CANR
WORK TITLE: A Word to the Wise
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Belle, Josie; Lawrence, Lucy
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.jennmckinlay.com
CITY:
STATE: AZ
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: CA 381
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; husband’s name Chris (a musician); children: two sons.
EDUCATION:Southern Connecticut State University, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Has worked as a librarian.
AVOCATIONS:Decoupage, reading, writing, baking, knitting, and skateboarding.
AWARDS:Reviewer’s Choice Award, Romantic Times.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Jenn McKinlay is an American author of cozy mysteries under her own name and the pseudonyms Lucy Lawrence and Josie Belle. On her home page, McKinlay commented on her road to publishing: “When did I decide to become a writer? Funny story. True story. I was a teenager and went to see the movie Romancing the Stone. I don’t know that I decided to be a writer so much as I decided to be Kathleen Turner. Yes, that would be quite a stretch for me, but living in an apartment in New York City, writing romance novels for a living seemed like a good gig and so the dream began. I did nothing with it for YEARS.” McKinlay thereafter studied English literature in college and became a librarian for a time, but then decided to move from the East Coast to Arizona, where she set about becoming a romance writer. After a few books, however, McKinlay saw that her talents lay not in romance writing but in mysteries. Married and with two children, she focused on her new genre for a number of years, until in 2008 she sold her first mystery, which became the launch for the “Decoupage Murder Mystery” series as Lawrence. She wrote three novels in that series, and at the same time began her “Cupcake Bakery Mystery” series, Library Lover’s Mystery series, and “Hat Shop Mystery” series under her own name. Writing as Belle, she also began the “Good Buy Girls” series in 2012. A contributor to the website Examiner.com noted of this frantic writing schedule: “In order to keep up, McKinlay must write four books a year. In a sense, McKinlay has written herself into a corner and must constantly juggle her writing career with family. It wasn’t McKinlay’s intent to create such a heavy schedule for herself, but she was always afraid that a series might end prematurely. The result is a good news/bad news story that now has the writer working at a pace few could sustain.” In an interview with Rhys Bowen on the online Jungle Red Writers, McKinlay noted: “With three different author names and five distinct series, one might wonder if I suffer from multiple personality disorder, a split personality or just a general identity crisis. … I don’t. Not really. My author names don’t define me any more than my married name does, yes, that’s yet another name. … The wonderful thing about being both a writer and a reader is that I get to live all sorts of lives and have endless adventures. I wouldn’t change my job for anything.”
Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery in McKinlay’s “Cupcake Bakery Mystery” series. But these bakers cannot seem to keep themselves from getting involved in murder and mayhem investigations. Red Velvet Revenge finds them investigating murder at the Juniper Pass Rodeo. Amy Alessio, writing in Booklist, noted that the author “continues to deliver well-crafted mysteries full of fun and plot twists.”
In Sugar and Iced, Melanie and Angela are providing cupcakes for a beauty pageant when the body of one of the judges is discovered. Alessio, again writing in Booklist, called this a “smart, engaging read.”
Angela takes on a baking project for her friend Diane in Caramel Crush. Diane, a wealthy woman, is engaged, but she discovers that her fiancé only wants her money. She asks Angela to bake cupcakes for the occasion of their breakup. A contributor to the Under the Covers Book Blog website suggested: “McKinlay’s easy way of writing and affable characters make it easy to fall in love with this book.”
McKinlay uses her personal expertise as a former librarian in her “Library Lover’s Mystery” series, which features Lindsey Norris, director of the Briar Creek Public Library in Connecticut. The series starts off with Books Can Be Deceiving, in which Lindsey helps investigate the death of a famous author. Lindsey’s friend Beth, the victim’s girlfriend, is accused of the crime in this “fine library lover’s mystery,” according to a Bookwatch reviewer.
Lindsey is on the trail of the murderer of the husband of her friend Carrie Rushton in Due or Die. However, the investigation is stalled by a powerful storm. Booklist contributor Karen Muller recommended this installment “for fans of library crime.” Briar Creek, Connecticut, is in a whirl when a salvage company has been commissioned to dig up buried treasure on Pirate Island in Book, Line, and Sinker. The town is torn between those who like the publicity and those who want to preserve the island. When the body of the tourism director who hired the salvage company is found, Lindsey’s neighbor is charged with the crime, and she goes into action to try to help her friend. Muller, again writing in Booklist, noted that readers “will appreciate the authenticity of the library setting, and fans of cozies will enjoy the development of the relationships among the townspeople.”
In A Likely Story, Lindsey investigates a mystery involving two reclusive brothers. A California Bookwatch critic asserted: “Action is swift and twists and turns satisfyingly complex.” A day of free overdue book returns brings back a book connected to an unsolved murder in Better Late Than Never. Lindsey looks into the mystery while juggling the attentions of the handsome Sully and the actor, Robbie Vine. A writer on the This Is My Truth Now website remarked: “McKinlay always delivers characters you can believe and whom you want to know. The setting is cozy and makes you wish you lived in the town, minus the murders.” Ellen Abram, contributor to Library Journal described the book as “a fine addition for series fans and folks who enjoy modern cozies.”
Death in the Stacks finds Lindsey clashing with Olive Boyle, who has just become president of the library board. Lindsey investigates after Olive turns up dead after a large fundraising event. A reviewer on the Publishers Weekly website described the volume as “exuberantly entertaining.” A California Bookwatch writer called it “lively and engrossing.”
Lindsey is a witness to a hit and run accident involving a woman named Theresa in Hitting the Books. She realizes that Theresa, who is engaged to a powerful furniture magnate, may be in grave danger. Meanwhile, she works on her relationship with her boyfriend, Sully. “With her latest novel, Hitting the Books, author Jenn McKinlay once again demonstrates and documents her mastery of the mystery genre,” asserted a reviewer in Internet Bookwatch. A critic on the Coast Anchor website commented: “It was an enjoyable read. What could be more exciting than a librarian, a stack of borrowed books and solving a murder! Although this is a mystery, it was a fun read and made you want to find out more about the quirky characters.” A Kirkus Reviews writer suggested: “Prolific McKinlay enlivens a run-of-the-mill mystery with several twists and a good deal of excitement.” “Plentiful suspects and motives keep the pages turning in this suspenseful cozy,” stated a contributor to Publishers Weekly.
In Word to the Wise, Lindsey is planning her wedding to Sully while also dealing with a stalker named Aaron Grady. When Aaron is killed, Sully is suspected of murdering him. Lindsey must prove his innocence. A writer on the Publishers Weekly website suggested: “Rarely does a clean-as-a-whistle cozy qualify as riveting, but this one definitely does.” A Kirkus Reviews critic described the book as “a fast-paced mystery that provides a chilling look at how difficult it is to get rid of a stalker.”
McKinlay goes abroad with her “Hat Shop Mystery Series,” which features Londoner Vivian Tremont and her American cousin, Scarlett Parker, who run Mim’s Whims, a hat shop on the Portobello Road they inherited from their grandmother. In Death of a Mad Hatter, they have been commissioned to create hats inspired by Alice in Wonderland for a benefit tea. When the organizer of the event is found murdered, the cousins take on the role of sleuths. A Publishers Weekly reviewer found this a “delightful” mystery, and further noted that “cozy fans will eagerly await” the next installment.
At the Drop of a Hat finds the cousins restoring a bridal hat and veil for Ariana Jackson. The hat, made for Ariana’s mother three decades before by Scarlett and Vivian’s own grandmother, is a prized possession, and they do their best with it. Taking it to Ariana’s office, they are surprised to find the bride-to-be standing over the dead body of her boss. Ariana is the obvious suspect, and now the cousins must find the real killer to save their client. “The skillful plotting keeps readers thinking while allowing plenty of time to engage with the ever-so-appealing cast,” commented Alessio in Booklist.
As if McKinlay did not have enough to keep her busy, she initiated a further series, the “Good Buy Girls,” under the pseudonym Belle. These books, set in Virginia, deal with a group of coupon-clipping, bargain- hunting women who tend to get themselves involved in murders most foul. That series debuted with 50 % Off Murder, in which Claire, a member of the group, is the prime suspect in the murder of a man from her past.
Maggie Gerber—one of the founders of the Good Buy Girls club—knows that Claire is not guilty, and she enlists her other partners to prove it. “Quirky characters drive this clever story,” noted Alessio in Booklist. McKinlay has gone on to pen several other titles in the series, including A Deal to Die for and All Sales Final.
About a Dog is the first book in McKinlay’s “Bluff Point Romance” series. This volume focuses on Mackenzie “Mac” Harris. Mac returns to her hometown of Bluff Point, ME to attend her best friend Emma’s wedding. There, she must face Emma’s brother, Gavin, for whom she still has feelings after a night of passion years before. A contributor to the Publishers Weekly website commented: “Despite the lack of real conflict, the story has charm and appeal, due to well-drawn characters with enjoyable personalities.” John Charles, reviewer in Booklist, noted that, in this book, McKinlay displayed “a perfect sense of comic timing and a gift for creating endearingly eccentric characters.”
Another Bluff Point native, Carly DeCusati, stars in Barking Up the Wrong Tree. Carly reluctantly returns home after losing her apartment and her job. However, she enjoys catching up with old friends and makes moves on James Sinclair, a physical therapist who has just moved to town. A writer on the Harlequin Junkie website suggested: “Barking Up the Wrong Tree is delightfully entertaining with humor, heart, and heat. Jen McKinlay found a good balance between romance, friendships, and surprises with good character development.” “McKinlay once again rocks contemporary romance by delivering another smartly conceived love story,” asserted Charles, the Booklist critic.
Every Dog Has His Day tells the story of a womanizer named Zack Caine, who meets his match win Jessie Connelly, a single mom. Charles, the Booklist contributor, described the book as “a contemporary romance that is practically perfect in every way.”
The first book in the “Happily Ever After” series, The Good Ones introduces Ryder Copeland, a single dad working as a contractor in the small town of Fairdale, NC. He plans to move to Charleston, SC to take a new job, but first, he has agreed to renovate Maisy Kelly’s home. Maisy and Ryder begin a romantic relationship, but Ryder’s plans to move and his past make things between them complicated.
“Readers will be intrigued to see where McKinlay goes next,” suggested a Publishers Weekly critic. Charles, the Booklist reviewer, described the book as “a brilliantly conceived and constructed contemporary love story.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 15, 2012, Karen Muller, review of Due or Die, p. 23; March 15, 2012, Amy Alessio, review of 50% Off Murder, p. 25; July 1, 2012, Amy Alessio, review of Red Velvet Revenge, p. 31; December 15, 2012, Karen Muller, review of Book, Line, and Sinker, p. 20; April 15, 2014, Amy Alessio, review of Sugar and Iced, p. 20; January 1, 2015, Amy Alessio, review of At the Drop of a Hat, p. 44; April 1, 2017, John Charles, review of About a Dog, p. 30; September 15, 2017, John Charles, review of Barking Up the Wrong Tree, p. 34; December 1, 2017, John Charles, review of Every Dog Has His Day, p. 38; September 1, 2018, Karen Muller, review of Hitting the Books, p. 52; January 1, 2019, John Charles, review of The Good Ones, p. 47.
Bookwatch, April, 2012, “The Mystery/Suspense Shelf,” review of Books Can Be Deceiving.
California Bookwatch, December, 2015, review of A Likely Story; January, 2018, review of Death in the Stacks.
Internet Bookwatch, October, 2018, review of Hitting the Books.
Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2018, review of Hitting the Books; July 1, 2019, review of Word to the Wise.
Library Journal, July 1, 2012, Teresa L. Jacobsen, review of Red Velvet Revenge, p. 58; March 1, 2017, Ellen Abrams, review of Better Late Than Never, p. 57.
Publishers Weekly, March 10, 2014, review of Death of a Mad Hatter, p. 46; July 2, 2018, review of Hitting the Books, p. 51; December 17, 2018, review of The Good Ones, p. 127.
ONLINE
Berkley Prime Crime website, http://berkleysignetmysteries.com/ (October 30, 2015), “Josie Belle.”
Coast Anchor, http://coastandanchor.com/ (July 22, 2019), review of Hitting the Books.
Criminal Element, http://www.criminalelement.com/ (September 10, 2018), Debbie Meldrum, review of Hitting the Books.
Examiner.com, http:// www.examiner.com/ (September 11, 2012), Terry Ambrose, “Cozy Mysteries about Cupcakes and Libraries.”
Fantastic Fiction, http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ (October 30, 2015), “Jenn McKinlay.”
Harlequin Junkie, https://harlequinjunkie.com/ (September 21, 2017), review of Barking Up the Wrong Tree.
Jenn McKinlay website, http://www.jennmckinlay.com (July 22, 2019).
Jungle Red Writers, http://www.jungleredwriters.com/ (June 19, 2014), Rhys Bowen, “Jenn McKinlay on Her Identity Crisis.”
Publishers Weekly Online, https://www.publishersweekly.com/ (May 29, 2017), review of About a Dog; (September 25, 2017), review of Death in the Stacks; (July 10, 2019), review of Word to the Wise.
This Is My Truth Now, https://thisismytruthnow.com/ (March 22, 2018), review of Better Late Than Never.
Under the Covers Book Blog, https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/ (April 4, 2017), review of Caramel Crush.
Jenn McKinlay
(Jennifer McKinlay)
aka Josie Belle, Lucy Lawrence, Jennifer McKinlay
Lucy Lawrence (a pseudonym for Jenn McKinlay) took her first decoupage class when she was twelve years old. Since then, cutting and pasting have become a way of life. With two small children at home, she finds decoupage a fun craft as well as a very handy tool, especially when used to cover up doodles made in permanent marker on otherwise lovely furniture. And yes, they know her by name at her local Michael's Craft Store. She is the author of three previous novels under the name Jennifer McKinlay and lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her musician husband Chris, their two sons, two cats, one dog and one fish.
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Romance, Romantic Suspense
New Books
May 2019
(paperback)
Dying for Devil's Food
(Cupcake Bakery Mystery, book 11)
July 2019
(paperback)
Hitting the Books
(Library Lover's Mystery, book 9)
September 2019
(hardback)
Word to the Wise
(Library Lover's Mystery, book 10)
October 2019
(paperback)
The Christmas Keeper
(Happily Ever After, book 2)
January 2020
(paperback)
Buried to the Brim
(Hat Shop Mystery, book 6)
Series
Cupcake Bakery Mystery
1. Sprinkle with Murder (2010)
2. Buttercream Bump Off (2011)
3. Death by the Dozen (2011)
4. Red Velvet Revenge (2012)
5. Going, Going, Ganache (2013)
6. Sugar and Iced (2014)
7. Dark Chocolate Demise (2015)
8. Vanilla Beaned (2016)
9. Caramel Crush (2017)
10. Wedding Cake Crumble (2018)
11. Dying for Devil's Food (2019)
Library Lover's Mystery
1. Books Can Be Deceiving (2011)
2. Due or Die (2012)
3. Book, Line and Sinker (2012)
4. Read It and Weep (2013)
5. On Borrowed Time (2014)
6. A Likely Story (2015)
7. Better Late Than Never (2016)
8. Death in the Stacks (2017)
9. Hitting the Books (2018)
10. Word to the Wise (2019)
Hat Shop Mystery
1. Cloche and Dagger (2013)
2. Death of a Mad Hatter (2014)
3. At the Drop of a Hat (2015)
4. Copy Cap Murder (2016)
5. Assault and Beret (2017)
6. Buried to the Brim (2020)
Bluff Point
1. About a Dog (2017)
2. Barking Up the Wrong Tree (2017)
3. Every Dog Has His Day (2018)
Happily Ever After
1. The Good Ones (2019)
2. The Christmas Keeper (2019)
Novels
Keeping Up Appearances (2005) (as by Jennifer McKinlay)
To Catch a Latte (2018)
Omnibus
Perk Avenue / To Catch a Latte (2002) (with Patricia Knoll (as by Jennifer McKinlay) )
A Real Work of Art / Thick As Thieves (2003) (with Samantha Connolly (as by Jennifer McKinlay) )
Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewer's Choice Award for romantic comedy. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband's guitars.
Visit her website at: www.jennmckinlay.com
Or follow her:
Facebook: JennMcKinlayAuthor
Instagram: @mckinlayjenn
Twitter: @JennMcKinlay
When did I decide to become a writer? Funny story. True story. I was a teenager and went to see the movie Romancing the Stone. I don't know that I decided to be a writer so much as I decided to be Kathleen Turner. Yes, that would be quite a stretch for me, but living in an apartment in New York City, writing romance novels for a living seemed like a good gig and so the dream began. I did nothing with it for YEARS.
I went to Southern Conn State Univ, where I studied English Literature and Library Science and worked at a bar called Toad's Place. I then took a full time job working as a librarian in Cromwell, CT. Still, I wrote nothing. Full time work was not conducive to writing time. I knew I needed to live in a place where I could afford to live, working part-time.
So, I packed up all of my crap and my cat and moved 3,000 miles across the country to Arizona and then I started writing -- romances. Hmmm. They were pretty bad, but I learned a lot along the way about POV, character development and plotting, etc. I took a wide variety of part-time jobs, convinced that it was all temporary because one day I would be a published writer.
While I was pursuing this dream with some pretty impressive (also called psychopathic) single-mindedness, I had my heart broken a few times and I broke a few along the way. I found my soul mate (in a library - for real) and married him. I had a gorgeous baby boy.
And then the call came! A lovely woman called from Harlequin and wanted to buy a book I had submitted a year (yes, a WHOLE year) before. She said, "We want to buy your book." I looked at the bundle of joy in my arms and asked, "What book?" She said, "Hmm. Usually people scream about now." I said, "I can't. It'd wake the baby." This was my first lesson in perspective and what is truly important in life, my family, but I still wanted to be a writer.
I signed a contract and went on to write for a couple of Harlequin's romantic comedy lines. I learned so much and I joined a group of writers who quickly became friends that I still talk to pretty much every day. I had another gorgeous baby boy.
The writing was hard for me and I learned that I was not a romance writer so much as a mystery writer. I'm just better at killing people than I am at making them fall in love. Knowing this, my husband sleeps really well at night, really! Bwa ha ha.
So, I started over. I wrote several mysteries. I submitted to agents and publishers. No one loved the whole package. They loved my characters and hated my plot or vice versa. It was agony. Then a lone voice, an agent, decided she thought I was a genius (always a good sign).
She signed me and now I had a buddy to suffer the rejection with me. It still hurt. We kept trying. It went on for two years. And then we sold! In 2008, I agreed to write a decoupage mystery series, then I submitted an idea for a cupcake bakery mystery series and it sold. Sadly, my original agent left to pursue new and different dreams of her own. I stayed with my agency, liking her partner very much. I knew it was a good match when I submitted an idea for a library lover's series and my new agent loved it and sold it.
You'd think I'd rest now. You know, take a chill pill and just enjoy the ride. Yeah, I'm not built that way. After so many years of hours hunched over my keyboard, banging out stories, years spent checking my mail box and my email inbox for good news, I don't think I'll rest until I really feel like I've achieved what I set out to do. And so, I agreed to write the bargain hunters series and then, I sold another idea for a mystery series set in London, which is my fifth mystery series.
Interestingly, during a meeting with my editor last year, I asked her what other types of stories I might consider writing. She handed me a stack of books, which were all romantic comedies. Oh, the irony! I decided I trusted her judgment and tried my hand, once again, at romantic comedies. The experiment happened about the same time hooligan number one started high school (can you say denial?), and I managed to write 450 pages in one month. Since I had recently switched literary agencies, I was relieved when my new agent read the book and said, "Wow, you wrote a perfect book!" She happily sold it and several more to my wonderful editor, so I am officially back in the women's fiction game with my fifth rom-com The Christmas Keeper slated for release in October 2019.
Is it enough yet? I don't think so. So far, three of my series have landed on the New York Times best seller's list. Awesome, but still, there's something just outside my reach. I guess I'll know what it is when it's in my grasp. Maybe it is something only time can give me. I don't know.
In the meantime, I am writing up a storm in the corner of my kitchen in my house in the desert. While my house, which is filled to bursting with kids, pets and my husband's guitars, is not the New York City apartment I dreamed of as a teen, I wouldn't trade it or the life I am living for anything!
5 things you didn't know about Jenn
Sidewalk Surfing
1. I believe daydreaming is terribly underrated as a life skill.
2. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a jockey. My mother, bless her heart, never said a word but signed me up for riding lessons, fully aware that at age nine I was already too tall to be a jockey. Yes, I'm six feet tall just like her. Wonderful woman.
3. My Sector 9 mini longboard (skateboard) is my favorite toy - best present the Hub ever gave me - and sidewalk surfing with my dudes is one of my favorite ways to spend a morning!
4. I was an extra on a TV show called Moloney, which starred Peter Straus and actually aired on TV for a whole season. It was the most boring 18 hours of my life and convinced me that we don't pay actors enough (yes, joking about the pay thing, still dreadfully dull work)!
5. My dad is a glider pilot and I have flown with him. For my birthday he even treated me to my first lesson and I actually flew the ship. I have my own log book and everything. AMAZING!!!
Frequently Asked Questions:
*I'm a reviewer and I'd like to have an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of your new book. How do I get one?
Contact Berkley Prime Crime's or Berkley Sensation's publicity department (see below). They handle the distribution of ARCs, as well as review copies of my other books.
*How do I schedule you for a book signing, conference, appearance or speaking engagement?
All requests must go through Berkley, please. Requests sent to me personally often get snagged in my spam filters.
*In the cupcake series, have you baked all of the recipes listed in the books?
Heck, yeah! One of my favorite parts about writing this
series is the “research and development” portion (i.e. baking in my kitchen)! I also have some expert help from baker friends and my mom!
*What are you working on now?
More mysteries and romantic comedies! Announcements on the latest books will be sent out in my newsletter!
*When are your next appearances? Will you be coming to my city?
I try to keep an updated list of signings and appearances on my Events page. If you'd like me to come to your city, let your local bookstores know!
*How long did it take for you to get published? What advice can you give me on writing a book?
I decided to be a writer when I was sixteen. I didn’t actually write anything until I was twenty-five. I sold my first book when I was thirty-three. So, you can see it was a long and winding journey to being published. My advice: Get your butt in the chair every day, write every day, then, when your work is the absolute best it can be, submit to publishers/agents who publish/represent what you write. Then do it all over again until you wear them down into publishing you. Hey, it worked for me.
*Will you read my manuscript?
For legal reasons, I can only read work that comes through an official request. If you have an upcoming book you'd like me to read for a possible quote, please have your agent or editor contact my agent or editor.
QUOTED: "a fast-paced mystery that provides a chilling look at how difficult it is to get rid of a stalker."
McKinlay, Jenn: WORD TO THE WISE
Kirkus Reviews. (July 1, 2019):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
McKinlay, Jenn WORD TO THE WISE Berkley (Adult Fiction) $26.00 9, 3 ISBN: 978-0-593-10003-5
A librarian and her friends must solve a murder to ensure that she'll live long enough to get married.
Lindsey Norris and her fiance, Capt. Mike Sullivan, are planning a small wedding on one of the Thumb Islands near the town of Briar Creek, Connecticut, where Lindsey is the library director and Sully runs a charter boat business (Hitting the Books, 2018, etc.). All Lindsey's plans are jeopardized by an innocuous middle-aged man who turns up at the library seeking information on roses. New to the area, Aaron Grady fears that his rose garden won't survive the drought that's searing the area. In response to Lindsey's assistance, Grady sends her a thank-you note. Then he turns up with a bunch of roses, waiting two hours and quizzing the staff, who all agree that he seems unnaturally fixated on her. When Grady turns up at her house with more roses, she firmly tells him their relationship is limited to that of a librarian and a library patron. Apparently shocked, he leaves her, her friend Beth, and Beth's husband, Aidan, whom she called before opening the door, to explain to an annoyed Sully what's been going on. Grady continues to stalk Lindsey, even watching her try on wedding dresses. Sully and Robbie Vine, an actor who knows a thing or two about stalkers, teach the library staff some self-defense moves, and Robbie's girlfriend, police chief Emma Plewicki, adds a few tips, but nobody can stop Grady from making Lindsey's life hell. The stalking ends only when Grady turns up dead outside the library, leaving Lindsey and Sully prime suspects. Grady's wife, Sylvia, accuses Lindsey of trying to steal her husband and Sully of murdering him. It will take all the research skills of Lindsey and her staff to uncover the real motive for the murder.
A fast-paced mystery that provides a chilling look at how difficult it is to get rid of a stalker.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"McKinlay, Jenn: WORD TO THE WISE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2019. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A591279164/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=7aa9667c. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A591279164
QUOTED: "a brilliantly conceived and constructed contemporary love story."
The Good Ones
John Charles
Booklist. 115.9-10 (Jan. 1, 2019): p47.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
* The Good Ones. By Jenn McKinlay. Feb. 2019. 336p. Berkley, paper, $7.99 (9780451492432).
Can a person really have too many books? After inheriting her great-aunt El's old Victorian home, which is overflowing with romance novels, English professor Maisy Kelly is tempted to say yes. However, as a romance reader and fan herself, Maisy can't imagine just getting rid of this treasure trove of love stories. Then a flash of inspiration strikes: Maisy will turn her new home into a bookstore featuring romances. However, a few renovations will need to be done first, which is where restoration-architect Ryder Copeland comes into the picture. With her flair for wit-infused writing and gift for crafting easily relatable characters perfectly on point, McKinlay launches her new Happily Ever After series on an exceptionally high note. Not only is The Good Ones a brilliantly conceived and constructed contemporary love story; it is also a beautifully written love letter to the romance genre from someone who understands just how important these books are to their readers. --John Charles
YA/M: Teens will readily relate to Ryder's daughter Perry as she discovers the joys of both romance novels and first love. And if that isn't enough, there is a totes adorbs kitten to boot. JC.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Charles, John. "The Good Ones." Booklist, 1 Jan. 2019, p. 47. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A573094039/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=7f44dce4. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A573094039
QUOTED: "Readers will be intrigued to see where McKinlay goes next."
The Good Ones
Publishers Weekly. 265.52 (Dec. 17, 2018): p127.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Good Ones
Jenn McKinlay. Berkley, $7.99 mass market (304p) ISBN 978-0-451-49243-2
McKinlay (the Bluff Point Romance series) opens her Happily Ever After Romances with a cute contemporary. With a 14-year-old daughter to care for, divorced single father Ryder Copeland decides to take a steady administrative job in Charleston, S.C., but he agrees to one last contract job before leaving tiny Fairdale, N.C.: renovating the home of Maisy Kelly, who owns a local romance-focused bookstore. Ryder has a strict policy against dating clients, but Maisy's bubbly personality makes it hard to follow that rule. Soon Maisy and her friends are acting more like surrogate mothers for Perry, Ryder's daughter, than like business acquaintances. Maisy is ready to explore the possibility of having a future with Ryder, but he's emotionally unavailable, has trouble opening up, and is focused on keeping things "temporary" so he can leave town with a clean conscience. There's chemistry between Maisy and Ryder, character development is sufficient, and the growing relationship between Maisy's friends and the Copelands will tug at the reader's heart. The pace is temporarily slowed by a subplot involving the book-store cat, but the setup for the next in the series ignites a new fire. Readers will be intrigued to see where McKinlay goes next. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Good Ones." Publishers Weekly, 17 Dec. 2018, p. 127. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A567327408/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=c6dfa3f1. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A567327408
Hitting the Books
Karen Muller
Booklist. 115.1 (Sept. 1, 2018): p52.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Hitting the Books.
By Jenn McKinlay.
Sept. 2018.304p. Berkley/Prime Crime, $25 (9780451492678); e-book, $12.99 (9780451492692).
Library director Lindsey Norris and a group of colleagues are settling in for their weekly "crafternoon"--lunch, craft time, and a book discussion--at the Briar Creek Public Library. Lindsey gazes out the window just in time to see a car careen onto the sidewalk, hit Theresa Huston, and speed off. As the EMTs take Theresa away, police chief Emma Plewicki starts her investigation, with Lindsey being one of the more reliable witnesses. Theresa, soon to be married to a wealthy regional businessman, father of her star tennis student, recovers but is attacked again, and this time her fiance hires guards. Chief Plewicki has found the car, stolen from a local resident, but with an unknown dead man inside. The car contains an odd selection of checkedout library books in the trunk. Subpoena in hand, Plewicki asks Lindsey for information on their borrower. That information and some careful library and genealogical research on Lindsey's part help Plewicki make the arrest. This is a worthy addition to a comfortable series, showcasing the cast of beloved characters, including Plewicki's actor boyfriend, who serves as a Greek chorus of one commenting on the action.--Karen Muller
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Muller, Karen. "Hitting the Books." Booklist, 1 Sept. 2018, p. 52. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A554041190/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d4d9fd5d. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A554041190
QUOTED: "Plentiful suspects and motives keep the pages turning in this suspenseful cozy."
Hitting the Books
Publishers Weekly. 265.27 (July 2, 2018): p51+.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Hitting the Books
Jenn McKinlay. Berkley Prime Crime, $25 (304p) ISBN 978-0-451-49267-8
At the start of McKinlay's delightful ninth Library Lover's mystery (after 2017's Death in the Stacks), Lindsey Norris, the director of the Briar Creek, Conn., library, witnesses a hit-and-run, an attempt to murder tennis coach Theresa Huston, the fiancee of wealthy businessman Larry Milstein. Despite being overwhelmed with the adjustment of moving in with her heartthrob, former navy man Mike Sullivan, Lindsay can't resist investigating, especially after the hit-and-run driver is found dead in a stolen vehicle loaded with audiobook CDs from her library. The Milsteins provide a number of leads. Larry's college-age daughter, Liza, seems crazy about Theresa, but perhaps it's an act to keep herself in Daddy's good graces. Then there's Larry's previous wife, Liza's mom, who disappeared when Liza was barely more than a toddler. Or maybe it's that multimillion-dollar life insurance policy Larry insisted on taking out on Theresa before their wedding. Plentiful suspects and motives keep the pages turning in this suspenseful cozy. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Hitting the Books." Publishers Weekly, 2 July 2018, p. 51+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A546187856/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=162d2bf2. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A546187856
QUOTED: "Prolific McKinlay enlivens a run-of-the-mill mystery with several twists and a good deal of excitement."
McKinlay, Jenn: HITTING THE BOOKS
Kirkus Reviews. (July 1, 2018):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
McKinlay, Jenn HITTING THE BOOKS Berkley Prime Crime (Adult Fiction) $25.00 9, 11 ISBN: 978-0-451-49267-8
A Long Island librarian searches for justice.
It's not easy for Lindsey Norris, the library director for the little town of Briar Creek, to adjust to living with her boyfriend, Capt. Mike Sullivan, a cheerful soul whose early morning whistling drives her up a wall. While enjoying the relative peace as she glances out a library window, she's horrified to see her friend Theresa Huston, a tennis coach, struck by a hit-and-run driver. Lindsey does her best to help police chief Emma Plewicki identify the car and driver, but the incident has unfolded so quickly that all the eyewitnesses are confused about everything but a single point: This accident was no accident. A few minutes later, Lindsey learns, the same car came close to killing part-time boat captain Charlie Peyton. Theresa is engaged to wealthy Larry Milstein, and in addition to becoming his wife, she's about to become the stepmother to Liza, his college-age daughter, whose own mother went missing when she was a young child. After Theresa insists on returning home despite her badly broken leg, only the security system Larry had installed saves her from another attempt on her life. Lindsey, who's no stranger to either puzzles or solving crimes (Death in the Stacks, 2017, etc.), is determined to apply her research skills to the case. Who could hate the justly popular Theresa enough to kill her? The only person who comes to mind, the girlfriend Larry jilted, seems an unlikely suspect. Even the bodyguards Larry has hired may not be enough to protect Theresa from a really determined killer. So it's no surprise that whatever the danger, Lindsey resolves to stay the course.
Prolific McKinlay enlivens a run-of-the-mill mystery with several twists and a good deal of excitement.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"McKinlay, Jenn: HITTING THE BOOKS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A544638071/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=6e818538. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A544638071
QUOTED: "lively and engrossing."
Death in the Stacks
California Bookwatch. (Jan. 2018):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
Death in the Stacks
Jenn McKinlay
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780399583759 $25.00 www.penguin.com
Death in the Stacks provides book lovers with another Library Lover's Mystery series addition and tells of an evolving war between a library director and a new library board president. As each tries to thwart the other's agendas, things heat up over a library fundraiser, Dinner in the Stacks, and when murder results, Lindsey and Paula come under suspicion. Lindsey has vowed to retire her investigative skills, but in this case she must revive them for the greatest cause of all: her own redemption. Fast-paced action keeps the mystery lively and engrossing.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Death in the Stacks." California Bookwatch, Jan. 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A526996909/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=1426438b. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A526996909
QUOTED: "a contemporary romance that is practically perfect in every way."
Every Dog Has His Day
John Charles
Booklist. 114.7 (Dec. 1, 2017): p38+.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
* Every Dog Has His Day.
By Jenn McKinlay.
Jan. 2018. 336p. Berkley, paper, $7.99 (9780399584763).
If there is one thing Zach Caine knows, it's women. So far, Zach has been able to successfully sort all of the females in his life into four distinct categories: family, friends, employees, and potential casual hookups. However, when Zach bumps into Jessie Connelly after rescuing her daughters' kitten from his roof, he is puzzled by his reaction to her. Much to his surprise, Zach seems to be seriously smitten with Jessie. Unfortunately, having endured her share of "players" (including her deadbeat ex-husband), Jessie wants nothing to do with Zach. The deliciously sharp wit and flair for perfect comic timing that are part and parcel of McKinlay's literary DNA are present in full force in Every Dog Has His Day, the third superbly satisfying addition to her Bluff Point series, following About a Dog and Barking Up the Wrong Tree (both 2017). Put that together with the book's engagingly quirky cast of characters, a completely charming small-town setting, and a couple of four-footed characters who significantly up the adorable ante, and you have a contemporary romance that is practically perfect in every way.--John Charles
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Charles, John. "Every Dog Has His Day." Booklist, 1 Dec. 2017, p. 38+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A519036246/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=44782f8f. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A519036246
QUOTED: "McKinlay once again rocks contemporary romance by delivering another smartly conceived love story."
Barking Up the Wrong Tree
John Charles
Booklist. 114.2 (Sept. 15, 2017): p34.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Barking Up the Wrong Tree.
By Jenn McKinlay.
Oct. 2017. 324p. Berkley, paper, $7.99 (9780399584749).
Thomas Wolfe is wrong. Carly DeCusati can go home again; she just doesn't want to. However, after losing her job and her apartment in quick succession, Carly, accompanied by the foul-mouthed parrot and vintage golden retriever she recently inherited from an elderly neighbor, really doesn't have any choice but to return to Bluff Point, Maine. Fortunately, coming back to live with her family (temporarily, if there is a God in heaven) does have one advantage: now Carly gets the chance to spend some quality time with her best friends. Then, when one of them points out the town's sexy new physical therapist, James Sinclair, Carly quickly discovers another really good thing about returning home. In the second irresistible installment in her Bluff Point series, following About a Dog (2017), McKinlay once again rocks contemporary romance by delivering another smartly conceived love story powered by an abundance of combustible sexual chemistry and buoyed by a generous measure of her addictively sharp sense of humor.--John Charles
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Charles, John. "Barking Up the Wrong Tree." Booklist, 15 Sept. 2017, p. 34. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A507359887/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d944292e. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A507359887
QUOTED: "a perfect sense of comic timing and a gift for creating endearingly eccentric characters."
About a Dog
John Charles
Booklist. 113.15 (Apr. 1, 2017): p30.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
* About a Dog.
By Jenn McKinlay.
May 2017. 320p. Berkley, paper, $7.99 (9780399584718).
Mackenzie "Mac" Harris has not been a big fan of nuptial ceremonies ever since her own wedding imploded at the altar seven years ago, when her husband-to-be ran off with her lifelong nemesis. Mac has been best friends with Emma Tolliver since grade school, however, and if Emma wants her to be a part of her upcoming wedding, then Mac will just have to suck it up and return to Bluff Point for the two weeks it takes to get Emma hitched. There is, however, just one teensy, weensy problem about returning home: the very likely possibility of seeing Gavin Tolliver, Emma's younger brother and the man with whom Mac spent one totally unplanned, totally unforgettable night. Readers who love the sassy humor McKinlay (A Likely Story, 2015) deploys in her cozy mysteries will discover she is equally adept at injecting deliciously dry wit into her romance debut. With a perfect sense of comic timing and a gift for creating endearingly eccentric characters--including an adorable dog who threatens to steal every scene she is in--McKinlay delivers a sweetly satisfying contemporary romance that will have readers sitting up and begging for more.--John Charles
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Charles, John. "About a Dog." Booklist, 1 Apr. 2017, p. 30. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491487888/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=cbaefdda. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491487888
QUOTED: "a fine addition for series fans and folks who enjoy modern cozies."
McKinlay, Jenn. Better Late Than Never
Ellen Abrams
Library Journal. 142.4 (Mar. 1, 2017): p57.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
McKinlay, Jenn. Better Late Than Never. (Library Lover's Mystery). 6 CDs. 7:13 hrs. Dreamscape Media. Jan. 2017. ISBN 9781520031804. $29.99. F
Briar Creek Library is holding its first Amnesty Day for overdue books, and the response is amazing. Books are coming in that haven't seen the library in some time--including a copy ofJ.D. Salinger's A Catcher in the Rye, last borrowed 20 years before (with a fine of $1,460, if they were counting). Curious about who might have had the book for so long, library director Lindsay learns that the last reader was local high school teacher Candice Whitley, who borrowed the book on the day she was murdered. Pursued by a librarian's passion for solutions, and using her highly honed investigative skills combined with her natural curiosity, Lindsay learns quite a few sinister secrets about the little town she has recently chosen to call home. But what she desperately wants to know is who could possibly have killed Candice, and is the murderer still in town? Narrator Allyson Ryan is an excellent reader; at times a listener could be forgiven for forgetting that there is only one person speaking. VERDICT A fine addition for series fans and folks who enjoy modern cozies.--Ellen Abrams, Library Journal
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Abrams, Ellen. "McKinlay, Jenn. Better Late Than Never." Library Journal, 1 Mar. 2017, p. 57. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A483702045/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d3f127dd. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A483702045
QUOTED: "Action is swift and twists and turns satisfyingly complex."
A Likely Story
California Bookwatch. (Dec. 2015):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
A Likely Story
Jenn McKinlay
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425260746, $24.95, www.penguin.com
A Likely Story is a special recommendation for any who love books, libraries, and a good mystery, and centers on librarian Lindsey Norris who faces several challenges to her crime-solving abilities: a shooting and a missing persons case. All this comes in addition to her job as a public library director, and to a complex situation involving an ex-boyfriend and an investigation that threatens the closely-held privacy of two recluses. A brother is murdered, another is missing, and Lindsey is at the heart of alibis that don't make sense and a tangled web of deceit. Action is swift and twists and turns satisfyingly complex in this story of a convoluted crime with many possibilities.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"A Likely Story." California Bookwatch, Dec. 2015. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A439035289/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2547ff75. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A439035289
QUOTED: "With her latest novel, Hitting the Books, author Jenn McKinlay once again demonstrates and documents her mastery of the mystery genre."
Hitting the Books
Internet Bookwatch. (Oct. 2018):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
Hitting the Books
Jenn McKinlay
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780451492678, $24.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
When a stack of library materials is found at the scene of a hit and run, library director Lindsey Norris finds herself dragged into the investigation as the police try to link the driver of the stolen car to the person who borrowed the books. Before Lindsey can delve into the library's records, the victim of the hit and run, Theresa Houston, suffers another "accident" and the investigation shifts from driver negligence to attempted homicide. A clue surfaces in the confiscated library materials that could crack open the case and it is up to Lindsey to piece it all together. But things are not as they seem in the sleepy town of Briar Creek and when the driver of the stolen car turns up dead, Lindsey, her staff and her library friends have to hit the books before the murderer gets the last word. With her latest novel, "Hitting the Books", author Jenn McKinlay once again demonstrates and documents her mastery of the mystery genre and distinctive flair for narrative driven storytelling with a veritable roller coaster of unexpected twists and turns. A part of McKinlay's outstanding 'Library Lover's Mystery' series, "Hitting the Books" will be an immediately popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Hitting the Books" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) as well as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781974906000, $29.99, CD).
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Hitting the Books." Internet Bookwatch, Oct. 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A561566227/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=6e6ae855. Accessed 13 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A561566227
Review: Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay
By Debbie Meldrum
September 10, 2018
Hitting the Books
Jenn McKinlay
Library Lover's Mystery Series
September 11, 2018
Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay is the ninth book in the Library Lover’s Mystery series.
Jenn McKinlay takes us back to Briar Creek in her latest offering in the Library Lover’s Mystery series. Lindsey Norris has moved in with Captain Mike “Sully” Sullivan. Things are going well-ish for the couple, with maybe a few hiccups.
A hit-and-run in front of the library distracts Lindsey from any domestic problems for a while.
She started to turn back to the room when she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. A car was speeding down Main Street, going way to fast for the pedestrian-friendly area. Lindsey glanced back at the part and saw Theresa step into the crosswalk, where pedestrians clearly had the right-of-way. Lindsey’s heart thudded in her chest. She had the sick feeling that the car wasn’t going to stop.
She glanced to the right, thinking surely the driver would see Theresa and slow down, but he didn’t. Instead of hitting the brakes, the driver sped up. Horror flooded Lindsey as she realized Theresa was going to get hit. She cried out and slapped her hands against the glass window as if she could push Theresa to safety just by willing it. She couldn’t.
The victim survives with a broken leg and some bumps and bruises. Was it an accident? Or was the car aiming for her?
This is such a fun series to follow. Shakespeare said, “…true love never did run smooth.” That has certainly been the case for Lindsey and Sully. Between misunderstandings, stubbornness, Lindsey’s ex, and a charming actor, the two have had a rocky road to togetherness. Will they let whistling in the shower and not using the shoe basket ruin it?
A lot of relationships are changing in and around the library. Lindsey’s best friend, Beth, is a newlywed. She regales anyone who will stand still for a moment about her honeymoon. Robby, the charming actor, is dating Police Chief Emma Plewicki. He’s still a charmer, but he uses most of it on his girlfriend. Ms. Cole, aka “The Lemon,” has joined the Crafternoon group and isn’t quite as sour as she used to be. Sully is now an uncle.
Some relationships can take major changes in stride. Others can’t handle a change in the weather.
Communication seems to be the key. That has been the major hurdle for Sully and Lindsey thus far. The ex-boyfriend wasn’t the cause of a previous breakup. It was the fact that Sully didn’t talk to her before deciding she needed more space. The same thing happened when Robby appeared on the scene and started some heavy flirting with Lindsey.
Theresa Huston, tennis instructor and victim of the accident, is engaged to Larry Milstein. He owns a string of furniture stores and is a single father. Theresa will become Liza Milstein’s stepmother after having given her tennis lessons.
“You’re right. His personality is larger than life,” Lindsey said. She had never met Larry Milstein, but she knew the mayor of Briar Creek cleared his calendar whenever Larry called. “Milstein’s is the biggest furniture retailer on the East Coast. It seems to me other people in the same business might not be as fond of him as we are. He might have made some enemies along the way.”
She felt everyone turn to stare at her, even baby Josie, who puckered her mouth and made a smacking noise. She could feel the concern, the worry, the anxiety pouring off her friends in waves.
“I’m just theorizing,” she said. “You know, acknowledging the possibility that if someone had a beef with him, they might have tried to hurt him by going after his fiancée.”
“But you’re not planning to start investigating something that was probably just a hideous traffic accident, right?” Nancy asked.
“Right, absolutely,” Lindsey agreed. They were still staring. “So, what did you all think of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Did you like the protagonist, Francie Nolan?”
She took a big bite of her herbed ricotta bread and glanced around the room while she chewed. They all continued to stare.
“What?” Lindsey asked. “Do I have something in my teeth?”
Paula shook her head. “You are the worst liar ever. You know you’re not going to let the incident rest until you know for sure it actually was an accident.”
If you’ve read any of the previous books, you know Lindsey won’t leave it alone, especially when a stack of CD’s belonging to the library are found in the vehicle involved. I certainly wouldn’t want her to. Her insights, and occasional wrong turns, are what make these books so much fun.
I’m not ashamed to admit that some moments in this story really scared me. Moments when Lindsey, Theresa, and others are in real danger. More mishaps make it clear Theresa wasn’t the victim of an accident. But who would want the well-liked tennis coach dead?
Twists and turns are all part of the mystery genre. But the road the author paves for us to get to the truth is more of a rollercoaster than a highway. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story would zig and leave me breathless.
I suggest you strap in and enjoy the amazing ride.
QUOTED: "McKinlay’s easy way of writing and affable characters make it easy to fall in love with this book."
ARC Review: Caramel Crush by Jenn McKinlay
April 4, 2017 by Annie 8 Comments
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I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Caramel Crush
by Jenn McKinlay
BOOK INFO
Released: April 4th 2017
Series: Cupcake Bakery Mystery #9
Published by Berkley
Format: eARC
Recommended Read!
“McKinlay’s easy way of writing and affable characters make it easy to fall in love with this book”
~ Under the Covers
CARAMEL CRUSH is the ninth book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay but it’s the first book that I’ve tried from this series. Luckily, I had no trouble falling into this series. Upon starting, I knew right away that this was my type of mystery series. It’s cute and often silly, but there’s a great balance of mystery and intrigue as well. I have no trouble falling in line with the characters and getting lost in the story.
McKinlay’s easy way of writing and affable characters make it easy to fall in love with this book. This particular book has a emphasis on love and romance, something I feel that I know well since I’m a Romance reader at heart, so I felt like this was the perfect path for me to take to get into this series. With the heroine’s best friends getting married and other couples walking onto the pages, there’s a lot of baking for lovers going on here. But what’s interesting is Angie’s old friend, Diane, has asked her to bake her finest batch of cupcakes so that she can break up with her fiancé after she realizes that he’s only marrying her for her money. It’s a strange concept, but one that is very interesting. I think it’s a very cute way of bringing the cupcakes into the mix and I have to appreciate an author who is willing to take alternative, unusual routes to write their books.
After reading CARAMEL CRUSH, there’s no doubt that I will be going back to read the rest of the series. I can’t get enough of these fun-loving characters and I look forward to reading more of Jenn McKinlay.
QUOTED: "Barking Up the Wrong Tree is delightfully entertaining with humor, heart, and heat. Jen McKinlay found a good balance between romance, friendships, and surprises with good character development."
REVIEW: Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Jenn McKinlay
Posted September 21st, 2017 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, HJ Recommends, Review / 3 comments
Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Jenn McKinlay: Carly loves her life in New York. She has a good distance from her overbearing family, to include four sisters, and the freedom to enjoy her life. Except after losing her job, her only option is to move home to Bluff Point, live with her parents and annoying youngest sister, and regroup. She’s sassy, independent, and adamantly anti-relationships. To make matters worse, she inherits a small but eclectic menagerie of four pets to include a dog, Saul, and a foul-mouthed parrot, Ike.
James is a sexy, successful physical therapist. He comes from a wonderful, tight-knit, and hilarious family. He’s generous, compassionate, and lives in the old lighthouse. He’s a really good man who has been burned before, but he would like to find a relationship like what his parents have.
Carly dreads returning home with Ike and Saul in tow, but is surprised to immediately find James. She was despairing of her options in the small town, but the sexy and single James is a welcome surprise. Carly is more than happy to part ways after a fabulous one-night stand; James, however, is determined to show her just what she would be missing by walking away.
“Okay, fine, what are we then?” she asked. He shrugged and she said, “Okay, I guess friends it is.”
“You’re friend zoning me?”
“It sounds so cold when you say it like that.”
“Because it was warm and fuzzy when you said it.”
“It’s a solid step up from what I usually offer.”
<<>>
With James’ persistence and determination, they are able to become good friends. Friends who can’t quite forget their amazing night or the chemistry that won’t go away. They banter and challenge each other. They grow closer as they trade favors and it becomes that much harder to stay in the friend zone.
“Because this”-she gestured between them-“is not normal.”
“Normal is overrated,” he said. “I have a dog in wheels, you have a bird that swears, I’d say neither of us is really operating under the guise of normal so why should this”-he mimicked her gesturing between them-“be any different?”
Barking Up the Wrong Tree is delightfully entertaining with humor, heart, and heat. Jen McKinlay found a good balance between romance, friendships, and surprises with good character development. Ms. Mc Kinlay developed a great cast of characters in this series to include the hilarious bromance between the pets. Barking Up the Wrong Tree can be read as a standalone in the Bluff Point Romance series. Fans of Kendra Leigh Castle, Kimberly Lang, and Ruthie Know will enjoy Barking Up the Wrong Tree.
QUOTED: "McKinlay always delivers characters you can believe and whom you want to know. The setting is cozy and makes you wish you lived in the town, minus the murders."
Book Review: Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay
Posted on March 22, 2018
When I need a go-to, guaranteed solid and sure-fire cozy mystery, I look to Jenn McKinlay for her wonderful settings, characters and plots. In the seventh book of the Library Lover’s mystery series, I found another good read with Better Late Than Never. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars and round it up to 4 on Goodreads and Amazon.
It’s Amnesty Day at the Briar Creek Public Library where Lindsey receives hundreds of overdue library books, including one that was last handled by someone who was murdered–and the crime was never solved! Lindsey quietly investigates in the background while trying to keep famous actor Robbie Vine from convincing her to be his girlfriend. She also spends more time with Sully, and there’s an actual decision in her love triangle in this book. While playing detective, Lindsey meets tons of staff at the local high school, learns more about the brother of another supporting character, and finds herself discovering someone isn’t who they say they are… shocker! LOL
McKinlay always delivers characters you can believe and whom you want to know. The setting is cozy and makes you wish you lived in the town, minus the murders. The plot was strong in the beginning, but the case was solved too quickly. It was humming along with a few potential suspects and then BAM, the “I know who did it” scenario happens… but there weren’t enough clues along the way. The book was 50% focused on her relationship issues which meant less time for the crime. In some ways, I’m cool with that, as I like Lindsey and it’s always fun to just read about her life. But I think it would have been better with another 2 chapters leading readers around a bit before she guessed the killer and found herself in his/her clutches.
I’ll keep reading as I’m a fan… maybe next time it will be even stronger. I have her Hat Shop series books on my shelf saying ‘read me now please’ but I can’t listen until after I finish my Agatha Christie Readathon I’m hosting in April 2018.
QUOTED: "It was an enjoyable read. What could be more exciting than a librarian, a stack of borrowed books and solving a murder! Although this is a mystery, it was a fun read and made you want to find out more about the quirky characters."
Hitting The Books by Jenn McKinlay | BOOK REVIEW |
Book Reviews, Books & Reading
Sara
Book Review, Books About Books, Library, Mystery, Suspense
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"Life has a way of testing our anchors and tempting us to drift. Nevertheless, if our anchors are correctly placed in the Rock, they will hold—no matter the force of the wind, the strength of the tide, or the height of the waves."
Book Title: Hitting The Books
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Paperback or e-book: 256 pages
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Date Published: September 11, 2018
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
It’s murder by the book in the latest hit Library Lover’s mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Death in the Stacks.
When a stack of library materials is found at the scene of a hit and run, library director Lindsey Norris finds herself dragged into the investigation as the police try to link the driver of the stolen car to the person who borrowed the books. Before Lindsey can delve into the library’s records, the victim of the hit and run, Theresa Houston, suffers another “accident” and the investigation shifts from driver negligence to attempted homicide.
A clue surfaces in the confiscated library materials that could crack open the case and it is up to Lindsey to piece it all together. But things are not as they seem in the sleepy town of Briar Creek and when the driver of the stolen car turns up dead, Lindsey, her staff and her library friends have to hit the books before the murderer gets the last word…
To find out more about the author Jenn McKinlay, visit her website here.
*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for my e-book copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*
My Honest Thoughts:
Hitting the Books is the ninth book in A Library Lover’s Mystery Series. Even though it is the ninth book, I have not read the others and felt informed enough to read it as a stand alone. But I will be going back to read the others, as it was an enjoyable read. What could be more exciting than a librarian, a stack of borrowed books and solving a murder! Although this is a mystery, it was a fun read and made you want to find out more about the quirky characters. Lindsey, the main character, is kind, energetic, and is always digging deeper to find answers. She and her boyfriend Sully are at an awkward place in their relationship, so they are working out a few challenges. One of the challenges that I think many women will appreciate is Lindsey’s hesitation in telling Sully about not wanting to have children. While trying to solve the mysteries of her heart, she and her circle of friends from the library are swept right into the middle of a crime. Everyone in the town of Bear Creek is on high alert, and the strange events continue to occur. There small town made up of quirky people seem to have secrets hidden beneath the surface and Lindsey is determined to find out who is behind the attack on her friend and her town. Theresa, a pro tennis player who is dating the wealthy, widowed town furniture dealer, seems to be the one taking the brunt of misfortune. She was hit by a car, her home was broken into and then she is kidnapped. But the list of who could be behind these terrible events is growing with every new crime committed. Lindsey soon discovers she will be a part of the investigation due to library materials found in the hit-and-run vehicle. Piece by piece Lindsey and the police chief begin to tie the crimes all together to solve the mystery. I don’t want to give any spoilers, as the story takes a few twists and turns in all of the right places. As we head into fall, this would be a great book to read on a chilly evening. Or if you are like me and live by the ocean, it’s a perfect beach read!
Anchor Lines:
“Those were the people who kept her from giving up on humanity. When Lindsey looked around her, she knew which team she wanted to be on. The helpers.”
QUOTED: "exuberantly entertaining."
Death in the Stacks
Jenn McKinlay. Berkley Prime Crime, $25 (304p) ISBN 978-0-399-58375-9
More By and About This Author
In McKinlay’s exuberantly entertaining eighth Library Lover’s mystery (after 2016’s Better Late than Never), Olive Boyle, a skeletally thin, middle-aged bully, who has insinuated herself into the political life of Briar Creek, Conn., turns her beady eye on the local library. As the newly elected president of the library board, Olive demands staff changes, dress codes, and the firing of the director, Lindsey Norris, a friend of the person Olive beat in the election. A few hours after a very public argument between Olive and Lindsey at the annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraising event, Olive is found stabbed to death in the library. When a young staff member is implicated in the crime, Lindsey steps in to investigate. She discovers that Olive, besides knowing the dark secrets of practically everyone in Briar Creek, had a few murky secrets of her own. Once again, McKinlay invites the reader into an appealing world inhabited by kind, intelligent people and only the occasional nasty villain. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Nov.)
DETAILS
Reviewed on: 09/25/2017
Release date: 11/14/2017
Genre: Fiction
Ebook - 978-0-399-58376-6
MP3 CD - 978-1-5200-8519-7
QUOTED: "Rarely does a clean-as-a-whistle cozy qualify as riveting, but this one definitely does."
Word to the Wise
Jenn McKinlay. Berkley Prime Crime, $26 (304p) ISBN 978-0-593-10003-5
More By and About This Author
McKinlay’s gripping 10th Library Lover’s mystery (after 2018’s Hitting the Books) finds Briar Creek, Conn., librarian Lindsey Norris preparing for her upcoming wedding to her longtime love, Mike “Sully” Sullivan—and dealing with the unwelcome advances of a new library patron, Aaron Grady. Aaron’s stalking of Lindsey results in his obsessive wife, Sylvia, publicly accusing Lindsey of trying to steal her husband away. British actor Robbie Vine, police chief Emma Plewicki’s significant other, volunteers to help protect Lindsey from Aaron, but when Aaron’s body is found outside the library’s employee entrance, even Lindsey’s friendship with Emma doesn’t prevent Sully from becoming the chief suspect in the man’s murder. The couple are determined to do their own sleuthing to prove Sully’s innocence and keep their nuptials on track. The real killer, however, has other plans for Lindsey. McKinlay does a good job building the suspense. Rarely does a clean-as-a-whistle cozy qualify as riveting, but this one definitely does. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Sept.)
DETAILS
Reviewed on : 07/10/2019
Release date: 09/03/2019
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Hardcover - 304 pages - 978-0-451-49270-8
QUOTED: "Despite the lack of real conflict, the story has charm and appeal, due to well-drawn characters with enjoyable personalities."
About a Dog
Jenn McKinlay. Berkley, $7.99 mass market (320p) ISBN 978-0-399-58471-8
More By and About This Author
McKinlay, best known for cozy mysteries (Better Late than Never), skillfully handles the transition to romantic comedy in a series opener set in present-day small-town New England. Mackenzie Harris hasn’t been back to Bluff Point, Maine, since she was dramatically left at the altar by her fiancé, and she’s only returning now to fulfill maid of honor duties for her best friend Emma. The only secret Mac keeps from her best friend is that after being dumped she slept with Emma’s younger brother, Gavin—and seven years later, attentive, handsome Gavin is her escort for the wedding. When sparks begin to fly, Mac tries to remember she is a no-nonsense accountant who’s only home for two weeks, but the sexy veterinarian and an irresistible dog have other ideas. McKinlay’s novel is a refreshing change from predictable return-to-hometown-and-reconcile-with-ex stories. Despite the lack of real conflict, the story has charm and appeal, due to well-drawn characters with enjoyable personalities. Fans of Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins, and Kate Angell will enjoy this romance and look forward to future installments. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (June)
DETAILS
Reviewed on: 05/29/2017
Release date: 05/30/2017
Genre: Fiction
Compact Disc - 978-1-5200-7301-9
MP3 CD - 978-1-5200-7305-7
Library Binding - 500 pages - 978-1-68324-499-8