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Body Movers #1
Body Movers
Carlotta Wren's life hasn't turned out as she'd planned. She didn't plan for her parents to skip bail for a white-collar crime, leaving her to raise her brother. She didn't plan on having the silver spoon ripped from her mouth and forgoing college to work retail. She didn't plan on her blue-blood fiancé dumping her. And she didn't plan on still being single ten years later, working at Neiman Marcus, with no idea where her fugitive parents are.
She's coping. Until…
…her lovable brother is arrested, and the hunky cop decides to reopen her parents' case.
…her brother becomes a body mover for the morgue and his sexy boss gets Carlotta involved.
…her former fiancé's wife is murdered, fingering Carlotta.
With three men in her life, Carlotta has added motivation to help bag a murderer to keep her own well-dressed body from being next on the list!
She's coping. Until…
…her lovable brother is arrested, and the hunky cop decides to reopen her parents' case.
…her brother becomes a body mover for the morgue and his sexy boss gets Carlotta involved.
…her former fiancé's wife is murdered, fingering Carlotta.
With three men in her life, Carlotta has added motivation to help bag a murderer to keep her own well-dressed body from being next on the list!
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 25, 2006
504 people are currently reading
16027 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Bond
265 books1,784 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author Stephanie Bond was seven years deep into a systems engineering career and pursuing an MBA at night when an instructor remarked that she had a flair for writing and suggested that she submit to academic journals. But Stephanie, a voracious reader, was only interested in writing fiction–more specifically, romantic fiction.
Upon completing her master’s degree and with no formal training in writing (her undergraduate degree is in computer programming), she started writing a romance novel in her spare time. Two years later in 1995 she sold her first manuscript, a romantic comedy, to Harlequin Books.
In 1997, with ten sales under her belt to two publishers, Stephanie left her corporate job to write women’s romantic fiction full-time. In 2011,
Stephanie launched a self-publishing business. Since that time, she has sold more than 1 million copies of her own books. To-date, Stephanie has published over 70 novels and has over 6 million copies of her work in worldwide distribution in numerous languages and formats.
Upon completing her master’s degree and with no formal training in writing (her undergraduate degree is in computer programming), she started writing a romance novel in her spare time. Two years later in 1995 she sold her first manuscript, a romantic comedy, to Harlequin Books.
In 1997, with ten sales under her belt to two publishers, Stephanie left her corporate job to write women’s romantic fiction full-time. In 2011,
Stephanie launched a self-publishing business. Since that time, she has sold more than 1 million copies of her own books. To-date, Stephanie has published over 70 novels and has over 6 million copies of her work in worldwide distribution in numerous languages and formats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 760 reviews
January 24, 2010
The weirdest thing happened when I got to the end of this book - I discovered "Questions for Discussion. As if this was some deep book that book clubs would be ordering by the dozen. Sometimes reading ebooks leads to unexpected surprises. But for some odd reason, none of the questions asked me to list the reasons why Carlotta and Wesley are TSTL (too stupid to live). But they are numerous. Too numerous to list here. I'll do my best to summarize.
Everyone makes mistakes, but Carlotta and her brother Wesley don't do anything right. Maybe I'm just too old, at the advanced age if 39.5, to appreciate the stupidity of youth. It irritates me too much. Gambling to the point of being in debt to 2 thugs who break into your house and threaten your family, buying guns, running drugs, driving with a suspended license, meddling in a murder case, and wasting more money in a day than I spend in a month is just a short list.
The weirdest thing is that I thought the auhor did a great job writing the characters. Every one, no matter how small, was vividly described and felt completely real to me. Maybe that's part of why the stupidity of the lead characters annoyed me so much, because I just couldn't enjoy watching them do so many potentially tragic things. As for Carlotta, our heroine, yes, every character in every mystery, especially cozy mysteries, is a horrible meddler. But her reasons were so weak. She had many really serious reasons to walk away, over and over, but she stuck it out to make sure a woman who treated her like dirt got justice. As though the police were unmotivated idiots.
I almost gave it 3 stars, because the characterization were so good. But then this whole rant poured out of me and I just couldn't. I do think a lot of people would like it more than I did, especially people under age 30.
Everyone makes mistakes, but Carlotta and her brother Wesley don't do anything right. Maybe I'm just too old, at the advanced age if 39.5, to appreciate the stupidity of youth. It irritates me too much. Gambling to the point of being in debt to 2 thugs who break into your house and threaten your family, buying guns, running drugs, driving with a suspended license, meddling in a murder case, and wasting more money in a day than I spend in a month is just a short list.
The weirdest thing is that I thought the auhor did a great job writing the characters. Every one, no matter how small, was vividly described and felt completely real to me. Maybe that's part of why the stupidity of the lead characters annoyed me so much, because I just couldn't enjoy watching them do so many potentially tragic things. As for Carlotta, our heroine, yes, every character in every mystery, especially cozy mysteries, is a horrible meddler. But her reasons were so weak. She had many really serious reasons to walk away, over and over, but she stuck it out to make sure a woman who treated her like dirt got justice. As though the police were unmotivated idiots.
I almost gave it 3 stars, because the characterization were so good. But then this whole rant poured out of me and I just couldn't. I do think a lot of people would like it more than I did, especially people under age 30.
July 15, 2024
When I working at the bookstore, I kept seeing these books. They were in the Body Movers series, and they had clever titles. The cover copy--as well as funny blurbs from the author's family members--drew my eye. However, we never had book one in stock, and I wasn't interested enough to actually order the book.
This weekend, I found books one and two at my local library. I happily checked them out, eager to discover the wonders within the covers. I shouldn't have bothered.
I've rarely read such a slow moving book with so little to recommend it. The death mentioned on the back cover doesn't occur until about 150 pages into the book. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem, but the pacing of the book was just plain odd. Bond spent far too much time setting up Carlotta's story and too little actually advancing the story itself.
Carlotta is an interesting character, as is her brother Wesley. However, I've realized over the years that life is too short to waste on books that I don't enjoy (unless they're necessary for my diss), so I quit this one. Maybe someone else will love it. Sadly, I'm just not into it.
Edit: July 2024.
I gave this book another shot and shouldn't've bothered. I really got sick of Wesley's gambling addiction. Also: does every man in Atlanta love Carlotta? It certainly seemed that way.
This weekend, I found books one and two at my local library. I happily checked them out, eager to discover the wonders within the covers. I shouldn't have bothered.
I've rarely read such a slow moving book with so little to recommend it. The death mentioned on the back cover doesn't occur until about 150 pages into the book. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem, but the pacing of the book was just plain odd. Bond spent far too much time setting up Carlotta's story and too little actually advancing the story itself.
Carlotta is an interesting character, as is her brother Wesley. However, I've realized over the years that life is too short to waste on books that I don't enjoy (unless they're necessary for my diss), so I quit this one. Maybe someone else will love it. Sadly, I'm just not into it.
Edit: July 2024.
I gave this book another shot and shouldn't've bothered. I really got sick of Wesley's gambling addiction. Also: does every man in Atlanta love Carlotta? It certainly seemed that way.
July 15, 2018
Our heroine is in the dangerous job of retail. I say that as someone who worked in retail for years and dealt with insane customers.
So when one of her customers shows up dead things really heat up. Especially since she was the wife of our heroine’s ex-fiancé. Now our heroine has to deal with a hot detective who wants to find her fugitive parents, the ex who is now free, and her brothers hot boss who is the body-mover.
But the guy giving her the most trouble is her little brother who keeps stacking up gambling debts with bad guys.
BTW for those of you who don’t like the cheating spouses, might want to skip these. Our heroine’s best friend usually dates married men and our heroine gets a bit close to her ex before his wife is disposed of.
So when one of her customers shows up dead things really heat up. Especially since she was the wife of our heroine’s ex-fiancé. Now our heroine has to deal with a hot detective who wants to find her fugitive parents, the ex who is now free, and her brothers hot boss who is the body-mover.
But the guy giving her the most trouble is her little brother who keeps stacking up gambling debts with bad guys.
BTW for those of you who don’t like the cheating spouses, might want to skip these. Our heroine’s best friend usually dates married men and our heroine gets a bit close to her ex before his wife is disposed of.
December 20, 2024
Carlotta Wren's life changed drastically when her parents’ skipped town while out on bail for a white-collar crime. Since they left her to raise her younger brother Wesley, she dropped out of college to work retail. Then her fiancé, Peter Ashley, dumped her because of the scandal. Now, ten years later, Wesley has been arrested for hacking into city computers. He's also in debt to two different loan sharks because of his gambling problem. Carlotta is at wits end with her brother, especially when his troubles become her problem.
This is the first book in the Body Movers series. There is so much going on in the first 100+ pages, the story felt very disjointed. The pace of the story suffers because it takes so long to set up the story. Finally, when we get to the murder, everything starts falling in place. Carlotta has three men that are interested in her...and she is the number one suspect in the murder.
I liked the story after it finally started moving forward. The characters are well developed. I just wanted to strangle Wesley for some of the stupid things he did. Will he ever learn? There were some amusing scenes in the story, especially involving Carlotta's best friend Hannah. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is the first book in the Body Movers series. There is so much going on in the first 100+ pages, the story felt very disjointed. The pace of the story suffers because it takes so long to set up the story. Finally, when we get to the murder, everything starts falling in place. Carlotta has three men that are interested in her...and she is the number one suspect in the murder.
I liked the story after it finally started moving forward. The characters are well developed. I just wanted to strangle Wesley for some of the stupid things he did. Will he ever learn? There were some amusing scenes in the story, especially involving Carlotta's best friend Hannah. My rating: 4 Stars.
May 9, 2013
First off, these are NOT like the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum novels. Plum is more hardcore than this woman, whom I don't even think took a swing at a guy. Plum is also a bounty hunter, and Carlotta sells clothing. Plum has a reason to investigate things, whereas this woman? Hardly. If you want a series with more meat on its bone, go with Plum. Want something fluffy and light that you can read while multitasking? Here ya go.
Not that this series is boring; it's just...there. You can read it and feel like the consequences aren't going to be serious. Wesley won't be dismembered, his sister raped, nobody dies but the bad guys. It's a stress-free series, so far. Well, nobody dies if you ignore the bodies that Wesley and Coop pick up.
Lively characters, and Carlotta's plight is very well described. I'm still not sure why she wasted $300, or why she actually trusted her brother not to waste his paycheck, but hey, without that kind of stupid, the book would be shorter. Hannah is annoying - her constant flirting got old, really quick. I want to see more of this...uh, forgot her name, the other friend that's happy with the dude overseas. And more of Moody - she seemed like someone Carlotta should hang out, someone who has her head on straight.
I haven't been reading chick lit mysteries very long, but they share common elements. A woman starts investigating something she likely shouldn't be investigating, ends up in trouble, and usually has one or two potential love interests, one of which will save her. It happened in this series, the Wollie Shelley series by Harley Jane Kozak, and in pretty much every Mary Higgins Clark book ever. (For those who care, that's why I stopped reading MHC. The plots were tired and worn-out.)
Why keep reading? Eh, I'm bored and why not. As long as the book doesn't actively piss me off, I'll give it a shot. I just wish some of these women made smarter decisions.
Not that this series is boring; it's just...there. You can read it and feel like the consequences aren't going to be serious. Wesley won't be dismembered, his sister raped, nobody dies but the bad guys. It's a stress-free series, so far. Well, nobody dies if you ignore the bodies that Wesley and Coop pick up.
Lively characters, and Carlotta's plight is very well described. I'm still not sure why she wasted $300, or why she actually trusted her brother not to waste his paycheck, but hey, without that kind of stupid, the book would be shorter. Hannah is annoying - her constant flirting got old, really quick. I want to see more of this...uh, forgot her name, the other friend that's happy with the dude overseas. And more of Moody - she seemed like someone Carlotta should hang out, someone who has her head on straight.
I haven't been reading chick lit mysteries very long, but they share common elements. A woman starts investigating something she likely shouldn't be investigating, ends up in trouble, and usually has one or two potential love interests, one of which will save her. It happened in this series, the Wollie Shelley series by Harley Jane Kozak, and in pretty much every Mary Higgins Clark book ever. (For those who care, that's why I stopped reading MHC. The plots were tired and worn-out.)
Why keep reading? Eh, I'm bored and why not. As long as the book doesn't actively piss me off, I'll give it a shot. I just wish some of these women made smarter decisions.
May 15, 2012
Miss Bond, you and I are going to have a long relationship - well at least as long as the Body Movers continues!
Carlotta Wren and her then nine-year old brother were abandoned by their parents after her father was accused of embezzling funds from his clients and jumped bail with their mother. Carlotta's fiance broke off their engagement and any hopes for college were destroyed since Carlotta was now her brothers keeper.
Ten years pass. One night at a party, Carlotta runs into her ex-fiance, Peter Ashford, and it seems like there is an ember or two still burning in the ash pile that was once their romance.
A few days later, Peter's wife is found dead in their pool, a victim of an accidental drowning, however the police soon learn she was murdered and Peter is their number one suspect.
Carlotta is upset to discover Peter is a suspect. The head detective on the case, Jack Terry, is giving Carlotta a hard time after learning she was once engaged to Peter and the detective isn't too sure Carlotta didn't have something to do with the murder!
Carlotta Wren and her then nine-year old brother were abandoned by their parents after her father was accused of embezzling funds from his clients and jumped bail with their mother. Carlotta's fiance broke off their engagement and any hopes for college were destroyed since Carlotta was now her brothers keeper.
Ten years pass. One night at a party, Carlotta runs into her ex-fiance, Peter Ashford, and it seems like there is an ember or two still burning in the ash pile that was once their romance.
A few days later, Peter's wife is found dead in their pool, a victim of an accidental drowning, however the police soon learn she was murdered and Peter is their number one suspect.
Carlotta is upset to discover Peter is a suspect. The head detective on the case, Jack Terry, is giving Carlotta a hard time after learning she was once engaged to Peter and the detective isn't too sure Carlotta didn't have something to do with the murder!
July 7, 2020
This one had me going back and forth on my opinion... Most of the time, i found Carlotta to be sooo annoying. The writer is trying her hardest to make this heroine appear tough as nails under the surface, yet, her stupidity just had me going : 'Huh'? a lot of the times. It just didn't make sense to me and just ended up aggravating me. And everywhere she went, this woman just seemed to attract EVERY mans attention, to her absolute disgust... i mean cooome oooon...
The beginning was a bit of a drag but the story picked up after a while, and i really liked Coops character. Also the little cliff hanger at the end, always a nice touch... so yeah, just average in general.
I am a bit curious to know what would have come next - and i can see that this series goes on a couple of tomes, but, yeah... it's a 'not now" for me.
The beginning was a bit of a drag but the story picked up after a while, and i really liked Coops character. Also the little cliff hanger at the end, always a nice touch... so yeah, just average in general.
I am a bit curious to know what would have come next - and i can see that this series goes on a couple of tomes, but, yeah... it's a 'not now" for me.
September 1, 2015
This book was a lot better than I thought it would be. It has a really engaging female lead and the sexual tension is wonderful. An wonderful fun read!!
November 9, 2018
I loved this book! Super funny, interesting characters and an engaging mystery. Looking forward to the next one.
November 13, 2011
This was a fun read. Fast paced and funny overall. I liked the characters and the plot - lots happening.
Only the ending didn't work for me. I like it when the main protag solves the puzzle and she was doing so good, but.... Also she didn't really change over the course of the story - she had a number of insecurities and weaknesses and I'd hoped by the end she'd grow. However, there is a second book (first one ends with a bit of a cliff hanger) so perhaps the author is waiting to show her character's growth in book 2.
Despite the ending, I will be reading the second book to see what happens with the characters :)
Only the ending didn't work for me. I like it when the main protag solves the puzzle and she was doing so good, but.... Also she didn't really change over the course of the story - she had a number of insecurities and weaknesses and I'd hoped by the end she'd grow. However, there is a second book (first one ends with a bit of a cliff hanger) so perhaps the author is waiting to show her character's growth in book 2.
Despite the ending, I will be reading the second book to see what happens with the characters :)
February 9, 2011
Maybe I'm silly but it just seemed to me like the main character is just way too hung up on her brother. I got a decent ways into the book but I just wanted to smack the heroine for letting her brother rope her into such stuff. I know people in reality have family members that seem to drag them into their problems but I have enough of that going on in my own life. I suppose I just didn't want to have to read about it as well. I hear this series is really good, I guess just it was just the wrong time for me.
June 10, 2009
What I thought would be a cute read (one I could suggest to Evanovich fans?) turned out not to be so. This is paced all wrong. Near the end of the first disc, this self-described "sexy mystery" has no spark of romance, no hint of mystery, and a main character that caused me to roll my eyes several times. Stronger elements may have been just out of reach, but readers shouldn't have to work so hard to get to the hook. I just don't care enough.
June 24, 2009
Carlotta Wren, amateur detective, is embroiled in a murder investigation. Angela Ashford, married to Carlotta's ex-boyfriend, Peter, (from 10 years ago) has been murdered. Carlotta feels that Peter is innocent and begins an investigation since she believes that the police aren't investigating properly.
Carlotta's brother, Wesley is having troubles with the law (computer hacking) and he's in deep with loan sharks (gambling). So Carlotta's got a lot on her plate not to mention the fact that her parents skipped town 10 years ago on an embezzlement charge and left her and her much younger brother to fend for themselves. Wesley gets a job working for a funeral home collecting dead bodies (hence the title) and his boss Cooper has the hots for Carlotta but unfortunately, Carlotta is hung up and Peter and ignores Coop.
Very exciting and action packed adventure -- the first in a series. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. The detective Jack Terry is funny with a dry sense of humor and interested in Carlotta regardless of the trouble she is in. Cooper is interesting in a macabre kind of way and interested in Carlotta. Her best friend Hannah is something else - piercings, 80s hair and loud and proud...too funny at times. Peter is an ass and hopefully this is the end of him in the series.
Carlotta's brother, Wesley is having troubles with the law (computer hacking) and he's in deep with loan sharks (gambling). So Carlotta's got a lot on her plate not to mention the fact that her parents skipped town 10 years ago on an embezzlement charge and left her and her much younger brother to fend for themselves. Wesley gets a job working for a funeral home collecting dead bodies (hence the title) and his boss Cooper has the hots for Carlotta but unfortunately, Carlotta is hung up and Peter and ignores Coop.
Very exciting and action packed adventure -- the first in a series. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. The detective Jack Terry is funny with a dry sense of humor and interested in Carlotta regardless of the trouble she is in. Cooper is interesting in a macabre kind of way and interested in Carlotta. Her best friend Hannah is something else - piercings, 80s hair and loud and proud...too funny at times. Peter is an ass and hopefully this is the end of him in the series.
August 19, 2019
Carlotta and Wesley are brother and sister. Carlotta has been Wesley's guardian ever since their parents disappeared. Wesley has always been mischievous, but this time he's outdone himself. When he is arrested and put on probation for hacking into the city's computer system, Carlotta thinks Wesley may finally change his ways. Part of his probation requires him to find a job. While it's not the most glamorous, body moving pays well. But when his job brings him to the home of Carlotta's ex-boyfriend, things really start to go wrong. Carlotta is even under suspicion for the murder. Will Carlotta be able to clear her name?
I have had this book on my TBR for a very long time. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this story. I don't think that I could ever be a part of a body moving service. I get queasy when I have to clean up my own kids vomit.
Carlotta and Wesley have lived in town all of their lives. They still live in the home they last lived in when their parents disappeared. Carlotta works for Nordstrom and tries her best to take care of Wesley, but he is reaching the age, where he should be able to take care of himself.
Ex-boyfriends, jealous wives, cigar smoking players, death, and a love interest. This book has it all and I can't wait to see what happens next with Carlotta and Wesley.
I have had this book on my TBR for a very long time. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this story. I don't think that I could ever be a part of a body moving service. I get queasy when I have to clean up my own kids vomit.
Carlotta and Wesley have lived in town all of their lives. They still live in the home they last lived in when their parents disappeared. Carlotta works for Nordstrom and tries her best to take care of Wesley, but he is reaching the age, where he should be able to take care of himself.
Ex-boyfriends, jealous wives, cigar smoking players, death, and a love interest. This book has it all and I can't wait to see what happens next with Carlotta and Wesley.
December 6, 2010
What an hilarious, light, beach read. It is similar to the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. The main character works at Neiman's at Lenox Mall in Atlanta and I enjoyed all the references to areas I know well. The mystery and fast action make it a page turner and Carlotta always seems to be in the middle of something. This is just a fun read to take a break from all the serious reading. AS one book ends it jumps right into the next book. I ended up reading the 6 books so far in the series in 2 weeks time. Needless to say not much got done around the house. The sexual tension gets more explicit in the later books, which wasn't really necessary. The tension alone was more fun.
May 9, 2024
Looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
March 22, 2013
Really good if you like murder mysteries! Fast read and a good cliff hanger at the end, can't wait to read the next!
October 3, 2022
Body Movers by Stephanie Bond would have earned a four star rating from me except for the fact that Carlotta's brother Wesley has to be one of the worst characters, let alone, brothers in the universe. Self-centered to the extreme, he's a messed-up excuse for a sibling (who supposedly loves his sister, who has sacrificed a lot to care for him since he was nine). Wesley's escapades nearly ruined my enjoyment of an otherwise light, quick read. Carlotta ought to try a little tough love and kick Wesley to the curb for any future installments of this series.
March 30, 2022
I’ll definitely be continuing with this series.
June 1, 2021
I really enjoyed this. I liked the characters - you can't help but root for Carlotta. I'm looking forward to seeing how the relationships develop between all the characters in future books. The story was good and the mystery definitely kept me guessing.
May 14, 2019
I'd been suffering from a book hangover and browsing through my selves, when I noticed a note on this book that I left unfinished. While I have been trying to save myself some time and frustration by removing books and series I no longer enjoy from my TBR, my OCD side is still less than happy with me for not finishing books.
Guess which side won this battle... I knew I'd find fault with any book I started at this point, and since I'd already started this one and had found enough faults to actually put it aside for quite some time, I figured it might be the right one to compliment my current mood, and it didn't exactly disappoint.
I was drawn to the description of the book initially, but the story veers off from it pretty early on and doesn't return to the path I was expecting it would take. The heroine is not one I could particularly identify with and her tenacity, among other things, annoyed me at times, but she does remain consistent throughout so there's that.
The resolution of the mystery is not something I saw coming, which is another thing in the positives column, and so is the relationship between the siblings. They both love one another and try their best, despite their flaws and bad judgement that sometimes causes problems between them.
I was also intrigued by a couple of the men that could turn into romantic interests, but am less than impressed with the one the heroine gave her attention to. .
The story ends with a number of unresolved issues, to which are added, but I'm not sure if I'll ever get to the next one in the series, 2 Bodies for the Price of 1. Then again my OCD side might win again at some point in the future. Who knows...
Apr 06, 2015:
A lot less light than the description would have you think. More than halfway through and I don't particularly care to see what happens next.
On hold for now.
Guess which side won this battle... I knew I'd find fault with any book I started at this point, and since I'd already started this one and had found enough faults to actually put it aside for quite some time, I figured it might be the right one to compliment my current mood, and it didn't exactly disappoint.
I was drawn to the description of the book initially, but the story veers off from it pretty early on and doesn't return to the path I was expecting it would take. The heroine is not one I could particularly identify with and her tenacity, among other things, annoyed me at times, but she does remain consistent throughout so there's that.
The resolution of the mystery is not something I saw coming, which is another thing in the positives column, and so is the relationship between the siblings. They both love one another and try their best, despite their flaws and bad judgement that sometimes causes problems between them.
I was also intrigued by a couple of the men that could turn into romantic interests, but am less than impressed with the one the heroine gave her attention to. .
The story ends with a number of unresolved issues, to which are added, but I'm not sure if I'll ever get to the next one in the series, 2 Bodies for the Price of 1. Then again my OCD side might win again at some point in the future. Who knows...
Apr 06, 2015:
A lot less light than the description would have you think. More than halfway through and I don't particularly care to see what happens next.
On hold for now.
April 23, 2015
Initial Impressions 4/29/12: Hmm, I'd actually say 3.5 stars for this one. I really did enjoy most of it, but I just kept feeling slightly let down at the end of the book. I wasn't quite sure I liked the way the mystery was resolved, but there were some really enjoyable characters in the book and I'm very interested to see how Carlotta's relationships develop in the next couple books! Also, I want to see them get more involved in the body-moving business. I had the impression that this was already the family business so I was caught off guard that it wasn't, so maybe that will take off in the next book.
Full review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: Well, this was enjoyable, but I do have to say that I was hoping for better. Maybe since there were three possible romances, I really wanted one of them to start panning out. Coop’s lust for Carlotta is just a crush, she’s hopping back on the Peter-train against her better judgment, and I personally was also rooting for the detective (as well as Coop) just because she seemed to hate him so much that she liked him. As for the murder mystery, well played out, but still not quite the ending I wanted it to have. Carlotta does some good sleuthing and like any good mystery heroine, hunts down her own clues instead of leaving it to the professionals! Very good with that side of the novel, but I was even still just mildly disappointed with who ended up being the murderer here. Somehow just not satisfying. Maybe I was also led on by the fact that it was called Body Movers and I just expected all of the characters to be involved in the title business and not just her brothers happening upon it. Oh well. I did still like the characters that were introduced and I’d like to continue on in the series!
Full review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: Well, this was enjoyable, but I do have to say that I was hoping for better. Maybe since there were three possible romances, I really wanted one of them to start panning out. Coop’s lust for Carlotta is just a crush, she’s hopping back on the Peter-train against her better judgment, and I personally was also rooting for the detective (as well as Coop) just because she seemed to hate him so much that she liked him. As for the murder mystery, well played out, but still not quite the ending I wanted it to have. Carlotta does some good sleuthing and like any good mystery heroine, hunts down her own clues instead of leaving it to the professionals! Very good with that side of the novel, but I was even still just mildly disappointed with who ended up being the murderer here. Somehow just not satisfying. Maybe I was also led on by the fact that it was called Body Movers and I just expected all of the characters to be involved in the title business and not just her brothers happening upon it. Oh well. I did still like the characters that were introduced and I’d like to continue on in the series!
October 10, 2009
Carlotta is barely keeping it together. Ten years ago her parents were under indictment for embezzlement when they skipped town, leaving 18 year old Carlotta to raise her nine year old geeky brother Wesley. Her fiance dumped her and married someone else in her former social class.
Now she works on commission at Neiman Marcus, serving her former fiance's rich bitch of a wife, and trying to keep her brother safe from loan sharks. Wesley is arrested for hacking and her tenuous finances become more strained as she deals with collectors, murder, her former fiance, a cop with a professional interest in her parents' disappearance and other interests in her own pretty self. When the wife is murdered, life becomes more complicated as Carlotta tries to find sense in life, to find the murder, and to just survive. Oh yeah, and Wesley's on parole with a real job picking up bodies for the morgue, working with another hunky man with a past.
Charming, engaging, absurd, and believable. Everyone has secrets they keep badly and try as hard as they can to survive and thrive in this chick lit, comedy, mystery.
Now she works on commission at Neiman Marcus, serving her former fiance's rich bitch of a wife, and trying to keep her brother safe from loan sharks. Wesley is arrested for hacking and her tenuous finances become more strained as she deals with collectors, murder, her former fiance, a cop with a professional interest in her parents' disappearance and other interests in her own pretty self. When the wife is murdered, life becomes more complicated as Carlotta tries to find sense in life, to find the murder, and to just survive. Oh yeah, and Wesley's on parole with a real job picking up bodies for the morgue, working with another hunky man with a past.
Charming, engaging, absurd, and believable. Everyone has secrets they keep badly and try as hard as they can to survive and thrive in this chick lit, comedy, mystery.
April 18, 2012
Body Movers was a fantastic read. Carlotta and her brother Wesley Wren are abandoned by their parents 10 years earlier, because her father did not want to go to jail for embezzlement! Carlotta is now in her early 30's and working at Neiman Marcus as a personal shopper for the rich and spoiled! Wesley is 19 years old and always getting into some kind of trouble. This time he gets arrested for hacking in the City Hall computers, presumably to fix some traffic tickets for his friend. He is placed on probation and he must make restitution of $5,000 and do community service. Wesley thinks he is this great card player, but he borrows more then he can pay back, which brings some shady characters to his and his sister's house. When Carlotta tells Wesley that he must get a regular job, that gives a regular paycheck and health benefits, Wesley answers an ad as a Body Mover. The fun begins once you open the book! Two of the rich and spoiled wind up dead, one looks like an accident and the other is classified as murder! You will not be able to put this book down, for fear you might miss something that just could be juicy!!!
March 1, 2022
I almost gave up on this book after learning that Carlotta and her brother, Wesley, were ethics impaired and the story was moving really slow, but, I stayed with it. The pace started to pick and I think I'm finishing it.
Carlotta and Wesley were abandoned by their parents 10 years ago when they skip on charges of larceny and fraud. Carlotta's fiancé, Peter, dumped her and Wesley developed a gambling and computer hacking problem. With thugs on them to be paid and Wesley on probation for hacking, things go downhill when Peter's wife turns up dead after trying to strangle Carlotta in the middle of Neiman Marcus. Wesley is working for a mysterious guy, Coop, as a body mover who is called to the scene. Also on the scene is Det. Jack Terry, Wesley's arresting officer who is also taking a second look at dad's case in the hope of finding him. Three guys who are all interested in Carlotta, who is only interested is saving Wesley and her butts.
The story really gets moving after page 100. It turned out to be a really good mystery. Not much in the romance or humor department, but a fun read.
Carlotta and Wesley were abandoned by their parents 10 years ago when they skip on charges of larceny and fraud. Carlotta's fiancé, Peter, dumped her and Wesley developed a gambling and computer hacking problem. With thugs on them to be paid and Wesley on probation for hacking, things go downhill when Peter's wife turns up dead after trying to strangle Carlotta in the middle of Neiman Marcus. Wesley is working for a mysterious guy, Coop, as a body mover who is called to the scene. Also on the scene is Det. Jack Terry, Wesley's arresting officer who is also taking a second look at dad's case in the hope of finding him. Three guys who are all interested in Carlotta, who is only interested is saving Wesley and her butts.
The story really gets moving after page 100. It turned out to be a really good mystery. Not much in the romance or humor department, but a fun read.
June 18, 2009
An okay mystery. Not nearly as engaging as the Stephanie Plum series, but entertaining none the less. I have read the whole series (up to book 6 -- which is the last one she has out as of June 2009). I enjoyed the mysteries and the "romance" between Carlotta and the guys. Wes makes me crazy since he can't seem to make a decent decision to save his life. But other than a few minor irritating points (will she walk away from Peter already ... he's as dull as dirt!), I will continue the series to see what happens next.
I would recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a quick escape. It's not nearly as clever or funny as Evanovich, but it will do in a pinch. Just don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.
BTW -- most of the series includes some bad language and definitely adult situations (sex, etc.) Not necessarily a "gentle" read.
I would recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a quick escape. It's not nearly as clever or funny as Evanovich, but it will do in a pinch. Just don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.
BTW -- most of the series includes some bad language and definitely adult situations (sex, etc.) Not necessarily a "gentle" read.
November 7, 2008
Are you freakin' kidding me???? The author spends all of the time developing the story and little side plots and its like the book was getting to long or something so she thinks "crap, we had better cram as much resolution into the last 5 pages, but not too much because really its just a tiny break before my next book." It doesn't end!!!! You find out who the killer was but thats IT!!!! I was so mad when I finished! There are plenty of series out there that have some sort of ending at each book, but not this one! Don't read this unless you want to be disappointed!!!!!
September 22, 2018
Body movers
Good read. Fast pace. Humor and mystery. Character could be a little less obsessed with clothes and shoes but, otherwise excellent.
Good read. Fast pace. Humor and mystery. Character could be a little less obsessed with clothes and shoes but, otherwise excellent.
September 9, 2019
Very entertaining easy read, great plot twists to keep you hooked!
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May 8, 2019Rating: very subjectively BAD, a bit less subjectively TBA
I am not very familiar with chick lit and cozy mysteries but it sure is not what I expected. Hard to rate a book when basically these kind of stories make no sense to me whatsoever?
But I have to say the characters were pretty well fleshed although very much unlikable. Wes was an irresponsible jackass that forgot to grow up and Carlotta had a tough life but made sure it couldn't go better. And for broke people, there was an incredible amount of money going hand to hand and a lot of facepalm on my part.
I am not very familiar with chick lit and cozy mysteries but it sure is not what I expected. Hard to rate a book when basically these kind of stories make no sense to me whatsoever?
But I have to say the characters were pretty well fleshed although very much unlikable. Wes was an irresponsible jackass that forgot to grow up and Carlotta had a tough life but made sure it couldn't go better. And for broke people, there was an incredible amount of money going hand to hand and a lot of facepalm on my part.
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