Daily Deals: Dog Detectives, Crazy Spec Ops, and Mistaken Marriages

Dog on It (Chet and Bernie Mysteries) by Spencer QuinnDog on It (Chet and Bernie Mysteries) by Spencer Quinn. $ 2.99

From the Jacket Copy:

Meet Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of Dog on It, who works alongside Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator. Chet might have flunked out of police school (“I’d been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn’t remember exactly, although blood was involved”), but he’s a detective through and through.

In this, their first adventure, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of Madison, a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters. A well-behaved, gifted student, she didn’t arrive home after school and her divorced mother is frantic. Bernie is quick to take the case — something about a cash flow problem that Chet’s not all that clear about — and he’s relieved, if vaguely suspicious, when Madison turns up unharmed with a story that doesn’t add up. But when she disappears for a second time in a week, Bernie and Chet aren’t taking any chances; they launch a full-blown investigation. Without a ransom demand, they’re not convinced it’s a kidnapping, but they are sure of one thing: something smells funny.

Their search for clues takes them into the desert to biker bars and other exotic locals, with Chet’s highly trained nose leading the way. Both Chet and Bernie bring their own special skills to the hunt, one that puts each of them in peril. But even as the bad guys try to turn the tables, this duo is nothing if not resourceful, and the result is an uncommonly satisfying adventure.

With his doggy ways and his endearingly hardboiled voice, Chet is full of heart and occasionally prone to mischief. He is intensely loyal to Bernie, who, though distracted by issues that Chet has difficulty understanding — like divorce, child custody, and other peculiar human concerns — is enormously likable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way.

This book received a starred review from both PW and Booklist. I’m kind of curious how a dog narrated detective book comes off. An Amazon reviewer says “Chet, the dog, is not so much hard-boiled as simply being his animal self. Unsentimental. Non-judgmental. Ready to eat at every opportunity.”

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The Thirteen: A Novel by Susie MoloneyThe Thirteen by Susie Moloney. $ 1.99

From the Jacket Copy:

Haven Woods is suburban heaven, a great place to raise a family. It’s close to the city, quiet, with great schools and its own hospital right up the road. Property values are climbing, and the crime rate is practically nonexistent.

Paula Wittmore hasn’t been back to Haven Woods since she left as a disgraced teenager. Now she’s returning to care for her suddenly ailing mother, and she’s bringing her daughter and a pile of emotional baggage. She’s also bringing, unknowingly, the last chance for her mother’s closest frenemies . . . twelve women bound together by a powerful secret that requires the sacrifice of a thirteenth.

All I can think of when I look at this book is that the woman’s eyes look super creepy. Is she the villain in the story? From the reviews, it sounds like its a mashup of Desperate Housewives and the Witches of Eastwick with a male evil entity that supplies the magic to the women in exchange for horrible deeds performed by the women to prove their allegiance. Could be brilliant social commentary.

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Crazy Kisses (Steele Street) by Tara JanzenCrazy Kisses (Steele Street) by Tara Janzen. $ Free at Amazon

From the Jacket Copy:

HE’S GOT A BOUNTY ON HIS HEAD – AND A WOMAN ON HIS MIND.

Special Ops soldier Kid Chaos Chronopolous is at the top of a Colombian drug lord’s hit list – with good reason. Under orders and undercover, Kid has been on a mission of revenge, taking out his brother’s murderers and the drug lord’s top lieutenants. Now, broke down and patched up, he’s coming home to Panama City to get out of the line of fire and get some rest. Then he finds a bikini bottom in his bathroom, a familiar scrap of next-to-nothing that can only belong to one woman – his woman, the only woman he’s ever loved.

TOGETHER, THEY’RE A DEADLY COMBINATION

Together, they’re a train wreck, scorching, sultry nights of passion followed by Kid leaving and breaking Nikki McKinney’s heart every time. She’s only come to Panama to say her last goodbye. But Kid’s mission puts her squarely in the crosshairs of the drug lord’s assassins, and when Nikki is captured by Kid’s enemies, only his deadliest skills can save her…

The rights to these books must have reverted to the author because I don’t see a digital version of this book at Amazon. This is not the first in the series and I have to confess that right up to Crazy Love, I thought this was a fun, potato chip (can’t eat just one) book. However, Crazy Sweet (which is on sale at BN for $2.99 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crazy-love-tara-janzen/1100296986?ean=2940015502831) really disappointed me and I moved away from the series. I think it is interesting that Janzen has added new scenes to Crazy Sweet.

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The Trouble with Harry (Nobles Series #3) by Katie MacAlisterThe Trouble with Harry by Katie MacAlister. $ 1.99.

From the Jacket Copy:

What is the trouble with Harry?

1. He is Plum’s new husband. Not normally a problem, but when you consider that Harry advertised for a wife, and Plum was set to marry his secretary, there was cause for a bit of confusion.

2. He has a title. Plum has spent the last twenty years hiding from the ton, and now Harry wants her to shine in society? Horrors!

3. He doesn’t know about her shocking secret. How is she going to explain about the dead husband who isn’t a husband…and who now seems to be alive again?

The blurb for this book makes it sound like a contemporary. I kind of loved the first BN review which said “On a positive note, this book is well written with good grammar and excellent descriptions.” Having read so many books with poor grammar, I can kind of empathize. Nonetheless, the review points out some issues with precious kids in the book which can be maddening.

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