Without A Doubt by Nancy Cole Silverman: a fast-paced cozy with a cast of relatable characters that has piqued my interest. This is my first book in the series, but it won’t be my last; I’m a fan. Easily read as a stand-alone. Recommend. #NetGalley

*I won this book on Netgalley for my honest opinion*

I’m not sure how I felt about this book. I felt like it drug on and I found myself skimming. I wanted to like it. I wanted more of a romance aspect but I got more of just a “taste” of romance. Without giving away too much about the ending, I was not happy with how it ended. Although, it was more realistic but definitely not the happy ever after.

As for the mystery, sometimes it was hard to keep track of all of the characters. It was an interesting story.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Carol Childs in on assignment when she sees Eric, her FBI boyfriend, leave a jewelry store with another woman on his arm. Seconds later there is an explosion. Carol rushes to the scene to report on the situation for her radio station, KCHC Talk Radio. Her reports draws even more interest as a suspect calls the station during a live broadcast. The type of news has been frowned on my the station’s owners but Carol can’t let the story drop, especially when she learns Eric is working on the case. Their relationship takes a hit as they both dry to catch the criminals.

In this installment we meet the owner’s wife, Bunny, the one that only wants happy news on the station. She even takes over one of the programs. The manager tells Carol to stick right by Bunny’s side but Bunny informs Carol her help is not needed. But Bunny may have bitten off more that she can chew.

Again the author has introduced some interesting characters into Carol’s world. With each story we get to know Carol a little better and I find myself liking her more and more. She is a strong character driven by her job or the job she is striving to get but still takes time when her son needs her. She is smart and savvy and just reckless enough to get herself into trouble. Her relationship with Eric is a little rocky because well the other woman and she wants to know things about the investigation he just can’t reveal.

This was an amazing fast read due the pacing of the plot. Driven by jewel thefts and dead bodies the pages were just flying. The behind the scenes look at the radio station and virtual tours around Beverly Hills added nicely to the story. I read it all in one sitting, I wanted to figure things out almost as much as Carol.

A very entertaining book!

I will be reviewing the next book Room For Doubt soon.

Our favorite radio reporter Carol Childs investigates a series of Beverly Hills jewelry heists, when she realizes her FBI boyfriend, Eric, is working the same case. Even worse, she may have inadvertently helped the suspect escape. Now Carol is faced with the difficult choice of choosing between her job and her personal relationships. It was just a coincidence that Carol and Eric were investigating the same case, now before the thieves can pull off a daring escape, they are leaving a trail of dead bodies behind, and taking the jewels with them.

Book Review and 4.5

This was a great sophmore follow up in the series. I think that it was good to explore the relationship, but I wish the author had spent more time on this aspect. However, it is a mystery not necessarily a romance.

This is a fast-paced mystery in a series about Carol Childs. Carol is the news reporter for the now chick-lite radio station KCHC Talk Radio. Carol is chaffing at the bit because of the new format which has her reporting on fluff instead of hard news.

She, and her excellent friend Sherri, are doing a taste-test competition for charity which features various famous chocolatiers in Beverly Hills (about as hard hitting as her news stories are these days.) Things are going sweet until, right in front of them, a personal bomb goes off in Carol’s life shortly followed by an actual bomb going off at the prestigious Westin’s jewelry store.

Without meaning to, Carol gets caught up in more than just reporting the news. Once involved, her news reporter instincts kick in the pursue to story even if it means distancing herself from her boyfriend, Eric, an FBI agent who is involved in the same case.

There are a lot of clues and red herrings as well as several deaths – accidents or murder? It was a fun read, filled with jewel heists, mayhem and the advent of a new master criminal. This is a series that I enjoy and will be looking forward to reading new books in the future.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.