I had an hour or so when I snuck outside to the hammock for some alone time while the kids played computers this evening. This happened to be just enough time to read the rather quick read that is Wilde Deception by Ruth Rowland. This is the second book in the Cosset Cove Cozy Mystery Series and was a free find on Amazon. I have not read the first in the series but I really did not find that it hurt my enjoyment of this short story any to have missed it. 

I found a few grammar/spelling/word issues… the most jarring for me was the word draw instead of drawer which made me re-read the sentence. One discrpency that had me running to my google was when the author described the main character Charlotte Wilde (reporter and owner of the local small time newspaper, who was once a reporter in the big city) and her friends Clara and Abigail (aunts to…) and Amy to a New England Pot Roast. This is fine and dandy until she described the CHICKEN as being very tender… as far as I can tell anytime someone is talking about a pot roast it is BEEF. Not a major complaint but it did bother me enough to leave off reading the story long enough to see if I was right or wrong on my assumption before diving back in. 

Wilde Deception does not have a big romantic theme to it, there are potential love interests as far as I can tell and the characters tease Charlotte about it a bit, but it is not necessary to the mystery. I did find I did not have (even in retrospect) enough information as I read along to solve this mystery. This is not a hindrance to me as I rarely try to figure out the who done it in advance, but for some could be a problem.

The other main character is a rather large Maine Coon cat called Barney who had a role in this story and apparently a rather major role in the previous tale. 

The story is light and fast paced but enjoyable. I enjoyed this quick glimpse into the life of Charlotte Wilde. It was entertaining and humorous as well as still being a traditional cozy murder mystery. So if you have a nice block of time some sunny afternoon do give this a try. And if you read the first book – Wilde Murder do give me your opinion! Sad but true my current book budget is a big old ZERO so for now I will enjoy my freebies and continue my list of to purchase! 

I really enjoyed this short story by Janet Wellington. An afternoon read, Up Close and Personal focuses on reporter Angie Fletcher as she contends with leaving her farm girl roots behind to become a lead reporter. Engaged to the son of the station owner with a “big-as-Texas pink diamond” ring on her finger she is as far from her roots as she can be… that is until Jason shows up. 

Both of the main characters have baggage and history to contend with as they work their way through a news story about the community garden company Jason runs. This contemporary romance is a nice comfortable change from the books that have a terrific storyline but include steamy scenes. In this book the romance and the engagement she is already in are without sexual content. There is love, and emotion but the story is focused on the people, their interactions and the people around them. 

If you are interested in a sweet story and have an afternoon free this is a great choice. Janet Wellington is able to bring her characters alive and have them progress and change while keeping in tongue in cheek moments and an interesting backdrop. I will definitely be looking into more of her stories!

Up Close and Personal