Measure Twice, Murder Once

Measure Twice, Murder Once PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532352
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 247

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Book Description
It’s bad enough when your business partner buys a property without consulting you, but when she accidentally acquires a brothel, it’s enough to make Rowena Summerfield want to throw away her hammer. Still, the house is a bargain, and maybe it’s just what Ro and her daughter need to turn around their home renovation business. As Ro, a former homicide detective, comes to terms with the deal, she gets a shock when the former owner—and madam—turns up dead. Soon someone from Ro’s past shows up at the work site: her ex-partner, who needs a temporary sidekick to help him solve the case. Reviving their investigative team isn’t easy, especially when Herc gets jealous of the hunky deli owner who takes an interest in widow Rowena. Until now, she was fine with one man in her life—her cuddly cat, Jason. Ro and Herc discover the previous residents of the house, including the victim’s daughter, have less than fond memories of their former boss. The bordello’s old customers have a lot to lose if their secrets surface, and the unhappy neighbors still bear a grudge. As the sleuths dig deeper, they unearth a flimsy foundation of anger, greed and fear framing the walls the suspects have built around themselves. Can Ro and Herc find the culprit before someone plays another deadly trick?

Measure Twice, Murder Once

Measure Twice, Murder Once PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532352
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 247

Get Book Here

Book Description
It’s bad enough when your business partner buys a property without consulting you, but when she accidentally acquires a brothel, it’s enough to make Rowena Summerfield want to throw away her hammer. Still, the house is a bargain, and maybe it’s just what Ro and her daughter need to turn around their home renovation business. As Ro, a former homicide detective, comes to terms with the deal, she gets a shock when the former owner—and madam—turns up dead. Soon someone from Ro’s past shows up at the work site: her ex-partner, who needs a temporary sidekick to help him solve the case. Reviving their investigative team isn’t easy, especially when Herc gets jealous of the hunky deli owner who takes an interest in widow Rowena. Until now, she was fine with one man in her life—her cuddly cat, Jason. Ro and Herc discover the previous residents of the house, including the victim’s daughter, have less than fond memories of their former boss. The bordello’s old customers have a lot to lose if their secrets surface, and the unhappy neighbors still bear a grudge. As the sleuths dig deeper, they unearth a flimsy foundation of anger, greed and fear framing the walls the suspects have built around themselves. Can Ro and Herc find the culprit before someone plays another deadly trick?

The Sleepover Clause

The Sleepover Clause PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532557
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 882

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Book Description
Aubrey Carpenter has been running away from problems all her life, fearful of her mother’s opinions. When her latest home reno project blows up in her face, she escapes LA and hides out in a small Iowa town where the motor coach for her sister’s concert tour is being customized. That doesn’t stop her from attempting to fix the dysfunctional lives of the three McKenna brothers who own the motor coach spa, particularly Mitch McKenna, the younger, hunky brother who has put his legal career on hold to help his brothers recoup their late father’s financial losses. The more involved she gets, the more attracted she is to the man. Though irritated by her interference, Mitch finds it increasingly more difficult to resist her. When Aubrey’s former client sues, Mitch can’t allow her to face the music on her own. But to defend her, he must reveal his dream of returning to the law to his brothers. Their growing relationship is put to the test when she must decide whether to stay and ask her judgmental mother for help or hit the road again, leaving Mitch behind.

Beware the East Wind

Beware the East Wind PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532174
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 249

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Book Description
Beware the east wind! It’s hurricane season in Florida, and everyone’s attention is focused on preparing for the latest tempest. But in Serendipity Springs, mah jongg pals Marianne, Sydney, Micki and Kat are caught in a different kind of whirlwind—a mesmerizing murder case involving a slain hypnotist/chef and the woman police suspect of doing her in, her embittered catering partner, Portia. Tasked by Portia to help clear her name, and at the risk of infuriating Kat’s sheriff boyfriend, Marianne and her friends discover there are more than enough suspects—and secrets—to go around. Wary of getting themselves into more dangerous situations, Marianne and Syd agree to let their protective spouses join the hunt, even if their scheming husbands are really in it for the action, not bodyguard duty. As they dig into the hypnotist’s explosive files, more and more questions arise. Was she blackmailing her clients? Did her husband knock her off to gain access to those secrets? And is Portia telling them everything she knows? The sleuths pile their own deceptions on top of the suspects’ lies as a dangerous storm gathers steam offshore. When will the east wind strike, and will the hurricane’s merciless eye reveal a killer?

Nuts and Bolts

Nuts and Bolts PDF Author: Barbara
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532522
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 243

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Book Description
Ex-cop Rowena Summerfield would do just about anything for longtime friend Ryder Tompkins. When he discovers he has a half sister he never knew about and pressures Ro to use her investigative talents to help him find her, she can’t say no. But boyfriend Chuck Dawson’s offer to accompany her to Atlanta might complicate the search. Is she ready for so much togetherness? What begins as a simple missing-person case escalates to a danger-filled odyssey when they learn the woman has fled town, taking all her worldly goods except a bloodstained cocktail dress. The hunt is on as they follow clues cross-country from one town to another. But they’ve left a trail of their own, and the missing woman’s enemies now threaten Ro and Chuck—not to mention their friends and family back home in Florida. Ro is torn. If they go home to protect their loved ones, they’ll leave Ryder’s sister in danger, but without the backup of Ro’s police colleagues, they don’t have the resources to face a killer. As Ro and Chuck work their way through a labyrinth of challenges, their partnership evolves beyond attraction. Is it strong enough to withstand Ro’s sneaky moves to solve the case while keeping him out of danger?

Craks in a Marriage

Craks in a Marriage PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 0999091093
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 263

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Book Description
Sydney Bonner overhears a fellow mah jongg player arguing on the phone with her husband and realizes the couple’s “perfect marriage” isn’t all it appears to be. When the husband is found dead a few days later, the widow prevails upon Sydney and her three friends—Marianne, Kat and Micki—to find out who really killed him. Though none of these four take-charge retirees has any training as detectives, the women agree to launch a secret investigation. As they dig under the happy veneer of their community’s social life, they find more than enough suspects, from shady ladies to resentful golf buddies, to keep them looking over their shoulders. Could the murderer be lurking among the talent in a chaotic production put on by Sydney’s husband, who will do anything to keep busy in retirement? Could the sheriff, who may have more than a professional interest in chanteuse Kat, end up pinning the crime on the women instead? Each discovery during their investigations keeps them running as they close in on the killer—but the killer may also be closing in on them.

Connect the Dots

Connect the Dots PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532131
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
How could a thirty-something man fall to his death from a fourth-floor balcony he knows is defective? That’s the question freelance writer Micki Demetrius is asked to answer by the man’s grieving mother, Clarissa White, who refuses to believe his death was an unfortunate accident. But when the authorities determine it was homicide, Micki is shut out of her investigative efforts. Giving up is easier said than done for Micki. She can’t resist a mystery, and suspicious characters won’t leave Clarissa alone, from the woman claiming a stake in the victim’s life to a cagey character who wants his business. As the threat to Clarissa grows, Micki feels compelled to help her in spite of the danger. Micki’s three mah jongg pals—Sydney, Marianne and Kat—are drawn into the mystery, but the retirees have their own challenges. Syd and husband Trip do grandparent duty while their daughter deals with marital issues. Marianne “finds herself” by writing a one-act play. And Kat must decide how public to go with her growing friendship with the sheriff. Together, they must connect the dots in a nefarious web of greed, neglect, secrecy and murder.

Bamboozled

Bamboozled PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532026
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
Essential oils distributor Dorcas Wiley is the boss everyone loves to hate. So when she turns up dead, killed by her own trophy, disgruntled saleswoman Cathy Broderick is the obvious suspect in her murder. Despite opportunity, motive and incriminating evidence, Cathy declares her innocence and enlists her mah jongg pals—Sydney Bonner and her cronies Marianne, Micki and Kat—to help save her from the death penalty. Hot off a recent and nearly deadly investigation, the women are cautious about putting themselves in peril again. Syd’s spouse isn’t thrilled about another mystery in their lives, either, but he can’t resist the plea of Cathy’s husband. Soon, Syd is leading the way as they tangle with grumpy salespeople, the victim’s estranged husband and boyfriend, a mysterious housekeeper, a litigious customer, an annoyed sheriff and Cathy’s own arrogant lawyer. The women have their own issues to deal with in their central Florida town of Serendipity Springs. Kat faces a health challenge, Micki fields a mysterious inquiry from her ex, Marianne has a chaotic anniversary and Syd wrestles with her husband over who’s really in charge. But nothing puts everyday life into perspective like the moment when their investigation brings them face to face with danger.

Not Your Mama's Mambo

Not Your Mama's Mambo PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532751
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 318

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Book Description
Billionaire Mike Woodley has always carved his own path, steering clear of his wealthy family’s influence. But when his parents swoop back into town, they treat him like he’s still a kid. His father belittles his business, and his mother drops not-so-subtle hints about settling down. Determined to prove himself, Mike impulsively invites the whole family to Christmas dinner at his new place in Sullivan’s Creek. There’s just one hitch: his home is as empty as his heart, and he's struggling to find an interior decorator who can handle his hands-on approach. The last thing local artist Darren Williams wants is a decorating job, but she has to take it to pay off her sister’s gambling debts—even if Mike keeps getting in the way. As Darren juggles her newfound career and her sister’s problems, she’s surprised to find a spark flare between her and the meddlesome billionaire. As they confront their respective families’ issues, these two independent people realize their partnership could be more than just a solution to their problems—it’s a force to be reckoned with, a bond forged in the heat of passion. Could it also be love?

Homicide by Hammer

Homicide by Hammer PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532484
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
Rowena Summerfield is so close to finishing the renovation of boyfriend Chuck’s wine bar, she can practically taste the champagne. But the project she’s doing with her daughter and partner in Nailed It Home Renos screeches to a halt when murder claims the brother of the wine consultant. Once again, the Shasta Police Department drafts Ro to return to her role as homicide detective and help her old partner Herc find the killer. But uncorking the mystery proves challenging given the small pool of suspects, most of them artists like the victim. Before Ro can sip success, she must also deal with a missing-persons case—her construction supervisor’s sister—and sort out her feelings for Chuck as their relationship warms up. Why would someone want to murder a loner whose career was just beginning to soar? And why would the benefactor who commissioned his new piece remain incognito? A palette of clues obscures the meaning of the murder, and Ro and her friends will have to strip away perplexing and dangerous layers to find the truth.

Curtains for the Condo Casanova

Curtains for the Condo Casanova PDF Author: Barbara Barrett
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
ISBN: 1948532697
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 251

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Book Description
Dumped from the lead role on her detective show, snubbed by Hollywood and hurting for cash, TV star Marla Dane sees only one way out: running home to Minnesota. There she can lick her wounds, eat ice cream and check up on her seemingly capricious sister. Bonus: She’ll never again have to think about catching killers. But that’s before a resident in her sister’s condo building is found dead on the front lawn. There’s just something about Marla that makes the neighbors and overworked cops think she can help solve the case, no matter how many times she tells them she was just a pretend sleuth who never worked off-script. Trusting that Marla can get an insider’s take on the suspects, the police chief pairs her with Rex Alcorn, an ex-cop who lives in the same condo complex. Rex is less than enthusiastic about working with a lay person who’s also a celebrity, but he owes the chief from way back, and doing this favor should get the guy off his back. And even Marla has to admit he’s not bad to look at. But Marla’s scripted takedowns didn’t prepare her for murky clues, quirky condo residents and the cagey methods of her new partner. Can she and Rex solve the crime before an all-too-real killer puts them in danger, too?