The Moonglow Cafe (A Paige MacKenzie Mystery) by Deborah GarnerPublished: April 2014, 209 pages
Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Description: New York reporter Paige MacKenzie has a hidden motive when she heads to the small town of Timberton, Montana. Assigned to research the area's unique Yogo sapphires for the Manhattan Post, she hopes to reconnect romantically with handsome cowboy Jake Norris. The local gem gallery offers the material needed for the article, but the discovery of an old diary, hidden inside the wall of a historic hotel, soon sends her on a detour into the underworld of art and deception.
Each of the town's residents holds a key to untangling more than one long-buried secret, from the hippie chick owner of a new age café to the mute homeless man in the town park. As the worlds of western art and sapphire mining collide, Paige finds herself juggling research, romance and danger. With stolen sapphires and shady characters thrown into the mix, will Paige escape the consequences of her own curiosity?
Above the Bridge: A Paige MacKenzie Mystery
is the first book written about Paige MacKenzie, however, this is definitely a stand-alone book.My Review:
As I mentioned before, this is a stand-alone book, even though it's a part of a series. Paige is a very spunky character. She's in Montana to research these Yogo sapphires, but ends up in the middle of another mystery as well--one involving art. She's almost the type of person who attracts danger, yet she seems so oblivious to that fact. I loved that she seemed so real--she was worried about Jake and how to reconnect with him; she was thinking of ways to solve the mystery of the journal and was brave enough to carry out her ideas; and she made an impact in such a short time to the people she came in contact with, especially Betty and Mist.
Jake is a true hero! He's the one who really uses his brain to think and braves an undesirable drive in the middle of the night to help out. He's such a gentleman, yet he's strong and brave. He really seems to be the type of guy with his head on straight.
I loved the quirky characters and the adventure. The mystery was really good because the reader was fed bits and pieces over time, making it hard to figure it out immediately. I was drawn in and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really enjoyed having two mysteries in one--that was a great angle.
Content: just a couple of mild expletives; some normal violence for a mystery/adventure; mild romance. Clean!
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo
Deborah Garner had some fun interviews on the following blogs. Feel free to check them out to get to know her a little better.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author:
I've
kept a hand-written journal since I was child, now many, many decades
ago. I remember sitting down when I was about seven years old and
deciding to "write a book." I had no idea what I wanted to write about,
only that I did. I cut several binder sheets into halves, folded them
in half again and fumbled around with a stapler until they were somehow
attached. My recollection is that I stared at the blank pages for a
long time. In the end, I drew a (very poor) picture of a horse, gave it
some sort of endearing name and then set the papers aside, choosing an
easier path, that which led me outside to play.
And so it still is. I stare at blank paper sometimes. I choose to go out to play sometimes. But the love of the written word always draws me back to the pages. Many years of freelance travel writing allowed me to wander cross-country numerous times, recording back road adventures. I adored it. Yet all along, that seven year old kept whispering to me that a book still needed to be written.
I fell directly from travel writing into fiction in the most natural way. Heading south from Montana on what was to be yet another cross-country trip, I slid into Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and simply stopped driving. I knew the story was there and those stapled pages are now filled and titled, "Above the Bridge."
I no longer try to draw horses, much to the relief of those unfortunates who've been subjected to my poor graphic skills. But I do love creating stories. And plan to create more in the future.
And so it still is. I stare at blank paper sometimes. I choose to go out to play sometimes. But the love of the written word always draws me back to the pages. Many years of freelance travel writing allowed me to wander cross-country numerous times, recording back road adventures. I adored it. Yet all along, that seven year old kept whispering to me that a book still needed to be written.
I fell directly from travel writing into fiction in the most natural way. Heading south from Montana on what was to be yet another cross-country trip, I slid into Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and simply stopped driving. I knew the story was there and those stapled pages are now filled and titled, "Above the Bridge."
I no longer try to draw horses, much to the relief of those unfortunates who've been subjected to my poor graphic skills. But I do love creating stories. And plan to create more in the future.
You can find Deborah Garner here:
Website
Amazon
Goodreads
Katie, Thank you so much for the wonderful review and for having me on your awesome blog :) Debbie (Deborah Garner)
ReplyDelete