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Pet Rescue Mystery #5
Teacup Turbulence
Los Angeles animal shelter manager Lauren Vancouver has a soft spot for animals in need—and a keen eye for crime. . .
Thanks to a savvy ad campaign featuring teacup pups sporting HotPets Bling—a new line of faux jewelry dog collars—small dog adoptions have skyrocketed across the city. So when Lauren discovers a shelter in the Midwest with more toy dogs than it can handle, she arranges a private plane to swoop in and fly the pups back to LA.
But Lauren didn’t count on rescue worker Teresa Kantrim coming along for the ride. Teresa has cared for the dogs since they were found and doesn’t trust anyone from La-La Land to take over the job. Her biting comments clearly haven’t earned Teresa any new friends, but when she turns up murdered, it’s time for Lauren to dig into Teresa’s past and find out who wanted her put down.
Thanks to a savvy ad campaign featuring teacup pups sporting HotPets Bling—a new line of faux jewelry dog collars—small dog adoptions have skyrocketed across the city. So when Lauren discovers a shelter in the Midwest with more toy dogs than it can handle, she arranges a private plane to swoop in and fly the pups back to LA.
But Lauren didn’t count on rescue worker Teresa Kantrim coming along for the ride. Teresa has cared for the dogs since they were found and doesn’t trust anyone from La-La Land to take over the job. Her biting comments clearly haven’t earned Teresa any new friends, but when she turns up murdered, it’s time for Lauren to dig into Teresa’s past and find out who wanted her put down.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 7, 2014
About the author
Linda O. Johnston
136 books464 followersLinda O. Johnston's first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the Year. Since then, Linda has had more short stories and novellas published, plus, by the end of 2018, she will have had fifty novels published, including mysteries and romance.
Linda currently writes the Barkery and Biscuits Mysteries cozy mystery series for Midnight Ink, and also wrote the Superstition Mysteries for them, both featuring dogs. She has also written the Pet Rescue Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, which was a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series. And yes, they involved dogs, too.
Linda also writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, including a new miniseries about a K-9 ranch where dogs are trained. Linda additionally writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne including the Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters--and all the werewolves also have cover dogs.
Linda, a currently inactive transactional attorney, now writes fiction full-time. She is a member of the Los Angeles chapters of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America, including the Los Angeles, Orange County and Santa Clarita chapters.
Linda currently writes the Barkery and Biscuits Mysteries cozy mystery series for Midnight Ink, and also wrote the Superstition Mysteries for them, both featuring dogs. She has also written the Pet Rescue Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, which was a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series. And yes, they involved dogs, too.
Linda also writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, including a new miniseries about a K-9 ranch where dogs are trained. Linda additionally writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne including the Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters--and all the werewolves also have cover dogs.
Linda, a currently inactive transactional attorney, now writes fiction full-time. She is a member of the Los Angeles chapters of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America, including the Los Angeles, Orange County and Santa Clarita chapters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 14, 2014
Well, I have found another winner in the cozy mystery category. It has the perfect formula for cozy mystery: no sex (perhaps implied), minimal profanity (almost nonexistent, and a diabolically clever plot. Add the rescue work of absolutely delectable, miniature dogs, and you are set for a surprisingly clever mystery that will probably keep you guessing.
First of all, this is my first read in this series, but I honestly didn't have any issues with that. For the first half of the book, I was only mildly curious about the mystery. It was mind-boggling, but I was more intrigued with the dogs than the mystery. But the author's use of foreshadowing kept me going. I knew something was going to be revealed that would be potentially earth-shattering.
And I was right! The moment I realized what intrigue was truly occurring, I was hooked! Granted, I would have read this book anyway, but it merits the higher rating due to the amazing mystery within. I would read any book in this series--let me rephrase that. I believe I would happily read anything by this author! I found her writing style quite palatable. I believe I would like to go back and read the books that led up to this one so I could understand the protagonists better. I did struggle to figure out their personalities and relationships, but that is not the author's fault. It is still generally best to read the majority of book series from the beginning--this one is no exception.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, this is my first read in this series, but I honestly didn't have any issues with that. For the first half of the book, I was only mildly curious about the mystery. It was mind-boggling, but I was more intrigued with the dogs than the mystery. But the author's use of foreshadowing kept me going. I knew something was going to be revealed that would be potentially earth-shattering.
And I was right! The moment I realized what intrigue was truly occurring, I was hooked! Granted, I would have read this book anyway, but it merits the higher rating due to the amazing mystery within. I would read any book in this series--let me rephrase that. I believe I would happily read anything by this author! I found her writing style quite palatable. I believe I would like to go back and read the books that led up to this one so I could understand the protagonists better. I did struggle to figure out their personalities and relationships, but that is not the author's fault. It is still generally best to read the majority of book series from the beginning--this one is no exception.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
May 20, 2015
Another good dog rescue book. The Hot Pets has PR in Los Angles featuring miniature dogs. There is a run on them. Lauren helearns of a group of these dogs recused from a puppy mill back in Missouri and works to bring them to Los Angles. On the first trip a recuse worker from the area is murder. Lauren investigates trying to who and why the stranger was killed.
January 25, 2019
Although the plot looked promising I found the writing far too simplistic to be enjoyable. I found it very slow moving up till the final pages then a very complicated plot emerged with to me an unlikely culprit. The series concept is very much to my liking - I may try another book in the later but certainly not just yet.
May 9, 2019
Although there are a bunch of details that I could have skipped, I really enjoyed all the animals at the pet rescue. It's hard to see animals mistreated and unloved, but this book didn't show any of the truly horrid side of that ... just people wanting to adopt pets. The mystery itself was kind of ... obvious ... right up until the very end.
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January 9, 2014No .... just no...
Ok guess I should elaborate ... I just really didn't like this book ... it was pretty boring.
Ok guess I should elaborate ... I just really didn't like this book ... it was pretty boring.
August 16, 2019
Obvious and dumb. Main character “investigates” by asking people if they murdered someone. And the writing! I know what kind of car she drives, it’s mentioned by name every time she gets in it, she lives in a gated community, again mentioned every time she enters. Her boss is rich, the restaurant expensive etc etc. Please save me from this series. And for being about dog rescue, not much dog, except for the “teacup” description over and over and over. Which apparently people are falling all over themselves to adopt because they saw some ads for sparkly collars? No. Just no
April 15, 2023
This is one of those cozy series that is so endearing you wish it would last forever. This is the 5th in series and a great addition to the series. Lauren works in pet rescue and is savvy and smart at solving crimes. In this case she is handling a teacup rescue when the original resucer is murdered. Lauren is determined to save the dogs and solve the mystery with the help of her friends and the local police. This was a fun read to conclusion with a well plotted sleuth. I enjoy this series and hope it continues.
May 29, 2020
The story was good. Rescuing pets is a good thing, and I learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes at a shelter. But I did get a little tired of the same descriptions, like her car, her gated community, and all the references to how expensive everything around Dante was. I liked the mystery, too, and was surprised at who the murderer was.
June 17, 2018
Great little mystery with a doggie background. I enjoyed the plot, the version I read was a small paperback so a little difficult for my old eyes.
My heart is with rescues and I volunteer at our county humane society so this was right up my line
My heart is with rescues and I volunteer at our county humane society so this was right up my line
August 10, 2021
Fun little cozy mystery - the pet rescue is a great take on a story. This was a first for me in this series and I had no problem getting into the story.
Be prepared to have your heart want to rescue all the little animals!
Be prepared to have your heart want to rescue all the little animals!
August 12, 2017
I enjoyed this quick read cozy. I have enjoyed all the books in this series. Good to read about pet rescue. Our wonderful dogs have all been shelter dogs
September 5, 2020
This is a cute cozy mystery for anyone who loves Animals. It gives a peek into the running of a shelter, the tasks involved in rescue and rehoming, and the pure fun of dogs small and large.
July 10, 2021
Fun read. Good story. Nice Saturday afternoon if you need to stay inside.
January 22, 2022
Enjoyable
January 15, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/te...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
teacup-turbulence-pet-rescue-mystery-linda-o-johmstonEver since the cute advertisements for HotPets Bling, featuring cute teacup sized dogs wearing bling collars have been running throughout L.A. there has been an influx of people adopting small dogs. The local shelters are not able to keep up with demand on the cute pooches. So Lauren reaches out to a shelter in Missouri that has more pets, then they can handle after a puppy mill bust.
Lauren quickly makes arrangements for the pups to be flown to L.A. and to her shelter, HotRescues. But she didn’t plan on a shelter worker, Teresa, to come along with the dogs!
Teresa did not agree with the pets being sent to HotRescues, and makes sure everyone knows it! She’s nasty to everyone she comes into contact with, leaving a countless number of suspects when she’s found murdered!
Now Lauren is on the case again, solving another murder, to clear the names of the couple that flew the plane to get her newest rescues!
This was a cute sounding story and the cover was equally adorable! But unfortunately that was about all that I really liked about this book.
My main hang-up with this novel is that it wasn’t realistic. Lauren manages the HotRescues shelter, and everything just seems to be too convenient and easy for her. Being the animal lover that I am, I’ve dealt with several local shelters and have gotten both my current pets from them. So I’ve been around them enough to know that running one is not a glamorous job, but rather a labor of love. But our heroine in this story never has to beg for funding, but just ask Dante for a handout every time she wants something. She never even has to do the dirty jobs of running a shelter, always having workers and volunteers to clean-up and care for the pets. She gets to do the fun jobs like petting the animals, approving applications, and acquiring new pets (never having to worry about space and instead is actually looking for pets to fill her shelter).
And, every time they mentioned the teacup dogs they were referred to as ‘little dogs’ or ‘little rescues’ and it got pretty annoying.
Then we go to the murder investigation itself. Her security officer’s husband is a police officer and when Lauren asks for details to run her own investigation he gives her what she asks for and just tells her to keep him informed. No good police officer would ever do this in real life, vigilante justice much?
I even found Lauren’s relationship with Matt to be boring and flat. And, oh what do you know? He works in the animal services field as well. There was just nothing entertaining about this couple.
I really wanted to like this book, but found it to be uninspired and dull. I had partially solved the case about halfway through the book, and just had to wait for all the characters to catch up! That’s not to say that other readers won’t enjoy this book, but it obviously just wasn’t for me.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
teacup-turbulence-pet-rescue-mystery-linda-o-johmstonEver since the cute advertisements for HotPets Bling, featuring cute teacup sized dogs wearing bling collars have been running throughout L.A. there has been an influx of people adopting small dogs. The local shelters are not able to keep up with demand on the cute pooches. So Lauren reaches out to a shelter in Missouri that has more pets, then they can handle after a puppy mill bust.
Lauren quickly makes arrangements for the pups to be flown to L.A. and to her shelter, HotRescues. But she didn’t plan on a shelter worker, Teresa, to come along with the dogs!
Teresa did not agree with the pets being sent to HotRescues, and makes sure everyone knows it! She’s nasty to everyone she comes into contact with, leaving a countless number of suspects when she’s found murdered!
Now Lauren is on the case again, solving another murder, to clear the names of the couple that flew the plane to get her newest rescues!
This was a cute sounding story and the cover was equally adorable! But unfortunately that was about all that I really liked about this book.
My main hang-up with this novel is that it wasn’t realistic. Lauren manages the HotRescues shelter, and everything just seems to be too convenient and easy for her. Being the animal lover that I am, I’ve dealt with several local shelters and have gotten both my current pets from them. So I’ve been around them enough to know that running one is not a glamorous job, but rather a labor of love. But our heroine in this story never has to beg for funding, but just ask Dante for a handout every time she wants something. She never even has to do the dirty jobs of running a shelter, always having workers and volunteers to clean-up and care for the pets. She gets to do the fun jobs like petting the animals, approving applications, and acquiring new pets (never having to worry about space and instead is actually looking for pets to fill her shelter).
And, every time they mentioned the teacup dogs they were referred to as ‘little dogs’ or ‘little rescues’ and it got pretty annoying.
Then we go to the murder investigation itself. Her security officer’s husband is a police officer and when Lauren asks for details to run her own investigation he gives her what she asks for and just tells her to keep him informed. No good police officer would ever do this in real life, vigilante justice much?
I even found Lauren’s relationship with Matt to be boring and flat. And, oh what do you know? He works in the animal services field as well. There was just nothing entertaining about this couple.
I really wanted to like this book, but found it to be uninspired and dull. I had partially solved the case about halfway through the book, and just had to wait for all the characters to catch up! That’s not to say that other readers won’t enjoy this book, but it obviously just wasn’t for me.
January 7, 2014
Linda O. Johnston once again thrills readers and pet lover's alike in her latest book in the Pet Rescue mystery series, Teacup Turbulence. Johnston is not only giving readers a great whodunit in this one, but also raising awareness for rescue animals and the dangers of puppy mills and other situations that are inhumane. Johnston's protagonist, Lauren Vancouver and the HotRescues crew are always up for taking on new projects including some puppy bling in this one. A great addition to the series!
What I liked:
This is a great series! Johnston is always so focused on both the mystery she is writing and the plight of animals. She does a great job of showing readers the behind the scenes stuff that doesn't usually make it into books about pet rescue, especially not mysteries. It is obvious that the author has a real soft spot of animals and their welfare and in my book that's a wonderful thing, it shows itself on every page of her books. They may be mysteries, but they have a secondary focus as well... happy critters.
Lauren is a lead character. She always has the big picture in mind when it comes to pet rescue. She wants to make the biggest impact she can and in this case it is rescuing some toy dogs from a midwest shelter that has far too many. I thought Johnston did a great job of showing Lauren's commitment and the also the victims stake in these animals. Teresa came with the dogs, there had to be a reason, right? Love or of dogs or something else?
The mystery aspects of the book were well done, however in shorter supply than I would have liked. I thought the eventual motive and the killer were insightful and plausible. Could this one have really happened? There's a good possibility. There were lots of suspects. Let's face it, this chick was not very popular, but there is also the mystery of what's going on with the adoption of some of the rescue dogs. So readers have two cases to ponder. I didn't figure it out until the end and that was a good thing. I don't want to figure it out every time. LOL
What I didn't like:
I thought this one was a bit heavy handed on the pet rescue them and the doggie jewelry and a little light on the mystery. Though those aspects of the story were certainly important to the outcome and in providing awareness of rescue pet issues, they should have been a balanced a bit more. I generally read a mystery for the mystery, not the background.
Bottom Line:
This was good book, though maybe not my favorite of the series. The pet rescue theme was well written, but tended to take over a bit. The killer wasn't obvious and the sleuth did a good job of keeping up with the clues and solving the crime.
What I liked:
This is a great series! Johnston is always so focused on both the mystery she is writing and the plight of animals. She does a great job of showing readers the behind the scenes stuff that doesn't usually make it into books about pet rescue, especially not mysteries. It is obvious that the author has a real soft spot of animals and their welfare and in my book that's a wonderful thing, it shows itself on every page of her books. They may be mysteries, but they have a secondary focus as well... happy critters.
Lauren is a lead character. She always has the big picture in mind when it comes to pet rescue. She wants to make the biggest impact she can and in this case it is rescuing some toy dogs from a midwest shelter that has far too many. I thought Johnston did a great job of showing Lauren's commitment and the also the victims stake in these animals. Teresa came with the dogs, there had to be a reason, right? Love or of dogs or something else?
The mystery aspects of the book were well done, however in shorter supply than I would have liked. I thought the eventual motive and the killer were insightful and plausible. Could this one have really happened? There's a good possibility. There were lots of suspects. Let's face it, this chick was not very popular, but there is also the mystery of what's going on with the adoption of some of the rescue dogs. So readers have two cases to ponder. I didn't figure it out until the end and that was a good thing. I don't want to figure it out every time. LOL
What I didn't like:
I thought this one was a bit heavy handed on the pet rescue them and the doggie jewelry and a little light on the mystery. Though those aspects of the story were certainly important to the outcome and in providing awareness of rescue pet issues, they should have been a balanced a bit more. I generally read a mystery for the mystery, not the background.
Bottom Line:
This was good book, though maybe not my favorite of the series. The pet rescue theme was well written, but tended to take over a bit. The killer wasn't obvious and the sleuth did a good job of keeping up with the clues and solving the crime.
January 16, 2016
HotPets is adding a new line of pet accessories with HotPets Bling. To showcase their new merchandise they have huge ads all over the city with teacup puppies wearing the new “bling”. This has caused a huge interest in the petite canines. Lauren is trying to locate more of the little ones needing forever homes. Her search leads her to shelter in the Midwest that has just rescued a bunch of pups from a puppy mill. She uses her connections to bring the dogs to her HotRescues shelter. She never expected they would be joined by a very cantankerous human, Teresa Kantrim. She has cared for the dogs since they were rescued and does trust the people in “LA LA Land” with her precious cargo. Not everyone was a fan of Teresa or her biting comments but Lauren is clearly shaken to find her dead body at the shelter. Now it’s up to Lauren to find which person disliked her enough to put her down permanently.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Lauren is a fabulous protagonist, she loves these animals with all her heart and loves her job. She just naturally gets involved in these crimes while putting herself in danger. She is one gutsy broad in this installment. I wanted to stop her from going some of the places she did.
Johnston has created wonderful characters including a couple of the canine variety. The mystery was very suspenseful and it took me some time, o.k. I figured out right along with Lauren, that is a tribute of great storytelling.
The thing I really like about this series is the awareness it brings to pet adoption. HotRescues is the dream animal shelter because it has a benefactor to help with the costs and a staff of volunteers that really get the importance of their jobs. There are shelters everywhere that need help, money, volunteers and staff to keep the places open and the animals taken care of each and every day. After reading these stories I wish I was physically able to volunteer but since I can’t do that I try to write a check or have my husband pick up an extra bag of food to drop at a shelter. Most of our pets were rescues. I don’t know how I would get through my day without my furry blonde dog at my feet and the black and white one lying close by.
Pet lovers will love this series and after you are done I bet you will want to help out a shelter near you. The mystery and the characters are terrific but the story behind the mystery will stick with you forever.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Lauren is a fabulous protagonist, she loves these animals with all her heart and loves her job. She just naturally gets involved in these crimes while putting herself in danger. She is one gutsy broad in this installment. I wanted to stop her from going some of the places she did.
Johnston has created wonderful characters including a couple of the canine variety. The mystery was very suspenseful and it took me some time, o.k. I figured out right along with Lauren, that is a tribute of great storytelling.
The thing I really like about this series is the awareness it brings to pet adoption. HotRescues is the dream animal shelter because it has a benefactor to help with the costs and a staff of volunteers that really get the importance of their jobs. There are shelters everywhere that need help, money, volunteers and staff to keep the places open and the animals taken care of each and every day. After reading these stories I wish I was physically able to volunteer but since I can’t do that I try to write a check or have my husband pick up an extra bag of food to drop at a shelter. Most of our pets were rescues. I don’t know how I would get through my day without my furry blonde dog at my feet and the black and white one lying close by.
Pet lovers will love this series and after you are done I bet you will want to help out a shelter near you. The mystery and the characters are terrific but the story behind the mystery will stick with you forever.
January 21, 2014
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Teacup miniature dogs, a pet rescue organization and designer created dog jewelry all play a part in Linda O. Johnston’s Teacup Turbulence. Well developed characters, good dialogue and an engaging murder mystery kept me turning the pages to see what the heroine would discover next. While the fifth book in the Pet Rescue Mystery series, I was able to read and enjoy this book on its own.
Running HotRescues, a thriving animal shelter in San Fernando Valley, Lauren Vancouver has more business than she can handle. In fact the recent run on teacup sized dogs, thanks to the skyrocketing popularity of HotPets Bling, a specialty line of pet jewelry, has left her shelter empty of the miniature sized dogs and in need. When she discovers a shelter in Missouri has an over abundance of the miniature dogs with no place to go, she arranges for a dog rescue transport service to fly in and bring the dogs to L.A. She just didn’t plan on Teresa Kantrim, a difficult dog rescue worker tagging along, or on someone in L.A. wanting Teresa dead.
Ms. Johnston does a good job introducing Lauren’s character, her circle of friends and her co-workers, if you haven’t read any of the previous books you won't feel lost. She develops the characters fairly well and I took a liking to Lauren right off the bat. I enjoyed meeting the people in her life, especially Matt, her boyfriend who also works at an animal shelter.
The murder mystery is engaging and I enjoyed watching Lauren try to solve the case. Because of all of the people that Lauren knows, she was able to get answers to her questions and kept this reader involved in trying to figure out who had the best reason for wanting Teresa dead (I have to admit Teresa was a bit of a pill and I could see someone wanting her bumped off).
Will Lauren discover the identity of the killer before she becomes the next victim? Will her pet rescue be able to weather the fall out of another murder investigation? You’ll have to read Teacup Turbulence to find out. I enjoyed it and I think you will too.
Teacup miniature dogs, a pet rescue organization and designer created dog jewelry all play a part in Linda O. Johnston’s Teacup Turbulence. Well developed characters, good dialogue and an engaging murder mystery kept me turning the pages to see what the heroine would discover next. While the fifth book in the Pet Rescue Mystery series, I was able to read and enjoy this book on its own.
Running HotRescues, a thriving animal shelter in San Fernando Valley, Lauren Vancouver has more business than she can handle. In fact the recent run on teacup sized dogs, thanks to the skyrocketing popularity of HotPets Bling, a specialty line of pet jewelry, has left her shelter empty of the miniature sized dogs and in need. When she discovers a shelter in Missouri has an over abundance of the miniature dogs with no place to go, she arranges for a dog rescue transport service to fly in and bring the dogs to L.A. She just didn’t plan on Teresa Kantrim, a difficult dog rescue worker tagging along, or on someone in L.A. wanting Teresa dead.
Ms. Johnston does a good job introducing Lauren’s character, her circle of friends and her co-workers, if you haven’t read any of the previous books you won't feel lost. She develops the characters fairly well and I took a liking to Lauren right off the bat. I enjoyed meeting the people in her life, especially Matt, her boyfriend who also works at an animal shelter.
The murder mystery is engaging and I enjoyed watching Lauren try to solve the case. Because of all of the people that Lauren knows, she was able to get answers to her questions and kept this reader involved in trying to figure out who had the best reason for wanting Teresa dead (I have to admit Teresa was a bit of a pill and I could see someone wanting her bumped off).
Will Lauren discover the identity of the killer before she becomes the next victim? Will her pet rescue be able to weather the fall out of another murder investigation? You’ll have to read Teacup Turbulence to find out. I enjoyed it and I think you will too.
October 12, 2014
This is the second time that I have read a book in the Pet Rescue Mystery Series. I wasn't disappointed and hope to read more. Lauren Vancouver is still the manager of Hot Rescues in the San Fernando Valley. There is no problem with reading this series out of as the Linda OI knew from the cover of this book that I had to read it because I would love to have a small dog myself. Johnston neatly ties in the past with the present Teacup Turbulence.
Nayla Faylor and her husband Tom are at the rescue center wanting to adopt a mini pinscher and an elderly woman wants the same dog. Tom is the new owner of Hot Pets Bling and has a campaign featuring jeweled dog collars for small dogs. Dante DeFransico, the generous owner of both Hot Rescues and Hot Pets Bling has already vouched for the Faylors. Lauren doesn’t like to do one day adoptions but goes ahead with it. The collars create a storm of desire for people wanting small dogs and there just aren’t many small dogs left. So Lauren searches and finds that many “teacup” dogs have been turned over from a puppy mill in the Midwest. Nayla and Tom already have a plane so they agree to do the last leg of flying the small dogs in. The pilots are volunteers who work towards moving animals to places where they have a better chance of being adopted.
One of the rescue workers in Missouri, Teresa Kantum demands to come with the dogs. She doesn’t have a good opinion of Los Angeles, aka La La Land. A party is thrown at the rescue center to celebrate the success of teacup operation. But when Lauren walks into the quarantine area of the center, she finds Teresa sprawled on the floor and dead.
With each cozy, the author educates the public. This time is was about volunteer groups who connect together to fly adoptable animals to places where they are more likely to be adopted. She also writes a great mystery and does a great job on developing the characters in the story.
I highly recommend this story to all cozy mystery readers and to all who love dogs.
Nayla Faylor and her husband Tom are at the rescue center wanting to adopt a mini pinscher and an elderly woman wants the same dog. Tom is the new owner of Hot Pets Bling and has a campaign featuring jeweled dog collars for small dogs. Dante DeFransico, the generous owner of both Hot Rescues and Hot Pets Bling has already vouched for the Faylors. Lauren doesn’t like to do one day adoptions but goes ahead with it. The collars create a storm of desire for people wanting small dogs and there just aren’t many small dogs left. So Lauren searches and finds that many “teacup” dogs have been turned over from a puppy mill in the Midwest. Nayla and Tom already have a plane so they agree to do the last leg of flying the small dogs in. The pilots are volunteers who work towards moving animals to places where they have a better chance of being adopted.
One of the rescue workers in Missouri, Teresa Kantum demands to come with the dogs. She doesn’t have a good opinion of Los Angeles, aka La La Land. A party is thrown at the rescue center to celebrate the success of teacup operation. But when Lauren walks into the quarantine area of the center, she finds Teresa sprawled on the floor and dead.
With each cozy, the author educates the public. This time is was about volunteer groups who connect together to fly adoptable animals to places where they are more likely to be adopted. She also writes a great mystery and does a great job on developing the characters in the story.
I highly recommend this story to all cozy mystery readers and to all who love dogs.
January 2, 2014
I really enjoy cozy mysteries and am always on the lookout for a new author and series.
Teacup Turbulence is a spinoff from the Pet Sitter Series, which I plan to check out.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover art. I love dogs and the cuties on the cover caught my eye. Then the title just sounded so fun.
The title says it all. Lots and lots of teacup pups and turbulence.
While I didn’t particularly care for, Teresa, the murder victim, I did wonder if her frosty, rude behavior might be hiding something. It was as you’ll discover when you explore this mystery.
Lauren has her hands full with rescuing pups and also selling Bling. I never knew how big and competitive dog jewelry was.
Since the murder happened right under Lauren’s nose, she leaps in to solve it.
While I had an inkling early on what might be behind the murder, I still had to follow the clues and sniff out the false leads. There are many characters to fill the suspect list, some likeable, some I could take or leave.
The pups added an adorable factor to the story. And I loved how the author explains choosing the names for them. It added a lightness to the mystery and had me thinking up all kinds of names.
I wasn’t immediately hooked by the beginning, but was gradually pulled into the mystery and while I had a good idea of what was going on, I had no clue who the killer might be. That kept me turning the pages, searching for clues, and surprising me with the culprit in the end. I really didn’t see the murderer coming.
I’ll be reading more from this author and I’m sure I’ll be entertained.
I received this book for my honest review. As always, my opinion is my own and freely given.
Teacup Turbulence is a spinoff from the Pet Sitter Series, which I plan to check out.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover art. I love dogs and the cuties on the cover caught my eye. Then the title just sounded so fun.
The title says it all. Lots and lots of teacup pups and turbulence.
While I didn’t particularly care for, Teresa, the murder victim, I did wonder if her frosty, rude behavior might be hiding something. It was as you’ll discover when you explore this mystery.
Lauren has her hands full with rescuing pups and also selling Bling. I never knew how big and competitive dog jewelry was.
Since the murder happened right under Lauren’s nose, she leaps in to solve it.
While I had an inkling early on what might be behind the murder, I still had to follow the clues and sniff out the false leads. There are many characters to fill the suspect list, some likeable, some I could take or leave.
The pups added an adorable factor to the story. And I loved how the author explains choosing the names for them. It added a lightness to the mystery and had me thinking up all kinds of names.
I wasn’t immediately hooked by the beginning, but was gradually pulled into the mystery and while I had a good idea of what was going on, I had no clue who the killer might be. That kept me turning the pages, searching for clues, and surprising me with the culprit in the end. I really didn’t see the murderer coming.
I’ll be reading more from this author and I’m sure I’ll be entertained.
I received this book for my honest review. As always, my opinion is my own and freely given.
January 16, 2014
4 STARS
This is the 5th book in series but first one I have read. I had no problem with picking up the story. I think it can stand alone easy enough. I would like to read the other books in the series though.
The dogs sounded delightful. I would like to have gone to the parties and played with the dogs. I could not pass to get one of the dogs though.
The rest of the characters are just as believable and real to me. I like Lauren that she cares so much about saving dogs and giving them good homes. She manages HotRescues and gets involved in murder cases.
The plot Lauren hears about a rescue in the south of lots of teacup dogs that were being mistreated in a puppy mill. In California there is a high demand for teacup dogs thanks to ad campaign for HotPets Bling. So Lauren calls and sees if she can bring some of the dogs to her rescue and find them good homes.
With the dogs comes Teresa to make sure the dogs are treated alright. She is unhappy and makes everyone else unhappy around her. She is murdered at Lauren's party. So Lauren decides to help find the real killer.
The setting for the books is mostly in L.A. San Fernando Valley.
It does make you want to get a dog but I already have two. It is full of dogs and trying to take care of them.
The suspense of who and why Teresa was murdered is good.
I would read more books in this series.
I was given Teacup Turbulence for the purpose of reviewing and being part of its blog tour.
January 8, 2014
I have loved this series from the very beginning and Teacup Turbulence is the best in the series for me. Lauren Vancouver, the administer of HotRescues, learns that a shelter in Missouri has more small dogs than they can handle at a time where L.A. residents are clamoring for these dogs as a result of a new dog collar ad campaign. After Lauren arranges for these adorable dogs to be flown to HotRescues, she learns that a rescue worker has joined the pups and will be monitoring their treatment in L.A. Teresa isn’t a very nice woman and seems to get in arguments with everyone that she comes into contact with, which leads to Lauren finding another dead body at the shelter. It’s up to Lauren to find out who is to blame for Teresa’s death and everyone seems to have a reason for wanting this snarky woman dead.
Every time that I read one of Ms. Johnston’s books, I feel like I’m visiting an old friend. I love her Pet Rescue series and I am always entertained by whatever situations Lauren seems to find herself in to investigate a new murder and protect these adorable animals. I enjoyed catching up with these characters and I loved that I couldn’t figure out the mystery before Lauren did. Teacup Turbulence is a wonderful addition to a great series and I can’t wait to read the next Pet Rescue mystery.
Received a copy as part of a blog tour and this review appears on Books-n-Kisses.com
Every time that I read one of Ms. Johnston’s books, I feel like I’m visiting an old friend. I love her Pet Rescue series and I am always entertained by whatever situations Lauren seems to find herself in to investigate a new murder and protect these adorable animals. I enjoyed catching up with these characters and I loved that I couldn’t figure out the mystery before Lauren did. Teacup Turbulence is a wonderful addition to a great series and I can’t wait to read the next Pet Rescue mystery.
Received a copy as part of a blog tour and this review appears on Books-n-Kisses.com
January 17, 2014
Teacup Turbulence
This is a cozy mystery; that is a mystery that has light mystery, no gore, a lack of foulness in other ways, and light on the romance. While I wasn’t in love with the book where I couldn’t put it down, I did enjoy it. I found the human characters for the most part endearing…though some garnered more tolerance than actual acceptance. The pups that litter the pages, from HotRescues to their own personal pooches, were heart warming…and some of the names they had tugged at my own memories while others simply made me smile.
The actual mystery was pretty straight forward, including some of the who-done-its..HOWEVER, and that’s a big however, the final outcome including the revelation of all the players involved, as well as the resolution of an additional mystery we never knew about, DO come as a surprise so I’d say that all’s well that ends well…and this one DOES end well.
Final thoughts…a short and sweet read that’s light on the action but pours on the charm, perfect for your weekend bring-a-long or bedtime read. Though I wish some parts were fleshed out more, that’s not the nature of this particular beast (or rather genre) so I’ll take it as it is and welcome it with a smile.
****review copy received in exchange for my honest review...full post can be seen on my site***
This is a cozy mystery; that is a mystery that has light mystery, no gore, a lack of foulness in other ways, and light on the romance. While I wasn’t in love with the book where I couldn’t put it down, I did enjoy it. I found the human characters for the most part endearing…though some garnered more tolerance than actual acceptance. The pups that litter the pages, from HotRescues to their own personal pooches, were heart warming…and some of the names they had tugged at my own memories while others simply made me smile.
The actual mystery was pretty straight forward, including some of the who-done-its..HOWEVER, and that’s a big however, the final outcome including the revelation of all the players involved, as well as the resolution of an additional mystery we never knew about, DO come as a surprise so I’d say that all’s well that ends well…and this one DOES end well.
Final thoughts…a short and sweet read that’s light on the action but pours on the charm, perfect for your weekend bring-a-long or bedtime read. Though I wish some parts were fleshed out more, that’s not the nature of this particular beast (or rather genre) so I’ll take it as it is and welcome it with a smile.
****review copy received in exchange for my honest review...full post can be seen on my site***
January 4, 2014
"Teacup Turbulence" is a cozy mystery. This book is the fifth in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunit of a previous books.
This book was primarily about the making and marketing of upscale pet collars and the animal shelters' teacup dog adoption efforts. The author did a good job of describing these features and created an interesting story around them.
The heroine did a better job (compared to the previous book) at asking good questions to uncover clues to the murderer, so the reader could guess whodunit from the clues. However, Lauren's main method of identifying the murderer still seems to be asking every suspect (even her friends) if they did it in the hopes of a confession...or an attempt on her life. When that doesn't work, she sets up a decent trap. So, in a sense, this is more of a suspense novel than a puzzle-mystery.
There were no sex scenes. There was a minor amount of explicit bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to dog lovers or those who are interested in these aspects of the pet industry.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
This book was primarily about the making and marketing of upscale pet collars and the animal shelters' teacup dog adoption efforts. The author did a good job of describing these features and created an interesting story around them.
The heroine did a better job (compared to the previous book) at asking good questions to uncover clues to the murderer, so the reader could guess whodunit from the clues. However, Lauren's main method of identifying the murderer still seems to be asking every suspect (even her friends) if they did it in the hopes of a confession...or an attempt on her life. When that doesn't work, she sets up a decent trap. So, in a sense, this is more of a suspense novel than a puzzle-mystery.
There were no sex scenes. There was a minor amount of explicit bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to dog lovers or those who are interested in these aspects of the pet industry.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
January 5, 2014
This was the second book that I have read in this series and it just keeps getting better. Lauren is a great protagonist, she will do just about anything to keep her pets safe, she is also very good at solving murders. When some bling collars are being marketed for HotPets, it generates an interest in teacup dogs in the L.A. area. Lauren learns of a lot of teacup dogs that need rescued from a puppy mill is Missouri. When the dogs arrive they are accompanied by a worker from Missouri. When that worker is found murdered at HotRescues, Lauren has to figure out who the killer is so that her Airborn rescues can continue and she can clear her friends of the murder. In the meantime, she also has to figure out a mystery behind the adoption of some of the teacup dogs. This book kept my attention throughout. If you love a good mystery and are an animal lover, then this book is for you. Great job Linda, I can't wait for the next Pet Rescue Mystery, and I am going to try to read the ones that I have missed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.
January 8, 2014
I received a paperback ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review during a book tour. My opinion was not influenced in any way.
Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston is part of the Pet Rescue mystery series. This was such a fun cozy for me to read! Even though it is the first book in the series that I've read, I felt like Linda did a nice job of explaining the characters and back stories. It was easy for me to immerse myself in the story. I really loved Lauren's character! She is caring and smart, plus an awesome animal advocate.
Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston is a great cozy. The characters are enjoyable and the plot really held my attention throughout the book. It was a great 'whodunit' and I found myself wanting to read faster to find out what happened next. Lauren is a fun amateur sleuth, and I really look forward to going back and reading the other books in this series. Pet lovers will love the furry costars in this series, too. ;)
Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston is part of the Pet Rescue mystery series. This was such a fun cozy for me to read! Even though it is the first book in the series that I've read, I felt like Linda did a nice job of explaining the characters and back stories. It was easy for me to immerse myself in the story. I really loved Lauren's character! She is caring and smart, plus an awesome animal advocate.
Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston is a great cozy. The characters are enjoyable and the plot really held my attention throughout the book. It was a great 'whodunit' and I found myself wanting to read faster to find out what happened next. Lauren is a fun amateur sleuth, and I really look forward to going back and reading the other books in this series. Pet lovers will love the furry costars in this series, too. ;)
March 31, 2014
If a breeder (or shelter) tries to sell you on a "teacup" anything, RUN! There is no such real designation of "teacup" to describe a dog. If a dog that is supposed to be bigger is, instead, tiny, then there is something genetically wrong with it. I have a 4lb, 4.5 year old Chihuahua. People often as me if she's a "teacup", and I use my answer to educate them. Chihuahuas are only to be between 3lbs-6lbs, so mine is exactly where she should be. There are certainly larger adult Chihuahuas who will never be in the 3lb-6lb range (I have another who is 12 lbs!), but that's because their body structure is different.
Besides that, I liked the book well enough, although Lauren is starting to get a little annoying to me. Since it's been a week or so since I read the book, I can't quite remember what she says or does that annoys me.
Besides that, I liked the book well enough, although Lauren is starting to get a little annoying to me. Since it's been a week or so since I read the book, I can't quite remember what she says or does that annoys me.
July 25, 2014
From the adorable cover forward, this was a really interesting book--especially for a dog lover like myself. The details about the protagonist's animal rescue work, and the information about the shelter she runs, felt authentic. I did not see the plot developments coming so was nicely surprised at those twists and even though I was pretty sure of a happy outcome, the suspense kept me turning pages to the finish line.
One terrific thing about Johnston's books is that in her various series, she never overloads the reader with unnecessary backstory from any books that came before. You get enough information to orient yourself to who's who and what's what, but you never feel like you're re-reading a previous volume along with the current one.
Good dialogue, nice action sequences, plenty of suspense, and of course lots and lots of dogs. A winner.
One terrific thing about Johnston's books is that in her various series, she never overloads the reader with unnecessary backstory from any books that came before. You get enough information to orient yourself to who's who and what's what, but you never feel like you're re-reading a previous volume along with the current one.
Good dialogue, nice action sequences, plenty of suspense, and of course lots and lots of dogs. A winner.
April 17, 2016
This is book 5 of the Pet Rescue Mystery series. Lauren is excited about the latest plan to combine decorative pet collars, part of HotPets Bling, with adoption of teacup puppies, brought in from a shelter in the Midwest. But during the presentation party, the rescue worker who accompanied these puppies is found murdered. Once again Lauren finds herself investigating this death, while continuing to handle the potential adoptions of these adorable pups. This story was especially fun for me to read as an owner of Japanese Chins, another toy breed. I enjoyed the mystery subplot in this story...a mystery involving the adoptees. I look forward to the next book in this series.
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