As a “favor” to Uncle Joey, Shelby must deliver a letter to his associate in Orlando where she has been vacationing with her family. When things go terribly wrong, Shelby finds herself being pursued by a Florida Kingpin for the information he thinks she stole. On her own and in trouble, Uncle Joey sends Ramos to her rescue. As Shelby and Ramos take care of unfinished business, Shelby uncovers information about Ramos and a secret that could change his life. On a path of revenge and intrigue, Shelby finds that some secrets are meant to be kept…and others? They can kill.
Solving crimes with sass, suspense, and a splash of the supernatural. Colleen Helme is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, best known for her fast-paced, laugh-out-loud Shelby Nichols Adventure Series, where cozy mystery meets a dash of the paranormal. With over 19 books in the series and several more in her Sand and Shadow and the Love, Loyalty and Larceny series, she’s built a world in which readers love to escape.
Anyone who has read the Shelby Nichols Adventure Series is aware that one of her favorite sayings is "Oh baby, oh baby." Well, those are my sentiments exactly regarding "Secrets That Kill," the fourth book in this series.
Our story begins with Shelby and her family wrapping up a wonderful vacation in Florida. It is the last day and Shelby has one thing left to do, her errand for Uncle Joey. As with most situations regarding Shelby the situation does not work out the way it should and before you know it, she is knee deep in death bodies, death threats and police investigations.
Shelby situation ends up separating her from her family and she ends up with several additional days in Florida requiring the finesse and protection of none other than sexy Ramos. In this book we finally get to see a more personal side of the man who has Uncle Joey's trust as well as we learn more about his past. Usually, I despise love triangles especially in adult lit but the attraction between Ramos and Shelby works. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that she cheats on her husband, Chris; but, jeez, the woman is married not dead and it's okay for her to admire a fine piece of art! (Lol)
This was one of my favorite installments because of the insight provided into Ramos' past; yet, Chris manages to surprise me as well with his patience and real love for Shelby. Hmmm, must be nice to have two yummy men fiending over you. I have to say, my only concern with this series is that I wonder if we are going to get a never ending string of situations with no end in sight because we don't seem to have a central villain or problem our characters are working to resolve; yet, who knows what rabbit Ms. Helme will pull out of her that? I for one, cannot wait to see where all of this is heading.
Shelby finds out Ramos' name and so much more. Shelby gets in a bind so Ramos is sent to help her. I think this is the closest she's come to dying. Some situations arise (no spoilers) that Shelby gets to see a different side to Ramos. Chris really loves Shelby to accept some of her adventures (no so smart events). There's a scene or two where Shelby feels like she's being watched but nothing comes of it so I don't if that was a missed opportunity that was flushed out, if it's just paranoia or Helme plans to write those scenes to mean something more later.
n Secrets That Kill Shelby has been talked into delivering an associate in Orlando while her and her family are on vacation. If you have read any of these stories then you know nothing ever goes as planned for poor Shelby. The guy talks her into going some place with him and then things pretty much spiral out of control after that.
What I really liked about this book is we get a little more incite into Ramos and see a bit of his softer side. There is also a chemistry building between Ramos and Shelby that they know can’t not be touched as she is married. I think it’s a bit more realistic having Shelby think Ramos is hot even though she is married..she is married not dead. Ramos is my favorite character besides Shelby so this one for me was a great one because it had mostly those two characters in it the whole time. Ramos would do just about anything for Shelby and that keeps her safe.
I also think she has the best husband ever cause he is really understanding of all her mishaps. He doesn’t like it that much but what can she do, tell a mob boss no, not going to do that for you. I loved when he talked to Ramos making sure he knew that he better make sure his wife came back in one piece. Her husband Chris is a lawyer, and Ramos is a mob bosses bodyguard, in my head the two types going against each other makes me laugh. I wonder some times if Chris would be so brave if talking face to face with Ramos. :)
Colleen Helme does a great job with these novels and I thought Lie or Die was my favorite but now I am not so sure and I think this one might be it! :) If you are into fun cozy type mysteries then you really should try this series as they are just great! :) I also think they are super fun on audio!
I loved this book! It begins with Shelby and her family vacationing in Orlando, and on the day they leave to go home, Shelby delivers a letter for Uncle Joey (the mob boss who knows her secret). From there things go terribly wrong with Shelby in trouble and no place to run. Uncle Joey sends Ramos to the rescue, which leads them to finding secrets from Ramos' past and dodging bullets to stay alive. Fighting the sexual tension between them was only one of the many dangers they faced, and they did so with lots of humor and panache. I also loved the high-stakes game of poker Shelby played, along with some real tender moments that brought tears to my eyes. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a thrilling ride, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Great series!
This has to be my favourite one so far.. I love how delivering a simple letters starts an unexpected stay in Orlando, and I love that it's with Ramos. These two although are attracted to each other, they have chemistry but neither are willing to cross any lines, tho I know Ramos jokes about it. I love how he takes care of Shelby and that in turn she can help him, and gets closer to understanding a little about him, that no one else knows. Once again, no issues with the authors writing and I can read with no problems. I can't wait to start the next one ;)
I can't put this book down until I finished it. I think I might be able to finish this series in one week. I'm about to start reading the 5th book so that's a possibility. I love how it kept my attention and desire to find out what will happen and each page just got so much in it that I don't notice the pages fly pass as I read it. 5 mahoosive stars for this book and the whole series from me. :)
I have to say, I really love the chemistry between Ramos and Shelby, but we all know it would never work if they gave into it. In this book, I have to hand it to Chris for not going bonkers when Shelby is forced to stay in Florida without him. Pretty sure a married woman would never get away with that IRL.
I loved this book. Ramos and Shelby together fighting the bad guys and dodging bullets. Yes please! I'm so glad we have more Ramos in this book. Loved it!
Secrets that Kill is book #4 in the Shelby Nichols Adventure series. Shelby, Chris, and the kids have finally decided to take a much deserved vacation to Orlando, Florida. All is going well until Uncle Joey "asks" Shelby to deliver a letter to an "associate" and things go downhill from there. She misses her flight home and if you have read any of the books prior to this one you know that with Shelby trouble is pretty much guaranteed.
Shelby is a great character. She is a stay at home mom with two kids. Her husband Chris is an attorney. In book #1 Shelby is shot in a grocery store robbery. She recovers quickly but the injury results in a new ability to hear the thoughts of others. She could have probably lived a semi normal life but a local mob boss finds out about her ability and in true mob boss fashion knows when to make something or someone work for his advantage. Ramos is Uncle Joey's right hand man and top security guy and by book #4 the three (Shelby, Uncle Joey, and Ramos) have developed a working relationship that almost borders on friendship.
In Secrets that Kill Ramos is sent to get Shelby out of trouble and to help her complete the assignment that Uncle Joey has given her. They are working in close quarters and a sexual tension develops between the two of them. At first I was really bothered by this but I can see how it can happen. Shelby is a smart lady that loves her family and her husband so a lot of what she was going through was very out of character for her. I don't want to get into details because that would spoil the fun. In the middle of staying alive Shelby learns some secrets about Ramos's past and jumps in to help him move forward.
The audio version is great. I really enjoy Wendy Tremont King's narration. She does a great job with Shelby's voice and I'm able to easily visualize all the action and adventure that is taking place. The pacing is good and you will find yourself laughing out loud many times.
I enjoyed this latest adventure but I look forward to getting back to hunky detective "Dimples", Chris and the kids, and seeing how Ramos's past plays into everyone's future.
I highly recommend this series for fun, action, and adventure. The mind reading ability and the mob boss angle puts a little bit of a spin on the normal mystery story. It's a great series that I plan to continue to enjoy.
This book was the best one of the series, IMHO (that I've read so far). Beside the fact that I've crushed on Ramos since book 1, this book is his story in a way. I had stopped reading this series, I read book 1 & 2, but thought, well, if this series is just going to be she works for Uncle Joey and reads other gangster's minds & plots - meh, I could wait or not continue. A friend read 3 and liked it a lot, and that's what got me back into the series.
Secrets that Kill is #4, and yes, she reads minds, and yes it comes in handy in this book too, but this one is much more. There has been tension/chemistry with Ramos since book 1, so no spoiler that it continues here. I did truly enjoy the predicament Shelby was in this time, and what she had to do to 'help'. What I enjoy also from this author is that she finishes the story. Yes they 'continue' but they are not "to be continued" or cliffhangers where you are not satisfied when done. As I said, I had stopped with book 2, cause it did "conclude". As did this one.
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I respect this author's writing style because she respects being faithful in a relationship. No question there's the chemistry between Ramos & Shelby, and how easy it would be to write a character that cheats - but she hasn't thus far. I'm not a prude or conservative - but I do respect the person I'm with enough not to cheat. I've read plenty of erotica in my day as well, and this author has a way of writing hot chemistry, without swearing, using explicit or graphic terms for body parts, (which don't offend me), and it's still hot! When I read Ramos/Shelby, I have a little naughty smile, which is just fine and makes for great writing, IMHO, for an author to convey that emotion to a reader, without writing it..
In this adventure, I got to visit my favorite state of Florida. Colleen never disappoints her readers...for sure not me. Shelby gets into so many fixes, and thank God Ramos is there to save her. Of course, it’s never Shelby’s fault. She is such a caring person, always looking out for her family and friends. I love, love, love book 4. I can’t wait to start number 5, Trapped by Revenge. Thanks Colleen Helme for your wonderful stories.
I absolutely loved "Secrets That Kill" by Colleen Helme! This was a super fun Shelby Nichols Adventure! It takes place in Florida and has a lot of Ramos in it! I loved learning about Ramos' story and having this book be more about him and Shelby. The characters stay true to themselves and are some of the best characters I've ever read! This is a fun, laugh-out-loud, but at the same time intense book! I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who loves a fun book!
This book was good. It is, IMO, where the series should end. The descriptions of how Shelby feels about her talent are getting repetitive at this point, and the plot in this one seemed a bit too disjointed for my taste. I think trying to continue the series from here is just going to lead to an awkward triangle between Ramos, Shelby and her husband. I just don't feel any need to read a book that goes there, but after this book, I don't think there's a believable way to avoid that.
I start all these reviews with "Carrots". It was the first of this series and grabbed me and held me tight until I finished the book in one sitting. This book worked the same way. Great characters, fun, humorous and action with a twist or two. Fifth book, here I come!
Shelby plunges into another hair-raising adventure when "Uncle Joey" asks her to deliver a letter to a contact in Florida. What could be simpler? Secrets That Kill is an entertaining read that has me hungry for Colleen Helme's next Shelby Nichols Mystery.
I really enjoyed this book. It was great to find out a bit more about Ramos as he is such a great character and you are never sure what is going to happen when he is around. I also like the tension and teasing between him and the main character Shelby as she puts her mind reading skills to good use and learns a few secrets. Shelby and her family are on holiday and only have to worry about enjoying themselves, well if she didn't have to deliver a letter for uncle Joey, a holiday might have been nice. In true Shelby style things don't go to plan and she is questioned by the police about a dead body. Calling out for help when she is followed to the airport and the rest of the family are on the way home, Ramos comes running to the aid but brings his own baggage, as he has a troubled past with the state of Florida. It's not long before the two of them are breaking laws and facing gun toting bad guys, in this action packed story. Wendy is an excellent narrator and a good choice for Shelby and the gang. I can't wait to start the next book.
A fine Shelby Nichols adventure. The first half of the book is a wee bit slow, but the pace picks up quickly after that. While this is a very enjoyable series, I have to say that the books are all pretty much the same, at least, to me. Below is the typical pattern of events. I'm not sure that gives away too much about this episode exactly, but just in case:
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Uncle Joey is always involved; there is another, smaller mission, sometimes related; Shelby gets herself into a few tight scrapes, and Ramos rescues her when she is in danger of getting shot or tortured. Shelby tells little white lies to her husband, leaving some parts out that he wouldn't like. Last but not least, she doesn't seem to be maturing. She knows her mind-reading gets on people's nerves sometimes (Chris, Ramos, Uncle Joey), but she keeps doing it anyway. Her favorite word is "Oops," as if she made a simple mistake. To that I say: once a mistake, twice a habit.
Colleen Helme has written this set of books, Shelby Nichols Adventure that I’ve just recently discovered, I have become enthralled in this series to the point I binge read all 14 start to finish with the extra book, Devil in a Black Suit, in just a few days. They are so addictive, each one could be taken as stand alone, but they are so much more satisfying read together in order. The characters are incredible and while I don’t ever do spoilers I will say to me, the heroine was like reading a very satisfying mix in soccer mom form of toned down, mature married version of Janet Evanovitch’s Stephanie Plum meets Jana DeLeons Fortune Redding. The antics, male counterparts and plots are wonderful. Yes, I am posting this same review on each of the books, but they are all just that dang good!
This is the 4th book in the Shelby Nichols Adventures that began with [Carrots]. The author lets her imagination fly and gets her heroine in and out of many absurd and fantastical situations for her local mob boss, while keeping her lawyer husband somewhat informed of the life and death happenings occurring around her.
I enjoyed the escapism of the story but could only rate it 3 stars not because of the fantastical elements but because the tone is anti-woman. I may pick up a later book but I think there are much better series out there that have authors with soaring, outrageous and absurd imaginations but without the underlying tone.
Never trust a mobster when he asks you to do a "little favor". Delivering a letter and waiting for a reply seemed like a small request until it wasn't. Then there was escaping through the bathroom window, the jealous waitress, the meat cleaner murder. The murderer with the snake tattoos, the chase to the airport, the guy in the in gator shirt alk before she missed her plane. Shelby was forced to call Uncle Joey to bail her out of trouble. He responds by sending his number one man Ramos. The professional hit man to her rescue. The next few days are pure chaos but Ramos confides in her and keeps her safe.
I wanted to like this book and was looking forward to the rest of the series. But Shelby cheating on Chris (her husband) with Ramos just makes me dislike her. So far their affair is mostly emotional but I’m afraid the author will progress to a deeper physical affair in coming books. It would be different if the author used infidelity has a mechanism to grow the characters. Unfortunately the author continues to claim Shelby is “happily married” even though the character is drifting to adultery territory . It’s just hard for me to continue with the series when the main character is dislike-able.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Friends of Shelby Nichols mysteries will find this story a real page-turner! This is my favorite so far as the relationship between Shelby and "Uncle Joey's" bodyguard are developed in a way that keeps your attention through Shelby's extended trip to Orlando. Of course, she is on another mission for Uncle Joey which takes lots of turns through disguises, fancy hotels, poker, and splurge shopping trips.
There's a delicious tension/chemistry with Ramos and Shelby since book 1, so no spoiler it continues here. I truly enjoy the predicament Shelby gets into this time, and what she had to do to 'help'. We also get to learn a lot more about Ramos's history and family.
What I enjoy about Colleen Helme is that she finishes the story. Yes they 'continue' but they are not "to be continued" or "cliffhangers" where you are not satisfied when done. They are full blown story's till next time.
The concept for the story line at 1st seemed a bit unbelievable and ditzy, but have to say the author makes it work brilliantly. Its very creative, funny with a splattering of innocent romance and lots of adventure if your are looking for a good series to entertain you I would highly recommend the Shelby Nichols adventure series. You just never know what is happening next.
Ramos and her are creating their own relationship which I love. His intensity throughout the series so far is awesome and helps her. I like that they are becoming close because she needs someone like him on her side. I wonder how this effects them in future books especially with uncle joey. I'm glad that it worked out for her and that Ramos took care of it.
Terrific! Sometimes doing someone a favour has really dire consequences. Noly only did she fail to complete the favour but now she has a mob boss on her tail and all she wanted was a family holiday. A brilliant read. Think they're better than Stephanie Plum and certainly more entertaining.