that have you looking for clues in all the wrong places. Cathy Perkins does a good job of building up the suspense by providing just enough information to make multiple people look guilty. For Love or Money was filled with corruption and characters who were so temperamental that it was difficult to discern who could be trusted. There were several people in Holly’s life from love interests to her clients that either had a shady past, made questionable statements, or acted bizarre. Then there was Holly’s mom who occasionally made an appearance. She was so undependable, and I began to think that she was hiding something.
And Holly, Holly, Holly. All I can do is shake my head and say her name. This is another case of a strong-willed heroine who thinks that she can take care of herself. She got herself in so deep with the murder investigation, because she couldn’t stop snooping. Yeah, her character was believable enough; because she’s similar to the people out there that just don’t know when to stop asking questions. I guess being in a series of dangerous situations wasn’t satisfying enough—she needed answers. Her actions just led to alarming outcomes that kept me turning the pages in search of answers. Read More
June 24, 2013
4 ½ Dynamite Stars!!
For Love or Money kept me guessing the age old question “Who done it?” throughout the entire novel! Growing up reading James Patterson, that is a definite achievement. I thought I would know who it was and then some new twist would develop and I would be back to square one.
Holly Price and JC Dimitrak are what drew me into the book and from there I couldn’t seem to put it down. Having been previously engaged to each other, one walk out, one affair, and six years later, Holly and JC are thrown unwillingly back into each others lives because of murder. But not just any murder, the murder of Holly’s friend. And she is the main suspect.
Both Holly and JC are determined to find the true killer, but they have different ideas about how to do that. It is Detective Dimitrak’s job, but he can’t seem to keep Holly from poking around and trying to get answers herself. Answers that continue to put her in near-death situations.
With their emotions running high and their past wounds being ripped open, these two are on a sure-fire track to destruction unless they can figure out who the killer.
Cathy’s writing is phenomenal! Pages slipped by as I lost myself in the mind and world of Holly Price.
(I received an ARC for my review and this is my honest-to-goodness, straight from the heart review!)
www.caretocommentanne.blogspot.com *for more book reviews!*
For Love or Money kept me guessing the age old question “Who done it?” throughout the entire novel! Growing up reading James Patterson, that is a definite achievement. I thought I would know who it was and then some new twist would develop and I would be back to square one.
Holly Price and JC Dimitrak are what drew me into the book and from there I couldn’t seem to put it down. Having been previously engaged to each other, one walk out, one affair, and six years later, Holly and JC are thrown unwillingly back into each others lives because of murder. But not just any murder, the murder of Holly’s friend. And she is the main suspect.
Both Holly and JC are determined to find the true killer, but they have different ideas about how to do that. It is Detective Dimitrak’s job, but he can’t seem to keep Holly from poking around and trying to get answers herself. Answers that continue to put her in near-death situations.
With their emotions running high and their past wounds being ripped open, these two are on a sure-fire track to destruction unless they can figure out who the killer.
Cathy’s writing is phenomenal! Pages slipped by as I lost myself in the mind and world of Holly Price.
(I received an ARC for my review and this is my honest-to-goodness, straight from the heart review!)
www.caretocommentanne.blogspot.com *for more book reviews!*
June 2, 2013
While For Love or Money isn’t my usual speed in romance, it was a pleasure to read. I was entranced by the mystery and couldn’t put it down. Holly was unique but naïve at times, and although I mostly get frustrated by that type of character, I found myself understanding that it was simply a part of who she was. The action and suspense was well written. The relationship between Holly and JC was a bit hard to pinpoint. I could understand the history but it seemed to fall into place with no real resolution. How are they working past his big mistake? What happened with his ex? What happens to Alex? Are there consequences to the interlude? I could see the supporting characters with strong stories of their own. I would certainly continue to follow the series. One suggestion for the writer would be to have the Spanish checked out by a native speaker because the tenses and sentence structure of some of Mrs. Ramirez’s speech was off and it was distracting to me. Overall, it was a pleasant read with much to keep reader’s interested whether it’s the vivid action or the banter between Holly and JC, it did not disappoint.
July 25, 2016
This was a really great read with lots of suspense and little bit of romance. I enjoyed the characters and the plot had me guessing at the “who” and the “why” up until the end. There were quite a few secondary characters that were woven into the story which added a layer to the mystery of who was behind the murder.
The interaction between Holly and JC was at times quite intense – it was clear that they had a lot of history that had never been laid to rest and that there were still sparks between the two. It was fun to watch the two of them struggle with their feelings while having to interact during the investigation.
And even though I normally like a bit more romance in my stories, the way this story moved and how the romance was incorporated into it made it work for me.
Reviewed as part of eARC of Love, International Style boxed set received from the Publisher.
The interaction between Holly and JC was at times quite intense – it was clear that they had a lot of history that had never been laid to rest and that there were still sparks between the two. It was fun to watch the two of them struggle with their feelings while having to interact during the investigation.
And even though I normally like a bit more romance in my stories, the way this story moved and how the romance was incorporated into it made it work for me.
Reviewed as part of eARC of Love, International Style boxed set received from the Publisher.
February 28, 2016
Abrupt ending, the book needed another chapter to tie everything together or at the very least, an epilogue. There were so many loose ends.. What happened to Frank, the stalker?
The mystery wasn't at all that intriguing, I knew who the culprit was.. not that surprising. The suspense aspect overrode the romance which i found to be disappointing, I would have liked this if the mystery did keep me guessing but that wasn't the case with For love or money. Also, there was a lot of unnecessary things that were used as fillers in the book making it longer than it should be. Several secondary characters were unneeded which lead me to skip quite a few scenes because it seemed like it was there to fill in the gaps.
The mystery wasn't at all that intriguing, I knew who the culprit was.. not that surprising. The suspense aspect overrode the romance which i found to be disappointing, I would have liked this if the mystery did keep me guessing but that wasn't the case with For love or money. Also, there was a lot of unnecessary things that were used as fillers in the book making it longer than it should be. Several secondary characters were unneeded which lead me to skip quite a few scenes because it seemed like it was there to fill in the gaps.
June 26, 2013
I really enjoy this author's characters, who are actually believable people. The story is intriguing and I couldn't put it down for long without wanting to know what happened next. It's NOT a romance (hence the "suspense" classification), so if you're looking for a dominating love story, this may not be for you. It's a great suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you fall in love with the characters. I loved it!
June 8, 2013
An excellent read! Ms Perkins characters Holly and JC come across as real, down to earth people, which is refreshing to read about. For Love Or Money is a suspenseful read set in a small town. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book.
March 17, 2014
3.5/5.0
“For Love or Money” is a second-chance love story with mystery and suspense hovering in the shadows.
Read full review in the 2014 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
“For Love or Money” is a second-chance love story with mystery and suspense hovering in the shadows.
Read full review in the 2014 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
May 2, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
When Holly Price trips over a friend’s dead body while hiking, her life suddenly takes a nosedive into a world of intrigue and danger. The verdict is murder—and Holly is the prime suspect.
Of course, the fact that the infinitely sexy—and very pissed off—cop threatening to arrest her is JC Dimitrak, who just happens to be Holly’s jilted ex-fiancé, doesn’t help matters.
To protect her future, her business...and her heart...the intrepid forensic accountant must use all her considerable investigative skills to follow the money through an intricate web of shadow companies, while staying one step ahead of her ex-fiancé. She better solve the case before the real killer decides CPA stands for Certified Pain in the Ass...and the next dead body found beside the river is Holly’s.
I have to admit I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into with this book, but it sounded great so I knew I wanted to give it a chance. For Love or Money is the first book I have read by Cathy Perkins and if I'm completely honest, is nothing like what I was expecting. The books heroine Holly is temporarily back in her home town to help her mother run the family accounting business after her father runs off with a yoga instructor. While in town Holly begins dating Alex, and while hiking and hunting one day they stumble across the dead body of Marcy, one of Holly's friends. When the cops show up, the lead detective just so happens to be JC, Holly's ex who broke her heart. As Holly and JC both work to find Marcy's killer, they both begin to realize that maybe they still have some unfinished business with each other.
I found this book to be extremely long. There were several times throughout the book that I wanted to skip ahead, and honestly I probably wouldn't have missed much if I had. Some things were completely unnecessary and just seemed to really drag. I also thought the book had several points that just felt disjointed. It would skip around and didn't seem to flow well. Part of the problem for me was that there were just so many characters and too much stuff happening to really follow what was going on. I also just couldn't get past all the times that things or characters were brought up to just be dropped. There was no resolution between Holly's family and her father never made an appearance. It was never said if Holly would be returning home or if she had decided to stay in her home town. She had a stalker from home that was glimpsed throughout the book and he just disappeared. The same happened with Alex, the guy she was dating at the start of the book.
I also found the relationship between Holly and JC to be lacking as well. There was very little emotional connection or physical interactions between the two of them. I was wanting more romance and sadly there was very little to be found. Even towards the end when it looked as though there would finally be some, it pretty much just abruptly stopped like many of the other parts of the book. By the end of the story Holly was really starting to get on my nerves. She was constantly acting naive and running off doing things that even a teenager would know better than to do. I really felt like I was reading a young adult novel through parts of this story.
Overall, this book just didn't seem to keep my interest or attention. I finished because I really wanted to find out who had killed Marcy and what had happened. But if it hadn't been for that mystery, I wouldn't have finished this one. I will admit that I didn't completely see the end of this book coming. But part of that is because I didn't expect for the disappearance of some of the characters. This book read more as suspense than romance, and I just found myself missing that connection between the hero and heroine. If you are looking for suspense this might be one you would consider reading, but if you are looking for romance I would recommend that you pick something else.
**ARC provided by Publisher**
When Holly Price trips over a friend’s dead body while hiking, her life suddenly takes a nosedive into a world of intrigue and danger. The verdict is murder—and Holly is the prime suspect.
Of course, the fact that the infinitely sexy—and very pissed off—cop threatening to arrest her is JC Dimitrak, who just happens to be Holly’s jilted ex-fiancé, doesn’t help matters.
To protect her future, her business...and her heart...the intrepid forensic accountant must use all her considerable investigative skills to follow the money through an intricate web of shadow companies, while staying one step ahead of her ex-fiancé. She better solve the case before the real killer decides CPA stands for Certified Pain in the Ass...and the next dead body found beside the river is Holly’s.
I have to admit I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into with this book, but it sounded great so I knew I wanted to give it a chance. For Love or Money is the first book I have read by Cathy Perkins and if I'm completely honest, is nothing like what I was expecting. The books heroine Holly is temporarily back in her home town to help her mother run the family accounting business after her father runs off with a yoga instructor. While in town Holly begins dating Alex, and while hiking and hunting one day they stumble across the dead body of Marcy, one of Holly's friends. When the cops show up, the lead detective just so happens to be JC, Holly's ex who broke her heart. As Holly and JC both work to find Marcy's killer, they both begin to realize that maybe they still have some unfinished business with each other.
I found this book to be extremely long. There were several times throughout the book that I wanted to skip ahead, and honestly I probably wouldn't have missed much if I had. Some things were completely unnecessary and just seemed to really drag. I also thought the book had several points that just felt disjointed. It would skip around and didn't seem to flow well. Part of the problem for me was that there were just so many characters and too much stuff happening to really follow what was going on. I also just couldn't get past all the times that things or characters were brought up to just be dropped. There was no resolution between Holly's family and her father never made an appearance. It was never said if Holly would be returning home or if she had decided to stay in her home town. She had a stalker from home that was glimpsed throughout the book and he just disappeared. The same happened with Alex, the guy she was dating at the start of the book.
I also found the relationship between Holly and JC to be lacking as well. There was very little emotional connection or physical interactions between the two of them. I was wanting more romance and sadly there was very little to be found. Even towards the end when it looked as though there would finally be some, it pretty much just abruptly stopped like many of the other parts of the book. By the end of the story Holly was really starting to get on my nerves. She was constantly acting naive and running off doing things that even a teenager would know better than to do. I really felt like I was reading a young adult novel through parts of this story.
Overall, this book just didn't seem to keep my interest or attention. I finished because I really wanted to find out who had killed Marcy and what had happened. But if it hadn't been for that mystery, I wouldn't have finished this one. I will admit that I didn't completely see the end of this book coming. But part of that is because I didn't expect for the disappearance of some of the characters. This book read more as suspense than romance, and I just found myself missing that connection between the hero and heroine. If you are looking for suspense this might be one you would consider reading, but if you are looking for romance I would recommend that you pick something else.
**ARC provided by Publisher**
June 8, 2013
Holly is temporarily back in her home town to help her mother with the family's accounting business after her father ran off with the yoga instructor. She is seeing Alex when they are out hiking and hunting one day and stumble upon the body of Holly's friend Marcy.
If that's not bad enough, one of the police officers assigned to the case is J.C. J.C. and Holly had a bad break up 6 years ago, and she's still not over her anger or hurt.
When Holly finds herself a 'person of interest' in Marcy's death, she takes it upon herself to find out the truth and clear her name. As much as she tries to fly under the radar doing this, she soon finds out that by poking around in Marcy's death, she's making someone very angry!
Holly is a source of frustration and desire for J.C. She doesn't seem to realize the danger she could be in by nosing around in police business, and when he tries to keep her protected she's having none of that! Holly wants him to see her for the independent woman she is now, but at the same time she's not letting go of the past and old hurts from 6 years ago. The banter between J.C. and Holly can be amusing at times and frustrating at times!
As Holly and J.C. see each other more and more, between her 'accidents' and his investigation, both of them feel the stir of unresolved feelings for each other. Holly definitely does not want to be feeling anything for J.C., J.C. seems to be more open to starting a relationship again with Holly.
But there is someone out there who is now out for Holly, who is afraid of what she might find out. And it might be too late for any chance with her and J.C.
The interactions between Holly and J.C. were good but they seemed to be few and far between for a romance novel. Holly frustrated me to no end, let alone J.C.!!! What sane person takes it upon herself, completely ignorant of the danger, to start her own investigation into a murder? Not only that but when she starts finding things out, she is too busy protecting those she thinks couldn't possibly have done it to let J.C. know the things she's finding out. I was happy to see Holly break things off with Alex...why she put up with him and what she saw in him I have no idea! That wasn't very clear...
Will J.C. solve the case before Holly gets hurt again? Can he convince her his feelings for her are true? Holly not only has the unresolved issues from their previous relationship, but a 'stalker' relationship in Seattle has left her scarred too. Can she trust J.C. with her heart again? Can they both exercise a little give and take in a relationship?
I found For Love or Money to be a bit long. It was difficult to be immersed in because the events were somewhat disjointed at times. There were alot of secondary characters and trying to keep them straight and figure out who was who was a bit difficult at times. I felt like could have been a bit more background on some of the characters, including Holly and J.C. There were a lot of loose ends when the story ended...there was no interaction with Holly's Dad. I wondered about Frank, the stalker, because he did make an appearance in For Love or Money, but we were never told what became of him.
Cathy did manage to keep me guessing almost right to the end though! Just when I thought I had it all figured out...I didn't! The mystery was very intriguing. In fact I would consider this more of a mystery with a hint of romance in it as the mystery suspense was the dominant feature of For Love or Money. If you like those kind of books you will like this one.
If that's not bad enough, one of the police officers assigned to the case is J.C. J.C. and Holly had a bad break up 6 years ago, and she's still not over her anger or hurt.
When Holly finds herself a 'person of interest' in Marcy's death, she takes it upon herself to find out the truth and clear her name. As much as she tries to fly under the radar doing this, she soon finds out that by poking around in Marcy's death, she's making someone very angry!
Holly is a source of frustration and desire for J.C. She doesn't seem to realize the danger she could be in by nosing around in police business, and when he tries to keep her protected she's having none of that! Holly wants him to see her for the independent woman she is now, but at the same time she's not letting go of the past and old hurts from 6 years ago. The banter between J.C. and Holly can be amusing at times and frustrating at times!
As Holly and J.C. see each other more and more, between her 'accidents' and his investigation, both of them feel the stir of unresolved feelings for each other. Holly definitely does not want to be feeling anything for J.C., J.C. seems to be more open to starting a relationship again with Holly.
But there is someone out there who is now out for Holly, who is afraid of what she might find out. And it might be too late for any chance with her and J.C.
The interactions between Holly and J.C. were good but they seemed to be few and far between for a romance novel. Holly frustrated me to no end, let alone J.C.!!! What sane person takes it upon herself, completely ignorant of the danger, to start her own investigation into a murder? Not only that but when she starts finding things out, she is too busy protecting those she thinks couldn't possibly have done it to let J.C. know the things she's finding out. I was happy to see Holly break things off with Alex...why she put up with him and what she saw in him I have no idea! That wasn't very clear...
Will J.C. solve the case before Holly gets hurt again? Can he convince her his feelings for her are true? Holly not only has the unresolved issues from their previous relationship, but a 'stalker' relationship in Seattle has left her scarred too. Can she trust J.C. with her heart again? Can they both exercise a little give and take in a relationship?
I found For Love or Money to be a bit long. It was difficult to be immersed in because the events were somewhat disjointed at times. There were alot of secondary characters and trying to keep them straight and figure out who was who was a bit difficult at times. I felt like could have been a bit more background on some of the characters, including Holly and J.C. There were a lot of loose ends when the story ended...there was no interaction with Holly's Dad. I wondered about Frank, the stalker, because he did make an appearance in For Love or Money, but we were never told what became of him.
Cathy did manage to keep me guessing almost right to the end though! Just when I thought I had it all figured out...I didn't! The mystery was very intriguing. In fact I would consider this more of a mystery with a hint of romance in it as the mystery suspense was the dominant feature of For Love or Money. If you like those kind of books you will like this one.
June 28, 2013
ARC provided for an honest review
3 Stars!
The book was quite good. I really liked Holly and JC. The author did a really good job with the characters. There were also so many side characters… which was somehow good and bad at the same time. It kept the story interesting and gave it a lot of depth. I had the feeling that the author put quite some thinking in the story to wave all those relationship webs. On the other hand it was hard to keep track of all the characters and how they are related and what they did. But I guess it was good for the whole suspense thing.
What I didn’t really like was the length of the story. It was a bit long in my opinion. There were a lot of parts that weren’t really necessary and were kind of boring. Moreover there should have been more interaction between Holly and JC. For the first 200 pages I didn’t have the feeling of a romance novel at all. (I’m not so sure about the real number of pages because I got this book as a pdf file and converted it for my e-reader…)
The author’s writing was very good! You could read through the whole book really smoothly with some funny anecdotes. And I can tell you, this case was really hard to solve. I normally know who the murderer is quite soon. In this book I had no clue at all for a looong time.
I would recommend the book if you like suspense more than romance but don’t want to abstain from romance completely ;)
3 Stars!
The book was quite good. I really liked Holly and JC. The author did a really good job with the characters. There were also so many side characters… which was somehow good and bad at the same time. It kept the story interesting and gave it a lot of depth. I had the feeling that the author put quite some thinking in the story to wave all those relationship webs. On the other hand it was hard to keep track of all the characters and how they are related and what they did. But I guess it was good for the whole suspense thing.
What I didn’t really like was the length of the story. It was a bit long in my opinion. There were a lot of parts that weren’t really necessary and were kind of boring. Moreover there should have been more interaction between Holly and JC. For the first 200 pages I didn’t have the feeling of a romance novel at all. (I’m not so sure about the real number of pages because I got this book as a pdf file and converted it for my e-reader…)
The author’s writing was very good! You could read through the whole book really smoothly with some funny anecdotes. And I can tell you, this case was really hard to solve. I normally know who the murderer is quite soon. In this book I had no clue at all for a looong time.
I would recommend the book if you like suspense more than romance but don’t want to abstain from romance completely ;)
November 20, 2013
I give this book a 3.5. It's much heavier on the mystery/suspense than the romance, but it was very well done. The "whodunit" aspect kept me guessing all the way through; there were so many possibilities!
Two things I would have liked to see:
1. JC's point of view would have added a lot more depth to the romance, particularly through the early chapters.
2. I really don't like it when stories end immediately after the climax. Though the major plot points were covered, there were plenty of minor ones that weren't. An epilogue or a final chapter to cover the happily ever after and the choices Holly was going to have to make would have been very welcome. The absence of it really detracted from the ending for me.
Overall, I found For Love or Money very gripping, the mystery awesome, and the heroine smart (if not all that savvy), but if you're looking for a book thick on the romance, this isn't it.
Two things I would have liked to see:
1. JC's point of view would have added a lot more depth to the romance, particularly through the early chapters.
2. I really don't like it when stories end immediately after the climax. Though the major plot points were covered, there were plenty of minor ones that weren't. An epilogue or a final chapter to cover the happily ever after and the choices Holly was going to have to make would have been very welcome. The absence of it really detracted from the ending for me.
Overall, I found For Love or Money very gripping, the mystery awesome, and the heroine smart (if not all that savvy), but if you're looking for a book thick on the romance, this isn't it.
June 15, 2013
I would give this 3.5 stars.
Holly is trying to prove her innocence and to find out what happened when she finds her friend murdered. She uncovers a lot of secrets during her investigation and while under investigation she is juggling her current man and her ex-boyfriend. I found this story rather enjoyable and Holly reminded me a lot of Stephanie Plum with her terrible luck and her amateur detective skills. I found I was looking for a little more romance and kept reading waiting for her to interact with her love interests. Holly was quite enjoyable to read about and I thought there was a lot of fun parts to this story. I would recommend for those who loved the Stephanie Plum books or want something light and entertaining.
I was given an ARC of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Holly is trying to prove her innocence and to find out what happened when she finds her friend murdered. She uncovers a lot of secrets during her investigation and while under investigation she is juggling her current man and her ex-boyfriend. I found this story rather enjoyable and Holly reminded me a lot of Stephanie Plum with her terrible luck and her amateur detective skills. I found I was looking for a little more romance and kept reading waiting for her to interact with her love interests. Holly was quite enjoyable to read about and I thought there was a lot of fun parts to this story. I would recommend for those who loved the Stephanie Plum books or want something light and entertaining.
I was given an ARC of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2013
I was given this book by Entangled Publishing for my honest review. Holly is an accountant currently helping her parents out by working for them while they struggle with issues in their marriage. Holly is on a date shooting birds in a remote area when she stumbles upon a dead body who she recognizes as an employee of a client. One of the reporting officers to the crime scene, Holly's ex, JC, who she hasn't seen in years. Holly has to work to clear her name and solve the murder before she becomes a victim herself. I thought Holly was a strong character. I loved her with JC, wish there was more them together. Holly's mother was disappointing, always ditching out on client meetings instead of being there for her daughter. This book did hold my interest enough for me to continue reading to find out who the killer was.
June 2, 2013
This book had an intriguing mystery in addition to romantic tension between Holly and JC. I would have liked to see more interaction between the two consistently throughout the story, but I enjoyed it and would read it again. The conflict between the main characters was immediately apparent. It was amusing to see JC try to get Holy's attention by prodding her in the investigation. Holly had a legitimate reason for not wanting JC, and yet once she and JC talked about what happened in the past she was able to let it go and see him for the man he had become. The mystery was fast paced and kept me turning pages to the end.
July 4, 2013
I was a reading with a lot of potential. The story was a bit long and there were too many secondary characters. In the end there were too many lose ends for example, what happened with Holly's dad? What happened to Frank, to Marcy's family, to Alex... I would've liked to see more romance as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2016
I loved this!!! It has the right amount of sassy characters, funny moments, thriller/suspense and great story!!!
Who ever thought accountants are boring should definitely read this! My only regret is that it ended too soon!!! I can't get enough of JC and Holly's crazy!
Who ever thought accountants are boring should definitely read this! My only regret is that it ended too soon!!! I can't get enough of JC and Holly's crazy!
February 1, 2014
3.5 stars
June 12, 2013
I liked this one a lot.
June 1, 2013
Was an alright boom thought htere should have been more mystery
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