by Charlotte HughesI made an incorrect assumption about this book - I expected from the cover and the title that this was a cozy murder mystery. Also, Hughes co-authored several books with Janet Evanovich. Isn't she a mystery writer?
The first 80 pages were enjoyable with humorous, crisp dialogue and quirky, real-life characters. But where was the mystery? I kept looking for it. After some disappointment, I decided it just wasn't a mystery and I needed to get over it. Once I did, I enjoyed this book a lot.
Kate Holly is a psychologist who is a bit nutty in a funny way. That's the thing that made me want to read this book. Her best friend volunteers as her receptionist. Add to that a clientele of people with interesting psychological problems and Kate's life is pretty full. But that's not all, there's an sex-craved ex-boyfriend who keeps trying to get back into Kate's life AND a recently divorced ex-husband who wants to be part of Kate's life and whom she wants in her life (complicated) AND her eccentric mother and her aunt who own a thrift shop. AND one more major player in this book is the big-busted, beautiful new firewoman who works with Kate's ex-husband. Do I need to add that this beauty is hot for Kate's ex?
I liked this book and even ordered the first in the series, What Looks Like Crazy. It would make a perfect addition for travel or beach or summer reading. Or whenever you need a break from serious stuff but you want something more substantial than cotton candy. Hughes is a wonderful writer and her characters are real, some likable, some not so much. I did some searching and discovered that Hughes does have a few mystery/thrillers out there. I ordered And After That the Dark.
