Samantha Reynolds' life in Aloha Lagoon feels like it's finally smooth sailing. She's settled into her job as the resorts' surf instructor for children, things are looking good with her boyfriend Casey, and she has an amazing BFF in the local surf shop owner, Alani. But when a storm hits Aloha Lagoon, Alani's past comes back to haunt her, and Sam finds her bestie standing over the dead body of her wayward ex-boyfriend. While Sam knows Alani is innocent, the local police aren't so easily convinced, and Sam realizes it's up to her to clear Alani's name and find the real killer before her friend ends up behind bars. Why was Alani's ex back in town? What was he doing in Alani's shop after hours? And who is the mysterious raven-haired woman in his life and what does she have to do with it all? Sam is determined to find out...only can she do it before the real killer catches her? Or will Sam's time in Aloha Lagoon come to a sticky end?
Beth Prentice is the award winning, USA Today Bestselling Author of the several series and standalone novels. She was born in Manchester, England, but after moving backwards and forwards across the world 13 times in 14 years she decided that at the age of 18 that Australia was to be her home. She now lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia where every day is a good one. She is the lucky mother of two grown up children, and, along with her ever-patient husband, she is the proud but sometimes flustered owner of four dogs, a cat, and a canary. She has always had a love of reading, and even though her background is in accounting, she has now discovered her love of writing. Her main wish is to write books you can sit back, relax with, and escape from your everyday life...and ones that you walk away from with a smile! When she's not writing you will usually find her at the beach with a coffee in hand, pursuing her favorite pastime --people watching!
It is always fun to return to beautiful Aloha Lagoon and imagine being in lovely Hawaii where someone has a mystery to solve. Samantha has a fun job of being a children's surfing instructor but has to put her investigator's hat back on when her best friend Alani is accused of murdering an old boyfriend. Alani thought that she and Nathan had a special relationship and they planned a trip to Europe but he took off with her money and took a trip alone. Now he is back for some reason and when Sam stops in Alani's surf shop, she finds Nathan dead and Alani holding the murder weapon. Sam has to prove Alani's innocence. Her boyfriend Casey joins forces with her and Alani to find the real killer. At times she steps into danger and it gets a little dicey and scary. Never fear, Sam will not give up until she finds the killer. The answer is somewhat surprising....someone that I had not seen as a possible killer and why. This is another fun mystery to solve. I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher to read and give an honest review. Thoughts stated are mine only.
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com/ USA Today bestselling author Beth Prentice has penned the 15th book in the Aloha Mysteries series. Fatal Break is the latest title in this cosy mystery collection. Featuring an appealing lead, and an intriguing mystery for the reader to solve, Fatal Break represents another entertaining adventure in this colourful series.
At the opening of this novel it seems like life is beach for Samantha Reynolds, the lead character of Fatal Break. With her love life, professional life and friendships all thriving, things couldn’t be better! But all this changes when a dead body is discovered and the chief suspect is Sam’s best friend. Sam must do all she can to prove her friend’s innocence. It is a race against time to clear Sam’s friend, Alani’s name. At the same time, Sam must keep her head above water, as this case proves to be both tricky and dangerous.
Fatal Break is the 15th instalment in the Aloha Lagoon Mysteries series and it represents the first book I have read in this set. It is always a little daunting going into a new series, especially as this is such a long running collection. However, my impression from reading Fatal Break with absolutely no prior experience of the other books in this series, is that this novel can be read as a standalone. I do wish that I had more time in my reading schedule to catch up on the previous books in this collection, but I did enjoy this issue.
Hawaii has long been on my travel bucket list and I know that I will be unable to get to this slice of paradise any time soon. In the meantime, I was happy to jump on board and immerse myself in a few hours of tropical themed entertainment, complete with a cracking mystery to solve.
Beth Prentice has provided the reader with a clear picture of her lead Samantha (Sam) Reynolds. Sam is likeable and genuine. She is also determined and full of ingenuity. Sam is not afraid to stand up for who, and what she believes in, which I respected very much. Running alongside Sam’s character are a firm set of secondary characters that embellish the unfolding narrative.
In terms of the mystery side of the narrative, this was well executed on behalf of the author. I enjoyed being toyed with – there were plenty of twists, turns, diversions, misunderstandings and suspects. I wasn’t able to guess the final turn of events, which pleased and surprised me.
The Aloha Lagoon, a seemingly perfect idyll, with a penchant for dead bodies and mysteries to solve, is at the heart of Fatal Break. This new volume in the series is not to be missed if you enjoyed the previous issues in the series, or you are simply searching for a new cosy mystery novel to devour.
*I wish to thank the author, Beth Prentice, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fatal Break is book #108 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
Fatal Break earns 5/5 Surfboard Ventures...Entertaining and Clever!
It’s Hawaii and tropical storms are a common, but the emotional storm set on Sam’s BFF Alani is of greater concern. Her ex-boyfriend Nathan McCauley May have returned to the island. She harbors serious hatred having already devised a plan to cause him physical discomfort...beware the mango tree! Over a year ago, Nathan going to accompany her on a once-in-a-lifetime European vacation, instead he stole her money...$20,000! Everyone is sympathetic, yet they know Alani has found her soulmate in Sam’s brother Luke. She will regret her thoughts of mayhem when Sam discovers Alani standing over Nathan’s bludgeoned body in her family’s surf shop. Can you say “murder suspect” in Hawaiian?
“Aloooha!” says Karma. Beth Prentice is a favorite with a delightful writing style that gives readers a treat seeing karma serving up some well deserved “just desserts.” I enjoy her use of the first-person narrative from Sam’s perspective with her inner thoughts, vulnerability, and sometimes humorous take on the murderous situation. Beth uses a traditional cozy formula with a quick-to-happen murder, several suspects to consider, admirable and quirky characters, a bit of romance, and a satisfying “Oh, wow!” ending, usually with some nail-biting peril...but her story is well-written with descriptive language and dialogue that does well to illustrate the setting and her characters and their personalities. Karma, yes, I love it, but Beth also makes sure to put family and close friends as an extremely important component: trust, loyalty, humor, and honesty. This book is easily enjoyed in one or two sitting by fans and newbies alike...add a Mai Tai and you’re set!
Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Love this series! Beautiful Hawaiian beaches! Lovely resort! Young surfing instructor who is always getting in the middle of a murder investigation. Friends and family who support her. A little romance. Great storylines that keep your attention, that make you want to be there to find the bad guy and that entertain you with some humor. What else would you want?!?
I LOVE any time I can escape into the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. This series is unique in that the books are written by several different authors but they all focus on the Aloha Lagoon Resort which is located on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The books center around the resort but focus on different employees or friends and always have a murder that needs to be solved....sooner than later !!!
Fatal Break by Beth Prentice is the fifteenth book in this series and this is the third book that Prentice has written for the series so hopefully you are already familiar with Sam, her twin brother Luke and their friends. If not, that's okay because once you start reading Fatal Break, you will become a fan instantly.
Sam lives with her twin brother, Luke, and their mother on the island. Sam has her dream job at the resort teaching surfing lessons to children. Luke works at The Lava Pot where he is the head cook and Sam's boyfriend, Casey, is the sexiest bartender around !! Sam's best friend Alani whose family owns a surf shop is also Luke's girlfriend.
One night while hanging out at The Lava Pot Alani gets a shock...someone is there looking for her ex-boyfriend. Her ex-boyfriend, Nathan, had conned her and her family out of a lot of money saying that he planned to take Alani on a dream vacation. Unfortunately he took the money and left the island. When Alani found out he might be back, all she can think about is the money he stole from her family and wanting to get it back. But when Sam finds Alani standing over his body holding a paddle in her surf shop, it is clear that her family will not be getting any money from him. And when Alani is arrested for his murder, everyone has bigger worries to take care of.
Sam will do anything for her family and friends and tracking down a murderer is top of the list in Fatal Break. Finding out why Nathan returned to the island may be difficult to uncover with him dead but when they find out that Alani wasn't the only woman on the island that he conned out of money, the list of suspects grows. Also Alani's old best friend, Abigail, also shows back up on the island at the same time as Nathan and Sam cannot help but wonder if there is more to the story.
Sam knows that Detective Ray Kahoalani is always on "island time" and she wishes that she could be on it also but with Alani arrested for a murder that she knows she didn't commit, she needs to step it up and solve the case......sadly the suspect list gets longer and longer as she looks into Nathan's past.....
Readers will fall in love with this series instantly and no matter what book you pick up and start, you will be adding the rest on your to be read list. Any time that you can escape to the Aloha Lagoon Resort and the island, you will do it....and the best part is that you don't have to pack a suitcase. You can stay in your pj's if you wish....so grab a snack and a drink and sit back and get on island time.....
I was so pleasantly surprised to see there was a new book to the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series and I had the wonderful opportunity to read Fatal Break and provide a review. The Aloha Lagoon Mystery series comprises of multiple authors. Beth Prentice writes the books featuring Samantha "Sam" Reynolds, a transplant from Sydney, Australia, who is a children's surf instructor at the Aloha Lagoon Resort in Kauai.
While Sam and her BFF Alani are sitting at the bar at The Lava Pot, where Sam's boyfriend Casey is a bartender, someone flashes a photo of Nathan McCauley, asking if anyone has seen him. Alani is highly agitated when seeing the photo since Nathan is her ex-boyfriend who ran off to Europe with her and her family's money. Now that Nathan is back in Kauai, Alani promises to seek revenge for what he's done. Alani's words come back to haunt her as she becomes the #1 suspect when Nathan is found dead in her surf shop. Sam risks all to save her best friend from being prosecuted, even if it means risking her own life.
As always, these books keep me captivated with the descriptions of lush and beautiful Kauai. However, I stayed glued to this particular book because the mystery was intriguing and I love Sam and Casey's relationship. This author is one of the better authors in the entire series and she made me want to hop on a plane to Kauai to join Sam, Casey, Alani and the remaining cast of characters.
In the About the Author excerpt at the end of the book, there is this description: "Her main wish is to write books you can sit back, relax with, and escape from your everyday life...and ones that you walk away from with a smile!" Beth Prentice managed to do exactly that with me.
I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review.
I absolutely loved this third murder mystery adventure featuring Samantha Reynolds in Beth Prentice’s new book in the Aloha Lagoon series. #3 in the Samantha Reynolds Mysteries and book #15 in the Aloha Lagoon series, Fatal Break is my favourite read so far. Samantha does a wonderful job of playing at amateur detective and getting herself into all sorts of trouble, this time she’s out to clear her BFF who has been accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend and she is very determined.
Samantha and Casey’s relationship has grown even stronger after the events that occurred in Lethal Tide and it was so lovely to experience this couple all loved up.
Once again poor Detective Ray has to deal with Samantha and her friends as they go about trying to clear Alani’s name. These are some of my giggle moments.
There are some seriously funny moments throughout this novel and I got a great giggle from Samantha’s exploits as well as her internal dialogue. She’s great fun.
There’s plenty of conclusion jumping and her usual ability to make 2+2=7, there are some red herrings and shifty behaviour (thankfully not Casey this time), but ultimately Samantha does a great job of being a magnet for trouble.
If you want a fun read, I recommend you pick up the Samantha Reynolds Mysteries, you’ll want to read them in order to get the whole feel for Samantha and her friends and family. As well as to enjoy life at Aloha Lagoon 😊. I’d still like to visit one day, despite the seemingly high murder rate.
The entire Aloha Lagoon Mystery series is absolutely AMAZING! I especially enjoy the contributions by Beth Prentice who always takes us on an exciting mystery/murder visit on Kauai! The star of the show here is Sam, an Australian transplant who teaches surfing to kids and never fails to find trouble. Her hunky bartender boyfriend Casey and her best friend Alani are always there right in the thick of things, this time taking it upon themselves to investigate a murder that Alani has been accused of committing. Twists, turns, danger at every turn and even a bit of romance to boot! Best if you read the entire series in order, (this is the 3rd Samantha book), but if this is your first, that's okay, you will want to revisit Aloha Lagoon after reading this so you can get caught up on the entire series. Beth has some other books too, that are just as amazing, but certainly, don't pass this one up! I received a complimentary copy of this book and my opinion is freely provided and unsolicited.
I love coming back to Aloha Lagoon, and especially Samantha Reynolds. She is a character who is surrounded by other fun characters, aside from being a sharp young woman. I love her determination to help her friends, and her general positive attitude.
This mystery is no exception to my opinions of Samantha and author Beth Prentice. It is well written with plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting, yet never feeling contrived. Appealing characters and realistic situations add up to an enjoyable reading experience.
Don't miss this entry into Aloha Lagoon and the delightful setting interpreted by Ms Prentice. Almost as good as a trip to Hawaii. (Well, not quite, but at least I feel like it is represented correctly. ) I can close my eyes and envision it well. Oops here comes Detective Ray...
It's so nice to be back in Aloha Lagoon Resort with Samantha Reynolds in this book three of Beth Prentice part of this great Mystery series. This time the mystery is personal again for Sam as her BFF Alani is accused of a murder of a man from her past.
Can Sam and her merry mystery sleuths help her clear Alani from a crime no one believes she committed?
I really enjoyed the flow of this story as I do with all of Beth Prentice books. Sam always entertains me with her way of always getting into situations that will cause her more trouble. This is a funny light-hearted read that will have you invested to the very end.
What would you do if your BFF was arrested for Murder?
Investigate is what comes naturally to Sam's to-do list and her list of possible murders grow as she digs deeper into the secrets and past of not only Alani but many others along the way.
Back again to Aloha Lagoon and another dead body. This time the body isn’t found by Sam the surf instructor, but by her best friend, Alani. The body is that of her ex-boyfriend Nathan who scammed her and stole all her money. The body was found in her surf shop and shortly thereafter she is arrested for murder. While in the course of trying to clear her friend Sam finds herself in danger and is worrying her boyfriend Casey to no end. There is the familiar cast of secondary characters and some good suspects for Nathan’s murder. I enjoyed this cozy mystery as much as I have the others in the series. Although part of a series, this can be read as a stand alone.
Going out with your BFF for a few drinks is supposed to be fun right? But when a stranger shows up asking everyone if they know the guy in a picture, the last thing you expect to hear, is you bff, saying its her ex and she would kill him if she sees him !!! When he ends up dead in her shop, secrets begin to come out making you question how well do you really know people? This authors wish is to write books you can sit back,relax with and escape from your everyday life...and ones that you can walk away from with a smile after you read them.. This book is a great read and should fulfill the authors dream!!!! Escape to the island and join in the adventure with fun and amazing characters....
I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review. Love this series! Everything revolves around The Aloha Lagoon Resort. It's fun getting to know all of the characters and solve the mysteries. Best part is that if you do not want to read a series, you don't have to. Each book is stand alone. However, where's the fun in that? This episode has Sam helping her BFF, Alani, clear her name because she has been accused of killing her ex-boyfriend. Enjoy the tour of Kauai and the resort as they search for clues to solve this mystery.
Alani's thief of an ex-boyfriend returns to town after a long absence, only to be later found dead in her store. Sam discovers Alani standing over his body, holding a weapon.
Sam is sure Alani is innocent, and takes it upon herself to help clear her name by getting to the bottom of what happened. This doesn't always go as planned, and Sam ends up in danger herself!
This was another fun read in the Aloha Lagoon series!
Another fun cozy mystery set in Aloha Lagoon! Each installment is a brand new entertaining adventure. Some characters reappear, the location sounds spectacular as always, but these each work as a stand-alone. I loved all the main characters and there are plenty of well developed secondary characters as well. The mystery is well paced and enjoyable.
I received an ARC from the publisher for my unbiased review.
Another Aloha Lagoon book featuring Sam and her boyfriend Casey. When her friend Alani is accused in the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Sam is determined to prove her innocence. This book is full of action and kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what was going to happen next. The love everyone has for one another shines through. I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Wow this one was really a nail biter. Lots of twists in this one. The ending really had my heart pounding. I thought I might cut my hand from my nails digging into to it as I kept clinching my fist tighter every minute until the end. What a great book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
In Fatal Break Sam is once again looking for a killer. This time Sam's BFF Alani is suspected of having murdered her ex-boyfriend. Since the police are focused on Alani, Sam feels obligated to track down the real murderer. This is a fast paced mystery with plenty of odd characters, too many suspects and more than one motive. Will Sam be able to save Alani or will the killer get Sam first?
I love the cover for this book as it has several surf boards that are very eye catching. I also enjoyed the book it was a book that was set in Aloha Lagoon and it had you guessing all thru the book who killed someone that was important in Samantha's life. I will look forward to reading more print books by Beth. Beth hit a home run with this!
This whole series is really good. I like that it stays fresh because different authors write the books. The books are well written & I like the fun characters. The setting is awesome, who doesn't want to visit Hawaii (even if it's only in a book). I look forward to the next book.
Love Aloha Lagoon! Really good read with lots of twists and turns and interesting characters! I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I have come to love Aloha Lagoon, and especially Samantha! This was a really great mystery. Good pacing, great plot. I felt like I was there right from the beginning. Amazing from start to finish. I highly recommend this book!
In the latest Aloha Lagoon Mysteries, Samantha finds her best friend, Alani, standing next to a dead body. Can Samantha prove her innocence? Beth Prentice has delivered a fun and exciting experience for your reading pleasure.
Aliana's ex shows up minus the money he stole from her and her family and apparently a few other people too. Why come back now? Before anyone can get some answers, Nathan is murdered and somehow Aliana is the prime suspect. Sam is determined to find the real killer and keep Aliana free but it's a wild road full of unbelievable adventures and a totally unexpected reveal at the very end. A great book for mystery lovers.
As of right now this is the last of the Aloha Lagoon series. I really hope there's more coming! The way the series uses different authors to write about specific characters at this resort in Kauai, yet tying them all together, is a wonderful way to enjoy a fantastic series. I will miss it and am keeping my fingers crossed I will see a message soon announcing more books in the series!
Another entertainingly suspenseful and humorous read from Ms Prentice. Poor Sam can't catch a break - there always seems to be a mystery for her to solve - much to the local police's dismay. This book made me chuckle out loud, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.