Heartache Motel: Three Interconnected Mystery Novellas by Terri L. Austin, Larissa Reinhart, and LynDee Walker
…written with the backdrop of Graceland, complete with wacky Elvis impersonators, was fun and made for several hours of enjoyment. ~Socrates Book Review
Heartache Motel was an enjoyable read that introduced me to new characters that I thought were fun and entertaining. ~Book-n-Kisses
This is a book that will keep you hooked from the first novella to the last. ~Melina’s Book Blog
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Heartache Motel: Three Interconnected Mystery Novellas
Genre: Women Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Humorous Mystery, Short Stories
Number of Pages: 225
Published by: Henery Press (December 10, 2013)
SYNOPSIS
Heartache Motel, Three Interconnected Mystery Novellas
Elvis has left the building, but he’s forever memorialized at the Heartache Motel. Filled with drag queens, Rock-a-Hula cocktails, and a vibrating velveteen bed, these three novellas tell the tales of three amateur sleuths who spend their holidays at the King’s beloved home.
DINERS KEEPERS, LOSERS WEEPERS by Terri L. Austin
A Rose Strickland Mystery Novella (follows DINER IMPOSSIBLE)
When Rose and the gang head to Graceland right before Christmas, they get all shook up: the motel is a seedy dump and an Elvis impersonator turns up dead. Rose discovers missing jewels tie into the death and her suspicious mind flips into overdrive, questioning her fellow guests, the staff, and even a cute impersonator who keeps popping up. Will Rose be able to find the murderer and get home by Christmas day? It’s now or never.
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QUICK SKETCH by Larissa Reinhart
A Cherry Tucker Mystery Novella (prequel to PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY)
Sassy Southern artist Cherry Tucker and her poker-loving boyfriend, Todd, pop into Memphis to help Todd’s cousin who’s been hustled out of his savings, right before Christmas. Staying at the shady Heartache Motel, Cherry can’t tell a shill from a mark and fears everyone is playing them for chumps. Cherry and Todd quickly find themselves in a dangerous sting that could send them to the slammer or mark them as pigeons from cons looking for an even bigger score.
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DATELINE MEMPHIS by LynDee Walker
A Headlines in High Heels Mystery Novella (follows BURIED LEADS)
Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke thinks she’s going home for Christmas. But a quick stop at Graceland proves news breaks in the strangest places. When the King’s home gets locked down with Nichelle inside, she chases this headline into the national spotlight—and the thief’s crosshairs. Christmas dreams of blue suede Manolos fade, and all Nichelle wants from Santa is to land the story before the thief cuts off her news feed for good.
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My Review
I’m always ready for a new cozy mystery. I got three in Heartache Motel. It was a lot of fun to see where each of these authors would go with their story centered around a seedy motel, staffed with drag queens and booked up with Elvis impersonators.
The Heartache Motel is located a short distance from Graceland and it came as no surprise that each story would be overflowing with quirky, fun characters.
In Diners Weepers, Losers Keepers I met Rose Strickland. When Ma, the 80-year-old proprietor of Ma’s Diner shuts down the diner for a few days to go to Graceland, Rose and her best friend Roxy, along with Ax and his stoner roommate Joe ride along to keep her out of trouble.
When their hotel rooms are given away they wind up at a seedy, out-of-the-way hotel and get right in the middle of a murder investigation. Someone’s put an Elvis impersonator on ice, literally.
I enjoyed getting to know Rose and her gang. I would love to see Roxy in person. Her outfits sound extreme. And Stoner Joe. You could stand him in front of something, come back later, and he’d still be there. You’d never have to worry about losing him, you’d just have to remember not to leave him behind.
This was a fun, sassy introduction to the Rose Strickland Murder Mystery series. How could I not have a blast snooping and following the clues with Rose and her Scooby Doo gang as they sift through the impersonators and staff of drag queens, sniffing out the culprit.
Now that I’ve met these characters, further reading is required. The series is calling my name.
Quick Sketch is another romp at the Heartache Motel.
Artist Cherry Tucker and her boyfriend Todd wind up at the motel when they answer his cousins call for help. He’s lost all his money gambling and thinks he’s been cheated.
They put Vegas on hold and cook up a scheme to catch the con artists and maybe get Byron’s money back.
It was really fun to see Man Margaret and the drag queen gals again. The motel is as seedy as ever, and the Suspicious Minds Bar is still serving up Rock -A – Hulas.
I was a little doubtful of Byron’s story at first. Did he get scammed or did he just get taken to the cleaners, losing all of his savings and his Christmas bonus?
What a delirious trip this was. Cherry takes no prisoners with her cutting edge wit and sarcasm. She’s having none of Todd’s shenanigans and puts all her cards on the table to call the scammers bluffs. But they might all end up in the pokey.
While I really enjoyed this story, I felt like I needed to read the series to understand Cherry and Todd and their relationship better.
I’ll have to pay a visit to Hula, Georgia and become better acquainted with the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series.
And that brings me to Dateline Memphis.
Nichelle is a hoot. She’s got brains, beauty, a smart mouth, and as long as she has her signature high heels, she’ s ready to go. And she never goes anywhere without her pooch-to-go, Darcy, her Pomeranian.
Nichelle is the next to stay at the Heartache Motel. She plans on getting a good nights sleep and then a quick hop over to Graceland to get a Christmas present for her mother.
She may not make it in time to open presents, as her visit ends up in a police lockdown. No one leaves until they catch whoever stole the bejeweled belt once worn by Elvis.
Being a crime reporter, Nichelle offers to help with the investigation. Her skills might come in handy, and who knows, she might get the biggest scoop of her career.
I could just picture Nichelle waltzing into the motel, pooch under one arm and designer luggage on the other. She’d meet her match with the drag queens. She stood six-three in her high heels and Man-Margaret stood a full head taller. I wonder who’d have the best outfits?
After busting crime with Nichelle, I’m looking forward to getting to know her better while reading the Headlines in High Heels Mystery Series.
I raise my Rock-A-Hula in a toast to these authors. They did a splendid job of slipping their characters into the central theme of The Heartache Motel, while keeping the returning personalities in character. Each story had some of the same characters and each writer kept with their individual voices.
I’m a fan of the female protagonist and met some strong, sassy women in this collection. I also met some very endearing drag queens and I really would like to see the Elvis impersonator wearing nothing but a speedo and cowboy boots. I had a good laugh at that one.
Three authors, three cozy mysteries, many captivating characters, and some fun capers to solve. A great idea.
4 Stars
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Purchase Link: Amazon
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TERRI L. AUSTIN
As a girl, Terri L. Austin thought she’d outgrow dreaming up stories and creating imaginary friends. Instead, she’s made a career of it. She met her own Prince Charming and together they live in Missouri. She loves to hear from readers!
WEB: www.terrilaustin.com
FOLLOW: www.twitter.com/terrilaustin
LIKE: www.facebook.com/terrilaustin
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LARISSA REINHART
After seeing Paper Moon as a child, Larissa Reinhart fell in love with stories about confidence capers. QUICK SKETCH is the Cherry Tucker prequel to PORTRAIT in the mystery anthology THE HEARTACHE MOTEL. HIJACK IN ABSTRACT is the third in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series from Henery Press, following STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2) and PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1), a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist. She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit.
WEB: larissareinhart.com
Follow: twitter.com/RisWrites
Like: facebook.com/RisWrites
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LYNDEE WALKER
LynDee Walker grew up in the land of stifling heat and amazing food most people call Texas, and wanted to be Lois Lane from the time she could say the words “press conference.” An award-winning journalist, she traded cops and deadlines for burp cloths and onesies when her oldest child was born. Writing the Headlines in Heels mysteries gives her the best of both worlds. LynDee adores her family, her readers, and enchiladas. She often works out tricky plot points while walking off the enchiladas. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is working on her next novel. Find her at www.lyndeewalker.com.
WEB: www.lyndeewalker.com
FOLLOW: www.twitter.com/LynDeeWalker
LIKE: www.facebook.com/lyndeewalkerbooks
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Tour Participants
December 10 – A Chick Who Reads – Review
December 11 – Socrates’ Book Review Blog – Socrates’ Cozy Cafe – Review, Interview
December 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – Spotlight
December 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book– Spotlight
December 14 – Books-n-Kisses – Review
December 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
December 16 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review
December 17 – fuonlyknew – Review
December 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
December 19 – Mochas, Mysteries and More – Interview
December 20 – My Recent Favorite books – Review
December 21 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Interview
December 22 – Jane Reads – Review, Interview
December 23 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview
December 23 – Queen of All She Reads – Review
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