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Dana Barry #2
The Rooftop Party
2021 SUMMER READ PICK--LONG ISLAND WOMAN
“THE ROOFTOP PARTY is a wickedly entertaining rom-com/murder mystery from start to finish. It promises to be a contender for beach read of the year.”
--BookReporter
A Host of Trouble...
In this witty and engaging novel, Dana Barry, the Shopping Channel’s star host, stops by the company’s rooftop party to pitch the new CEO her brilliant idea that just might save the flagging business, her job and possibly her love life.
As she chats with the smarmy executive, he backs her into a dark corner. For Dana, it’s a quid pro oh-hell-no. She escapes his lecherous grasp and grabs her drink on her way to the dance floor. Woozy, she blacks out.
When she comes to, the CEO is dead, fallen from the roof. Or was he pushed? And if so, by whom? It’s hard to know, but one thing is Dana was close enough to be suspect.
Sure, she loathed how the creep moved in on her, but she’s no killer. Or is she? Truth is, Dana can’t remember much about those minutes. Now she has to use all her skills to prove her innocence to everyone, including her police detective boyfriend—and herself.
Meister’s latest is fun and breezy, a compelling, suspenseful read that entertains and keeps you guessing.
“THE ROOFTOP PARTY is a wickedly entertaining rom-com/murder mystery from start to finish. It promises to be a contender for beach read of the year.”
--BookReporter
A Host of Trouble...
In this witty and engaging novel, Dana Barry, the Shopping Channel’s star host, stops by the company’s rooftop party to pitch the new CEO her brilliant idea that just might save the flagging business, her job and possibly her love life.
As she chats with the smarmy executive, he backs her into a dark corner. For Dana, it’s a quid pro oh-hell-no. She escapes his lecherous grasp and grabs her drink on her way to the dance floor. Woozy, she blacks out.
When she comes to, the CEO is dead, fallen from the roof. Or was he pushed? And if so, by whom? It’s hard to know, but one thing is Dana was close enough to be suspect.
Sure, she loathed how the creep moved in on her, but she’s no killer. Or is she? Truth is, Dana can’t remember much about those minutes. Now she has to use all her skills to prove her innocence to everyone, including her police detective boyfriend—and herself.
Meister’s latest is fun and breezy, a compelling, suspenseful read that entertains and keeps you guessing.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2021
35 people are currently reading
3176 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Meister
17 books542 followersThank you for visiting my Goodreads page. I'm proud to announce that my newest novel, JOYRIDE, was selected by Zibby Owens as one of the most anticipated books of 2025. DIVORCE TOWERS, which was featured in People Magazine, won an award for Best Escapist Novel, and was selected for Zibby's Ultimate Summer Reading List as well as Newsday's Summer Reads. My other books include TAKE MY HUSBAND which received a starred review from Booklist, THE ROOFTOP PARTY, which was called "wickedly entertaining" by BookReporter and was selected by Long Island Woman Magazine as Summer Pick of the year, as well as LOVE SOLD SEPARATELY, DOROTHY PARKER DRANK HERE, FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER, THE OTHER LIFE, THE SMART ONE, and SECRET CONFESSIONS OF THE APPLEWOOD PTA. In addition to being a novelist, I'm an editor, screenwriter, book coach, creative writing instructor, and ghostwriter. For more information visit ellenmeister.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
May 26, 2021
I really loved this book! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started it, but as soon as I finished the first page, I was hooked. I haven't read the first book, and im not sure if I will, but I don't feel like that impacted my reading experience at all.
I'm the first to admit I don't like murder mystery type books. I can't stand characters who make dumb decisions, and i was slightly worried Dana would become one of them. Thankfully she didn't, and the murder mystery ended up being a much smaller plot point than I was expecting. When it did come up though, I loved it!
I also really loved the relationship between Ari and Dana. Sure, it was a teeny part of the book, but I still loved it. It was so nice to see a pair of adults act like adults, and actually talk about their feelings and communicate. The entire time I was rooting for them to resolve their problems, so the ending made me ridiculously happy.
The only reason this is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because it lacked the emotional connection. I enjoyed reading it, but its not something that made me feel anything. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for future books by this author though!
Thanks to Harlequin Publishing for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I'm the first to admit I don't like murder mystery type books. I can't stand characters who make dumb decisions, and i was slightly worried Dana would become one of them. Thankfully she didn't, and the murder mystery ended up being a much smaller plot point than I was expecting. When it did come up though, I loved it!
I also really loved the relationship between Ari and Dana. Sure, it was a teeny part of the book, but I still loved it. It was so nice to see a pair of adults act like adults, and actually talk about their feelings and communicate. The entire time I was rooting for them to resolve their problems, so the ending made me ridiculously happy.
The only reason this is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because it lacked the emotional connection. I enjoyed reading it, but its not something that made me feel anything. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for future books by this author though!
Thanks to Harlequin Publishing for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 1, 2021
THE ROOFTOP PARTY is a slow burn murder mystery/rom-con that I was instantly hooked on from the very first page. It’s been a long time since I read a Ellen Meister book. I have no excuses as to why, just too many books to read I suppose. Once I started THE ROOFTOP PARTY I was kicking myself for waiting so long to revisit one of my longtime favorite authors. The pages are filled with mystery and twists and turns you never see coming. Don’t you love when an author can hook you, throw you on an emotional roller coaster and then spit you out at the end? You just sit there wondering what the heck just happened! That is exactly what happened to me while reading THE ROOFTOP PARTY.
THE ROOFTOP PARTY is filled with twists and turns and had me staying up way too late one night to finish! It is very easy to follow and I really enjoyed Ellen’s writing. The story does drag just a bit, but overall, I really enjoyed it. The plot of THE ROOFTOP PARTY is excellent but also crazy. I was instantly pulled in to the story and couldn’t wait to see how it ended. The situation Dana gets into is so unbelievable but you can’t help but feel for her. Nothing good ever comes out of drinking and Dana’s troubles are exactly what I mean! THE ROOFTOP PARTY is insanely good! More like a train wreck where you know that looking at it isn’t going to be good but you can’t tear your eyes away!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
THE ROOFTOP PARTY is filled with twists and turns and had me staying up way too late one night to finish! It is very easy to follow and I really enjoyed Ellen’s writing. The story does drag just a bit, but overall, I really enjoyed it. The plot of THE ROOFTOP PARTY is excellent but also crazy. I was instantly pulled in to the story and couldn’t wait to see how it ended. The situation Dana gets into is so unbelievable but you can’t help but feel for her. Nothing good ever comes out of drinking and Dana’s troubles are exactly what I mean! THE ROOFTOP PARTY is insanely good! More like a train wreck where you know that looking at it isn’t going to be good but you can’t tear your eyes away!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
June 4, 2021
Dana Barry is a host on the Shopping Channel. She yearns to be an actress but she’s good at her job and she’s finally earning real money. When a new CEO is brought in to help grow sales, Dana tries to pitch some ideas at the company rooftop party. They share a drink but he turns out to be a lascivious creep. Dana escapes from his advances but ends up passing out. When she wakes up, she learns that the CEO is dead. He was pushed off the roof. There are many people who could have committed the crime – including Dana. Her boyfriend Ari is a homicide detective and is brought in to investigate. Ari isn’t able to share any information with her so Dana does her own sleuthing to try and clear her name unless she discovers she is the murderer.
The mysteries I normally read are very dark so it was a nice change of pace to read The Rooftop Party. Although the book deals with some serious topics like murder, Dana and Ari’s struggling relationship and family issues, it is written in a light style filled with lots of wittiness and humor. Author Ellen Meister’s book Love Sold Separately (which I haven't read) introduced Dana. I suspect a third book with this delightful character will be forthcoming and I’ll be sure to read it.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The mysteries I normally read are very dark so it was a nice change of pace to read The Rooftop Party. Although the book deals with some serious topics like murder, Dana and Ari’s struggling relationship and family issues, it is written in a light style filled with lots of wittiness and humor. Author Ellen Meister’s book Love Sold Separately (which I haven't read) introduced Dana. I suspect a third book with this delightful character will be forthcoming and I’ll be sure to read it.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
June 10, 2021
Drunk and high, Dana Barry finds herself a possible killer. Accosted by a company party, the Shopping Channel host hopes to pitch an idea to the company's CEO, Ivan. He will accept her idea for the show's change - in exchange for sexual favors. She manages to escape his aggressive behavior, and promptly passes out. When she awakens, she is shocked to find that Ivan has fallen to his death. In fact, he was pushed.
The lead detective on the case is none other than Dana's boyfriend, Ari. Their relationship is already undergoing growing pains, and now that Dana just might be a suspect, their relationship is on a tight high-wire. Dana may have hated Ivan, but did she hate him enough to cause his death? Why can't she remember? Dana employs previously honed detective skills to find the killer, even if it means that she herself is responsible.
Having not read the first book in this series, I am just getting to know Dana. I admit that it was a little disconcerting to read of a character that freely mixed drugs and alcohol, so this would be a good place to put in a trigger warning in this review.
Dana had a lot on her plate, even before Ivan's fateful fall, including a challenging relationship with her demanding father, and her current job and acting aspirations. With the murder and her investigations, Dana is more than overwhelmed, even if it meand alienating people in her life.
Since there is likely to be a third book in this series, I will at some point very soon read the first book, Love Sold Separately. Dana is an intriguing, real-life character, and with humor intermingled with mystery, this book, The Rooftop Party, proved to be an excellent read.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion,
The lead detective on the case is none other than Dana's boyfriend, Ari. Their relationship is already undergoing growing pains, and now that Dana just might be a suspect, their relationship is on a tight high-wire. Dana may have hated Ivan, but did she hate him enough to cause his death? Why can't she remember? Dana employs previously honed detective skills to find the killer, even if it means that she herself is responsible.
Having not read the first book in this series, I am just getting to know Dana. I admit that it was a little disconcerting to read of a character that freely mixed drugs and alcohol, so this would be a good place to put in a trigger warning in this review.
Dana had a lot on her plate, even before Ivan's fateful fall, including a challenging relationship with her demanding father, and her current job and acting aspirations. With the murder and her investigations, Dana is more than overwhelmed, even if it meand alienating people in her life.
Since there is likely to be a third book in this series, I will at some point very soon read the first book, Love Sold Separately. Dana is an intriguing, real-life character, and with humor intermingled with mystery, this book, The Rooftop Party, proved to be an excellent read.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion,
August 2, 2021
Dana is the newest star of the Shopping Channel, but her dream is to become an actress. She is really good at her job and everyone loves her there. When the new CEO announces some change he's making to the channel, someone definitely is not happy about it. Before the party is over, he will be found dead. Dana remembers talking to him, but did she kill him? Dana is determined to clear her name and figure out what happened.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
This book had a lot of ups and downs for me. There were parts I loved and zoomed through and other places where it slowed down and was hard to get through. Overall, this was an interesting murder mystery book. Not too many twists and turns and it's pretty easy to find out who the culprit was.
This is the first time I've read a book by Ellen Meister, but I will read another one for sure.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
This book had a lot of ups and downs for me. There were parts I loved and zoomed through and other places where it slowed down and was hard to get through. Overall, this was an interesting murder mystery book. Not too many twists and turns and it's pretty easy to find out who the culprit was.
This is the first time I've read a book by Ellen Meister, but I will read another one for sure.
April 3, 2021
Dana Barry is back and is bringing all her issues! Murder, relationship and daddy issues, personal conflicts and some weed! I was super excited when I found out this was a continuation of Love Sold Separately!
A fun, pot smoking JB Fletcher in the 21st century.
Thank you Ellen for always giving us a good time! This story flows and I love the characters! Here’s hoping for more Dana in our future!
A fun, pot smoking JB Fletcher in the 21st century.
Thank you Ellen for always giving us a good time! This story flows and I love the characters! Here’s hoping for more Dana in our future!
June 29, 2021
A fun book to read! I won a copy from the author on a Facebook contest and it's the first of her's I've read. I will be finding others now! Entertaining storyline, the characters are awesome (I loved Dana and Ashlee!), great mystery/romcom!
May 31, 2021
Dana Barry is at the top of her game. As a glamorous daytime host on the Shopping Channel, she has been driving their once-sagging ratings to the ceiling. She prances about the set, cooing and fawning over jewelry, donning apparel and accessories that she’d be unlikely to wear herself, but the orders keep pouring in. Ivan Dennison, the new CEO, has other ideas. He sees these mundane items as frivolous and has put forward his plan to boost the bottom line. “Electronics are the future,” he declares.
This could cost Dana the best job she has ever had. She finally makes enough to move out of the tacky West Side digs she shares with Ari, the man she plans to marry. Ari is an NYPD homicide detective who is in line for a promotion, and between them they can easily swing it. In fact, she has just viewed the Upper East Side apartment of their dreams with her best friend, Megan. It has actual windows! And a view! Plus, she has just been promised the lead role in a play being produced by her community playhouse, a step toward her foremost goal of becoming an actress. On an adrenaline high, she goes ahead and signs the lease without talking to Ari about it. But she knows he will be just as happy as she is. Can it get any better?
Back at work, Dana assures her worried boss that she can convince the CEO that by adding an exclusive new makeup to the program lineup, the Shopping Channel’s sales will shoot ratings off the charts. She learns that the annual rooftop party is coming up, and Ivan will be making a big announcement there. Ari must attend a police department function that night, and although she has heard that Ivan is a letch, she is confident that she can handle him on her own. Dana and Megan arrive as the party is in full swing. Dana looks for an opportunity to talk to Ivan over the band, so they move away from the crowd to a corner near the edge of the roof. They’ve barely discussed business when he makes a move on her, and that's when she heads for the dance floor.
Dana begins to feel woozy and… that’s all she wrote. She regains consciousness in the dressing room with Megan hovering over her. That’s when she learns that Ivan is dead. Onlookers had noticed through the crowd of dancers that a scuffle took place by the wall, and then a man vanished. Dana doesn’t remember a thing.
From there, it's all downhill. The wall is too high for a man to simply topple over. Since Ivan’s death is clearly a homicide, Ari is assigned to investigate. Dana had been seen with Ivan near the ledge, but no one saw or heard a thing until he was discovered planted face down on the parking lot below. Dana’s subsequent blood test revealed Rohypnol, the infamous “roofie” date rape drug, in her system. Circumstances prevent Dana and Ari from seeing each other.
Ivan was not a popular man, and the suspects are numerous, including members of his own family, network bigwigs and fellow businessmen present at the party. Ari is still unhappy with Dana for jumping the gun and signing the lease, but that takes a backseat to his having to treat her as a murder suspect. To make matters even worse for Dana, her fellow actors, especially her rival at the playhouse, are not at all sad to see her sidelined.
THE ROOFTOP PARTY is a wickedly entertaining rom-com/murder mystery from start to finish. It promises to be a contender for beach read of the year.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
This could cost Dana the best job she has ever had. She finally makes enough to move out of the tacky West Side digs she shares with Ari, the man she plans to marry. Ari is an NYPD homicide detective who is in line for a promotion, and between them they can easily swing it. In fact, she has just viewed the Upper East Side apartment of their dreams with her best friend, Megan. It has actual windows! And a view! Plus, she has just been promised the lead role in a play being produced by her community playhouse, a step toward her foremost goal of becoming an actress. On an adrenaline high, she goes ahead and signs the lease without talking to Ari about it. But she knows he will be just as happy as she is. Can it get any better?
Back at work, Dana assures her worried boss that she can convince the CEO that by adding an exclusive new makeup to the program lineup, the Shopping Channel’s sales will shoot ratings off the charts. She learns that the annual rooftop party is coming up, and Ivan will be making a big announcement there. Ari must attend a police department function that night, and although she has heard that Ivan is a letch, she is confident that she can handle him on her own. Dana and Megan arrive as the party is in full swing. Dana looks for an opportunity to talk to Ivan over the band, so they move away from the crowd to a corner near the edge of the roof. They’ve barely discussed business when he makes a move on her, and that's when she heads for the dance floor.
Dana begins to feel woozy and… that’s all she wrote. She regains consciousness in the dressing room with Megan hovering over her. That’s when she learns that Ivan is dead. Onlookers had noticed through the crowd of dancers that a scuffle took place by the wall, and then a man vanished. Dana doesn’t remember a thing.
From there, it's all downhill. The wall is too high for a man to simply topple over. Since Ivan’s death is clearly a homicide, Ari is assigned to investigate. Dana had been seen with Ivan near the ledge, but no one saw or heard a thing until he was discovered planted face down on the parking lot below. Dana’s subsequent blood test revealed Rohypnol, the infamous “roofie” date rape drug, in her system. Circumstances prevent Dana and Ari from seeing each other.
Ivan was not a popular man, and the suspects are numerous, including members of his own family, network bigwigs and fellow businessmen present at the party. Ari is still unhappy with Dana for jumping the gun and signing the lease, but that takes a backseat to his having to treat her as a murder suspect. To make matters even worse for Dana, her fellow actors, especially her rival at the playhouse, are not at all sad to see her sidelined.
THE ROOFTOP PARTY is a wickedly entertaining rom-com/murder mystery from start to finish. It promises to be a contender for beach read of the year.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
May 19, 2021
A corporate rooftop party turns into Dana Barry’s biggest nightmare.
Dana is the Shopping Channel’s most popular host, but things are about to turn sour when the company suffers from possible financial ruin. Dana comes up with an idea to save the company, but not everyone sees it that way. At the party, Dana gets into an argument with the CEO who is more interested in Dana than her ideas for the company. During a disagreement, Dana suddenly passes out. When she wakes up, she learns the CEO is dead after falling from the roof.
Dana is scared of what might have happened during the time she blacked out. She wonders if she could have killed the man. She decides to look into things, but she can’t let her police detective boyfriend know or it could compromise his job as well as her innocence.
OMG what a fun ride! I didn’t realize this was a sequel until I started reading. As it turned out, it didn’t matter. I didn’t feel as if I missed anything. In fact, this quickly became my favorite read of 2021, so far. I’ll definitely be going back to read the first one, but I really loved this book.
It's women’s fiction mixed with a touch of Jessica Fletcher. The mystery takes second place to Dana’s story, but it works so well. Dana is a fiesty, wisecracking, weed smoker trying to make a better life for herself. Her journey is filled with laughter and a few tears along the way.
I devoured this book. It’s one of those books where I just wanted to read “one more” chapter, but just could not put it down. I can’t say enough how much I loved this one. It’s a perfect beach read or a fun book to read any time of the year. I now have a new “must read” author to add to my list.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Dana is the Shopping Channel’s most popular host, but things are about to turn sour when the company suffers from possible financial ruin. Dana comes up with an idea to save the company, but not everyone sees it that way. At the party, Dana gets into an argument with the CEO who is more interested in Dana than her ideas for the company. During a disagreement, Dana suddenly passes out. When she wakes up, she learns the CEO is dead after falling from the roof.
Dana is scared of what might have happened during the time she blacked out. She wonders if she could have killed the man. She decides to look into things, but she can’t let her police detective boyfriend know or it could compromise his job as well as her innocence.
OMG what a fun ride! I didn’t realize this was a sequel until I started reading. As it turned out, it didn’t matter. I didn’t feel as if I missed anything. In fact, this quickly became my favorite read of 2021, so far. I’ll definitely be going back to read the first one, but I really loved this book.
It's women’s fiction mixed with a touch of Jessica Fletcher. The mystery takes second place to Dana’s story, but it works so well. Dana is a fiesty, wisecracking, weed smoker trying to make a better life for herself. Her journey is filled with laughter and a few tears along the way.
I devoured this book. It’s one of those books where I just wanted to read “one more” chapter, but just could not put it down. I can’t say enough how much I loved this one. It’s a perfect beach read or a fun book to read any time of the year. I now have a new “must read” author to add to my list.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 31, 2021
Readers first met Dana Barry in Ellen Meister’s 'Love Sold Separately' and she's back in this novel The Rooftop Party. Dana is the Shopping Channel’s most popular host but it's in financial difficulty though Dana has a few ideas to hopefully rectify this. At their corporate rooftop bash to celebrate twenty-five years on air, she heads over to the CEO, Ivan Dennison to talk about a potential new skincare line but he is more interested in her than her suggestions. The next Dana knows of the event is that she passed out, but later learns that Ivan's body was found on the pavement below.
The Rooftop Party is a delightfully blended rom-com with a mystery that results in a highly entertaining read. The characters are interesting and I found Dana fun and feisty as she strove to figure out what happened to Ivan with the help of her funny new assistant Ashlee St. Pierre, a former pageant girl from Tennesee. I also enjoyed the company of Dana's New York City homicide detective boyfriend, Ari Marks.
The plot moved along at a steady gallop, and I enjoyed the backstage glimpses at a tv shopping channel. I didn't read the first book in the series, but I intend to grab a copy though you will still enjoy The Rooftop Party and won't be lost if, like me, you have yet to read book #1. I really hope there is a third book in the offing!
A special thank you to MIRA Books and the author for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request received via NetGalley. This review is my unbiased opinion.
The Rooftop Party is a delightfully blended rom-com with a mystery that results in a highly entertaining read. The characters are interesting and I found Dana fun and feisty as she strove to figure out what happened to Ivan with the help of her funny new assistant Ashlee St. Pierre, a former pageant girl from Tennesee. I also enjoyed the company of Dana's New York City homicide detective boyfriend, Ari Marks.
The plot moved along at a steady gallop, and I enjoyed the backstage glimpses at a tv shopping channel. I didn't read the first book in the series, but I intend to grab a copy though you will still enjoy The Rooftop Party and won't be lost if, like me, you have yet to read book #1. I really hope there is a third book in the offing!
A special thank you to MIRA Books and the author for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request received via NetGalley. This review is my unbiased opinion.
June 17, 2021
Extremely amusing and required reading the entire book at one sitting. Made me miss living in NYC!
August 24, 2022
I wouldn't ordinarily read a book described as a "rom-com/murder mystery" but I read an earlier novel by the author so I decided to give this one a try. (Was it because I recently attended a rooftop party? Maybe?) Anyway, I was right that I'm not the intended audience for a book like this, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the craft that went into writing it. First, I love a story where the protagonist has a credible job. In this case, Dana is a host of a show on "The Shopping Channel," and although I don't watch such things, it all seemed authentic to me. Second, there were enough twists and turns and red herrings to make the mystery interesting. And third, Dana was relatably bad at managing her relationship with her lover. Finally, Dana's curmudgeonly father, although a little over the top, was hilarious. All in all, an entertaining diversion.
August 7, 2023
Whenever I pick up a book and read pretty much straight through it, I feel that it should get a 5 star rating. Now, this book has some adult themes in it, including excessive drug and alcohol use and date rape drugs / sexual assault. However, while the trauma flashbacks were a bit concerning, it was still off beat enough to keep me reading.
And the author added a little twist that gave the mystery a bit more dimension.
All in all, recommended. I liked the first book, too.
And the author added a little twist that gave the mystery a bit more dimension.
All in all, recommended. I liked the first book, too.
May 28, 2021
Intriguing and yet a an easy, quick book to read. I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. It’s not one I would normally select but happy to have won it. Overall, a perfect beach read for summer.
November 15, 2021
It was a good read but is was slow at some parts I am definitely interested in reading other books by this author.
November 29, 2021
This was a murder mystery, almost cozy in its feel where Dana had to figure out the killer and prove her innocence. I liked that unlike other books she didn't take too many of not so intelligent moves. overall, an unexpected investigative read
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
May 27, 2021
If you are someone who enjoys watching the home shopping networks, Ellen Meister's novel The Rooftop Party is a must-read for you. It's the second novel featuring Dana Barry, a successful host on the Shopping Channel, who once again finds herself in the midst of a death at the network.
At a party for the Shopping Network staff, Dana tries to convince Ivan, the new CEO, that her idea of selling a new skin care line is a great idea. Ivan wants to eliminate all the fashion product lines, the bread-and-butter of the Shopping Channel, and sell only electronics. This idea panics the staff as they assume most of their jobs will be eliminated.
As Ivan is hitting on Dana, and grabbing her, the lights suddenly go out and Ivan's body is found on the sidewalk below. Dana doesn't know what happened as someone put something in her drink, and all she remembers is someone pulling her away before she passes out.
Dana's boyfriend, police detective Ari, is called to the scene to investigate. Dana is desperate to find out what happened; what if she was the one who pushed Ivan over the edge? She must find out what Ari knows.
She turns to her assistant Ashlee, a former beauty contestant from Tennesee, to help her uncover what happened at the roof party. Ashlee is my favorite character in the book, she is such a hoot. She always has a hilarious way of saying things- such as "she squeezes a quarter so tight the eagle screams". Ashlee is one smart cookie, and always up for a scheme. She's Ethel to Dana's Lucy.
Another thing I enjoyed was Dana finding a great deal on an apartment on the West Side of Manhattan. When she saw how fabulous it was and what a steal it was, she snatched it up without consulting Ari, even though he would be moving in with her. That infuriated Ari, but as someone who lives in Manhattan, I know Dana made the right decision. You do not wait if you find a good apartment, that is rule number one.
The Rooftop Party is a rom-com mixed with a mystery that adds up to a highly entertaining read. I truly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at a shopping channel, even though I don't usually watch them on TV. The characters are interesting, the plot moved along, and even though I felt the ultimate reveal of the murderer was a bit of a letdown, it is still a terrific book. I didn't read the first book in the series, Love Sold Separately, but I am going to buy it because I like these characters so much. (You will not be lost if you didn't read the first one.) I hope there is a third book coming; who knew working at the Shopping Channel was so dangerous?
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Summer 2021 Women's Fiction Tour.
At a party for the Shopping Network staff, Dana tries to convince Ivan, the new CEO, that her idea of selling a new skin care line is a great idea. Ivan wants to eliminate all the fashion product lines, the bread-and-butter of the Shopping Channel, and sell only electronics. This idea panics the staff as they assume most of their jobs will be eliminated.
As Ivan is hitting on Dana, and grabbing her, the lights suddenly go out and Ivan's body is found on the sidewalk below. Dana doesn't know what happened as someone put something in her drink, and all she remembers is someone pulling her away before she passes out.
Dana's boyfriend, police detective Ari, is called to the scene to investigate. Dana is desperate to find out what happened; what if she was the one who pushed Ivan over the edge? She must find out what Ari knows.
She turns to her assistant Ashlee, a former beauty contestant from Tennesee, to help her uncover what happened at the roof party. Ashlee is my favorite character in the book, she is such a hoot. She always has a hilarious way of saying things- such as "she squeezes a quarter so tight the eagle screams". Ashlee is one smart cookie, and always up for a scheme. She's Ethel to Dana's Lucy.
Another thing I enjoyed was Dana finding a great deal on an apartment on the West Side of Manhattan. When she saw how fabulous it was and what a steal it was, she snatched it up without consulting Ari, even though he would be moving in with her. That infuriated Ari, but as someone who lives in Manhattan, I know Dana made the right decision. You do not wait if you find a good apartment, that is rule number one.
The Rooftop Party is a rom-com mixed with a mystery that adds up to a highly entertaining read. I truly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at a shopping channel, even though I don't usually watch them on TV. The characters are interesting, the plot moved along, and even though I felt the ultimate reveal of the murderer was a bit of a letdown, it is still a terrific book. I didn't read the first book in the series, Love Sold Separately, but I am going to buy it because I like these characters so much. (You will not be lost if you didn't read the first one.) I hope there is a third book coming; who knew working at the Shopping Channel was so dangerous?
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Summer 2021 Women's Fiction Tour.
May 31, 2021
THE ROOFTOP PARTY takes readers to new heights in a fast-paced romantic mystery that is bold, fun and memorable. This is Ellen Meister’s seventh novel, and a sequel to last year’s debut introducing us to heroine Dana Barry, but now Dana’s ability to self-sabotage is next level and way more is at stake.
When we first meet Dana in LOVE SOLD SEPARATELY, she is one of Unemployment's best customers until she somehow lands a dream job as a host at the Shopping Channel. And things start off with a bang. On Dana’s first day the network’s diva host is found dead at her desk, and it is not due to working long hours. That's a lot of D's, and here's another. Enter, the dazzling Detective, Ari Marks, so no wonder Dana doesn’t complain when she ends up on his crime-solving committee. She's just hoping she's not a suspect.
In THE ROOFTOP PARTY, Dana and Ari are now an arresting couple, that get caught up in a different murder. Buh-bye to the lecherous, frankly gross CEO of The Shopping Channel whose octopus hands aim for Dana at the company’s annual rooftop bash. Soon after she rebuffs him, he makes an infuriating announcement about the future of the firm which potentially means layoffs. Then without warning Dana’s drink is spiked, the lights are cut, and the CEO’s body is sent soaring down, down, down to the street. Of course, it’s not the fall that kills him it’s the sudden stop. But who is responsible?
Given that Dana blacked out around the same time the CEO is sent overboard, once again she has to hope she’s not responsible because that wouldn’t be a good look if Detective Ari, now up for a big promotion, has to handcuff the girlfriend he hopes to move in with.
As with the first novel in the Dana Barry series, Ellen Meister also takes us on a madcap ride with her sister, father, best friend/Manager and the acting troupe that is her first passion. What I love about her writing is that like her character, Dana, she has an eye for detail that goes down to what Meister calls a molecular level. She misses nothing especially when it comes to setting the stage so that we are constantly guessing what happens next. Equally satisfying, her deeply flawed heroine, keeps us thoroughly entertained and engaged from beginning to end. She is smart and savvy yet vulnerable and unsure. You not only root for Dana you wish her grit was one of the things she sold on her show.
If you are looking for that perfect beach read, the book that goes great with a pina colada (or two), then cheers. THE ROOFTOP PARTY will bring you all the way to the top and never let you down.
When we first meet Dana in LOVE SOLD SEPARATELY, she is one of Unemployment's best customers until she somehow lands a dream job as a host at the Shopping Channel. And things start off with a bang. On Dana’s first day the network’s diva host is found dead at her desk, and it is not due to working long hours. That's a lot of D's, and here's another. Enter, the dazzling Detective, Ari Marks, so no wonder Dana doesn’t complain when she ends up on his crime-solving committee. She's just hoping she's not a suspect.
In THE ROOFTOP PARTY, Dana and Ari are now an arresting couple, that get caught up in a different murder. Buh-bye to the lecherous, frankly gross CEO of The Shopping Channel whose octopus hands aim for Dana at the company’s annual rooftop bash. Soon after she rebuffs him, he makes an infuriating announcement about the future of the firm which potentially means layoffs. Then without warning Dana’s drink is spiked, the lights are cut, and the CEO’s body is sent soaring down, down, down to the street. Of course, it’s not the fall that kills him it’s the sudden stop. But who is responsible?
Given that Dana blacked out around the same time the CEO is sent overboard, once again she has to hope she’s not responsible because that wouldn’t be a good look if Detective Ari, now up for a big promotion, has to handcuff the girlfriend he hopes to move in with.
As with the first novel in the Dana Barry series, Ellen Meister also takes us on a madcap ride with her sister, father, best friend/Manager and the acting troupe that is her first passion. What I love about her writing is that like her character, Dana, she has an eye for detail that goes down to what Meister calls a molecular level. She misses nothing especially when it comes to setting the stage so that we are constantly guessing what happens next. Equally satisfying, her deeply flawed heroine, keeps us thoroughly entertained and engaged from beginning to end. She is smart and savvy yet vulnerable and unsure. You not only root for Dana you wish her grit was one of the things she sold on her show.
If you are looking for that perfect beach read, the book that goes great with a pina colada (or two), then cheers. THE ROOFTOP PARTY will bring you all the way to the top and never let you down.
June 2, 2021
The Rooftop Party by Ellen Meister is an intriguing women’s fiction with a touch of suspense. The mystery, a corporate rooftop party that turns into Dana Barry’s biggest nightmare, is a background story to her trying to make a better life for herself. Dana is a feisty, wisecracking, weed smoker; traveling on a journey that is filled with laughter and a few tears along the way.
Dana is the Shopping Channel’s most popular host, but things are about to turn sour when the company suffers from possible financial ruin. Dana comes up with an idea to save the company, but not everyone sees it that way. At the party, Dana gets into an argument with the CEO who is more interested in Dana than her ideas for the company. During a disagreement, Dana suddenly passes out. When she wakes up, she learns the CEO is dead after falling from the roof. Dana is frightened of what might have happened during the time she blacked out. She wonders if she could have killed the man. She decides to look into things, but she can’t let her police detective boyfriend, Ari Marks, know or it could compromise his job as well as her innocence. Dana has her new assistant, Ashlee St. Pierre, a former pageant girl from Tennessee help her in finding out what happened to Ivan Dennison, the CEO.
Ms. Meister wrote a wonderful, emotional and heartwarming story that should not be missed. Although the murder mystery played a small part of the story, readers were kept on their toes as to who did it; I miss-guessed a number of times. This a tale was rich with chemistry, fun dialogue, strong friendships, and endearing characters giving Dana peace of mind with her job, a chance for a future with Ari and closure with the death. I highly recommend The Rooftop Party to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Dana is the Shopping Channel’s most popular host, but things are about to turn sour when the company suffers from possible financial ruin. Dana comes up with an idea to save the company, but not everyone sees it that way. At the party, Dana gets into an argument with the CEO who is more interested in Dana than her ideas for the company. During a disagreement, Dana suddenly passes out. When she wakes up, she learns the CEO is dead after falling from the roof. Dana is frightened of what might have happened during the time she blacked out. She wonders if she could have killed the man. She decides to look into things, but she can’t let her police detective boyfriend, Ari Marks, know or it could compromise his job as well as her innocence. Dana has her new assistant, Ashlee St. Pierre, a former pageant girl from Tennessee help her in finding out what happened to Ivan Dennison, the CEO.
Ms. Meister wrote a wonderful, emotional and heartwarming story that should not be missed. Although the murder mystery played a small part of the story, readers were kept on their toes as to who did it; I miss-guessed a number of times. This a tale was rich with chemistry, fun dialogue, strong friendships, and endearing characters giving Dana peace of mind with her job, a chance for a future with Ari and closure with the death. I highly recommend The Rooftop Party to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
May 26, 2021
A fun premise with a horrible main character.
Dana is the Number One host on the Shopping Chanel, a temporary situation until she can be a star! She channels all her acting talent into talking people into buying her wares. When a new owner takes over, there is a huge worry that the channel would end. During the company's rooftop party, Dana plans to pitch an idea that wild save the: skincare. But this boss doesn't care about ideas only unseeing if he can get lucky with her. She pushed off and make it clear she is not interested. Shortly after that she joins her friends and the lights go off and when they are raised, someone has pushed the new CEO off the roof. But Dana is unaware as she has blacked out. Now she needs the truth no matter where it leads.
I didn't like the main character. She made stupid decisions that just magically fixed themselves. Her boyfriend is a cop but every movement she laughs at his job by sneaking in places and breaking laws because she doesn't want to share the truth with him. I had no sympathy for her when she couldn't do a local play while doing her shopping channel job where she signed a contract stating she wouldn't.
I enjoyed the mystery though. Ellen Meister weaves us through a variety of scenarios of who might have killed her boss. I personally had a guess and was glad the author did 't go for such an obvious choice. This was something I like, but we weren't given enough clues until the very end to figure out the actual killer. Make of that what you will. (I'm one of those that likes following clues to figure out the killer.)
Overall, this book is vapid and full of tropes. Not something I will ever reread.
I received an ARC for review: all opinions are my own.
Dana is the Number One host on the Shopping Chanel, a temporary situation until she can be a star! She channels all her acting talent into talking people into buying her wares. When a new owner takes over, there is a huge worry that the channel would end. During the company's rooftop party, Dana plans to pitch an idea that wild save the: skincare. But this boss doesn't care about ideas only unseeing if he can get lucky with her. She pushed off and make it clear she is not interested. Shortly after that she joins her friends and the lights go off and when they are raised, someone has pushed the new CEO off the roof. But Dana is unaware as she has blacked out. Now she needs the truth no matter where it leads.
I didn't like the main character. She made stupid decisions that just magically fixed themselves. Her boyfriend is a cop but every movement she laughs at his job by sneaking in places and breaking laws because she doesn't want to share the truth with him. I had no sympathy for her when she couldn't do a local play while doing her shopping channel job where she signed a contract stating she wouldn't.
I enjoyed the mystery though. Ellen Meister weaves us through a variety of scenarios of who might have killed her boss. I personally had a guess and was glad the author did 't go for such an obvious choice. This was something I like, but we weren't given enough clues until the very end to figure out the actual killer. Make of that what you will. (I'm one of those that likes following clues to figure out the killer.)
Overall, this book is vapid and full of tropes. Not something I will ever reread.
I received an ARC for review: all opinions are my own.
June 17, 2021
For a hoopla book, this is closer to 4-stars (for hoopla) but against all books it’s more like a low 3 for me.
A great little find, nevertheless. It has a light “Agatha Christie vibe” with an air of chic-lit, which I needed after a string of flops.
Note: I didn’t know this was a #2 in the series… I won’t be reading #1
The main character is not very likable (I wouldn’t want to be her friend) but she is fairly realistic, which I can appreciate. I also can’t believe how much I liked that this story involved HSN! Except for a celebrity movie (Mother’s Day!?) where Julia Robert’s played a HSN hawker (err host), I haven’t had experience with a character or story doing that job, and enjoyed it here.
I also thought this story felt pretty fresh even though the backbones of the story are the same ol’
Why isn’t my rating higher? 🤷🏻♀️ character development was very shallow OR it seemed off at times. For example one character becomes an all-out alcoholic junkie; drinking and taking loads of pills non-stop; her friend basically does an intervention, she sobers up and then it’s over/never an issue again… prior the character showed no signs of substance abuse issues. Other characters were very cardboard and I often struggled to understand why anyone behaved or thought the way they did… “lacks emotional connection, especially for the reader”. This is also more of a slow burn with a very slow simmer.
SUMMARY: aspiring actress Dana lands job selling on HSN. She has a cop boyfriend and an asshole dad. At a work party (on the roof) the gross CEO comes on to her.
The next thing she remembers is waking up on the floor. She learned that there was a power outage and during that time, the CEO fell to his death. Suspicions arise as to who pushed him. Dana starts investigating primarily because she is worried she might have done it in her blackout (her blood work reveals she’d been five rohypnol). This causes tension at work and also damages her relationship when she snoops through cop boyfriends work files.
Eventually in a very “scooby do” ending the murderer is revealed and Dana has a happy ending, complete with finally being done trying to impress her asshole father.
A great little find, nevertheless. It has a light “Agatha Christie vibe” with an air of chic-lit, which I needed after a string of flops.
Note: I didn’t know this was a #2 in the series… I won’t be reading #1
The main character is not very likable (I wouldn’t want to be her friend) but she is fairly realistic, which I can appreciate. I also can’t believe how much I liked that this story involved HSN! Except for a celebrity movie (Mother’s Day!?) where Julia Robert’s played a HSN hawker (err host), I haven’t had experience with a character or story doing that job, and enjoyed it here.
I also thought this story felt pretty fresh even though the backbones of the story are the same ol’
Why isn’t my rating higher? 🤷🏻♀️ character development was very shallow OR it seemed off at times. For example one character becomes an all-out alcoholic junkie; drinking and taking loads of pills non-stop; her friend basically does an intervention, she sobers up and then it’s over/never an issue again… prior the character showed no signs of substance abuse issues. Other characters were very cardboard and I often struggled to understand why anyone behaved or thought the way they did… “lacks emotional connection, especially for the reader”. This is also more of a slow burn with a very slow simmer.
SUMMARY: aspiring actress Dana lands job selling on HSN. She has a cop boyfriend and an asshole dad. At a work party (on the roof) the gross CEO comes on to her.
The next thing she remembers is waking up on the floor. She learned that there was a power outage and during that time, the CEO fell to his death. Suspicions arise as to who pushed him. Dana starts investigating primarily because she is worried she might have done it in her blackout (her blood work reveals she’d been five rohypnol). This causes tension at work and also damages her relationship when she snoops through cop boyfriends work files.
Eventually in a very “scooby do” ending the murderer is revealed and Dana has a happy ending, complete with finally being done trying to impress her asshole father.
June 8, 2021
I wish I could have given this 3.5 stars because I liked more than I didn't like.
LIKES
• The mystery itself. I spent most of the book smugly confident I was smarter than the NYPD and our heroine because the murderer was so OBVIOUS. I was wrong. I love being fooled like this, especially when all the evidence is there.
• The unique workplace setting. I've watched shopping channels on occasion (usually in hotels when it's the first channel that comes on when you turn on the TV). My mom watched HSN all the time. So learning about life within this quasi-showbiz marketing machine was interesting.
• The dialog! Ms. Meister has a very good ear. It's funny without being silly and jokey.
• Our heroine. At times Dana really, really annoyed me. I realize that at those times, she was doing something I would do in that situation, and then regret it. What a realistic, complex character.
• I loved the cover art. Orange and yellow and black and teal! Does this make me shallow? Guilty as charged.
DISLIKES
• Dana has Daddy issues. Whatever. Either draw his character dimensionally or give him a smaller role.
• There's a scene where Dana acts like Hercule Poirot, confronting suspects in a very public forum. Good drama, I suppose, but annoying because a cop is present. Am I really supposed to believe he wouldn't have shut that down and taken it downtown?
• Suspension of disbelief. Dana is recognized in bars and on the street by her viewing public. Yet all she has to do is change her name and no one realizes she's the actress they're seeing on stage in a small theater? C'mon! Even Superman bothered to add glasses for his Clark Kent identity.
Not every romantic, cozy mystery inspires this much thought on my part, so it's a good book. It's just not as good as I wanted it to be.
LIKES
• The mystery itself. I spent most of the book smugly confident I was smarter than the NYPD and our heroine because the murderer was so OBVIOUS. I was wrong. I love being fooled like this, especially when all the evidence is there.
• The unique workplace setting. I've watched shopping channels on occasion (usually in hotels when it's the first channel that comes on when you turn on the TV). My mom watched HSN all the time. So learning about life within this quasi-showbiz marketing machine was interesting.
• The dialog! Ms. Meister has a very good ear. It's funny without being silly and jokey.
• Our heroine. At times Dana really, really annoyed me. I realize that at those times, she was doing something I would do in that situation, and then regret it. What a realistic, complex character.
• I loved the cover art. Orange and yellow and black and teal! Does this make me shallow? Guilty as charged.
DISLIKES
• Dana has Daddy issues. Whatever. Either draw his character dimensionally or give him a smaller role.
• There's a scene where Dana acts like Hercule Poirot, confronting suspects in a very public forum. Good drama, I suppose, but annoying because a cop is present. Am I really supposed to believe he wouldn't have shut that down and taken it downtown?
• Suspension of disbelief. Dana is recognized in bars and on the street by her viewing public. Yet all she has to do is change her name and no one realizes she's the actress they're seeing on stage in a small theater? C'mon! Even Superman bothered to add glasses for his Clark Kent identity.
Not every romantic, cozy mystery inspires this much thought on my part, so it's a good book. It's just not as good as I wanted it to be.
May 11, 2021
Thank you @_mira_books_ and @harlequinbooks for my complementary copy. All opinions are my own !
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#rooftopparty #ellenmeister #harliquin
Format : #advancereaderscopy #paperback Pages :332
Available: #may25 2021
Genre: #fiction
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Synopsis:
In this witty and engaging novel, Dana Barry, the Shopping Channel’s star host, stops by the company’s rooftop party to pitch the new CEO her brilliant idea that just might save the flagging business, her job and possibly her love life..As she chats with the smarmy executive, he backs her into a dark corner. For Dana, it’s a quid pro oh-hell-no. She escapes his lecherous grasp and grabs her drink on her way to the dance floor. Woozy, she blacks out.When she comes to, the CEO is dead, fallen from the roof. Or was he pushed? And if so, by whom? It’s hard to know, but one thing is certain: Dana was close enough to be suspect.Sure, she loathed how the creep moved in on her, but she’s no killer. Or is she? Truth is, Dana can’t remember much about those minutes. Now she has to use all her skills to prove her innocence to everyone, including her police detective boyfriend—and herself
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MY THOUGHTS: If you love your mystery books, but don't really like the heavy murder then this book is perfect for you !. I loved the characters . Fast pacing and lots of twist to keep you reading. It's a second book in the series but honestly you don't need the first book. It's an engaging who dun it and YOU really feel like you're tagging along with the characters trying to solve who killed the CEO. Lots of laughs as well .
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My Rating: ☆☆☆☆
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May 20, 2021
In Ellen Meister’s Love Sold Separately, readers were introduced to Dana Barry and her attempts to figure out her new career and who murdered The Shopping Channel’s star host. The Rooftop Party, which is set to be released on May 25th, serves as a follow-up to Dana’s story and her attempts to help solve another murder at work.
Dana Barry (aka my favorite hot mess of a character) is back and it was so refreshing to read this continuation of her story! While there were some points where I just wanted to throttle Dana and ask her “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?” I still love her as a character and thoroughly enjoyed stepping back into her thoughts for a book. The plot was engaging and moved along really well and I really enjoyed seeing both old and new characters join this series. The murder mystery itself wasn’t too predictable and will keep readers trying to figure out whodunnit.
As a native New Yorker, I also loved reading about places both in Manhattan and Long Island that I was familiar with. However, even if the setting of the novel isn’t familiar to you, any reader will enjoy exploring New York one mystery clue at a time.
If you're looking for a sarcastic and entertaining main character who will make you want to laugh at but also knock some sense into, then this is the book for you! For people looking to dip their toes into the mystery genre, both The Rooftop Party and Love Sold Separately are fabulous choices!
*I received an ARC from Mira Books in exchange for my honest opinion.
Dana Barry (aka my favorite hot mess of a character) is back and it was so refreshing to read this continuation of her story! While there were some points where I just wanted to throttle Dana and ask her “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?” I still love her as a character and thoroughly enjoyed stepping back into her thoughts for a book. The plot was engaging and moved along really well and I really enjoyed seeing both old and new characters join this series. The murder mystery itself wasn’t too predictable and will keep readers trying to figure out whodunnit.
As a native New Yorker, I also loved reading about places both in Manhattan and Long Island that I was familiar with. However, even if the setting of the novel isn’t familiar to you, any reader will enjoy exploring New York one mystery clue at a time.
If you're looking for a sarcastic and entertaining main character who will make you want to laugh at but also knock some sense into, then this is the book for you! For people looking to dip their toes into the mystery genre, both The Rooftop Party and Love Sold Separately are fabulous choices!
*I received an ARC from Mira Books in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 13, 2021
ROOFTOP PARTY by Ellen Meister
To paraphrase an old saying, when woman plans, the fates laugh. Things are going well for Dana, introducing a splendid new line of cosmetics, impressing the board, finding an amazing and affordable new apartment, all so good — and a sure sign that trouble is brewing. New management bodes ill for everyone’s job security, and the new manager is a predatory pig. Tightening of rules threatens Dana’s informal permission to act with her theater group, the “side job” that is her true passion.
Then there’s the rooftop party, a reminder to me of drinks on the top of the 51-story IDS Tower in Minneapolis (MTM threw her hat up in front of it). Disaster! Fair warning to us all, watch your drinks! Don’t accept drinks from anyone you don’t know and trust. Watch out for friends. Dana especially needs very watchful friends and she is fortunate in having good, caring friends and family, through sickness, injury, suspicion, heartbreak . . . Never a dull moment in this book, and now I want more time with these fun, crazy, witty people.
Oh and the chartered bus ride — I once had to take a bus from JFK to LaGuardia and found the ride through neighborhoods an unexpected bonus. Sometimes, no matter the reasons or troubles, it’s good to sit back, admire the scenery, and enjoy the ride. I enjoyed every minute of this splendid book, and I do hope there’ll be another, soon please.
To paraphrase an old saying, when woman plans, the fates laugh. Things are going well for Dana, introducing a splendid new line of cosmetics, impressing the board, finding an amazing and affordable new apartment, all so good — and a sure sign that trouble is brewing. New management bodes ill for everyone’s job security, and the new manager is a predatory pig. Tightening of rules threatens Dana’s informal permission to act with her theater group, the “side job” that is her true passion.
Then there’s the rooftop party, a reminder to me of drinks on the top of the 51-story IDS Tower in Minneapolis (MTM threw her hat up in front of it). Disaster! Fair warning to us all, watch your drinks! Don’t accept drinks from anyone you don’t know and trust. Watch out for friends. Dana especially needs very watchful friends and she is fortunate in having good, caring friends and family, through sickness, injury, suspicion, heartbreak . . . Never a dull moment in this book, and now I want more time with these fun, crazy, witty people.
Oh and the chartered bus ride — I once had to take a bus from JFK to LaGuardia and found the ride through neighborhoods an unexpected bonus. Sometimes, no matter the reasons or troubles, it’s good to sit back, admire the scenery, and enjoy the ride. I enjoyed every minute of this splendid book, and I do hope there’ll be another, soon please.
April 26, 2021
An office Christmas celebration goes spectacularly wrong in The Rooftop Party, the sequel to the delightful Love Sold Separately, featuring Dana Barry, superstar of the Shopping Channel.
When Dana wakes up after the party, she realizes she was overserved and, as it turns out, Roofied, so she has only vague memories of the gathering. Unfortunately, Ivan Dennison, the new and unpopular CEO who hit on Dana earlier in the evening is dead. He was pushed off the roof while Dana was unconscious. Could she have been responsible? Of course, she can’t tell Ari Marks, her boyfriend and police detective, that he should consider her a suspect so she tries to find the killer by herself, aided by her new assistant Ashlee St. Pierre. Of course, this does not go well. There will be damage to several relationships, injuries, threats and lots of family drama before the satisfying conclusion.
I want more! I love pot smoking, wine drinking Dana. I wanted to buy the entire Reluven line after Dana’s sales pitch to the Board of Directors. I want Ashlee to have her own series. I want to know whether Dana chooses acting or selling. Ellen Meister, please write faster! And for anyone reading this review, run to the nearest library or bookstore and get The Rooftop Party. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and Ellen Meister for this ARC.
When Dana wakes up after the party, she realizes she was overserved and, as it turns out, Roofied, so she has only vague memories of the gathering. Unfortunately, Ivan Dennison, the new and unpopular CEO who hit on Dana earlier in the evening is dead. He was pushed off the roof while Dana was unconscious. Could she have been responsible? Of course, she can’t tell Ari Marks, her boyfriend and police detective, that he should consider her a suspect so she tries to find the killer by herself, aided by her new assistant Ashlee St. Pierre. Of course, this does not go well. There will be damage to several relationships, injuries, threats and lots of family drama before the satisfying conclusion.
I want more! I love pot smoking, wine drinking Dana. I wanted to buy the entire Reluven line after Dana’s sales pitch to the Board of Directors. I want Ashlee to have her own series. I want to know whether Dana chooses acting or selling. Ellen Meister, please write faster! And for anyone reading this review, run to the nearest library or bookstore and get The Rooftop Party. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and Ellen Meister for this ARC.
July 26, 2021
This second entry from Ellen Meister in the Dana Barry series was a fun romp through the world of a character on the brink. Dana is always on the edge of something--joy, despair, smart decisions, bad decisions, discovery, even finding murderers--and she whirls from one to another with breakneck speed. She's not very good at relationships, but she tries. However if she wants something, she grabs it and deals with the consequences later. Watching Dana step into and out of her own way is as much a part of this book as watching her solve the mystery. And in this book, she literally trips herself up and winds up in a cast.
In this book, Dana wants (needs) to prove a few things about herself TO herself, and the processes of doing so are in conflict not only with other things going on in her life but with each other. She manages to keep all the balls in the air until the very end, when they come down and she cleverly deals with the fallout. She solves the mystery, as we know she must, but we are still left wondering--how long will it be until she steps into the next situation and gets herself all tangled up again.
Witty, fun, fast-paced and set at a fictional shopping channel, a whole interesting world in its own right, The Rooftop Party is perfect for the summer!
In this book, Dana wants (needs) to prove a few things about herself TO herself, and the processes of doing so are in conflict not only with other things going on in her life but with each other. She manages to keep all the balls in the air until the very end, when they come down and she cleverly deals with the fallout. She solves the mystery, as we know she must, but we are still left wondering--how long will it be until she steps into the next situation and gets herself all tangled up again.
Witty, fun, fast-paced and set at a fictional shopping channel, a whole interesting world in its own right, The Rooftop Party is perfect for the summer!
June 1, 2021
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I had never read any books by Ellen Meister before but as soon as I read the blurb and the murder mystery aspect of it - I was excited to get my hands on it. This was such a fun read and could easily be great for a summer beach read as it could be seen as both a mystery and rom-com in some ways. I felt that the interactions between Dana and Ari were handled really well and done in a very realistic manner, which made their relationship super easy to root for. I did realize part of the way in (and checked) that this is a sequel, but I don't think having not read that book impacted my reading or experience at all - and I'm not sure if I would go back to read the previous book as I really enjoyed this one on its own. The plot moved along really fast and I loved Meister's writing, it just made it one of those books that I had a hard time putting down since I was really enjoying it and wanted to know what was going to happen.
I had never read any books by Ellen Meister before but as soon as I read the blurb and the murder mystery aspect of it - I was excited to get my hands on it. This was such a fun read and could easily be great for a summer beach read as it could be seen as both a mystery and rom-com in some ways. I felt that the interactions between Dana and Ari were handled really well and done in a very realistic manner, which made their relationship super easy to root for. I did realize part of the way in (and checked) that this is a sequel, but I don't think having not read that book impacted my reading or experience at all - and I'm not sure if I would go back to read the previous book as I really enjoyed this one on its own. The plot moved along really fast and I loved Meister's writing, it just made it one of those books that I had a hard time putting down since I was really enjoying it and wanted to know what was going to happen.
October 29, 2024
This one was a bit of a chore for me. I don’t think the whodunnit element was particularly well handled to begin with but that was compounded by simply not caring. The book went above and beyond in talking up (down?) the victim as the worst human on the planet and when he was murdered, my only thought was ‘that’s a relief, moving on’. And that feeling deflated any tension that the story had. Literally every character had a mountain of reasons to want the victim dead and killing him was bordering on self defense. The book gave no indication that the killer had a taste for blood and was going to kill again. The matter at least felt settled in the beginning of the book and the rest felt like milling about and pretending something was going to happen.
At first I was at least enjoying spending more time with the characters that I adored in the first book, but the writing also felt a bit flat this time around. The drama felt forced and wasn’t very engaging.
At first I was at least enjoying spending more time with the characters that I adored in the first book, but the writing also felt a bit flat this time around. The drama felt forced and wasn’t very engaging.
May 13, 2021
This story had everything murder, drugs, family drama, relationship issues, and a boatload of other fun intrigues.
Dana Barry is a shopping channel star seller who dreams of being an actress one day. But an air-tight contract and the possibility she may have murder someone just may keep her from fulfilling those dreams.
This story had so much drama I thought it was a script from a soap opera. What I didn't know was this was a continuation of a previous book starring Dana Barry. Even so, that did not distract from this one. I read it as if it were a stand-alone story because in many ways it was.
I got so wrapped up in Dana's story though there were times I wanted to smack her and tell her to grow up. But overall this story was fun and lead me on a merry chase trying to discover who was the real murder.
Definitely a great read to even a lazy afternoon.
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