There’s nothing Avery Shaw loves more than a challenge... at least when it comes to tracking down a story. The challenge she’s facing this time is the one thing she might not be able to overcome, though. Vacation. That’s right, not only is Southeastern Michigan’s busiest reporter off work for a week... but she’s also on the receiving end of a visit from her boyfriend’s mother. Eliot Kane is tough as nails but he’s obviously nervous about the two most important women in his life crossing paths.
The fact that he’s nervous makes Avery agitated... and she worries about very little other than who she can upset and how quickly she can make her enemies cry. As luck would have it, Avery stumbles on a story when she should be enjoying her time off. A high-rise apartment fire leaves one dead... and ties to organized crime are abundant. The only thing Avery knows about the mob is what television and movies have taught her. That doesn’t mean she’s not keen to learn.
Avery is in a pickle. She has to uncover the motives behind a murder, get her boyfriend’s mother to like her without losing herself, and keep her family out of trouble even though they’re sniffing around and causing mischief. Oh, and she has to pull it all off without melting down or letting Eliot know what she’s up to. Things are about to get wacky and dangerous in Avery’s world. She wouldn’t have it any other way... even if it ultimately kills her.
When I was a kid, I was torn between whether or not I was going to grow up and be the Incredible Hulk or Wonder Woman. I flirted with being a Jedi Knight for awhile, but I wasn't up for the intense travel associated with the gig. In my teens, I settled on being a writer -- although I had no idea the effort that would entail. Not only am I a writer now, but I'm a writer in several different mediums. I'm a longtime newspaper reporter, an avid reader and a voracious science fiction fanatic.
Amanda M Lee did it again! I love her books!! The mystery, the humor and even the love I cant get enough of them! Avery is a little nervous when Eliots mother is coming to stay with them for a week, trying to get everything right she goes shopping and gets groceries and things for the house when she is driving home she comes across an apartment building on fire. Avery being the little devil's advocate she is checks out the fire and finds out what's going on when she sees a man walking out with a little girl saving her from the fire. Then he disappears, so like a dog with a bone Avery chases down her leads, makes Eliots mom an accomplice and tries to solve the case all while on vacation!
This is Book 13 in the Avery Shaw mystery series. It can technically be read as a standalone but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Some things I liked:
-Avery and her friends are up to their usual antics. -Avery is interested in making a good impression on Elliot’s mother. She may be going about it in the wrong way, but it’s nice to see her care about what someone else may need for a change. -Elliot doesn’t want her to change. She tries to change little things about herself to make a better impression on Eliot’s mom but he’s having none of that. Avery is a take it or leave it kinda gal, and one that he’s happy to take. It’s sweet. -One of the funniest bits for me is the ‘lie pact’. Avery is given a set amount of lies she’s allowed to tell and will face dire consequences if she breaks the agreement…. vegan-ism!!! -The series resident gangster, Andre, is back to provide some tips. -There’s a hidden speakeasy!!! And I love the description of it!
Some things I didn’t like:
-I would have liked to see more of Jake’s new love interest, Lauren. -Same jokes and same attitudes towards the same ppl with sames ending… e.g. Avery provoking Tad only to have Elliot show up; and getting into the same arguments with her cousin’s girlfriend. That needs some shaking up.
The mystery: Mobsters and mob activities get featured this time, and Eliot is convinced Avery simply likes saying the word mobsters. I would have enjoyed a bit more history and depth to that aspect though. Perhaps even a villain who could re-emerge in later stories. There weren’t too many red herrings and it was more a matter of figuring out motives than culprits. The end is also rushed and I never got the sense of Avery really ‘solving’ anything so maybe I would have liked a bit more on that too.
The strength of this book lies in the recurring characters and their relationships. Finally meeting someone from Elliot’s family was fun, and it was entertaining to see his mother and Avery try to figure each other out. As a story, it’s not one of the series’ best but the recurring characters make for a good read for readers of the series.
Overall I enjoyed this story but would have liked some more meat on the mystery.
I want to say I enjoyed this book and for the most part I did but Avery spent to much time arguing with family rather than investigating for my liking. With this being book 13 we know a lot about Avery's wacky family who are regulars in the series, so it was nice to have someone from Elliott's side for a change. I liked that Avery tried hard to change for Elliots mother's visit and there was some funny situations as a result as she and Avery try to get along. I also really liked the lie pack between her and her boyfriend, not sure if will last long but it's a understandable/ memorable reaction from her boyfriend, She is only allowed to lie to him once a month or has to go vegan for the month. The mystery got lost with everybody telling Avery to go vacation and with her trying to do it without them knowing (yeh right) as a result there wasn't a big suspect pool to choose from. Off to start the next book. Avery is panicking as she is going to meet her boyfriend's mother for the first time. It's time to be a grown up, while her cousin moves all her star wars figures out of the house, Avery goes shopping for house essentials. In the way home she stumbles over a fire. Despite being on holiday Avery senses a story and stops to question the witnesses who are watching the apartment building burn. She is just in time to witness a good Samaritan come out with a young girl. He disappears before she can interview him, leaving Avery curious. Then she learns about the dead body of a tenant found on the wrong floor and Avery forgets all about vacation time. Can she uncover the story? And still find time to get to know Elliott's mother? The narrator gives each character there own distinct voice. I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntary left this review.
Eliot's mother visits, now that should terrify Avery especially since she is also on 'vacation' for the week and yes vacation is actually a real thing in Avery's world well according to Eliot anyway, for Avery she struggles with the whole concept of what a vacation is....lol Maybe next time Eliot should try taking her to a deserted island with not internet or phone connection and no other people, seriously what did he expect this is Avery Shaw and he dosn't call her 'trouble' for nothing.
I have to say Eliot's mother was a hoot she did what I expect future mothers in law all over the world do when they meet 'the one' in their son's life, couple that with Eliot being an only child and you have the Monster in law of the decade on your hands. I honestly think Avery's first approach of denial and avoidance was just never going to work lol but involving Eliot's mother in her non-story investigation because you know she was on vacation......lol was genius also Mrs Kane's reaction to Fawn was just awesome I really dislike that bimbo lol but it is always highly entertaining when Fawn and Avery are in the same room.
Another hilarious, exciting and vividly entertaining story from Avery Shaw.
Avery and Elliot have taken a week's vacation in order to spend time with Elliot's mother who's coming to visit. On the first day while Elliott's at the airport picking his mother up Avery is out shopping when she spots smoke from a bad fire. Unable to resist Avery follows the smoke to find an apartment building on fire. A young girl is missing in the building and it's not known if she's alive so.there is great relief when a man emerged with the child in his arms. The man then disappears before Avery gets a chance to talk to him leaving Avery with a mystery she just has to solve before she can enjoy spending time with Elliott's mum, not, so begins the latest Avery Shaw book, it has the usual cast of characters and not as much mystery and suspense as usual, due to the vacation one supposed but still an enjoyable read.
On Vacation, right, if you believe that you don't know Avery Shaw
I love the continuing story of Avery Shaw, intrepid reporter. She is definitely growing and maturing in her personal relationship with Eliot but still like a dog with a bone when it comes to finding a story and then digging to find the truth.
Avery manages to do all of this whole on vacation and during a visit from Eliot's mom. It turns out that Avery being Avery, and realizing just how much her son loves Avery, win his mother over.
Harry's reputation seems to be helping her when monster's son is willing to give her information because he knows she will keep digging until she finds the truth.
As with all of Amanda Lee's series, the only bad thing is that I have to wait for the latest exploits of Avery Shaw to be released in the next book. I can't wait!
This is one of my most favorite authors and most favorite series. Avery is a really strong woman, her husband is devoted to her and there are a lot of good characters, some really grungy characters (Ted), some really interesting friends of hers and the woman who works at Eliot's pawn shop and how she and Avery constantly have run-ins.
This book starts off in the usual manner with something happening when she was young and you get to see how even then she had snark down really well. This time she is on vacation (vacations don't suit her very well), there's an apartment fire, a death (natural or caused?), Tad physically attacks her (Eliot to the rescue!), some interesting baddies and, perhaps worse, figure out how to get along with Eliot's mother who is going to visit.
Avery takes on the mob.. and that's just for her vacation!
Eliot's mother, Maggie, is heading in to stay and meet Avery for the first time.. how difficult can it be to stay out of trouble and play nice?
Whilst she's on vacation for the visit she happens across a fire that wipes out a huge apartment block, in which one person dies, and Avery being Avery she has to follow up on.. What can possibly go wrong, it's just a fire, surely?
With tip offs from André and Grandpa, unexpected help from Maggie, a run in with Tad, and a reconnaissance mission on the sly with Lexie and Carly it's surely going to be a breeze, isn't it?
Highly entertaining as Avery has to keep it in check and make nice, introduce Maggie to her own mother and deal with Grandpa's swimming routine.. 5*
Avery Really has a knack for spotting oddities . I love how her mind works. She showed a lot of growth in this book , which was refreshing. She didn't lose any of her snark which is even more refreshing. I love how she and Elliot interact . The mom situation was stressful for everyone , and I'm glad that the mom had some redeeming qualities toward the end. I really disliked her at first. Avery on vacation, random apartment fire, a visiting mother and the mob, what could go wrong?
Avery is mellowing and doesn't come across mean which was my perception in the first three books in the series. I like that her Grandfather has been more engaged in the last several books. I also like Elliot and Avery's relationship. I like the understanding between the two and how Elliot understands Avery's behavior. I'm glad this book did not focus on drama with Eliot's mom. Although there was some drama it resolves quickly. I liked the mystery and the investigation. Good story.
I always anticipate another book in this series and I finally got my fix! Avery and characters are ones that you can read about forever. There will always be a story there and Avery is the type of character that never gets boring. We meet Eliot's mom and it was a rough start but that's Avery's style! I loved the growth Avery and Eliot had and even more so, the growth of Avery herself.
I still really like this series. However, I think there are too many conversations or comments about how annoying she is. THAT gets annoying, and not in a cute way. No one would ever, EVER talk about it that much. Keep Avery being as she is without needing to have a conversation on every page about her being annoying.
I did really like this story, and I look forward to the next one
This series amuses me so much! I never fail to end up laughing out loud and getting crazy looks from my family. The best part is that this series has fantasticly crazy characters and plenty of suspense to go along with the super snarky hilarious conversations. Eliot and Avery are beyond perfect for each other, and I'm very happy Jake now has someone too. Finding a new book in this series always makes me so happy!
I love the Avery Shaw Mysteries books. I love the author's sense of humor even when reading her books gets me funny looks from folks when I laugh out loud in the bank and grocery store lines. I realize that Avery and Eliot are fictionalize characters, but I truly want to believe that there are couples out in the world that have that special relationship. I am looking forward to the next Avery Shaw Mystery book.
Love Amanda M. Lee's writing style and lead female characters. Avery Shaw is a piece of work and you will laugh out loud as you read the things she says, does and how she dresses. Her life motto seems to be torturing people with words to get her story or whatever she wants. I love reading about her chasing a story and seeing how many people she can make cry or just miserable for having ran I I to her. I totally recommend this book and series
I loved this book, but to be completely honest, I have loved every Avery Shaw book that
Amanda Lee has written. As Avery and Elliot get further along in their relationship the stories and mysteries just get better and better . I would recommend these books to anyone, and have!!!
The Avery Shaw series is truly my favorite Amanda Lee series...and that is saying a lot. The mysteries and her investigations are believable. All the supporting characters are great. I love, love, love Avery and Eliott. Throwing mom into the mix was a great curveball. Another winner!
I liked a lot about this book. I love the Eliot accepts Avery for who she is. I also like Jake's new girlfriend and am interested in where that goes. The mystery was interesting but didn't grip me as much as I would like. It was also fun to meet Eliot's mom, but again I was just sort of hoping for more.
I like Avery. Her brand of humor is what I grew up with in Michigan. I live in Oakland county and recognized a lot of the places in the book. I laughed out loud when reading all the books, the looks I got from kids were great. Thanks for the good stories!
This has a great cast of characters. Eliots mother makes her debut and falls for Avery. Avery while trying to avoid her boyfriend comes across an apartment fire which she writes up and turns in. Only to discover that a man was killed in the fire, this sets Avery on a long travel to find the murderer who to add insult to injury has gangland affiliattes.
Only Avery could complicate her vacation with mobsters. She has to balance making a good impression on her boyfriend’s mother and secretly investigating a fire and murder.
I have enjoyed all the books in the series and recommend you read them all in order. They are really fun reads with great characters.
Avery shocks me once again!!!! When you think things couldn't get crazier they do. With her future mother in law visiting and Avery on vacation you would think it would be nothing but relaxation and snarkiness. No! She does it again missing off a mobster!!! Read all about it!!!
Avery Shaw on vacation is hilarious. I wish I was gifted with snarky come backs. I laughed so much in this book especially the scene between Avery's archnemesis in front of city clerks office. If you read the book you know what I'm talking about. I can't wait to read Avery's next adventure.
I love this series but WHAT that’s the end... I think I’m gonna cry... Elliot’s mom hadn’t left, we didn’t find out if they kept Keane... I hate this ending... but the rest do the story was good. Avery is growing.
I l8ve this series! Avery and Elliot are great. I like that things are working out with Jake and Lauren too. And Avery is grow in the relationship bit not losing what makes her who she is.
I wished there was more to the story, I do like seeing Avery publish before everyone else. That being said she was written with a bit more maturity and that was nice to see. The story line is moving along nicely and I enjoyed reading along.
I love the mouth on Avery. She's mouthy, she rude and funny as hell. I was wondering when Elliot's family was going to meet Avery. It wasn't a disappointment.