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Novel Idea #4
Played by the Book
The New York Times bestselling Novel Idea Mysteries make their return with Lila Wilkins, literary agent and “murder magnet,” planning a book signing garden party. But things aren’t coming up roses when she has to weed out a dangerous killer…
The owner of the Novel Idea Literary Agency is thrilled when former local boy and popular television show host Damian York returns to Inspiration Valley, North Carolina, to launch his new gardening book. But Lila is less than excited about the hubbub when she sees her mounting to-do list. Between planning York’s gala and sprucing up her yard for another event, she’s spread too thin—especially after she finds a skull buried in her flowerbeds.
As Lila’s macabre discovery leads to other secrets hidden in Inspiration Valley’s past, a member of the local garden club is found slumped over her prize roses—murdered. Now it’s up to Lila to dig through old mysteries and new clues to unearth a murderer before someone else is found pushing up daisies…
The owner of the Novel Idea Literary Agency is thrilled when former local boy and popular television show host Damian York returns to Inspiration Valley, North Carolina, to launch his new gardening book. But Lila is less than excited about the hubbub when she sees her mounting to-do list. Between planning York’s gala and sprucing up her yard for another event, she’s spread too thin—especially after she finds a skull buried in her flowerbeds.
As Lila’s macabre discovery leads to other secrets hidden in Inspiration Valley’s past, a member of the local garden club is found slumped over her prize roses—murdered. Now it’s up to Lila to dig through old mysteries and new clues to unearth a murderer before someone else is found pushing up daisies…
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2015
44 people are currently reading
1138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
January 29, 2015
There are books that I love from the very first page. PLAYED BY THE BOOK is one of those books. I was drawn in to the story immediately and savored turning every page. Well, not the last page because that meant this wonderful read was over. Only a few pages in I laughed out loud when during a conversation, Lila's boss said, "You scratch their backs and they'll scratch yours." and Lila, whose point of view the story is from, thinks to herself, "Oh yeah, well, my back isn't itchy." LOL Loved it!
The main character in the Novel Idea series is Lila. I really enjoyed her character and look forward to spending time with her again, as well as her family and friends when the next installment is released. (Do we really have to wait a year?)
From the finding of the skull in Lila's flower bed, the murder of a garden club member, to the exciting conclusion, (Quoting Ms. Arlington's own words from a scene from this book), PLAYED BY THE BOOK had "twists and turns so unexpected that they kept me spellbound until the last page." I couldn't have said it better myself.
Readers may or may not know that the first three books in this series were written under the pen name, Lucy Arlington, by authors Ellery Adams and Sylvia May, both of whom created the series. They have turned the writing duties over to the wonderful author, Susan Furlong. I mention this to assure fans of this series not to worry. Ms. Furlong has flawlessly transitioned into the role of Lucy Arlington and PLAYED BY THE BOOK is every bit as awesome as the first books in the series. I'll go so far as to say, she her voice has improved upon an already outstanding series.
And make sure to check out the preview of PEACHES AND SCREAM by Susan Furlong which can be found at the end of the book. PEACHES AND SCREAM is book 1 in the new Georgia Peach Mystery series, due out July 2015!
The main character in the Novel Idea series is Lila. I really enjoyed her character and look forward to spending time with her again, as well as her family and friends when the next installment is released. (Do we really have to wait a year?)
From the finding of the skull in Lila's flower bed, the murder of a garden club member, to the exciting conclusion, (Quoting Ms. Arlington's own words from a scene from this book), PLAYED BY THE BOOK had "twists and turns so unexpected that they kept me spellbound until the last page." I couldn't have said it better myself.
Readers may or may not know that the first three books in this series were written under the pen name, Lucy Arlington, by authors Ellery Adams and Sylvia May, both of whom created the series. They have turned the writing duties over to the wonderful author, Susan Furlong. I mention this to assure fans of this series not to worry. Ms. Furlong has flawlessly transitioned into the role of Lucy Arlington and PLAYED BY THE BOOK is every bit as awesome as the first books in the series. I'll go so far as to say, she her voice has improved upon an already outstanding series.
And make sure to check out the preview of PEACHES AND SCREAM by Susan Furlong which can be found at the end of the book. PEACHES AND SCREAM is book 1 in the new Georgia Peach Mystery series, due out July 2015!
August 19, 2018
I love Cozy Mysteries but even so there are few that I can binge read but this is one of them! This is a humdinger from start to finish with various people being accused of crimes.
This starts with Bentley arriving in Lila's office to inform her that as they have a local boy made good (a TV gardener and now published author with his books on how to transform your garden on a budget) her garden is to be on the local garden tour... there is a slight problem, she hasn't worked on it for a while (not since someone tried to kill her in it!), but her son and some of his friends agree to come over and do the heavy duty work in exchange for pizza, unfortunately they manage to unearth a skull so everything is on hold.
On top of this Lila is stood up by Sean at a posh restaurant, oh and he appears to be jealous of the author (and okay Lila fanned those flames a bit!), with Makayla wondering if her book is any good, Lila trying to figure out her life, Lila's mum thinking Lila want's to dump her in a home (oh and the Tarot Cards are not playing nicely for her), the President of the Dirty Dozen garden club seeming to have schizophrenia - oh and a murder, life is NOT a bed of roses for our Cozy Mystery agent!
This starts with Bentley arriving in Lila's office to inform her that as they have a local boy made good (a TV gardener and now published author with his books on how to transform your garden on a budget) her garden is to be on the local garden tour... there is a slight problem, she hasn't worked on it for a while (not since someone tried to kill her in it!), but her son and some of his friends agree to come over and do the heavy duty work in exchange for pizza, unfortunately they manage to unearth a skull so everything is on hold.
On top of this Lila is stood up by Sean at a posh restaurant, oh and he appears to be jealous of the author (and okay Lila fanned those flames a bit!), with Makayla wondering if her book is any good, Lila trying to figure out her life, Lila's mum thinking Lila want's to dump her in a home (oh and the Tarot Cards are not playing nicely for her), the President of the Dirty Dozen garden club seeming to have schizophrenia - oh and a murder, life is NOT a bed of roses for our Cozy Mystery agent!
March 12, 2015
Played By The Book is the fourth book in the A Novel Idea Mystery series.
This series has been taken over by Susan Furlong Bolliger, but is the same high quality story as the first three.
Damien York has been signed to a contract and Bentley Burlington-Duke is having Lila Watkins and Frank Stafford planning an extravagant launch party for his first book and it is to coincide with annual Garden Walk and the awarding of the Van Gogh award for the Best Garden. York grew up in Inspiration Valley and is host of a popular television program, so everyone can expect to benefit from the launch party. But the bad news is that Lila and Frank have only two weeks to pull this off. Fiona, Jude and Zach, also agents at Novel Idea, all agree to help out with the party.
Once Lila meets Alice Peabody, chairwoman of the Garden Walk and president of the gardening group, The Dirty Dozen, she is sure that this won't be a "walk in the park", by any means. Ms. Peabody is very demanding and seem to be willing to do whatever it take to win the Van Gogh award.
As if planning the launch party and dinner wasn't enough, she needs to get busy sprucing up her garden so that she won't be the laughing stock of the Garden Walk. As she and her son Trey begin to remove a couple bushes, they find a human skull. Since the skull was found in her yard, she feels the need to help and find out who the skull belongs to. Unfortunately, this also leads to some calling her a "murder magnet".
Then when Fannie May Walker, member of the Dirty Dozen, is bludgeoned to death in her back yard, Lila begins to wonder how successful the launch party will be if she can't help the police solve the murder. But when Lila's son has an accident, that is found to be no accident, and she receives a threatening note, it is time to find the murderer before any other deaths occur.
Most all the characters from previous books are back once again to provide help or support while Lila is off sleuthing. Makayla, owner of Expresso Yourself is back and love is still in bloom with her and Jay, owner of The Constant Reader bookstore.
And a wonderful engagement is in store for someone.
I love this series and will be looking forward to the next book.
This series has been taken over by Susan Furlong Bolliger, but is the same high quality story as the first three.
Damien York has been signed to a contract and Bentley Burlington-Duke is having Lila Watkins and Frank Stafford planning an extravagant launch party for his first book and it is to coincide with annual Garden Walk and the awarding of the Van Gogh award for the Best Garden. York grew up in Inspiration Valley and is host of a popular television program, so everyone can expect to benefit from the launch party. But the bad news is that Lila and Frank have only two weeks to pull this off. Fiona, Jude and Zach, also agents at Novel Idea, all agree to help out with the party.
Once Lila meets Alice Peabody, chairwoman of the Garden Walk and president of the gardening group, The Dirty Dozen, she is sure that this won't be a "walk in the park", by any means. Ms. Peabody is very demanding and seem to be willing to do whatever it take to win the Van Gogh award.
As if planning the launch party and dinner wasn't enough, she needs to get busy sprucing up her garden so that she won't be the laughing stock of the Garden Walk. As she and her son Trey begin to remove a couple bushes, they find a human skull. Since the skull was found in her yard, she feels the need to help and find out who the skull belongs to. Unfortunately, this also leads to some calling her a "murder magnet".
Then when Fannie May Walker, member of the Dirty Dozen, is bludgeoned to death in her back yard, Lila begins to wonder how successful the launch party will be if she can't help the police solve the murder. But when Lila's son has an accident, that is found to be no accident, and she receives a threatening note, it is time to find the murderer before any other deaths occur.
Most all the characters from previous books are back once again to provide help or support while Lila is off sleuthing. Makayla, owner of Expresso Yourself is back and love is still in bloom with her and Jay, owner of The Constant Reader bookstore.
And a wonderful engagement is in store for someone.
I love this series and will be looking forward to the next book.
February 12, 2015
Inspiration Valley , North Carolina is just the kind of place you would love to live it. I small town with a literary theme. All the business have names which adds to my delight. My favorite is a very unique sandwich shop The Cather in the Rye. And our heroine Lila Wilkins has the ideal job as a literary agent at Novel Ideas Mysteries. Her boss there is a bit like Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada- but deep down is likable. Lila's mother is very quirky and very interesting. Althea reads tarot cards for a living and is never without her two friends Jim Beam and Rusty- her shotgun. And Lila has a to die for boyfriend who just happens to be police officer. And than there is the skull that shows up in Lila's garden followed by the murder of an elderly member of the garden club. All of this just as the town is getting ready for a gala event to honor a native son and television star. In this, the fourth book in the series the action is lively and the mystery a page turner. I will sum up by agreeing with the words of the author herself. " That's the thing I love most about a well-crafted story; The story line and characters stay with me even after the last page"
January 21, 2015
This is book four in the Novel Idea Mysteries, and we go back to Inspiration Valley as Lila and her agency are preparing for a visit from Damian York, a popular television host. Lila is asked to have her garden featured on the show until she finds a skull buried in her yard. We then learn that a member of the garden club is found murdered. Are these two crimes connected? Lila would sure like to find out! So as she sets out to do some investigating on her own, other not so pleasant things begin to happen. Her boyfriend Sean seems to be spending too much time at work, and that results in some misunderstandings. On the other hand, her good friend Makayla has great things happening for her. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have all of the others. I had no idea who the killer was, and was surprised to find out! I am excited to see what the next book brings!
February 16, 2015
Inspiration Valley, North Carolina is the home of Lila Wilkins and her friends. It is also where The Novel Idea Literary Agency is getting ready for a book signing and annual garden walk.
Lila's garden gets put on the walk and as she is trying to spruce it up she finds a skull in her flower bed.
This sets off another mystery to be solved and Lila soon finds herself involved in solving it.
This story has plenty of twists and turns that kept me continuing to read to find out what would happen.
I am looking forward to the next book in this great series.
Lila's garden gets put on the walk and as she is trying to spruce it up she finds a skull in her flower bed.
This sets off another mystery to be solved and Lila soon finds herself involved in solving it.
This story has plenty of twists and turns that kept me continuing to read to find out what would happen.
I am looking forward to the next book in this great series.
May 23, 2018
When Lila Wilkins is told by her boss that she's going to be part of the garden walk during Inspiration Valley's Annual Garden Walk, there isn't a lot she can do. But when she sets about pulling up Hawthorn bushes she comes across a skull in the garden. She immediately calls her boyfriend Sean, who's a police detective, and they cordon off the area until they know more about it. When it's discovered that the rest of the skeleton lies there also, it becomes a crime scene, and she's out of the running.
But not too much later one of the others on the garden walk is found dead in her home, and the police also have to deal with a murder. Lila is suspicious of the president of the garden club, for the woman is a nasty piece of work, but her co-worker Vicky insists it's the woman's step-son, since he hated her. Either way, there's another killer on the loose and Vicky wants Lila to find out who it is. But in doing so, will Lila put herself - or her family - in harm's way, or will she find a murderer in time?
I should have known this wasn't going to be a stellar book when this book is about gardening but Lila has no clue what plant is in her office. A Rhododendron is not like an ivy, and it doesn't grow like one; you certainly can't put it up above a cabinet. I think she's mistaking Philodendron for Rhododendron - and I'm surprised no one has commented on this. But anyway...
It only took four books to finally make Sean a homicide detective, although he was investigating murders from book one. I guess in this town it's not a big deal if a patrol officer investigates. Also, the author(s) can't figure out the name of the realty company: in two books it's "Sherlock Homes" and in two books it's "Sherlock Holmes". So which is it? Homes or Holmes? I guess the next book casts the deciding vote. Also, why is Althea the only person in town to talk like a hillbilly? Is she the only true native and everyone else moved there? She can't even get her accent straight - she went from saying "lordy" to "lawdy" in this book; and "shug" in the last book to "sug" in this book - either the authors and/or editors aren't doing their jobs.
As I mentioned in my last review of this series, this town is so perfect it should be renamed 'Happy Valley' because everyone is just so nice (except the suspects, of course) and nearly no one has a bad attitude (Vicky the Viper is the only one I can think of - she's just unlikable as a character); but now, everyone can also write! Both Jay and Makalya are getting book deals! This town must be quite a ways away, because it's sure far from reality. It’s bad enough the characters are practically cardboard - you never get a sense of even caring what happens to any of them - but they’re all extremely talented, literary-wise? Pretty soon the people in this agency will be writing their own novels and sending them to publishers (FYI, this is not realistic for a literary agency, but I guess it’s not really supposed to be). Plus, I don’t understand how Lila keeps her job since she’s never there.
You don’t even has to guess who wins the Van Gogh award if you’ve read any of these books, and I don’t think I would be giving anything away if I told you the answer. Just knowing who entered the gardening contest should tell you all you need to know. Everyone who lives in this town has something wonderful happen to them. (Makayla and Jay get book deals and fall in love; the sandwich guy and the baker fall in love; well, you get the idea). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. The minute this person enters the garden walk, you have your answer.
Lila laments that Sean isn't making any time for her. Does she even know what homicide detectives do? Does she know that they're called out at all hours, all days? If she's going to pout and be needy, then she needs to cut him loose and move on with her life. Flora seemed over the top in this book, too. She's an adult but goes off the deep end about something that happened in her past (and obviously didn't affect her much since she's happily married and usually bubbly). Zach has turned into a jerk; he taunts Lila and Bentley lets him get away with it. It's not funny, even though I believe the authors think it was meant to be. Then, she helped incarcerate Addison's half-brother (whom she adored) and Addison hated her for it, but now they're practically best friends? Okay, then...
The worst part was in the spoiler below, which contains the motive for murder:
As you can see by my statements (or rants) I was not enamored by this book (nor have I been by any in the series). In fact, the only reason I've stayed with them is because I genuinely like one of the authors and I was hoping that this series would improve along the way. It hasn't.
But not too much later one of the others on the garden walk is found dead in her home, and the police also have to deal with a murder. Lila is suspicious of the president of the garden club, for the woman is a nasty piece of work, but her co-worker Vicky insists it's the woman's step-son, since he hated her. Either way, there's another killer on the loose and Vicky wants Lila to find out who it is. But in doing so, will Lila put herself - or her family - in harm's way, or will she find a murderer in time?
I should have known this wasn't going to be a stellar book when this book is about gardening but Lila has no clue what plant is in her office. A Rhododendron is not like an ivy, and it doesn't grow like one; you certainly can't put it up above a cabinet. I think she's mistaking Philodendron for Rhododendron - and I'm surprised no one has commented on this. But anyway...
It only took four books to finally make Sean a homicide detective, although he was investigating murders from book one. I guess in this town it's not a big deal if a patrol officer investigates. Also, the author(s) can't figure out the name of the realty company: in two books it's "Sherlock Homes" and in two books it's "Sherlock Holmes". So which is it? Homes or Holmes? I guess the next book casts the deciding vote. Also, why is Althea the only person in town to talk like a hillbilly? Is she the only true native and everyone else moved there? She can't even get her accent straight - she went from saying "lordy" to "lawdy" in this book; and "shug" in the last book to "sug" in this book - either the authors and/or editors aren't doing their jobs.
As I mentioned in my last review of this series, this town is so perfect it should be renamed 'Happy Valley' because everyone is just so nice (except the suspects, of course) and nearly no one has a bad attitude (Vicky the Viper is the only one I can think of - she's just unlikable as a character); but now, everyone can also write! Both Jay and Makalya are getting book deals! This town must be quite a ways away, because it's sure far from reality. It’s bad enough the characters are practically cardboard - you never get a sense of even caring what happens to any of them - but they’re all extremely talented, literary-wise? Pretty soon the people in this agency will be writing their own novels and sending them to publishers (FYI, this is not realistic for a literary agency, but I guess it’s not really supposed to be). Plus, I don’t understand how Lila keeps her job since she’s never there.
You don’t even has to guess who wins the Van Gogh award if you’ve read any of these books, and I don’t think I would be giving anything away if I told you the answer. Just knowing who entered the gardening contest should tell you all you need to know. Everyone who lives in this town has something wonderful happen to them. (Makayla and Jay get book deals and fall in love; the sandwich guy and the baker fall in love; well, you get the idea). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. The minute this person enters the garden walk, you have your answer.
Lila laments that Sean isn't making any time for her. Does she even know what homicide detectives do? Does she know that they're called out at all hours, all days? If she's going to pout and be needy, then she needs to cut him loose and move on with her life. Flora seemed over the top in this book, too. She's an adult but goes off the deep end about something that happened in her past (and obviously didn't affect her much since she's happily married and usually bubbly). Zach has turned into a jerk; he taunts Lila and Bentley lets him get away with it. It's not funny, even though I believe the authors think it was meant to be. Then, she helped incarcerate Addison's half-brother (whom she adored) and Addison hated her for it, but now they're practically best friends? Okay, then...
The worst part was in the spoiler below, which contains the motive for murder:
As you can see by my statements (or rants) I was not enamored by this book (nor have I been by any in the series). In fact, the only reason I've stayed with them is because I genuinely like one of the authors and I was hoping that this series would improve along the way. It hasn't.
July 18, 2017
I liked this book. The main character, Lila, her mom, the Amazing Althea, Tarot card reader and all the quirky others really worked together. This book just ebbed and flowed just right. I am going to have to find the first 3!
February 6, 2015
If someone asked me what character in a book I would want to be my number one choice would be Lila. She has my dream JOB and my dream man besides who occasionally tries to burn the Lila's kitchen down. Lila works as a agent at the Novel Idea Literary agency, she makes writers dreams come try by setting them up with publishers.
The Novel Idea Literary Agency is gearing up for a visit with a book signing and dinner set up by Lila and her co workers for television star, Damian York, a gardening and landscaping guru.
While setting up her backyard garden for the annual garden walk to be part of the book signing and dinner ordered by her boss Lila finds a skull buried there and soon discovers the young woman buried there was murdered. As The local garden club known as "The Dirty Dozen" are busy beautifying their respective gardens for the garden walk on of their members, Frannie is found murdered while tending to her PRIZED roses.
Lila desperately want to solve the mystery of who is buried in her back yard to give that person a proper burial and for their family to find closure and she soon finds herself trying to find who would want to murder one of "The Dirty Dozen". Lila soon may discover that these two crimes could be connected. But how? Lila has to do some serious digging to find a killer who no one suspects and the suspects are aplenty.
A favorite series, each book in the series gets better and better. Played by the book mixes books, food,murder and charming and down right evil characters with perfection. I couldn't end this review without mentioning Makayla, the owner and barista at "Expresso Yourself" and her boyfriend Jay's blossoming romance. Jay is the most romantic character ever written. I eagerly await how he will sweep Makayla off her feet next, it always brings tears of joy to my eyes. I only hope that Lila's man, Sean can take some pointers from him. I can't wait to read and review the next in the series.
The Novel Idea Literary Agency is gearing up for a visit with a book signing and dinner set up by Lila and her co workers for television star, Damian York, a gardening and landscaping guru.
While setting up her backyard garden for the annual garden walk to be part of the book signing and dinner ordered by her boss Lila finds a skull buried there and soon discovers the young woman buried there was murdered. As The local garden club known as "The Dirty Dozen" are busy beautifying their respective gardens for the garden walk on of their members, Frannie is found murdered while tending to her PRIZED roses.
Lila desperately want to solve the mystery of who is buried in her back yard to give that person a proper burial and for their family to find closure and she soon finds herself trying to find who would want to murder one of "The Dirty Dozen". Lila soon may discover that these two crimes could be connected. But how? Lila has to do some serious digging to find a killer who no one suspects and the suspects are aplenty.
A favorite series, each book in the series gets better and better. Played by the book mixes books, food,murder and charming and down right evil characters with perfection. I couldn't end this review without mentioning Makayla, the owner and barista at "Expresso Yourself" and her boyfriend Jay's blossoming romance. Jay is the most romantic character ever written. I eagerly await how he will sweep Makayla off her feet next, it always brings tears of joy to my eyes. I only hope that Lila's man, Sean can take some pointers from him. I can't wait to read and review the next in the series.
February 5, 2015
Lila Wilkins, literary agent at the Novel Idea Literacy Agency, is asked to help with an event planning for their new client, Damian York, to celebrate the publication of his new gardening book. Damian is not only a popular television show host but also a former resident from Dunstan, a neighboring town, and is in negotiation for the purchase of property that he would like to showcase on his television show for renovation and gardening ideas. In addition to helping plan a book signing and dinner for the gardening book launch, Lila is also working on Inspiration Valley's Annual Garden Walk Event, which is now scheduled to include Lila's own garden as the last of the garden properties to be reviewed and judged. But when Lila, her son Trey and his friends start to clear out some of the debris in her garden, they unearth a human skull. Lila's boyfriend, Sean, is assigned to discover the identity of the victim, but this is just the beginning of a series of incidents which includes the murder of a member of the local garden club. Can Lila uncover the truth after all these years or will this be her last mystery? And where does Lila's relationship with Sean stand? Although she secretly overheard him ask her son for permission to propose to her, nothing has happened. In fact, with his new assignments, he barely has any time to see her. Adding to this concern, Lila's mother, the Amazing Althea, is worried that her gift is fading. The murder victim was one of Althea's clients and she saw nothing in the cards that would have foretold this tragedy. I really enjoy this series and the characters and businesses created for it. The mystery provides enough twists and turns to keep one guessing the who and why until the end. I look forward to the next book in this series. Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2015
One of my favorite series has a new author, but you’d never know it. She slipped right into the story without a misstep. This time Lila finds a skull buried in her yard when she is trying to get it under control for a garden walk that is sponsored by her agency. There is also a contest for the best garden and the competition turns deadly. Who does the skull belong to and how long has it been there? Was it murder? Who killed the garden club member and why? All these and more questions will be answered as you read the book. Lucy Arlington always writes in ways that you feel you are right there watching the scene play out. You get the anxious feelings, the feelings of joy and of pride right along with the characters. I’m so glad this series will continue and can’t wait for the next book to come.
February 19, 2015
Inspiration Valley, the setting of PLAYED BY THE BOOK has never been so enjoyable as in the fourth installment of the Novel Idea series by Lucy Arlington (Susan Furlong). Lila Watkins and the characters in her life are vividly written and wonderfully described so the reader can see them in their mind's eye. Everyday problems meld with murder and Lila, family, and friends get caught in the web.
Damian York, handsome television host of a DIY gardening/home improvement show, is the featured guest at the book signing and dinner that Lila must coordinate. When Damian's crew unearths a 30 year old skull in Lila's backyard the mayhem begins and keeps the reader in suspense until the last page.
Damian York, handsome television host of a DIY gardening/home improvement show, is the featured guest at the book signing and dinner that Lila must coordinate. When Damian's crew unearths a 30 year old skull in Lila's backyard the mayhem begins and keeps the reader in suspense until the last page.
June 1, 2016
The 4th book of this series finds Lila and friends in a dither over a book signing and dinner for a local author. One of the events connected to this is a garden tour, however, one of the particpants is the newest victim in the town. Who did it? The evil stepson, the competitive gardener who wants the coveted trophy or someone else? Romance also spikes it head for Makayla and her boyfriend.
May 20, 2018
I’ve enjoyed this series but I can’t say I’m totally sad to have to go on to something else (I can’t find #5 at any of my library/overdrive locations). Lila seems to be getting…pettier is maybe the word?…or maybe self-centered. The other agents only come up when she uses them to get help tracking down suspects. The climax of the book was fairly unbelievable. Lila and Sean are in the midst of an argument…that all magically resolves without much happening. I love the minor characters in these books: Makayla and Jay, Ed and the bakery lady, the other agents, even her son Trey (although he seemed to change quite suddenly from the beginning of book one to how he is the rest of the series). But Lila is starting to be a little grating and selfish and we aren’t seeing much character development. Although I guess we finally got a glimpse into why Lila’s mom used to drive her crazy…even though Lila doesn’t seem to feel any of that exasperation now. Oh yeah, and how in the world did she pull off hosting a major event with no notice when she spent all of her time out of the office snooping?
I’m going with 7 of 10 for enjoyment and 4.5 of 5 for readability. Even though this review seemed fairly negative, I do really enjoy these minor characters and would love to read more about them. However, this book didn’t hold my attention as well, and I’m not sure if it’s because I read four in a row or because they are just getting less interesting.
-Holly
For more reviews, see: https://bedroopedbookworms.wordpress....
I’m going with 7 of 10 for enjoyment and 4.5 of 5 for readability. Even though this review seemed fairly negative, I do really enjoy these minor characters and would love to read more about them. However, this book didn’t hold my attention as well, and I’m not sure if it’s because I read four in a row or because they are just getting less interesting.
-Holly
For more reviews, see: https://bedroopedbookworms.wordpress....
February 1, 2024
This series is doing well, I think.
Lila Wilkins is feeling excited. Her boyfriend - who also happens to be the chief of police - has arranged a dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in town. Lila had recently overheard him ask her son if it would be OK with him if they got married, so she is expecting a proposal. Except it doesn't happen, since his work keeps him from meeting her for dinner.
In the meantime, Lila's boss has informed her that she is not only helping plan a book signing and dinner for a visiting garden and lifestyle expert, but that her own garden has been added to the garden tour happening on the same day. When Lila's son and his friends are helping her dig up some plants to move elsewhere, they discover a human skull.
Then a popular member of the garden club is found murdered in her garden. With everything going on, Lila is stressed, busy, and concerned, not to mention irritated with her boyfriend.
A lot happens in this book, with various stories swirling around at the same time. I wondered how they were going to tie things up with so many little side things, but I think the author did reasonable job.
Lila Wilkins is feeling excited. Her boyfriend - who also happens to be the chief of police - has arranged a dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in town. Lila had recently overheard him ask her son if it would be OK with him if they got married, so she is expecting a proposal. Except it doesn't happen, since his work keeps him from meeting her for dinner.
In the meantime, Lila's boss has informed her that she is not only helping plan a book signing and dinner for a visiting garden and lifestyle expert, but that her own garden has been added to the garden tour happening on the same day. When Lila's son and his friends are helping her dig up some plants to move elsewhere, they discover a human skull.
Then a popular member of the garden club is found murdered in her garden. With everything going on, Lila is stressed, busy, and concerned, not to mention irritated with her boyfriend.
A lot happens in this book, with various stories swirling around at the same time. I wondered how they were going to tie things up with so many little side things, but I think the author did reasonable job.
January 23, 2019
The mystery in this one was interesting enough, although I figured out the culprit pretty early in the game. The whole premise of a cozy mystery with it's small town setting and limited number of suspects make it pretty easy to pick out the murderer.
It's the boyfriend relationship that bugs me. Just doesn't seem to ring true. I don't know many women that would go 4 or 5 days or even a week without even speaking to a man you were this close to marrying. Her days were busy but her nights were free. No time for even a phone call?? The romance just seems sort of tacked on to add another layer to the plot line.
Oh, one detail right at the start that caused me to close the book and say, "If an author or her editor can't take the time to find out the difference between a philodendron [a very common leafy houseplant] and a rhododendron [a LARGE, woody shrub that grows in the woods], then do I really want to wander through a book likely to be filled with similar senseless errors?" But I didn't have anything else to read for a couple of days,.
It's the boyfriend relationship that bugs me. Just doesn't seem to ring true. I don't know many women that would go 4 or 5 days or even a week without even speaking to a man you were this close to marrying. Her days were busy but her nights were free. No time for even a phone call?? The romance just seems sort of tacked on to add another layer to the plot line.
Oh, one detail right at the start that caused me to close the book and say, "If an author or her editor can't take the time to find out the difference between a philodendron [a very common leafy houseplant] and a rhododendron [a LARGE, woody shrub that grows in the woods], then do I really want to wander through a book likely to be filled with similar senseless errors?" But I didn't have anything else to read for a couple of days,.
July 5, 2023
I like 'shopping' along what I call Mt Git'r'Read to see what I want to read next. I found this along with the next book in the series in the closet version of my aptly named TBR stacks/shelves/drawers. I had five days off with not a lot going on especially today with absolutely nothing going on but sitting in the back garden under the umbrellas and drinking my iced tea. I finished this basically in one sitting or at least in one day. I had the free time and the book was that enjoyable.
It moves very fast and the characters, setting and premise all very engaging. I wasn't sure if I'd want to read two books back to back that gardening as a centerpiece but it turned out just fine. This series has a woman as a book agent and the company she works for is representing someone who hosts a gardening show and has a gardening book coming out. There is suspicious death and mayhem and a book signing party to organize. It's hectic and delightful.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
It moves very fast and the characters, setting and premise all very engaging. I wasn't sure if I'd want to read two books back to back that gardening as a centerpiece but it turned out just fine. This series has a woman as a book agent and the company she works for is representing someone who hosts a gardening show and has a gardening book coming out. There is suspicious death and mayhem and a book signing party to organize. It's hectic and delightful.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
March 6, 2024
Loving this series. Lila definitely has the dream job of reading / critiquing books in my opinion. Would have loved to have something like that as an option (back before I retired). Did a bit of proof reading at work; well guess what I do now to all the books I read - yep, proof read and find all the typo's in the books that the editors didn't catch! (Not many by this author in any of her series!) And guess what, I actually had the culprit pegged - about half-way through even. Anxious to read the next book in this series. I own it, so can read it at my leisure. Just wish it wasn't the last in the series. Of course, since I participate in 3 book clubs, I've got 2 books to get read before I get back to this series.
March 5, 2018
I enjoyed this 4th book of this series. I love the main cast of characters and find them easy to spend time with. Inspiration Valley seems like a fun town to live in with everything book themed. This one has Lila and her crew finding some bones in her garden. While the story proceeds with a garden event and book signing/ dinner, a member of the community ends up dead. Lila is asked to help find out who the killer is so the sleuthing begins! There were some laughs along the way and I must be losing my touch because I thought someone else was the killer. I was a little sad when this person ended up being the one. Good book and onto the next one!!!
July 3, 2017
I love this character created within the area of the publishing industry. Lila is a unique one of a kind character who has her share of problems. She takes on the task of organizing a book signing for a famous gardening author. Represented by the firm Lila works for. While digging up in her own yard she discovers a skull which also contains the rest of the body. She then goes about trying to find out from around town who owned the house before.
July 19, 2018
In this book, Lila Wilkins, an agent at the Novel Idea Literary Agency, gets involved in a mystery when a skull is dug up in her yard. The agency is sponsoring a dinner and book signing for a landscaper who is from the area. There is a murder and Lila is sure she knows who the killer is which puts her in conflict with Sean, her boyfriend. Also Lila and Sean seem to having problems and can't get together so they can talk. The book was a quick easy read.
July 6, 2020
The 4th installment in the Novel Idea cozy mystery series. Our main character, Lila, is asked to assist her colleague in preparing a book signing event for a former local who made it big author.
A skull found in her garden, a greedy garden club president, murder of a towns person, and more mystery abound in this cozy mystery series. Light romance and relationships, and caramel lattes are also touted.
A good read that plays like a Hallmark movie!
A skull found in her garden, a greedy garden club president, murder of a towns person, and more mystery abound in this cozy mystery series. Light romance and relationships, and caramel lattes are also touted.
A good read that plays like a Hallmark movie!
July 10, 2018
A delightful easy mystery for lovers of books and cozy mystery. Lila works at an agency that reads manuscripts and pitches them to publishers. Her job - cozy mysteries! Her agency represents many different authors including a former resident who has written a home decorating book. In digging up her garden for the garden tour, her son finds a human skull.... The plot thickens...
February 10, 2025
Much better than the last one. I had seriously thought about dropping the series but since I'd bought this one already, I had to give it a shot. The characters were more relatable to me and the descriptions of the scenery, food, etc were much better.
The plot truly felt like a normal person stumbling through a murder case (or what I imagine it would be like). I liked it.
The plot truly felt like a normal person stumbling through a murder case (or what I imagine it would be like). I liked it.
October 14, 2018
I love cozy mysteries! This one didn't disappoint- it was quick, fun, and had some unexpected turns. I had some ideas on what the killer was, all of which were wrong, which is the only time I'm okay with being wrong!
July 20, 2019
Garden parties, a looming author event, and murder mix in this latest installment of the novel idea series. Lila works hard to keep it all together, although she is pretty overwhelmed. A fun spring or summer read with an intriguing mystery. Looking forward to the next in the series.
April 14, 2023
What can I say, I can't stop reading these, this series is one of the best I have read. I don't want to give away too much so I will just say , its a brain burner and a lot is going on and there are twists you just don't see coming.
February 21, 2017
Exciting and fast paced mystery.
May 6, 2017
Fun series.
July 12, 2017
Sean need to be more romantic like jay.
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