4* Witty Stars

MaryJanice Davidson is a new author to me and I was excited to read her latest contemporary romance. I struggled in the beginning to get used to the writing style, as you got to read all the thoughts of the main characters and I found it was not necessary to the storyline. Once I got used to this, the story was a fun and hilarious read. The main character Captain Ava Capp was witty beyond words and very likable. The rest of the characters, besides one, are realistic and enjoyable.

This was a cosy mystery read with a touch of romance and filled with unforgettable characters who will keep you entertained throughout the book.

This was a great read. The romance was sweet but not over the top, and the mystery was more of a matter of fact than a 'find the clues and guess' type of thing. But the dialogue was great and the characters were interesting. It was also fun to have the list of tropes at the end and recognize which the author had chosen to include or purposely avoid.

Truth Lies and Second Dates is a good story. The writing was good as well as the story line. If you like humor and a bit of a mystery you will like this book. I did have trouble with the airline pilot part – I know a lot of about it. So, I started over and suspended belief on the aviation world. Once I did that my rating for this book went up. The main character and the love interest, Tom, the medical examiner were cute.

Thank you, Net Galley, for an advanced copy for an honest review.

I didn’t dislike this book but I felt the humor was just a bit over the top and it felt “forced” at times. There was enough funny humor to keep me engaged in the story but it was still hard to get into. I think the best way to explain the writing style was it just felt flippant and forced. I’m sure others may enjoy this type of story...
The premise is about a pumped up female pilot with some serious personal issues and a handsome medical examiner with a very unusual personality. Insert murder, mystery, quirky humor and slow burn romance.
I did finish the book though it was not easy. I did like parts of the book which did make the story bearable. It just felt disjointed.
All in all, this a unusual and weird murder mystery with some elements of romance going on.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest opinion.

I loved the idea: a gutsy female pilot, a sexy medical examiner, a cold case, and lots of tropes and laughs.

But humor evokes such diverse responses. In this case, TRUTH, LIES, AND SECOND DATES didn’t fly for me. Which means you may well adore it.

3 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 15 Dec 2020

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TruthLiesAndSecondDates #NetGalley

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates by MaryJanice Davidson , published by St. Martin's Press, is a stand-alone, sweet, sassy, contemporary romance. A novel, highly entertaining, witty and fun.
Meet Ava Capp. She's a pilot, single, and loving her life just as it is. She's a strong heroine, and I loved it.
Her male counterpart is Dr. Tom Baker, a medical examiner, hot doc who wants to be her knight in shining armor. The question is, does she needs one.

TLaSDs is a story full of puns, somewhere along the way it got a bit much. When you love 12 year old boys humor, this is the book for you. Ava is a hilarious, lol heroine. It took me a minute to get acquainted to the author's kind of humor, but I really liked it. A great read, 4 stars.

Captain Ava Cappi is happy flying planes and is known for her heroic landing of a plane. Her best friend was murdered when the girls were in high school. Ava returns to Minneapolis and attends the memorial for Danielle. Danielle's murder is still unsolved.
The story just did not hold my interest as I kept reading and it fell flat.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me. All opinions are my own. I didn’t realize that this was part of a series, works just fine as a stand alone. I have been feeling very stressed and worried that this might be too tense, but was delighted to find it to be laugh out loud funny, with quick dialogue and quirky characters. I loved that Ava was a confident woman working in a typically male role of commercial pilot. I also enjoyed Tom and his niece, both geniuses and likely on the spectrum. This was a romcom, but also a mystery, but the best part for me was the quick wit and humor.

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates is a mystery meets romance novel and is the third in the Danger trilogy by MaryJanice Davidson. Davidson describes the Danger trilogy as a love letter to romance tropes. She even included a list at the end of the book with every trope she included and noted which she subverted in this story. I appreciate that Davidson embraces that many romances use tropes and the common, recurring things people love are what keeps them coming back. (Just watch the Hallmark Channel if you doubt this to be true).

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates is about Ava Capp, pilot for Northwest Southeast Airlines (they fly everywhere!), and Tom Baker, a medical examiner in Minnesota. Ava has a stopover in Minnesota that happens to coincide with the ten year memorial for her best friend who was brutally murdered. Tom is concerned that Ava may have been the intended victim ten years prior and is determined to keep her safe while they solve the cold case.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. I did not enjoy the second book in this trilogy at all, mostly due to the main character being an insufferable brat, but Ava and Tom were delightful. I really enjoyed the Lifetime meets Hallmark charm of Truth, Lies, and Second Dates! I thought Davidson balanced the mystery and romance well, and I never felt that one genre was overshadowing the other.

I did not love the inclusion of Blake in the epilogue. I understand that this Is part of a trilogy, but I think it would have been better suited as a stand alone novel. Alternatively, including it in the trilogy due to its use of common tropes would have linked the books well enough to not need a carryover character. This chapter felt out of place and distracted from the happily ever after.

With all that being said, I would recommend reading this as a stand alone even if you haven’t read the other two books in the trilogy. It was an easy read and light, and there was only one very skippable steamy-ish scene toward the end. There is an occasional reference to a murder, but it is more humorous than grisly.

Thank you to St Martin’s Griffin for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Whew this book is just what I needed. Take your funniest rom-com and put it in book form and this is what you get. I loved the awkward hero and brash heroine. Finally a book where the heroine doesn’t sit back and let the hero take care of her problems. These two characters are a great team and I loved reading their story. The only question I have is, will Hannah grow up to be a superhero or a supervillain?

Ava Capp has returned home a rather reluctant hero. A pilot who while a passenger assisted in a difficult landing when the assigned pilot had a medical emergency earned her a nickname and a bit of fame. Home to honor her best friend who was murdered ten years ago. The memorial has triggered not only memories but it appears the killer is now after Ava. To her rescue and humorous annoyance is Dr Tom Baker the ME with a noticeable crush on Ava. A complication or asset you be the judge. Happy reading

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates was one of those books that just hits the right spot, especially when you have been on a reading slump. This book is FUN. As always Ms. Davidson brings to life sassy, hilarious characters that make you want to read about them over and over again. Captain Ava Capp is a commercial pilot, slightly famous for a belly emergency landing, who is overly blunt with no apparent social skills. Ten years ago, she came home and found her best friend murdered. A flight back to Minnesota just finds her in town for the ten year memorial for her best friend which turns into another disaster in its self. Dr. Tom Baker, medical examiner, wants to solve the case and is also lacking in the usual social graces. What follows is a wild ride of awkward flirting and hilarious interactions as a murderer comes out of the past to try and take Ava out for once and all. Funny, lovable, and unconventional characters become the driving force in this entertaining, decimator of tropes that is unputdownable and easily one of my favorites reads this year! My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Griffin/Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

To start, Captain Ava Capp is a well-written character. Although she has flaws that got annoying at times, it's what made her a more realistic character. Her interactions with GB and India show the interesting balance of being co-workers and friends. I absolutely loved the one "twist" with Tom's character that he reveals to Ava as it's a new topic that doesn't get included in many novels. Tom is a great character and his interactions with Ava were witty and fun to read.

The writing style of the book was a little difficult to get used to as it feels like every thought the characters could ever have were put on paper which made it seem overwhelming and "ramble-y." However, you get immersed in the story and you don't mind it anymore. One thing I could not stand in this novel was the character Hannah as she's written way too advanced for a 6.5 year old. Although she's an extremely gifted kid, as a former teacher of gifted students exactly how she was supposed to be, it was very hard to read her as the younger girl she was supposed to be as her mannerisms, vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension was on par with our intelligent main characters. Although some combination of these are possible, it's very hard to believe that a 6.5 year old and a well-educated late 20s+ year old would be on equal ground. Aside from my one main criticism, the novel is an interesting read of who-done-it while integrating the rom-com aspect of it. Overall, I am glad that I gave this book a chance and I would read more by this author.

This was a fun, quick read. I have always enjoyed MJ Davidson's work. Ava is great. Funny, quick witted. Some mystery, some romance. All fun.

Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy for an honest review.

This was an entertaining, light read. Ava was hilarious in her interactions with co-workers and friends. Dr. Baker's insights and though processes added to the fun. A little mystery and solving of a cold case added some levity.

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates by MaryJanice Davidson is a fun, quirky, sassy, and enjoyable book that is part contemporary romance part mystery.

I enjoyed reading the interactions and relationship with Ava Capp and Tom Baker. Their characters were both realistic and imperfect, but yet like able. I loved the banter, sarcasm, and witty commentary the most. Quick one-liners that were dispensed throughout made me literally laugh out loud several times. The plot and pacing were quick, light, and satisfying and I was easily able to devour this book in two days.

A great book for anyone looking for a light read, humor and a little romance and mystery.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I read a lot, and have cried while reading, but never have I ever laughed so hard, that I was in tears! I seriously didn't want this book to end because the characters are hilarious, and so relateable.

Great book to put you in a good mood!

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates is predictable story, but it's written in a way that's fun and makes it a book that is very easy to use to escape the world for a while.

I devoured this novel in a day.

First, I just LOVE that the main character is a strong female pilot. Even though it is a romantic comedy (with mystery elements), the fact that Ava is a professional in a man-dominated profession makes it a unique twist on the usual prototype of a rom com. From the narrative, it is also clear that Ava is very intelligent and *real* with past traumas, worries and regular-people-problems. She definitely made this book for me, and I would like to see move of Ava in possible further installments (please!).

I have seen other reviewers commenting on the fact that this book was much more of a rom com than it was a mystery. This is definitely true, and this is the expectation you should have when reading it - the mystery on its own is not that strong. It would have been a perfect novel if it was because I really seem to like the marriage of romance and mystery/thriller. However, the romance is very strong here, and it is funny, exciting, sweet, intelligent and gripping.

Any reader will be rooting for the badass main character Ava and melt from the romance, but while the mystery is a really fun spin, it is not the focal point of this book.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

The cover look pretty, the synopsis looked interesting and funny.
However, it just fell flat even though I wanted to like it .
It isn't heavy on romance even though I liked characters but mystery isn't expected well.

*𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.