Lizzie Hale may be the lucky owner of a successful romance bookshop, Love Under the Covers, but she’s decidedly un-lucky in love. Though she’s read almost every famous romance novelist, from Jane Austen to Nora Roberts, none have helped her figure out how to get—and keep—a man.
But Lizzie has bigger problems to worry about. Like murder.
When Brody Pierce, swoon-worthy ranch owner and resident bachelor, is found stabbed through the chest, hearts were heard breaking all over idyllic Tinker’s Creek. But when Lizzie’s aunt is implicated in the murder, she’s determined to clear her name. Lizzie quickly realizes that Brody was a hunk with many hidden secrets, and she’s soon leafing through a stack of suspects longer than Brody’s list of lovers.
With the killer still on the loose, Lizzie will have to find the truth before this act of passion ignites a fire she can’t put out.
Release Date: Sep 7, 2021
Series:Â Love is Murder
Book:Â 1
Publisher:Â Penguin Group
Imprint:Â Berkley
Price: $7.99
Lizzie Hale, like every other woman in Tinker’s Creek, Ohio, can’t help melting when she sees the handsome Brody Pierce. The former actor is now a bison rancher and comes into Lizzie’s romance bookstore to buy a greeting card. He left his credit card behind, but when Lizzie goes out to his ranch to return it, she is shocked to find him dead inside his home. Lizzie thinks someone close to her may have been involved with Brody so she decides to launch her own investigation into the murder of the town hearthrob before her loved one is accused of the crime.
This is the first book in the new Love is Murder series and has a cute premise. Lizzie owns a romance bookstore and knows all about the various romance authors and their works, but has no luck in her real life love life. Lizzie is a curious and smart amateur sleuth who is even more likable when she works with law enforcement park ranger, Max Alverez, who used to be a professional baseball player. Because of her track record in the romance department, Lizzie doesn’t want to admit to her growing attraction to her partner in crime-solving. The scenes with these two characters are the highlight of the book for me. When Lizzie is on her own, however, she tends to jump to conclusions and acts according to her false assumptions. Most of the misunderstandings that occur through three-fourths of the book could have been avoided with one honest conversion with the person she was trying to protect and that becomes frustrating.
The plot is interesting, but not all aspects of the book clicked for me. There are times when the story doesn’t flow smoothly and is a little disjointed. It doesn’t help that many of the side characters all blend together and don’t stand out enough to be memorable. The book had ups and downs, but overall is entertaining. I think the series has the potential to be really good.
~ Christine
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