Best of Luck Elsewhere

by Trisha Haddad

Eliza Tahan, assistant editor at J Press, worries she might become the target of a disgruntled author after her boss is murdered and a form rejection letter is found on the scene. Though her boss is the star of the company, it's Eliza that actually makes decisions for the department. And the murderer must have realized his mistake, because Eliza's suddenly a target.

Toss in a tragic family history, an absent mother in Botswana, and a sister working for the Department of Homeland Security and stealing the family spotlight... and Eliza can barely hold her life together at a level of normalcy. She's certainly not equipped to be solving murders. As she argues, "I'm not a detective. I'm a mystery editor. I don't know whodunit until I read the last pages of a manuscript."

But when the Editor of the local newspaper's book section becomes more than just a professional acquaintance, their growing passion urges Eliza to overcome her past and her passivity to find the author-turned-murderer before she is pegged with the crime or, worse yet, before she or someone she loves becomes the next victim.

Genres: Interracial Romance

337 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

Reviews

[SassyMama · Rating 3 out of 5]

An INTRIGUING mystery with just a bit of romance...a few UNEXPECTED suspenseful twists and turns that keeps me turning the pages....I also enjoy the chemistry between Adam and Eliza...the romance is SWEET...the hero, Adam is quite CAPTIVATING...the heroine, Eliza comes off a bit TOO needy, “wishy-washy” and whiny throughout...the storyline is DEFINITELY slow at times...but all in all it's an INTERESTING first attempt by Mrs. Haddad.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I now understand why everyone said Eliza got on their nerve! SHE WHINED THE WHOLE BOOK!!!! Jeez, Adam is rare bc most men would have left after all of that whining she did. It was okay, somethings i wish would have been developed more, but the mystery was good.

[Natlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book in the African American section of Borders because the back copy sounded like a mystery. To my chagrin, once I got it home I discovered that the spine identified it as a romance and a romance it is. Unfortunately I think the writer wanted to write a mystery.

As a romance, the meeting of boy and girl was blah, their subsequent meetings were blah, and I have no idea why they wanted to be together other than they each thought the other was hot. The author spent far too much time having her main character think and talk about having a relationship rather than having an interesting developing romance.

As a mystery, it fares a bit better. Although the death occurs after page 50 and the "investigation" is barely there, there is a respectable about of finger pointing and misdirection. A clue is dropped concerning who the murderer is before I'd like, but it's a good clue and perhaps those who are more romance focused won't notice it.

The wrapup of the protagonist's emotional arc is nice.

All in all, I don't think this author's heart is in romances. I could be mistaken as my heart isn't in romances, but I've read romances that I've enjoyed so I'm not anti-romance.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read. It was more of a mystery that happened to have an interracial couple. There was no racial conflict to deal with, just a girl and a boy trying to get together. Eliza was a character that anyone could probably relate to. I found myself empathizing with her career path, being good at what you do, but not really sure if that is what you want to be doing. She was a point in her life where it just seemed easier to choose the path of least resistance even if it were truly getting you no where.
Adam would not be at the top of my most favorite male leads, but he was likable enough to genuinely root for him.
Totally personal preference, but I like my romance a little sappy and somewhat over the top. I want to imagine that characters deeply a passionately in love for eternity, didn't get that so much here.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read that some people called Eliza whiny, but I was really inspired by her journey to self-discovery. I thought her story arc was believable and refreshing...she found her own way, instead of through the salvation of a man, like many other romance novels. I enjoyed the mystery and the romance...and I thought the author included a lot of well-written details that, along with the great story, made me want to keep reading.

[PT]

I just really couldn't get into this book and maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read it. I am tempted to read the ending just to find out who killed Rain, but I know that if I do that I will never come back to read the book at a later date.
One trival comment: I don't like this cover at all. The lady is pretty, but that guy is not attractive at all IMHO.

[Gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a whodunit, it was very effective. Had me going until the end. As a romance--not so much. The hero/heroine didn't really have any chemistry and I couldn't relate to the characters as much as I wanted to.

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

couldn't finish this one for soe reason..I tought the characters were boring and lacked chemistry

[Melissa h.r · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact the she lived with the guy she was going to married was neat. Iam not sure i could do that.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mystery was weak, almost nonexistent. Characters were whinny and annoying. Finished this book because I started it, not because I liked it. Would not recommend to others.

[Josie · Rating 1 out of 5]

HATED IT!!!