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A Mace Bauer Mystery #4
Mama Sees Stars
When a film crew comes a'callin on little Himmarshee, Mace snags a job as animal wrangler. Mama is sure this cowboy flick will be her own ticket to Hollywood. The Left Coasters are out of their element: No vanilla lattes or yoga studios. Hotter outside than a Santa Ana. Mosquitoes as big as Gulfstream jets.
The locals think the film folk are nuttier than squirrels at a peanut festival. But make-believe turns to murder when Mace finds the movie's producer shot and strung up at the horse corral. Who in blue blazes DIDN'T want to kill the much-hated executive? Mama's role might be miniscule, but her head swells to superstar proportions. When evil starts stalking the cast, Mama might just become one dead diva.
The locals think the film folk are nuttier than squirrels at a peanut festival. But make-believe turns to murder when Mace finds the movie's producer shot and strung up at the horse corral. Who in blue blazes DIDN'T want to kill the much-hated executive? Mama's role might be miniscule, but her head swells to superstar proportions. When evil starts stalking the cast, Mama might just become one dead diva.
327 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
14 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Sharp
11 books115 followersLike the main character in her funny, Southern-flavored mysteries, Deborah's roots were set in Florida long before Disney and ''Miami Vice.'' A native and former reporter for USA Today, she knows spots not found on maps: Molasses Junction. Muse. And now, Himmarshee, her own slice of Authentic Florida.
It's the setting for her Mace Bauer Mysteries, featuring Mace's wacky ''Mama.'' To create it, Deborah borrowed from the present-day ranching town of Okeechobee, and from the south Florida of her family's past. Deborah left a Ph.D. program in psychology to become a reporter, and then left the news biz to write light-hearted fiction. She has no plans, though, to leave her husband of 20-plus years, NBC reporter Kerry Sanders. They live in south Florida. No kids; no pets. Had goldfish once. Turned out badly.
It's the setting for her Mace Bauer Mysteries, featuring Mace's wacky ''Mama.'' To create it, Deborah borrowed from the present-day ranching town of Okeechobee, and from the south Florida of her family's past. Deborah left a Ph.D. program in psychology to become a reporter, and then left the news biz to write light-hearted fiction. She has no plans, though, to leave her husband of 20-plus years, NBC reporter Kerry Sanders. They live in south Florida. No kids; no pets. Had goldfish once. Turned out badly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 4, 2013
This is the fourth book in this series. I really enjoyed the first three books in the "Mace Bauer Mystery" series. I was disappointed in this book. It was difficult to follow the story line as easily because of the influx of new characters. I lean toward a series because once you become familiar with the base line of characters, it makes it a much easier comprehend the new story line. When so many new characters are introduced, you have to learn who each new character is and how they are affiliated with all the others. The plot line provided insight to famous people (actors) and their antics. The story line that involves Mace Bauer and her family intertwined with her on-again and off-again relationship with Carlos makes me very grateful my own family dynamic. The decision made at the end of the book was a long time coming! New challenges will have to be created in future books. I am waiting for 'Mama Gets Trashed' with anticipation!
April 27, 2020
The 4th book in the series was pretty satisfying. As always, I think you have to be in the mood for some quirky southern charm.. and if you are, then you will like this just as well as the rest in the series. The writing, dialogue, character development and everything else is right on par with the rest of the series. Idk if this is good or bad, but I wasn't as preoccupied with the mystery, and was more just along for the ride. So maybe not the most gripping who-dun-it.
I'm not sure the intention, but this ended up having a LOT more sexual references (but still PG-13 to keep in line with cozy mystery genre), AND so many LGBT dynamics. This actually ended up being a Love Pentagon.. like everyone was married to someone, having sex with a different someone, and in love with someone else lol. I probably could have needed a chart to keep it all straight.
I have to admit I am growing tired of the on again, off again relationship between Mace and Carlos. I feel he is a bit immature in the relationship considering he has been married before. And she is as fickle as they come. But I like her pretty well outside of this relationship with Carlos.
I was proud of myself because I *finally* could keep Mace's sisters straight.
A small gripe is that there were too many characters and potential suspects. Like I should have kept a detective's list honestly. The whole movie crew was on the list and it was hard to keep up, because so many of the characters had similar traits. Hollywood people were not portrayed very friendly in this one. The older women were snotty, self-absorbed, and gold diggers. The men were sexually inappropriate and egotistical. They just all blended together a bit too much. And, once the murder was solved, we are treated to little magazine one-liner updates on most of the rest of the suspects... but my argument is that since we didn't get updates on ALL the characters, were ALL the characters truly necessary? No. There were at least 3 that could have been easily axed without changing the story at all.
One left in the series so I will definitely be finishing. I have a hard time recommending this series, though, for a few reasons. I feel that you have to be in the right mind-set and mood to enjoy this southern charm cozy mystery. And, this started as a Nook Free Friday book for me many years ago. I don't know what happened, but the rest of the books in the series are not all that easy to come by... NONE of the books are available as digital books on Nook or Kindle for purchase now. My local library has digital versions of 1, 2, 3 and 5. I had to purchase a hard copy of this book in order to read it at all. Which is disappointing, because I think this series is generally a less-discovered but well-written series that fans of cozy mysteries would actually enjoy.
I'm not sure the intention, but this ended up having a LOT more sexual references (but still PG-13 to keep in line with cozy mystery genre), AND so many LGBT dynamics. This actually ended up being a Love Pentagon.. like everyone was married to someone, having sex with a different someone, and in love with someone else lol. I probably could have needed a chart to keep it all straight.
I have to admit I am growing tired of the on again, off again relationship between Mace and Carlos. I feel he is a bit immature in the relationship considering he has been married before. And she is as fickle as they come. But I like her pretty well outside of this relationship with Carlos.
I was proud of myself because I *finally* could keep Mace's sisters straight.
A small gripe is that there were too many characters and potential suspects. Like I should have kept a detective's list honestly. The whole movie crew was on the list and it was hard to keep up, because so many of the characters had similar traits. Hollywood people were not portrayed very friendly in this one. The older women were snotty, self-absorbed, and gold diggers. The men were sexually inappropriate and egotistical. They just all blended together a bit too much. And, once the murder was solved, we are treated to little magazine one-liner updates on most of the rest of the suspects... but my argument is that since we didn't get updates on ALL the characters, were ALL the characters truly necessary? No. There were at least 3 that could have been easily axed without changing the story at all.
One left in the series so I will definitely be finishing. I have a hard time recommending this series, though, for a few reasons. I feel that you have to be in the right mind-set and mood to enjoy this southern charm cozy mystery. And, this started as a Nook Free Friday book for me many years ago. I don't know what happened, but the rest of the books in the series are not all that easy to come by... NONE of the books are available as digital books on Nook or Kindle for purchase now. My local library has digital versions of 1, 2, 3 and 5. I had to purchase a hard copy of this book in order to read it at all. Which is disappointing, because I think this series is generally a less-discovered but well-written series that fans of cozy mysteries would actually enjoy.
April 22, 2021
Well I almost didn’t finish this one. I liked the previous books in this series but this one just kept making me angry. The characters kept behaving in ridiculous, rude, and childish behavior. I decided to stick it out and finish it after another reviewer said the ending was great. I on the other hand felt like the ending was too little, too late, just sort of tacked on the end to wrap it up with a happy ending.
May 9, 2021
This is such a fun series and I'm sorry I only have one left. I can't believe it didn't 'make' it and my only guess is that not enough people knew about it. I don't know how I fell into it but ... In this outing Mama gets a part in a movie being filmed in Florida after visiting her daughter Mace who is in charge of the onset horses. Mystery, murder and excitement ensue. I enjoy it. One more to go!
August 15, 2019
I get emotionally involved with my books and I felt such hate at times it was scary. Every single character made me mad at some point and I thought about just giving up and moving on to something else. But I stuck with it and I found I enjoyed it more than I hated it. The BEST part is the ENDING. 😊
May 20, 2020
Honestly maybe not my favorite book in the series but I did enjoy it. Mine is just as outrageous in this book as she was in the previous three. But still I’m looking forward to reading next one in the series. Looking forward to seeing what needs power gets up to next
October 2, 2017
The best one so far.
January 17, 2013
Mama Sees Stars is the fourth book in the series set in a fictional rural town in Northern Florida. The protagonist Mace is hired to take care of the horses for a Hollywood movie being filmed in town, with Mace’s Mama having a bit part in the movie. When the director is killed, motives for his murder abound among the celebrities and other luminaries making the movie.
As usual, Mama and Mace’s sisters, particularly the oldest one, provide a lot of the humor. The tension with the love interest, Carlos, continues, although some of the misunderstandings between them seem a little forced. For example, the ex-boyfriend keeps appearing and making a mess of things at the most inopportune moments, as does the celebrity who comes on to Carlos.
The murder on the movie set premise may be a little stale as a lot of other mysteries have used this as their basis. One of the problems with this kind of mystery is the difficulty in creating credible celebrities that are not real but are based on celebrities that the reader can recognize as certain types. Further, Mace seems to become part of the celebrity crowd more easily than I could accept, and soon the stars were confiding in her, and she was offering them advice. The mystery denouement did not come as a surprise, although I enjoyed seeing who came to Mace’s rescue. The ending to the romance subplot was more satisfying, although I did wonder how the author would pull this off in future books since their push-pull tension has been since a running thread in the series thus far.
Reviewed by Jacqueline Corcoran
Author of Time Witch, Backlit, A Month of Sundays, and Memoir of Death
http://www.jacquelinecorcoran.com/
As usual, Mama and Mace’s sisters, particularly the oldest one, provide a lot of the humor. The tension with the love interest, Carlos, continues, although some of the misunderstandings between them seem a little forced. For example, the ex-boyfriend keeps appearing and making a mess of things at the most inopportune moments, as does the celebrity who comes on to Carlos.
The murder on the movie set premise may be a little stale as a lot of other mysteries have used this as their basis. One of the problems with this kind of mystery is the difficulty in creating credible celebrities that are not real but are based on celebrities that the reader can recognize as certain types. Further, Mace seems to become part of the celebrity crowd more easily than I could accept, and soon the stars were confiding in her, and she was offering them advice. The mystery denouement did not come as a surprise, although I enjoyed seeing who came to Mace’s rescue. The ending to the romance subplot was more satisfying, although I did wonder how the author would pull this off in future books since their push-pull tension has been since a running thread in the series thus far.
Reviewed by Jacqueline Corcoran
Author of Time Witch, Backlit, A Month of Sundays, and Memoir of Death
http://www.jacquelinecorcoran.com/
July 30, 2013
3 stars because I'm just not a fan of the premise - a murder on a movie set placed in the middle of Florida. Murder mysteries within a series, where a whole new cast of characters are introduced are my least favorite; I figure out who's who in a series and then suddenly I have another passel of characters to figure out and keep straight. Usually this happens when the main character of a series encounters murder and mayhem on vacation, at a conference, etc. But hollywood setting up shop in Himmarshee results in the same thing.
I love these sisters although Mama was just too ditzy and narcissistic. I guess her narcissism can be excused though, as Hollywood was there to bring out her worst. The drama between Mace and Carlos started to feel exhausting and I just wanted to yell at the book "sit down and have a damn conversation with each other instead of stomping around!", but I loved the ending and so forgave the frustration.
The mystery wasn't quite as well done as in books past; I guessed the murderer pretty early on. The author left holes in this plot as well (what was up with the whole Raccoon thing?) and I didn't appreciate AT ALL the use of animals dying as a plot device in this story. I do not like reading about animal death in any way, shape, or form. VERY unappreciated in a cozy mystery, although I will say these deaths were not due to abuse, or characters otherwise taking joy in harming the animals.
All in all, not the best book in this series, but the series still shines as a very funny, entertaining look at a side of Florida few people experience and I am looking forward to September's new release.
I love these sisters although Mama was just too ditzy and narcissistic. I guess her narcissism can be excused though, as Hollywood was there to bring out her worst. The drama between Mace and Carlos started to feel exhausting and I just wanted to yell at the book "sit down and have a damn conversation with each other instead of stomping around!", but I loved the ending and so forgave the frustration.
The mystery wasn't quite as well done as in books past; I guessed the murderer pretty early on. The author left holes in this plot as well (what was up with the whole Raccoon thing?) and I didn't appreciate AT ALL the use of animals dying as a plot device in this story. I do not like reading about animal death in any way, shape, or form. VERY unappreciated in a cozy mystery, although I will say these deaths were not due to abuse, or characters otherwise taking joy in harming the animals.
All in all, not the best book in this series, but the series still shines as a very funny, entertaining look at a side of Florida few people experience and I am looking forward to September's new release.
August 15, 2011
Look-out Himmarshee, the craziness of Hollyweird is moving into your small-town!
When a big name Hollywood movie begins filming in town Mama and her girls Maddie, Marty and Mace are wrapped up in the drama of it all.
Mama's the star of the show both in her own mind and on the pages of author Deborah Sharp's fourth Mace Bauer Mystery. From the dead producer found on set to the final scene, Mama fans will love her latest escapades.
Mace thinks someone is intent on shutting down the production when shortly after the producers body is found shots ring out. With the help of her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Miami-cop Carlos, Mace has to find out who-dun-it before the others stars and star-struck Mama are hurt.
I have loved every one of the Mama books. I didn't think another could top the last in the series, Mama Gets Hitched, but with the drama and star power of the cast of characters in Mama Sees Stars, the latest book rockets to the top of my list of favorites.
Victoria Allman
author of:SEAsoned - A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
October 12, 2011
Move over, all you America’s Got Talent hopefuls. A new star is born, and it’s none of you. Hollywood has come to the small southern town of Himmarshee, Florida. Mace Bauer has been hired as animal wrangler for the movie shoot. Naturally, where Mace goes, her five-time married Mama is right behind her, along with sisters Marty and Maddie.
Mama is determined to become Hollywood royalty – or, at the very least, to score a speaking part in the movie. What she doesn’t count on is finding the murdered body of the movie’s executive producer in the horse corral. With a past history like this guy’s, it’s a wonder he wasn’t murdered years ago.
Mace finds herself drawn into the murder investigation, headed by her on-again off-again love, Carlos the police detective. The more she gets to know the people involved in the movie, the less she trusts most of them.
“Mama Sees Stars” is filled with all the wacky characters and settings that fans of Deborah Sharp’s delicious mystery series have come to expect. And Mama, of course, saves the day in the end. Without even mussing up her hairdo from Hair Today, Dyed Tomorrow.
Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Moving Can Be Murder” for Suspense Magazine
Mama is determined to become Hollywood royalty – or, at the very least, to score a speaking part in the movie. What she doesn’t count on is finding the murdered body of the movie’s executive producer in the horse corral. With a past history like this guy’s, it’s a wonder he wasn’t murdered years ago.
Mace finds herself drawn into the murder investigation, headed by her on-again off-again love, Carlos the police detective. The more she gets to know the people involved in the movie, the less she trusts most of them.
“Mama Sees Stars” is filled with all the wacky characters and settings that fans of Deborah Sharp’s delicious mystery series have come to expect. And Mama, of course, saves the day in the end. Without even mussing up her hairdo from Hair Today, Dyed Tomorrow.
Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Moving Can Be Murder” for Suspense Magazine
October 5, 2011
loved this book! I didn't want to put it down.
This is the 4th book in the Mace Bauer mystery series and the 1st i have read, it could be read as a stand alone novel.
I fell in love with the characters from the start especially Mama, she has the best one liners & a fantastic personality.
I was left wondering who-dun-it at every turn and I suspected everybody, I was surprised in the end.
Mace is a complicated character and finds it hard to show her true feelings where love is concerned. She also has a great relationship with her two sisters and her mama, they had me laughing throughout.
I haven't had this much fun reading a book since The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.
I will be going back & reading the series from the start.
All in all a great read, fast paced & held my attention throughout.
http://fictionfascination.blogspot.com/
This is the 4th book in the Mace Bauer mystery series and the 1st i have read, it could be read as a stand alone novel.
I fell in love with the characters from the start especially Mama, she has the best one liners & a fantastic personality.
I was left wondering who-dun-it at every turn and I suspected everybody, I was surprised in the end.
Mace is a complicated character and finds it hard to show her true feelings where love is concerned. She also has a great relationship with her two sisters and her mama, they had me laughing throughout.
I haven't had this much fun reading a book since The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.
I will be going back & reading the series from the start.
All in all a great read, fast paced & held my attention throughout.
http://fictionfascination.blogspot.com/
December 8, 2011
I finally finished the book. Murder on a movie set in Himmarshee, Florida. If anyone has read the Mace Bauer Mystery Series you'll know Mace works for the Dept of Parks in the this made up town in Florida. Mace takes a job as an animal wrangler for a western being filmed in her hometown.The producer has been killed, nobody liked him so everyone is a suspect. Pretty soon other near misses makes everyone a little antsy. Mace tries her best to figure out who the killer is but her off again, on again law officer boyfriend isn't keep her in the loop. Mama gets a very small part in the movie leading to Mama putting on airs. Mace's sisters add to the confusion. It was a fun read and a good storyline.
September 2, 2011
When a film company comes to Himmarshee, Mace Bauer signs on as animal wrangler, bringing her mother and two sisters as her curious "assistants." Mama snares a bit part in the film, and she and Mace discover a body. As more incidents, accidents and near-misses occur, Mace is distracted from her usual detecting by a crisis about the two men in her life. Can she make up her mind about commitment before the killer commits another murder? Next time, it may be Mace in the killer's sights.
September 2, 2011
Himmarshee Florida is seeing excitement - an honest to God Hollywood movie is being filmed there, with star and everything. You know that Mama is going to be front and center, right?
The humor and romance that I have come to enjoy in Deborah Sharp's series is definitely present bere. Looking forward to the 5th Mama book.
The humor and romance that I have come to enjoy in Deborah Sharp's series is definitely present bere. Looking forward to the 5th Mama book.
November 9, 2011
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the others in the series. I felt like the back and forth between Mace and Carlos had gone on for way too many books and the gay subplot wasn't well incorporated into the main storyline.
August 27, 2012
Cute family fun. Makes you not want to be a Hollywood star with the drama. This one was a bit tricker on the the murder then past ones. I want to smack Carlos sometimes and other times I want to smack Mace, but I guess it might all work out in the end... you have to read to find out.
February 22, 2013
Decent. It's much to like the other 3. Still has some funny parts, but still has a shallow mystery plot like the others. Quick read and I will read the next one just to keep up with the series and to see If the author branches out her skills.
September 11, 2011
This was my first Mace Bauer Mystery, but it sure as hell won't be my last. The story had humor, slapstick, pathos, and a number of great action scenes.
September 19, 2011
another keeper!!
March 4, 2012
I thoroughly enjoy this series of Mama books with Mace Bauer's detective skills. Ever humorous they provide many hours of enjoyable reading.
Read
June 25, 2012fun little mystery
July 22, 2012
This is a fun series....Mama Sees Stars is the fourth book. It is easy to read and entertaining. I'm looking forward to many more books about Mace and her family.
September 20, 2013
I love the southern humor and the mysteries all tied into one. :)
January 21, 2013
Fun characters, a rodeo, and good story.
May 17, 2013
Hilarious escapade of southern-fried murder and and mayhem.
June 12, 2013
3.5 stars
June 19, 2014
can't put her books down once i start. an easy enjoyable read
December 24, 2011
Great story'. Love the relationship between mama and her girls. And i love Carlos and Mace together
November 4, 2013
Reread.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews