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A Murphy's Dance Academy Cozy Mystery #1
Pointe and Shoot
Jayne Murphy has always put family first. That’s why she abandoned her dream of joining the police force to run her ailing mother’s dance studio.
When one of the studio’s most talented instructors dies in a car crash, Jayne isn’t convinced it was just an accident. Relentlessly pursuing her hunch, she teams up with Officer Danny Nolan, the best friend and partner of her brother Patrick, who died in the line of duty. Haunted by Patrick’s death, Danny has begun to question whether he should still be a cop at all.
As Jayne digs deeper, suspects emerge, including the victim’s clingy ex-boyfriend and a jealous foe from the cutthroat dance world. Her evolving insights into the case rekindle Jayne’s passion for police work. Danny, too, feels a renewed sense of purpose…and a definite attraction to his unofficial partner, which seems to be mutual. Now, if Jayne can only keep herself out of harm’s way, she and Danny both might get a second chance—with their careers and each other
When one of the studio’s most talented instructors dies in a car crash, Jayne isn’t convinced it was just an accident. Relentlessly pursuing her hunch, she teams up with Officer Danny Nolan, the best friend and partner of her brother Patrick, who died in the line of duty. Haunted by Patrick’s death, Danny has begun to question whether he should still be a cop at all.
As Jayne digs deeper, suspects emerge, including the victim’s clingy ex-boyfriend and a jealous foe from the cutthroat dance world. Her evolving insights into the case rekindle Jayne’s passion for police work. Danny, too, feels a renewed sense of purpose…and a definite attraction to his unofficial partner, which seems to be mutual. Now, if Jayne can only keep herself out of harm’s way, she and Danny both might get a second chance—with their careers and each other
304 pages, ebook
First published October 4, 2016
126 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Alison Stone
43 books173 followersAlison Stone writes sweet romance, cozy mysteries, and inspirational romantic suspense, some of which contain bonnets and buggies.
Alison often refers to herself as the "accidental Amish author." She decided to try her hand at the genre after an editor put a call out for more Amish romantic suspense. Intrigued—and who doesn't love the movie Witness with Harrison Ford?—Alison dug into research, including visits to the Amish communities in Western New York where she lives. This sparked numerous story ideas, the first leading to her debut novel with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense. Four subsequent Love Inspired Suspense titles went on to earn RT magazine's TOP PICK! designation, their highest ranking.
When Alison’s not plotting ways to bring mayhem to Amish communities, she’s writing inspirational romantic suspense with a more modern setting, sweet romances, and cozy mysteries, including her new Murphy's Dance Academy series. In order to meet her deadlines, she has to block the internet and hide her smartphone.
Married and the mother of four (almost) grown kids, Alison lives in the suburbs of Buffalo where the summers are gorgeous and the winters are perfect for curling up with a book—or writing one.
Alison often refers to herself as the "accidental Amish author." She decided to try her hand at the genre after an editor put a call out for more Amish romantic suspense. Intrigued—and who doesn't love the movie Witness with Harrison Ford?—Alison dug into research, including visits to the Amish communities in Western New York where she lives. This sparked numerous story ideas, the first leading to her debut novel with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense. Four subsequent Love Inspired Suspense titles went on to earn RT magazine's TOP PICK! designation, their highest ranking.
When Alison’s not plotting ways to bring mayhem to Amish communities, she’s writing inspirational romantic suspense with a more modern setting, sweet romances, and cozy mysteries, including her new Murphy's Dance Academy series. In order to meet her deadlines, she has to block the internet and hide her smartphone.
Married and the mother of four (almost) grown kids, Alison lives in the suburbs of Buffalo where the summers are gorgeous and the winters are perfect for curling up with a book—or writing one.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 7, 2018
Hm. Not really sure what to think of this one. Despite the gorgeous cover, this was a bit of a let down.
The romance, first of all. *squints* It didn't feel like there was much more to it except "look at his huge bicep", and "her hair is so pretty", and "am I the only one feeling the electricity zapping between us?". I found it rather shallow, and very much based on physical appearances, which is just the type of romance I don't like to read.
The mystery\suspense. It was very predictable, therefore causing me to lose interest. Not to mention, I kept waiting for "the big climax" and that . . . just never happened? Unfortunately underwhelming.
The characters. They were interesting enough, and I did feel like Jayne was a very well-rounded character, if completely empty-headed whenever Danny was around. I liked her naivete, and her dedication to her family. Danny felt rather shallow though.
The 'faith' themes. This part had me the most confused. Based on a previous book I had read by this author, I assumed she was a Protestant, but now these characters are Catholic? I'm a bit confused on that point. And any themes of faith and Christianity in this book were incredibly watered-down and weak. Rather disappointing on that score, especially.
Overall, this isn't a book I would recommend. I can't say that I agree with the author's perspective on faith, and the rest of the story was blah, so what do we have left?
The romance, first of all. *squints* It didn't feel like there was much more to it except "look at his huge bicep", and "her hair is so pretty", and "am I the only one feeling the electricity zapping between us?". I found it rather shallow, and very much based on physical appearances, which is just the type of romance I don't like to read.
The mystery\suspense. It was very predictable, therefore causing me to lose interest. Not to mention, I kept waiting for "the big climax" and that . . . just never happened? Unfortunately underwhelming.
The characters. They were interesting enough, and I did feel like Jayne was a very well-rounded character, if completely empty-headed whenever Danny was around. I liked her naivete, and her dedication to her family. Danny felt rather shallow though.
The 'faith' themes. This part had me the most confused. Based on a previous book I had read by this author, I assumed she was a Protestant, but now these characters are Catholic? I'm a bit confused on that point. And any themes of faith and Christianity in this book were incredibly watered-down and weak. Rather disappointing on that score, especially.
Overall, this isn't a book I would recommend. I can't say that I agree with the author's perspective on faith, and the rest of the story was blah, so what do we have left?
March 26, 2017
[3.5 / 5 stars]
I was provided with a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book completely surprised me! I went into it with medium expectations at best, but it was solid!
First of all, I have to say this was really well-written. The ratio of dialogue to descriptions was good. And the character development, especially for our MC Jayne, was on point. Jayne’s personality was fully fleshed out and you really get to understand her compassionate and determined self very well. It was easy to read and written very cleanly and professionally.
The thing that really made me nervous about this book was that when I looked it up on Goodreads, one of the top 2 genres listed for it is Christian Fiction. I do not read christian fiction, as I am agnostic. But the christian themes were so very subtle. They were a part of Jayne’s upbringing and character, but the book was not preachy in any way. And Jayne did not actively practice her faith so often in this book that I found it repetitive. Instead, she was church-goer her prayed constantly, had unshakable faith, trusted in God, and wasn’t afraid to let those around her know of her christianity. The Christian Fiction element of this book simply lies in the fact that it is clean - no swearing or sex - and Jayne is a believer. And it was more than bearable; it was well done.
I did have a couple of issues with this book though. Firstly, I will say that the mystery was a bit predictable… I had figured out “whodunnit” fairly early on, honestly.
And in regards to the ballet element of the story: yeah, there was not much actual ballet. This was disappointing to me because I honestly was mainly intrigued by this book because I saw that it involved the owner of a ballet studio. Also how could Jayne run the studio if she wasn’t a dancer at all? What on earth did she even do there if she didn’t dance or teach herself? I mean, I guess she could do hiring and paperwork and administrative stuff. But I don’t think that would be enough to have her earn the right to run it, even if the studio is her mother’s originally.
I actually wish it was a bit longer! I feel like this could have been improved upon by having Danny’s character development expanded more, and by not having the actual mystery progress so rapidly. But we did get a lot of backstory about Jayne & her family, and their relationship with Danny and of the Green family too.
Overall this was a good and easy mystery, with a little bit of everything!
I was provided with a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book completely surprised me! I went into it with medium expectations at best, but it was solid!
First of all, I have to say this was really well-written. The ratio of dialogue to descriptions was good. And the character development, especially for our MC Jayne, was on point. Jayne’s personality was fully fleshed out and you really get to understand her compassionate and determined self very well. It was easy to read and written very cleanly and professionally.
The thing that really made me nervous about this book was that when I looked it up on Goodreads, one of the top 2 genres listed for it is Christian Fiction. I do not read christian fiction, as I am agnostic. But the christian themes were so very subtle. They were a part of Jayne’s upbringing and character, but the book was not preachy in any way. And Jayne did not actively practice her faith so often in this book that I found it repetitive. Instead, she was church-goer her prayed constantly, had unshakable faith, trusted in God, and wasn’t afraid to let those around her know of her christianity. The Christian Fiction element of this book simply lies in the fact that it is clean - no swearing or sex - and Jayne is a believer. And it was more than bearable; it was well done.
I did have a couple of issues with this book though. Firstly, I will say that the mystery was a bit predictable… I had figured out “whodunnit” fairly early on, honestly.
And in regards to the ballet element of the story: yeah, there was not much actual ballet. This was disappointing to me because I honestly was mainly intrigued by this book because I saw that it involved the owner of a ballet studio. Also how could Jayne run the studio if she wasn’t a dancer at all? What on earth did she even do there if she didn’t dance or teach herself? I mean, I guess she could do hiring and paperwork and administrative stuff. But I don’t think that would be enough to have her earn the right to run it, even if the studio is her mother’s originally.
I actually wish it was a bit longer! I feel like this could have been improved upon by having Danny’s character development expanded more, and by not having the actual mystery progress so rapidly. But we did get a lot of backstory about Jayne & her family, and their relationship with Danny and of the Green family too.
Overall this was a good and easy mystery, with a little bit of everything!
August 27, 2016
A captivating combination of suspense, mystery and heartwarming romance.
I really enjoyed Pointe and Shoot. The unique combination of dance moms, a small town, and a great murder mystery had me hooked from page one. The story drew me in and kept me guessing the entire way.
We get to see the world of competitive dance told through a genuine voice that captured all the nuances about this highly entertaining world.
The heroine Jayne wanted to be like her brothers and become a cop, but instead she now is running her mom’s dance studio and caring for her while her brothers continue in law enforcement.
The hero Danny has his own dark secrets and wonders if he will ever be the cop he needs to be—or the man that Jayne deserves.
The family and faith thread is very well done. This book tackles the difficult topic of Alzheimer’s in a way that feels so authentic and will definitely pull at your heartstrings and make you shed a few tears.
Stone is masterful at striking the right balance to keep you turning the pages. There’s a witty and quirky humor that provides just the right amount of humor into the story. Another thing I loved about this book was the connection to true crime police shows. This fresh and unique take on suspense will keep engaged until the very end.
I love a story that makes me both laugh and cry. This book packs an emotional punch that hits all the right notes. Put on your pointe shoes and get ready!
I really enjoyed Pointe and Shoot. The unique combination of dance moms, a small town, and a great murder mystery had me hooked from page one. The story drew me in and kept me guessing the entire way.
We get to see the world of competitive dance told through a genuine voice that captured all the nuances about this highly entertaining world.
The heroine Jayne wanted to be like her brothers and become a cop, but instead she now is running her mom’s dance studio and caring for her while her brothers continue in law enforcement.
The hero Danny has his own dark secrets and wonders if he will ever be the cop he needs to be—or the man that Jayne deserves.
The family and faith thread is very well done. This book tackles the difficult topic of Alzheimer’s in a way that feels so authentic and will definitely pull at your heartstrings and make you shed a few tears.
Stone is masterful at striking the right balance to keep you turning the pages. There’s a witty and quirky humor that provides just the right amount of humor into the story. Another thing I loved about this book was the connection to true crime police shows. This fresh and unique take on suspense will keep engaged until the very end.
I love a story that makes me both laugh and cry. This book packs an emotional punch that hits all the right notes. Put on your pointe shoes and get ready!
April 9, 2018
Stavolta un libro di questa autrice mi è piaciuto un filino meno del solito, non so neanche il perché. Comunque sia, sono sempre 4 stelle piene.
October 1, 2016
Who knew dance could be deadly? Pointe and Shoot, by Alison Stone, takes us inside the world of a small town dance academy, and the result is fatal!
When dance teacher, Melinda is tragically killed, her friend and employer, Jayne Murphy, isn’t buying that it’s an accident. Years ago Jayne gave up her dream of being a cop, but her instincts are still strong, and she’s determined to get to the truth. With the help of her brother’s former partner, family friend, Danny Nolan, Jayne works the case, unearthing a full cast of suspects. Maybe because they’re both wounded souls, Danny and Jayne work really well together despite the tragedy that underlies the story. Their tender romance is a warm note in a world where a killer is tracking Jayne’s every move.
I loved the way Stone convinced me each new suspect was THE one - until there was another one who must be THE one. It kept me reading and guessing until the very end.
Though I loved the suspense element of this book, and the authentic voice of a dance mom made the story sing, what truly won my heart was the loving way Stone handled Jayne’s relationship with her mom. Mrs. Murphy, once the grande dame of the upstate dance world, is slowly being lost to Alzheimer’s disease. Stone handles this part of the storyline with such grace, love, and a gentle sense of humor that it made the book warm my heart even as the suspense parts had me looking over me shoulder.
If you love a heartwarming, small town story that lets loose your inner Nancy Drew, Pointe and Shoot is the perfect story for you!
When dance teacher, Melinda is tragically killed, her friend and employer, Jayne Murphy, isn’t buying that it’s an accident. Years ago Jayne gave up her dream of being a cop, but her instincts are still strong, and she’s determined to get to the truth. With the help of her brother’s former partner, family friend, Danny Nolan, Jayne works the case, unearthing a full cast of suspects. Maybe because they’re both wounded souls, Danny and Jayne work really well together despite the tragedy that underlies the story. Their tender romance is a warm note in a world where a killer is tracking Jayne’s every move.
I loved the way Stone convinced me each new suspect was THE one - until there was another one who must be THE one. It kept me reading and guessing until the very end.
Though I loved the suspense element of this book, and the authentic voice of a dance mom made the story sing, what truly won my heart was the loving way Stone handled Jayne’s relationship with her mom. Mrs. Murphy, once the grande dame of the upstate dance world, is slowly being lost to Alzheimer’s disease. Stone handles this part of the storyline with such grace, love, and a gentle sense of humor that it made the book warm my heart even as the suspense parts had me looking over me shoulder.
If you love a heartwarming, small town story that lets loose your inner Nancy Drew, Pointe and Shoot is the perfect story for you!
August 17, 2017
Jayne always wanted to follow in the footsteps of her family members and become a cop. Instead, she finds herself running her mother’s dance studio and caring for her mom, who is battling Alzheimer’s. Things take a drastic turn when one of her teachers, Miss Melinda, dies unexpectedly. Jayne does not believe that Melinda’s death was an accident, and she sets out to prove that. Danny is a cop who has never gotten past the loss of his partner and best friend, who was Jayne’s brother. Jayne wants to help Melinda’s family, as she knows all too well what it is like to lose a loved one. She just needs to determine who would benefit from the Melinda’s death. Could it possibly be another teacher? Jayne plans to continue searching until she finds an answer, but will it end up costing Jayne her life?
Stone’s latest is an intriguing mystery which has a touch of Dance Moms thrown in. The flawed characters and palpable suspense, combined with numerous twists and turns, easily engage the reader. The author handles the Alzheimer’s angle in a skillful manner, showing that those with this neurological disorder are still integral family members. The faith angle is neatly woven in. If you are a fan of mysteries, this is definitely one to check out.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Stone’s latest is an intriguing mystery which has a touch of Dance Moms thrown in. The flawed characters and palpable suspense, combined with numerous twists and turns, easily engage the reader. The author handles the Alzheimer’s angle in a skillful manner, showing that those with this neurological disorder are still integral family members. The faith angle is neatly woven in. If you are a fan of mysteries, this is definitely one to check out.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
This is about a 2.5 star book for me. I very much liked the opening of the story and the POV of the murder victim in the moments of her demise. I quite liked the POV of the killer and thought the author deftly obscured their identity while giving the reader a glimpse into their mind. Main character Jayne is our typical cozy mystery heroine in that she's got a knack for nosing and also has a bit of a winsome personality so a reader can't help but root for her. Jayne has a deceased officer brother and a mother suffering from Alzheimer's, so she's definitely someone I wanted to see have a win here. Enter Danny, survivor's guilt ridden, ex-partner of deceased officer brother and we've got the suspense with a dash of romance. All the elements were here for something really great but it added up to middling, at best. It's a comparatively short book so would do if looking for something to while away some hours but in all honesty reader, if you missed this one, you won't have missed much in your lit life.
May 24, 2017
I was very happy to get this book from the library. I needed some good mystery books to read and judgeing from the cover of this book, I thought I was going to enjoy it.
I started the book and was very interest in it. Then come to chapter 10-14 and it sort of went downhill from there.
I loved how she had the victim alive for the very first chapter. I have never really seen that done. It gave a glimps into her life and what happenedto her up to her death.
I also liked how she let me see the killers point of view and how his mind was working. Those parts I really liked.
The myster part of it was slow moving. And while this book is under "Christian" the people in it are catholic and they are social drinkers. I was disappointed when I was reading those parts.
I have not completely finished the book because I just lost interest in it. (I did make it to chapter 17 though)
I started the book and was very interest in it. Then come to chapter 10-14 and it sort of went downhill from there.
I loved how she had the victim alive for the very first chapter. I have never really seen that done. It gave a glimps into her life and what happenedto her up to her death.
I also liked how she let me see the killers point of view and how his mind was working. Those parts I really liked.
The myster part of it was slow moving. And while this book is under "Christian" the people in it are catholic and they are social drinkers. I was disappointed when I was reading those parts.
I have not completely finished the book because I just lost interest in it. (I did make it to chapter 17 though)
September 9, 2016
Pointe and Shoot by Alison Stone is a thoroughly enjoyable book. Set in the world of dance moms in upstate New York, I found the premise unique and intriguing. When a dance teacher, Melinda, ends up dead in a random accident, the heroine, Jayne, is suspicious that her long-time friend was murdered. Jayne is a plucky heroine with scars. Her own brother, a police officer, passed away in a shooting that plunged her entire family into the depths of grief. Now, Jayne teams up with Danny Nolan, her brother's former partner, to uncover the truth about Melinda's death. Although Jayne once blamed Danny for her brother's death, he's the one person who can actually assist her in tracking down a killer. Sparks fly between Jayne and Danny, resulting in a heartwarming romance between two broken people. Both are flawed, but together, they help each other heal.
Stone deftly places suspects throughout the book, making the case a true whodunit. Several times while reading the book I thought I knew the killer. Little did I know that I was completely off track. There are so many things about this book that made it a page-turner. There are doses of humor in Pointe and Shoot that made me laugh out loud. Stone masterfully takes the reader on a journey through a bucolic community where murder is the very last thing on anyone's mind. She weaves in a cold-blooded killer and creates a level of menace under the surface that keeps rising and rising until you could cut the tension with a knife. Stone gives the reader chills as the book culminates in the big reveal.
There is a poignant side story in this novel that truly touched my heart. Stone has a character who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Her depiction is so spot-on, authentic and touching. It made me realize that far too few authors delve into this disease. Stone does it with precision and heart while never allowing the character to lose her dignity or purpose within the story.
I highly recommend this book. It's a real treasure and a thrilling read. There is a wonderful faith element in this novel. Stone doesn't hit the reader over the head with it. She weaves it into the fabric of the book and makes it a part of the characters everyday lives. Pointe and Shoot is a keeper.
October 17, 2016
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way alters my opinion of the work.
Let's get right into it. I came here for the mystery but I stayed for the romance. As soon as a certain character was introduced, I knew they were the reason behind the tragedy that took place on that rainy day. My suspicions were later confirmed (yeah, my gut feeling was totally right) but I was still able to enjoy the mystery, despite having already solved it. If I'm being honest, I really just wanted to see how the romance between Jayne and Danny would play out. It eventually did, but it was soft and tame. Romance wasn't the only thing carrying the plot... but there were enough forehead kisses and hand grazes to keep you turning the pages.
On another note, faith is mentioned quite a few times throughout this book. It's an integral part of the protagonist's life, which is why I've categorized this book under Religion, as well as Mystery. This religious aspect helped me to better understand Jayne's character. I feel like I needed to point that out because some people may be put off by a "religious" book. It is not preaching. It's just talking about life, specifically Jayne's life, and the way in which she has coped with loss and made sense of her struggles.
All in all, this was a good book. I just feel like there could have been a little bit more. A bit more drama, a bit more romance, a bit more mystery, maybe? I don't know. But I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel if Jayne decides to pursue this private investigating business of hers.
“I think you're looking for answers where there might not be any. Sometimes bad things happen. Period.”First off, this is a very pretty book with a very clever title. The novel focuses on quite a few things other than dancing, like policing, so the book is aptly named.
Let's get right into it. I came here for the mystery but I stayed for the romance. As soon as a certain character was introduced, I knew they were the reason behind the tragedy that took place on that rainy day. My suspicions were later confirmed (yeah, my gut feeling was totally right) but I was still able to enjoy the mystery, despite having already solved it. If I'm being honest, I really just wanted to see how the romance between Jayne and Danny would play out. It eventually did, but it was soft and tame. Romance wasn't the only thing carrying the plot... but there were enough forehead kisses and hand grazes to keep you turning the pages.
On another note, faith is mentioned quite a few times throughout this book. It's an integral part of the protagonist's life, which is why I've categorized this book under Religion, as well as Mystery. This religious aspect helped me to better understand Jayne's character. I feel like I needed to point that out because some people may be put off by a "religious" book. It is not preaching. It's just talking about life, specifically Jayne's life, and the way in which she has coped with loss and made sense of her struggles.
All in all, this was a good book. I just feel like there could have been a little bit more. A bit more drama, a bit more romance, a bit more mystery, maybe? I don't know. But I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel if Jayne decides to pursue this private investigating business of hers.
September 17, 2016
"Jayne always did what she was supposed to do."
Following the untimely death of an employee, Jayne Murphy is once again responsible to make sure that everyone is properly notified and that loosed ends are tightly secured. Once interested in law enforcement, Jayne has stepped back from her own dream in order to maintain her mother's reputable dance studio, but there's just something about their young instructor's death that doesn't add up. Unfortunately, the police are certain that Melinda was the victim of a horrible accident while traveling, and possibly texting, on a curvy road during heavy rainfall.
"I'm sorry that I took Patrick away."
Officer Danny Nolan still carries the weight of guilt after his partner died; his partner being Patrick Murphy, his childhood friend and the brother of the young woman who has just lost an aspiring friend. His awkward relationship with the Murphy family is challenged when he becomes highly involved with Jayne's suspicions over Melinda Green's death. Finding a suspect, if there is one, and fighting unwanted attraction towards Jayne, Danny's life plan is redirected as the case slowly moves forward.
A nicely written suspense, "Pointe and Shoot" includes an interesting story line with several red herrings and sufficient anticipation. It was my pleasure to receive an advance copy of this story from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
Following the untimely death of an employee, Jayne Murphy is once again responsible to make sure that everyone is properly notified and that loosed ends are tightly secured. Once interested in law enforcement, Jayne has stepped back from her own dream in order to maintain her mother's reputable dance studio, but there's just something about their young instructor's death that doesn't add up. Unfortunately, the police are certain that Melinda was the victim of a horrible accident while traveling, and possibly texting, on a curvy road during heavy rainfall.
"I'm sorry that I took Patrick away."
Officer Danny Nolan still carries the weight of guilt after his partner died; his partner being Patrick Murphy, his childhood friend and the brother of the young woman who has just lost an aspiring friend. His awkward relationship with the Murphy family is challenged when he becomes highly involved with Jayne's suspicions over Melinda Green's death. Finding a suspect, if there is one, and fighting unwanted attraction towards Jayne, Danny's life plan is redirected as the case slowly moves forward.
A nicely written suspense, "Pointe and Shoot" includes an interesting story line with several red herrings and sufficient anticipation. It was my pleasure to receive an advance copy of this story from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 7, 2016
This book is humorous yet intriguing and it keeps you totally engaged from page one til the very last page. This author knows how to keep you enamored. This is about Jayne who is from a family of cops, and who wants to become a cop herself. Jayne is not able to become onw so she then becomes a dancer instead, so your go on the journey with her of disappoint and acceptance of that fact. It tugs at your heartstrings when they approach the topic of Alzheimer's and faith and family. The author does a great job weaving that story in with the rest of the story. The author keeps you engaged and brings you a powerful story but with a little humor. This is so worth your time to get this book.. I received the book for an honest review
September 12, 2016
This books merges the word of ballet with a murder mystery and is one that I really enjoyed. It is a combination of wonderful characters, faith, romance and some humor that pulled me in from the first pages and kept me reading to see what was going to happen next. The author also through one of her characters gives a touching look into Alzheimers and the effect it has not only on the person dealing with it but the family as well. I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and it is another one from this author that I certainly recommend.
March 10, 2023
This wasn't it. The book is from 2016, and despite that not being THAT long ago, you can somehow feel it's age.
This book barely involves dance, so that's a pity. Instead we follow Jayne, who is very judgemental, slightly paranoid, very impulse, never thinks things through, yet somehow is the perfect daugther.
She is all about the stereotypes:
He worked with computers all day, so it came as no surprise that he always seemed squirrelly around people. because of course nerds have no social skills, right?
"She opened her mouth to comment on how pretty—how un-Goth-like—Hannah looked Because of course goths aren't pretty? What?
And thinks the worst of people:
Jayne gave her another sympathetic smile, knowing this had to be tearing Carol Anne up. She had lost her stepsister and she was still struggling to fit in.
Because of course not fitting in is the biggest problem... And it's just her assumption too.
Poor Carol Anne had always exuded a subtle—and sometimes not-so-subtle—clumsiness surrounding her eagerness to please people.
And this:
For many of the young students, this was their first experience with death. Jayne wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but maybe for once, some of them would be thinking of someone other than themselves.
She wouldn't wish it on anyone, but at least if they're grieving they aren't so selfish?
And then she has the nerve to call them judgemental despite judging everyone all book.
She wanted to be a police officer, but man, I'm glad she isn't one, because she acts ... nothing like a police officer should. She breaks in to steal evidence, she makes rash and stupid decisions all the time, and just seems to have no idea what she is doing overall.
The love interest is actually a police officer but he also probably shouldn't be one with things like this:
None of that is going to help you, because I’ll still be watching you whether I’m in uniform or not. You want to know what it’s like to be stalked? where he treatens to stalk a 20 year old.
If he had een anyone other than the mayor’s son, Danny would have slapped them out of the smug kid’s hand and proceeded to wrench his arm behind his back. Or here, where he wishes he could be violent because a 20 year old wouldn't instantly listen to him when this random policeman said he'd drive him home, and dared to question him... because that's not weird at all.
Their romance seems to be the main focus of the story, despite the mystery. But the romance is insta-love-y, with very few actual conversations and a lot of "well actually we always liked each other".
Their easy banter reminded Jayne of the days when she used to join in while Danny hung out with Patrick.
There was no banter. It was a dull conversation, with zero banter.
The mystery is both predictable and annoying in it's stereotypes.
Melissa and Finn finally got engaged.” She added the last bit of information with a pretentious tone as if to say, La-tee-da.
The writing is filled with weird comparisons that make little sense. (How do clean cucumber smell? Are there also dirty cucumbers?) It also contradicts itself in way too many places. There's a lot of talk about faith, and even more so about how being in relationships can "fix" people, because main dude wants to get back to the church and be a good Christian, and worse, her brother suddenly starts helping around the house once he starts dating his brother's widow. Also he's dating his brother's widow?? How weird is that?? The poor child will have an uncle-stepfather, and everyone is okay with that?
The sexist division of labor in her family would have miffed her more if she hadn’t long ago come to the conclusion that it was easier to roll with it.
Why try to change things, in your own home, when you could also just, you know, do nothing.
This was a frustrating book, with weird sentences, a lackluster mystery, an even worse romance, and almost no dancing. Very disappointing and just overall kinda boring.
This book barely involves dance, so that's a pity. Instead we follow Jayne, who is very judgemental, slightly paranoid, very impulse, never thinks things through, yet somehow is the perfect daugther.
She is all about the stereotypes:
He worked with computers all day, so it came as no surprise that he always seemed squirrelly around people. because of course nerds have no social skills, right?
"She opened her mouth to comment on how pretty—how un-Goth-like—Hannah looked Because of course goths aren't pretty? What?
And thinks the worst of people:
Jayne gave her another sympathetic smile, knowing this had to be tearing Carol Anne up. She had lost her stepsister and she was still struggling to fit in.
Because of course not fitting in is the biggest problem... And it's just her assumption too.
Poor Carol Anne had always exuded a subtle—and sometimes not-so-subtle—clumsiness surrounding her eagerness to please people.
And this:
For many of the young students, this was their first experience with death. Jayne wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but maybe for once, some of them would be thinking of someone other than themselves.
She wouldn't wish it on anyone, but at least if they're grieving they aren't so selfish?
And then she has the nerve to call them judgemental despite judging everyone all book.
She wanted to be a police officer, but man, I'm glad she isn't one, because she acts ... nothing like a police officer should. She breaks in to steal evidence, she makes rash and stupid decisions all the time, and just seems to have no idea what she is doing overall.
The love interest is actually a police officer but he also probably shouldn't be one with things like this:
None of that is going to help you, because I’ll still be watching you whether I’m in uniform or not. You want to know what it’s like to be stalked? where he treatens to stalk a 20 year old.
If he had een anyone other than the mayor’s son, Danny would have slapped them out of the smug kid’s hand and proceeded to wrench his arm behind his back. Or here, where he wishes he could be violent because a 20 year old wouldn't instantly listen to him when this random policeman said he'd drive him home, and dared to question him... because that's not weird at all.
Their romance seems to be the main focus of the story, despite the mystery. But the romance is insta-love-y, with very few actual conversations and a lot of "well actually we always liked each other".
Their easy banter reminded Jayne of the days when she used to join in while Danny hung out with Patrick.
There was no banter. It was a dull conversation, with zero banter.
The mystery is both predictable and annoying in it's stereotypes.
Melissa and Finn finally got engaged.” She added the last bit of information with a pretentious tone as if to say, La-tee-da.
The writing is filled with weird comparisons that make little sense. (How do clean cucumber smell? Are there also dirty cucumbers?) It also contradicts itself in way too many places. There's a lot of talk about faith, and even more so about how being in relationships can "fix" people, because main dude wants to get back to the church and be a good Christian, and worse, her brother suddenly starts helping around the house once he starts dating his brother's widow. Also he's dating his brother's widow?? How weird is that?? The poor child will have an uncle-stepfather, and everyone is okay with that?
The sexist division of labor in her family would have miffed her more if she hadn’t long ago come to the conclusion that it was easier to roll with it.
Why try to change things, in your own home, when you could also just, you know, do nothing.
This was a frustrating book, with weird sentences, a lackluster mystery, an even worse romance, and almost no dancing. Very disappointing and just overall kinda boring.
October 30, 2020
3.5 stars!
When young dance teacher Melinda dies because of the car accident, there is no indication of a foul game. But the dance studio's director and Melinda's friend Jayne is not so sure - after all, Melinda has texted her about the sudden change of location of a meetup with her friends - but the friend claim she haven't sent the text! So Jayne, armed with her love for Melinda, her intelligence and dogged determination - and a hunky best friend of her late brother - starts to dig down.
This is totally lovable! The novel runs on the cozy side, but the authoress' sharp intuition, sensitivity and the skill to both perceive and to write down very realistic issues and feelings makes me think that this talent could go far. Ms Stone is a fresh, welcome surprise!
Jayne is a girl I would like to have as a friend. She might became a doormat in the less intelligent hand, but here her winsome personality shines out and her inner goodness and efforts are respected. And her family is pleasant, too! I like that they behave normally while being sweet (I have brothers, so I can attest to this reality :)). Ms Natalie and her beginning Alzheimer's disease was written respectfully and with the dignity of the beloved matriarch intact. This is a hard toll on any family, so I like the way the illness and its hardships are addressed here.
The romance is simply sweet with its everydayness and believability.
Also, I can get the killer! Nowadays the authors do not care for the psychological motivations for the killings (all the killers seem to be psychopaths), but here the motives are quite believable.
So what could go wrong? The last scenes could be stronger, with more cliffhangers. The cozy aspects here a bit hurt the previously strong storytelling. Also, Jayne's new career dreams are relatable, but also unrealistic, given the burden the family is going to face. Also, all this new career angle could be cut out without any change to the story, it feels like one subplot too much.
Having said all that - I have a great trust in this authoress. She has all the skills and intuition needed for a great (mystery) novel. I will follow her works from now on.
When young dance teacher Melinda dies because of the car accident, there is no indication of a foul game. But the dance studio's director and Melinda's friend Jayne is not so sure - after all, Melinda has texted her about the sudden change of location of a meetup with her friends - but the friend claim she haven't sent the text! So Jayne, armed with her love for Melinda, her intelligence and dogged determination - and a hunky best friend of her late brother - starts to dig down.
This is totally lovable! The novel runs on the cozy side, but the authoress' sharp intuition, sensitivity and the skill to both perceive and to write down very realistic issues and feelings makes me think that this talent could go far. Ms Stone is a fresh, welcome surprise!
Jayne is a girl I would like to have as a friend. She might became a doormat in the less intelligent hand, but here her winsome personality shines out and her inner goodness and efforts are respected. And her family is pleasant, too! I like that they behave normally while being sweet (I have brothers, so I can attest to this reality :)). Ms Natalie and her beginning Alzheimer's disease was written respectfully and with the dignity of the beloved matriarch intact. This is a hard toll on any family, so I like the way the illness and its hardships are addressed here.
The romance is simply sweet with its everydayness and believability.
Also, I can get the killer! Nowadays the authors do not care for the psychological motivations for the killings (all the killers seem to be psychopaths), but here the motives are quite believable.
So what could go wrong? The last scenes could be stronger, with more cliffhangers. The cozy aspects here a bit hurt the previously strong storytelling. Also, Jayne's new career dreams are relatable, but also unrealistic, given the burden the family is going to face. Also, all this new career angle could be cut out without any change to the story, it feels like one subplot too much.
Having said all that - I have a great trust in this authoress. She has all the skills and intuition needed for a great (mystery) novel. I will follow her works from now on.
March 5, 2021
Jayne Murphy gave up her dreams of becoming a police officer after her cop brother was killed in the line of duty and to help her ailing mother run her dance studio. After the studio’s best teacher dies in a car accident, Jayne thinks there is more to the situation than meets the eye and begins investigating. Danny Nolan, her deceased brother’s lifelong best friend and partner on the job, reluctantly agrees to help her. Spending lots of time together investigating stirs up some romantic feelings between the two, but it also stirs up the killer who may be targeting Jayne next.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a good mystery with good pacing and some good twists. Even though the murderer was on my list of suspects for most of the book, I kept going back and forth and second guessing until pretty close to the end because it wasn’t super obvious who did it. I also enjoy mysteries that give you the killer’s point of view without giving away who they are, and there were a few of those chapters sprinkled in.
This book was very clean, and I also appreciated the religious aspect. Jayne is constantly praying and drawing on her faith to get her through difficult times, and I loved her conversation with Danny about exercising faith in the easy times and the hard times. I liked getting to know Jayne as a character, too, and her family as well.
The one thing that did get kind of repetitive was some of the budding romance. Jayne was constantly convincing herself that Danny would never see her as anything but Patrick’s kid sister, and Danny was constantly telling himself she was off-limits because she was Patrick’s sister. But overall, I liked seeing their relationship rekindle.
I’d give this 3 1/2 stars, but I liked it enough to round up to 4. I’m definitely interested to read the sequel when it comes out, and I have added other books by this author to my to-read list. Thanks to NetGalley for the free ebook.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a good mystery with good pacing and some good twists. Even though the murderer was on my list of suspects for most of the book, I kept going back and forth and second guessing until pretty close to the end because it wasn’t super obvious who did it. I also enjoy mysteries that give you the killer’s point of view without giving away who they are, and there were a few of those chapters sprinkled in.
This book was very clean, and I also appreciated the religious aspect. Jayne is constantly praying and drawing on her faith to get her through difficult times, and I loved her conversation with Danny about exercising faith in the easy times and the hard times. I liked getting to know Jayne as a character, too, and her family as well.
The one thing that did get kind of repetitive was some of the budding romance. Jayne was constantly convincing herself that Danny would never see her as anything but Patrick’s kid sister, and Danny was constantly telling himself she was off-limits because she was Patrick’s sister. But overall, I liked seeing their relationship rekindle.
I’d give this 3 1/2 stars, but I liked it enough to round up to 4. I’m definitely interested to read the sequel when it comes out, and I have added other books by this author to my to-read list. Thanks to NetGalley for the free ebook.
November 19, 2016
Jayne has a pretty full plate. What with coping with the “in the line of duty” death of her cop brother Patrick coupled with abandoning her own dream of a career in law enforcement in order to care for a mother with Alzheimer’s disease not to mention assuming the management of her mother’s dance studio, her life is not what she imagined it would be. Now, the small town of Tranquility, New York is rocked by yet another tragedy as is Jayne’s life. Melinda, an instructor at the dance studio and one of Jayne’s best friends has died in a car crash. Everyone thinks it’s an accident, but Jayne isn’t so sure.
So begins Alison Stone’s POINTE AND SHOOT, a cozy mystery-romance with Christian undertones. The author addresses the subject of Alzheimer and its effects on the caregiver with love and insight. As for the mystery --although the narrative flows pretty well - the guilty fish was, for this reader, pretty easy to spot among the school of red herrings.
The book’s conclusion is one that allows for continuing episodes in the life of Jayne Murphy, her family and friends. This is one of those easy reads that doesn’t take much in the way of brain power, but is nice time filler for a chilly autumn afternoon.
So begins Alison Stone’s POINTE AND SHOOT, a cozy mystery-romance with Christian undertones. The author addresses the subject of Alzheimer and its effects on the caregiver with love and insight. As for the mystery --although the narrative flows pretty well - the guilty fish was, for this reader, pretty easy to spot among the school of red herrings.
The book’s conclusion is one that allows for continuing episodes in the life of Jayne Murphy, her family and friends. This is one of those easy reads that doesn’t take much in the way of brain power, but is nice time filler for a chilly autumn afternoon.
October 1, 2018
The dance world is a dangerous place...
I've read, and enjoyed, a few of Alison Stone's Love Inspired Suspense books so I jumped at the chance to read Pointe And Shoot. It is a slightly grittier romantic suspense story while still retaining the faith element.
I truly enjoyed reading this story, it was so hard to put down, and trying to guess who the villain was. I will admit that I had a few wild guesses at first but then went with my instinct. One of my favorite things about the book was the addition of the villain's perspective written in the first person. I could not tell at all what gender the baddy was, though I had suspicions on their identity.
Pointe And Shoot is also an interesting look into the dance world, both the fun and the darker sides. Those of us who only watch The Nutcracker ballet and Riverdance have no clue what really goes on behind the curtain.
Whether you love Alison Stone's books or just love suspense Pointe And Shoot is one book you won't want to miss!
(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
I've read, and enjoyed, a few of Alison Stone's Love Inspired Suspense books so I jumped at the chance to read Pointe And Shoot. It is a slightly grittier romantic suspense story while still retaining the faith element.
I truly enjoyed reading this story, it was so hard to put down, and trying to guess who the villain was. I will admit that I had a few wild guesses at first but then went with my instinct. One of my favorite things about the book was the addition of the villain's perspective written in the first person. I could not tell at all what gender the baddy was, though I had suspicions on their identity.
Pointe And Shoot is also an interesting look into the dance world, both the fun and the darker sides. Those of us who only watch The Nutcracker ballet and Riverdance have no clue what really goes on behind the curtain.
Whether you love Alison Stone's books or just love suspense Pointe And Shoot is one book you won't want to miss!
(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
November 1, 2016
I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway, which was great. It's a mystery that keeps you guessing all the way, with several viable suspects. The murderer occasionally has a chapter to himself/herself, which adds to the intrigue but doesn't let you guess the identity. It's a little slow-moving, but still good. There's a lot of care and love shown for the dance teacher who is at the beginning of dementia, by her family, friends, and dance students. Very good, well-drawn characters, all individuals who are interesting.
August 24, 2017
Suspenseful with real-life issues
Loved the family dynamics..so familiar and true-to-life. I could relate as a past caregiver the mixed feelings involved. Losing a loved one unexpectedly and needing to find someone to blame was well-portrayed. Faith and the struggles reminded me of myself and others ,who have experienced life's trials and disappointments. Not cliche'd or preachy. Eager to read other books of Ms Stone.
Loved the family dynamics..so familiar and true-to-life. I could relate as a past caregiver the mixed feelings involved. Losing a loved one unexpectedly and needing to find someone to blame was well-portrayed. Faith and the struggles reminded me of myself and others ,who have experienced life's trials and disappointments. Not cliche'd or preachy. Eager to read other books of Ms Stone.
August 5, 2022
Unfortunately I was rather disappointed in this book. The story just meanders all over the place from Jayne running the dance studio,Ms Gigi trying to take over her dancers,her mother at the beginning of Altzheimers, her brothers who just seem to expect her to do evrything and oh yes a killer who no one can find. The POV was interesting but I did figure out who the killer was early on.
June 16, 2021
I grew up as a dancer and miss the days of tutus and time at the barre. I also have a love for mystery now as an adult-so this was a great suggestion from a coworker I was eager to begin! I will say about 2/3 of the way through I did have a good idea as to who the antagonist was.
September 23, 2021
A really enjoyable read. A mix of mystery and romance with enough suspense to keep it a page turner and attention to character detail to make it believable. All in all one I would recommend to a variety of genre readers. .
June 30, 2017
Not a bad mystery but I didn't realize it was Christian fiction.
August 15, 2018
Story came at a sad time in my life dealing with death of a friend. The narration was a bit of a distraction.
June 26, 2022
2.5 stars
September 6, 2025
If you read her Hunter's Ridge series and enjoyed them. Don't expect the same with this book. It was very boring and dragged along. I felt like the heroine wasn't living her life and just was going with whatever anyone placed in her path. It depressed me. She's taking care of her mom by love and duty, her brothers dole out help when it is convenient to them. She isn't a cop like she wants to be and quite frankly, she isn't cop material. She runs and locks herself in her building at every noise she hears. As for a heroine, she was a wet washcloth.
March 22, 2017
Great book!
I look forward to more of Alison Stone. Thanks to Goodreads for the opportunity. Easy to follow with much detail. It's a winner!
I look forward to more of Alison Stone. Thanks to Goodreads for the opportunity. Easy to follow with much detail. It's a winner!
March 10, 2017
I received a copy of this for free through Goodreads First Reads
I actually had no idea who the killer was until the very end, which never ever happens. The author did a wonderful job of keeping that under wraps but also keeping you interested in how it was all going to play out. The only reason I gave this 4 stars, is although the novel is very well put together and well written, something about Jayne really aggravated me. I can't quite put my finger on it, she just really annoyed me sometimes. Other than that, fantastic read.
I actually had no idea who the killer was until the very end, which never ever happens. The author did a wonderful job of keeping that under wraps but also keeping you interested in how it was all going to play out. The only reason I gave this 4 stars, is although the novel is very well put together and well written, something about Jayne really aggravated me. I can't quite put my finger on it, she just really annoyed me sometimes. Other than that, fantastic read.
September 19, 2016
I was attracted to this book not because I was asked if I would read it in exchange for an honest review, but because of the title.
As a former dancer and someone who enjoys reading mysteries, the title intrigued me and definitely had my attention
The story did not disappoint me. Jayne has returned home and put her dreams of a career as a cop, in order to help her Mom. Her mother who owns a prominent and very respected dance studio, has ears well as someone to help run the dance studio. They have both suffered a great deal of losses and the latest is the accident (or was it) of their beloved young dance teacher, Melissa. Jayne suspects there is more to the accident than what it seems , but her 2 cop brothers discourage her since she is known as one always looking for some ulterior motives.
In comes Danny, a cop and childhood friend of her deceased brother. He has feelings for Jayne and is open to her speculations. All making it a good mystery.
All that put aside, I have to commend Ms Stone for her compassionate and insightful approach of having a dear beloved one suffering from Alzheimer . Thank you for the way you handled a tough subject.
So, if you enjoy a good mystery, sit back and join Jayne in her whodunit suspicions.
I was gifted this book for an honest review. They opinions expressed are solely mine.
As a former dancer and someone who enjoys reading mysteries, the title intrigued me and definitely had my attention
The story did not disappoint me. Jayne has returned home and put her dreams of a career as a cop, in order to help her Mom. Her mother who owns a prominent and very respected dance studio, has ears well as someone to help run the dance studio. They have both suffered a great deal of losses and the latest is the accident (or was it) of their beloved young dance teacher, Melissa. Jayne suspects there is more to the accident than what it seems , but her 2 cop brothers discourage her since she is known as one always looking for some ulterior motives.
In comes Danny, a cop and childhood friend of her deceased brother. He has feelings for Jayne and is open to her speculations. All making it a good mystery.
All that put aside, I have to commend Ms Stone for her compassionate and insightful approach of having a dear beloved one suffering from Alzheimer . Thank you for the way you handled a tough subject.
So, if you enjoy a good mystery, sit back and join Jayne in her whodunit suspicions.
I was gifted this book for an honest review. They opinions expressed are solely mine.
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