Baring Arms

Me and Mr. Jones Mysteries #2

by Jo-Ann Power

All politics is loco!  Especially for Texas Congresswoman Carly Wagner.

Lately, she’s been polishing her profile.  Two months ago, she walked into her office in the Rayburn Building and found that a powerful man had been murdered in her chair. With the help of a young, yummy and lethal bodyguard who called himself Mr. Jones, she uncovered the killer. Now she’s getting back to work. For a smart, savvy lady who’s a former Miss Texas and a barrel-racing queen, this should be a snap. After all, she has friends in high places.

But she’s also got more than one big problem.

Her twelve-year-old daughter has gone goth. Her ex-husband doesn’t care. Her meddling mother does.

So when Carly’s daughter Jordan stumbles over the body of a neighbor strangled in his home, Carly decides to discover who did him in. But the tantalizing and infuriating Mr. Jones once more appears at her garden gate and declares he has other ideas: He warns Carly to mind her own business—and leave all the sleuthing to him.

But what’s a feisty woman to do when her child is threatened—and her career is, too? No self-respecting gal can just sit on her hands and let a mere man do all the work! Besides, Jones might be able to charm the hide off a heffer, but when it comes to lassoing varmints inside the Beltway and out, Carly knows best how to get her man.  Jones has to lead, follow or get out of her way. Doesn’t he?

Baring Arms is the second in a delicious new series featuring the crime-solving duo of Congresswoman Carly Wagner and the delectable Mr. Jones.

Genres: Mystery

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2008

About the author

Aka Ann Crowleigh (joint pseudonym with Barbara Cummings).

Writing a new mystery series starring a Texas Congresswoman and her reluctant bodyguard, Jo-Ann Power truly writes what she knows! A career in Washington in media--and a new resident of Texas (relatively speaking...), "JP" has created a series that PW loves as well as RT, Booklist and many readers more!"

Reviews

[Lone Gunmen Publishers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might have missed a decent book; however, when the first several pages is nothing but an explanation of the current state of your libido, I'm (1) yawning and (2) outta there. I just don't care. Too many actually interesting books in my TBR stack. Moving on.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the main character in this 2-book (so far) series by Jo-Ann Power. Congresswoman Carly Wagner is from Texas and is strong, feisty, funny, and doesn't take crap from anyone. As she recently solved a murder committed in her own office, she has no doubts about her own investigative skills, and also knows how to use the networks available to her throughout Washington.

Carly's daughter Jordan is nearly arrested in a raid on a gaming party, but is scooped away from trouble by Carly's friend, Mr. Jones, who helped her in the murder that occured in her office. Mr. Jones works for "a company" that provides very expensive and high tech investigative work for "clients he doesn't know". The gaming party ends up being a source from which many questions arise, and one murder--that of the father of 2 of Jordan's friends. How the gaming party comes together with a case the Mr. Jones is working on, along with missing government information makes for a very good read.

I like the characterizations in this book, and in the first one, especially those of Carly and her daughter Jordan.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of this chick-lit Washington D.C based murder mystery. The characters and plotting is smart, funny and sexy. Political intrigue and backstage maneuvering makes it even better. There's what I believe to be a sly reference to the West Wing series; a minor character is named Sam Lyman. I'm looking for a Josh Seaborne in the next book!

I have just one complaint, and the author repeats this mistake over and over. So, if you read these, Jo-Ann Power, a chimpanzee is NOT a monkey. It is an ape. Every time you refer to Abe as a monkey, it grates, because the people who do so are all highly educated people who know better, and so do you. There's enough ignorance in the world without deliberately propagating this misinformation.

Ahem. OK, I got that out of my system. Readers, this is a well-crafted mystery, and you should enjoy it if you like your books both sassy and intelligent.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t find this book to be quite as engaging as the first book, just because it’s hard to believe that the same character could be involved in yet another murder situation – this is at least acknowledged in the book, with the main character knowing that it seems absurd and getting some negative attention because of it. Being set in Washington, DC, definitely helps with this, though, as recurrent scandals aren’t so surprising in that setting. But it did still enjoy the characters, and I enjoyed seeing more about Mr. Jones and how he operates, such as using different disguises. I would read another in this series if a new one comes out.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Texas congresswoman Carly Wagner is still recovering from the publicity that she received when she found a body in her office when her daughter Jordan sneaks out of the house and finds the body of their neighbor, a federal judge. Fortunately, Mr. Jones--a breathtakingly handsome man of mystery who saved Carly in the last book--has reappeared on the scene. He's determined to protect Carly; she's determined to solve the case and protect herself. And twelve-year-old Jordan is determined to protect herself and her friends from adult interference.

[Francine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Congresswoman Carly Wagner is involved in a second murder and her daughter is right in the middle of this mess. Fortunately or unfortunately the resourceful Mr. Jones will be looking over Carly and her daughter Jordan. Carly is feisty and take no crap from anybody. Everything is political on the hill and Carly hates to owe favours. Good reading not quite 4 stars but very enjoyable, looking forward to the next one.

[Mascanlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carly Wagner is a Tx congresswoman, single with a 12 yr old daughter. In this second outing Carly's daughter Jordan finds a neighbor strangled in his house. Its up to Carly with the mysterious Mr. Jones to discover who did it before her career is in shambles or she and Jordan a walk into the trap. Nicely done, I'm looking for the first volume.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow going at first, this the 2nd book in the "Me & Mr. Jones" series is still a great read! This series sort of reminds me of a "Scarecrow & Mrs. King", the TV series from the 80's.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute mystery with a romantic twist.