"Kiss ‘N Tell" By Kathi Daley: Review/Giveaway

Review by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on  how to enter to win an ebook copy of this book and a link to purchase it.

Mysteries by the Bay

Ainsley Holloway’s journey to uncover the truth about her family has landed her in the little hamlet of Gooseberry Bay, Washington. After the untimely death of the man whom she called “Dad,” she found an old photograph of a young woman with two children which has plagued her thoughts spurring her to question everything she had been told. Her truth was that she’d been rescued at the age of three on Christmas Eve by a first-on-the-scene cop, adopted by said cop, and subsequently provided a good life as his own daughter: cared for, nurtured, and loved. As an adult she became a respected reporter and later her “dad’s” partner in a private investigation firm he started after being injured in the line of duty. She inherited her father’s interest in mysteries, so the mystery of who she really is and where she came from is one she’s unable to ignore. Slowly long-ago memories, images, and her “real” name have bubbled up, but still questions remain. In Gooseberry Bay, although with making new friends, her search has yielded a possible connection to the wealthy Winchester family who live on a cliff side estate, but what connection is still unconfirmed. Her budding friendship with Adam Winchester is well worth exploring, but at what risk. A recent anonymous text can’t be ignored. The veiled threat causes her great concern...“Ava is dead. It’s best to let her stay that way.”


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Kiss ‘N Tell
earns 5/5 Casanova Cats...Engaging and Entertaining!

“Ainsley Holloway Investigations was now open for business.” It’s a slow start, no clients yet, until ten-year-old Lizzie Hamilton walks in with a jar of coins wanting to hire Ainsley in her official capacity...the case? A missing cat. Well, it’s something, until a more compelling mystery soon pops up when a young man is found murdered. College students are pouring into the little hamlet for the fitness competition hosted by Sunfit Gyms for which several women are vying for the top prize of a very lucrative spokesperson contract. Kevin, a new acquaintance at the yogurt shop, tells Ainsley about his summer camp buddies arriving in town for the festivities, but their college bravado turns contentious with their own competition, The Casanova Challenge. Points are awarded for random acts of romance: one point for an offered drink, two points for getting a number, three for scoring a kiss, and ten for just scoring. But, bullying one friend to start chalking up some points has him leaving with a woman, and later, found dead in a vacant house.

Purrrfect! Kathi Daley has really done one better with this fourth book in her A Cottage on Gooseberry Bay series. Ainsley is settling in, making friends, and excited about starting her own private investigation’s business right on the Bay. Although her personal search for answers about her family has yielded some details of complicated connections and conspiracies fueling several theories, the murder mystery of the young man is once again creative, intriguing, and, of course, evolves into a team effort. The premise is a key element; I can suspend disbelief when it comes to non-official busybodies and the circumventing of official channels, but the mystery has to have an air of realism. A challenge among friends, however immature, grabbed my attention, but don’t think you have it all figured out: jealousy, greed, revenge, or wrong place, wrong time. Daley adds a few twists to keep things interesting, topping it off with an “I didn’t see that coming.” However, several key avenues in the investigation occur off the page and are only recapped or summarized by those in the know. Her writing style is entertaining painting well the northwest setting, friends and family, and several charming to criminal personalities; all of which have fans, like me, eager to return to Gooseberry Bay! 

Alert! Book Five, Charmed Summer, is on preorder HERE, and set to be released in April. Ainsley's PI business is keeping her very busy. Her new case is pro bono for a woman who shares a similar story: abandoned as a child at a church, her adoptive mother has passed away, and the only item she feels may hold answers to her birth is a charm bracelet, one of which has led her to Gooseberry Bay. 

Alert Part Two! For fans of Audible, you’re in luck; the Cottage on Gooseberry Bay series is available. Although you can purchase the first three books in the series individually, but why not get them all in one book set: Cottage on Gooseberry Bay Books 1-3 (12 hrs/41 mins). Narrator Angel Clark brings her voice artistry going beyond a traditional reading out loud to enrich Kathi Daley’s drama.

Cottage on Gooseberry Bay (Past Reviews on KRL News & Reviews)

Halloween Moon

Thanksgiving Past

Gooseberry Christmas

Be a Big Kathi Daley Fan!

USA Today bestselling author Kathi Daley has twelve series offering something for every cozy taste with clever dramas, arctic to tropical to west coast settings, close relationships with friends and family, and a variety of “fur” friends. She has a great social media community of fans and can be followed on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub. Keep updated on all of her book releases, events, and goings-on by signing up for her newsletter HERE. 

Facebook - Kathi Daley Books

Join the Club Kathi Daley Book Club

On the Web Kathi Daley Website

Blog - Random Thoughts and Meaningless Musings

To enter to win an ebook copy of Kiss ‘N Tell, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "tell,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen March 6, 2021. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. BE AWARE THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT CRISIS THERE MAY BE A DELAY IN SHIPPING THE WINNING BOOK. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode went up this week.

You can use this link to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:


Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She writes about eco-friendly topics, pets and wildlife for magazines and reviews mysteries and thrillers for KRL. A collection of her short stories, published by Untreed Reads, From Hay to Eternity: Ten Tales of Crime and Deception can be found at all the usual outlets. Each one is a little weird and all have a twist you won't see coming.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Comments

  1. Kathi Daley never stops! Count me in!

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  2. I just love that book cover and book excerpt. Love Books Like This. Sounds like a great book I just love mysteries like this and look forward to getting to know the author and their books. Would love to read and review this book and ALL the other books the author has written in print format.
    I'm curious and interested in seeing how Ainsley approaches her problems and solves them. I'm really curious and interested in seeing how the murder is solved .
    Look forward to getting to know more about the author and their books.
    Hope I Win.

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  3. Sounds like another great book from Kathy Daley. Looking forward to reading the book.

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  4. Love Kathi Daley thank you for the chance! Tromero927@gmail(dot)com

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  5. Love this series!! jawdance@yahoo.com

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  6. Sounds like a great book. Kathi Daley writes wonderful series. kckendler at gmail dot com

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  7. Kathi Daley never disappoints me and I love this series as much as others. Her Facebook group and newsletters are fun and she really show her appreciation for her readers/followers. Thank you for the review!

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  8. I’d love to read this! Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  9. I’d love to read this! Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  10. I’d love to read this! Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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