fuonlyknew

Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston

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Teacup Turbulence (A Pet Rescue Mystery)

5th in Series Cozy Mystery

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley (January 7, 2014) ISBN-13: 978-0425259979

Purchase Links: Amazon     Book World      B&N

Synopsis

Los Angeles animal shelter manager Lauren Vancouver has a soft spot for animals in need—and a keen eye for crime. . .

Thanks to a savvy ad campaign featuring teacup pups sporting HotPets Bling—a new line of faux jewelry dog collars—small dog adoptions have skyrocketed across the city. So when Lauren discovers a shelter in the Midwest with more toy dogs than it can handle, she arranges a private plane to swoop in and fly the pups back to LA.

But Lauren didn’t count on rescue worker Teresa Kantrim coming along for the ride. Teresa has cared for the dogs since they were found and doesn’t trust anyone from La-La Land to take over the job. Her biting comments clearly haven’t earned Teresa any new friends, but when she turns up murdered, it’s time for Lauren to dig into Teresa’s past and find out who wanted her put down.

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My Review

I really enjoy cozy mysteries and am always on the lookout for a new author and series.

Teacup Turbulence is a spinoff from the Pet Sitter Series, which I plan to check out.

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover art. I love dogs and the cuties on the cover caught my eye. Then the title just sounded so fun.

The title says it all. Lots and lots of teacup pups and turbulence.

While I didn’t particularly care for, Teresa, the murder victim, I did wonder if her frosty, rude behavior might be hiding something. It was as you’ll discover when you explore this mystery.

Lauren has her hands full with rescuing pups and also selling Bling. I never knew how big and competitive dog jewelry was.

Since the murder happened right under Lauren’s nose, she leaps in to solve it.

While I had an inkling early on what might be behind the murder, I still had to follow the clues and sniff out the false leads. There are many characters to fill the suspect list, some likeable, some I could take or leave.

The pups added an adorable factor to the story. And I loved how the author explains choosing the names for them. It added a lightness to the mystery and had me thinking up all kinds of names.

I wasn’t immediately hooked by the beginning, but was gradually pulled into the mystery and while I had a good idea of what was going on, I had no clue who the killer might be. That kept me turning the pages, searching for clues, and surprising me with the culprit in the end. I really didn’t see the murderer coming.

I’ll be reading more from this author and I’m sure I’ll be entertained.

4 Stars

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About Linda O. Johnston

Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year. Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 35 romance and mystery novels, including Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne.

Linda’s Pet Rescue Mysteries, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, feature Lauren Vancouver, a determined pet rescuer who runs a no-kill shelter. In this cozy series, “no-kill” refers to pets, not people!

[Note that, at the time this is being submitted, I’ve had 33 books published but will have a Harlequin Romantic Suspense published in December, and my upcoming Pet Rescue Mystery TEACUP TURBULENCE will be a January 2014 release.]

Author Links: Website / Facebook

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I have one print copy to give away.

US Only. Sorry to my International friends.

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question,

“What do you like most about reading a mystery?”

Giveaway ends January 15th.

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Tour Participants

January 2 – StoreyBook Reviews  – Review

January 3 –>Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

January 4 – Books-n-Kisses – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

January 5 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review

January 6 – readalot blog – Review

January 7 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

January 8 – Brooke Blogs – Review

January 10 – Reviews By Karen – Guest Post, Giveaway

January 12- Cozy Up With Kathy – Review, Interview

January 13 – My Devotional Thoughts – Review, Guest Post January 14 – StephTheBookworm – Review

January 14 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – Review

January 15 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Giveaway January 15 – Mochas, Mysteries and More – Guest Post

January 15 – Dru’s Book Musings – Guest Post

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