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A Bree MacGowan Mystery #2
California Schemin'
CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN' She's on a Killer Vacation Finding one dead body is unlucky. Finding two means you’re Bella Bree MacGowan. Most people can relax by an idyllic riverside without fishing a dead body out of the water; Bree MacGowan is not most people. And as luck would have it, it's not just any old corpse she's tripped over this time. It's the late wife of Senator R. Carl Wallace, a paragon of upstanding American citizenship to anyone who looks… unless they look too closely. Which is, of course, exactly what Bree does, and what she finds is definitely more trouble than she bargained for. Where power and murder collide, danger follows, and Bree soon finds herself the target of break-ins, vandalism and kidnapping, all at the hands of the dubious Senator who insists that she identify two criminals she’s never seen before as the people who killed his wife. Now Bree has to save herself and the ones she loves from a conspiracy where the bad guys look good, the good guys look bad, and nothing is as it seems… Professionally formatted for the Kindle 9/12 Kate George is the winner of the 2009 Daphne De Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Mainstream Division. “California Schemin' is the hilarious sequel to Moonlighting in Vermont by Kate George and, once again, features the headstrong but lovable Bella Bree MacGowan. Schemin's a good old fashioned cozy mystery that infuses the author's witty sense of humor, plenty of suspense, some great writing, and an engaging and action-packed plot. …George's knack for creating really great three-dimensional characters, that are anything but mundane, is a breath of fresh air.” – BJ Scott, Manchester Examiner
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2011
99 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Kate George
14 books47 followersHaving worked at a number of jobs ranging from Senior Assistant to the Dean of a Medical School to Actor/Booking Agent in outdoor theatre troop, Ms George has had plenty of experiences to bring authenticity to her characters. In fact, the idea for Moonlighting began formulating while she was working as a evening turndown maid at an exclusive resort for people with more money than sense. The layout was perfect for a murder, but, as she was not willing to risk a life in prison, she decided writing it would be a wiser choice than doing it.
Ms. George began writing at an early age by making up poems of praise for the ponies she rode. That turned to angst during her teen years and spurned lover poetry in her twenties. During her spurned lover period she also wrote a novella about a marine biologist (her college major at the time) that will never see the light of day. Ms. George eventually earned her Bachelors degree in Anthropology from the University of California at Davis. In case you haven't noticed there aren't a lot of jobs for a budding anthropologist. That's her explanation for the 75 different careers in her resume. Think police dog trainer and answering service operator and then let your imagination go wild. You couldn't possibly be far from the truth.
Although born in California and raised in British Columbia, Ms. George is currently living in Central Vermont with her husband, four children, three dogs, and two cats. She once had 28 chickens, all named, none of them seem especially keen to lay eggs. I'm sorry to tell you that Hermione and Speckles were eaten by coyotes. The rest were given to good homes to avoid any further emotional distress.
Ms. George began writing at an early age by making up poems of praise for the ponies she rode. That turned to angst during her teen years and spurned lover poetry in her twenties. During her spurned lover period she also wrote a novella about a marine biologist (her college major at the time) that will never see the light of day. Ms. George eventually earned her Bachelors degree in Anthropology from the University of California at Davis. In case you haven't noticed there aren't a lot of jobs for a budding anthropologist. That's her explanation for the 75 different careers in her resume. Think police dog trainer and answering service operator and then let your imagination go wild. You couldn't possibly be far from the truth.
Although born in California and raised in British Columbia, Ms. George is currently living in Central Vermont with her husband, four children, three dogs, and two cats. She once had 28 chickens, all named, none of them seem especially keen to lay eggs. I'm sorry to tell you that Hermione and Speckles were eaten by coyotes. The rest were given to good homes to avoid any further emotional distress.
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May 29, 2011
CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN’ written by Kate George
03/11 - Mainly Murder Press - Paperback, 252 pages
If pushed are you strong enough to shove back?
Bella Bree MacGowan is in California with her boyfriend trying to do anything but be part of another “accidental” murder investigation. She was just standing there trying to enjoy the view, take some pictures, and not see a woman fall off a bridge after being shot in the head. For pity sake what is it with people being killed around her?
Bree learns fast that this murder has ties to the rich and powerful who know how to bury the secrets along with the bodies. Figuring out who all the players are and what affiliation they have to what branch of the government is just the beginning of the nightmare; the shape-shifting alien is another problem – say what? Bree is not buying any of the stories she is being fed, but after she is drugged, kidnapped, and forcible detained against her will she begins to wonder if her only salvation is going to come from some otherworldly place. Everyone around her apparently has no worry for her safety or the truth only the desire to fix the mess the high profile Senator has created.
However, Bree is not going quietly into the kidnapping night she is going to figure out an escape route and hopefully well escape. She has no background in any of this cloak and dagger world but if she uses her journalism skills, she can write a way out of this disaster and maybe figure out who the real skunk is.
Wow, this book is fun and it is nonstop action with an adventure at every page. Bree is so amazing and just not going to say, “I can’t do this” at any time. The men may prove a challenge but I suspect there is something good happening in the next chapter of Bree’s life, just stay tuned.
03/11 - Mainly Murder Press - Paperback, 252 pages
If pushed are you strong enough to shove back?
Bella Bree MacGowan is in California with her boyfriend trying to do anything but be part of another “accidental” murder investigation. She was just standing there trying to enjoy the view, take some pictures, and not see a woman fall off a bridge after being shot in the head. For pity sake what is it with people being killed around her?
Bree learns fast that this murder has ties to the rich and powerful who know how to bury the secrets along with the bodies. Figuring out who all the players are and what affiliation they have to what branch of the government is just the beginning of the nightmare; the shape-shifting alien is another problem – say what? Bree is not buying any of the stories she is being fed, but after she is drugged, kidnapped, and forcible detained against her will she begins to wonder if her only salvation is going to come from some otherworldly place. Everyone around her apparently has no worry for her safety or the truth only the desire to fix the mess the high profile Senator has created.
However, Bree is not going quietly into the kidnapping night she is going to figure out an escape route and hopefully well escape. She has no background in any of this cloak and dagger world but if she uses her journalism skills, she can write a way out of this disaster and maybe figure out who the real skunk is.
Wow, this book is fun and it is nonstop action with an adventure at every page. Bree is so amazing and just not going to say, “I can’t do this” at any time. The men may prove a challenge but I suspect there is something good happening in the next chapter of Bree’s life, just stay tuned.
December 3, 2014
California Schemin'
Written by: Kate George
Narrated by: Sara Mackie
Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
Series: A Bree MacGowan Mystery, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Note: this is the Audiobook
Publishers' Summary
She's on a killer vacation.
Finding one dead body is unlucky. Finding two means you're Bella Bree MacGowan.
Most people can relax by an idyllic riverside without fishing a dead body out of the water; Bree MacGowan is not most people. And as luck would have it, it's not just any old corpse she's tripped over this time. It's the late wife of Senator R. Carl Wallace, a paragon of upstanding American citizenship to anyone who looks...unless they look too closely. Which is, of course, exactly what Bree does, and what she finds is definitely more trouble than she bargained for.
Where power and murder collide, danger follows, and Bree soon finds herself the target of break-ins, vandalism, and kidnapping, all at the hands of the dubious Senator who insists that she identify two criminals she's never seen before as the people who killed his wife. Now Bree has to save herself and the ones she loves from a conspiracy where the bad guys look good, the good guys look bad, and nothing is as it seems....
©2011 Kate George
My Review
What would we do without the accidental detective? The ones who, whilst enjoying the most mundane of daily activities, always somehow manage to find a corpse! Not just a corpse you understand, but a murdered corpse. Bree though, finds hers in a slightly unusual manner. Whilst relaxing and enjoying herself taking a few photos, Bree focused her camera lens way up towards a high bridge, what is in her viewfinder? You've guessed, a body which comes hurtling through the air from on high and lands in the river almost at her feet! Just to make matters worse, along comes a bear and up a tree goes Bree.
This is how this story (and trouble) starts, Bree finds herself suspected as a witness to this womans' murder, albeit from a great distance.
Do not expect a well constructed whodunit as the story is a little disjointed, it contains some annoying inconsistencies and, for some odd reason, an ill fitting and rather pointless shape shifting FBI agent who, I would say, is more suited to a fantasy. The storyline is predictable, Bree is annoyingly hard headed and incapable of making reasoned decisions. Her boyfriend is not the brightest, for goodness sake, he didn't even realise he had been kidnapped!
The book had the feel of one that had been dashed off quite quickly, I felt it could have done with a darn good polishing before being released. The story is, though, saved by its farcical element and proved entertaining enough.
The narrator, Sarah Mackie, did a good job with all characterisations, she has a pleasant, easy on the ear voice and I'd happily listen to her again.
Unfortunately, the sound quality was poor, with a slight echo, the consonants were uncomfortable to the ear. This is a shame, it is also a bit of a cheek to expect people to pay over $18 on Audible, for second rate recordings
Written by: Kate George
Narrated by: Sara Mackie
Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
Series: A Bree MacGowan Mystery, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Note: this is the Audiobook
Publishers' Summary
She's on a killer vacation.
Finding one dead body is unlucky. Finding two means you're Bella Bree MacGowan.
Most people can relax by an idyllic riverside without fishing a dead body out of the water; Bree MacGowan is not most people. And as luck would have it, it's not just any old corpse she's tripped over this time. It's the late wife of Senator R. Carl Wallace, a paragon of upstanding American citizenship to anyone who looks...unless they look too closely. Which is, of course, exactly what Bree does, and what she finds is definitely more trouble than she bargained for.
Where power and murder collide, danger follows, and Bree soon finds herself the target of break-ins, vandalism, and kidnapping, all at the hands of the dubious Senator who insists that she identify two criminals she's never seen before as the people who killed his wife. Now Bree has to save herself and the ones she loves from a conspiracy where the bad guys look good, the good guys look bad, and nothing is as it seems....
©2011 Kate George
My Review
What would we do without the accidental detective? The ones who, whilst enjoying the most mundane of daily activities, always somehow manage to find a corpse! Not just a corpse you understand, but a murdered corpse. Bree though, finds hers in a slightly unusual manner. Whilst relaxing and enjoying herself taking a few photos, Bree focused her camera lens way up towards a high bridge, what is in her viewfinder? You've guessed, a body which comes hurtling through the air from on high and lands in the river almost at her feet! Just to make matters worse, along comes a bear and up a tree goes Bree.
This is how this story (and trouble) starts, Bree finds herself suspected as a witness to this womans' murder, albeit from a great distance.
Do not expect a well constructed whodunit as the story is a little disjointed, it contains some annoying inconsistencies and, for some odd reason, an ill fitting and rather pointless shape shifting FBI agent who, I would say, is more suited to a fantasy. The storyline is predictable, Bree is annoyingly hard headed and incapable of making reasoned decisions. Her boyfriend is not the brightest, for goodness sake, he didn't even realise he had been kidnapped!
The book had the feel of one that had been dashed off quite quickly, I felt it could have done with a darn good polishing before being released. The story is, though, saved by its farcical element and proved entertaining enough.
The narrator, Sarah Mackie, did a good job with all characterisations, she has a pleasant, easy on the ear voice and I'd happily listen to her again.
Unfortunately, the sound quality was poor, with a slight echo, the consonants were uncomfortable to the ear. This is a shame, it is also a bit of a cheek to expect people to pay over $18 on Audible, for second rate recordings
December 3, 2014
Publishers' Summary
She's on a killer vacation.
Finding one dead body is unlucky. Finding two means you're Bella Bree MacGowan.
Most people can relax by an idyllic riverside without fishing a dead body out of the water; Bree MacGowan is not most people. And as luck would have it, it's not just any old corpse she's tripped over this time. It's the late wife of Senator R. Carl Wallace, a paragon of upstanding American citizenship to anyone who looks...unless they look too closely. Which is, of course, exactly what Bree does, and what she finds is definitely more trouble than she bargained for.
Where power and murder collide, danger follows, and Bree soon finds herself the target of break-ins, vandalism, and kidnapping, all at the hands of the dubious Senator who insists that she identify two criminals she's never seen before as the people who killed his wife. Now Bree has to save herself and the ones she loves from a conspiracy where the bad guys look good, the good guys look bad, and nothing is as it seems....
©2011 Kate George
My Review
What would we do without the accidental detective? The ones who, whilst enjoying the most mundane of daily activities, always somehow manage to find a corpse! Not just a corpse you understand, but a murdered corpse. Bree though, finds hers in a slightly unusual manner. Whilst relaxing and enjoying herself taking a few photos, Bree focused her camera lens way up towards a high bridge, what is in her viewfinder? You've guessed, a body which comes hurtling through the air from on high and lands in the river almost at her feet! Just to make matters worse, along comes a bear and up a tree goes Bree.
This is how this story (and trouble) starts, Bree finds herself suspected as a witness to this womans' murder, albeit from a great distance.
Do not expect a well constructed whodunit as the story is a little disjointed, it contains some annoying inconsistencies and, for some odd reason, an ill fitting and rather pointless shape shifting FBI agent who, I would say, is more suited to a fantasy. The storyline is predictable, Bree is annoyingly hard headed and incapable of making reasoned decisions. Her boyfriend is not the brightest, for goodness sake, he didn't even realise he had been kidnapped!
The book had the feel of one that had been dashed off quite quickly, I felt it could have done with a darn good polishing before being released. The story is, though, saved by its farcical element and proved entertaining enough.
The narrator, Sarah Mackie, did a good job with all characterisations, she has a pleasant, easy on the ear voice and I'd happily listen to her again.
Unfortunately, the sound quality was poor, with a slight echo, the consonants were uncomfortable to the ear. This is a shame, it is also a bit of a cheek to expect people to pay over $18 on Audible, for second rate recordings
She's on a killer vacation.
Finding one dead body is unlucky. Finding two means you're Bella Bree MacGowan.
Most people can relax by an idyllic riverside without fishing a dead body out of the water; Bree MacGowan is not most people. And as luck would have it, it's not just any old corpse she's tripped over this time. It's the late wife of Senator R. Carl Wallace, a paragon of upstanding American citizenship to anyone who looks...unless they look too closely. Which is, of course, exactly what Bree does, and what she finds is definitely more trouble than she bargained for.
Where power and murder collide, danger follows, and Bree soon finds herself the target of break-ins, vandalism, and kidnapping, all at the hands of the dubious Senator who insists that she identify two criminals she's never seen before as the people who killed his wife. Now Bree has to save herself and the ones she loves from a conspiracy where the bad guys look good, the good guys look bad, and nothing is as it seems....
©2011 Kate George
My Review
What would we do without the accidental detective? The ones who, whilst enjoying the most mundane of daily activities, always somehow manage to find a corpse! Not just a corpse you understand, but a murdered corpse. Bree though, finds hers in a slightly unusual manner. Whilst relaxing and enjoying herself taking a few photos, Bree focused her camera lens way up towards a high bridge, what is in her viewfinder? You've guessed, a body which comes hurtling through the air from on high and lands in the river almost at her feet! Just to make matters worse, along comes a bear and up a tree goes Bree.
This is how this story (and trouble) starts, Bree finds herself suspected as a witness to this womans' murder, albeit from a great distance.
Do not expect a well constructed whodunit as the story is a little disjointed, it contains some annoying inconsistencies and, for some odd reason, an ill fitting and rather pointless shape shifting FBI agent who, I would say, is more suited to a fantasy. The storyline is predictable, Bree is annoyingly hard headed and incapable of making reasoned decisions. Her boyfriend is not the brightest, for goodness sake, he didn't even realise he had been kidnapped!
The book had the feel of one that had been dashed off quite quickly, I felt it could have done with a darn good polishing before being released. The story is, though, saved by its farcical element and proved entertaining enough.
The narrator, Sarah Mackie, did a good job with all characterisations, she has a pleasant, easy on the ear voice and I'd happily listen to her again.
Unfortunately, the sound quality was poor, with a slight echo, the consonants were uncomfortable to the ear. This is a shame, it is also a bit of a cheek to expect people to pay over $18 on Audible, for second rate recordings
February 21, 2011
Bella Bree MacGowan is every timid woman's alter ego. She not only laughs in the face of danger, but smacks danger upside the head to get its attention when necessary. Author Kate George wrote this murder mystery in first person, putting the reader comfortably at ease with Bree as she tells the story of how she got mixed up in the murder of a senator's wife. Like a good friend who you can't help but allow to prattle on, Bree does tend to get off topic, sometimes making it difficult to sense when she's in true danger and when she's bluffing it out. Still, Kate George's smooth, fast-paced style draws the reader in and doesn't let go. The last third of the book was hard to put down.
Much of the initial suspense is based on Bree's worry about what the killer thinks she saw. At times Kate George lets Bree sink into paranoia, as when she is routed home from California via Virginia and many pages are devoted to strange women who sit next to her on the plane or follow her around in DC during her stop over. The mystery story gets lost at times. Bree's back injury after repairing a ceiling takes center stage while the mystery case and Bree's boyfriend's injury are forgotten. The mystery suddenly restarts when Bree is abducted. Bree's thoughts about how charming or hot her abductors are, and her conflicted feelings about whether to trust them or not, make it difficult for the reader to know where to place loyalty. Yet, as new information is revealed about the mystery, readers will have no problem rooting for Bree to succeed against these tough guys.
The patient reader is amply rewarded by all the plot twists in the clever trap the senator has set for Bree, and Bree's most redeeming quality shines through: her strong sense of personal honor. I cheered Bree all through the exciting chase scenes and let Kate George's easy-reading prose relax my guard during the wedding scene, so the ending held a refreshing twist that made the read deliciously worthwhile.
Much of the initial suspense is based on Bree's worry about what the killer thinks she saw. At times Kate George lets Bree sink into paranoia, as when she is routed home from California via Virginia and many pages are devoted to strange women who sit next to her on the plane or follow her around in DC during her stop over. The mystery story gets lost at times. Bree's back injury after repairing a ceiling takes center stage while the mystery case and Bree's boyfriend's injury are forgotten. The mystery suddenly restarts when Bree is abducted. Bree's thoughts about how charming or hot her abductors are, and her conflicted feelings about whether to trust them or not, make it difficult for the reader to know where to place loyalty. Yet, as new information is revealed about the mystery, readers will have no problem rooting for Bree to succeed against these tough guys.
The patient reader is amply rewarded by all the plot twists in the clever trap the senator has set for Bree, and Bree's most redeeming quality shines through: her strong sense of personal honor. I cheered Bree all through the exciting chase scenes and let Kate George's easy-reading prose relax my guard during the wedding scene, so the ending held a refreshing twist that made the read deliciously worthwhile.
January 21, 2015
This book started off great and went off the tracks quickly. Bree is staying in Northern California with her boyfriend. She spends her day appreciating nature and relaxing. When her vacation is spoiled by witnessing a murder everything goes pear shaped. Suddenly she and her boyfriend are being targeted by 'baddies'. Their home and truck are broken into and they are being threatened.
She is smuggled out of CA because her life is in danger. So then why Bree returns home to Vermont, her friends and pets; when Beau is injured and Bree heads back to California to bring him home.
Once back in Vermont she gets a repetitive motion injury and is kidnapped and flown commercial back to CA. [This is a heads up to the reader to start suspending your disbelief. ]
Now you are treated to repeated episodes of Bree escaping her captors only to be incredibly stupid and get caught. Once is convincing, but three times absolutely unbelievable.
Then she learns that her captors, an evil California State Senator and his henchmen, are also holding Beau and she decides to rescue him. Except Beau is too stupid to realize he is a prisoner.
There is then another thwarted escape attempt.
The book doesn't improve and the ending is as weak as the rest of the story.
She is smuggled out of CA because her life is in danger. So then why Bree returns home to Vermont, her friends and pets; when Beau is injured and Bree heads back to California to bring him home.
Once back in Vermont she gets a repetitive motion injury and is kidnapped and flown commercial back to CA. [This is a heads up to the reader to start suspending your disbelief. ]
Now you are treated to repeated episodes of Bree escaping her captors only to be incredibly stupid and get caught. Once is convincing, but three times absolutely unbelievable.
Then she learns that her captors, an evil California State Senator and his henchmen, are also holding Beau and she decides to rescue him. Except Beau is too stupid to realize he is a prisoner.
There is then another thwarted escape attempt.
The book doesn't improve and the ending is as weak as the rest of the story.
October 3, 2014
I have no idea what happened between the first book and this one, honestly it is a total different feel. The story is all over the place, hard to follow and the plot made little sense.
It is mostly a series of Bree getting kidnapped, escaping only to get nabbed again. It was never ending and disjointed.
Where was the sleep resort town angle of the first book? We popped in for a visit but didn't stay, cause Bree was kidnapped.
I wanted to like the book and really tried to stick with the plot. There are some fun supporting characters who will have you in stitches. Unfortunately that is it for what i liked about his book.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sara Mackie, who is excellent. She has just the right touch of snark in her read to really sell the character. Great pace throughout the book and terrific energy. She is probably the main reason I kept listening well after I lost interest.
Oh, please let the next book be back in town with that awesome supporting cast! And her feisty pet menagerie!!
Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thought, opinions and ratings are my own.
It is mostly a series of Bree getting kidnapped, escaping only to get nabbed again. It was never ending and disjointed.
Where was the sleep resort town angle of the first book? We popped in for a visit but didn't stay, cause Bree was kidnapped.
I wanted to like the book and really tried to stick with the plot. There are some fun supporting characters who will have you in stitches. Unfortunately that is it for what i liked about his book.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sara Mackie, who is excellent. She has just the right touch of snark in her read to really sell the character. Great pace throughout the book and terrific energy. She is probably the main reason I kept listening well after I lost interest.
Oh, please let the next book be back in town with that awesome supporting cast! And her feisty pet menagerie!!
Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thought, opinions and ratings are my own.
January 9, 2012
Still love Bree but come on! The mystery was stupid--especially all the cross country traveling! What happened to Rob the mechanic?! Why does Bree have ALL these hot guys chasing her around and yet she considers herself unlucky in love...would liked to have seen more of Miles Brooks in this one--got the feeling from the first book that he would factor in more--but not at all here. Oh well, probably wouldn't bother with a #3 unless it was free. Sorry Bree!
June 19, 2012
The opening of this book held such promise. The main character is out taking nature photos and sees a woman falling off of a very high bridge. She even manages to photograph the fall which puts her in the sights of a murderer. The story kind of wound down slowly from there.
California Schemin' by Kate George, was a disappointment.
California Schemin' by Kate George, was a disappointment.
October 29, 2017
A vacation in California seems like a good way to recover from being a murder suspect to small town Vermont newspaper reporter Bree MacGowan. Until she’s out shooting random photos near the Golden Gate Bridge and sees a woman take a swan dive off the structure. Only problem is, the woman is the shot dead wife of a prominent U.S. Senator who wanted his wife to go away. Bree soon finds herself the target of break-ins, vandalism, and kidnapping by the Senator, who wants her to identify two low-lifes as the perpetrators. No matter how low they are, she just can’t bring herself to lie.
I was drawn to this book by the title (all four books in the series have titles based on songs) and by Bree being a small town reporter (I started my brief journalism career in a small New Mexico town where the cops told me what I did on dates and my wedding made the front page of the paper). I wanted to like this book, can’t decide whether I like the series or not.
I found parts of it hard to believe – the repeated kidnappings, for instance. Anytime someone drugs me and puts my happy arse on a commercial flight and I wake up midair, I’m screaming, long and loud, and creating a huge scene, not quietly threatening the kidnapper that I will pee the seat if he doesn’t let me up. Just sayin’. The characters are stock – completely evil kidnapper; hot, handsome, conflicted kidnapper with a possible heart of gold; kind kidnapper who’s just doing his job; Senator’s vapid daughter and hot kidnapper’s girlfriend who’s jealous of Bree; shadowy government “agents”.
On the other hand, the situations are funny, the dialogue entertaining, and Bree a likeable character. There are some funny scenes at the end of the book involving a skunk who joins Bree’s rescued menagerie that were worth waiting for. So, I wouldn’t go out of my way to read this series, and it’s not one I’d re-read, but it did make the time at the gym pass very quickly. I give it two stars.
I was drawn to this book by the title (all four books in the series have titles based on songs) and by Bree being a small town reporter (I started my brief journalism career in a small New Mexico town where the cops told me what I did on dates and my wedding made the front page of the paper). I wanted to like this book, can’t decide whether I like the series or not.
I found parts of it hard to believe – the repeated kidnappings, for instance. Anytime someone drugs me and puts my happy arse on a commercial flight and I wake up midair, I’m screaming, long and loud, and creating a huge scene, not quietly threatening the kidnapper that I will pee the seat if he doesn’t let me up. Just sayin’. The characters are stock – completely evil kidnapper; hot, handsome, conflicted kidnapper with a possible heart of gold; kind kidnapper who’s just doing his job; Senator’s vapid daughter and hot kidnapper’s girlfriend who’s jealous of Bree; shadowy government “agents”.
On the other hand, the situations are funny, the dialogue entertaining, and Bree a likeable character. There are some funny scenes at the end of the book involving a skunk who joins Bree’s rescued menagerie that were worth waiting for. So, I wouldn’t go out of my way to read this series, and it’s not one I’d re-read, but it did make the time at the gym pass very quickly. I give it two stars.
February 25, 2024
"California Schemin'" by Bree MacGowan is a sun-soaked romp through the golden state with a side of mystery that keeps you guessing until the final pages. MacGowan's signature wit and knack for creating vibrant characters are on full display in this delightful novel. Set against the backdrop of California's glittering coastline, the story follows a group of charmingly flawed individuals as they navigate love, friendship, and a few unexpected twists along the way.
What sets "California Schemin'" apart is its perfect balance of humor and heart. MacGowan's writing is sharp and engaging, drawing you in from the very first page and keeping you hooked until the end. Whether you're laughing at the characters' antics or eagerly trying to solve the central mystery, this book is a joy to read from start to finish.
But perhaps the most refreshing aspect of "California Schemin'" is its authenticity. MacGowan brings to life the sights, sounds, and quirks of California in a way that feels both familiar and new. From the bustling streets of Los Angeles to the tranquil vineyards of Napa Valley, each setting is vividly rendered, adding depth and texture to the story.
Overall, "California Schemin'" is a captivating read that offers equal parts entertainment and insight. It's the perfect book to lose yourself in on a lazy afternoon or to devour in one sitting – either way, you're in for a treat. So grab a copy, kick back, and get ready to be swept away on a sunny California adventure unlike any other.
What sets "California Schemin'" apart is its perfect balance of humor and heart. MacGowan's writing is sharp and engaging, drawing you in from the very first page and keeping you hooked until the end. Whether you're laughing at the characters' antics or eagerly trying to solve the central mystery, this book is a joy to read from start to finish.
But perhaps the most refreshing aspect of "California Schemin'" is its authenticity. MacGowan brings to life the sights, sounds, and quirks of California in a way that feels both familiar and new. From the bustling streets of Los Angeles to the tranquil vineyards of Napa Valley, each setting is vividly rendered, adding depth and texture to the story.
Overall, "California Schemin'" is a captivating read that offers equal parts entertainment and insight. It's the perfect book to lose yourself in on a lazy afternoon or to devour in one sitting – either way, you're in for a treat. So grab a copy, kick back, and get ready to be swept away on a sunny California adventure unlike any other.
January 24, 2021
This was a funny story. Bree is on vacation with Beau while he’s doing a masonry job. She’s taking pictures when all of a sudden a woman falls from the bridge. From this moment forward, stuff starts happening to her even up to the end. Bree takes us on a ride of misadventures. Really good story.
July 21, 2017
Good story quirky..or the great characters
Flowed along to keep me interested from page 1 gave an . Insight to different people..some really different .thanks for the great characters
Flowed along to keep me interested from page 1 gave an . Insight to different people..some really different .thanks for the great characters
March 24, 2011
What a Fun Read! Time stood still while I read California Schemin' in one sitting! No doubt about it, Bree MacGowan is a fantastic, fun force to be around. This main character grabs you and pulls you into action after action barely giving you time to breathe. But when she does, she forces you to begin to love her with her love for her animals and her family. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her and look forward to meeting her again in this series!
Bree doesn't try to find trouble, but there she was enjoying the countryside, taking pictures, when her eye was caught by something moving on a bridge that stood high over her. Before she could think, she saw the body falling and hitting the water near her.
There was no hesitation, Bree went into the water to hopefully save the individual and worked to pull the woman to shore. She could still be alive, but when the blood flowed and Bree saw the bullet, she knew there was no chance for survival. She called the police on her cell and began the wait...
Bree was in California living with her lover while he worked. She was a reporter from Vermont and had realized that she was getting homesick. But, for now, she was called back to the present as she heard noises in the bushes surrounding her and the waiting body. A bear came roaming through...
Then from another direction, a man came out of the woods...
Just as the police were wading their way to her...
Fortunately, the bear and man ran and the police were soon there, immediately working their way to the body for their initial review. As Bree described what she had seen, she mentioned taking pictures as the reason for being there. Soon her latest pictures were turned over. Actually, Bree had seen little and knew nothing of help; however, that didn't mean that the individuals who had killed the woman would realize or, more importantly, accept that.
Soon Bree was the prey and we follow her as she goes home (by way of Virginia, which was to be her destination for purposes of records) only to be abducted once she finally got to Vermont. The fun part of the book is how often and how quickly Bree is in the midst of "escape." Sometimes she escapes from protective custody, sometimes she escapes from those criminals actually after her, and sometimes she escapes from the Feds. Let's just say that this is one gal that does not stay where she is told to stay or do what she is told to do. The result for readers is hilarious cat-and-mouse adventure.
I especially liked the shape-shifting alien who was one of the individuals following Bree. She was so outlandish in her disguises, but would openly talk to Bree about what she was going to look like next. Okay, weirdly funny...
As she realizes who is probably behind the murder, even if maybe not the guilty party, she is threatened, bribed, and, of course, forced to escape time after time. Even if she's beginning to like the looks of one of her captors and thinks the other is a cuddly bear. Really.
As I read this book, there were tornado warnings...and actual happenings surrounding my area. Bree may not have destroyed homes, trees and cars like the real one did. But when you read California Schemin' you may also begin to think of Bree as a tiny tornado! I loved the book and am looking forward to much more in this new series.
Delightfully fun adventure!
Book Received
From Author
GABixlerReviews
Bree doesn't try to find trouble, but there she was enjoying the countryside, taking pictures, when her eye was caught by something moving on a bridge that stood high over her. Before she could think, she saw the body falling and hitting the water near her.
There was no hesitation, Bree went into the water to hopefully save the individual and worked to pull the woman to shore. She could still be alive, but when the blood flowed and Bree saw the bullet, she knew there was no chance for survival. She called the police on her cell and began the wait...
Bree was in California living with her lover while he worked. She was a reporter from Vermont and had realized that she was getting homesick. But, for now, she was called back to the present as she heard noises in the bushes surrounding her and the waiting body. A bear came roaming through...
Then from another direction, a man came out of the woods...
Just as the police were wading their way to her...
Fortunately, the bear and man ran and the police were soon there, immediately working their way to the body for their initial review. As Bree described what she had seen, she mentioned taking pictures as the reason for being there. Soon her latest pictures were turned over. Actually, Bree had seen little and knew nothing of help; however, that didn't mean that the individuals who had killed the woman would realize or, more importantly, accept that.
Soon Bree was the prey and we follow her as she goes home (by way of Virginia, which was to be her destination for purposes of records) only to be abducted once she finally got to Vermont. The fun part of the book is how often and how quickly Bree is in the midst of "escape." Sometimes she escapes from protective custody, sometimes she escapes from those criminals actually after her, and sometimes she escapes from the Feds. Let's just say that this is one gal that does not stay where she is told to stay or do what she is told to do. The result for readers is hilarious cat-and-mouse adventure.
I especially liked the shape-shifting alien who was one of the individuals following Bree. She was so outlandish in her disguises, but would openly talk to Bree about what she was going to look like next. Okay, weirdly funny...
As she realizes who is probably behind the murder, even if maybe not the guilty party, she is threatened, bribed, and, of course, forced to escape time after time. Even if she's beginning to like the looks of one of her captors and thinks the other is a cuddly bear. Really.
As I read this book, there were tornado warnings...and actual happenings surrounding my area. Bree may not have destroyed homes, trees and cars like the real one did. But when you read California Schemin' you may also begin to think of Bree as a tiny tornado! I loved the book and am looking forward to much more in this new series.
Delightfully fun adventure!
Book Received
From Author
GABixlerReviews
February 21, 2011
Bree MacGowan has gone on vacation to Northern California where her boyfriend Beau to try to rest and recover from finding a dead body at the Inn where she worked in Kate George's first book Moonlighting in Vermont, only to have another inconvenient body fall into her life. The woman falls from a bridge Bree is photographing into a river and Bree finds it was murder when she wades in to try to rescue the woman. Soon, people are after her to discover what she saw, and what she might say to the cops. After Bree handed over all of the evidence to Sheriff Fogel, she thought she was out of the mess, not wanting to get anywhere near another murder investigation, but when Beau's cabin is ransacked and his car searched, Bree heads back to Vermont hoping to stay out of trouble. Trouble follows her, and she finds herself back in California courtesy of Moose and Hammie, two operatives with murky motives, but generally nice guys, unlike their boss. So Bree finds herself having to get involved in trying to figure out what was going on with the woman on the bridge and how she ended up dead.
California Schemin' is told from Bree's point of view and follows her as she travels from California to DC to Vermont and back. Sometimes this causes the mystery to take the back seat as Bree tries to figure out whether she can trust those around her, but I felt satisfied with the end though there are a couple of questions that I hope a future book will have the answers to. Bree's voice sets the tone of the book and makes it light and quick. I liked the way Bree interacts with Moose and Hammie. I hope that they show up in the next book because they were fun to watch interact with Bree, especially Moose.
If you liked Moonlighting in Vermont or Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews, I think you'll like California Schemin'.
I got a copy of this book from the author.
California Schemin' is told from Bree's point of view and follows her as she travels from California to DC to Vermont and back. Sometimes this causes the mystery to take the back seat as Bree tries to figure out whether she can trust those around her, but I felt satisfied with the end though there are a couple of questions that I hope a future book will have the answers to. Bree's voice sets the tone of the book and makes it light and quick. I liked the way Bree interacts with Moose and Hammie. I hope that they show up in the next book because they were fun to watch interact with Bree, especially Moose.
If you liked Moonlighting in Vermont or Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews, I think you'll like California Schemin'.
I got a copy of this book from the author.
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January 22, 2011 * Who I Am
Book Review: California Schemin’
Posted on January 21, 2011. Filed under: Book Review | Edit This
California Schemin’ by Kate George is a follow-up to her début novel, Moonlighting in Vermont. The main character of both novels, Bree MacGowan, has a knack for getting herself in trouble. In the first novel, she finds her boss dead and becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation. In California Schemin’ we find Bree in California with her boyfriend Beau. He is working, she should be taking a break after all the drama back home. Instead, she witnesses the body of a woman being thrown off a bridge and into a river. Since Bree had been taking photos of the area at the time, she becomes a target for the killers who think she may have seen or photographed something incriminating.
So begins an adventure that is at turns anxiety-inducing, and at others very funny. The characters are well-drawn and interesting. You like Bree, there are “bad guys” who are definitely unlikable, and there are characters who keep you guessing. The story is compelling, although not overly complicated, and makes you want to keep reading. The only reason I didn’t read this book in a single day is that I received an advanced copy in PDF format and was tied to the computer when I wanted to read it. It is a quick read, and similar in style to writing by Janet Evanovich. I very much enjoyed reading it, and can recommend it to anyone looking for a light-weight crime drama.
I actually had not read the first book, but had no trouble catching on to what little I needed to know from the first book. Even if this is your first experience with Kate George’s writing, you won’t be lost. I do, however, plan to catch up on what I missed by reading Moonlighting in Vermont as soon as I can.
Book Review: California Schemin’
Posted on January 21, 2011. Filed under: Book Review | Edit This
California Schemin’ by Kate George is a follow-up to her début novel, Moonlighting in Vermont. The main character of both novels, Bree MacGowan, has a knack for getting herself in trouble. In the first novel, she finds her boss dead and becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation. In California Schemin’ we find Bree in California with her boyfriend Beau. He is working, she should be taking a break after all the drama back home. Instead, she witnesses the body of a woman being thrown off a bridge and into a river. Since Bree had been taking photos of the area at the time, she becomes a target for the killers who think she may have seen or photographed something incriminating.
So begins an adventure that is at turns anxiety-inducing, and at others very funny. The characters are well-drawn and interesting. You like Bree, there are “bad guys” who are definitely unlikable, and there are characters who keep you guessing. The story is compelling, although not overly complicated, and makes you want to keep reading. The only reason I didn’t read this book in a single day is that I received an advanced copy in PDF format and was tied to the computer when I wanted to read it. It is a quick read, and similar in style to writing by Janet Evanovich. I very much enjoyed reading it, and can recommend it to anyone looking for a light-weight crime drama.
I actually had not read the first book, but had no trouble catching on to what little I needed to know from the first book. Even if this is your first experience with Kate George’s writing, you won’t be lost. I do, however, plan to catch up on what I missed by reading Moonlighting in Vermont as soon as I can.
March 10, 2011
California Schemin’ is the hilarious sequel to Moonlighting in Vermont by Kate George and, once again, features the headstrong but lovable Bella Bree MacGowan. Schemin’s a good old fashioned cozy mystery that infuses the author’s witty sense of humor, plenty of suspense, some great writing, and an engaging and action-packed plot.
Poor Bree, trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes. Hot off the heels of a murder investigation in which she was the prime suspect, Bree travels across country in hopes to get away on a relaxing vacation with new boyfriend, Beau. Unfortunately for Bree, while bird watching one afternoon; she witnesses a murder in progress. Natch! Who hasn’t gone on vacation and stumbled smack in the midst of a murder or two at one time or another? Even worse, the killers know there is a witness and will stop at nothing to find her and silence her for good! And when Bree is taken against her will, that’s when the laughter really begins. Will Bree ever see her beloved animals again, her best friend or, for that matter, Vermont?
George’s knack for creating really great three-dimensional characters, that are anything but mundane, is a breath of fresh air. It’s hard not to admire Bree for her laid-back, stumble-into-trouble personality. After all, it’s her adventurous ways coupled with her stubbornness that continues to place her in harm’s way, giving George a winning combination for a truly entertaining read.
Schemin’ hits the ground running and never lets up! Although a cozy murder mystery, George’s comical sense of humor has the reader gripped in suspense on the one hand, and laughing out loud on the other.
Poor Bree, trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes. Hot off the heels of a murder investigation in which she was the prime suspect, Bree travels across country in hopes to get away on a relaxing vacation with new boyfriend, Beau. Unfortunately for Bree, while bird watching one afternoon; she witnesses a murder in progress. Natch! Who hasn’t gone on vacation and stumbled smack in the midst of a murder or two at one time or another? Even worse, the killers know there is a witness and will stop at nothing to find her and silence her for good! And when Bree is taken against her will, that’s when the laughter really begins. Will Bree ever see her beloved animals again, her best friend or, for that matter, Vermont?
George’s knack for creating really great three-dimensional characters, that are anything but mundane, is a breath of fresh air. It’s hard not to admire Bree for her laid-back, stumble-into-trouble personality. After all, it’s her adventurous ways coupled with her stubbornness that continues to place her in harm’s way, giving George a winning combination for a truly entertaining read.
Schemin’ hits the ground running and never lets up! Although a cozy murder mystery, George’s comical sense of humor has the reader gripped in suspense on the one hand, and laughing out loud on the other.
March 1, 2011
Even when Bella “Bree” MacGowan leaves Vermont for California to spend it with her boyfriend, she can not escape the dead. While out taking pictures, Bree watches in horror as a woman falls off a bridge into the water. Without a second thought, Bree dives into the water, only to discover that the woman has been shot in the head. As if things could not get any worse, Bree has to contend with the aftermass of a murder. Bree has to worry about the killer coming after her. Can Bree solve the murder before she ends up the next victim?
California Schemin’ by Kate George is the first book I have read but this author. This book is the second Bree MacGowan mystery story. It can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novel. Bree is a hoot. She is not afraid to face fear head on and she is sarcastic to boot. Two of my favorite qualities. Of course the situations that Bree found herself in were pretty funny as well. The characters Bree meets are some interesting ones. They really made this story exciting. There were some surprises along the way. They are well placed ones. After reading this book, I plan to go back and check out the first Bree MacGowan novel, Moonlighting in Vermont. California Schemin’ will have you in stitches…laughing your head off!
California Schemin’ by Kate George is the first book I have read but this author. This book is the second Bree MacGowan mystery story. It can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novel. Bree is a hoot. She is not afraid to face fear head on and she is sarcastic to boot. Two of my favorite qualities. Of course the situations that Bree found herself in were pretty funny as well. The characters Bree meets are some interesting ones. They really made this story exciting. There were some surprises along the way. They are well placed ones. After reading this book, I plan to go back and check out the first Bree MacGowan novel, Moonlighting in Vermont. California Schemin’ will have you in stitches…laughing your head off!
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March 28, 2012Bree MacGowan, who came with her boyfriend who's working in CA, sees a woman fall off a bridge while she's wandering outdoors taking pictures. She took the picture of the people who were with the woman before trying to rescue her. The sheriff is a good guy, takes her statement and camera disc and she goes home. Bree and Beau are then threatened, have property destroyed and stolen and don't know why. Bree doesn't know who killed the woman, and then Bree goes back to her home in Vermont. Meanwhile, in CA Beau is injured on his work site; sabotage. Bree has a neck injury and is then abducted and taken back to CA by two men who work for the senator. The woman who was murdered was killed by or for her husband, a CA state senator. The senator wants Bree to identify some former criminals as the murderers so he can get his late wife's money. The men working for the senator are undercover from some agency; they keep Bree safe, but don't help her to escape. She escapes, takes the senator prisoner, finds Beau and eventually escape with the help of an undercover female FBI agent. Once home again, after a wedding, the senator tries to kill Bree, is sprayed by Bree's pet skunk and is captured. Beau dumps Bree.
February 28, 2011
Kinda Crazy
What do a heroine who seems to attract craziness, FBI agents who may or may not be on her side, and a skunk who likes cat food have in common? An author named Kate George who obviously had fun writing this tale.
Was it Bree's fault that she saw a body fall from a bridge? Was it wrong to call the authorities? No. But that doesn't stop whoever is following her and breaking into her home from terrorizing her.
And as if mysterious followers and persistent wildlife are not enough to put Bree over the edge, she's having boyfriend troubles. So it's no surprise that when she ends up where she does not want to be, unable to contact anyone she knows, she maintains an almost scary calm.
The mystery is intriguing enough and the characters compelling enough that I could mostly accept the way Bree dealt with her captors without shouting "Yell! Jump! Cause a commotion for goodness sake!"
I don't want to say more, because I don't want to spoil this entertaining story for anyone else. I enjoyed reading it a great deal and d get the author's first book, also about Bree. If you like fun, off-the-wall mysteries, you will love California Schemin'.
What do a heroine who seems to attract craziness, FBI agents who may or may not be on her side, and a skunk who likes cat food have in common? An author named Kate George who obviously had fun writing this tale.
Was it Bree's fault that she saw a body fall from a bridge? Was it wrong to call the authorities? No. But that doesn't stop whoever is following her and breaking into her home from terrorizing her.
And as if mysterious followers and persistent wildlife are not enough to put Bree over the edge, she's having boyfriend troubles. So it's no surprise that when she ends up where she does not want to be, unable to contact anyone she knows, she maintains an almost scary calm.
The mystery is intriguing enough and the characters compelling enough that I could mostly accept the way Bree dealt with her captors without shouting "Yell! Jump! Cause a commotion for goodness sake!"
I don't want to say more, because I don't want to spoil this entertaining story for anyone else. I enjoyed reading it a great deal and d get the author's first book, also about Bree. If you like fun, off-the-wall mysteries, you will love California Schemin'.
February 25, 2011
I really enjoyed California Schemin' by Kate George, in which a California vacation sounds like a great idea to Vermonter Bree MacGowan until a dead woman falls into her life, she's abducted from her bed, and her boyfriend disappears completely. I previously enjoyed the first mystery novel featuring Bree, Moonlighting in Vermont, and it was a treat to read a second book starring the likable Bree. The character has a humorous voice and she is loyal to her friends. Somehow, she always manages to get herself into trouble. Kate George writes in a fast-paced, light style and tone similar to Janet Evanovich. In this latest installment, readers are along for a suspense-filled ride. Why is Bree kidnapped? Who can she trust? How will she escape? I read this book in a couple of days and was always reluctant to put it down. If you're looking for a suspenseful mystery novel that will make you chuckle now and then, then pick up a copy of California Schemin' and her previous adventure, Moonlighting in Vermont.
June 19, 2011
What happens when you just can't stop finding dead bodies? Ask Bree MacGowan, a 30-something reporter who can't seem to leave trouble behind. Kate George's new novel California Schemin' follows Bree across the country from Vermont to California after she finds the body of her dead boss Vera. And as luck would have it, Bree finds yet another dead body as soon as she arrives in California.
The book is a fun and comedic look at Bree who is kidnapped and taken across the country by teddy bear sweet thugs, rescued by the FBI working with the thugs, and attacked yet again. As many times as she tries, and she tries quite a few, she just can't seem to win. A fun and easy to read story about a woman who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It's definitely not one of those books that will keep you thinking late at night, but it did keep me entertained for the few hours it took me to read. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes comedic thrillers, similar to Devil's Food Cake by Josi Kilpatrick. Or anyone that is looking for a quick read and good laugh. 3 stars.
The book is a fun and comedic look at Bree who is kidnapped and taken across the country by teddy bear sweet thugs, rescued by the FBI working with the thugs, and attacked yet again. As many times as she tries, and she tries quite a few, she just can't seem to win. A fun and easy to read story about a woman who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It's definitely not one of those books that will keep you thinking late at night, but it did keep me entertained for the few hours it took me to read. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes comedic thrillers, similar to Devil's Food Cake by Josi Kilpatrick. Or anyone that is looking for a quick read and good laugh. 3 stars.
October 14, 2012
The title of the book was what caught my attention but after reading the book I don't think the title is a suitable match. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters of California Schemin'. Bree and her boyfriend working/living in California when she sees and photographs a woman falling from a bridge. She calls 9-1-1 and then runs to assist and pulls the woman from the river only to discover she was probably dead before she hit the water judging by the bullet hole and blood gushing from her head. A bear shows up and Bree climbs a tree. While she's up there another guy with a gun shows up, likely looking for the woman photographing him. He takes off when the police arrive and the action is on. Whodunit? Is the senator involved in his wife's death or not?
It was a fast moving book, well written, good dialogue, though a little weird at times. Although there were moments in this book that I wondered about Bree's mental state, this is after all fiction. Whether or not it can happen in real life isn't as much an issue as the what if aspect and the fun read.
I really liked this book.
It was a fast moving book, well written, good dialogue, though a little weird at times. Although there were moments in this book that I wondered about Bree's mental state, this is after all fiction. Whether or not it can happen in real life isn't as much an issue as the what if aspect and the fun read.
I really liked this book.
February 28, 2011
California Schemin' got me hooked after a few pages, and I couldn't stop reading until I got to the last page. Kate George's novel is fast-paced, funny, and operates way outside of the traditional mystery box.
Bree MacGowan may share some qualities with famous predecessors like Kinsey Milhone and Stephanie Plum, but she is a unique character and very much her own woman. She's clever, confident, determined, and she has a unique ability to generate chemistry with all kinds of men - boyfriend, friends, cops, kidnappers, thugs - while never crossing the line into disloyalty.
Ms. George feeds us a delightful dose of ambiguity, moral and otherwise. While some of the men and women in the story are clearly good guys and others are rotten to the core, there are some major characters whose motives remain elusive throughout, and they and the story are all the more interesting because of this.
California Schemin' is engaging and quite enjoyable from beginning to end. I highly recommend it!
Bree MacGowan may share some qualities with famous predecessors like Kinsey Milhone and Stephanie Plum, but she is a unique character and very much her own woman. She's clever, confident, determined, and she has a unique ability to generate chemistry with all kinds of men - boyfriend, friends, cops, kidnappers, thugs - while never crossing the line into disloyalty.
Ms. George feeds us a delightful dose of ambiguity, moral and otherwise. While some of the men and women in the story are clearly good guys and others are rotten to the core, there are some major characters whose motives remain elusive throughout, and they and the story are all the more interesting because of this.
California Schemin' is engaging and quite enjoyable from beginning to end. I highly recommend it!
March 3, 2011
Bree MacGowan walks into trouble, unintentionally. She tends to find dead bodies. While taking a break in California with her man, Beau, she just so happens to find a dead body. She quickly retreats back to Vermont but that does her no good. She's meant to be a part of this investigation through all of it's twists and turns.
She gets abducted from her bed and works the case with Richard. He's a good guy/bad guy/undercover guy that I think Bree trusts a little too easily. However, Bree has a mind of her own.
California Schemin' is action packed and doesn't waste any time with a boring introduction. The story just starts and continues until it ends. The story is funny and quick witted. There is a lot of energy going on.
I didn't read the first book in the series and I wish I would have. I felt there was a lot about the character I didn't really know since California Schemin' just jumps into the story. If you are looking for a fun read, add this one to the list.
She gets abducted from her bed and works the case with Richard. He's a good guy/bad guy/undercover guy that I think Bree trusts a little too easily. However, Bree has a mind of her own.
California Schemin' is action packed and doesn't waste any time with a boring introduction. The story just starts and continues until it ends. The story is funny and quick witted. There is a lot of energy going on.
I didn't read the first book in the series and I wish I would have. I felt there was a lot about the character I didn't really know since California Schemin' just jumps into the story. If you are looking for a fun read, add this one to the list.
December 21, 2014
California schemin seems to pick up up where Moonlighting in Vermont left off. I haven't read Murder in Vermont. so i was a little confused at first. Bree MacGowen goes on vacation to Northern California with Beau her boyfriend to try to recover from finding a dead body at the inn she worked at in Vermont. While taking pictures of a bridge Bree sees a women fall from the bridge into the river. Bree wades in to try to save her only to find the women was murdered. Soon people are after her trying to find out what she saw and what she said to the police. Beau's cabin is ransacked and his car searched. Bree decides to go back to Vermont but trouble follows her and she finds herself back in California courtesy of two operatives Moose and Hammie. Bree decides she has to help solve the crime of what happened and what was going on with the women on the bridge and why she ended up dead. A very interesting murder mystery.
March 12, 2011
This second book by Kate George is a fast and fun read, filled with action from the very first page. If you like your mystery with lots of personality and some amusing twists and turns, this is the book for you!
Poor Bree MacGowan. She was trying to get over the trauma of finding her boss dead (in Kate's first book, Moonlighting in Vermont) by taking a California vacation with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, the vacation goes horribly wrong when another dead woman falls into her life. And despite what her boyfriend thinks, it really isn't Bree's fault.
Kidnappings, escapes, and some allies that might be enemies...or vice versa..only complicate issues. From beginning to end, Bree must try to keep her head under circmstances that would have the average wooman hiding under the bed with her dogs. Good thing that Bree is anything but average. And neither is this book.
Poor Bree MacGowan. She was trying to get over the trauma of finding her boss dead (in Kate's first book, Moonlighting in Vermont) by taking a California vacation with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, the vacation goes horribly wrong when another dead woman falls into her life. And despite what her boyfriend thinks, it really isn't Bree's fault.
Kidnappings, escapes, and some allies that might be enemies...or vice versa..only complicate issues. From beginning to end, Bree must try to keep her head under circmstances that would have the average wooman hiding under the bed with her dogs. Good thing that Bree is anything but average. And neither is this book.
November 3, 2014
California Schemin' by Kate George, sadly was a disappointment for me. It was an easy, light and fast,I kept searching for the mystery but it sort of disappeared.
There were funny parts like the shape shifting federal agent but when Bree MacGowan held hostage it just went on and on. It was difficult to figure who were the villains. I just wanted her to escape and be done with the crew of captors.
The opening of this book was brilliant, Bree is outdoors taking pictures of wildlife and then notices a flash of pink and a woman drops from very tall bridge. But then the book starts a lengthy slide downhill. So the good part of the book is the opening. I would have liked more emphasis on the shape shifter. Her boyfriend should have been dropped a long time ago.
Sorry, I cannot recommend this book.
There were funny parts like the shape shifting federal agent but when Bree MacGowan held hostage it just went on and on. It was difficult to figure who were the villains. I just wanted her to escape and be done with the crew of captors.
The opening of this book was brilliant, Bree is outdoors taking pictures of wildlife and then notices a flash of pink and a woman drops from very tall bridge. But then the book starts a lengthy slide downhill. So the good part of the book is the opening. I would have liked more emphasis on the shape shifter. Her boyfriend should have been dropped a long time ago.
Sorry, I cannot recommend this book.
October 19, 2016
A fun light read. Different than the typical chick mystery/intrigue/action
I like Bree as a character. She is strong and quick but not so much as to be to get out of every situation. She does tend to be a bit of a catastrophe magnet but shes not flighty.
3+ stars only because there are too many points a little over the top
I will have to go and find the first book and the third because this is the perfect type of relaxing respite book.
I like Bree as a character. She is strong and quick but not so much as to be to get out of every situation. She does tend to be a bit of a catastrophe magnet but shes not flighty.
3+ stars only because there are too many points a little over the top
I will have to go and find the first book and the third because this is the perfect type of relaxing respite book.
February 20, 2011
California Schemin' by Kate George is a page turner - I couldn't put it down! Kate does a great job of getting the action rolling on the first page and you get sucked into the adventures that befall her lead character, Bree MacGowan. Bree is a self-proclaimed animal lover who has more than her fair share of romantic misfortune. As she witnesses a murder while vacationing with her latest beau, the plot quickly thickens as she is trying to figure out who is after her and who is on her side. More importantly, when will danger next strike?
Kate's style and female lead remind me of the Kinsey Milhone alphabet series written by Sue Grafton. Both women are completely believable and have a knack for finding trouble.
Kate's style and female lead remind me of the Kinsey Milhone alphabet series written by Sue Grafton. Both women are completely believable and have a knack for finding trouble.
April 24, 2012
Here’s a fun story with an intriguing main character, Vermonter Bree MacGowan--who has an apparent history of choosing the wrong boyfriends. Starting off with a bang—Bree witnesses a murder—it figures she would become the next victim. But Bree is wily and makes friends wherever she goes. That includes her kidnapper, who is—or she thinks he is—a federal agent. California Schemin’ has a mixed up storyline and a fast pace that takes the reader from Vermont to California, from country parties to high class conventions. With attractive characters and an alien FBI agent, it’s almost certain to make you laugh. An excellent way to spend a few hours.
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