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Cambria Clyne #1
French Vanilla & Felonies
When Cambria Clyne—klutzy, twenty-something single mom—takes the job of an apartment manager at an LA complex, she hopes her run of bad luck is finally coming to an end. She's got a nice home for her daughter, a steady source of income, and the cute maintenance guy is certainly a nice perk! But her luck takes a bad turn again when a dead body turns up, a crime spree takes over the community, and Cambria finds her complex squarely at the center of it all!
With her dream job suddenly on the line, Cambria dons her detective hat to get to the truth—after all, she's watched enough crime shows on TV to know how to catch a perp! Or so she hopes as she wades through a streaker in apartment 40, an ex-con with a shady agenda, an overly frisky retired couple, and the suspiciously sneaky dealings of the dentist in apartment 36. But will Cambria be able to catch a killer... or will she get caught up in his game and lose it all?
With her dream job suddenly on the line, Cambria dons her detective hat to get to the truth—after all, she's watched enough crime shows on TV to know how to catch a perp! Or so she hopes as she wades through a streaker in apartment 40, an ex-con with a shady agenda, an overly frisky retired couple, and the suspiciously sneaky dealings of the dentist in apartment 36. But will Cambria be able to catch a killer... or will she get caught up in his game and lose it all?
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2018
About the author
Erin Huss
29 books148 followersErin Huss is a blogger and bestselling author. She can change a diaper in fifteen seconds flat, is a master overanalyzer, has a gift for making any social situation awkward and yet, somehow, she still has friends. Erin shares hilarious property management horror stories at The Apartment Manager's Blog and her own daily horror stories at erinhuss.com. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and five children, where she complains daily about the cost of living but will never do anything about it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
September 28, 2016
ARC requested through Netgalley, and kindly provided by Velvet Morning Press in exchange for an honest review.
This was a hilarious read! I quite enjoyed taking a ride inside the head of amateur sleuth Cambria Clyne. Her observations on life and constant commentary in her head had me laughing out loud the entire way through the book.
Cambria was down on her luck in so many ways. She was a single mom of Lilly, lusting after her drunken one night stand babydaddy, about to be evicted, no job and no money. The job of apartment manager, which happened to come with an rent-free apartment seemed like a dream come true to her. So why was the previous apartment manager in such a hurray to vacate?
Well, I can’t tell you that or I’d be spoiling the story. It’s been a while since I’ve read a chick lit story so it took a while settle back into the pace and lightheartedness these types of stories take on. Despite not digging too deep into the characters, I found Erin Huss’s writing to be funny and endearing. I was rooting for Cambria the whole way through, all the while cringing at the truly awful situations she found herself in.
Chase, the maintenance guy, was a swoon-worthy character, even if he wasn’t in as many scenes as I would have liked. I enjoyed his reaction to almost everything Cambria did and found myself surprised and perplexed, right along with him at everything she handed out. One of the funniest responses to Chase, was after Chase first met Lilly and Lilly greeted him in Vietnamese, courtesy of her Vietnamese babysitter.
Kevin, one of Cambria’s tenants, was a bit of a dark horse. I’ll admit to not giving him much thought until Cambria chose to see him in a different light. At that point, I was with her all the way. I also really liked seeing Tom, Lilly’s dad, interact in all the craziness brought on by Cambria.
The epilogue was a bit of a surprise and based on it, I’m hoping that there will be more adventures in apartment managing with Cambria.
This was a hilarious read! I quite enjoyed taking a ride inside the head of amateur sleuth Cambria Clyne. Her observations on life and constant commentary in her head had me laughing out loud the entire way through the book.
Cambria was down on her luck in so many ways. She was a single mom of Lilly, lusting after her drunken one night stand babydaddy, about to be evicted, no job and no money. The job of apartment manager, which happened to come with an rent-free apartment seemed like a dream come true to her. So why was the previous apartment manager in such a hurray to vacate?
Well, I can’t tell you that or I’d be spoiling the story. It’s been a while since I’ve read a chick lit story so it took a while settle back into the pace and lightheartedness these types of stories take on. Despite not digging too deep into the characters, I found Erin Huss’s writing to be funny and endearing. I was rooting for Cambria the whole way through, all the while cringing at the truly awful situations she found herself in.
Chase, the maintenance guy, was a swoon-worthy character, even if he wasn’t in as many scenes as I would have liked. I enjoyed his reaction to almost everything Cambria did and found myself surprised and perplexed, right along with him at everything she handed out. One of the funniest responses to Chase, was after Chase first met Lilly and Lilly greeted him in Vietnamese, courtesy of her Vietnamese babysitter.
“You teach your kid… is that… Vietnamese?”
“Yep. Doesn’t everyone?”
Kevin, one of Cambria’s tenants, was a bit of a dark horse. I’ll admit to not giving him much thought until Cambria chose to see him in a different light. At that point, I was with her all the way. I also really liked seeing Tom, Lilly’s dad, interact in all the craziness brought on by Cambria.
The epilogue was a bit of a surprise and based on it, I’m hoping that there will be more adventures in apartment managing with Cambria.
April 9, 2022
Cambria and her 3 year old daughter lives in a run down apartment and has been evicted. She finds an ad for an apartment manager which includes an apartment as part of the deal. She interviews and after several weeks gets the call that she has the job. The older woman who had the job before her does a really lousy job of training her during the week before she retires. In the meantime she takes the trash out to the dumpster and finds the body of one of the tenants in there. The place has lots of odd tenants and a maintence man who is horrible at his job but you could just stand there drooling looking at him. People don't want to pay their rent on time. It's a mess and she keeps thinking that she will be fired after her first week.
It was funny at times and you were scared for her at other times as she kept getting herself in difficult messes. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble she gets into next.
It was funny at times and you were scared for her at other times as she kept getting herself in difficult messes. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble she gets into next.
September 2, 2016
Reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
Having worked in property management for over a decade, I was very excited to read about Cambria’s experiences. I haven’t been part of that world in a few years, and I was looking for nostalgia, a way to relive my own zany and bizarre experiences. Erin Huss didn’t disappoint. Reading For Rent was like time warping back into my own days of dealing with residents, the highs and lows that come from trying to perfect your customer service skills, but never feeling as though you can make everyone happy, because there is no such thing.
Cambria discovers all this, and more, while trying to learn the ropes on a property that the former manager couldn’t wait to retire from. Soon, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a crime scene, and while she knows it’s best to let the authorities handle it, she can’t help but try to solve the crime on her own. It’s that, or find herself on the unemployment line, something she can’t bear to deal with. She’s got more than herself to think about. She needs to provide for her young daughter.
What I loved most about For Rent, was the realism behind the story. To those outside the biz, some of the antics of the residents might seem far-fetched, yet those of us in the know have quite a few stories of our own we could share. I’ve dealt with residents and their bedroom “activities”, or the neighbors who have been grandfathered in because their relatives manage or own the property, so they feel the rules don’t apply to them. I’ve also had to work through various crimes at even the best of properties, so it was easy for me to relate with Cambria, but even those who have never stepped foot in an apartment community’s office can identify with Cambria’s struggle to survive in a world she’s been thrown into. It truly is a crazy, fun adventure, and well worth the ride!
Having worked in property management for over a decade, I was very excited to read about Cambria’s experiences. I haven’t been part of that world in a few years, and I was looking for nostalgia, a way to relive my own zany and bizarre experiences. Erin Huss didn’t disappoint. Reading For Rent was like time warping back into my own days of dealing with residents, the highs and lows that come from trying to perfect your customer service skills, but never feeling as though you can make everyone happy, because there is no such thing.
Cambria discovers all this, and more, while trying to learn the ropes on a property that the former manager couldn’t wait to retire from. Soon, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a crime scene, and while she knows it’s best to let the authorities handle it, she can’t help but try to solve the crime on her own. It’s that, or find herself on the unemployment line, something she can’t bear to deal with. She’s got more than herself to think about. She needs to provide for her young daughter.
What I loved most about For Rent, was the realism behind the story. To those outside the biz, some of the antics of the residents might seem far-fetched, yet those of us in the know have quite a few stories of our own we could share. I’ve dealt with residents and their bedroom “activities”, or the neighbors who have been grandfathered in because their relatives manage or own the property, so they feel the rules don’t apply to them. I’ve also had to work through various crimes at even the best of properties, so it was easy for me to relate with Cambria, but even those who have never stepped foot in an apartment community’s office can identify with Cambria’s struggle to survive in a world she’s been thrown into. It truly is a crazy, fun adventure, and well worth the ride!
June 28, 2016
The synopsis
Single mom Cambria Clyne gets a job as a L.A apartment complex manager. From having to talk to the couple in Apt 22 about their loud bedroom "activities" to babysitting the man-child in Apt 40, she tackles it all. So, when crime in the community breaks out she adds detective to that list. Joining her are her sexy maintenance man Chase and one time love baby daddy, Tom. As the case unravels,she finds that maybe she's been a naive accomplice all along.
The review
Cambria is a well written character that you have insta-love for. She is very reminiscent of a character from a Sophie Kinsella book, but only better. She battles her tenants antics daily with such a humorous manner. I loved the tenants antics and how laughable and yet frustrating (but in a good way) they were. You really feel immersed in this world from how descriptive the scenes were. The laugh out loud moments will keep you reading on! 4 stars from me! Thank you Erin Huss for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
Single mom Cambria Clyne gets a job as a L.A apartment complex manager. From having to talk to the couple in Apt 22 about their loud bedroom "activities" to babysitting the man-child in Apt 40, she tackles it all. So, when crime in the community breaks out she adds detective to that list. Joining her are her sexy maintenance man Chase and one time love baby daddy, Tom. As the case unravels,she finds that maybe she's been a naive accomplice all along.
The review
Cambria is a well written character that you have insta-love for. She is very reminiscent of a character from a Sophie Kinsella book, but only better. She battles her tenants antics daily with such a humorous manner. I loved the tenants antics and how laughable and yet frustrating (but in a good way) they were. You really feel immersed in this world from how descriptive the scenes were. The laugh out loud moments will keep you reading on! 4 stars from me! Thank you Erin Huss for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 18, 2018
I love Cambria. She is a very lovable character who always tries to help other people even though she is constantly on the edge of being fired. And I especially admired how she dealt with Kevin, the apartment owner's son, when I just wanted to kick his butt out the door.
There are quite a few shady people living in the apartment complex and some crazy requests and tenants to deal with....a whole lot of chuckle worthy moments.
I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
There are quite a few shady people living in the apartment complex and some crazy requests and tenants to deal with....a whole lot of chuckle worthy moments.
I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
August 9, 2016
4.5 Stars
There is that saying that an author should write about what they know, and in this case, it certainly shines through - Erin Huss clearly knows about managing apartments and as a result has written a pure delight of a novel that takes in some of the more bizarre occurrences that an apartment manager may have to deal with, in a very amusing book.
Cambria Clyne is of the breed of chick lit heroines that is the sort that jumps to conclusions very easily, doesn't necessarily weigh up whether her words or actions are the best and goes in feet first to situations. She comes across as a bit of a motor mouth, who is just trying her hardest to bring up her daughter Lilly.
Cambria somehow is accepted for the Apartment Manager's job and within a short time of her moving in comes across all manner of criminal activity which is determined to get to the bottom of, with no thoughts to her own safety. She also discovers just how mad the residents of an apartment building can be, especially with regards the things they complain about.
The residents in the building in addition like to gossip and exaggerate, so watch out for rumours of Cambria being involved in a threesome (trust me what lead to that rumour was nowhere near as exciting, but very funny!).
For Rent is a fast paced, non stop, mile a minute sort of book, that offers so many giggle inducing situations that you can't help but smile. I loved Cambria and her various convictions that she has jumped to the right conclusions, although she really does need to stop basing her decisions on what she has either read on google or watched on crime dramas!
I'll be very curious to see how this series progresses, and I'm sure this won't be the last we see of Cambria Clyne and her unique approach to apartment management.
Thank you to Erin Huss for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
There is that saying that an author should write about what they know, and in this case, it certainly shines through - Erin Huss clearly knows about managing apartments and as a result has written a pure delight of a novel that takes in some of the more bizarre occurrences that an apartment manager may have to deal with, in a very amusing book.
Cambria Clyne is of the breed of chick lit heroines that is the sort that jumps to conclusions very easily, doesn't necessarily weigh up whether her words or actions are the best and goes in feet first to situations. She comes across as a bit of a motor mouth, who is just trying her hardest to bring up her daughter Lilly.
Cambria somehow is accepted for the Apartment Manager's job and within a short time of her moving in comes across all manner of criminal activity which is determined to get to the bottom of, with no thoughts to her own safety. She also discovers just how mad the residents of an apartment building can be, especially with regards the things they complain about.
The residents in the building in addition like to gossip and exaggerate, so watch out for rumours of Cambria being involved in a threesome (trust me what lead to that rumour was nowhere near as exciting, but very funny!).
For Rent is a fast paced, non stop, mile a minute sort of book, that offers so many giggle inducing situations that you can't help but smile. I loved Cambria and her various convictions that she has jumped to the right conclusions, although she really does need to stop basing her decisions on what she has either read on google or watched on crime dramas!
I'll be very curious to see how this series progresses, and I'm sure this won't be the last we see of Cambria Clyne and her unique approach to apartment management.
Thank you to Erin Huss for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
August 2, 2016
For Rent was such an enjoyable ride, full of hilarious situations and quirky scenes. It was the perfect summer read filled with quick wit, and a light, breezy pace.
Cambria is a 28 year-old single mom who is really struggling with life's up and downs. Losing her job, feeling rejected by her daughter's dad, and facing apartment eviction, Cambria really needs a break. Cue the job she finds as an apartment manager, that includes housing and utilities. Too good to be true? She begins to wonder, when on her first day on the job, she goes dumpster diving, is confronted with lusty senior citizens, and so begins a crime wave that sweeps her new place of employment, and her new home. As she sleuths around (not always inconspicuous) she's determined to discover the truth and uphold her responsibilities as apartment manager. Throw in a hot maintenance man, some crazy tenants, a somewhat dramatic best friend, and Cambria needs a diet coke and some Excedrin.
I really enjoyed the escapades of the protagonist, and what's more, she had a sarcastic self-deprecating humor I found very relatable. Her tendency to jump to conclusions and her inner monologue really helped drive the plot for me. I was also tickled that she calls her hair Einstein. Can't wait to see what happens next to Cambria and Lilly.
I was provided an ARC by Velvet Morning Press in exchange for an honest review.
Cambria is a 28 year-old single mom who is really struggling with life's up and downs. Losing her job, feeling rejected by her daughter's dad, and facing apartment eviction, Cambria really needs a break. Cue the job she finds as an apartment manager, that includes housing and utilities. Too good to be true? She begins to wonder, when on her first day on the job, she goes dumpster diving, is confronted with lusty senior citizens, and so begins a crime wave that sweeps her new place of employment, and her new home. As she sleuths around (not always inconspicuous) she's determined to discover the truth and uphold her responsibilities as apartment manager. Throw in a hot maintenance man, some crazy tenants, a somewhat dramatic best friend, and Cambria needs a diet coke and some Excedrin.
I really enjoyed the escapades of the protagonist, and what's more, she had a sarcastic self-deprecating humor I found very relatable. Her tendency to jump to conclusions and her inner monologue really helped drive the plot for me. I was also tickled that she calls her hair Einstein. Can't wait to see what happens next to Cambria and Lilly.
I was provided an ARC by Velvet Morning Press in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2016
Cambria is a down on her luck single mom. She has applied for every job she can find but unfortunately nothing has came her way. She applies for an apartment manager job and crosses her fingers she'll be hired because it will solve so many of her and her daughter's problems. Thankfully she gets hired but she has no experience running an apartment complex and this one is more like a daycare run amok with all sorts of problems and odd people. The one bright spot is the cute maintenance guy, who can't fix anything and turns out to be not who she thought he would be.
This book had me laughing out loud at some of the tenant's antics. Cambria was an endearing character that you really wanted to root for to come out on top at the end. The book left me wanting more immediately!! I can't wait for the next book so I can find out what happens!
I was given an advanced ecopy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me laughing out loud at some of the tenant's antics. Cambria was an endearing character that you really wanted to root for to come out on top at the end. The book left me wanting more immediately!! I can't wait for the next book so I can find out what happens!
I was given an advanced ecopy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2016
4 1/2 stars
I have been acquiring all kinds of books that would make perfect beach reads. I just keep pretending I’m at the beach (I have a great imagination!) and enjoying these books that come my way. If we have the same tastes, hopefully you’ll find them as beach (escapist) worthy as I have.
Enter For Rent by Erin Huss.
Cambria Clyne is at a turning point in her life. She just lost her job and is about to be evicted from her very bad apartment, when she interviews for and gets the job of apartment manager at a nice-ish complex. Except as soon as she starts her new job, crime escalates in this previously safe little community. Because her new job depends on it, she begins to do her own detecting work, which is sometimes impulsive and tends to have embarrassing consequences.
To read more: https://saschadarlington.wordpress.co...
I have been acquiring all kinds of books that would make perfect beach reads. I just keep pretending I’m at the beach (I have a great imagination!) and enjoying these books that come my way. If we have the same tastes, hopefully you’ll find them as beach (escapist) worthy as I have.
Enter For Rent by Erin Huss.
Cambria Clyne is at a turning point in her life. She just lost her job and is about to be evicted from her very bad apartment, when she interviews for and gets the job of apartment manager at a nice-ish complex. Except as soon as she starts her new job, crime escalates in this previously safe little community. Because her new job depends on it, she begins to do her own detecting work, which is sometimes impulsive and tends to have embarrassing consequences.
To read more: https://saschadarlington.wordpress.co...
June 27, 2016
This is the funniest book I think I have ever read. Maybe its so funny because I can relate....Im a property manager and can tell similar stories. Great story line with lots of twists and turns. Great writing style, I have found a new author to read. I love this book and cant wait for the next book in the series to see what the quirky apartment manager Cambria is up to next! I received a free copy of this book for my HONEST review.
July 5, 2016
I received a free copy on LibraryThing, but I always give an honest review. And from what I read of the blurb, I expected this to be kind of awkward and pretend-funny like so many books with a similar format to this are nowadays. I was very pleasantly surprised to start reading it and see how well-written it is. Very funny, flows well, not too hokey or cliche, just a good funny, light book! I really, really enjoyed it. Now I'm looking for her other books since I really want to keep reading. I would definitely recommend this!
June 25, 2016
Sometimes you just need to read a book like this. For Rent has a bubblegum type writing style with daffy characters. It is a funny and entertaining light-read. The main character, Cambria is a hoot. She gets herself into a few “I love Lucy situations".
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
July 25, 2016
I received a copy for an honest review. This was a hilarious, wonderful book to read which had me in stitches the whole time. Cambria is desperate to move out of her apartment with her daughter and finds a job as a apartment manager. What happens next is a series of unbelievable, funny events that had me rooting for her along the way. A great, quick read.
August 1, 2016
For Rent by Erin Huss is a novel with 39 chapters. I received the book from the Library Thing Member Giveaway program in return for a review. Each chapter is filled with sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek humor as the reader is led to possibly commiserate with the series of disasters that is Cambria’s life. The humor, the vernacular, and absurd situations make the book enjoyable. There is nothing deep, no philosophical messages here. I have used this phrase before to describe what I think of this type of novel and I will use it again. This is a novel that is fun but if I left it on the bus during a cross-country road trip I would not be upset. And I would have offered a diversion to travelers following me.
Cambria needs a job ... fast. She is about to be evicted, she has no income, she has a daughter, Lilly, and she has no clue about what she wants to do in her life. Responding to an ad for an apartment manager, she arrives for an interview at a motel/hotel that quite probably rents to tenants by the hour as well as to others who are just ahead of her in the index of desperation to get by in the daily struggle. The soon-to-be-retired present manager, Joyce should train Cambria, but after being finally accepted for the job the extent of Cambria’s training seems to be “Don’t go to courtyard three… ever, and avoid Kevin… always. Kevin is the son of the owner, lives for free, and is morbidly unusual.
The novel proceeds as Cambria deals with a variety of eccentric occupants. An elderly grandparent type couple keeps other residents awake day and night with their sexual adventures. The maintenance man, super handsome and seductive, a man who works for Cambria, can’t seem to maintain anything and appears frequently stoned on drugs. Just after Cambria assumes her new duties, the apartment complex is hit with a crime wave. There are many cars stolen (except for those reported as stolen but were in actuality repossessed) and damaged or “keyed.” Mysterious figures come and go; Cambria thinks there are criminal enterprises and she wants to investigate.
In a hotel with so many eccentric guests author Huss has many tales to tell and the tales are told with humor to the point of absurdity and, sometimes, despair. An interesting device is that almost all of her chapters begin with a quote of a hotel rule. As the story progresses, the rules become more absurd as does the supporting tale. Cambria wants to give up, but that is financially impossible. One example:
“I could deal with screeching parrots and sex-crazed grandparents and stolen wallets in the Dumpster. I could even listen to Larry talk about his hemorrhoids. However, I could not, nor would I, put up with Kevin. I was desperate for the job, yes. I had an overdrawn account, yes. I didn’t have the funds for another apartment, yes. I… forgot where I was going with this. I couldn’t leave, therefore, Kevin had to. And honestly, he needed to. Sane people didn’t skinny-dip in a community pool at midnight or masturbate in neighbors’ apartments.” (loc 1189-1193).
If you have the spare time and are looking for lighthearted entertainment, this is a book for you.
Cambria needs a job ... fast. She is about to be evicted, she has no income, she has a daughter, Lilly, and she has no clue about what she wants to do in her life. Responding to an ad for an apartment manager, she arrives for an interview at a motel/hotel that quite probably rents to tenants by the hour as well as to others who are just ahead of her in the index of desperation to get by in the daily struggle. The soon-to-be-retired present manager, Joyce should train Cambria, but after being finally accepted for the job the extent of Cambria’s training seems to be “Don’t go to courtyard three… ever, and avoid Kevin… always. Kevin is the son of the owner, lives for free, and is morbidly unusual.
The novel proceeds as Cambria deals with a variety of eccentric occupants. An elderly grandparent type couple keeps other residents awake day and night with their sexual adventures. The maintenance man, super handsome and seductive, a man who works for Cambria, can’t seem to maintain anything and appears frequently stoned on drugs. Just after Cambria assumes her new duties, the apartment complex is hit with a crime wave. There are many cars stolen (except for those reported as stolen but were in actuality repossessed) and damaged or “keyed.” Mysterious figures come and go; Cambria thinks there are criminal enterprises and she wants to investigate.
In a hotel with so many eccentric guests author Huss has many tales to tell and the tales are told with humor to the point of absurdity and, sometimes, despair. An interesting device is that almost all of her chapters begin with a quote of a hotel rule. As the story progresses, the rules become more absurd as does the supporting tale. Cambria wants to give up, but that is financially impossible. One example:
“I could deal with screeching parrots and sex-crazed grandparents and stolen wallets in the Dumpster. I could even listen to Larry talk about his hemorrhoids. However, I could not, nor would I, put up with Kevin. I was desperate for the job, yes. I had an overdrawn account, yes. I didn’t have the funds for another apartment, yes. I… forgot where I was going with this. I couldn’t leave, therefore, Kevin had to. And honestly, he needed to. Sane people didn’t skinny-dip in a community pool at midnight or masturbate in neighbors’ apartments.” (loc 1189-1193).
If you have the spare time and are looking for lighthearted entertainment, this is a book for you.
August 12, 2016
This is a great book; this book is part of The Apartment Manager series written by Erin Huss. Cambria Clyne is a single mom down on her luck. When she gets the job as apartment manager at an L.A. apartment complex, she believes her life is turning around. But between having to talk to the retired couple in Apartment 22 about their loud bedroom "activities" and babysitting the owner's man-child who lives in Apartment 40, Cambria realizes the job is nothing like she'd imagined. When crime takes over the community, Cambria adds "detective" to her list of duties, determined to find the criminals terrorizing the residents and threatening her job. Joining her efforts are rivals Chase, the gorgeous not-so-handy maintenance man, and Tom, her one-time-love baby daddy. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
July 9, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Book one in the Cambria Clyne Mysteries and what a great start it is too. Cambria is about as far down on her luck as a single mom can get when an opening for apartment manager seems like a gift from heaven. Little does she realize that she will be jumping into the deep end of a world full of murder, drugs, and absolute mayhem. Advertised as a funny romantic mystery it lives up to the adjectives with the possible exception of romance though not for lack of trying on Cambria's part. Surprise twist at the end wraps it all up nicely and I look forward to seeing where the next installment takes these great new characters. Great for fans of light-hearted funny mysteries. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Book one in the Cambria Clyne Mysteries and what a great start it is too. Cambria is about as far down on her luck as a single mom can get when an opening for apartment manager seems like a gift from heaven. Little does she realize that she will be jumping into the deep end of a world full of murder, drugs, and absolute mayhem. Advertised as a funny romantic mystery it lives up to the adjectives with the possible exception of romance though not for lack of trying on Cambria's part. Surprise twist at the end wraps it all up nicely and I look forward to seeing where the next installment takes these great new characters. Great for fans of light-hearted funny mysteries. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.
March 10, 2018
This story is laugh-out-loud funny and had me reading until the final page was turned. The main character, Cambria is endearing in her klutzy, no filtered thoughts charm - she is someone you can’t help but like. The mystery was entertaining with plenty of red herrings. I hope to read many more Books in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
September 28, 2016
4.5 stars. This book was fun. It was laugh out loud hilarious. I'm planning to read more from this series/author. The only thing keeping it from being a 5 was that I wish it was a romantic comedy mystery. I also think you'd get more exposure if you could add it to the romance genre. This would be a great audible purchase if available.
November 1, 2016
Loved it! I found Huss's writing style hilarious and endearing - she's a cozy Sophie Kinsella. I loved the situations her character, Cambria found herself in and found myself laughing out loud throughout the novel. Cozy mystery & chick lit readers will love this novel.
July 7, 2018
This was a decent read. I will admit that the place seemed shady and not sure I would want to deal with a lot of those folks. Thankfully her daughters father Tom was able to help her. I did like Cambria so I will hopefully at some time read the next one in the series.
October 20, 2016
Hilarious writing and the suspenses are well maintained..some scenes though left a bad taste..other than that it had a good mix of mystery and humor
April 15, 2018
I cannot resist an alliterative title or cute, colorful cover art, so I had to snap up French Vanilla & Felonies as soon as I saw it and I'm so glad I did! I loved the writer's voice from page one and was instantly drawn into the heroine's story. Cambria Clyne is one of the most relatable heroines I've read about in a while. She has insecurities about her looks and self-worth, she's struggling to stay afloat and provide for her daughter, and she feels lonely since she hasn't been with a man post-getting knocked up. Salvation arrives in the form of a job offer to manage an apartment complex, which comes with on-site accommodations (score!). But when Cambria stumbles on a dead body during her first day at work, she soon finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation that just may lead back to one of her tenants. The question is: Who did the deed and can Cambria unmask him or her before she becomes the next victim?
Cambria juggles dealing with all the quirks and complaints of the complex's residents while trying to make sense of the crime that happened right before her watch started. Naturally, her sleuthing puts her in harm's way on more than one occasion (I chewed off a lot of nails while reading this book!), and it also brings her closer to Chase, the apartments' hot, enigmatic maintenance man. Chase isn't the only guy who's a contender for Cambria's heart as she still has unresolved feelings for her baby daddy, legal eagle Tom. I honestly have no idea where that triangle is going as both men have their pros and cons, but I have to admit I'm rooting for Tom even though he's made a lot of mistakes in his relationship with Cambria. (When the author had a character in the book observe that Tom looks like a young Dylan McDermott, my love for him was sealed.)
There are some great twists, turns, and red herrings in this book's plot that I will not spoil for others, but I will say that this book is a real page-turner and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. Kudos to the author for wrapping up the story and providing "endings" for several of the supporting characters that felt very organic. The stage has been set for future Cambria books, and I'm really excited to follow her on more adventures! If you enjoy mysteries with a healthy dose of humor, don't miss out on this series. I highly recommend it!
Cambria juggles dealing with all the quirks and complaints of the complex's residents while trying to make sense of the crime that happened right before her watch started. Naturally, her sleuthing puts her in harm's way on more than one occasion (I chewed off a lot of nails while reading this book!), and it also brings her closer to Chase, the apartments' hot, enigmatic maintenance man. Chase isn't the only guy who's a contender for Cambria's heart as she still has unresolved feelings for her baby daddy, legal eagle Tom. I honestly have no idea where that triangle is going as both men have their pros and cons, but I have to admit I'm rooting for Tom even though he's made a lot of mistakes in his relationship with Cambria. (When the author had a character in the book observe that Tom looks like a young Dylan McDermott, my love for him was sealed.)
There are some great twists, turns, and red herrings in this book's plot that I will not spoil for others, but I will say that this book is a real page-turner and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. Kudos to the author for wrapping up the story and providing "endings" for several of the supporting characters that felt very organic. The stage has been set for future Cambria books, and I'm really excited to follow her on more adventures! If you enjoy mysteries with a healthy dose of humor, don't miss out on this series. I highly recommend it!
August 9, 2016
I received a review copy
This book was a blast! I was excited when I saw this was a part of a series, but this is actually the second book, and FOR HIRE was the first. That goes to show that these can definitely be read as a standalone, but I know I want to read FOR HIRE now as well! Fast-paced, full of funny moments, and deliciously exciting until the end, I was totally hooked. If you like a good chick lit mystery like myself, check out Erin Huss!
This book was a blast! I was excited when I saw this was a part of a series, but this is actually the second book, and FOR HIRE was the first. That goes to show that these can definitely be read as a standalone, but I know I want to read FOR HIRE now as well! Fast-paced, full of funny moments, and deliciously exciting until the end, I was totally hooked. If you like a good chick lit mystery like myself, check out Erin Huss!
July 9, 2018
This is my kind of book. Sassy, funny, sarcastic all those great verbs! Cambria Cline is also a klutzy single mom who is just trying to do the right things for her daughter and herself. Then there is a murder and a crime spree with her complex right in the middle of it all. She has watched many crime shows so she thinks she can solve this herself. Look out Janet Evanovich! You have some stiff competition!!!! I reviewed a copy of this book from Hidden Gems.
October 16, 2020
I gave it 3.5 stars.
It was a nice cozy mystery. I like Chase and think Tom AKA the baby daddy is a typical fuckboy. Now that he knows Chase is interested in Cambria he'll be trying to stake his claim after she had to watch him sleep his way through half of California. Disgusting. If he cared for her he would have known four years ago and not have to wait until their daughter is 3 to decide to step up.
Chase is the better man. If she lets Tom in again I'm out.
It was a nice cozy mystery. I like Chase and think Tom AKA the baby daddy is a typical fuckboy. Now that he knows Chase is interested in Cambria he'll be trying to stake his claim after she had to watch him sleep his way through half of California. Disgusting. If he cared for her he would have known four years ago and not have to wait until their daughter is 3 to decide to step up.
Chase is the better man. If she lets Tom in again I'm out.
July 4, 2016
Received free reviewer copy from LibraryThing. Crazy, funny story full of crazy and (sometimes) funny characters. Really enjoyed this, good light entertainment. Also liked the fact that the author actually researched her subject well
August 8, 2016
What a fun book! A perfect blend of chick lit and cozy mystery. I couldn't stop reading -- I had to find out who the bad guy (or girl) was, and I had to see who Cambria ended up with! I laughed out loud more times than I could count. Great read!
March 23, 2017
QUIRKY-CRAZY AND FUNNY BUT AROUND 40% THE ZANY CRAZY HAPPENINGS STARTED WEARING THIN. IT STOPPED BEING SO FUNNY IT WAS TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING, BECAME SILLY AND SAPPY. THE STORYLINE WENT DOWNHILL AFTER ABOUT 50%, I FORCED MYSELF TO FINISH THIS. ;(
September 13, 2016
An absolutely, delightfully fun and entertaining story! And, a very impressive beginning for a truly gifted new author!
September 28, 2016
Cute quick read.
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