Death at a Fixer Upper - Sarah Hobart

This was a fun and sometimes silly murder mystery.  We have Sam Turner, real estate agent and awesome single mom with some old relationship issues.  And then we have everyone else.  She is the story teller so it is all about her.  But she isn't an "its all about me" kind of character.  She is actually all about others, sometimes to her detriment.  In the end that is what saves her, her caring and compassion that everyone thinks makes her weak is what makes her successful. 

I found this to be a quick and easy read (when I found time to actually read).  Sam is relatable.  I might not be a single mom but I could feel her struggle.  She may have been dealt a bad hand but she raised a wonderful son and seems to genuinely care about others.  Even though she should be cut throat to sell sell sell she just can't.  She can't in good conscience do something that she knows is wrong, especially if it could harm someone. 

It is a wonderful story about the insanity of selling a derelict home with many hidden secrets.  Of course when prospective buyers start dying, things go a little sideways for poor Sam.  She finds her self in absolutely insane situations, I mean who else gets locked in an office while trespassing and has to jump out of a window.  We are led to believe something supernatural is happening but that isn't really the case.  The evil in the world isn't of another dimension...it is 100% human.  Human(s) who will murder, threaten, harm, solely for their own benefit.   But Sam is smart, she does dumb things like run off Bernie, but she is smart.  She starts to figure it out.  Once that happens the book is really hard to put down. 

I received this book for free from Random House and Chatterbox for free to read and give my honest review. 

SPOILERS
I love that her kindness to the "bum" is what saves her.  All of her business prospects fall apart and then like a knight in shining armor her least prospective person turns out to be the only option.  He inherited money.  He is an old friend of the deceased owner.  He wants to buy this horribly decrepit property and make it his own.  Had she not befriended him by being a wonderful person, he may not have gone to her the way he did.  She was inspirational to so many.  Including but not limited to Max her son and Merritt who was scared to to the right thing for fear of being unjustly punished.  Her bug heart and goofy attitude makes this such a fun story. 

The ending seemed a tad rushed BUT I am assuming Merritt now has the money or at least a reward to help her and Lily get on their feet.  Curly gets his old friends property and will do right by it.  Max gets to sort of have a relationship with his estranged father.  And Sam gets Bernie, or Bernie gets Sam.  As much as she tried to push him away because of her flighty sister she still got the guy, along with the sale, her own home, and a seemingly happy ending.

Mug Shot by Caroline Fardig

Who doesn't love a great murder mystery story? This was a fabulous who done it.  I didn't read the first book (I didn't know there was one) but this book was okay as a stand alone.  They rehashed enough of what happened in Book 1 to keep me up to speed. 

The characters are well developed and the mystery is kept secret VERY well.  I can honestly say I didn't see it coming.  Juliet made me angry regularly.  She is a wonderful person but she makes impulsive decisions and that makes me stabby.  Pete seems like a sweetie but their co-dependent thing they have made me crazy.  I hated Stan at first but he grew on me.  He isn't a great boyfriend but he is a decent person.  I adored Savannah.  Her southern sayings made me giggle and she was just so likeable.  Ryder...oh my.  He is a little hot headed but in an almost attractive way.  He's a cop so I guess some of the attitude is expected but he CLEARLY cares deeply for Juliet and I just loved him. 

SPOILERS BELOW:

Not in a million years did I think "lets kill the main secondary character's girlfriend and blame it on him".  I disliked Cecelia from the start but when she died I was shocked.  I wasn't shocked Pete took the fall but it really sucked for Juliet.  Her obsession with helping Pete while admirable was so annoying.  She has a pretty decent thing with Stan, Ryder still wants her, yet she will sacrifice it all for Pete.  I know they are friends but their relationship is weird. 

I will say this book kept me guessing.  I was on the same path as Juliet.  I thought it was Stan.  I thought it was Kent.  I thought it was Bastidas.  I even thought it was Abigail.  I never thought it was Pete.  I agree with Juliet, that isn't his style.  But I didn't even consider Savannah.  I was floored.  I was so involved in this story.  I was just like Juliet.  When Savannah said the detail about Cecelia's murder, I said "NO WAY" out loud.  But she helped her so much trying to clear Pete's name!!!  I guess even friendship can't stand the weight of MURDER.  Then when she tried to kill Jules.  What a B!  She was nothing but nice to her and now she is trying to kill her!  Clearly this chick has major issues.

I hate that Jules lost her best girlfriend but at least she got her Pete back.  That and she is back with Ryder *squee*.  That makes me happy.  I like them together and I will totally read more of this series.

I got this book for free from ChatterBox from Random House to read and give my honest review.  I think it is a great read for anyone who likes a good Mystery.