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Under the Moonlight #1
Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder
A midnight food run nearly gets 28-year-old Katherine O’Brian killed. She’s the only person to see the man who brutally murdered a local woman and the killer is hell-bent on making sure she doesn't talk.
Enrolled at the local community college, she meets Scott Mitchell; literally, tall, dark, and handsome. Scott left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno and the last thing he needs is more drama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. There’s definite chemistry, but with a growing friendship and Katherine’s life in danger, romance will have to wait. Together, they’ll try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the killer, before Katherine is his next victim.
Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date.
Enrolled at the local community college, she meets Scott Mitchell; literally, tall, dark, and handsome. Scott left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno and the last thing he needs is more drama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. There’s definite chemistry, but with a growing friendship and Katherine’s life in danger, romance will have to wait. Together, they’ll try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the killer, before Katherine is his next victim.
Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2013
99 people are currently reading
1169 people want to read
About the author
MaryAnn Kempher
16 books76 followersI get most of my exercise these days by shaking my head. Unknown author.
Boy, can I relate, but I try to focus on what's in front of me, usually cake. Da Dum Dum.
Anyway, I'm obviously an author. I served 20 years in the US Air Force and soon after retirement came up with the idea for my first book--which I promptly discarded. It was about insurance fraud and trust me, they make it very hard to steal their money, so I had to come up with a different idea.
Book one is mostly a romantic comedy with a murder mystery thrown in, and while I think it's pretty good especially for a first book, I discovered I enjoyed writing the mystery of the book the most.
So, books two through eight are mysteries.
All the books have a lot of humor in them.
With the exception of book two, which takes place on board an ill-fated cruise ship, my books are set in Reno NV where I spent my teenage years, or some of them anyway.
Enjoy!
Boy, can I relate, but I try to focus on what's in front of me, usually cake. Da Dum Dum.
Anyway, I'm obviously an author. I served 20 years in the US Air Force and soon after retirement came up with the idea for my first book--which I promptly discarded. It was about insurance fraud and trust me, they make it very hard to steal their money, so I had to come up with a different idea.
Book one is mostly a romantic comedy with a murder mystery thrown in, and while I think it's pretty good especially for a first book, I discovered I enjoyed writing the mystery of the book the most.
So, books two through eight are mysteries.
All the books have a lot of humor in them.
With the exception of book two, which takes place on board an ill-fated cruise ship, my books are set in Reno NV where I spent my teenage years, or some of them anyway.
Enjoy!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 25, 2020
An innocuous little murder mystery with just enough twists to confuse you and keep you guessing. Nothing too cerebral. Probably what you are looking for this spring if you like a bit of romance, a bit of death by misadventure and no kids screaming in the background.
I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2013
Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder by MaryAnn Kempher
Source: Author
Rating: 4½/5 stars
Dear MaryAnn Kempher,
You suck in the best way possible and I would like to thank you for the small amount of sleep I have gotten over the past two nights.
Sincerely,
A ridiculously satisfied reader
Now that we’re all clear on how much I enjoyed this book and how little sleep I got thanks to its awesomeness, let’s get down to the details. Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder has everything (and more!) that the title implies. Katherine O’Brian has moved back to her hometown of Reno, Nevada to mend her broken heart, clean out her parents’ home, finish her college degree, and, start her life again. The broken heart is thanks to a total jerk of an ex-husband, the house is the result of losing both parents within a year of one another, the completion of the degree is a long-time coming and, her new life and fresh start will NOT involve a relationship. I love it when characters plan and their authors just giggle
While Katharine is looking for a little normalcy and some time to herself, the universe has other much bigger plans for her. A very late night craving for something other than Ramen Noodles finds Katharine standing across the street from an absolutely unbelievable scene. Though it is quite dark and she can make out no details at all, Katharine is sure she is seeing a man place a dead body into the trunk of a car. Fearing he has been caught and can be identified, the man takes off after Katharine but is unable to catch her. Obviously she is completely shaken up by the incident but Katharine still manages to contact the police and tells them everything she can about the incident.
Bound and determined to carry on with her life, Katharine shows up to her business class as planned only to find out she has been paired for a semester-long project with Scott Mitchell, a gorgeous man whom she is pretty sure she saw at Starbucks dressed as a woman only a few days before. What the Hell does a girl have to do to get a little normalcy?? Turns out, Scott is a pretty normal guy as well as a decent guy who is just as shy about a relationship as Katharine is. Though they start out as nothing more than project partners a tight friendship develops quickly and the two begin to spend more and more time together outside of class. Though each is attracted to the other they both make it clear they don’t want a relationship therefore it is totally better to “just be friends”. Yeah, they can pull this off, no problem.
Adding to Katharine’s mixed feelings over Scott are the strange and somewhat painful “accidents” she keeps finding herself a part of. There is the slippery staircase, the near miss with the speeding car, the carbon monoxide leak and the beat down at the mall. There is also the hot new handyman who shamelessly flirts with Katharine, the totally unexpected appearance of Katharine’s estranged sister, Amy and Michael, the former co-worker turned boyfriend. WOW!! Katharine has really redefined normal Through everything, her “friend” Scott is by her side and as events begin to play out and come full-circle, Katharine has to face the truth about her feelings for Scott and what, exactly she wants her future to hold.
The Bottom Line: It took roughly two pages for Kempher to pull me into this novel and from there, I had to force myself to put the book down. Kempher has a lovely writing style, her characters are real and the plot has just the right level of suspense and mayhem for my taste as a reader. Kempher takes her time building both her characters and the plot but not at the expense of the overall pace of the read. Events unfold both appropriately and interestingly and will keep you turning pages quickly. My only complaint, and this is what kept me from adding the last half star to my rating, is the naughty bits. I won’t spoil it for you here but will say this is a minor complaint and one that doesn’t really take away from my overall enjoyment of this read.
Source: Author
Rating: 4½/5 stars
Dear MaryAnn Kempher,
You suck in the best way possible and I would like to thank you for the small amount of sleep I have gotten over the past two nights.
Sincerely,
A ridiculously satisfied reader
Now that we’re all clear on how much I enjoyed this book and how little sleep I got thanks to its awesomeness, let’s get down to the details. Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder has everything (and more!) that the title implies. Katherine O’Brian has moved back to her hometown of Reno, Nevada to mend her broken heart, clean out her parents’ home, finish her college degree, and, start her life again. The broken heart is thanks to a total jerk of an ex-husband, the house is the result of losing both parents within a year of one another, the completion of the degree is a long-time coming and, her new life and fresh start will NOT involve a relationship. I love it when characters plan and their authors just giggle
While Katharine is looking for a little normalcy and some time to herself, the universe has other much bigger plans for her. A very late night craving for something other than Ramen Noodles finds Katharine standing across the street from an absolutely unbelievable scene. Though it is quite dark and she can make out no details at all, Katharine is sure she is seeing a man place a dead body into the trunk of a car. Fearing he has been caught and can be identified, the man takes off after Katharine but is unable to catch her. Obviously she is completely shaken up by the incident but Katharine still manages to contact the police and tells them everything she can about the incident.
Bound and determined to carry on with her life, Katharine shows up to her business class as planned only to find out she has been paired for a semester-long project with Scott Mitchell, a gorgeous man whom she is pretty sure she saw at Starbucks dressed as a woman only a few days before. What the Hell does a girl have to do to get a little normalcy?? Turns out, Scott is a pretty normal guy as well as a decent guy who is just as shy about a relationship as Katharine is. Though they start out as nothing more than project partners a tight friendship develops quickly and the two begin to spend more and more time together outside of class. Though each is attracted to the other they both make it clear they don’t want a relationship therefore it is totally better to “just be friends”. Yeah, they can pull this off, no problem.
Adding to Katharine’s mixed feelings over Scott are the strange and somewhat painful “accidents” she keeps finding herself a part of. There is the slippery staircase, the near miss with the speeding car, the carbon monoxide leak and the beat down at the mall. There is also the hot new handyman who shamelessly flirts with Katharine, the totally unexpected appearance of Katharine’s estranged sister, Amy and Michael, the former co-worker turned boyfriend. WOW!! Katharine has really redefined normal Through everything, her “friend” Scott is by her side and as events begin to play out and come full-circle, Katharine has to face the truth about her feelings for Scott and what, exactly she wants her future to hold.
The Bottom Line: It took roughly two pages for Kempher to pull me into this novel and from there, I had to force myself to put the book down. Kempher has a lovely writing style, her characters are real and the plot has just the right level of suspense and mayhem for my taste as a reader. Kempher takes her time building both her characters and the plot but not at the expense of the overall pace of the read. Events unfold both appropriately and interestingly and will keep you turning pages quickly. My only complaint, and this is what kept me from adding the last half star to my rating, is the naughty bits. I won’t spoil it for you here but will say this is a minor complaint and one that doesn’t really take away from my overall enjoyment of this read.
December 2, 2015
It was a 2.5 star read. It's listed as a cozy mystery, but had hardly any mystery at all. It was more about romance than anything.
It wasn't my type of book. When it's listed as a mystery you think it would be more mystery with a little romance kicked in, but it was just the opposite. It focused more about Katherine's love life than mystery.
I liked the main character, but she was just to oblivious to what was going on around her. I wouldn't even say that she was a strong main character either. With most cozy mysteries the lead character tries to find out the killer and get themselves into danger,but non of that happened in this one.
Not sure if I will read this author again.
It wasn't my type of book. When it's listed as a mystery you think it would be more mystery with a little romance kicked in, but it was just the opposite. It focused more about Katherine's love life than mystery.
I liked the main character, but she was just to oblivious to what was going on around her. I wouldn't even say that she was a strong main character either. With most cozy mysteries the lead character tries to find out the killer and get themselves into danger,but non of that happened in this one.
Not sure if I will read this author again.
November 2, 2015
This book had too much romance and lacked the suspense that I enjoy. The interaction between the two main characters was immature. This was just not my cup of tea. 2 stars
May 22, 2020
* edit to add review *
Katherine has moved back to Reno after her divorce and has signed up do night classes, it is here that she meets Scott who has also returned to Reno after a failed relationship.
Now I have to say this was way more romance than mystery, and at some points the mystery was almost forgotten in favour of their impending romance.
Katherine witness a man disposing of a body one night on her way to an all night diner, this results in the man chasing her to which she evades him, but she finds a strange coin on the walkway which she pockets and forgets all about. Yet the man doesn’t and this is where the mystery comes into play, though it was still very much in the background.
The main story focus was Katherine and Scott dating other people whilst essentially pining for each other, at one point she thinks he is gay and his kleptomaniac girlfriend is stealing from Katherine… yeah it is a whole lotta mess for them all.
I did enjoy the back and forth between Katherine and Scott, though I wish they had just communicated a little bit better with each other and half of what went on wouldn’t have happened, but then some moments were kinda funny I have to admit.
I just couldn’t help but wish that the mystery was more the focus instead of their relationship but that is just me – overall this was a good little read.
4 stars
Katherine has moved back to Reno after her divorce and has signed up do night classes, it is here that she meets Scott who has also returned to Reno after a failed relationship.
Now I have to say this was way more romance than mystery, and at some points the mystery was almost forgotten in favour of their impending romance.
Katherine witness a man disposing of a body one night on her way to an all night diner, this results in the man chasing her to which she evades him, but she finds a strange coin on the walkway which she pockets and forgets all about. Yet the man doesn’t and this is where the mystery comes into play, though it was still very much in the background.
The main story focus was Katherine and Scott dating other people whilst essentially pining for each other, at one point she thinks he is gay and his kleptomaniac girlfriend is stealing from Katherine… yeah it is a whole lotta mess for them all.
I did enjoy the back and forth between Katherine and Scott, though I wish they had just communicated a little bit better with each other and half of what went on wouldn’t have happened, but then some moments were kinda funny I have to admit.
I just couldn’t help but wish that the mystery was more the focus instead of their relationship but that is just me – overall this was a good little read.
4 stars
July 9, 2013
Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date.
I gave this one a shot looking for a good murder, mystery. The only mystery was why two adults were acting like young teenagers. A murder in the first chapter and then barely mentioned until the end. On the one hand, you have Katherine saying she told the police she did not see the man's face in hopes that the man she saw would not come after her. On the other hand, you have Katherine saying later that she had never seen the face...which is it? There are too many contradictions from page to page.
The love story was pretty lame and I just did not feel it. Could not connect to the characters because they were all so shallow and unbelievable.
But....it is a well edited book, so errors did not get in the way much.
I wished I could have liked this one as it seemed to have promise, but afraid I did get pretty bored with the main characters.
I gave this one a shot looking for a good murder, mystery. The only mystery was why two adults were acting like young teenagers. A murder in the first chapter and then barely mentioned until the end. On the one hand, you have Katherine saying she told the police she did not see the man's face in hopes that the man she saw would not come after her. On the other hand, you have Katherine saying later that she had never seen the face...which is it? There are too many contradictions from page to page.
The love story was pretty lame and I just did not feel it. Could not connect to the characters because they were all so shallow and unbelievable.
But....it is a well edited book, so errors did not get in the way much.
I wished I could have liked this one as it seemed to have promise, but afraid I did get pretty bored with the main characters.
February 12, 2014
It has some good points, but it is just too all over the place. All the irrelevant bad guy POV scenes, so many POVs, and all those mid-scene POV shifts. Things developed too slowly to keep interest. Even the romance plot was weird. Obsessing about each other while dating other people. The woman says the wrong name in one sex scene. And she is mad she thinks Michael is cheating on her when she'd been fooling around herself??
There might be a decent story in there with a ton of rewriting and editing to focus it all.
There might be a decent story in there with a ton of rewriting and editing to focus it all.
May 22, 2013
Mocha, Moonlight and Murder, is such a great book, full of twists, turns to keep you wondering and totally absorbed. There is a great twist near the end and some very funny revelations. I’d highly recommend this for a holiday read, escapism or any spare minutes you have. But be warned you will find it hard to put down. Excellent five star read.
June 20, 2013
Good story. I honestly did not see the twist at the end.
June 21, 2013
started out slow but ending was great a few twist and turns. Wanted to bang a few heads together but enjoyed it
November 22, 2016
Katherine was going to her first night of class. She had seen a guy the day before at Starbucks today he was in class but in drag his name was Scott and he was her partner for a writing project that would be seventy percent of their grade and this was from a history class. Christian knew his mom was leaving and he was almost nine. What he didn’t know was his mom wouldn’t be back. Then christian was taken inside by Sister Ann and later that day he met teddy and Stephanie who were brother and sister and also stayed there. Katherine could not sleep that night and decided so Katherine decided to walk to the diner it wasn’t that far away. A couple of blocks away Katherine seen a man holding what she thought was a mannequin but then the blanket fell and Katherine could see a head covered in blood and she took off running. The man chased Katherine but she had run track in HS and she got away. Katherine called the cops and they went to the house and found the body . Katherine was told by Detective Nolan she had to go to the police station . Katherine had a job as a administrative assistant at Avalon Apparel. Katherine was soon to be divorced. Scott’s new supervisor was Will and Scott would be working with life insurance policies. Scott and Katherine met for lunch and he asked if she heard of the lady’s murder. Scott’s best friend was Jason, they had been friends since freshman year in HS. Scott had been engaged to Kimy, they had been together for three years but then he broke the engagement, Sophie and Teddy had been the constants in Christian’s life beside the nuns. Now Christian was eighteen and leaving to share an apartment with Teddy and Sophie. Katherine walked past the house she’d seen the killer unknown to her the killer was in the house and seen her. He also followed her at a distance. Scott and Katherine had became good friends as they spent time on their class project. Then Katherine seems to be having a close call like slipping on a staircase, nearly hit by a speeding car, carbon monoxide leak to name some. Then there is a new handyman that flirts with Katherine. Katherine’s Katherine’s estranged sister Amy shows up with Michael who had been a co worker Scott stays by Katherine’s side.
I like this story like the characters a lot. I liked Katherine’s determination to find a little normalcy and finished her degree and to decide what she was going to do with her life. I also liked Scott The plot was good. The story was a little slow at times but I did get past that. I loved the twists and turns of this of this story and I recommend.
I like this story like the characters a lot. I liked Katherine’s determination to find a little normalcy and finished her degree and to decide what she was going to do with her life. I also liked Scott The plot was good. The story was a little slow at times but I did get past that. I loved the twists and turns of this of this story and I recommend.
September 6, 2022
Katherine relocates after her marriage to her husband Ray ends and goes back to school once she settles into her new home. Scott is assigned as her partner for the class project and they quickly realize they like spending time together. Katherine also has the new building maintenance engineer Jack flirting with her and she reconnect with Michael someone she used to work with who becomes her official boyfriend. Then he sister Amy comes to town to help her close up her parents house and get it ready to sell. Katherine is a very busy lady but somehow she manages to juggle it all until it seems someone is out to get her. She falls down the stairs, she thinks people are watching her, and worse yet she can't figure out who it is or why she is the target. Who in her wide circle will she turn to for help and are they all ready to help her, or is someone not who they seem? I liked Katherine she had decided what she wanted from life and was going after it, taking advantage of her fresh start. I also liked watching her relationship with her sister change and improve. I liked Scott right away also and the dynamic between them. This is a good read with twists and turns and surprises along the way.
April 15, 2020
I don't read much in the cozy mystery trope, but I do try to step out of my box every once in a while. Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is more adjacent to that box than completely out of it with romance and a touch of mystery. The story is really more romance than suspense, and while I tend to lean toward darker, grittier mysteries, this one was kind of refreshing, a little bit of the brighter side I suppose. It's a relatively quick, easy read for the most part, and while I do think it could benefit from some tightening up for better flow, it's still an entertaining read. I think those who like a touch of mystery with their romance will enjoy this one, and it's a pretty good series start.
October 12, 2017
I received an ARC Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read this a couple years ago and following up. Unfortunately, it barely had any mystery involved like the premise stated. I would check it under romance instead. Was it a good story? Well, I felt mislead due to it being marketed as a mystery. The more I read, the more I was let down.
Before stating that a book is a mystery, dial back on the romance or else be honest and state it as a romance.
I read this a couple years ago and following up. Unfortunately, it barely had any mystery involved like the premise stated. I would check it under romance instead. Was it a good story? Well, I felt mislead due to it being marketed as a mystery. The more I read, the more I was let down.
Before stating that a book is a mystery, dial back on the romance or else be honest and state it as a romance.
March 12, 2020
This was a fun read, I really enjoyed the mystery and the romance, both Katherine and Scott were great characters and I enjoyed seeing them struggle not to be with each other!
June 15, 2020
Great book, kept me going to the very end. The end is a wild ride. My kind of book.
July 10, 2021
I think having a safe sex code with your significant other is really a lifesaver!!! I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.
June 12, 2015
SNS Rating: 4.66
~~~~~~~~~~Amanda's ★★★★★ Review~~~~~~~~~~
A great read that will keep and hold your attention throughout. A funny and suspenseful read that will keep you wanting more. It was very fast paced and a smooth read. The details left nothing to the imagination, but brought it to life. This is a book that is very hard to put down. I was given an ARC for my honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~Dee's ★★★★★ Review~~~~~~~~~~
Whoa! Fabulous mystery and romance. It's all about relationships with Scott and Katherine being the central focus. They both are hesitant to start anything serious so they agree to only be friends. As time moves along, their hearts yearn for much more. Constantly, their hearts and minds battle with denial, self delusion and downright stubbornness. Add to this the distraction of two other people who seek to break up any bond between Scott and Katheryn. Now while this little scenario simmers and grows, there is a whole other issue of a murder and the killer seeking to silence a potential witness, Katherine. The excitement builds and builds and the author even throws in clues unexpectedly. Everyone has secrets! Little by little they slowly become apparent. At one point, there is a great revealing and surprising developments arise to the delight of the reader. At the end, all is resolved with a shocker of a bombshell. An element previously unknown to the reader. Bravo! Excellent mystery, thriller and romance. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five Stars.
~~~~~~~~~~Lillian's ★★★★✰ Review~~~~~~~~~~
Wow this book really drew me in. Katherine is doing a business course at her local college and she gets partnered with Scott. She likes him but there is something about him that gets her back up. Scott wants to spend time with Katherine but she really gets him going. Katherine gets hungry and decides to take a walk to her local diner but on the way she sees someone trying to put a body in the trunk of a car as she tries to get away with out been seen she finds a coin and but the killer sees her but she gets away. She tells the police but they really don't take much note. Katherine & Scott start spending more time together and they both really like each other but decide to see other people. Scott's girlfriend dislikes Katherine and tries everything to make that he can't see her. Katherine is seeing Micheal but he never makes a move. They both try to not think about their feelings for each other and try to be just friends. The killer is still out there and he wants to get his coin back but Katherine has forgotten about it until it is too late. The is lots of action two killers and gay boyfriend and thief as a girlfriend and two sisters that are so lost without each other. This book had me guessing all the time I was not too sure how the old man fitted into the story but it does become clean in the end. How can two people want to be together but are too scared to tell each other. This book will have you hooked from the beginning, the characters are great they all have their place in the book. The story flowed nicely and I will definitely be reading her other books. I received this book in exchange for an honest
~~~~~~~~~~Amanda's ★★★★★ Review~~~~~~~~~~
A great read that will keep and hold your attention throughout. A funny and suspenseful read that will keep you wanting more. It was very fast paced and a smooth read. The details left nothing to the imagination, but brought it to life. This is a book that is very hard to put down. I was given an ARC for my honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~Dee's ★★★★★ Review~~~~~~~~~~
Whoa! Fabulous mystery and romance. It's all about relationships with Scott and Katherine being the central focus. They both are hesitant to start anything serious so they agree to only be friends. As time moves along, their hearts yearn for much more. Constantly, their hearts and minds battle with denial, self delusion and downright stubbornness. Add to this the distraction of two other people who seek to break up any bond between Scott and Katheryn. Now while this little scenario simmers and grows, there is a whole other issue of a murder and the killer seeking to silence a potential witness, Katherine. The excitement builds and builds and the author even throws in clues unexpectedly. Everyone has secrets! Little by little they slowly become apparent. At one point, there is a great revealing and surprising developments arise to the delight of the reader. At the end, all is resolved with a shocker of a bombshell. An element previously unknown to the reader. Bravo! Excellent mystery, thriller and romance. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five Stars.
~~~~~~~~~~Lillian's ★★★★✰ Review~~~~~~~~~~
Wow this book really drew me in. Katherine is doing a business course at her local college and she gets partnered with Scott. She likes him but there is something about him that gets her back up. Scott wants to spend time with Katherine but she really gets him going. Katherine gets hungry and decides to take a walk to her local diner but on the way she sees someone trying to put a body in the trunk of a car as she tries to get away with out been seen she finds a coin and but the killer sees her but she gets away. She tells the police but they really don't take much note. Katherine & Scott start spending more time together and they both really like each other but decide to see other people. Scott's girlfriend dislikes Katherine and tries everything to make that he can't see her. Katherine is seeing Micheal but he never makes a move. They both try to not think about their feelings for each other and try to be just friends. The killer is still out there and he wants to get his coin back but Katherine has forgotten about it until it is too late. The is lots of action two killers and gay boyfriend and thief as a girlfriend and two sisters that are so lost without each other. This book had me guessing all the time I was not too sure how the old man fitted into the story but it does become clean in the end. How can two people want to be together but are too scared to tell each other. This book will have you hooked from the beginning, the characters are great they all have their place in the book. The story flowed nicely and I will definitely be reading her other books. I received this book in exchange for an honest
August 8, 2013
Mocha, Moonlight and Murder is billed as a fictional romantic mystery/thriller, suitable for young adults and above. Not suitable for children.
Katherine O’Brian is re-building her life. Recently divorced, she is coping with the loss of her remaining parent, re-building her strained relationship with her sister, starting a new job, going to school and juggling the attention of two men. One night, while suffering from insomnia and with nothing to eat, she decides walk to a 24-hour Chinese restaurant, located four blocks from her apartment. On her way to the restaurant she witnesses a man attempting to stuff a body in the trunk of his car. Will she be successful in escaping being hunted by the killer?
The way the story was developed left me with a few questions. I found that they romance far outweighed the mystery part of the story. Much of the story was devoted to the development of a relationship that was very hard to define, in both the character’s minds as well as in my perception. The mystery part of the story, and its eventual solution, took second place to the story. The integration of the mystery and the romance, unfortunately, was not successfully executed.
Additionally, all throughout the book, I couldn’t feel that connection with any of the characters in the story. I felt like a stranger sitting on the sidelines watching the story unfold. I wanted to develop some empathy for Katherine, but somehow couldn’t. I wanted to like her, but felt so disassociated with her as a person/character. And unfortunately, I didn’t find the male romantic lead to be strong either.
The final resolution to the story had me scratching my head a bit as the little bread crumbs that were planted throughout the story were too scattered to follow. They did not engage me to develop a theory as to whodunit. A good mystery would attempt to lead me to certain conclusions, engage me enough to formulate a hypothesis or solution to the mystery. Unfortunately, this story did not meet that objective.
I admire the author for taking the daring step to get her story published. With a bit more character development, a more cohesive plot development and a few cliff hangers here and there, the story would be stronger and much easier to read.
Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder
September 22, 2013
SANDRA'S REVIEW
3.5 STARS
As the title would suggest, the book combines mystery with romance. I liked reading it, although it took me a while to really get into both the story and the characters. One reason for that is because even though the Murder happens quite early on, it takes the story a while to get more exciting on that front. We just stay with main character Katherine and get to know her life, while the murder mystery disappears into the background. The other reason is because we are introduced to more than one character in a point-of-view sense. So you switch before you really get to know the person through whose eyes you are witnessing things. Which is interesting, but to my taste there are a few too many viewpoints.
This is more a romance than a mystery book, I think, because there is more focus on the nature of the relationship between Katherine and Scott than on the murder-down-the-street, which develops almost as a background story, pushing through every now and then to spice up current events and narrative. And I'm not usually a romance reader, but there is a lot of going back and forward between these two people that is mainly due to miscommunication and (wrong) assumptions, which irked me, because it became a little repetitive.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment to me (emphasis on that), but that is likely due to the fact that the author's twitter stream raised expectations sky-high. And while it's true that there was a surprise twist that was carefully never hinted at in early chapters, this plot strand has managed to overshadow the murder from the title, which is unfortunately bleeds out rather uneventfully. The same goes for the romance ending. Of course we all know what's going to happen to Katherine and Scott, but both their dates suddenly have to grab the spotlight with a few revelations that were basically too much for me.
The book was an enjoyable read, with only some minor errors, but there was a lot going on in 244 pages and sixty-something chapters, some only a paragraph long. I think I had hoped for a stronger crime-detective-mystery element, which is more of my thing, while this book really is more of a romance novel with mystery elements. And I'm sure that for romance readers who like mystery and crime, this novel delivers. Surprise twist and all.
3.5 STARS
As the title would suggest, the book combines mystery with romance. I liked reading it, although it took me a while to really get into both the story and the characters. One reason for that is because even though the Murder happens quite early on, it takes the story a while to get more exciting on that front. We just stay with main character Katherine and get to know her life, while the murder mystery disappears into the background. The other reason is because we are introduced to more than one character in a point-of-view sense. So you switch before you really get to know the person through whose eyes you are witnessing things. Which is interesting, but to my taste there are a few too many viewpoints.
This is more a romance than a mystery book, I think, because there is more focus on the nature of the relationship between Katherine and Scott than on the murder-down-the-street, which develops almost as a background story, pushing through every now and then to spice up current events and narrative. And I'm not usually a romance reader, but there is a lot of going back and forward between these two people that is mainly due to miscommunication and (wrong) assumptions, which irked me, because it became a little repetitive.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment to me (emphasis on that), but that is likely due to the fact that the author's twitter stream raised expectations sky-high. And while it's true that there was a surprise twist that was carefully never hinted at in early chapters, this plot strand has managed to overshadow the murder from the title, which is unfortunately bleeds out rather uneventfully. The same goes for the romance ending. Of course we all know what's going to happen to Katherine and Scott, but both their dates suddenly have to grab the spotlight with a few revelations that were basically too much for me.
The book was an enjoyable read, with only some minor errors, but there was a lot going on in 244 pages and sixty-something chapters, some only a paragraph long. I think I had hoped for a stronger crime-detective-mystery element, which is more of my thing, while this book really is more of a romance novel with mystery elements. And I'm sure that for romance readers who like mystery and crime, this novel delivers. Surprise twist and all.
February 16, 2015
Katherine O'Brian is divorced, working to complete her college degree, and estranged from her sister. Scott Mitchell is single after breaking his engagement, working to complete his college degree, and on good terms with his family. They meet in a class and are assigned to be partners on a class project.
Late one night, Katherine decides she needs to walk to a nearby convenience store for junk food. On the way, she witnesses a man putting a dead woman in his trunk. The killer sees her but she is able to get away.
Katherine's sister Amy comes back to Reno and moves in with Katherine. They work to repair their relationship and correct misunderstandings.
As Katherine and Scott work on their project, a real friendship develops. They both want to take the next step but are afraid of losing their friendship if it doesn't work out. So, they both date others with but their hearts aren't in those relationships.
As the story unfolds, Katherine has several 'accidents'--falling down waxed stairs, being attacked, and more. She begins to realize these are not random events. Katherine and Scott try to find clues to the murder in order to identify the killer and keep Katherine safe.
I enjoyed the book. It had some twists and turns that were unexpected which kept it interesting. They were unexpected but certainly reasonable. The story moved along at a good pace and never dragged. The characters were likeable and interesting. The friendship that developed between Katherine and Scott was refreshing. They could be friends and care about each other without sex being involved.
I've got a few...not problems but peeves about the book. The timeline is not realistic. It takes too many months between the murder and...well, I won't add a spoiler. Plus, they present their class project to the class between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Schools are not in session at that time. Katherine was a bit bitchy to Scott on several ocassions when it was uncalled for.
I do recommend reading this book. It was was time well spent. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
4.5 Stars
August 22, 2013
*ARC provided for honest review*
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
Blog Link: http://www.krbblog.com/reviewmochamoo...
See Scott & Katherine. See Scott & Katherine study together. See Scott & Katherine as friends. See Scott & Katherine date other people. See Scott & Katherine get jealous over said other people. See Katherine in the hospital (repeatedly). See Scott & Katherine get their HEA…& a bike shop.
Scott & Katherine are thrown together as partners for a school project. At first it seems they can’t stand each other, but they eventually become friends. Friends that kiss & grope for a sec, but then decide that’s not what they want for the time being. Katherine is in the process of divorce & Scott is semi-recently minus a fiance. Anyway, they end up dating other people as their feelings for each other grow. And did I mention that someone is trying to kill Katherine?
I wanted to love this book, I really did. It was a cute story & had some of the things that I love: Hot guys, mystery, a killer on the loose, romance, a psycho chick, & guys in drag. (Ok, the last is an odd thing to love, but I just can’t help myself. *;) winking) I know that if you get your main characters together too early, your story is over. Well, unless drama ensues to separate them for a short period. I love when the male & female leads are friends first. It’s nice that they don’t just fall into bed & say “I love you! Fuck me harder!!” (Don’t get me wrong, I love me some of that, as well.). But when your characters are thinking “I love you” one second & “Well, fuck you then” the next, it gets a little frustrating.
Be warned that there are other people’s POV’s thrown in there, so sometimes you have to really pay attention or you will be going back to figure out who is thinking.Overall, I’m giving this book 3.5 stars. I liked it. I chuckled a couple of times. I wanted to smack people around a little.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
Blog Link: http://www.krbblog.com/reviewmochamoo...
See Scott & Katherine. See Scott & Katherine study together. See Scott & Katherine as friends. See Scott & Katherine date other people. See Scott & Katherine get jealous over said other people. See Katherine in the hospital (repeatedly). See Scott & Katherine get their HEA…& a bike shop.
Scott & Katherine are thrown together as partners for a school project. At first it seems they can’t stand each other, but they eventually become friends. Friends that kiss & grope for a sec, but then decide that’s not what they want for the time being. Katherine is in the process of divorce & Scott is semi-recently minus a fiance. Anyway, they end up dating other people as their feelings for each other grow. And did I mention that someone is trying to kill Katherine?
I wanted to love this book, I really did. It was a cute story & had some of the things that I love: Hot guys, mystery, a killer on the loose, romance, a psycho chick, & guys in drag. (Ok, the last is an odd thing to love, but I just can’t help myself. *;) winking) I know that if you get your main characters together too early, your story is over. Well, unless drama ensues to separate them for a short period. I love when the male & female leads are friends first. It’s nice that they don’t just fall into bed & say “I love you! Fuck me harder!!” (Don’t get me wrong, I love me some of that, as well.). But when your characters are thinking “I love you” one second & “Well, fuck you then” the next, it gets a little frustrating.
Be warned that there are other people’s POV’s thrown in there, so sometimes you have to really pay attention or you will be going back to figure out who is thinking.Overall, I’m giving this book 3.5 stars. I liked it. I chuckled a couple of times. I wanted to smack people around a little.
June 9, 2015
Missed Potential Sometimes, as I have pointed out possibly too many times, one simply needs a simple read. Cozy romantic mystery can very easily fill that spot, allowing for a relaxing read on a rainy day. And “Mocha, Moonlight and Murder” had the potential to be quite enjoyable. Katherine O’Brian, the heroine, has had it rough lately. Kate is newly divorced from a cheating scum-bag of a husband, recently orphaned, and trying desperately to build a relationship with a sister she barely knows. Throw in going back to school as an adult student and witnessing a shadowy figure pulling a blanket-wrapped body from the trunk of a car and the stress is almost more than she can stand.
The ideas are good, however the execution left a bit to be desired. One of my least favorite things is the old, worn-out “triangle love affair”. Irritates me to no end. Of course, that is a personal issue, so if you like that sort of thing you will like this. The other thing that bothered me is that the mystery wasn’t handled well. I was rather ‘fumbling’ though the idea was good.
The romantic aspect was totally irritating – it took a full star away on its own. I found it stiff and unrealistic, though there were some funny moments. The culmination was awkward – but giving any more info will possibly give too much away, so I will just leave it that it didn’t feel realistic or smooth.
Finally, as the book is already published, I can’t help but wonder if that means the grammatical errors made it through to publication? I received my copy of this book from Netgalley.com in return for a realistic review, so that is something I have to consider.
Overall, it will be more enjoyable for the proper audience. I simply couldn’t really identify with the characters.
The ideas are good, however the execution left a bit to be desired. One of my least favorite things is the old, worn-out “triangle love affair”. Irritates me to no end. Of course, that is a personal issue, so if you like that sort of thing you will like this. The other thing that bothered me is that the mystery wasn’t handled well. I was rather ‘fumbling’ though the idea was good.
The romantic aspect was totally irritating – it took a full star away on its own. I found it stiff and unrealistic, though there were some funny moments. The culmination was awkward – but giving any more info will possibly give too much away, so I will just leave it that it didn’t feel realistic or smooth.
Finally, as the book is already published, I can’t help but wonder if that means the grammatical errors made it through to publication? I received my copy of this book from Netgalley.com in return for a realistic review, so that is something I have to consider.
Overall, it will be more enjoyable for the proper audience. I simply couldn’t really identify with the characters.
July 9, 2013
Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder
By: MaryAnn Kempher
3 out of 5 stars
Katherine O'Brian Is ex-military, an almost ex- wife, and what seems to be an extraordinary amount of bad luck. Is it really bad luck, or is someone trying to take her life? Mocha, Moonlight, and Madness starts out as a really hard read. There are so many story lines starting at once that it becomes hard to sort out who's who in the beginning. Missing words, repetition, and grammatical errors are detracting , but once you get past those obstacles the story reads quickly. It doesn't unfold quickly enough though. Scott is adorable in a goofball friend kind of way. His and Katherine's flirtatious insults will have you giggling in no time. It's obvious to everyone, except him and Katherine, that there is a major spark between them. If they were not constantly saying "I gotta go" within minutes of walking into the room, they might have figured it out sooner. Even though Kathrine and Scott are the main Characters of the book, more light should have shined on Ray for a bigger impact at the end.
The description of the book is more of a spoiler than a description. The writer has a lot of potential and brilliant ideas going on, but the execution of the story left me as frustrated as Katherine trying to get laid. I have to admit with all the twists and turns by the time I made it to the middle I couldn't put it down. I was completely surprised by the ending, but not as far as the story line with Scott and Katherine. The story summary really gives that away. It is worth the read just to witness Kathrine and Scott's denial and the really unique ending. Come on Katherine, you couldn't see Michael's secret coming from a mile away?
Reviewed By: Amber Miller for I Heart Books
By: MaryAnn Kempher
3 out of 5 stars
Katherine O'Brian Is ex-military, an almost ex- wife, and what seems to be an extraordinary amount of bad luck. Is it really bad luck, or is someone trying to take her life? Mocha, Moonlight, and Madness starts out as a really hard read. There are so many story lines starting at once that it becomes hard to sort out who's who in the beginning. Missing words, repetition, and grammatical errors are detracting , but once you get past those obstacles the story reads quickly. It doesn't unfold quickly enough though. Scott is adorable in a goofball friend kind of way. His and Katherine's flirtatious insults will have you giggling in no time. It's obvious to everyone, except him and Katherine, that there is a major spark between them. If they were not constantly saying "I gotta go" within minutes of walking into the room, they might have figured it out sooner. Even though Kathrine and Scott are the main Characters of the book, more light should have shined on Ray for a bigger impact at the end.
The description of the book is more of a spoiler than a description. The writer has a lot of potential and brilliant ideas going on, but the execution of the story left me as frustrated as Katherine trying to get laid. I have to admit with all the twists and turns by the time I made it to the middle I couldn't put it down. I was completely surprised by the ending, but not as far as the story line with Scott and Katherine. The story summary really gives that away. It is worth the read just to witness Kathrine and Scott's denial and the really unique ending. Come on Katherine, you couldn't see Michael's secret coming from a mile away?
Reviewed By: Amber Miller for I Heart Books
June 26, 2014
First off, I loved the cover to this book. It drew me in wanting to read it, which I did in 3 days.
This book was 2/3 romance and 1/3 murder mystery. I found the book to be an enjoyable read despite some inconsistencies in the plot as I went along.
The author did a good job of creating clues and mystery as to the identity of the killer of the Churchill woman, but, for me, the flow was broken with the inconsistencies, like mentioning a certain attempt on Katherine's life that I did not read about in previous chapters. I backtracked looking for it, but did not find it.
The romantic tension between Scott and Katherine was well done, and their verbal sparring was not far-fetched, but was realistic. I did not find this to be juvenile as some reviewers have mentioned. That behavior between two people can happen during ANY stage of life if you are cautious and lack self-confidence. So kudos to the author there.
The author had a less-is-more writing style I found hard to follow at times. Thought process and spoken lines by each character was broken into 2 paragraphs, instead of one, so I lost track as to who was speaking, and had to re-read those lines more than once to see who was speaking.
overall, I enjoyed this book.
This book was 2/3 romance and 1/3 murder mystery. I found the book to be an enjoyable read despite some inconsistencies in the plot as I went along.
The author did a good job of creating clues and mystery as to the identity of the killer of the Churchill woman, but, for me, the flow was broken with the inconsistencies, like mentioning a certain attempt on Katherine's life that I did not read about in previous chapters. I backtracked looking for it, but did not find it.
The romantic tension between Scott and Katherine was well done, and their verbal sparring was not far-fetched, but was realistic. I did not find this to be juvenile as some reviewers have mentioned. That behavior between two people can happen during ANY stage of life if you are cautious and lack self-confidence. So kudos to the author there.
The author had a less-is-more writing style I found hard to follow at times. Thought process and spoken lines by each character was broken into 2 paragraphs, instead of one, so I lost track as to who was speaking, and had to re-read those lines more than once to see who was speaking.
overall, I enjoyed this book.
February 1, 2015
Katherine relocates after her marriage to her husband Ray ends and goes back to school once she settles into her new home. Scott is assigned as her partner for the class project and they quickly realize they like spending time together. Katherine also has the new building maintenance engineer Jack flirting with her and she reconnect with Michael someone she used to work with who becomes her official boyfriend. Then he sister Amy comes to town to help her close up her parents house and get it ready to sell. Katherine is a very busy lady but somehow she manages to juggle it all until it seems someone is out to get her. She falls down the stairs, she thinks people are watching her, and worse yet she can't figure out who it is or why she is the target. Who in her wide circle will she turn to for help and are they all ready to help her, or is someone not who they seem? I liked Katherine she had decided what she wanted from life and was going after it, taking advantage of her fresh start. I also liked watching her relationship with her sister change and improve. I liked Scott right away also and the dynamic between them. This is a good read with twists and turns and surprises along the way.
February 2, 2015
Katherine relocates after her marriage to her husband Ray ends and goes back to school once she settles into her new home. Scott is assigned as her partner for the class project and they quickly realize they like spending time together. Katherine also has the new building maintenance engineer Jack flirting with her and she reconnect with Michael someone she used to work with who becomes her official boyfriend. Then he sister Amy comes to town to help her close up her parents house and get it ready to sell. Katherine is a very busy lady but somehow she manages to juggle it all until it seems someone is out to get her. She falls down the stairs, she thinks people are watching her, and worse yet she can't figure out who it is or why she is the target. Who in her wide circle will she turn to for help and are they all ready to help her, or is someone not who they seem? I liked Katherine she had decided what she wanted from life and was going after it, taking advantage of her fresh start. I also liked watching her relationship with her sister change and improve. I liked Scott right away also and the dynamic between them. This is a good read with twists and turns and surprises along the way.
February 22, 2015
Although this is book one in MaryAnn Kempher’s Under the Moonlight mystery series, I had actually read book two first as part of a review tour. I liked that book so much; I wanted to read her others.
I enjoy Ms. Kempher’s writing style; she weave’s the points of view from multiple characters throughout the book. One of the things I like best is that the reader doesn’t always know who the character speaking is at that point in the story. In this story, the reader is aware of the two main characters Katherine and Scott, throughout the book, however the other characters who have chapter’s intermingled remain a mystery until close to the end of the story, unless the reader is able to piece it together beforehand. This book was a great who’s who-try to figure it out before the end story with a few twists that I really liked. What I didn’t love so much is, having read book #2 first, I knew about part of the story line and kept waiting for it to be told more fully, but that never happened. Not to be confusing, but I don’t want to give anything away. Suffice it to say, part of the story line in book two, I would have liked to see told more fully in book #1. I give this book 4 stars and look forward to reading book 3.
I enjoy Ms. Kempher’s writing style; she weave’s the points of view from multiple characters throughout the book. One of the things I like best is that the reader doesn’t always know who the character speaking is at that point in the story. In this story, the reader is aware of the two main characters Katherine and Scott, throughout the book, however the other characters who have chapter’s intermingled remain a mystery until close to the end of the story, unless the reader is able to piece it together beforehand. This book was a great who’s who-try to figure it out before the end story with a few twists that I really liked. What I didn’t love so much is, having read book #2 first, I knew about part of the story line and kept waiting for it to be told more fully, but that never happened. Not to be confusing, but I don’t want to give anything away. Suffice it to say, part of the story line in book two, I would have liked to see told more fully in book #1. I give this book 4 stars and look forward to reading book 3.
June 2, 2015
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review from NetGalley and this is my review.
I felt this book was okay. I liked the story and the twist it had at the end and that is what saved the review from being lower. What I did not like was what I felt was a bit of a childish writing style. I had no idea how old the characters were for the longest time and with the way the writer was writing they could have been anywhere from 18 to 50 and for me that was a bit of a turn off because I could not picture who I was reading about and I could not set the tone of the book in my head properly. I also did not like the choppy writing style and how immature the charters seemed throughout the book. I really did not like any of the charters therefore I was not a big fan of the book because to me they came off as older adults who were acting like spoiled college kids and it was a big turn off charter persona for me. I guess they were not balanced enough or balanced the way I would have liked to have seen characters in that position to be and that is why I am giving this book three out of five stars.
I felt this book was okay. I liked the story and the twist it had at the end and that is what saved the review from being lower. What I did not like was what I felt was a bit of a childish writing style. I had no idea how old the characters were for the longest time and with the way the writer was writing they could have been anywhere from 18 to 50 and for me that was a bit of a turn off because I could not picture who I was reading about and I could not set the tone of the book in my head properly. I also did not like the choppy writing style and how immature the charters seemed throughout the book. I really did not like any of the charters therefore I was not a big fan of the book because to me they came off as older adults who were acting like spoiled college kids and it was a big turn off charter persona for me. I guess they were not balanced enough or balanced the way I would have liked to have seen characters in that position to be and that is why I am giving this book three out of five stars.
October 19, 2013
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Katherine moves away from her life with her husband and back to where her parents used to live to start over. She witnesses a crime and from there it is an adventure until the end. Scott comes into her life and they spend the majority of the book trying to decide if they could be a couple.
I will keep this review short because this book just wasn't one that I adored. The book felt jumpy and not a smooth read. I felt as though the author left out some vital bits and pieces that could have given the book more depth. I wish that more of the crime and the suspect were in the book, it was introduced at the beginning and only made a brief appearance and then a little at the end, wish there had been more. I also didn't love the "relationship" between Scott and Katherine; I didn't feel like they were acting their age, the waffling back and forth was too much.
Katherine moves away from her life with her husband and back to where her parents used to live to start over. She witnesses a crime and from there it is an adventure until the end. Scott comes into her life and they spend the majority of the book trying to decide if they could be a couple.
I will keep this review short because this book just wasn't one that I adored. The book felt jumpy and not a smooth read. I felt as though the author left out some vital bits and pieces that could have given the book more depth. I wish that more of the crime and the suspect were in the book, it was introduced at the beginning and only made a brief appearance and then a little at the end, wish there had been more. I also didn't love the "relationship" between Scott and Katherine; I didn't feel like they were acting their age, the waffling back and forth was too much.
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