Reviews for Trouble in Spades “Nina's family is hysterically funny, the seniors in her neighborhood are adorable, and her employees are a quirky blend of characters. This is a very entertaining book that is a quick read that I most highly recommend to lovers of cozy mysteries.” “TROUBLE IN SPADES tumbles pell-mell along, taking the reader on an often humorous, sometimes laugh-out-loud, adventure. Nina and her family are utterly delightful, if sometimes outrageous, and there’s no lack of suspense as Nina tries to sort out all the puzzles that come her way. “ - Sally Powers, “I Love a Mystery Newsletter” “Heather Webber has created a delightful cast of quirky, lovable characters. The Ceceri clan reminds me of Stephanie Plum's family in the Janet Evanovich novels. Very enjoyable. If you like Stephanie Plum, you will love Nina Quinn.” --Bethany Paye, Roundtable Reviews In Trouble in Spades, Nina Quinn, owner of Taken by Surprise Garden Designs, is working on a project for her sister Maria's wedding but the fiancé, Nate is missing. Nina receives a package from Nate and several phone calls. It is clear that Nate is in danger and he is reaching out to Nina for help. She decides to try to find Nate but keeps running into her soon-to-be ex-husband, the local cop, the FBI and several dead bodies. Additionally, her neighborhood, which is mostly senior citizens, is dealing with the "granny panties" thief. The seniors organize themselves into a neighborhood watch which is quite entertaining. In the meantime, Nina is trying to get over her unfaithful husband and is falling for her stepson's vice principal. Needless to say, Nina is surrounded with trouble and dead bodies. Trouble in Spades is the second book in the Nina Quinn series. Nina's family is hysterically funny, the seniors in her neighborhood are adorable, and her employees are a quirky blend of characters. This is a very entertaining book that is a quick read that I most highly recommend to lovers of cozy mysteries. Nina Quinn’s successful landscaping business, Taken By Surprise, Garden Designs, is enough to keep her busy, but she also has custody of her 15-year-old stepson, Riley, as she divorces his father, Kevin, for adultery. Her sister Maria’s upcoming wedding to Nate Biederman means that Nina is pulling out all the stops to landscape the happy couple’s new yard -- and trying to find a matron of honor dress that isn’t absolutely hideous. (What was Maria thinking?) The normal chaos of Nina’s life is further complicated by her pregnant assistant’s taking against a new employee, another employee who lumbers her with a crazed Chihuahua , and a series of break-ins plaguing her neighborhood that may be the work of a panty thief. (And how did the newly formed neighborhood watch end up meeting at her house?) At this rate it’s almost anticlimactic when Nate disappears. Nate works at the riverboat casino Kalypso, and his current project involves Maria’s employers, Phineus Public Relations, who hold an annual charity gala to raise funds for the Phineus Cancer Fund. Things continue to spiral out of control as Nina tries to figure out what’s
happened to Nate. Dead bodies continually turn up and her two sisters and her
mother drive her crazy. Then there are her feelings for her almost ex-husband
Kevin, and her attraction to Robert MacKenna, vice principal at Riley’s
school. --Sally Powers, www.iloveamystery.com Here goes Nina Quinn in trouble, again. Just a few weeks after narrowly escaping death it seems that death isn't through with her yet. Thrown into the middle of a mystery involving her sister's fiancé, Nina again must try to solve this mystery before it desolves her. While Nina is trying to figure this one out, she has to team up with her soon-to-be ex and an undercover FBI agent. And to make matters worse, love decides to make an appearance in her life. As if she wasn't busy enough! ***** Just like her previous book, Heather Webber has gotten me completely hooked. If there will be any more mystery in Nina Quinn's life I want to read about it. I definitely recommend this one.***** --Reviewed by K. Blair, www.huntressbookreviews.com If you dig mysteries with more than a bit of gardening detail, this one’s for you. Landscaper Nina Quinn and a garden of delightful characters color these cozy whodunits and more than a few bodies are sure to turn up. --Mystery Scene Magazine Nina Colette Ceceri Quinn's garden design business, Taken by Surprise, is supposed to add excitement and astonishment to her clients' lives. However, Nina has stumbled into some excitement of her own. Hoping for a relaxing break, she agrees to a surprise backyard makeover for her spoiled Chanel-wearing younger sister, Maria, and Nate, Maria's fiancé. But, suddenly, Nate vanishes - leaving only a mysterious envelope for Nina and a warning NOT to open it. And her "relaxing" landscaping job uncovers a corpse. On top of that, a nocturnal "panty thief" is preying on the neighborhood elderly! Can Nina dig deep enough into the community dirt to figure out what is going on? Or will she wind up six feet under? TROUBLE IN SPADES is the second installment in the Nina Quinn Mystery series. Heather Webber has created a delightful cast of quirky, lovable characters. The Ceceri clan reminds me of Stephanie Plum's family in the Janet Evanovich novels. Very enjoyable. If you like Stephanie Plum, you will love Nina Quinn. --Bethany Paye, www.roundtablereviews.com Reviews for A Hoe Lot of Trouble ‘Nina is a fresh welcome addition to the genre.’
"Thou shalt not stuff pictures of thy husband down the garbage disposal." Nina Quinn learns this lesson after trying to rid herself of a few memories. Finding another woman's lipstick on her husband's boxers was the final blow; she's ready for divorce. However, Detective Kevin Quinn is leaving his teenage son, Riley, behind. His new girlfriend doesn't have the "room" for the boy, so Nina finds herself dealing with Riley's ever increasing mood swings and his missing boa constrictor. This is just the start of her day... Nina owns a surprise garden makeover company, Taken By Surprise. Someone is taking the firm's equipment, and Nina needs to get to the bottom of it. However, her investigations are delayed when she receives a call from an old friend. The man who helped get her started in landscaping is dead, possibly murdered. Now, someone is targeting his family. Nina is pretty sure the police are not rushing to solve the case; it seems that someone is trying to keep things quiet. There are plenty of potential suspects, and Nina is determined to uncover the truth. What an utterly delightful debut! A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE launches a fantastic new series featuring a feisty heroine, moody, yet loveable, teen, and a cast of quirky minor characters that you can't help but enjoy. I started the book shortly before dinner, and then found myself hooked. It was nearly impossible to walk away in order to get dinner on the table. Heather Webber is at the top of her game, and instantly launched her way to the top of my "must read" list. I can only hope she can write quickly enough to satisfy the hunger she has created. With its shocking ending and candid views, A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE is a surefire winner! --Tracy Farnsworth
Rating 9/10 Nina Collette Quinn thought she had the perfect life doing the work she loved and being married to the man, she thought was her soulmate. One day while washing Kevin’s boxers she notices lipstick on them; she confronts her husband, who confesses that he is cheating on her. She kicks him out but her stepson Riley remains behind with her. Her landscaping business, Taken by Surprise, is booming, but someone is stealing her equipment and with three ex-cons on her payroll, she has many suspects to choose from. Her oldest friend Bridget finally gets pregnant and Nina is delighted though she becomes worried when she learns that her friend’s father-in-law was murdered even though the police think he died of natural causes. Nina volunteers to help find the killer but while investigating, she almost is killed by one of the suspects. A short while later one of Nina’s suspects is killed and her fingerprints, which she failed to wipe off, lead the police to her as the number one suspect. Heather Webber’s debut mystery is fascinating as the heroine copes with a divorce, a recalcitrant stepson who is part of a school gang, a business that is losing valuable equipment, and the death of a man who was her mentor. Nina copes with all these problems admirably and investigates the two murders although it means putting herself in danger. Readers will admire Nina and eagerly await the next mystery starring this intrepid champion. --Harriet Klausner Heather Webber's first novel introduces Nina Quinn, owner of Taken by Surprise, Garden Designs, her fledgling landscaping-and-more business. Nina's husband, a police officer in Freedom, Ohio, has just been thrown out of the house after Nina discovers that he and his partner in the police force, Ginger, are most than just that. When Nina's childhood friend, Bridget Sandowski, confides to her that Bridget's husband's parents had been threatened and that she believes that her father-in-law, to whom Nina felt a great debt for having introduced her to the field in which she now makes her livelihood, was murdered, Nina volunteers to investigate. Despite receiving threatening letters and mysterious phone calls and having all involved tell her in no uncertain terms to discontinue her efforts, Nina perseveres, even after there is another murder, one in which she herself is the prime suspect. Ms. Webber has written a book which is a lot of fun and a good mystery, and has given us a protagonist who is plucky and believable, as she tries to solve the murders and her own personal problems as well, both marital and business. As an added bonus, we are told that each book in this new series will have gardening tips included. All one could ask for in a terrific new addition to the 'cozy' genre. Recommended. --Theodore Feit
The Romance Reader's Connection 4 1/2 stars Successful landscaper Nina Quinn has a lot on her mind. First,
there is the cheating soon-to-be ex-husband, police detective Kevin
Quinn, whom While visiting the family, Nina volunteers to look into some suspicious
events surrounding the death and the offers made by real estate A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE is a whole lot of fun! Ms. Webber's mystery debut is sure to win the hearts of a great many readers. Nina Quinn is a quirky and realistic heroine, who invests her heart in everything she does. The supporting cast of characters is equally entertaining; especially cousin Analise. The first person narrative adds to the pace and emotional rhythm of the story as readers experience each turn of events with Nina. The author makes liberal use of humor and character idiosyncrasies to add another layer of enjoyment to the story. The identity of the murderer was surprising which is, of course, how it should be. A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE is one mystery readers will not want to put down and it could easily be enjoyed in one sitting. I am already a fan of this author for her historical romance titles but I simply can not wait for more Nina Quinn mysteries and hope they will be coming soon! -- Melissa Fowler Nina Quinn is having a seriously bad day -- and on her day off too. She’s kicked her policeman husband out for cheating on her, her stepson is behaving like the stepson from hell and someone has been stealing gardening equipment from her Taken By Surprise, Garden Designs business. Now, to add to her troubles, her oldest friend Bridget tells her that her father-in-law was murdered following a spate of terror tactics against him meant to force him to sell the family farm. And the people who should be helping the family -- the police -- are blatantly ignoring the problem. The more her friends tell Nina to stop looking into the threatening events at Sandowski Farm -- and the political and personal motives for murder -- the more she looks, and asks and the more trouble she gets into. And there is still more mystery of the missing tools at Taken By Surprise. Nina has her hands full and Heather Webber provides just enough nail biting suspense and a few good laughs to keep the pages of A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE turning to the surprising conclusions. - Sally Powers Nina Quinn's marriage is on the rocks. Police detective hubby Kevin Quinn is sleeping with his current partner, Ginger. His son, Riley, is still living with Nina. He seems to be getting himself in trouble at school, hanging out with a bunch of unsavory characters and ditching school. Nina is at a loss to know what to do with him. He clearly does not want her checking up on him. But he's only fifteen, and Nina is worried. On top of that, some equipment is missing from her thriving gardening business, “Taken by Surprise.” An expensive set of hoes is missing, along with a wheelbarrow and other tools. Three of her workers are ex-convicts, out on probation. She is certain one of them is taking the tools. But which one is guilty? And why are they stealing from her? Then longtime friend Bridget Sandowski calls. She tells Nina that her father-in-law is dead from suspicious causes. Bridget thinks Joe Sandowski, the man who taught Nina the joys of horticulture, has been poisoned. She thinks the developer who wants to buy the Sandowski farm is responsible. It could also be the congressman who wants the land to build a road bypassing the expensive community in which he lives. That way, the residents can make their town a gated community. Perhaps both of them are involved. Bridget asks Nina to see what she can find out. If Joe Sandowski has been murdered, his family wants to find the killers. A Hoe Lot of Trouble has a plot filled with twists and turns. It has the comedy of a missing snake, Riley's, and the drama of a murder and an attempted murder. There are greedy developers and selfish citizens whose desires lead to the death of an innocent man. Pick up a copy of this cozy and enjoy a lighthearted mystery. In Freedom, Ohio, successful landscaper Nina Quinn's life is falling apart. Her marriage is failing, her stepson is "out to get her", and her old mentor, Farmer Joe, has just mysteriously died. But Farmer Joe did NOT die of natural causes. As things start unraveling even more in this small town, Nina tries to piece together what happened to her mentor. Using her business, called "Taken By Surprise", as a cover, Nina begins her own investigation. But as everything comes together, Nina realizes that this mystery strikes too close to home. ***** An entrancing novel that is full of suspense and wit. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. Highly recommended for all mystery fans and those looking for a quick-witted read. ***** -- K.Blair Nina Quinn is your average married female small business owner: she has more day-to-day hassles than she has time for. Her husband, policeman Kevin Quinn, comes home one day with lipstick on his boxer shorts; Nina doesn't wear lipstick, and even if she did, it wouldn't be that color. Riley, Kevin's son by a previous marriage, is 17 . . . 'nuff said, even before one factors in the discontent with the marital problems in the house. Nina's business -- Taken By Surprise, Garden Designs (TBS) -- is booming, which can be a mixed blessing in terms of available time and resources. And the hoes are disappearing -- then reappearing. Nina hires ex-cons (because she's a sucker, as she is the first to admit) and isn't quite sure what is going on or who to suspect. Nina's sister is getting married and Nina is the matron of honor, except she has yet to be fitted for her dress. Nina's neighbors are notorious for their curiosity, nosiness, attention to what's going on around them. One of Nina's friends, Bridget Sandowski, is finally pregnant. Nina's husband Tim was on the verge of leaving her until this happened; their marriage still seems, to the uninterested observer, to be a little uneven. Tim's mother is mourning the death of her husband Joe, who may have died from the cancer he'd been fighting or from the coffee found in his tractor. Bridget was suspicious about the coffee because Joe never drank coffee. She had the coffee analyzed, and it had been poisoned. The police are skeptical, and when they send the thermos off to have it re-analyzed, the thermos disappears. Nina volunteers to look into some things, since she can do a lot of running around in her capacity as a landscape designer with lots of jobs all over town. Bridget agrees, only to have Tim urge Nina to back off. Nina won't stop asking questions, even while she is trying to cope with Riley's problems at school, some of which involve a local gang, the Skinz. Then somebody else gets killed, and Nina is a suspect. There is an awful lot going on in this little paperback. I wasn't sure at first that Ms Webber hadn't bitten off rather more than she could chew. By the end of A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE, my fears had been relieved. Nina dithers a bit more than I like to see in an amateur female sleuth, but mostly it works. She doesn't quite get it all figured out, although the suggestion is clearly made that she was headed in the right direction. I'd like to see more of some of the secondary characters in future books, in particular Tam, the secretary at TBS, and Mr Robert McKenna, the vice-principal at Riley's school (who certainly has the potential to be a future love interest if things don't work out with Kevin). A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE, in spite of the cutsiness of the title, is a very readable mystery and Heather Webber has a lot of potential in the cozy mystery field. --P. J. Coldren, June 2004 A murdered mentor, missing tools, and an uncaged four-foot serpent
are almost more than Nina Quinn can handle in Heather Webber's A
Hoe Lot of Trouble. When she's not hunting for his murderer, she's trying to solve the mystery of her missing tools. Any of her employees could be responsible. She can't ask Kevin for help because she's kicked the philanderer out, and her teenage stepson, who stayed behind has let his four-foot snake loose in her house. Webber's zany mystery is fraught with surprise and suspense. Unexpected jams drive Nina into desperate antics. There's a comedy of errors as she tries to track clues, and the author takes us through these predicaments, moment by moment, teasing us with tension and milking Nina's movements, exposing her mind's irrational twists and turns, and letting her courage shine through. Don't miss this entertaining page-turner from Avon with an ending no reader would ever expect. -B. Lynn Goodwin Welcome to Nina Ceceri Quinn’s world in a small Ohio town.
What else could happen? How about a murder, maybe two? In this debut novel, Heather Webber introduces us to Nina, her family, friends, employees and clients, who each have their own stories. Being a good-hearted person she is ready to dig in and root out a problem for a friend when asked. The problem: the Sandowski farm stands in the way of an expensive development. The family refuses to sell the property that has been farmed for generations. Since refusing the offers, which now total mega millions, there have been many incidents: the water on the farm has been poisoned, sheep have been killed, threatening phone calls made and bullets broke a window. Then the family patriarch is found dead. The widow, her son and pregnant daughter –in-law ask for help and then back down. Nina is tenacious—weeding through the information as she becomes a murder suspect and is nearly killed herself. There’s a subplot. Nina owns Taken by Surprise, a landscaping firm that does surprise garden makeovers. She is trying to identify the worm in her company who is pilfering expensive tools. Nina is not the perfect every woman, but a heroine women could relate to. She works hard, things go wrong, but she keeps on going. She is supported by family and friends. The book reads well. The story moves along with good character development and humor. The plot isn’t predictable and has interesting twists. The snake is found at the end of the book and so is the murderer. Bonus: Gardening tips are included at the end. Published by Avon Books, it has 243 pages paperback. -Phyllis Lehrer |
|
|
