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Kill the Competition
Good girls finish last... That's Belinda Hennessey's new philosophy in life, work, and love after moving to Atlanta to escape a disastrous six-hour marriage. Now she has a killer job, spunky carpooling gal-pals, and the velvety voice of a traffic helicopter reporter to guide her on her way. She's even feeling lively enough to contribute to the manual on relationships and men her friends are writing to kill time during their commute. But then a traffic mishap with a drop-dead gorgeous cop unleashes a series of events that bolsters Belinda's new bad-girl attitude -- she gets a tune-up from "Officer Goodbody," catches the eye of the throaty traffic reporter, and is targeted for a big promotion. But before Belinda can say "corner office," a coworker is murdered, and evidence points to a carpool conspiracy! With a killer on the loose, her friends at one another's throats, and two men offering southern comfort, Belinda knows only one thing for climbing to the top can be murder on a girl.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
340 people are currently reading
1086 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 140 reviews
March 18, 2010
Very funny!
Skimmped (majorly) on sex scenes. I mean really. "this and that"?
Loved Wade.
Belinda.... Vince was a douche. Get over it.
Ending was a bit ubrupt in my opinion.
Overall I liked it! :D
Skimmped (majorly) on sex scenes. I mean really. "this and that"?
Loved Wade.
Belinda.... Vince was a douche. Get over it.
Ending was a bit ubrupt in my opinion.
Overall I liked it! :D
did-not-finish
January 19, 2018DNF on pg 50. This book is really not my thing. I'm gonna ditch it.
April 1, 2012
My biggest beef with this story? The overuse of "yilk" and "she wet her lips and tasted Aquanet." The first time I read those lines, they delivered a bit of a funny punch . . . but they kept being used. And used.
Other than that, I thought this was a pretty breezy, enjoyable read. Even if I thought it was mostly unbelievable (just happening to run into the same two male characters over & over again in a huge city like Atlanta? Really?), it still had a good story with a bunch of subplots.
Other than that, I thought this was a pretty breezy, enjoyable read. Even if I thought it was mostly unbelievable (just happening to run into the same two male characters over & over again in a huge city like Atlanta? Really?), it still had a good story with a bunch of subplots.
January 15, 2013
While this book felt very predictable at times, I still enjoyed it. Kill the Competition was a light read that kept me entertained.
Belinda was a character I could connect to. She was so ordinary and normal that it was easy to identify with her. Her coworkers added the requisite "quirkiness" to the book, and the mystery surrounding the death of Margo was pretty well done. I was also glad to see the extra bit at the end where Bond explained what was in the letter from Vince. I understood why Belinda didn't open it, but I desperately wanted to know what was inside. I was, however, disappointed with the rather mundane explanation of the envelope. I think it would have been better if he one of Hallmark cards or something. A wedding invitation was so ...predictable.
I do wish there had been a little more focus on the relationship between Wade and Belinda. There seemed to be so much possibility there, but I suppose the book was more about friendship and moving on than about romance. And I did like that. Seeing Belinda make friends with her carpool group was nice. Her struggle in a new city was also really well done. Oh! And the description of Atlanta seemed really authentic. I've never been there but wow! I don't think I ever want to drive in Atlanta traffic.
Unfortunately, there was nothing unique or special about the book, despite it's good qualities. I anticipate that years from now I'm not going to be able to remember the name of the book and will get it mixed up with The Perfect Man by Linda Howard (which was a book that I enjoyed much more). Kill the Competition was a nice break from the normal historical romance kick I've been on for the last gazillion years and even if it's not a book I'm going recommend (or even remember in a week) it has inspired me to seek out more mystery books and break some of my stagnant reading habits.
Belinda was a character I could connect to. She was so ordinary and normal that it was easy to identify with her. Her coworkers added the requisite "quirkiness" to the book, and the mystery surrounding the death of Margo was pretty well done. I was also glad to see the extra bit at the end where Bond explained what was in the letter from Vince. I understood why Belinda didn't open it, but I desperately wanted to know what was inside. I was, however, disappointed with the rather mundane explanation of the envelope. I think it would have been better if he one of Hallmark cards or something. A wedding invitation was so ...predictable.
I do wish there had been a little more focus on the relationship between Wade and Belinda. There seemed to be so much possibility there, but I suppose the book was more about friendship and moving on than about romance. And I did like that. Seeing Belinda make friends with her carpool group was nice. Her struggle in a new city was also really well done. Oh! And the description of Atlanta seemed really authentic. I've never been there but wow! I don't think I ever want to drive in Atlanta traffic.
Unfortunately, there was nothing unique or special about the book, despite it's good qualities. I anticipate that years from now I'm not going to be able to remember the name of the book and will get it mixed up with The Perfect Man by Linda Howard (which was a book that I enjoyed much more). Kill the Competition was a nice break from the normal historical romance kick I've been on for the last gazillion years and even if it's not a book I'm going recommend (or even remember in a week) it has inspired me to seek out more mystery books and break some of my stagnant reading habits.
October 10, 2012
What took me so long to get back to Stephanie Bond? This book was SO much fun to listen to! I enjoyed getting to know Belinda, the main character. She moves from Cincinatti after an embarrassment that the reader doesn't get all the details of until Belinda is under suspicion for murder much later in the book. We find out when her coworkers and friends do. The reader is definitely along for the ride and it's a fab one.
I don't always dig the description of 'romantic' anything, but I made an exception for this one since it's labeled as a 'romantic mystery'. I thought of it more as a humorous mystery with a tinge of romance thrown in.
Please do yourself a favor and find this book, whether handheld, e-book or audio. It's super!
I don't always dig the description of 'romantic' anything, but I made an exception for this one since it's labeled as a 'romantic mystery'. I thought of it more as a humorous mystery with a tinge of romance thrown in.
Please do yourself a favor and find this book, whether handheld, e-book or audio. It's super!
June 11, 2017
This more like a 3.5 stars for me. I like a good mystery and this didn't really do it for me. The real action didn't happen until over half way through the book. I was looking for more of a 'Murder, She Wrote' mystery and this wasn't that kind of book. The writing was great though! I might check out the Body Movers series if they come up on Kindle Unlimited.
March 5, 2013
Despite its title and blood-red cover art, this tart, down-to-earth tale from Bond (I Think I Love You, etc.) focuses more on the nature of female friendships than on the murder mystery that throws the heroine's life into a tailspin.
As several other reviewers noted there are a few typos, but as far as repetitive words etc, this is the authors style. This is why she may be getting 'so many' 5 star votes, votes that are from long time fans and feel comfortable with this style. This is an author that once you've read her first book, and IF you are able to fall in love with that book, will captivate you with the rest of her books. This is a 99 cent book e-book...you sometimes get what you pay for. Typos are a small price to pay for an excellent story and wonderful characters!
If you love novels that are centered around women friends and how they can one minute love you and the next nearly hate you (or think you've committed murder!) then this novel--actually ANY Stephanie Bond novel will be for you.
It takes a long time for the murder to be committed in this book, but that's OK since we are spending the time learning about Belinda ( a new Georgian transplant from Cincinnati) and the women she will be commuting with to her new job. We will also see her building (or trying to build relationships ) with a sexy voiced traffic reporter, and Wade, the police officer whom she hit the very first day of her commuting.
The mystery will be why is her nasty boss Margo trying to get her to fudge on a report, why is Melinda so reluctant to talk about her es-husband,why did another woman working for the company have 'fallen' down an elevator shaft, and who is trying to maybe kill Belinda. When Margo is found dead in a VERY compressing place things REALLY go from bad to worse for Melinda.
The epilogue is extremely clever so make sure you read beyond the authors notes so you don't miss it!
As several other reviewers noted there are a few typos, but as far as repetitive words etc, this is the authors style. This is why she may be getting 'so many' 5 star votes, votes that are from long time fans and feel comfortable with this style. This is an author that once you've read her first book, and IF you are able to fall in love with that book, will captivate you with the rest of her books. This is a 99 cent book e-book...you sometimes get what you pay for. Typos are a small price to pay for an excellent story and wonderful characters!
If you love novels that are centered around women friends and how they can one minute love you and the next nearly hate you (or think you've committed murder!) then this novel--actually ANY Stephanie Bond novel will be for you.
It takes a long time for the murder to be committed in this book, but that's OK since we are spending the time learning about Belinda ( a new Georgian transplant from Cincinnati) and the women she will be commuting with to her new job. We will also see her building (or trying to build relationships ) with a sexy voiced traffic reporter, and Wade, the police officer whom she hit the very first day of her commuting.
The mystery will be why is her nasty boss Margo trying to get her to fudge on a report, why is Melinda so reluctant to talk about her es-husband,why did another woman working for the company have 'fallen' down an elevator shaft, and who is trying to maybe kill Belinda. When Margo is found dead in a VERY compressing place things REALLY go from bad to worse for Melinda.
The epilogue is extremely clever so make sure you read beyond the authors notes so you don't miss it!
October 10, 2012
This author has written a lot of books but this was the first I have read. I think this one was great. I really enjoyed it. It's about a bunch of four different women carpooling who all work in a furniture store in Atlanta.
She does use a word that annoyed me quite a lot-yilk........I've not heard of that before but it jarred on me each time I saw it ! There were also a few crashing spelling errors which I was shocked to see as surely an editor has been employed. Hook for book/budding for building/minors for mirrors being a few. Not good and let it down.
There were some great laugh out loud moments-most for me involved her relationship with her cat Downey. I'd recommend it but just ignore the errors.
She had a clever idea with the epilogue and I liked that. I also like what she wrote at the end as it's so true these days. "I know you have a lot of entertainment choices at your fingertips, so I'm thrilled you chose to spend a few hours with my story"......nice touch.
She does use a word that annoyed me quite a lot-yilk........I've not heard of that before but it jarred on me each time I saw it ! There were also a few crashing spelling errors which I was shocked to see as surely an editor has been employed. Hook for book/budding for building/minors for mirrors being a few. Not good and let it down.
There were some great laugh out loud moments-most for me involved her relationship with her cat Downey. I'd recommend it but just ignore the errors.
She had a clever idea with the epilogue and I liked that. I also like what she wrote at the end as it's so true these days. "I know you have a lot of entertainment choices at your fingertips, so I'm thrilled you chose to spend a few hours with my story"......nice touch.
March 10, 2010
This book was a bit boring. It started out chatty but soon the chatter wouldn't end and there were so many unimportant little daily things that the author included it became impossible to turn the next page. I made it to page 93 before giving up in frustration when I tried to read it the first time around. I later found an audiobook version and finished it. It was only okay both as a mystery and a romance but it's certainly not one of the most memorable books I'll ever read.
Read
December 31, 2020Wasn't my cup of tea. I couldn't get past chapter 2.
Read
February 28, 2013DNF--for some reason I couldn't get into this book for whatever reason.
August 21, 2018
I've read a few Stephanie Bond books and this is my second read through of this one. Always enjoyable, a little quirky yet comforting. The characters are human, not too good not too bad.
June 26, 2018
Kill The Competition
Belinda, an accountant, escapes to Atlanta following a failed marriage. Starting again means trusting again, but Belinda is most self-sufficient. On joining a carpool, she bonds with four female friends. And Berlinda finds two very different men attractive. Then somebody off's her bitchy boss, and the body ends up in Belinda's boot. It strains the women's relationships, and test's the men in Belinda's life.
There is much to recommend this book. Belinda, a little too 'goody-goody two-shoes' was none the less relatable. The carpool colleagues were sufficiently quirky. And the novel was not stunted by the usual romance. Instead, it gave Belinda a chance to grow. The world building was good and Atlanta recognisable. The book held a fair pace, and the murderer was not immediately apparent.
But the book stuck very much to the stereotypes of tall strongmen, the damsel in distress and the bitchy boss. And unlike some of Bond's other work, there is nothing outstanding about the book. It's pages of well written mediocrity punctuated by humour and romance. After a long build up, the ending felt forced.
It's an okay way to pass the time.
Belinda, an accountant, escapes to Atlanta following a failed marriage. Starting again means trusting again, but Belinda is most self-sufficient. On joining a carpool, she bonds with four female friends. And Berlinda finds two very different men attractive. Then somebody off's her bitchy boss, and the body ends up in Belinda's boot. It strains the women's relationships, and test's the men in Belinda's life.
There is much to recommend this book. Belinda, a little too 'goody-goody two-shoes' was none the less relatable. The carpool colleagues were sufficiently quirky. And the novel was not stunted by the usual romance. Instead, it gave Belinda a chance to grow. The world building was good and Atlanta recognisable. The book held a fair pace, and the murderer was not immediately apparent.
But the book stuck very much to the stereotypes of tall strongmen, the damsel in distress and the bitchy boss. And unlike some of Bond's other work, there is nothing outstanding about the book. It's pages of well written mediocrity punctuated by humour and romance. After a long build up, the ending felt forced.
It's an okay way to pass the time.
November 12, 2019
Really cute book. Kept my attention throughout. The killer was definitely not who I thought it was going to be!
My only complaint is that I wish I had known to read this book before “I Think I Love You” - not that it really changed anything major, just thought the book happened and was getting published.
I also didn’t care for the epilogue - simply because that’s not what I wanted the envelope to say. But I’m glad the author chose to keep it out of the storyline. I think that was the right call for Belinda :)
My only complaint is that I wish I had known to read this book before “I Think I Love You” - not that it really changed anything major, just thought the book happened and was getting published.
I also didn’t care for the epilogue - simply because that’s not what I wanted the envelope to say. But I’m glad the author chose to keep it out of the storyline. I think that was the right call for Belinda :)
October 5, 2021
1.5 stars
Normally I like Stephanie Bond's books, but this one was a dud. The h came across as much too stupid, especially with how susceptible she was to the radio guy - so much eye-rolling. A lot of the characters were annoying and made the story a lot less enjoyable. I remember there being some murder mystery that gave the story some plot, but in general, definitely not one of her better ones.
Normally I like Stephanie Bond's books, but this one was a dud. The h came across as much too stupid, especially with how susceptible she was to the radio guy - so much eye-rolling. A lot of the characters were annoying and made the story a lot less enjoyable. I remember there being some murder mystery that gave the story some plot, but in general, definitely not one of her better ones.
March 14, 2023
I enjoyed the twists and turns and the comedy I have come to expect from a Stephanie Bond book. Belinda and her quirky carpool friends were entertaining, and the mystery held my interest. There were a few giant leaps in the wrap up that I felt could have been better explained, but overall an enjoyable read.
March 19, 2024
Throughly enjoyed the narration. This was a pretty good story with great characters. I could not connect with the main character she was straightforward and wanted to be left alone one minute then she would do something really wonky the next. You have to give her stupidity a pass to enjoy the adventure.
Read
April 9, 2025This is one of the author’s earlier books. I am not a romance reader. I picked it up thinking it was a mystery. I stopped reading about 100 or so pages in. I think the story was not getting to the mystery quick enough and the I just couldn’t get into the story.
That said, I have read other fun mysteries by the author and really enjoyed them.
That said, I have read other fun mysteries by the author and really enjoyed them.
August 3, 2017
Belinda moves to Atlanta to get away from her 6 hour marriage and her ex husband.
She begins carpooling with 3 women from her office and keeps running into the same 2 men while at work. There has been an accident in her building that not everyone thinks is an accident.
She begins carpooling with 3 women from her office and keeps running into the same 2 men while at work. There has been an accident in her building that not everyone thinks is an accident.
February 9, 2021
Bond knows mystery!
Like the subtitle says, it's a humorous romantic mystery. Stephanie Bond writes these so well! I loved the characters and their antics and had no clue as to who the murderer was. Thanks Stephanie!
Like the subtitle says, it's a humorous romantic mystery. Stephanie Bond writes these so well! I loved the characters and their antics and had no clue as to who the murderer was. Thanks Stephanie!
April 9, 2023
I just love Stephanie Bond! She's one of my favorite authors. The fact that this book is from the early 2000's and still reads so well in 2023 shows a lot to her skill as a writer and connection to strong, timeless characters, in my opinion! Great book.
January 30, 2024
Pretty good
I loved the book idea the ladies were collaborating on.
The men are all sexy except weird neighbor.
And the who done it with so man combinations, you will never guess.
And that miserable almost husband will live in his own hell. That is satisfying.
I loved the book idea the ladies were collaborating on.
The men are all sexy except weird neighbor.
And the who done it with so man combinations, you will never guess.
And that miserable almost husband will live in his own hell. That is satisfying.
June 4, 2017
It took a while, but once the story got rolling, I couldn't put it down.
July 12, 2017
Enjoyable
I really enjoyed the warm characters and that their frailties are also shown. The story showed the way the friendships developed and grew. The mystery was good.
I really enjoyed the warm characters and that their frailties are also shown. The story showed the way the friendships developed and grew. The mystery was good.
April 6, 2018
Interesting...
December 20, 2018
Good mystery unneeded sex
The mystery was compelling. It kept me reading and wondering "who dunnit?" The sexual encounters were unnecessary and too explicit.
The mystery was compelling. It kept me reading and wondering "who dunnit?" The sexual encounters were unnecessary and too explicit.
February 26, 2019
Excellent read. Stephanie Bond keeps me turning the page yet again.
April 7, 2019
In Stephanie Bond style, great fun read,
June 20, 2020
I always find stories interesting but are disappointed with genre. Not funny enough to be humorous; not enough investigation to be mystery; not serious to be drama.
May 3, 2021
Started out a little slow. Good read about a woman and her carpool ladies suspected of murder.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews