Changing Lanes

by Claire Yezbak Fadden

For fifty-something Roxy Adams, life is simple and beautiful. Her days are drenched in southern California sunshine and passion for Sam Reyes, the man she loves and shares a business with.

When Sam vanishes with their savings, leaving only a note behind, Roxy is faced with a harsh reality. Broke and confused, she learns they never owned the business. The actual owner will let her keep her job if she provides him with benefits.

Convinced there’s no knight in shining armor riding to her rescue, Roxy dusts off her chauffeur’s hat and returns to the career she trailblazed twenty years earlier.

With a steady income, new friends, and the possibility of romance, joy slowly replaces insecurity. Foxy Roxy is back. Life is wonderful and exciting once again. Until Sam turns up dead in the trunk of her limo. And Roxy is arrested for his murder.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2025

About the author

When she’s not playing with her granddaughters, Pennsylvania native Claire Yezbak Fadden is writing contemporary women’s fiction. Her books feature strong women who overcome life’s challenges, always putting their families first.

There's a special spot in Claire's heart for carousel horses – quite possibly the result of watching “Mary Poppins” 13 times as a young girl. She loves butterflies, ladybugs and confetti! Just ask anyone who's received a birthday card from her.

Claire cheers on the San Diego State Aztecs, her alma mater, and she is a Black & Gold fan -- Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and Penguins. The mother of three, and Sitie of four, she lives in Orange County, California with her husband, Nick and two spoiled dogs.

Claire’s work as an award-winning journalist, humor columnist and editor has appeared in more than 100 publications across the United States, Canada and Australia."

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story. Likeable characters. Loved the friendships.

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It definitely kept me reading (only took 2 days) definitely had me trying to figure out who was what!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roxy comes home one night to find her long time boyfriend, Sam, has left town. Not only has he left town, but he's left her with a pile of bills and a food truck that he never owned. The only explanation Roxy receives is a note from Sam saying that he's decided Los Angeles is not for him and he's returned to his ex-wife and kids in Tennessee. Roxy is left to pick up the pieces, which means trying to return to her previous career as a limo driver.

But as Roxy soon starts to discover, there may be more to Sam's disappearance than she originally thought. And unfortunately for Roxy, she finds herself in the middle of the same danger Sam might have been running from.

This is a cute mystery that was fun to read. Nothing super compelling or a book that I felt like I couldn't put down, but it was something a little on the lighter side to read. I loved the fact that Roxy was a fifty-something woman willing to show her flaws and still be strong. As a fifty-something woman myself, we don't have enough characters like Roxy in books.

My main critique is that I thought the book was a little too slow paced. With a little tighter editing to make it move a little faster, I think it could be better.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roxy’s boyfriend had cleaned out their bank account and totally left her with a bag of unpaid bills. What now? I liked how this started with the middle-aged woman—broke and single—having to start over. I related to the character right away with the candid and witty narrative. The main issues I had were the slow pace and the long length. I mean, six chapters in and all the character has done was look for and prep for a job interview as a limo driver. At this pace, it’s no wonder this book is 60 chapters long. I expected this to be quicker for a cozy mystery. We should’ve gotten to the dead body already. Not that the read was bad. It was actually pretty good if you can invest the time. In fact, the more I read, the more this struck me more as a humorous women’s fiction rather than cozy mystery.

A fairly nice read.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling, suspenseful, and absorbing read. This made me furious with Sam. He was a selfish thoughtless man who valued his own hide more than anything or anyone. The story made him sound like a martyr, , but his greed started a series of heinous events that were from the underbelly of

the crime world. I give Roxy kudos for her tenacity in rebuilding her life/future. Along the way Roxy finds what real love is amidst all the danger, fear, and crimes. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.

[Kristen C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and engaging read that keeps a good balance between mystery and charm. The writing feels smooth and easy to sink into, and Roxy’s personality brings a lot of spark to the story. There’s a nice mix of suspense, humor, and heart that makes it stand out from the usual cozy mysteries. A few parts could’ve moved a bit faster, but overall it’s a solid, entertaining book that’s well worth a read.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was enjoying life until he disappeared with everything even her money. So she turns to her old job and it is all going well until his dead body is found in the boot of her limousine. Now she is arrested for murder. See if she can prove she is innocent
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great tale

[CR1017 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy from Hidden Gems & I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Changing Lanes: A Roxy Adams Mystery, is a fairly interesting story, though it is a bit long for what would typically be otherwise considered a cozy mystery.
Apart from that, I enjoyed the story & would consider reading other such books by the author in the future.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxy feels betrayed when the person she loves and trust disappears. She becomes the main suspect to Sam's murder which she never expected. An intriguing read whichnis very captivating . I received this ARC copy via Booksirans and recommend this book to other readers.

[Sherri Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know Roxy, but wasn’t able to connect with her very well. Some of her life choices were things I could never endorse. The mystery was interesting and there were a lot of interesting characters. These are my thoughts after reading a complimentary copy of the book.

[Laurie Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! I was engaged right from the beginning, couldn’t put it down! Suspenseful and exciting. Rich descriptive sentences made it fun to read and Roxy really came alive for the reader!

[Crystal Imery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! I love the direction it takes