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The Executrix
When a writer's imagination never shuts off...it can lead to trouble.
Portland, Oregon’s own best-selling romance author, Olivia Novak, should have been entering life’s third act with a sparkling clean storybook Tudor, her first serious novel under her belt, and a real-life romance with her husband of thirty-two years. Instead, her husband was killed in a hit-and-run, a case the police have shelved, and she’s too worn out from her own obsessive three-year hunt for the culprit to write. Now, her mother has died.
As the executrix of the estate, which doesn’t amount to much, Olivia prefers managing the paperwork to keeping a lid on the combustible brew that is her two sisters, Lauren and Danielle. At sixty, Lauren is Mom’s mouthy memory defender as she waits for the daily chime of wine o’clock. Danielle, the pampered baby of the family at forty-five, suddenly has nowhere to go, having lived with Mom since walking out on her fiancé, Ryan, a Portland cop. Olivia thinks the final straw is her elderly neighbor, R. D. Griffin, asking her to dog-sit Pogo, his unruly standard poodle. But she’s wrong.
When R. D. goes missing, the three sisters and Pogo stick their noses into the case . . . and the dog senses something fishy. Can Pogo unite the sisters, help Ryan solve both cases, and inspire Olivia to deliver her next book? Olivia needs a lifeline from Mom from beyond the crematory urn, and she finds one in the safe―in the form of a manuscript. Olivia’s in for the story of her life, all right―but it’s beyond anything she could write on her own.
Portland, Oregon’s own best-selling romance author, Olivia Novak, should have been entering life’s third act with a sparkling clean storybook Tudor, her first serious novel under her belt, and a real-life romance with her husband of thirty-two years. Instead, her husband was killed in a hit-and-run, a case the police have shelved, and she’s too worn out from her own obsessive three-year hunt for the culprit to write. Now, her mother has died.
As the executrix of the estate, which doesn’t amount to much, Olivia prefers managing the paperwork to keeping a lid on the combustible brew that is her two sisters, Lauren and Danielle. At sixty, Lauren is Mom’s mouthy memory defender as she waits for the daily chime of wine o’clock. Danielle, the pampered baby of the family at forty-five, suddenly has nowhere to go, having lived with Mom since walking out on her fiancé, Ryan, a Portland cop. Olivia thinks the final straw is her elderly neighbor, R. D. Griffin, asking her to dog-sit Pogo, his unruly standard poodle. But she’s wrong.
When R. D. goes missing, the three sisters and Pogo stick their noses into the case . . . and the dog senses something fishy. Can Pogo unite the sisters, help Ryan solve both cases, and inspire Olivia to deliver her next book? Olivia needs a lifeline from Mom from beyond the crematory urn, and she finds one in the safe―in the form of a manuscript. Olivia’s in for the story of her life, all right―but it’s beyond anything she could write on her own.
296 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2015
135 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Pierce
21 books26 followersAuthor Website: http://www.courtney-pierce.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneypier...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Courtney-Pierce...
Courtney Pierce lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her bossy cat. By day, she an executive in the Broadway entertainment industry. Inspiration for her witty novels comes from a theater seat, observing what makes audiences laugh, cry, or walk out the door. Courtney has also published five novels, two short stories, and is a regular contributor to the blog Romancing the Genres. Courtney is a member of Willamette Writers, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and is a board member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneypier...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Courtney-Pierce...
Courtney Pierce lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her bossy cat. By day, she an executive in the Broadway entertainment industry. Inspiration for her witty novels comes from a theater seat, observing what makes audiences laugh, cry, or walk out the door. Courtney has also published five novels, two short stories, and is a regular contributor to the blog Romancing the Genres. Courtney is a member of Willamette Writers, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and is a board member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 7, 2016
Laugh Out Loud Humor, Family Dynamics, And Crime; This Book Has It All, A 5 Star Read
Three Sisters
Mystery, Laughter, and Snarkiness
Tragedy, Family Dynamics
A Poodle Named Pogo, Criminals, And Mobsters
You Don't Want To Miss This One
It Is A Winner! 5 Stars
STORY LINE:
Olivia Novak's life was perfect; a successful romance author, a loving husband, a beautiful home. Yes, Olivia's life was perfect until the day her husband was killed in a hit and run auto accident. Her obsession in finding the driver has over-shadowed her life. Her career is going strong but she is dissatisfied; she wants to write a serious novel, one her mother would appreciate.
Then to top off an awful 2 to 3 year period, her widowed mother dies. Olivia is executrix to her mother's estate and finds she didn't know her mother as well as she thought. Her mother had hidden depths none of the sisters knew existed as well as hidden talents.
Olivia, Lauren, and Danielle are sisters living in the same town. Olivia has known tragedy and obsession, Lauren the heart-break of losing her spouse to cancer, and Danny fearing Ryan, her ex-fiance and Police officer, would die in the line of duty, has retreated from life and refused to live life to its fullest. She had been nestled in the bosom of her mother.
Olivia is dog sitting her elderly mysterious neighbor, R. D. Griffin's, destructive poodle Pogo, trying to satisfy her literary agent, housing her two sisters in her home during this time of grief, planning her mother's funeral, handling the estate, trying to find her husband's killer, and resolve family issues. To say her life is full and spinning at full stilt is an understatement. Come and follow these three sisters as they journey though revelations, grief, resolution, commitment, and family unity.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
This book had two of my favorite things, Freesia a beautiful Himalayan cat and Pogo the Poodle. Ms. Pierce descriptions were so vivid I could see these two and their antics.
Ms. Pieces writing style was funny, witty, and refreshing. She has the art of humor, snarkiness, and sarcasm down to a fine art. I laughed out loud reading this book. The antics of the sisters, Freesia, and Pogo, felt very real and Ms Pierce portrayed each expertly.
There were so many moments of expert repartee. I could fill this page with humorous dialogue and snarky quotes from book that I loved: when the sisters turned Pogo into a Service Dog to visit R. D. in the hospital, Olivia thinking of sticking her head under the wine spigot, watching Lauren dig through a purse that had everything from a pair of pliers to band-aides, at the funeral discussing their Mother's bacon etched urn, Pogo and the Bag Piper's fling, and so many more. I howled with laughter. Ms. Pierce added the elements of mobsters and their crimes, and the results of unwise decisions.
Ms. Pierce infused this book with twists and turns, mystery, and family dynamics in which the framework could represent any family in America. She expertly revealed the relationship issues between parent and their children and siblings; favoritism, jealousy, insecurity, envy, and not least of all, commitment and love. I felt right at home reading this book as I could identify with each sister's perception of their life, their mother's love and their place in that relationship and their relationship with each other. I loved the humor in this story, it was a feel good read.
Her characters were well-developed and the pacing of the book was well done. Ms. Pierce had many threads in this story. She brought all the threads together to create a fantastic novel filled with everything that makes a great story. The twists and turns, emotional dynamics, and mystery kept me fused to this book. I read it straight through; I refused to put it down. This story was addictive and was a roller coaster ride.
RECOMMENDATION:
I highly recommend this novel to anyone that loves a good story filled with mystery, crime, mobsters, humor, and human relationships. This was the first work of Ms. Pierce I have read; I would buy her next novel without hesitation. Ms. Piece is a talented author that has plotting, characterization and development down to fine art.
I received this book from Readingalley in return for an honest book review.
Books reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; book reviews on line under my name and on my blog are my opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Courtney Piece lives in Oregon with her husband and cat. She worked as marketing and sales executive in the theater. She worked with two best selling authors, Jennifer Lauck and Karen Karbo, fine turning her craft as well as completing the Hawthorne Fellows program for writing and publishing at the Attic Institute.
She is a member of Willamette Writers, Pacific Northwest Writers Association and Sisters in Crime. Please visit her website and leave a comment.
NOTE FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
The Executrix, book one of the Dushane Sisters Trilogy, was accepted as a feature selection in Library Journal’s curated SELF-e collections.
Three Sisters
Mystery, Laughter, and Snarkiness
Tragedy, Family Dynamics
A Poodle Named Pogo, Criminals, And Mobsters
You Don't Want To Miss This One
It Is A Winner! 5 Stars
STORY LINE:
Olivia Novak's life was perfect; a successful romance author, a loving husband, a beautiful home. Yes, Olivia's life was perfect until the day her husband was killed in a hit and run auto accident. Her obsession in finding the driver has over-shadowed her life. Her career is going strong but she is dissatisfied; she wants to write a serious novel, one her mother would appreciate.
Then to top off an awful 2 to 3 year period, her widowed mother dies. Olivia is executrix to her mother's estate and finds she didn't know her mother as well as she thought. Her mother had hidden depths none of the sisters knew existed as well as hidden talents.
Olivia, Lauren, and Danielle are sisters living in the same town. Olivia has known tragedy and obsession, Lauren the heart-break of losing her spouse to cancer, and Danny fearing Ryan, her ex-fiance and Police officer, would die in the line of duty, has retreated from life and refused to live life to its fullest. She had been nestled in the bosom of her mother.
Olivia is dog sitting her elderly mysterious neighbor, R. D. Griffin's, destructive poodle Pogo, trying to satisfy her literary agent, housing her two sisters in her home during this time of grief, planning her mother's funeral, handling the estate, trying to find her husband's killer, and resolve family issues. To say her life is full and spinning at full stilt is an understatement. Come and follow these three sisters as they journey though revelations, grief, resolution, commitment, and family unity.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
This book had two of my favorite things, Freesia a beautiful Himalayan cat and Pogo the Poodle. Ms. Pierce descriptions were so vivid I could see these two and their antics.
Ms. Pieces writing style was funny, witty, and refreshing. She has the art of humor, snarkiness, and sarcasm down to a fine art. I laughed out loud reading this book. The antics of the sisters, Freesia, and Pogo, felt very real and Ms Pierce portrayed each expertly.
There were so many moments of expert repartee. I could fill this page with humorous dialogue and snarky quotes from book that I loved: when the sisters turned Pogo into a Service Dog to visit R. D. in the hospital, Olivia thinking of sticking her head under the wine spigot, watching Lauren dig through a purse that had everything from a pair of pliers to band-aides, at the funeral discussing their Mother's bacon etched urn, Pogo and the Bag Piper's fling, and so many more. I howled with laughter. Ms. Pierce added the elements of mobsters and their crimes, and the results of unwise decisions.
Ms. Pierce infused this book with twists and turns, mystery, and family dynamics in which the framework could represent any family in America. She expertly revealed the relationship issues between parent and their children and siblings; favoritism, jealousy, insecurity, envy, and not least of all, commitment and love. I felt right at home reading this book as I could identify with each sister's perception of their life, their mother's love and their place in that relationship and their relationship with each other. I loved the humor in this story, it was a feel good read.
Her characters were well-developed and the pacing of the book was well done. Ms. Pierce had many threads in this story. She brought all the threads together to create a fantastic novel filled with everything that makes a great story. The twists and turns, emotional dynamics, and mystery kept me fused to this book. I read it straight through; I refused to put it down. This story was addictive and was a roller coaster ride.
RECOMMENDATION:
I highly recommend this novel to anyone that loves a good story filled with mystery, crime, mobsters, humor, and human relationships. This was the first work of Ms. Pierce I have read; I would buy her next novel without hesitation. Ms. Piece is a talented author that has plotting, characterization and development down to fine art.
I received this book from Readingalley in return for an honest book review.
Books reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; book reviews on line under my name and on my blog are my opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Courtney Piece lives in Oregon with her husband and cat. She worked as marketing and sales executive in the theater. She worked with two best selling authors, Jennifer Lauck and Karen Karbo, fine turning her craft as well as completing the Hawthorne Fellows program for writing and publishing at the Attic Institute.
She is a member of Willamette Writers, Pacific Northwest Writers Association and Sisters in Crime. Please visit her website and leave a comment.
NOTE FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
The Executrix, book one of the Dushane Sisters Trilogy, was accepted as a feature selection in Library Journal’s curated SELF-e collections.
March 6, 2017
Olivia wants to solve a mystery before the 3 year deadline to find out why it happens expires. She enlists Ryan who was very resigned about it, but somehow manages to become involved in said situation and manages to find themselves way over their heads. It had action, tense situations, some humor and likeable characters and you definitely like Olivia’s sisters Lauren and Danny. You rooted for the story to come to a nice ending with everybody getting what they wanted. So if you get a chance check it out. You might be pleasantly surprised.
September 2, 2016
Death, laughter & the occasional manuscript.
Death, laughter & the occasional manuscript.
Aug 21, 2016
The story centers around Olivia, the middle daughter who is the executrix of her mothers will. A published author of romances, she'd like to spread her wings and write... something. While cleaning her mother's home, she finds a manuscript and sends it to her agent.
That evening, all three sister's stay in Olivia's home, preferring each other's company to being alone. Olivia remembers she needs to dog-sit her neighbor's poodle. All three traipse next-door to get the dog but the neighbor can't be found. Lauren, the oldest, breaks a window as Danny, the youngest, keeps the dog quiet while the glass is swept up. They call the police (who calls the FBI) and long story short, the owner is found. The sisters clean (and snoop!) while he's in the hospital and they find out why the FBI was called.
Now Olivia can write something besides romance! (Maybe.)
Weaving throughout is the added puzzle piece of Olivia's husband, killed in a hit-and-run three years ago. The only clue, a white Suburban.
These ladies, they're a HOOT! I felt I was right with them in their various situations.
Please, write more Courtney Pierce! I love these ladies!
Recommended!!
Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
Death, laughter & the occasional manuscript.
Aug 21, 2016
The story centers around Olivia, the middle daughter who is the executrix of her mothers will. A published author of romances, she'd like to spread her wings and write... something. While cleaning her mother's home, she finds a manuscript and sends it to her agent.
That evening, all three sister's stay in Olivia's home, preferring each other's company to being alone. Olivia remembers she needs to dog-sit her neighbor's poodle. All three traipse next-door to get the dog but the neighbor can't be found. Lauren, the oldest, breaks a window as Danny, the youngest, keeps the dog quiet while the glass is swept up. They call the police (who calls the FBI) and long story short, the owner is found. The sisters clean (and snoop!) while he's in the hospital and they find out why the FBI was called.
Now Olivia can write something besides romance! (Maybe.)
Weaving throughout is the added puzzle piece of Olivia's husband, killed in a hit-and-run three years ago. The only clue, a white Suburban.
These ladies, they're a HOOT! I felt I was right with them in their various situations.
Please, write more Courtney Pierce! I love these ladies!
Recommended!!
Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2015
This book was a fun read. This book is a fun adventure/mystery story told from the perspective of three sisters. You'll find yourself relating to the different perspectives and thinking about your own family dynamics while reading this one. The author's detailed and descriptive writing style will leave you feeling as if you are in the story, rather than just an observer on the sideline.
After reading this story, you'll be thinking about your neighbors in a different light and wondering what stories hide behind those doors.
After reading this story, you'll be thinking about your neighbors in a different light and wondering what stories hide behind those doors.
May 21, 2016
Lots of fun and snappy dialog . Three sisters – caring, quirky, and full of love for each other. An author. The Fitbit using sister. And the youngest who’d cared for their mother. Pierce claims to have taken parts of her own sisters’ personalities! How brave. A good story with nice people. Loved the therapy dog ring bearer wedding. Only caveat is the therapy dog theme. Some statements didn’t ring true, like the term “healing dog.”
A cozy woman’s novel with enough humor and mystery to keep pages turning. And waiting for more.
A cozy woman’s novel with enough humor and mystery to keep pages turning. And waiting for more.
July 10, 2016
I met this lovely author at a book event in North Portland. The book sort of spoke to me ... 55 year old, middle sibling, book lady, cat lady, close to her sister (s) ... mother passes away and she and her sisters deal with this transition and other mysteries ... a fun, easy, deligntful read ... set in our beautiful city of Portland, Oregon. I have book two, Indigo Lake, as well and look forward to it! Great job, Courtney!
March 11, 2015
Great characters. Exciting adventure of three sisters and their dog. Will be watching for the next book. I received this book free through goodreads for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews