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The Stolen Nickel Series #1
Hoodoo Money
Superstitious . . . straight-laced children's author Braeden McKay? Leprechauns and cluricans and the kissin' of the Blarney? For sure and certain, she believes! Braeden is three-quarters Irish after all. She dutifully keeps the woven cross of Saint Brigid attached to the wall above her bed. And by all that stands right and true, she should have stopped her friend from stealing the nickel off that hoodoo woman's grave in a New Orleans Cemetery. At the very least, coaxed Angie put the nickel back. Now Braeden hasn't a clue where the confounded coin is. A ruthless mugging, deadly accident, betrayal and murder. Multiple murders! Misfortune plagues her. Will the handsome New Orleans detective, Sanderson Montgomery, be her salvation? Can love, the very entanglement she's fought so hard to avoid, be the one force greater than any adversary — even a hoodoo curse?
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2008
2 people are currently reading
769 people want to read
About the author
Sharon C. Pennington
2 books71 followersLike most writers, I always had a brain bursting with scenarios and a . . . drawer, shoebox, folder . . . of unfinished manuscripts. My first published story, "McTammany's Bed of Roses," appeared online in The Emporium Gazette, Issue 46, February 2003. With that sale, I earned enough to buy a novel in the paperback section at Wal-Mart or a couple of trade-ins at the local paperback swap-n-shop.
But I was a published author at age 54 - and I was flying!
Why did I wait so long? I grew up during a time when parents believed daughters should take typing and shorthand, master a keypunch machine, become competent fodder for the secretarial pool. You can't make a living as a writer, you know.
So I worked in office and museum and university settings, and typed words dictated by others. I became a file clerk, an executive secretary, an office manager. I married my favorite protag - no regrets there - raised three most excellent children, who later gave us five most excellent grandchildren.
But in my head and heart, the dream still simmered. And my favorite protag - we'll call him Wayne - knew this. When I left my last job, he said enough, and threw his full support behind me.
Now my short stories have appeared in numerous online and print venues, with anthology contributions to The Rocking Chair Reader (in the Coming Home edition and Family Gatherings). A Cup of Comfort for Weddings: Something Old, Something New and Good Old Days Magazine.
Finally, after years of rewrites and the unwavering patience of my "do or die" critique group (Writing Well), Hoodoo Money was released by Draumr Publishing in 2008. It's the kind of romantic suspense novel I love to read, set in contemporary Louisiana and Texas, and will be followed by a second novel and sequel, Mangroves and Monsters.
WIPS: Reparation (third installment in the Hoodoo Money series) and The Churchyard Watcher (a stand-alone, contemporary romantic suspense with a supernatural twist).
But I was a published author at age 54 - and I was flying!
Why did I wait so long? I grew up during a time when parents believed daughters should take typing and shorthand, master a keypunch machine, become competent fodder for the secretarial pool. You can't make a living as a writer, you know.
So I worked in office and museum and university settings, and typed words dictated by others. I became a file clerk, an executive secretary, an office manager. I married my favorite protag - no regrets there - raised three most excellent children, who later gave us five most excellent grandchildren.
But in my head and heart, the dream still simmered. And my favorite protag - we'll call him Wayne - knew this. When I left my last job, he said enough, and threw his full support behind me.
Now my short stories have appeared in numerous online and print venues, with anthology contributions to The Rocking Chair Reader (in the Coming Home edition and Family Gatherings). A Cup of Comfort for Weddings: Something Old, Something New and Good Old Days Magazine.
Finally, after years of rewrites and the unwavering patience of my "do or die" critique group (Writing Well), Hoodoo Money was released by Draumr Publishing in 2008. It's the kind of romantic suspense novel I love to read, set in contemporary Louisiana and Texas, and will be followed by a second novel and sequel, Mangroves and Monsters.
WIPS: Reparation (third installment in the Hoodoo Money series) and The Churchyard Watcher (a stand-alone, contemporary romantic suspense with a supernatural twist).
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 12, 2008
Braeden McKay a popular children’s author and her friend, Angeline St. Cyr are in New Orleans. Unfortunately for Braeden being in New Orleans is not all fun as it is also a working vacation for Braeden. While out and about visiting different places in the Big Easy, Angeline takes a nickel from the grave of Simone Dubois, who was known for being a gypsy hoodoo woman. If only Braeden had known than what she knows now, she would have stopped Angeline from taking that coin. Ever since that day things have went wrong for both Braeden and Angeline fast. The only good thing to come out of the Big Easy is Detective J. Sanderson Montgomery. Montgomery and Braeden may not have met in the best of circumstances but the longer they spend time together the more their attraction grows. So will Braeden find inspiration in New Orleans or will the ghosts make her take of running?
Who would have guessed that children’s book author, Braeden McKay would find herself in the middle of a mystery. I thought the storyline for Hoodoo Money played out very well. The character dynamitic were good as well as I felt the twists that were written happened in all the right places. What I also liked and think it helped with the story was the location of New Orleans. I would never have believed that Hoodoo Money was Sharon Cupp Pennington’s first novel, it was just so good. Sharon has definitely worked her voodoo magic on me. I can’t wait to check out Mrs. Pennington’s next novel.
Who would have guessed that children’s book author, Braeden McKay would find herself in the middle of a mystery. I thought the storyline for Hoodoo Money played out very well. The character dynamitic were good as well as I felt the twists that were written happened in all the right places. What I also liked and think it helped with the story was the location of New Orleans. I would never have believed that Hoodoo Money was Sharon Cupp Pennington’s first novel, it was just so good. Sharon has definitely worked her voodoo magic on me. I can’t wait to check out Mrs. Pennington’s next novel.
August 30, 2015
Normally I would not pick up an adult novel but this book sounded interesting enough so I bought it on my kindle. I always loved the setting of New Orleans and I think Sharon C. Pennington did a great job on really showing the charm and also the dark side of the city. What made me not give full stars is just the fact since the title is Hoodoo Money I thought there would be a lot more hoodoo, rituals, creepy elements in the story instead of just the main character Angeline picking up a nickel off a grave in the cemetery. But other than that the characters were very real and it made for a very interesting story. I am looking forward to picking up the sequel to this book and see how the story continues forward.
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December 27, 2012I shouldn't have waited so long to review this but time being what it is - there just isn't enough of it to get everything done. Hoodoo Money was good, but I would say it was more focused on the romance and relationships than the mystery. It's not deterrent to reading it - just not exactly what I was looking for at the time I read it. I would say, if the reader is looking for something primarily a romance with a bit of mystery/intrigue/action, this is it, four stars. I was just hoping for something the other way around. I should make a shelf for these reads - I could do a better job rating them.
February 6, 2009
I picked this book up at Amazon.com before I went on my summer vacation. Read it in 2 days! I do not want to give any plot spoilers but it was a very unique plot! I really love how the book started off with one of the main characters picking up a coin in a cemetary. I will think twice before I pick up loose coins on the road! Mystery, romance, friendships, and believable characters! I know the author is writing another book because she is my MOM!!
March 8, 2012
HooDoo Money was like ice cream... I just couldn't put it down! Every time I looked up from my (Kindle) I couldn't fathom why I wasn't in New Orleans, or Galveston. I could feel the heat, taste the mugginess. AND your mouthwatering descriptions of all those foods!! OMG! Could I get a kitchen, please?! I absolutely ate up the ending! ...And then it was gone. It took me all of one day to start and finish HooDoo.
June 5, 2014
Loved the book. It was jam packed with mystery, intrigue and a little old world charm that only the City of New Orleans can offer. Love the characters...best friends off on quick trip to the Big Easy. Seeing the sights and something sinister comes into play. It intertwines the lives of Braedan and Montgomery...something I wasn't expecting and brings something more into light. I love it and would recommend it to friends. You will not be disappointed!!!!
February 21, 2011
Braeden and Angeline are in New Orleans on a working vacation when Angeline takes a souvenir nickel from the grave of a hoodoo gypsy. What follows next is a twisting and turning tale of murder and love.
This will keep you turning pages to get to the end, I sat up late to finish this one.
This will keep you turning pages to get to the end, I sat up late to finish this one.
May 28, 2013
I bought this book after being told the author is my husbands co-workers wife. We were on a road trip to NoLa, so I thought what the heck. Could not put it down! Very pleasantly surprised, great read!
April 2, 2016
Aunque me costó un poco entenderlo, al final disfruté mucho leyendo esta historia, es diferente. No sé, tiene un algo que me encantó.
November 4, 2013
I wanted so badly to enjoy this book, unfortunately I don't even think I can finish it. My problem with it is this: it's a steamy romance disguised as a mystery : ( I just wanted a mystery. The writing is great, and if you like steamy romances with a little mystery I'm sure you'll love it. The characters are all very well done. It's just not what I was expecting. If I'd known the amount of sexual content, I'd have skipped it to begin with.
It sounds very exciting, and interesting given the role that hoodoo is supposed to play in the story. Readers on Amazon had given it very high ratings and raved about it. At fifteen percent I was already feeling like there was too much detail about what was going on in every guy's pants. The driver, the mysterious bad guys, the detective... I've already heard all of their lusty thoughts this early in the book. Also, two characters have sadistic child molesters in their background, and I don't know why that had to come into the story. Braeden talks about how when she wanted to become a writer, she originally wanted to write about this guy that was murdered by one of his former victims because he was a child-molesting psycho who did x,y,& z to little boys. But then she decided to write children's books.... Not sure why we needed to know she originally wanted to write about a child molester or especially why that necessitated saying what he did. I put it down for a day or two, then after re-reading the Amazon reviews I gave it another shot. I was just feeling like the biggest mystery was which female character was going to win the race to a one-night stand. Eventually both girls got their initial "encounters" out of the way, and I thought, now the mystery / curse part will pick up...
I quit again at just shy of fifty percent of the way through because their is still nothing going on on the hoodoo curse part of the plot. I realize this is a series, but I don't know if that means the mystery really gets going over the course of the series or what. I've been given every character's backstory, but it's mostly been told through their steamy scenes together. The characters kind of like, "since we've had sex now, I guess I should tell you a little about myself..." I'm all for a mystery with a love interest in the mix, but this is not that kind of book.
It sounds very exciting, and interesting given the role that hoodoo is supposed to play in the story. Readers on Amazon had given it very high ratings and raved about it. At fifteen percent I was already feeling like there was too much detail about what was going on in every guy's pants. The driver, the mysterious bad guys, the detective... I've already heard all of their lusty thoughts this early in the book. Also, two characters have sadistic child molesters in their background, and I don't know why that had to come into the story. Braeden talks about how when she wanted to become a writer, she originally wanted to write about this guy that was murdered by one of his former victims because he was a child-molesting psycho who did x,y,& z to little boys. But then she decided to write children's books.... Not sure why we needed to know she originally wanted to write about a child molester or especially why that necessitated saying what he did. I put it down for a day or two, then after re-reading the Amazon reviews I gave it another shot. I was just feeling like the biggest mystery was which female character was going to win the race to a one-night stand. Eventually both girls got their initial "encounters" out of the way, and I thought, now the mystery / curse part will pick up...
I quit again at just shy of fifty percent of the way through because their is still nothing going on on the hoodoo curse part of the plot. I realize this is a series, but I don't know if that means the mystery really gets going over the course of the series or what. I've been given every character's backstory, but it's mostly been told through their steamy scenes together. The characters kind of like, "since we've had sex now, I guess I should tell you a little about myself..." I'm all for a mystery with a love interest in the mix, but this is not that kind of book.
November 10, 2013
Hoodoo Money(The Stolen Nickel Series) by Sharon Cupp Pennington
The major part of this story takes place in New Orleans. It is a murder mystery with a bit of romance. I did blush while reading certain parts but it was not inappropriate nor did I feel like it was something I could not discuss with my family.
The main Characters of the story are Charlie Cooper (also called Coop), Angeline St. Cyr, Braeden McKay (also called Brag), and J. Sanderson Montgomery (also called Sandman).
I could not pick just one favorite character as all the characters in the book were well developed and I came to care for all the characters.
I found the story line a bit odd in the beginning but after the first few chapters it flowed very nice. I liked how it wasn't just told from one point of view and you got to see in side all the main characters.
I was not able to pick out the bad person (I’m not saying who it is) out and only figured it out as the main characters did.
I could feel everything the characters were feeling and it was very refreshing. I did cry and laugh and want to shot someone, so the author did a great job of pulling you into the book. This book was a page turner and once I got started I had a very hard time putting the book down.
I cannot wait to read the next book in the series as this one left me wanting more.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, romance, or someone who just want a good read!
The major part of this story takes place in New Orleans. It is a murder mystery with a bit of romance. I did blush while reading certain parts but it was not inappropriate nor did I feel like it was something I could not discuss with my family.
The main Characters of the story are Charlie Cooper (also called Coop), Angeline St. Cyr, Braeden McKay (also called Brag), and J. Sanderson Montgomery (also called Sandman).
I could not pick just one favorite character as all the characters in the book were well developed and I came to care for all the characters.
I found the story line a bit odd in the beginning but after the first few chapters it flowed very nice. I liked how it wasn't just told from one point of view and you got to see in side all the main characters.
I was not able to pick out the bad person (I’m not saying who it is) out and only figured it out as the main characters did.
I could feel everything the characters were feeling and it was very refreshing. I did cry and laugh and want to shot someone, so the author did a great job of pulling you into the book. This book was a page turner and once I got started I had a very hard time putting the book down.
I cannot wait to read the next book in the series as this one left me wanting more.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, romance, or someone who just want a good read!
December 13, 2010
Sharon Cupp Pennington's debut novel strikes it rich in Hoodoo Money. Love, culture, setting and a brilliantly crafted mystery plot make this a one-day, can't-set-it-down, page turner. With heroes to die for and evil lurking from all corners of New Orleans and Galveston, Hoodoo Money contains all the ingredients for a summer beach read or a cozy day in front of a fire. Either way, you won't put it down until the last page. I've read it, I own it, and I don't intend to let someone borrow it for fear I won't get it back. ~ C. Hope Clark, Funds for Writers
HOODOO MONEY is simply a fun, great read! Romance, the tradition and history of New Orleans and a lead character that's as spunky and spicy as Cajun food all combine to make Sharon Cupp Pennington's book a page turner. ~ Rebbie Macintyre, author of CAST THE FIRST STONE and A CORNER OF UNIVERSE
Romance, intrigue, a possible curse...what more could I ask for! Hoodoo Money was so much fun. The rich New Orleans setting and falling in love relationships added to the mystery and charm of the book, and I couldn't put it down until I turned the last page. Sharon Cupp Pennington has written a top notch story. I fell in love with the main characters and can't wait for her next one. ~ Rachel Rinehart (Kansas City, MO USA)
HOODOO MONEY is simply a fun, great read! Romance, the tradition and history of New Orleans and a lead character that's as spunky and spicy as Cajun food all combine to make Sharon Cupp Pennington's book a page turner. ~ Rebbie Macintyre, author of CAST THE FIRST STONE and A CORNER OF UNIVERSE
Romance, intrigue, a possible curse...what more could I ask for! Hoodoo Money was so much fun. The rich New Orleans setting and falling in love relationships added to the mystery and charm of the book, and I couldn't put it down until I turned the last page. Sharon Cupp Pennington has written a top notch story. I fell in love with the main characters and can't wait for her next one. ~ Rachel Rinehart (Kansas City, MO USA)
July 20, 2014
***3.5 Stars***
I received this book in return for an honest review.
My opinion of this book is that I found it to be a decent read. I had a really hard time getting into it at first as there were so many POV's and wasn't really sure what was going on and didn't understand why how some of the conversations were fitting in with the story.
After half way through the book it became a lot easier to read and I started to understand the different POV's and where they fit. I did have issues with the quick romance and falling in love between a couple of the characters. The story was good direction and I liked the suspense it had and really had a little difficulty trying to figure out who the killer was but eventually figured it out towards the end. I think that there good have been more to add to the story and a little more suspense toward the main character. I am not sure why some people said that it was a steamy romance, there was hardly any detail to the characters' joining (I have read some pretty descriptive books so would know) but overall I enjoyed the book and felt it was worth reading.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
My opinion of this book is that I found it to be a decent read. I had a really hard time getting into it at first as there were so many POV's and wasn't really sure what was going on and didn't understand why how some of the conversations were fitting in with the story.
After half way through the book it became a lot easier to read and I started to understand the different POV's and where they fit. I did have issues with the quick romance and falling in love between a couple of the characters. The story was good direction and I liked the suspense it had and really had a little difficulty trying to figure out who the killer was but eventually figured it out towards the end. I think that there good have been more to add to the story and a little more suspense toward the main character. I am not sure why some people said that it was a steamy romance, there was hardly any detail to the characters' joining (I have read some pretty descriptive books so would know) but overall I enjoyed the book and felt it was worth reading.
November 5, 2013
At first, I wasn't sure about "Hoodoo Money" as it seemed a little disjointed and the story line took a little time to come together. It didn't flow quite as smoothly as I would have liked. I decided to give it a fair chance, largely due to the likeability of the main characters. I thought they were well developed, interesting and had a lot of depth. I was glad that I did give it a chance because the story line smoothed out and actually got pretty exciting and held my interest right up to the last page. I am really hoping that the story continues and maybe the "Hoodoo" would be tied in a little bit more as that was the big draw for me in the first place. I definitely didn't get enough tie in to the story in that direction but all in all, I still really enjoyed it and will definitely be looking for more in the second installment.
March 4, 2011
Braeden McKay travels to the Big Easy with her best childhood friend Angeline St. Cyr, a supermodel on location. After Angeline pockets a nickel from the grave of a hoodoo gypsy, all hell breaks loose. After she experiences a car accident, the loss of Angeline, and the threat of a stalker, a distraught Braeden meets detective Sanderson Montgomery, a man who believes her fears when no one else will. This tale is gripping. The author paints characters bigger than life and a story hard to put down. The sexual tension is icing on the cake as Sharon Pennington constructs a romantic suspense easy to fall in love with, in a style making you crave her next book.
August 22, 2008
I've been reading so many paranormal books that I'd forgotten how much I enjoy a good romantic mystery novel. Picked this one up because I know of the author and I enjoy New Orleans storylines. I wasn't disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews