Review by Kathleen Costa
Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it.
Aloooha!
Gemma Halliday Publishing gathered several popular cozy authors at the Aloha Lagoon resort on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Each author took a particular facet of resort life around which to set their mystery adding tropical breezes, crystal blue surf, umbrella-ed drinks, and murderous mayhem. Each book follows the mishaps of very capable young women who find sleuthing is as dangerous as surfing among the sharks. The characters from each other’s books, especially those who work at the resort, make cameo appearances. So, book your flight today and enjoy the entire multi-author series at GHP HERE.
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| Image Source Gemma Halliday Publishing |
Six months ago twenty-nine-year-old divorcĂ©e Kristy Piper decided to put behind her the scary predicaments in which she found herself in Scottsdale and fulfill her dream of living in a Hawaiian paradise. She accepted the job as the wedding planner at the Aloha Lagoon resort, a job for which she has ten-years of experience, and her mission to meet the needs of brides and grooms vying for the perfect tropical experience is one she’s eager to do well. The office manager Dorothy Campbell had been part of the business for thirty-five years, so Kristy just needed to hire as her assistant Leilani Alana, her first, now, best friend. But, trouble isn’t resigned to just the cacti and sand of the desert, the tropical breezes and swaying palms hold their own problems. Can the friends handle it?
Hula Homicide Earns 5/5 Wedding Woes…Wonderful!
You can plan, prepare, and verify commitments all you want, but something will always go awry when you’re trying to create the perfect tropical experience for a bride and groom. The bride’s aunt, Audrey Wentworth, who is generously footing the bill for the nuptials between her niece Carly Clarkson and her beau Justin Cooper, is distraught over the disappearance, most likely theft, of her diamond and ruby necklace. Roxanne, the flirty bridesmaid, got some soggy just desserts from groomsman Alex Adair, who would later get a bruising slap in the face for manhandling maid of honor Lauren. The photographer, Jake Hunter, may be gorgeous, but being tardy is unacceptable and confronting Alex about his behavior is ill-advised and might effect Kristy’s, if not the resort’s, reputation. So, when Jake is found crumpled next to Alex’s dead body, it’s an obstacle that could derail the ceremony, cost Kristy her job, or put Jake in jail.
Here Comes the…Hit! B.A. Trimmer’s premier book in the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series is the perfect addition with a karmic crime, complex mystery, a basket of secrets, wedding-zilla drama, extra peril, and Detective Ray Kahoalani making a grumpy appearance! The murder mystery was clever with most of the wedding party having a viable motive (greed, jealousy, rivalries), and the misdirection clouding the investigation and the methodical revealing of clues didn’t give away anything too soon so my inner detective had a chance to uncover it first (which I didn’t), so the final reveal was a nice surprise. The multi-generational characters were well-developed portraying realistic age and gender perspectives, reactions to the events, and motivations, and Kristy is a delight to follow as she shows strength and cleverness in her snooping.
I am new to Trimmer’s work, and as for her writing style, I was very entertained. She does well to describe the Kauai setting, one I am very familiar with, and maintaining a contemporary time references, her development of the plot was engaging, and the interactions between the characters was realistic and fun to follow. Definitely an author I plan to follow!
Be a Big Fan of B.A. Trimmer!
“Heat, Heart, & Homicide” B.A. Trimmer is a new addition to the Gemma Halliday writing team with her first book in the Aloha Lagoon Mystery multi-author series, but she’s not new to mystery. She penned the currently nine-book Laura Black Mysteries, aka the Scottsdale series, set in the desert community of Scottsdale, Arizona, with Laura Black, a law firm investigator, getting herself and her diverse set of friends entangled in murder and mayhem.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottsdaleSeries
Be a Big Fan of Gemma Halliday Publishing!
Website—Gemma Halliday Publishing
To enter to win an ebook copy of Hula Homicide, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "hulu,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September 17, 2022. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. 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 goes up next week.
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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.Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
Sounds interesting! Count me in!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun read. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
We have a winner!
ReplyDeleteLorie Ham