by Jasmyn | Feb 9, 2019 | Book Reviews, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Readers, Young Adult
Triplicity is an odd mix of an almost slice-of-life story and a suspense novel. As I followed the three teenagers on the cruise I continually wondered where the story was trying to go. We get a dash of a romantic triangle, misplaced blame for a thief on board, and lots of family drama. With so many different trains of stories running through, I felt like the there wasn’t really an end goal.
I didn’t always find the three main characters very engaging, and there were many times I flat out didn’t like them. Navy especially had moments that I found to be very disingenuous. The standards that she held Isaiah and Jesse to were inconsistent, and while both of the boys also had their issues, I found them to feel more real and genuine.
The impact of the mystery the teens are trying to solve really doesn’t impact the story until very close to the end, and I wish it had been integrated throughout so that it had more of a hovering presence instead of just the occasional mention to cause drama.
Isaiah was the character that saved it for me. I loved his history with the ranch, and while in the end, he did a few questionable things, it was more because he didn’t see another way out. Jesse was a close second. But I found it odd how Navy looked past his lies while holding Isaiah to a different standard.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
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Title: Triplicity
Author: J. Mercer
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery
Content Rating: PG-13
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One week on an Alaskan cruise, three teens, and an endless trail of lies…
Enter a series of thefts on board and they all fall under scrutiny. Though Navy acts a proper preacher’s daughter, she did end up with someone else’s purse in her hands, and Jesse knows way more than he should about what’s gone missing. Isaiah, however, is the one with motive–enough money and he could get back to his ranch.
Each holds a piece of the truth, but exposing the thief could damn them all. They must navigate through the lies they’ve told, choose between standing together or saving themselves, and decide if innocence is worth facing their ugliest secrets.
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About J. Mercer:
J. Mercer grew up in Wisconsin where she walked home from school with her head in a book, filled notebooks with stories in junior high, then went to college for accounting and psychology only to open a dog daycare. She wishes she were an expert linguist, is pretty much a professional with regards to competitive dance hair (bunhawk, anyone?), and enjoys exploring with her husband–though as much as she loves to travel, she’s also an accomplished hermit. Perfect days include cancelled plans, rain, and endless hours to do with what she pleases. Find her on Facebook @jmercerbooks or online at
www.jmercerbooks.com.
$25 Amazon GC Giveaway!
by Jasmyn | Jan 25, 2019 | Book Reviews, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Readers
Mourning Express is my favorite in The Funeral Faker series so far. I loved Rosie and her determination to do a job well. With a bad rep following her as a diva, she’s struggling to find a job when she takes on the role of a professional mourner.
Her first job highlights her past and bad reputation when she’s asked to give a eulogy for a man she’s never met. A man that everyone seems to hate. But as she digs deeper into the man’s past as research for her role, she finds out that his death was no accident at all.
With the help of her best friend – who just happens to be a stellar make-up artist – and her roommate, she takes on several really fun roles to try and find out the truth. While she hates her reputation as a diva, she finds that having made a name for herself isn’t all that bad sometimes – and actually helps on occasion.
A great mystery with some of my favorite characters.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
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Title: Mourning Express (The Funeral Fakers #3)
Author: K.M. Waller
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Content Rating: PG
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C-list actress Rosie Collins’ name is making headlines… unfortunately it’s only with the tabloids. Now, with a freshly minted reputation for being a troublemaker, not even the local Dollar General store will hire her to twirl their sign.
Problem is the job offers stop, but the bills don’t. Rosie needs cash fast, like, express-lane fast. Might Professional Mourning be the answer? Sure, yeah, whatever.
Never one to mince words, her first job is to deliver the eulogy for the most hated man in all of Asheville. Now she’s got a new problem. Namely, that the newly deceased’s slip-and-fall accident seems like it may have been more of a push-and-fall murder.
Will Rosie find a way to solve this deadly mystery, or will her next role be as Harold’s replacement in the coffin? Find out whodunit in this hilarious mystery series filled with fake tears and a very real body count… Order your copy and start reading today!
Mourning Express is book three in The Funeral Fakers series. Each book stands completely on its own, but you’ll have more fun if you read them all together!
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by Jasmyn | Jan 23, 2019 | Book Reviews, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Readers
Another solid cozy mystery in the Funeral Fakers series. Mourning Commute is a stand-alone mystery that I had a hard time guessing exactly who-dun-it and why. Sam Cheever laid the clues out beautifully without giving too much away until the case was solved.
The characters may have been a little over the top, but they were more lovable because of it. Our funeral faker, May Ferth, really pulled out all the stops to make sure her grieving clients got what they needed – including a little shoulder to cry on and an ear willing to listen.
There’s a touch of romantic possibility between the P.I. investigating and May that I really enjoyed. They both had moments of quick thinking and worked well as a team to solve the case and catch the bad guys. The cases in the Funeral Fakers have all been quite involved and intricate, and I’m impressed at the authors’ abilities to fit so much into a novella and bring all the pieces together in a very satisfying conclusion.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
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Title: Mourning Commute (Funeral Fakers #2)
Author: Sam Cheever
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Content Rating: PG
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Restrained Crying: $50
Banshee Wailing: $100
Crying & Rolling on the Ground: $150
Threatening to Jump in the Grave: $250
Uncovering a Murder Mystery: PRICELESS
May Ferth was born with stars in her eyes, but apparently not her future. Never able to break past the community theater, she’s overjoyed to finally land a role that comes with a paycheck: Professional Mourning for the win!
And in her first performance, she shines as the fake girlfriend of a professional crime scene cleaner. Unfortunately, this time she shines just a bit too bright. Now everyone suspects that she might have played more than a bit part in her pretend boyfriend’s death!
Luckily for her, May comes from a family of cops. And, despite her talent for acting, she has a lot more Detective in her than Diva. Unluckily, however, the threats become all too real as May gets closer to shining a spotlight on the real villain.
Can May rewrite the ending of this staged play or will this be her final bow? Find out whodunit in this hilarious mystery series filled with fake tears and a very real body count… Order your copy and start reading today!
Mourning Commute is book two in The Funeral Fakers series. Each book stands completely on its own, but you’ll have more fun if you read them all together!
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