Feisty insurance investigator Amber Fox is finally marrying her boss, Brad Beckett, in seven days. All she has to do before the wedding is get a manicure, a bikini wax, and buy some sexy honeymoon undies. Easy peasy...
Until glamour model Aleesha starts receiving threatening letters, and Brad's suddenly hired as her bodyguard. Unfortunately, Aleesha's definition of guarding her body is different to Amber's. Especially since Aleesha is Brad's ex and has her sights set on getting him back.
And when Brad's arrested, facing life imprisonment, it looks like the only thing on Amber's honeymoon itinerary will be conjugal prison visits. Can Amber solve the case and clear Brad's name? Is Brad as innocent as he claims? Or is this the end for Amber and Brad?
Sibel Hodge is the author of the #1 Bestsellers Look Behind You, Untouchable, and Duplicity. Her books have sold over one million copies and are international bestsellers in the UK, USA, Australia, France, Canada and Germany. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, and is a passionate human and animal rights advocate.
Her work has been nominated and shortlisted for numerous prizes, including the Harry Bowling Prize, the Yeovil Literary Prize, the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition, The Romance Reviews’ prize for Best Novel with Romantic Elements and Indie Book Bargains’ Best Indie Book of 2012 in two categories. She was the winner of Best Children’s Book in the 2013 eFestival of Words; nominated for the 2015 BigAl’s Books and Pals Young Adult Readers’ Choice Award; winner of the Crime, Thrillers & Mystery Book from a Series Award in the SpaSpa Book Awards 2013; winner of the Readers’ Favorite Young Adult (Coming of Age) Honorable award in 2015; a New Adult finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s International Digital Awards 2015, and 2017 International Thriller Writers Award finalist for Best E-book Original Novel. Her novella Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave has been listed as one of the top forty books about human rights by Accredited Online Colleges.
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I found this book to be quite an easy, entertaining read. Amber was an interesting, well-written character whose little asides made me laugh and smile more than once. I liked the way the book was written from first person perspective - it was amusing to see other characters from her POV.
I do have to say, though, that I found it really difficult to belive that Amber was ever a police officer. Her attitude doesn't seem to lend itself well to that sort of job. But I suspect that it would make more sense if I read the other books in this series.
I found a couple of the characters to be a bit over-the-top - more like caricatures than real people. That wasn't the case with all of them, though I have to say, it wasn't a major issue; a lot of the humour came from the characters being more over the top.
I wasn't expecting what happened to Aleesha. I probably should have been, but it did take me by surprise. The mystery part of the book was interesting, but I wasn't surprised by who it turned out to be. There wasn't really a twist, though I still liked the book and there was enough tension towards the end to make me want to read and find out how it was going to turn out.
I liked Amber's cat and I could definitely relate to her asides about his intelligence - I personally think that animals generally are more intelligent than we give them credit for; and especially cats. I could also relate well to Amber's love of junk food. It's nice, even though it's unhealthy.
I thought the book was quite well-written, with only one or two mistakes. I thought Brad made a couple of bad choices, but it seemed to fit in with his character. I was glad to see that Romeo wasn't some jealous jerk.
I'm sure I would be interested in checking out other books in this series at some point. It's nice to read things that have a bit more humour in them.
This is the fourth in the Amber Fox mysteries. You don't necessarily need to have read the other 3 as this is a stand-alone mystery but it helps to know the background to the characters.
Amber is due to marry Brad in a week's time. If things were to run smoothly, then there'd be no book. As it happens, Brad gets mixed up trying to protect his ex Aleesha from a stalker threatening to kill her. Amber didn't even know Brad had gone out with glamour model and TV tart Aleesha.
This is a fun novella, very easy to read and I enjoy reading more of the characters in this series. Amber's mum gets a bigger part as she gets involved with some undercover spying. At times Amber got on my nerves for doubting Brad, but she's a feisty lady and pulls everything together - mostly.
The product page for this says it's 154 pages. It felt like a longer story than that implies. It didn't feel too short, it felt like a proper sized story.
Another hit by Sibel Hodge! 'Chocolate, Lies, and Murder' is the fourth book in the Amber Fox Mystery series. I really love these books and how they are filled with laugh out loud moments (note to self: remember not to eat or drink while reading).
Amber is a strong character, as are the other wonderful and loveable support characters. This series is similar to the Stephanie Plum stories but based in the UK) so fans of her exploits may also enjoy these. I prefer the Amber Fox books though, as she is smarter and doesn't do the eye-rollingly stupid things that I tend to find annoying. This story had me hooked from the start and lifted my mood completely. 'Chocolate, Lies, and Murder' can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series in order – the storyline continues and develops through all the books with a new mystery in each. Highly recommended.
Sibel Hodge. Amber fox 4 Chocolate, Lies and Murder This is the 4th book in the Amber Fox series and it's a brilliant addition. Amber is due to marry Brad who as well as being her fiancé is also her boss at hi-tec insurance where she works as an investigator. 7 days before the wedding she gets a case that involves trying to find out who is sending threatening letters and chocolate knickers to Aleesha ( who is an ex of Brads ). When Brad gets arrested for murder it leaves the wedding in serious doubt. This book is another easy to read novel by Sibel. Did Brad do it or not, will he be released in time or not, and will the wedding go ahead or not. Enjoy reading this book and finding out all the answers to these questions and more. 5 stars. 21 October 2013.
Insurance investigator Amber fox makes a timely return in this fun read. With a wedding to sort out she's furious when an ex-lover of her future husband turns up at the office looking for help.
Aleesha is being sent strange notes that have turned threatening along with the gift of chocolate knickers.
Investigating the crime proves complexing for Amber as her client has a long list of people who want to harm her. Brad is employed to be Aleesha's bodyguard which infuriates Amber.
A fun read but the fun soon leads to Amber solving a serious crime involving Brad which puts their wedding in jeopardy.
An unbelievably funny and impossible tale of murder and revenge.
Entertaining little tale a must for fans. Well-written and extremely silly but enjoyable and riveting..well worth a read. Can't wait for more of the same.
Funny mystery with spunky independent main character and likable secondary characters. Similar to Stephanie Plum series, only this one isn't slapstick stupid like that series has devolved into. I'm going to read more in the series.
Just a week before Amber's wedding, her fiance and current boss, Brad is hired as a bodyguard to one of the firm's clients, who just happens to be a bit too sexy for Amber's liking. Amber proceeds to investigate who might be sending the death threats. The sooner she solves the case, the sooner Brad is out of the client's man-eating clutches. When the client turns up dead, Brad is arrested for her murder. Amber had better solve the case quickly, or there will be no wedding or honeymoon.
Humorous who-done-it with a touch of romance. Quick, light read with likable characters. Quirkiness abounds with Marmalade, the cat, the antics of Amber's mom and dad, and ditzy Tia, the spell-casting investigator-wanna-be.
This book was very crazy and fun to read. Amber is about to marry Brad, but he needs to act as a bodyguard for a nasty girl who claims she has been receiving death threats. Before the marriage can take place they need to prove who is making the threats. Between chocolate underwire and spells being cast who knows how this will turn out. Give this book a try as it is quite entertaining.
I enjoyed reading Sibel Hodge's book, "Chocolate, Lies, and Murder". It is the fourth book in her Amber Fox Murder Mysteries series. In this installment, Amber has to solve a murder in order to clear her fiance's name. Once again I enjoyed the main characters--Amber, Brad, Tia, Hacker, and Romeo and liked getting to know Amber's family a little bit better. I'm ready for the fifth book!!
Sorry to say, this did not even come close to reminding me of Stephanie Plum. It was kind of cute, but slow. the plot took way too long to develop. although I have to admit, the characters were pretty likeable. I may or may not try another book by this author
The Amber Fox collection is just brilliant! If you have read any of the others you will enjoy this one as Amber has to deal with an ex girlfriend of her soon to be fiancee and gets caught up with stalkers and chocolate knickers! It is a delightful read and if you have read the others I recommend you read this one.
I love the Amber Fox mysteries books i wasn't disappointed with this one Amber makes me laugh i love her way of thinking i was in fits of laughter over the Jickers comment I wont say anymore as i don't want to spoil it for anyone just read it for yourself i highly recommend it
It was OK. Since it was #4 in the Amber Fox mystery series and it was the first one I've read, it was a bit hard to keep the characters straight. I think if I'd read the others first, I would have enjoyed it more.
This book was a lot of fun to read how can one woman can get into so much stuff. I love all the characters in this book and it had a great storyline. I recommend this book to everyone.
Another great plot for our heroine to solve! I love the writing and the very natural dialog! Escape for a weekend and enjoy a fun read that's sure to entertain!