Three Silver Doves

Paige MacKenzie Mystery #3

by Deborah Garner

When New York reporter Paige MacKenzie heads to Tres Palomas, New Mexico, the resort of Agua Encantada seems a perfect destination to combine work with pleasure. A quick article on the healing mineral springs and a few leisurely soaking sessions in the resort's soothing waters promise well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Paige is immediately intrigued with a local artist's one-of-a-kind jewelry designs, as well as weekly gatherings to hear legends from an elderly storyteller. But when identical jewelry shows up on another guest and the storyteller goes missing, Paige's R&R is soon redefined as restlessness and risk. Curious and persistent by nature, Paige is convinced there's a connection. Enlisting the help of a flirtatious resort worker seems like a good idea until it begins to test her loyalty to her favorite cowboy, Jake Norris. Will an unexpected overnight trip to Tierra Roja Casino lead her to the answers she seeks, or are darker secrets lurking along the way?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Cozy, Amazon, Contemporary

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2015

About the author

Deborah Garner is an accomplished travel writer with a passion for back roads and secret hideaways. Born and raised in California, she studied in France before returning to the U.S. to attend UCLA. After stints in graduate school and teaching, she attempted to clone herself for decades by founding and running a dance and performing arts center, designing and manufacturing clothing and accessories, and tackling both spreadsheets and display racks for corporate retail management. Her passions include photography, hiking and animal rescue. She speaks five languages, some substantially better than others. She now divides her time between California and Wyoming, dragging one human and two canines along whenever possible.

Reviews

[Ruth Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before picking up this book, I had never heard of this series nor this author. Within the first few pages, I already was charmed with the book and the writing style. Now that I see it is the third book in the series, that makes sense as I kept thinking to myself I was missing something. Although the book is definitely a stand-alone, I think I would recommend reading the books in order. I was never lost, but I just felt that I wasn't able to comprehend everything about Paige and her situation.

The biggest strength about this book is that it is truly a "cozy mystery." In other words, the profanity is almost nonexistent, there is no gratuitous violence, and there are no bedroom scenes. So often in today's publishing words, books are classed as "cozy," and I am disappointed at how they do not live up to that name.

Although the author has a readable style (I read the book in one evening), there were a few times I found myself losing interest. I prefer a bit more action (even in my cozy mysteries), but by in large, this book has very little I can criticize. I would be most willing to check out more books by this well-spoken author.

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.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Silver Doves by Deborah Garner was another enjoyable addition to the Paige MacKenzie series. I appreciate Ms. Garner's descriptive writing as she describes the town and the characters in story. It always makes me feel like I am walking right along with Paige while she researches her articles and gets to know the people who live in the town.

[Stephanie Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well if anything could make breastfeeding in the middle of the night any easier, this book did the trick. Three Silver Doves by Deborah Garner, one of many Paige Mackenzie mysteries, was the perfect fit for 2 o'clock in the morning readings.

It was a light mystery (which for me means there was no murder) and it took place in New Mexico, so it was replete with beautiful scenery and charming nuances fitting for such a place. I even learned some things about the area, such as the fact that Native American art, such as jewelry designs, is often stolen and duplicated without prosecution.

It was also clear that it was one of many stories for the main character, Paige Mackenzie, especially in terms of her romantic interest from a previous story that took place in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she began to fall for a handsome cowboy. But don't worry; he finds his way into this mystery as well. Even though it was easy on the intrigue, the characters were interesting enough to make me want to read more in the middle of the day (when I could keep my eyes open and one hand free).

For me, Paige was a great modern day Nancy Drew, and I recommend her adventures over the holidays when you just can't with family anymore.

7/10 rating
175 pages
3 strong female characters

http://www.thegoddessandthebear.com/

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would actually give this book a 3.5 and wish that was possible. Paige is a reporter for a NY newspaper and is being sent to various places out west so they can do a series of articles on different areas in the western states. In this book she is sent to New Mexico where she is staying at a resort that has healthy, restorative hot springs. As usual, Paige suspects that something is going on that is not right and she is anxious to lend a hand in figuring it out. The characters are warmly drawn and the setting is a pleasant small town where everyone knows everyone else. The food is richly described and the elements of a love interest, a handsome stranger, danger, and a mystery to round things out. The story flowed well and was enjoyable.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. I love feeling like I am getting to see a new place through Paige’s eyes. And the trouble she gets into is always entertaining and pushes the story along. She meets wonderful people on her journey as well.

[Grace Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little beach read

Cute story. Fast read, great for a vacation. Predictable but full of fun characters. Lovely setting that brought me into the story.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for the ATY 2020 Reading Challenge Week 34: A book from a genre or subgenre that starts with a letter in your name

Paige has the perfect job, in my opinion. She is a travel writer. She is currently working on a series of western resorts. What she finds is great food, interesting people, fantastic settings, luxury accommodations, a touch of romance, and mystery! Ever curious...a perfect characteristic for a reporter, she sticks her nose in where it is unwanted and dangerous. That intelligent and flexible mind gets her into and out of trouble. She must get tired of all the police warnings to stay out of where she doesn't belong. *sigh* If only Jake could understand that she doesn't have a man at every resort. Enjoy!

[writer... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Descriptive writing brought the atmosphere and picturesque NM settings to life. Food played a colourful and tantalizing role as did the relaxation of enjoying the spa’s facilities. Suspense intensified at a steady and more realistic pace than mc Paige’s initial action upon arriving at the NM desert spa. I found her reaction extreme and not entirely believable.
The arrival of mc Paige’s romantic interest provided welcome drama adding warmth to her character. The story definitely left me wanting my own spa stay!

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Mexico bound

An excellent addition to the Paige MacKenzie series. Visiting the New Mexico area with this book brought with many find memories. Reminders of the excellent cuisine and beautiful area which the author shared made my mouth water and my thoughts brighten.
Paige just can't stay away from trouble and this work vacation is no exception. Fun and mystery keep the reader involved. An excellent read!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy, light, enjoyable read.

[Erika Mathews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little mystery with SO much culture included! Great characters.
Some kissing, flirting. Mentions of gambling, drinking.

[Melissa Layne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still loved following Paige, this mystery just didn’t grab me as much as the first two.

[Kara Dunnagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Main character lacking

Paige acts like a twelve year old around men. Author does not know the current Jackson Ho!e. It is a huge tourist trap. Its not the rugged old west and cowboys carry a negative connotation there. So I would suggest that she stick to known subject matter. Cute story. Kind of silly in places. Mildly entertaining.

[Teresa Kander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in this series, but I've already put the first two on my Kindle, and will read this one again after I finish the first two.

It's a great summer read, as it is fun and easy to read. The vivid descriptions of the resort and the surrounding area make you feel like you're actually there. The author uses her travel writing background to the fullest.

The mystery part of the story is also very well-written, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing at the solution. The characters are extremely well-written as well, and Paige is a lot of fun, seeing how her curiosity always gets her into trouble in one way or another.

I also enjoyed the fact this book doesn't have any detailed intimate encounters, violence, or questionable language.

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romantic SW Intrigue

Beautiful depictions of New Mexico mountain geography, pleasant romantic scenes and delicious-sounding meals make this almost a travel advertisement. One would surely enjoy the companionship of the prominent characters, as well. It is more romance novel than cozy mystery, as the crimes and their solution appear to be peripheral to the main characters. One wishes for female protagonists who are able to enjoy love interest without going gaga and weak-kneed, and to becoming completely distracted from their more interesting work or passions. The novel suffers from repetition and from over explanation. I was actually more interested in the author's bio than I was in her work. Possibly a novel that is more autobiographical would show a protagonist who has more maturity, intelligence and independence. I'd like to see more grit.

[Silvie Armas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Deborah Garner book I have read. This book is part of a series. Even though it does make reference to the other books, it was a great stand alone book. This is a great weekend book because it’s a quick read. I am going to read the other books because this one left me wondering about the others. I absolutely loved how well this book transported me to a different place. The author did such a great job of describing the places in this book that I truly felt I was there. This is a great mystery that definitely should be read.

[Maria Valderrama · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy to read and an enjoyable commuter book, but I think the author missed a great opportunity to show off her talent. For instance, when the storyteller tells her stories, it was basically: Abuela sat down, told one story -sentence, sentence, sentence-, she told another story -sentence, sentence, sentence- and she was done. Meanwhile, the conversation between the two women from the tour was so full of detail, it was as if you could actually see and hear them. I think the author has some talent but is not consistent in using it.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third Paige and Jake story, this one contained a possible love triangle and definitely spiced things up a bit. I think it was the best storyline so far, although there were a few times when Paige's behavior started to get on my nerves. Still, I'm enjoying the series and will read more Paige MacKenzie Mysteries if Garner writes more!

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet cozy mystery, written like a travelogue!

Three Silver Doves by Deborah Garner, is book 3 in the Paige Mackenzie Mystery series. I love how Deborah introduces a new quaint travel destination in each book. Though, I am tempted to travel to these areas searching for adventure, ( the towns and people seem so real) I have to wonder about the high crime rate in what seems to be off the beaten path destinations! It is the wonderfully crafted settings that keeps me coming back to this series and Deborah Garner's writings.
Deborah also introduces the most entertaining characters in each of the Paige Mackenzie books. In Three Silver Doves, she developed "Abuela", the town storyteller, who can be found outside the church at the fountain, every Sunday after mass. I could imagine the excited children sitting around the old women as she tells the legends and myths that have been handed down to Abuela from generation after generation of storytellers. The children learning cultural history without the grumbles heard in a classroom setting. Abuela and characters like her are trademarks of a Deborah Garner novel. However, even the animal characters have quirky fun personalities in Deborah's books ( for example, Rico, the flirty llama)!

There is an on- going romance in this series. However, it is sweet, developing slowly and naturally since the first book. No cheating, or erotic sex scenes, but plenty of heart melting romantic gestures. Every time I read about Jake's treatment of Paige, I just say, "Ahh! That's so romantic!"

The mysteries are not suspenseful, full of horrific murders and edge of your seat action. More like the kind of things a curious journalist might stumble on. It almost reads like a Victoria Mars/ adult Nancy Drew mystery. Which is a a change from the contemporary romance suspense I usually read! However, the change is pleasant and relaxing, thus I find I liked this!
If you haven't read Paige Mackenzie Mystery, I encourage you to give it a try. If you have read the previous two books, you should pick up Three Silver Doves without delay. It is a delightful interlude.

[Scot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize I am not the target audience, but this book was borimh, slow, and often moved forward in a clumsy manner. Many of the dialogues and responses seemed so general and obvious, the details lacking much nuance. Well, there is a lot of focus on women discussing shopping, and people eating common foods (well, they seem common to me in California -- huevos rancheros or salsa with xhips) and reacting as if they are something so exotic it's a marvel. I get that this is sort of am escapist fantasy for someone who has never been to New Mexico (or perhaps been close to a llama), but I've got to think the characters are so flat that many female readers would find the so called romantic struggles very middle school level and mundane.

What details are employed are often silly or unlikely, upon reflection. Three examples: The old church that has been in the poor village since it began is St. Bernadettes. (doesn't strike me as a Spanish name from the 17th or 18th century). The boyfriend from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is an old school cowboy living on the range, but that's a big tourist trap area. She works for the Manhattan Post (what kind of a paper is that? it competes successfully with the Post or the NYT?) and they have her flying all over the country, hanging out in spas ro write about it, and her schedule means she is always busy doing this, with, ostensibly, the paper covering all costs--even while real journalism doesn't work that way, especially for someone with her limited abilities and general naivete.

I will stop here. I find the book silly and predictable, but perhaps for others who want the simple fantasdy it offers, it is fairly violence free, and I can understand some needing that escape in a book. But I dion't think deep thinkers or anyone who already knows New Mexico will enjoy this.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will give it a three because for fans of this genre it is the standard fare. This is my second book about Paige because I wanted to give it a chance. I believe this author could develop into a better storyteller. I do not expect to read more by her.

The premise for the series is rather dumb. Paige writes articles about places. Wouldn't it be better to send a photographer with her to actually show, not just tell? Or maybe she could be a photojournalist? A lot of the work she does is online research which she could do from her home base. She is writing about an entire region so she does that by visiting one resort. I think the last straw for me was when Miguel motioned to her with a wave of his fingers for her to come closer and her feet moved forward as if they had a will of their own and I wanted to vomit a little bit. Or maybe it was when she insisted that she and Jake go unarmed to a place that could have been filled with gang members. No spoilers in either of these statements; they don't give much of the story away but just insight into Paige and how truly annoying she is. I know there are more people who love her than dislike her so if she sounds like the type of heroine you want to follow, you will probably love these books.

[Chanel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author excelled in describing the landscape, culture, and people of the Southwest. Not only did I feel the beauty and the serenity of the area, but I could almost taste the delectable favors of New Mexico. (I would love to have some of the recipes, especially for those yummy pancakes.)
I was expecting a romance mystery, and this book was very short on romance, with barely a PG rating. The mystery had potential, and at times the story held my interest, as there were two big plot twists, I did not see coming. Unfortunately, the over-all story line was average, and I say this because there was just something lacking with the interactions between the main characters. I was unable to form any connection, and can’t even remember the name of the heroine. Honestly, this is the first and only book I will read in this series. Over-all rating 2.75.

[Cathi Calato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it covered a great new area of the country for me, and had a lot of good information in it. I want to go to this place an languish in the waters as much as the characters did! The characters were well thought out, I felt them becoming my friends throughout the book. The one thing that bothered me was where the author decided to end the book. I think she did not provide enough denouement (winding up of the initial story) for the readers. Instead she started a brand new direction. Now this does make me want to read the next book of course, but I want to know more detail about everything that happened in the first book before I even go there. It was a great book though, you will not be disappointed.

[Ms Mary E Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read from an assignment to write a piece about the Spa Resort, to getting to & care for the people she met most of her 10 day stay. From that to major crime & relationship issues. As with many stories it all ends happily after with the main character need to make so serious decisions about the man is her life. A central story woven with th of human frailty, families & communities.

An interesting read from an assignment to write a piece about the Spa Resort, to getting to & care for the people she met most of her 10 day stay. From that to major crime & relationship issues. As with many stories it all ends happily after with the main character need to make so serious decisions about the man is her life.

[Sandra Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a "light" mystery, a cozy mystery I would say. The main character, Paige, is a nice young woman, a journalist, who is doing research for a story about the southwest for her newspaper. She is spending a week at a lovely, peaceful spa in New Mexico. There is no murder, bad language, sex or strong violence, so it's a clean book. There are some nice characters who interact with Paige and a bit of a romantic interest. Paige has a lot of curiosity (of course, she IS a journalist) and not afraid to take a bit of a chance - which opens the door for the adventure she goes through in this book.

[Kayli (Love Learning Everyday) · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5 stars
This book was a fun and mostly enjoyable read. I loved how this book handled jealousy between two of the main characters. The protagonist just ignored it, which I think is refreshing. Too many times in books jealousy is shown as flattering and it is not healthy and not a good message. Despite how much I enjoyed that aspect of the book, I do feel like the series is very disjointed other than having the same protagonist in all the books but each individual book is still enjoyable. I really liked the romance and the character interactions, however I think the plot was a bit predictable and fell a little flat for me. I still enjoyed it and will be reading the last and final book but I am not sure I would recommend this series to my friends. Also the formatting on the ebook was very distracting because there were lots of spacing issues.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This getaway to a mineral springs resort in New Mexico has the perfect balance of atmosphere, mystery and romance. You will find yourself drawn into the setting and people with some unexpected surprises. This book is part of a mystery series. Paige is a reporter on travel assignments where she tends to find herself into more than she bargains for. I wasn't too fond of the first book, this book more than made up for it. A keeper.

[Irma Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jngsarup. Best have had some time job here in a few minutes if you want to come by to pick it up tomorrow morning at this point we are going to be at this meeting and I will be there for sure but I think we should go visit my mom and dad to see if he can get a ride to the airport Certain. T his is a very good m

Thanks again for all your help and support you have a great time with your family and friends and family are well and enjoying the opportunity to be a part of your life and enjoying your time with your family

[Sharon Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nosy reporter travels to a small western town to write an article for her paper. There she gets caught up in a scheme when she tries to help uncover what she thinks is someone using patterns stolen from the towns jewelry maker, mass producing them as their own. She gets help from the handsome 'handyman', which only makes her boyfriend jealous. This story makes me want to travel out west and find a town just like this one, find a handyman like that, and take a long vacation.

[Gabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Garner's descriptions are beautiful and evocative, but the plot barely moves forward. While the mystery about the illegal business with Native American art could be interesting, there is very little suspense. Lots of information is repeated over and over again, and while there are some twists toward the end, they aren't too surprising really.
I've read three books from the series, I enjoyed one, and two were meh. I don't think I'll continue with the rest of the series.