No Substitute for Money

Subbing isn't for Sissies #2

by Carolyn J. Rose

Substitute teacher Barbara Reed knows better than to say the word “perfect.” Using the P-word is a sure way to jinx romance, finance, and circumstance. Despite a chronic shortage of funds, things are looking up for Barb after the events of NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MURDER. She’s completing grad school and hoping for a job at Captain Meriwether High School in Reckless River, Washington. Her drug-cop boyfriend, Dave Martin, wants to move in and his daughter is all in favor. Even Barb’s spoiled dog Cheese Puff has no objections—undaunted by size, he’s infatuated with Dave’s partner Lola, a drug-sniffing Golden Retriever. Then Dave uses the P-word. And Barb’s luck leaves town. Her car breaks down, her domineering sister comes for a visit, the condo manager plots to ban dogs, her jailed ex-husband begs her to be a character witness at his trial, a computer hacker creates chaos at the high school, and a hulking thug threatens violence. Just when it appears things can’t get worse, Lola sniffs out a package in her car and a drug dealer decides Barb and Cheese Puff are his tickets out of trouble.

Genres: Mystery

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2013

About the author

Carolyn J. Rose grew up in New York's Catskill Mountains, graduated from the University of Arizona, logged two years in Arkansas with Volunteers in Service to America, and spent 25 years as a television news researcher, writer, producer, and assignment editor in Arkansas, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. She lives in Vancouver, Washington, and her interests are reading, gardening, swimming, and NOT cooking.

Reviews

[Patricia Gligor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No Substitute for Money" by Carolyn J. Rose is a delightful sequel to "No Substitute for Murder." You won't want to miss the latest escapades of substitute teacher, Barbara Reed, and the other unique characters in this series. I'm looking forward to the third novel.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life will always throw you a curve ball in the end

Wonderful. Don't you just feel Fate laughing at you when you start saying life is perfect. Drugs, an infatuated dog, ex-cons, possibility of being made homeless are some of the ingredients in this plot. Loved the tongue in cheek humour and the many side issues raised in this book. Terrific read.

[Sandy Shin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main character is still unbelievably inept and unbelievable.
I am not sure if I'll read the next book. The aggravation would not be outweighed by the curiosity to see just how stupid this could get.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

keeps you laughing and trying to figure out who did it!

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Substitute for Money is the second book in the Subbing isn't for Sissies series. It starts up a few months after the previous book, which I liked because if mysteries happened one right after another that might be a little weird. But in this book there isn't a murder, which is kind of nice. I think a book can be a mystery without someone dying. In this case Barbara's boyfriend, a cop, is investigating a meth ring and Barb is accidentally closer to the situation than she ever knew.

In this book we get a lot of character growth as Barb deals with a

broken car
crazy teachers at the school where she subs
relationship with her boyfriend
cares for her very crazy and adorable dog (in a so ugly he's cute way)
grows her friend circle by doing water aerobics (which is to give her a hobby but also make sure she loses her fear of water)
deals with her visiting sister who is totally crazy
various mysteries that may or may not be related

I love this series for several reasons.

Barbara is an older character (as in not in her 20's) and has realistic problems in her life that many of us 'average' people can connect with.

Cheese Puff (the dog) has a hilarious personality that while sometimes borders on 'too much', never quite crosses that line. He's quite a character. Seriously.

The setting is a fictional version of the town I live in. I would say it's likely a smaller version of it as well and the layout of it may be different but the author lives here and it's clear she incorporates some of her familiar places very loosely. I like this, feeling like this story is actually really close to home.

The book is humorous. The mysteries are fun with serious moments. So there's a lot of laughing (or at least grinning widely) and a few moments of gripping the seat uncertainly, hoping that everything will be okay.

Overall this was a very fast read and I enjoyed my moments with Barbara and Cheese Puff very much. The secondary characters are also very strong characters, fleshed out and easy to imagine as real people.

I definitely recommend this mystery series to fans of cozy mysteries, they are a lot of fun!

You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com

[Jennifer Manley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read!

This is the second book in this series that I have read and I have to say that I did enjoy it. It didn't blow me away either, it's a solid story but to me it just seems to be missing something and I can't quite put my finger on what that is yet. Barbara is a smart funny woman who substitutes at a high school, but trouble and danger seems to find her in some quirky fashion or another. Meanwhile the most interesting thing so far that I have found is her dog Cheesepuff, who seems to have a better social life than her or anyone else for that matter. And the author does a good job of showing his personality. I'm on to book 3 so I'm hoping it gets a lot more exciting. If you're looking for a book just to pass the time then I recommend this. Thanks for sharing your talent Carolyn J. Rose.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara returns in book 2. She's now getting regular substitute teaching assignments at Captain Meriwether High School. Her relationship with policeman Dave Martin, and his teenage daughter Allison, is getting serious. Dave's new partner Lola is in love with her dog Cheese Puff. That Lola is a retriever doesn't seem to faze Cheese Puff or Lola. Barb's car repair shop does great work at good prices but the owner is using repaired vehicles for drug drops without the car owner's knowledge or consent. Between Mrs. Ballantine and Wilhelmina Frost, Barbara never has a dull moment at home or at work. Great group of characters. Book 3 is available (No Substitute for Maturity). Wish there were more

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and giggled through Rose's No Substitute for Murder, I couldn't wait to read another episode about substitute teacher, Barbara Reed. Reed always seems to get herself and plenty of others into dangerously hot waters. Thank goodness her boyfriend is a cop. I hope there will be more antics with Barbara Reed and her lovable pup, Cheese Puff. I highly recommend this cute book, guaranteed to supply non-stop entertainment!

[LLona Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

If protagonist Barbara was one of my high school friends who stayed in touch so we could hang together as senior citizens, I'd love hearing her tell of her crazy adventures. She's no more nutty than some of my real friends, and the mess that comes to her uninvited is completely believable. This 2nd book in the series may not be breathlessly exceptional, but it's still very enjoyable.

[Linda Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of fun and mysteries

lots of action, outrageous characters, and funny situations. I enjoyed everything in this book. Will wait for more stories about Barbara and her friends.

[jennspoint · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series. The writing is so witty and funny, I've caught my self laughing out loud many times.