Some Like It Haute

Samantha Kidd Mystery #4

by Diane Vallere

Fashion expert Samantha Kidd is in the hot seat. After agreeing to help her ex-boyfriend's former girlfriend with a runway show, she's attacked backstage, landing in the hospital. And when a garment goes up in flames on the catwalk the day after the attack, the already explosive situation turns deadly. She recruits a smoking hot photographer to turn up the heat on the investigation, but even the third degree won't expose an angry arsonist. With a crash course in sizzle, Samantha's curiosity leads her into another inferno, and this time she either faces the fire or gets burned.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 2015

About the author

Request MURDER ON A MOON TREK on NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...

I use Goodreads to track my reading and TBR list. For that reason, my rating scale is less important. I don't force myself to finish books, and I don't rate books I DNF. Each year I choose my own BOTY from my have-read list.

AUTHOR BIO: Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/DianeVallere
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aVXczm
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RfiyAE

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Kidd has landed yet another temporary job in her home town of Ribbon, Pennsylvania. This time, she’s helping her ex-boyfriend’s maybe ex-girlfriend prepare a fashion show. Amanda is going to turn heads with this collection – assuming nothing goes wrong before then. Samantha thinks everything is going well, so she is surprised when she is fired the night before the big event. Then she is attacked on her way out to her car as she leaves. But when disaster strikes the show, Samantha begins to suspect that something larger is at work. Can she figure out what is going on?

The plot of this book started from page one and never let up. Samantha is facing quite a few challenges over the course of the story, and they always kept me engaged. While I don’t know much about fashion, it was used as a backdrop to the mystery, and I never felt left out. Having said that, Samantha’s fashion knowledge does provide her with a couple of clues that help her solve the mystery. Samantha is the strongest character in the book. The rest are interesting and hold our attention, but Samantha is the one who really shines. She’s also the one who gets the most growth, and I enjoyed watching that happen. I’m now anxious to see what happens to Samantha next.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Melissa Basnight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by Diane Vallere that I have read and it was a good action packed mystery with intrigue with a bit of romance. Sam Kidd works in the fashion industry and during her job she gets beat up and almost blown up a few times. Didn’t know the fashion industry could be so dangerous. She is trying to figure out her romantic life while trying to stay alive. Definitely an entertaining book that kept my interest.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 i like the characters in the story.

[Kendel Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Vallere pens a fashion mystery the way Tory Burch designs handbags: with mad skills and an eye for style. With a blend of her signature wit, intelligent storytelling, page-turning tension, and insider designer knowledge, Vallere's SOME LIKE IT HAUTE should absolutely not be missed!

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha and Eddie

Sam somehow finds herself working for Amanda, her ex-boyfriend Nick's, ex-girlfriend. She also has to contend with "Tiny", Amanda's office manager/friend/collaborator/ you get the idea. Who she is not fond of. Then there's the photographer Clive who just gives her the creeps. Wounder why Amanda or Tiny didn't hire Dante? He seems to be a much better photographer. Oh well it's not her show. She's backstage the night before the show and Harper, the youngest model at the show, comes to her in tears and asks for her help. It would seem that the kimono she is to wear is way to large, even the sleeves drag the floor! When Sam brings it to the attention of Tiny and Amanda she's told by Tiny that she will look into it if she has the time. After that all goes downhill. Guess Amanda is to stressed, plus Nick is supposed to have brought the shoes for the show and is refusing to do so as he doesn't want to run into Sam. So Amanda fires her! As Sam is leaving she notices that there are several lights out in the hall that leads to the door. She takes her time and when she makes it outside she isn't really paying alot of attention until a spark catches her eye, then there's fire all around her! When she gets that out she gets attacked! She is pummelled by something that hurts! The next thing she knows she is waking up in the hospital with her best friend Eddie and Amanda? What happened? What happens next? Will she be able to figure it out before she or someone else gets hurt? Only one way to find out, read this great story by Diane Vallere to find out.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. There was enoughy going on to keep it interesting and with plenty of suspects it sure kept you guessing. I liked the characters who are fun and likeable, especially Eddie the best friend, he is always good for a laugh. I have a number of Diane's books but not sure I am reading them in order, so will have to check which book is next. It doesn't really matter though because each book is a stand alone book, it just affects her relationship. Off to start the next book.
Sam is doing the un imaginable. She is working for her ex boyfriends ex girlfriend to help make her runway show a success. But things don't go to plan she is fired on opening night and then attacked, the one of the model's kimono catches fires while on stage. Somebody wants this fashion collection to go up in flames but does Samantha really want to help her ex's ex? Things heat up with more fires breaking out over Ribbon and threatening notes arriving. Can Samantha with help from best friend Eddie and smoking hot photographer Dante get to the bottom of this mystery before someone gets burned for real?
This book will be a good addition to my audio book collection when it comes out.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Kidd is still trying to get her life on track in the third installment of Diane Vallere's mystery series. After leaving New York she moved to Ribbon, Pennsylvania but unfortunately finding steady work and a steady boyfriend hasn't been easy. Samantha agrees to work for Amanda Ries who is her ex-boyfriend's best friend and maybe ex-girlfriend. After leaving the building where everyone is getting ready for Amanda's fashion show, Samantha is attacked by an ignited bag of oranges in the parking lot! Things don't go any better the night of the fashion show when model Harper Ashton's kimono sleeves catch fire while she is on the runway! That leads to Samantha working with the arson investigator, her old "friend" Detective Loncar, and her photographer friend Dantes Lestes. There are several potential arson suspects that Samantha has to wade through. Diane Vallere keeps the reader guessing until the end! This book is well written and I really enjoyed it! I'm ready to see what Samantha and her friends get up to next.

[Jean Holtof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does Samantha attract trouble or troublesome people?? She certainly holds centre stage in these fiery situations and while she loves to analyse and deduct, she is not so keen to get hurt. Feeling stuck in her life and career path she agrees to work with Amanda, the maybe ex girlfriend of her ex boyfriend, Nick. An enjoyable read with lots of action and mystery and a reluctantly agreeable Detective. I like the easy to read writing style and the witty and funny approach to the story. Thanks Diane Vallere.

[Donna Beckner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fashion with Fire

This book was interesting, fires every where and made sense it was one person but then seemed like another. The person it end up being I suspected her /him to be trying to destroy Amanda but couldn't come up with a why. This book has you trying to be in Samantha's head the whole time trying to solve the problems. I don't like to give away details in a review but this book will have you on the edge of your seat to find out you started the fires. Now read and enjoy this wonderful book.,

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an entertaining read set in the world of fashion . I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series before this one but I received this book ( number 4 in the series ) in E book form for free when I subscribed to the author's newsletter .
I liked it, the mystery was intriguing and I didn't guess the outcome before the ending of the story so that was good .
Samantha was a fun, likeable character . I look forward to reading the first few books and any more in the series .

[Jana Gundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Haute mess for sure!

Samantha is back and what in the world is she doing? She’s at the bottom of the barrel and going even lower, the poor thing. She shits done a great guy who always backs her for a guy who didn’t care for her life choices and he’s still not even in the picture! Her decisions are definitely in question along with her sanity this time. However, I do see a lot of maturity and growth in the end and I think she’s going to be okay.

[Louise Pledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed the Samantha Kidd books, but a little less with this one. Samantha didn't seem quite as quirky as usual? Still, it was a fun read (aren't all of Diane Vallere's books?), especially the continuation of her relation ship with Nick. I had two more to read and now see that I read them out of order. I think I would have liked this one more, had I read the previous one first, where they broke up.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha keeps on facing trouble at every opportunity she has to start working and this time it was not different.
It´s loads of fun to read about her interaction with the police, specially Detective Loncar, and how her way of thinking leads to more suspects than there really are and inevitably to discover who is the guilty one. Eddie - her best friend also helps her a lot this time. Very enjoyable reading!!!

[MommyO · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read in the Samantha Kidd series and I couldn’t put it down! Samantha is a spitfire with a way of finding herself in the thick of things. She’s a fighter who refuses to give up until she’s figured out the mystery. I can’t wait to read more about Samantha, this is a thoroughly entertaining book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aighmi* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is terrific! I really do love Samantha Kidd, and this book lived up to the promise of the series! There were times when I actually burst out laughing and read bits of it out loud to my family. Good plot, lots of red herrings, surprise ending. And, for an unusual twist....no murder! Just a genuine mystery, believable characters, and good writing. Now to start the next one!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've totally been enjoying the Samantha Kidd Mysteries series, and was excited to see that the series was continuing in this book. It does what I was hoping for and the same charm the characters had and I enjoyed getting back to this mystery series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gwendolyn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery read. Ideal for lazy, warm summer days, preferably by the pool or ocean, with upbeat music from the 80s playing in the background, for example, anything by the Go-Gos, the Bangles, or the Beach Boys :)

[Ashley Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

I am #teamdante all thebway but I hate that I like Nick too. It makes for a frustrating, but well developed story. Vallere provides a nice balance of personal background woven through the mystery.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun book to read! I love the fashion aspect of the book and Visual Merchandising has been my absolute favorite job so far so this book was right up my alley. Love the characters, very well written, will definitely read the next book.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I held my breath through the whole book. I had go keep reading although I wanted to stop myself! Some Like It Haute is an awesome and unforgettable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think of a three-ring circus, but without the tigers jumping through the burning hoops. Kept me up past bedtime, but it was well worth it. Now I need to track down books 1-3.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and entertaining read that also kept me guessing. I liked the characters and will be looking out for more in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think a three-ring circus, but without the tigers jumping through the burning hoops. Kept me up past bedtime, but it was well worth it. Now I need to track down books 1-3.

[Kylie Prattley · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn't put it down

[Sherry McWilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received a free copy for a review. Loved this story, it was fun and entertaining. Plan to read the rest of the series.

[Lyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

More a 3.5 - the end seemed a little weaker than the enjoyable journey to get to that point.

[stephanie huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and entertaining

[Liz Nieman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable story and interesting characters.

[Janet L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series of books. Trouble just seems to follow Samantha Kidd wherever she goes. On to the next one!

[Dawn Cyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it