Scared Money

Savannah Martin Mystery #13

by Jenna Bennett

When Savannah’s real estate company, Lamont, Briggs, and Associates, finds itself embroiled in a closing scam, broker Timothy Briggs asks Savannah’s help in figuring out what happened and who’s behind it.

The task is a welcome distraction for Savannah, whose private life is rocky. Carmen Arroyo is in prison in Nashville, nine months pregnant, and no one knows whether the baby is Rafe’s or not. And while Rafe doesn’t seem too worried about it, Savannah can’t say the same.

Meanwhile, down in Sweetwater, Savannah’s mother Margaret Anne is hitting the brandy while trying to come to terms with her late husband’s love child and her best friend’s thirty-four year silence on the subject.

Between one thing and another, it’s all Savannah can do to keep everything moving along smoothly. The very last thing she needs is someone rocking the boat...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2016

About the author

Jenna Bennett writes the USA Today bestselling Cutthroat Business mysteries featuring Southern Belle and new-minted real estate agent Savannah Martin in Nashville, Tennessee.

As Jennie Bentley, she writes the New York Times bestselling Do-It-Yourself Home Renovation mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime, featuring designer and amateur sleuth Avery Baker and her boyfriend, handyman Derek Ellis, who renovate houses in Waterfield, Maine.

She also writes a variety of romance for a change of pace.

aka Jennie Bentley

The DIY series:

FATAL FIXER-UPPER (November 2008)
SPACKLED AND SPOOKED (August 2009)
PLASTER AND POISON (March 2010)
MORTAR AND MURDER (January 2011)
FLIPPED OUT (October 2011)
WALL TO WALL DEAD (September 2012)
HOME FOR THE HOMICIDE (December 2013)

The Cutthroat Business series:

A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS (May 2011)
HOT PROPERTY (June 2011)
CONTRACT PENDING (July 2011)
CLOSE TO HOME (September 2011)
A DONE DEAL (December 2011)
CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL (November 2012)
CHANGE OF HEART (May 2013)
KICKOUT CLAUSE (October 2013)

Soldiers of Fortune series:

FORTUNE'S HERO (December 2012)

Various:

ISLAND GETAWAY (October 2012)
VIRGINIA CREEPER (October 2013)
BEFORE YOU (March 2014)

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another very good mystery in the Savannah Martin series. I just wish there wasn't so much repetition sprinkled though it; it makes me nuts. This seems to be a problem with a lot of mysteries and cozies that I read. I am quite invested in the characters and their stories, however, so I am definitely planning to read the next in the series in the coming week or two.

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 estrelas
Foi boa aquela tensão para saber se Rafe era pai do bebé de Carmen e os desenvolvimentos sobre a fuga dela da prisão com a Doutora Seaver. Acho muito boa a forma como a autora constantemente pega em personagens anteriores e lhes dá seguimento, com novos eventos. O assassinato de Devon também foi interessante mas como, depois do início, o focus mudou para Carmen e Doc Seaver e só no final do livro é que voltou a Devon, acabou por ficar um bocado esquecido e desinteressante.

Estou ansiosa para "ver" o bebé de Rafe e Savannah!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of a very few series I still have on autobuy. For me, it all began with a multi book set and has morphed into an addiction.
This book begins with real estate agent Savannah's broker asking her to look into a closing transaction gone astray. The money for the purchase of a half million dollar house is missing and it almost has to be an inside job. But as Savannah begins her investigation, two convicts with ties to Rafe and Savannah escape from prison. One is pregnant with a baby that could be Rafe's from his days undercover. The other is the Ob/Gyn who murdered Savannah's sister-in-law. Savannah is herself six months pregnant and beginning to doubt the sanity of wearing heels. And trouble magnet that she is, Savannah ends up in the middle of both cases. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I enjoy the Savannah Martin series very much. I love the variety of characters and the action and mystery. They are always enjoyable books. I gave this one 4 stars instead of 5 because there just wasn't enough of Rafe in it.

[Stacie Marquart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. It will keep you on your toes throughout the book. Great read.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mysteries in this book were very good; both story lines kept me engaged and flipping pages. However, I would have loved to see each plot as the star of its own book rather than competing with each other between these covers. Particularly the mystery of LB&A’s missing money, because the conclusion to that felt a bit like an afterthought. We might also have been able to see some more page time with Rafe. I’m really appreciating that Savannah is learning to be more aware of her safety, but she still takes an awful lot more silly risks than I would expect anyone in their right mind to do. But, I can’t wait to see what calamity she lands herself in next.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is addicting and a page turner! Very exciting! Savannah is asked by her boss Tim to help figure out what happened to a real estate transaction when the money disappears. Then Dr Seaver and Carmen escape from prison when Carmen goes into labor. Of course Rafe is concerned about the baby & getting the women back to prison. Fans of the series will be relieved when both of these mysteries are resolved. There are some twists that keep it exciting! Best to read this series in order and it is an awesome series!

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savannah Martin is greeted by the head of L,B, & A real estate with the news that something is wrong and he needs her help. She can't tell anyone about this either-except, ok Rafe (her husband and dream man to Tim Briggs, the one who is asking for help.) It seems a You tube video star/country performer has bought a $500,000 plantation from Tim. Only the money has gone astray in the final closing. He asks Savannah to figure out what happened. In the course of doing so, she and Rafe go to the law office in the evening to check out some suspects. While there, the receptionists' fiancee comes into the office looking for something and is caught by Savannah and Rafe. Later that night he is murdered.

To make matters worse, the woman from Rafe's past TBI case is at the woman's prison, nearly 9 months pregnant and there is a question if Rafe is the father or not. This happens to be the same woman's prison that Dr. Denise Seaver (OBGYN murderer who killed Savannah's sister-in-law) is incarcerated in and works in the prison clinic. When the pregnant Carmen goes into labor, the prison sends Dr Seaver with her to the hospital, an action that everyone soon came to regret. Seaver overpowered the van driver and killed him, kidnapped Carmen and forced her to walk to a isolated location where she gave birth prematurely. Seaver took the baby and left Carmen to bleed out, engaging in a "game" of find Savannah and make her pay for the baby.

Add to this her mother's unacceptance of a half-sister and loss of a best friend, and life for Savannah and her loved ones is a mess. Did I mention she is 6 months pregnant as well?

This is an exciting and fast paced book that wraps up some mysteries and gets a lot of answers, but not everything is settled smoothly. You will want to read this series in order so that this book makes the most sense possible. And the good news is that there are 12 books before this one! Even better, #14 is now out and picks up shortly after this one ends. So many great books to read about terrific characters and good mysteries. You won't want to miss any of the series!

[james lee patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scared Money(Savannah Martin Mysteries Book 13 ) By Jenna Bennett

I just love this series. The books make me laugh and sad sometimes. All the Characters are great. It would have been nice to know if the baby belong to and who ideal it was to get out of prison.. Now I can hardly wait for the next book too come out. To see what kind of trouble Savannah gets into next.

[Wende · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savannah Martin is a great character who is always falling over a dead body or two. She has very bad luck in finding murderers or maybe lucky as she still alive at the end. Still waiting on the birth of the baby.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have read everyone of this series and love them all. Jenna Bennett is an excellent author and one of my favorites. I love the stories of Savannah and Rafe, the rich girl and the outcast who show everyone how much they love each other and how good a person Rafe has become.

[Kathryn Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

#13 in the series
This one picks up with the knowledge the Carmen Arroyo is pregnant and it could be Rafe's baby.
Then she breaks out of jail, and is in labor.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow getting started; but, once it does, you’re all set for another wild adventure with Savannah! One of my favorite in the series

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series; Savannah makes me just shake my head.. Silly woman.

[Teresa Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite in the whole series. Love Rafe and Savannah. My heart hurts for her in this. Loved every minute of it!!!!

[phyllis clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me bennett

Me Bennett is a great story teller I have read every savannah martin book

Loved every one of them can't wait for the next one. P j clark

[Colleen Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Savannah are just a little bit different fast pasted but so much fun you just get cought up in it all

[Bette Stanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great adventure for Rafe and Savannah and I hope they keep on coming! As always with Rafe and Savannah, they are living on the edge. There is fast-paced, non-stop action, excitement, and something new around every corner.

This one starts out with Savannah getting called into her boss' office when half a million dollars goes missing from the latest real estate closing. The client is a high profile internet sensation and the publicity of a scandal of this nature won't be good for LB&A. Savannah may not be all that great at selling real estate, but Tim knows she's good at solving a mystery. Plus, she's got connections. But, this in only the first of the mysteries in this book.

Just before her due date, a very pregnant Carmen Arroyo goes missing along with her OB. They both happen to be serving life prison terms and they both happen to have been put in prison by Rafe and Savannah. Are they really missing? Or did they escape? When the driver of the van turns up dead, it looks like the whole thing was planned. Plus, there's a mystery surrounding the question of who fathered of Carmen's baby.

The book spans only a few days, but it sure doesn't seem like it. There is so much packed into the story that it's hard to put down. I love this series! I love this couple!! I can't wait for the next adventure that Rafe and Savannah will be taken on.

[Lavanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better! I seriously cannot get enough of Rafe, Savannah and the whole gang.

The book picked up right where it left off from the last book and swiftly sucked me into the story! It became fast paced quickly and kept me engrossed the whole time. Sad to say that I completely neglected studying for my school exam that I had the following day. BUT, no regrets here! Loved each and every minute of it!

I love how each book shows Rafe and Savannah's development in their relationship. This book especially! They're married and have a baby on the way, sure. But each challenge they face just makes them and us realize how perfect they are for each other and how much they love each other. It's truly heartwarming to read!

Thank you for this gem of a series Ms. Bennett! I cannot wait for the next installment!

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every book in the Savannah Martin Mysteries series and Scared Money is no exception. Fast paced excitement, danger, and of course Rafe, Savannah's live hasn't slowed down or gotten any simpler in her 7th month of pregnancy. The day that Rafe is to find out whether a woman from his big undercover assignment is carrying his child, she escapes from prison along with a doctor who holds a serious grudge against Savannah. Savannah was into helping Tim discover who was behind the theft of half a million dollars that isn't going to make his brokerage firm look too good and my connection any of his realtors but even with a murder in the case, it has to take back seat to the search for Carmen and maybe the baby.

[Rhonda Devalcourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series...

It just keeps getting better and better. The twists and turns in the story keep me hooked till the very end. I like how Savannah is coming into her own and how Rafe seems to respect it, although with a much needed cautious eye on her. I like the banter betweem Savannah and Grimaldi. It keeps the laughs coming. Jenna Bennett is a great storyteller and it is such a pleasure to read her books. I look forward to the next adventures with Savannah, Rafe and the whole crew!

[Ashlee Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

One would think after this many books the stories would become predictable, they would be wrong. Jenna Bennett does an amazing job of keeping you in suspense with plot twists and hanging story lines, but with great writing that encourages you to keep reading, on the edge of your seat, until the very end, where you are finally gifted with the relief of answers and can let out the breath you didn't realize you were holding.

As always, amazingly well written and engaging.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series. I love the dynamics of Savannah and Rafe. I call it brain candy. It's simply for pleasure. The entire series keeps me entertained. I like it when Rafe and Savannah are working together to catch the bad guy. But I also like we Tamara is involved too. For me this book was great. Keep them coming.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Very good plot and interesting read with two big stories going on at same time. Enjoyed it and can't wait for the next as always!!!

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only spoiler is that book 13 takes place when Savannah is in her 6th month of pregnancy -- seems like it's been MUCH longer than that, right? The book was quite good.

[Santhiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Weffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most intriguing yet

Most intriguing book yet. Keeps you from putting the book down. Jenna did it again. Just needs some better proofing.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book in the series. I was really hoping Savannah would start to have some reaction to Rafe's potential child with Carmen (instead of just politely drowning in her own anxiety). In many ways she owned up to her own feelings/insecurity and Rafe responded beautifully.

[Teresa Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rafe and Savannah. The book was good, but I didn't care to read about Rafe and someone else.