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Redondo and Rose Neighbors in Crime #1
A Doula to Die For: Redondo and Rose Neighbors in Crime, Book 1
Vivienne Rose, owner of Desert Doulas, arrives home from work to find cops swarming the place and a body floating in her pool.
Her silver fox next-door neighbor, mentalist Rex Redondo, admits that he’s the one who saw the body and called the police. But his involvement in this is far from over. When the police stop investigating the case, due to a personnel shortage, Viv calls on Rex and his roommate, ex-marine Sutton Greer, to help her track down the killer.
Yet the closer they get to the truth, the more questions arise. Why did Rex pocket Viv’s house key? What are Viv’s employees hiding from her? And most importantly, how long will it take for the police to realize Viv and Rex are in real danger?
Suspense and intrigue come to an upscale desert community in this cozy mystery pulled from the headlines!
Her silver fox next-door neighbor, mentalist Rex Redondo, admits that he’s the one who saw the body and called the police. But his involvement in this is far from over. When the police stop investigating the case, due to a personnel shortage, Viv calls on Rex and his roommate, ex-marine Sutton Greer, to help her track down the killer.
Yet the closer they get to the truth, the more questions arise. Why did Rex pocket Viv’s house key? What are Viv’s employees hiding from her? And most importantly, how long will it take for the police to realize Viv and Rex are in real danger?
Suspense and intrigue come to an upscale desert community in this cozy mystery pulled from the headlines!
Audible Audio
Published September 13, 2024
About the author
Bonnie Hardy
18 books57 followersBonnie Hardy, a retired professional turned author, is celebrated for her two enthralling cozy mystery series. The first, set in the picturesque mountain town of Lily Rock, features amateur sleuth Olivia Greer, known for her uncanny ability to draw out confessions from the most unlikely people.
The second series, set in Palm Desert, features the mid-life duo mentalist Rex Redondo and his down to earth next door neighbor doula Vivienne Rose.
Inspired by Agatha Christie, Bonnie's captivating tales of mystery and community masterfully blend fast-paced whodunits with clever sleuthing.
The second series, set in Palm Desert, features the mid-life duo mentalist Rex Redondo and his down to earth next door neighbor doula Vivienne Rose.
Inspired by Agatha Christie, Bonnie's captivating tales of mystery and community masterfully blend fast-paced whodunits with clever sleuthing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 22, 2025
Viv, a Doula manager and Rex a mentalist get involved in solving a murder. They are neighbours and he falls hard Viv, which is surprising since though he is at least in his mid forties he prefers 27 year olds. The whole plot is a bit unreal. The policewoman in charge of the case let Viv and Rex stage a mentalist meeting to get the killer to confess. It all seemed too unbelievable to me an I did not enjoy it, which disappointed me as I generally enjoy Bonnie Hardy’s books .
May 12, 2023
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
There’s a body in Viv’s pool! Could it be one of her dearest friends? And so it begins. The author brings in some interesting characters. We don’t often see cozy mysteries involving a doula and a mentalist. The main characters are mature, which I appreciate. And they aren’t a granny squad, which I also appreciate. That, to me, is a tiresome trope.
The points of view of the story are odd and, in my opinion, distracting. The male character tells his story in the first person, although it isn’t quite clear if he is the main character. He is certainly a major character, but he doesn’t seem as developed as the female character. She, however, is shown in in the third person, as if someone else is observing her actions. Except we spend quite a bit of time reading her first person thoughts (presented in italics in the text). The style was all very strange.
For fans of the author’s Lily Rock series, some friends make cameo appearances.
There’s a body in Viv’s pool! Could it be one of her dearest friends? And so it begins. The author brings in some interesting characters. We don’t often see cozy mysteries involving a doula and a mentalist. The main characters are mature, which I appreciate. And they aren’t a granny squad, which I also appreciate. That, to me, is a tiresome trope.
The points of view of the story are odd and, in my opinion, distracting. The male character tells his story in the first person, although it isn’t quite clear if he is the main character. He is certainly a major character, but he doesn’t seem as developed as the female character. She, however, is shown in in the third person, as if someone else is observing her actions. Except we spend quite a bit of time reading her first person thoughts (presented in italics in the text). The style was all very strange.
For fans of the author’s Lily Rock series, some friends make cameo appearances.
December 13, 2025
Rex is such a creep , Viv is annoying , the star is for the cat and dog
June 9, 2023
Vivienne Rose arrives home to learn that there is a body in her swimming pool! Who is it? How did the murderer enter the exclusive gated community to commit the crime? Who alerted the police? The last question leads to the introduction of the other main character, Rex Redondo.
A doula (Vivienne) and a mentalist (Rex) seem like an unlikely duo. But first impressions are not what they seem and the two form a bond that begins as amateur sleuths and progresses from a friendship into a romance.
I enjoyed getting to know Vivienne and Rex, along with the other characters that comprised the story. As usual, the author has a talent for creating characters that help the reader get lost in the story.
If you are a reader of the Lily Rock series, you will notice that Bonnie has approached this cozy mystery with a bit of a different writing style, utilizing a combination of third person (Vivienne) and first person (Rex) voices for the characters perspective on the events. Once I got the narrative style for each of the main characters figured out by the second chapter, I felt the story flowed right along with the characters.
I thought I had figured out the whodunit but as is always the case with Bonnie’s books, the subtle twists and turns of the story quickly proved my theory incorrect.
This read is highly enjoyable cozy mystery and I look forward to the further adventures of Vivienne and Rex.
A doula (Vivienne) and a mentalist (Rex) seem like an unlikely duo. But first impressions are not what they seem and the two form a bond that begins as amateur sleuths and progresses from a friendship into a romance.
I enjoyed getting to know Vivienne and Rex, along with the other characters that comprised the story. As usual, the author has a talent for creating characters that help the reader get lost in the story.
If you are a reader of the Lily Rock series, you will notice that Bonnie has approached this cozy mystery with a bit of a different writing style, utilizing a combination of third person (Vivienne) and first person (Rex) voices for the characters perspective on the events. Once I got the narrative style for each of the main characters figured out by the second chapter, I felt the story flowed right along with the characters.
I thought I had figured out the whodunit but as is always the case with Bonnie’s books, the subtle twists and turns of the story quickly proved my theory incorrect.
This read is highly enjoyable cozy mystery and I look forward to the further adventures of Vivienne and Rex.
June 27, 2025
First in a cozy series
Vivienne, Viv, is a doula, and she has formed a support group for doulas in her small desert town. Doulas help guide pregnant women and their families through the pregnancy and advise throughout the first months of caring for the newborn. Vic’s neighbor, Rex, is a mentalist who performs at a local casino. He is smitten by Viv the first time they meet. The book starts with the discovery of a body floating in Vic’s pool, and the story goes through the process of finding out who killed the woman in the pool. Nice cast of characters, intriguing setting — a good cozy mystery.
Vivienne, Viv, is a doula, and she has formed a support group for doulas in her small desert town. Doulas help guide pregnant women and their families through the pregnancy and advise throughout the first months of caring for the newborn. Vic’s neighbor, Rex, is a mentalist who performs at a local casino. He is smitten by Viv the first time they meet. The book starts with the discovery of a body floating in Vic’s pool, and the story goes through the process of finding out who killed the woman in the pool. Nice cast of characters, intriguing setting — a good cozy mystery.
May 23, 2025
I just couldn't get on with this book and in fact I struggled to finish it. There was nothing wrong with the book I just didn't connect with the characters and it seemed very slow. Actually my favourite character was the male leads assistant she seemed more capable than anyone else. I think it was because the main female character connected with her cat more than she did with people, she certainly worried about upsetting him more than she did people, even the detective in charge of investigating the dead body in her pool. The story was told by both the male and female main characters with each chapter dedicated to following them but as the story unfolded they tended to be in the same place anyway, so it was used as a way for the author to let you know what that character was thinking or feeling. It did work and was easy to follow as they switched between the two but I felt it made it harder to connect. The mystery was very slow and she was more worried about her cat, how her Doula staff were letting her down and what the neighbour thought of her than solving the mystery. I did like Sutton and thought with all her tricks, costume changes and skills helping Rex con his audience she would have been much better as the main character and in charge of solving the murder.
When Vivienne returns home, she is surprised to find the police fishing a dead body out of the pool. With her friend missing she is reluctant to look at the body, which is why she gets an even bigger surprise. Her nosy neighbour is the one who spotted the body but is he paying a little bit to much attention to the goings on in her back garden? When the police have a man power shortage it is Rex the famous mentalist and nosy neighbour that she turns to for help in finding out what happened to her friend.
There is one narrator for the book but I personally think it might have worked better if there was a male narrator for Rex's side of the story and a female for Vivienne, not because she did a bad job but just to help the story flow better.
When Vivienne returns home, she is surprised to find the police fishing a dead body out of the pool. With her friend missing she is reluctant to look at the body, which is why she gets an even bigger surprise. Her nosy neighbour is the one who spotted the body but is he paying a little bit to much attention to the goings on in her back garden? When the police have a man power shortage it is Rex the famous mentalist and nosy neighbour that she turns to for help in finding out what happened to her friend.
There is one narrator for the book but I personally think it might have worked better if there was a male narrator for Rex's side of the story and a female for Vivienne, not because she did a bad job but just to help the story flow better.
April 5, 2025
I had way too much fun devouring A Doula to Die For—it’s got everything I love in a cozy mystery: quirky characters, a touch of sass, and a crime that hits way too close to home… literally.
Vivienne Rose completely stole my heart. A doula with a sharp wit and zero tolerance for injustice? Yes, please. The moment she found a body floating in her pool, I was hooked. I mean, can you imagine coming home from work and finding your peaceful desert oasis turned into a crime scene? I'd be calling in reinforcements too—and she did, in the most unexpected but absolutely delightful way.
Enter Rex, the silver fox next door with mentalist skills that I swear gave me a little thrill every time he popped up on the page. Their banter? Top tier. Their teamwork? Surprisingly brilliant. Watching them piece clues together gave me serious old-school mystery duo vibes with a fresh, sun-soaked twist.
What really got me, though, was the chemistry—not just the will-they-won’t-they kind (although let’s be honest, I’m rooting for a definite “they will”), but the kind of warm, unexpected connection that gives this cozy mystery a real heartbeat. Viv isn’t just solving a crime—she’s rebuilding trust, finding strength, and maybe even opening up to something new.
Bonnie Hardy’s writing is breezy but sharp, layered with humor, heart, and just the right amount of danger. If you're looking for a fresh series with a heroine you’ll want as your bestie and a mystery that keeps you guessing (and grinning), this book is absolutely for you.
I’m officially obsessed—and already craving the next case in Redondo and Rose’s crime-solving adventures.
Vivienne Rose completely stole my heart. A doula with a sharp wit and zero tolerance for injustice? Yes, please. The moment she found a body floating in her pool, I was hooked. I mean, can you imagine coming home from work and finding your peaceful desert oasis turned into a crime scene? I'd be calling in reinforcements too—and she did, in the most unexpected but absolutely delightful way.
Enter Rex, the silver fox next door with mentalist skills that I swear gave me a little thrill every time he popped up on the page. Their banter? Top tier. Their teamwork? Surprisingly brilliant. Watching them piece clues together gave me serious old-school mystery duo vibes with a fresh, sun-soaked twist.
What really got me, though, was the chemistry—not just the will-they-won’t-they kind (although let’s be honest, I’m rooting for a definite “they will”), but the kind of warm, unexpected connection that gives this cozy mystery a real heartbeat. Viv isn’t just solving a crime—she’s rebuilding trust, finding strength, and maybe even opening up to something new.
Bonnie Hardy’s writing is breezy but sharp, layered with humor, heart, and just the right amount of danger. If you're looking for a fresh series with a heroine you’ll want as your bestie and a mystery that keeps you guessing (and grinning), this book is absolutely for you.
I’m officially obsessed—and already craving the next case in Redondo and Rose’s crime-solving adventures.
May 23, 2023
Another enjoyable read from the author of the Lily Rock series. Vivian Rose finds a dead body in her pool, and her mentalist neighbor Rex Redondo works with her to solve the mystery. They meet a whole cast of interesting supporting characters, including some friends from the Lily Rock series.
One of the things I liked about this book was the working relationship between two older mature characters - no "silly granny" trope. A bit of romance, but nothing that took away from the story. Rex and Viv are a great team.
Initially, I found the text off putting - Viv's chapters are written in third person, with first-person thoughts italicized, while Rex's chapters are all in first person. This is where the lost star was in my review, as I found it hard to get in to the story initially because of the distracting points of view.
But, like all of Bonnie Hardy's stories, the characters are quirky and likeable. This one had a bit of a slower start with the character development, but once Rex and Viv were on their mission, I was hooked. I felt like part of the team, and was surprised by the ending! This book was definitely worth the read, and I look forward to more in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One of the things I liked about this book was the working relationship between two older mature characters - no "silly granny" trope. A bit of romance, but nothing that took away from the story. Rex and Viv are a great team.
Initially, I found the text off putting - Viv's chapters are written in third person, with first-person thoughts italicized, while Rex's chapters are all in first person. This is where the lost star was in my review, as I found it hard to get in to the story initially because of the distracting points of view.
But, like all of Bonnie Hardy's stories, the characters are quirky and likeable. This one had a bit of a slower start with the character development, but once Rex and Viv were on their mission, I was hooked. I felt like part of the team, and was surprised by the ending! This book was definitely worth the read, and I look forward to more in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 11, 2023
I'll start by saying that I really didn't know what to expect from this book. I read another story (different author) that went back and forth between first and third person. I absolutely did not like it. So I wasn't sure I'd like this one.
I have read about doulas before, so I knew what that was. But the mentalist that came sauntering into the story. He was great! He and Viv are two totally different kinds of people, not only in what they did for a living, but also in their attitudes and personalities. So when these two happen to meet up and solve a mystery together of a dead body in Viv's pool, these two differing personalities end up making a great team! Unfortunately, the dead body is a friend of Viv's and so Rex must tread carefully in order not to alienate Viv. And so ensues the story of how Rex and Viv solve the mystery of the dead doula.
I personally loved this story! It was well written, flowed smoothly, and didn't have a bunch of filler fluff. Pretty much what I'd expect from an excellent author. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.
I have read about doulas before, so I knew what that was. But the mentalist that came sauntering into the story. He was great! He and Viv are two totally different kinds of people, not only in what they did for a living, but also in their attitudes and personalities. So when these two happen to meet up and solve a mystery together of a dead body in Viv's pool, these two differing personalities end up making a great team! Unfortunately, the dead body is a friend of Viv's and so Rex must tread carefully in order not to alienate Viv. And so ensues the story of how Rex and Viv solve the mystery of the dead doula.
I personally loved this story! It was well written, flowed smoothly, and didn't have a bunch of filler fluff. Pretty much what I'd expect from an excellent author. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.
June 20, 2023
The last thing Vivienne Rose expected to see when she arrived home were the police and a dead body floating in her pool. Her neighbour, mentalist Rex Redondo explains he was the one who saw the body and called the police. When the Palm Desert police halt investigating due to personnel shortages, Vivienne, Rex and Sutton (Rex’s PA) join forces, and are determined to solve the murder and find the killer. Alas they are stopped in their tracks when a detective from the nearby community of Lily Rocks is put in charge of the investigation. Who will solve the murder, Detective Jet or our trio?
I really enjoyed this book, the characters were likeable and the story flowed. I found reading Vivienne as the 1st and 3rd pov’s , added depth to her character, I felt it explained what she was thinking and feeling at the same time. This was a great cosy mystery and I will definitely read more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book from BookSprout, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this book, the characters were likeable and the story flowed. I found reading Vivienne as the 1st and 3rd pov’s , added depth to her character, I felt it explained what she was thinking and feeling at the same time. This was a great cosy mystery and I will definitely read more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book from BookSprout, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 19, 2025
This novel is an original cozy mystery that blends birth work with a fascinating whodunit.
With a sharp, character-driven plot, Hardy crafts a layered narrative filled with wit, heart, and suspense.
The standout strength of the novel lies in its characters.
Vivienne is warm, complex, and relatable, and her growing dynamic with quirky neighbour and mentalist Rex Redondo adds charm and intrigue.
Their alternating perspectives offer insight into the mystery while deepening the emotional stakes.
The writing style is vivid, with sensory-rich descriptions of the desert setting and natural, engaging dialogue.
Most enjoyable is Hardy’s ability to explore deeper themes—grief, boundaries, and self-care—without losing the light touch expected of the cozy mystery genre.
The initial chapters’ pacing and exposition need improvements to enhance the narrative flow.
Overall, this is an intelligent and entertaining read, perfect for readers seeking a fresh take on the cozy mystery formula.
With a sharp, character-driven plot, Hardy crafts a layered narrative filled with wit, heart, and suspense.
The standout strength of the novel lies in its characters.
Vivienne is warm, complex, and relatable, and her growing dynamic with quirky neighbour and mentalist Rex Redondo adds charm and intrigue.
Their alternating perspectives offer insight into the mystery while deepening the emotional stakes.
The writing style is vivid, with sensory-rich descriptions of the desert setting and natural, engaging dialogue.
Most enjoyable is Hardy’s ability to explore deeper themes—grief, boundaries, and self-care—without losing the light touch expected of the cozy mystery genre.
The initial chapters’ pacing and exposition need improvements to enhance the narrative flow.
Overall, this is an intelligent and entertaining read, perfect for readers seeking a fresh take on the cozy mystery formula.
April 30, 2025
Meet Vivienne Rose. She is a doula and owns Desert Doulas, employing a few of her friends/fellow doulas. She lives in a gated community, so she is perfectly safe right? Well after returning home from a birthing, she finds the police at door after the body of one of her doulas is found in her swimming pool. So much for perfectly safe. As the police investigation continues, Vivienne investigates on her own, with the help of her neighbor Rex. There are a lot of surprises and twists and turns. The book kept my interest from the first page and there was interesting information about doulas – I never really knew much about this subject. The ending was a total shock – never suspected! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. This is my new favorite author!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 2, 2023
In Bonnie Hardy's new series we meet next-door neighbors Vivienne Rose and Rex Redondo who meet for the first time when a body is discovered floating in Vivienne's pool. When the Palm Desert police seem to be too understaffed to solve this mystery Vivienne and Rex team up to solve it themselves. The police dept. borrows a detective from the nearby community of Lily Rock and things get interesting.
It's a fun cozy to read and there are several interesting characters moving in and out of the action. I think this series will be a winner.
I was sent this book by the author in return for an honest review. This is my honest review.
It's a fun cozy to read and there are several interesting characters moving in and out of the action. I think this series will be a winner.
I was sent this book by the author in return for an honest review. This is my honest review.
June 18, 2023
"Vivienne Rose, owner of Desert Doulas, arrives home from work to find cops swarming the place and a body floating in her pool. Her silver fox next-door neighbor, mentalist Rex Redondo, admits that he’s the one who saw the body and called the police. But his involvement in this is far from over. When the police stop investigating the case, due to a personnel shortage, Viv calls on Rex and his roommate, ex-marine Sutton Greer, to help her track down the killer."
This is a good book. I think I would buy this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a good book. I think I would buy this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2023
This was an amateur sleuth cozy mystery.
This was a unique book. The story was told from several points of view of the main characters - it works better in romances than in mysteries in my opinion. The subject matter - doulas - was something I knew very little of and I enjoyed learning more about them. The characters were not relatable for me at all, Rex especially came off as sleazy, manipulative with a touch of con man thrown in for good measure. All that aside, the plot of the story was good though a bit slow paced.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a unique book. The story was told from several points of view of the main characters - it works better in romances than in mysteries in my opinion. The subject matter - doulas - was something I knew very little of and I enjoyed learning more about them. The characters were not relatable for me at all, Rex especially came off as sleazy, manipulative with a touch of con man thrown in for good measure. All that aside, the plot of the story was good though a bit slow paced.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2023
I enjoyed this book so much, it was a solid 4 stars since the beginning. The way it started got me completely, and I couldn't stop reading. I like that the characters are kinda mature people, and I like how they got along.
However, I found the writing style kinda weird, let me explain: throughout the book we have 2 povs, Viv's and Rex's. The thing is that, while Rex's pov is in first person, Viv's pov is written in 3rd person, despite that, in Viv's pov we are constantly reading her thoughts, so we have this funny mix of third and first person.
I have to say that I also found Rex a bit of a stalker, and it bothered me a bit the fact that he used to only date women in their 20s while he was around his 60s.
Anyway, I really liked Viv's journey and of course, I loved miss Kitty.
The plot twist got me off guard, I would never imagined who was the murderer.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
However, I found the writing style kinda weird, let me explain: throughout the book we have 2 povs, Viv's and Rex's. The thing is that, while Rex's pov is in first person, Viv's pov is written in 3rd person, despite that, in Viv's pov we are constantly reading her thoughts, so we have this funny mix of third and first person.
I have to say that I also found Rex a bit of a stalker, and it bothered me a bit the fact that he used to only date women in their 20s while he was around his 60s.
Anyway, I really liked Viv's journey and of course, I loved miss Kitty.
The plot twist got me off guard, I would never imagined who was the murderer.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 17, 2025
This book is a captivating page turner! The story grabs you from the very first scene and doesn't let go. With a compelling mystery at its heart, the story unfolds with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. The characters are engaging and well drawn, and the dynamic between them adds another layer of enjoyment to the story. This book is a perfect blend of suspense, humor, and heart, I highly recommended this book for anyone looking for an entertaining, satisfying weekend escape.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 28, 2025
Book 1 in a new series. Viv and Rex are neighbors who get involved in a murder investigation after a dead body is found in Viv's pool. The murder victim turned out to be one of Viv's employees at her company, Desert Doulas. The book is entertaining, the characters are lovely, especially Miss Kitty and Kevin. I enjoyed the book, it's a page-turner worth reading. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend it to all fans of cozy mysteries.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 20, 2023
Phenomenal new series by Bonnie Hardy. Gripping and suspenseful plot, couldn’t put the book down. Rex and Rose solve the the murder with a little help from a friend in Lily Rock. The Old Hollywood vibe in this upscale desert setting makes me want to turn on a Sinatra song and dance. What an interesting backdrop for the new series. Plus the flirtation between two mature adults promises interesting capers ahead.
June 6, 2023
Vivienne Rose, doula, came home from a baby delivery to find a body floating in her pool! I loved learning a bit more about doulas and their work as the story unfolded. The characters were well defined and I enjoyed getting to know them as we puzzled through the mystery of what happened. Also enjoyed the tie in to this author’s Lily Rock series. Rex is a very interesting character and added so much to my enjoyment of the story. Loved the ending!
June 26, 2023
A Doula to Die For is the first installment of the Redondo and Rose Neighbors in Crime mystery series written by Bonnie Hardy. I personally very much enjoyed this story! It was very well written, it flowed well smoothly, and didn't have a bunch of filler fluffing. It pretty much had what I'd expect from an exceptionally author. I highly recommend this book. Look forward to more from this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 5, 2025
I really liked the main characters. The plot was good, I just felt there could have been a little more cohesiveness throughout.
I feel like sequel stories of this older sleuthing couple will be better, since there was a lot of back and forth about their meeting and becoming "an item".
It is also very nice to read a book where the main characters are in their 50's, rather than their 20's or 30's.
I feel like sequel stories of this older sleuthing couple will be better, since there was a lot of back and forth about their meeting and becoming "an item".
It is also very nice to read a book where the main characters are in their 50's, rather than their 20's or 30's.
May 28, 2025
I have been to Palm Springs many times and this does not particularly feel like it is set there.
I did enjoy learning about what a doula does and the plot of the murder was nicely convoluted.
Redondo and Rose are neighbors and soon to be friends with benefits?
I received an ebook via BookFunnel so this was on my phone for reading during waiting breaks and therefore I read it sporadically. I was easily able to pick it up and remember the plot and characters.
I did enjoy learning about what a doula does and the plot of the murder was nicely convoluted.
Redondo and Rose are neighbors and soon to be friends with benefits?
I received an ebook via BookFunnel so this was on my phone for reading during waiting breaks and therefore I read it sporadically. I was easily able to pick it up and remember the plot and characters.
June 28, 2023
A great read with amazing characters. This book is well written with an interesting and entertaining storyline. It holds your attention and the pace of this cozy mystery moves along nicely as you turn pages to find out whodunit. I had alot of fun trying to solve the mystery. I loved the book!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 11, 2025
A very captivating and different cozy mystery story. I loved the characters and setting. Viv is a dedicated, hard working woman. She sees only the best in her co-workers and considers them her friends. Rex is her next door neighbor whom she's never talked to or met. He is a performer in the nearby casinos. I was kept guessing on who the guilty party was clear to the end. Great book to read!
March 10, 2025
Deception!
An interesting and informative story of doulas, with an unexpected twist. The story gave me cause to pause and think about unknown facts of birth. A departure from the typical Lily Rock story, but I was glad to see a few of my favourite characters in the book.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.
An interesting and informative story of doulas, with an unexpected twist. The story gave me cause to pause and think about unknown facts of birth. A departure from the typical Lily Rock story, but I was glad to see a few of my favourite characters in the book.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.
March 21, 2025
Okay, the book was published in Jan 2024 before Elon started doing all his rubbish. The first line mentions MC's tesla car. By chapter 5 of 47, the car had been mentioned again (or twice more). It's not really the author's fault and so I've given 2 stars but I can't make myself read about that car. Sorry. dnf
April 3, 2025
I really enjoyed these two from the other books and seeing them with their own spinoff was a lot of fun. And hats off to any doulas because I couldn't do what you do. Viv and Rex and just a barrel of fun and i can't wait for more antics from them!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 16, 2025
Liked that the characters were older without being associated with a nursery home / assisted living (nothing wrong with it but nice to see an in between)
I think my favorite character is Sutton. Rex and his dog, Kevin are comical. Viv has not quite grown on me yet.
The varying POVs and associated writing styles took some getting used to.
I think my favorite character is Sutton. Rex and his dog, Kevin are comical. Viv has not quite grown on me yet.
The varying POVs and associated writing styles took some getting used to.
June 21, 2023
Viv and Rex definitely made for the most unlikely sleuthing duo but somehow they clicked. They were both really likable characters. The mystery was very involved and I hadn’t guessed whodunit, but the planned showdown was a good one.
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