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Samantha Kidd Mystery #6
Pearls Gone Wild
Nacre Bleu!
Amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd's life is finally on track. It's her normally cultured friend Cat whose life has lost its eight months pregnant and abandoned by her husband the week before Christmas. She ropes Samantha into helping at her boutique, but a string of jewelry thefts threatens her business. And when Cat's husband is found strangled with pearls inside the shop, the last thing she's concerned with is profit. Samantha tries to get a bead on the killer, but when the suspects all clam up, she's left tangled in knots. Add in an unexpected proposal, a flirtatious friend, and a brand new detective, and this is bound to be Samantha's wildest adventure yet.
Books in the Humorous Samantha Kidd Mystery
"Just Kidding" (short story)
#1 DESIGNER DIRTY LAUNDRY
#2 BUYER, BEWARE
#3 THE BRIM REAPER
#4 SOME LIKE IT HAUTE
#5 GRAND THEFT RETRO
#6 PEARLS GONE WILD
#7 CEMENT STILETTOS
Perfect for the beach, the bath, or the line outside of the fitting room.
(and way more fun than shopping for bathing suits under fluorescent lights.)
The bead goes on in PEARLS GONE WILD!
Amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd's life is finally on track. It's her normally cultured friend Cat whose life has lost its eight months pregnant and abandoned by her husband the week before Christmas. She ropes Samantha into helping at her boutique, but a string of jewelry thefts threatens her business. And when Cat's husband is found strangled with pearls inside the shop, the last thing she's concerned with is profit. Samantha tries to get a bead on the killer, but when the suspects all clam up, she's left tangled in knots. Add in an unexpected proposal, a flirtatious friend, and a brand new detective, and this is bound to be Samantha's wildest adventure yet.
Books in the Humorous Samantha Kidd Mystery
"Just Kidding" (short story)
#1 DESIGNER DIRTY LAUNDRY
#2 BUYER, BEWARE
#3 THE BRIM REAPER
#4 SOME LIKE IT HAUTE
#5 GRAND THEFT RETRO
#6 PEARLS GONE WILD
#7 CEMENT STILETTOS
Perfect for the beach, the bath, or the line outside of the fitting room.
(and way more fun than shopping for bathing suits under fluorescent lights.)
The bead goes on in PEARLS GONE WILD!
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
234 pages, ebook
First published December 31, 2016
117 people are currently reading
816 people want to read
About the author
Diane Vallere
85 books1,013 followersRequest MURDER ON A MOON TREK on NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
I use Goodreads to track my reading and TBR list. For that reason, my rating scale is less important. I don't force myself to finish books, and I don't rate books I DNF. Each year I choose my own BOTY from my have-read list.
AUTHOR BIO: Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/DianeVallere
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aVXczm
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RfiyAE
I use Goodreads to track my reading and TBR list. For that reason, my rating scale is less important. I don't force myself to finish books, and I don't rate books I DNF. Each year I choose my own BOTY from my have-read list.
AUTHOR BIO: Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/DianeVallere
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aVXczm
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RfiyAE
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 23, 2021
It’s the week before Christmas, and Samantha Kidd is looking forward to a relaxing week off from work and the return of her boyfriend from Italy. That’s before her friend, Cat, calls upset. Cat is eight months pregnant, but her husband just announced he needs some space. Things get even worse when Cat and Samantha interrupt a burglary at Cat’s boutique only to discover her husband’s body behind the counter. Can Samantha figure out what is going on?
If you are familiar with the series, you’ll know what to expect here. We get another plot with plenty of surprises to keep us engaged the entire time. I did feel the resolution left a few things out, but it was a minor issue overall. The characters, both new and returning, are fantastic. There is some humor in the book, but it mixes well with the more serious elements, and we get some nice growth in Samantha. This book is a little edgy for a cozy, but it’s nothing too bad. Christmas is more in the background than in some cozies set during the season. Both of these are worth nothing only in passing. If you are as behind on this series as I am, you are in for a treat when you pick up this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
If you are familiar with the series, you’ll know what to expect here. We get another plot with plenty of surprises to keep us engaged the entire time. I did feel the resolution left a few things out, but it was a minor issue overall. The characters, both new and returning, are fantastic. There is some humor in the book, but it mixes well with the more serious elements, and we get some nice growth in Samantha. This book is a little edgy for a cozy, but it’s nothing too bad. Christmas is more in the background than in some cozies set during the season. Both of these are worth nothing only in passing. If you are as behind on this series as I am, you are in for a treat when you pick up this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 25, 2022
i really liked this installment of the Kidd series.
July 20, 2017
Twists and Turns, you can't turn pages fast enough to find out "who dun it?"
This is the 6th book in the Samantha Kidd Cozy Mystery series. Each book in the series gets better and better and harder and harder to guess the murderer could be. Samantha comes to the aid of her friend Cat who is 8 months pregnant. Cat who thought she had an ideal life with a loving husband expecting their child gets hit out of the blue that her husband wants out. Cat is the owner of Catnip her fashion store while her husband works as a sales rep for a big company who were sponsoring the Christmas Gala at the mall where Cat has her store. She is so mad, upset and confused about her husband but she cajoles Samantha into going with her to the festivities. Cat sees her husband and makes a scene and throws a drink in his face and Samantha gets her to leave then. When they detour to see that Cat's store was locked ok, Samantha confronts a smash and grab burglar and chases him out of the store after he pushes pregnant Cat down. When Cat turns on the lights in the store she finds her husband dead on the floor with pearls wrapped around his neck. Of course, Samantha will have to get involved to try and figure out who killed Cat's husband when Cat gets accused. Enter, Cat's brother into the picture again, we met him in previous books in the series, which causes some emotional problems that Sam needs to deal with. After all she's with Nick who is away in Italy at one of his factories. Can Samantha help Cat before any one else gets killed, lots of secrets and red herrings twist you through the pages of this book! The book is fast paced and a page turner. You don't want to put it down! A must read!!!! In fact, the whole series is! I received a copy of this book from the author, but the opinions expressed here are stricly my own!
This is the 6th book in the Samantha Kidd Cozy Mystery series. Each book in the series gets better and better and harder and harder to guess the murderer could be. Samantha comes to the aid of her friend Cat who is 8 months pregnant. Cat who thought she had an ideal life with a loving husband expecting their child gets hit out of the blue that her husband wants out. Cat is the owner of Catnip her fashion store while her husband works as a sales rep for a big company who were sponsoring the Christmas Gala at the mall where Cat has her store. She is so mad, upset and confused about her husband but she cajoles Samantha into going with her to the festivities. Cat sees her husband and makes a scene and throws a drink in his face and Samantha gets her to leave then. When they detour to see that Cat's store was locked ok, Samantha confronts a smash and grab burglar and chases him out of the store after he pushes pregnant Cat down. When Cat turns on the lights in the store she finds her husband dead on the floor with pearls wrapped around his neck. Of course, Samantha will have to get involved to try and figure out who killed Cat's husband when Cat gets accused. Enter, Cat's brother into the picture again, we met him in previous books in the series, which causes some emotional problems that Sam needs to deal with. After all she's with Nick who is away in Italy at one of his factories. Can Samantha help Cat before any one else gets killed, lots of secrets and red herrings twist you through the pages of this book! The book is fast paced and a page turner. You don't want to put it down! A must read!!!! In fact, the whole series is! I received a copy of this book from the author, but the opinions expressed here are stricly my own!
May 26, 2017
I love this series. The author, Diane Vallere, obviously knows her stuff when it comes to fashion and retailing, and the stories in the Samantha Kidd Mysteries sure show that off. In Pearls Gone Wild, the 6th in the series, the characters and their relationships have gone through a lot of changes, and if anything, they are even more real than ever. The plot is totally unique, based as it is on an insider's knowledge of the jewelry industry, and the pacing is fast enough to keep the reader on his or her toes without too much tension. Another great read!
January 6, 2017
Pearls Gone Wild is another excellent installment in Vallere's Samantha Kidd series. This book takes place at Christmas while Sam is on vacation, but unfortunately murder happens once again. Sam's friend, Cat, is not only eight months pregnant but has just been abandoned by her husband. When Cat's estranged husband is found murdered, it's Sam to the rescue to find out who did it.
I absolutely love the secondary characters in this series because each character really adds to the book's story line but also brings out a different side of Sam. I loved seeing Eddie, Cat, Dante, Nick, and especially Logan back in this new adventure. Vallere does a great job with using each character to further the plot but also prepare Sam for a big decision by book's end. I also liked how the book brought up the Nick/Sam/Dante triangle giving it a satisfying resolution.
Pearls Gone Wild had a good mystery that grabbed the reader's attention from the very beginning and didn't let go until the end. The book had enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged from beginning to end, and I really enjoyed the Christmas time setting. Overall Pearls Gone Wild was a great read, and I look forward to reading Sam's next adventure.
Received a copy of Pearls Gone Wild from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely love the secondary characters in this series because each character really adds to the book's story line but also brings out a different side of Sam. I loved seeing Eddie, Cat, Dante, Nick, and especially Logan back in this new adventure. Vallere does a great job with using each character to further the plot but also prepare Sam for a big decision by book's end. I also liked how the book brought up the Nick/Sam/Dante triangle giving it a satisfying resolution.
Pearls Gone Wild had a good mystery that grabbed the reader's attention from the very beginning and didn't let go until the end. The book had enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged from beginning to end, and I really enjoyed the Christmas time setting. Overall Pearls Gone Wild was a great read, and I look forward to reading Sam's next adventure.
Received a copy of Pearls Gone Wild from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2017
“Pearls Gone Wild” is the latest in Diane Vallere’s Samantha Kidd series. This is the best book yet, and those who haven’t read the previous books can jump right in without any problem. If you want a more detailed plot summary, you can read other reviews, but it is a fun, easy-to-read book with mystery and murder without too much blood and gore.
This is not a formula book with continuing characters dropped into a random plot line. The main character, Samantha, has grown and matured, as continuing characters should. She has depth and detail. She has finally gotten a job with insurance, benefits, and surprise – she still has that job at the end of the book. Her relationships with other characters are more developed. While she is still obsessed with clothes and shoes, (who knew camo pants came in so many colors) her personality and nature are more serious. As things around her deteriorate into chaos, she shows real critical thinking skills. She also takes charge of her previously dramatic personal life and moves forward in a responsible way.
Sam has finally matured and growing up fits her nicely. Hopefully her next, more focused, less chaotic adventure is just around the corner and will come with nice clothes to go with her tons of new shoes.
This is not a formula book with continuing characters dropped into a random plot line. The main character, Samantha, has grown and matured, as continuing characters should. She has depth and detail. She has finally gotten a job with insurance, benefits, and surprise – she still has that job at the end of the book. Her relationships with other characters are more developed. While she is still obsessed with clothes and shoes, (who knew camo pants came in so many colors) her personality and nature are more serious. As things around her deteriorate into chaos, she shows real critical thinking skills. She also takes charge of her previously dramatic personal life and moves forward in a responsible way.
Sam has finally matured and growing up fits her nicely. Hopefully her next, more focused, less chaotic adventure is just around the corner and will come with nice clothes to go with her tons of new shoes.
March 28, 2023
I enjoyed this adventure into Samantha Kidds world. I have read a few books in this series but I think THIS might possibly be my favourite so far. There wasn't too much fashion talk (like in some of the previous books) and it was just an old fashion murder mystery. I even really liked Samantha in this book, whose flightlyness can sometimes get annoying but in this book she seemed confident and mature. Yeah, I want more like this book. The rest of the characters are a bonus to the story adding drama (Cat's kept down), love woes (The Nick and Dante triangle) and of course cuteness (The loveable cat Logan). The mystery was well worked and with a lot going and plenty of suspects, I spent most of the book trying to guess who was behind it all, I had my suspicions from all of the clues but it would have been a guess . On to the next book.
The week before Christmas, the owner of a boutique and eight months pageant it is not the best time for your husband to turn around say 'I need a break'. But that is the situation Samantha 's best friend Cat finds herself in and why the two of them finding themselves at a Christmas party that they don't really want to go to. After a fight with the ex at the party, the pair check on the shop only to discover him laying dead in the shop and a smash and grab in progress. Missing jewels should be the least of Cats worries, especially as the police put her at the top of the suspect list. The only way Samantha can help her friend is to find the killer, even if that means working in the shop on her week off. Was the murder to cover up the robberies or was the robbery to cover up the murder? Will solving both crimes mean her friend won't have to give birth in prison?
The week before Christmas, the owner of a boutique and eight months pageant it is not the best time for your husband to turn around say 'I need a break'. But that is the situation Samantha 's best friend Cat finds herself in and why the two of them finding themselves at a Christmas party that they don't really want to go to. After a fight with the ex at the party, the pair check on the shop only to discover him laying dead in the shop and a smash and grab in progress. Missing jewels should be the least of Cats worries, especially as the police put her at the top of the suspect list. The only way Samantha can help her friend is to find the killer, even if that means working in the shop on her week off. Was the murder to cover up the robberies or was the robbery to cover up the murder? Will solving both crimes mean her friend won't have to give birth in prison?
March 30, 2020
The title of this book, Pearls Gone Wild, is perfect! Samantha 's job situation has changed once again! Tradava, the mid-range retailer where her friend Eddie works, has a desire to produce a magalog--a combination catalog and magazine. Tradava bought Retrofit and brought them into the advertising fold. Samantha is enjoying her much needed vacation time before the holidays and waiting for Nick to return from Italy. Meanwhile Samantha's friend and Dante's sister--Cat, is eight months pregnant when her husband, George, decides to move out. George works as a sales rep. for Kenner and Winn jewelry wholesalers. Kenner and Winn are co-sponsoring a shopping night at the Ribbon Designer Outlets to promote their jewelry line. Samantha and Cat decide to attend the party and when they later walk to Catnip (Cat's boutique), they discover George's body strangled by a pearl necklace and his body left behind the glass case! Dante and Samantha help Cat out by cleaning up the mess the next day. It seems that Samantha and Cat have kinda traded lives. Samantha now has a solid job, a promising relationship with Nick, and some financial security. Cat is pregnant, about to become a single mother, and her store is on the brink of financial ruin due to smash and grabs at her boutique. To make matters worse, Detective Loncar is on vacation in Tahiti and Samantha has to play sleuth with Detective Madden instead! This book is one of my favorites in the series so far. Lots of things are happening in Samantha's life, it's holiday time, and it's just a matter of time until her next adventure!
February 1, 2017
This is only the second book I've read of this series, but I absolutely LOVED it. Between the mystery and the romance, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. It was a quick easy holiday read...just the thing for relaxing after our Christmas celebrations.
Just from the last book to this one, I noticed some changes in Samantha's character which were positive. She seems to be taking control of her life and growing more mature and responsible. She's still got enough of her same character traits to get into some unusual and hilarious situations, however, which is good for the story.
The mystery in this book has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Parts of it I figured out on my own, but the whole thing didn't come together for me until the big reveal. I was glad that Cat's husband turned out to be who she always thought he was, after all, even though that made his death even sadder. :(
Can't wait to read what's going to happen next in Samantha's world!
I received a copy of this book from the author with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Just from the last book to this one, I noticed some changes in Samantha's character which were positive. She seems to be taking control of her life and growing more mature and responsible. She's still got enough of her same character traits to get into some unusual and hilarious situations, however, which is good for the story.
The mystery in this book has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Parts of it I figured out on my own, but the whole thing didn't come together for me until the big reveal. I was glad that Cat's husband turned out to be who she always thought he was, after all, even though that made his death even sadder. :(
Can't wait to read what's going to happen next in Samantha's world!
I received a copy of this book from the author with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
December 31, 2016
This sixth book in the Samantha Kidd book is full of mystery, duplicity, and romance! It is a great addition to the series, and certainly some changes for Sam. Her friend Cat is 8 months pregnant and needs Sam's help. The great friend that she is, Sam drops all her plans to be there for Cat as they unravel what first appears to be a case of cold feet in regards to parenting the soon to arrive child. While the husband leaves Cat, we soon find out how entangled his life has become, which in turn involves Cat and her store.
I liked how Sam confronted her insecurities various times in this book, and was able to reach a conclusion that will make readers happy. What on earth am I talking about??? Well read the book and find out. It is well written at a comfortable pace, and so many clues and red herrings to follow that there is never time for boredom. The author has given us not only a good mystery story, but a blueprint on how to be a good friend. You won't want to miss this episode!
I liked how Sam confronted her insecurities various times in this book, and was able to reach a conclusion that will make readers happy. What on earth am I talking about??? Well read the book and find out. It is well written at a comfortable pace, and so many clues and red herrings to follow that there is never time for boredom. The author has given us not only a good mystery story, but a blueprint on how to be a good friend. You won't want to miss this episode!
April 6, 2022
Our heroine finally is getting her own life together, only to have to come to the rescue of one of her friends who is having a less-than-stellar time. So much for rest and relaxation.
This is book six of the series but it is written as a standalone. While you will be missing some of the background, all the essential bits are covered early on.
This is a cozy mystery with a very fashion conscious detective as our heroine. That makes for a very interesting read. Fortunately, the story is well written, easy to read and lots of fun. The cast of characters is diverse and well developed with plenty of different personalities to keep this interesting. The plot moves along at a good pace and includes a nice blend of action and humor as well as a good mystery. All together it makes for a very entertaining read and I look forward to reading more in this series.
Highly recommended.
.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is book six of the series but it is written as a standalone. While you will be missing some of the background, all the essential bits are covered early on.
This is a cozy mystery with a very fashion conscious detective as our heroine. That makes for a very interesting read. Fortunately, the story is well written, easy to read and lots of fun. The cast of characters is diverse and well developed with plenty of different personalities to keep this interesting. The plot moves along at a good pace and includes a nice blend of action and humor as well as a good mystery. All together it makes for a very entertaining read and I look forward to reading more in this series.
Highly recommended.
.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
May 13, 2017
Leave it to me to start with the 6th book in the Samantha Kidd series! It is free-standing, though I definitely sensed that I was missing a bit of history. It's a fast and breezy read -- strange, considering that it's a murder mystery! It would make a great beach or plane read. My one complaint is that there is a significant editing problem, with several grammatical/syntax errors, and a couple of missing words. I'm hypersensitive to these things, so they probably bothered me more than the average person. I love the cover art, and wish the creator had been credited (or maybe it's computer-generated). Go back and look at it after you finish the book, and it will take on new meaning.
April 5, 2020
This time we find a much more settled Samantha who is on holiday. Her relationship with Nick is well defined and she is living a more "normal" life. Everything changes when her friend calls in distress because her husband decided to leave her and she is 8-month pregnant! From indignation the story develops into robbery, murder, strained friendships, difficult relationships with the police and indecision regarding what she wants from life. Very interesting and entertaining. Let´s see which is going to be her next adventure!
May 14, 2017
Samantha Kidd is back! Once again, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, trying to help her friend Cat. Pearls Gone Wild kept me on pins and needles, engrossed all the way through, and I had to find out how it ended. This book did not disappoint, and I am anxiously waiting for the next adventures of Samantha Kidd. Diane Vallere is a phenomenal author, and I highly recommend this book and this series!
September 17, 2018
Now I Have To Read Them All!!
I started the series with this book ... Now I have to buy them all and start from the beginning!! If Samantha Kidd wasn't fictional ... She'd be a close friend of mine!! I really like her style!!
Really enjoyed this book! Great writing Ms. Vallere!!!
I started the series with this book ... Now I have to buy them all and start from the beginning!! If Samantha Kidd wasn't fictional ... She'd be a close friend of mine!! I really like her style!!
Really enjoyed this book! Great writing Ms. Vallere!!!
March 10, 2020
Fun
This was a fun read. I like the main character, as well as the minor characters. The mystery was solved completely without me having to purchase the next book. That is always a good thing.
This series is a clean, cozy mystery series, with minimal profanity, no explicit sex, and no violence.
The plus is that it doesn’t get bogged down in sappy romance or whiny characters.
This was a fun read. I like the main character, as well as the minor characters. The mystery was solved completely without me having to purchase the next book. That is always a good thing.
This series is a clean, cozy mystery series, with minimal profanity, no explicit sex, and no violence.
The plus is that it doesn’t get bogged down in sappy romance or whiny characters.
June 18, 2020
Another wonderful book featuring Samantha and friends. This time Cat is having a meltdown: 8 month pregnant and being told by her husband that he needs a break .... When his body is found in Cat's shop (strangled with a string of pearls from her inventory) things get really hairy. Throw her brother Dante into the mix and a second body and mayhem is programmed.
May 24, 2017
That was fun & complicated! I want to be Samantha Kidd's friend! Also, I hate spoilers with passion, so all I will say is that I completely agreed with her choice. Light, fun, and funny, with three-dimensional, likable characters and an interesting mystery, I recommend this book and series!
December 11, 2017
A book club choice. It was what I expected. It is too much like Janet Evanovich, and I stopped reading her years ago! There is nothing remotely interesting about these characters.
June 7, 2017
For the most part entertaining - I thought it might be really silly but was okay.
September 26, 2017
another great read
November 4, 2018
Another winner!
Such a full compelling read so glad that elective linear is back!
Can't wait to delve into Samantha 's next adventure
Such a full compelling read so glad that elective linear is back!
Can't wait to delve into Samantha 's next adventure
September 9, 2019
Brilliant!
Another fantastic book that will keep you wanting more. Samantha is helping clear her friend of murder this time and also dealing with her personal life. It was great!
Another fantastic book that will keep you wanting more. Samantha is helping clear her friend of murder this time and also dealing with her personal life. It was great!
November 11, 2019
Fun, interesting and entertaining
December 25, 2019
This is a good book and a very good read. You will be able to relate to the characters.
January 1, 2020
As with my last review, I think each book gets better than the last. Glad with this one Samantha finally “figured out” her personal life. Looking forward to the next book.
January 19, 2020
Such a fun series. Keeps getting better and better.
March 27, 2020
Being a teacher doesn’t pay much. But, it is much safer than what Sam and Cat went through. I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
Read
May 28, 2020
Read chapter one here: https://www.dianevallere.com/pearls-g...
January 12, 2021
fun read
This is a fun and easy read. It has an interesting mystery with a happy ending. Very enjoyable book by Diane Vallere!
This is a fun and easy read. It has an interesting mystery with a happy ending. Very enjoyable book by Diane Vallere!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews