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Detective Kate Rosetti Mystery #1
Shoot the Breeze
Listening Length 7 hours and 49 minutes
Welcome to St. Paul, Minnesota—home to strong coffee, deadly winters, and Detective Kate Rosetti—a rising star in the local homicide department. When a young woman turns up dead along the Mississippi River in her latest assignment, Detective Rosetti quickly realizes it’s the work of a notorious cross-country serial killer.
To complicate matters, Kate’s troublemaking sister turns up out of the blue in need of a place to live. An strikingly handsome FBI Agent appears at the crime scene, convinced this case belongs to him. And a certain British billionaire is a little too interested in the murder… and in Kate.
As she begins to close in on the killer, the investigation takes a turn for the personal. It’s one riddle after the next, and if Kate can’t sort out the murderer’s identity before his next kill, she’ll be up next on the autopsy table.
Welcome to St. Paul, Minnesota—home to strong coffee, deadly winters, and Detective Kate Rosetti—a rising star in the local homicide department. When a young woman turns up dead along the Mississippi River in her latest assignment, Detective Rosetti quickly realizes it’s the work of a notorious cross-country serial killer.
To complicate matters, Kate’s troublemaking sister turns up out of the blue in need of a place to live. An strikingly handsome FBI Agent appears at the crime scene, convinced this case belongs to him. And a certain British billionaire is a little too interested in the murder… and in Kate.
As she begins to close in on the killer, the investigation takes a turn for the personal. It’s one riddle after the next, and if Kate can’t sort out the murderer’s identity before his next kill, she’ll be up next on the autopsy table.
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 27, 2020
1986 people are currently reading
1376 people want to read
About the author
Gina LaManna
72 books1,463 followersOriginally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Gina LaManna has also called Italy and Los Angeles home. After studying numbers and equations in college, she realized multiple choice tests were “just not for her” and began writing books instead. She loves cappuccino foam and whipped cream and would subsist solely on sprinkles if possible. She currently lives in St. Paul with her wonderful husband and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
January 23, 2023
This was perfect mindless entertainment. I felt rejuvenated after ending the book and have immediately started on the next book in the series. Detective Rosetti is a very enjoyable character. Headstrong, funny and brave. I also liked that she’s holding back when it comes to romance, it makes it more interesting. The plot was engaging and not too complex. I had a lot of fun reading it!
June 1, 2022
This was certainly fun to read. Narrated in first person by Detective Kate Mosetti of the St. Paul, Minnesota police, this story of a murder investigation is told in the manner of a police procedural that draws in elements of family drama and possibly romantic relationships. At the same time, thanks to the author's adroit story structure, for me it also satisfies the criteria for a classical mystery. When the team's detective work finally identifies the killer, I was just as surprised as Kate and wondered with her how I could have missed those clues!
And it was fascinating to get the perspective from St. Paul, which after all is the state's capital, on its relationship with that larger and better known city that borders it, Minneapolis. Kate's a homicide detective at the West Seventh Street precinct in St. Paul, next door to her mother's coffee shop, but she's also assigned to the Twin Cities Task Force. Questions of police jurisdiction, how cases are handled, etc., get only a light touch because there's strong evidence that the murderer has killed other victims in other states, and here comes Special Agent Jack Russo of the FBI tracking his serial killer to wintry St. Paul.
Well, Russo and Rosetti team up after a fashion, as Russo's authoritarian approach to local police meets Kate Rosetti's bristly personality...and can't you just see the romance starting? Kate's problematic sister Jane turns out to be important to the plot, in ways that add to the mystery, so all the scenes of sibling conflict aren't really wasted. Kate's lucky her much older partner Jimmy tolerates her (just hanging in till retirement), and her rudeness often crimps interviews with suspects. To some extent she acknowledges this, so we go along with her for the ride.
I had a good deal of trouble, though, with the author's decision to bring in that overused character the Handsome Young Billionaire who inexplicably develops a keen interest in Kate. Instantly we ask what this guy is up to, and Kate wonders too from time to time when she's not being lost to his charms. He seems to function as a potential alternative to the potential romance with Russo, but--with his sumptuous new nightclub where everything seems to happen--he's also a key figure in the investigation. Others lose no time questioning Kate's judgment, and as expected she bristles.
So the story line was quite enjoyable, and the interpersonal relationships had their ups and downs. All in all I liked this book, which translates to three stars in Goodreads' code.
And it was fascinating to get the perspective from St. Paul, which after all is the state's capital, on its relationship with that larger and better known city that borders it, Minneapolis. Kate's a homicide detective at the West Seventh Street precinct in St. Paul, next door to her mother's coffee shop, but she's also assigned to the Twin Cities Task Force. Questions of police jurisdiction, how cases are handled, etc., get only a light touch because there's strong evidence that the murderer has killed other victims in other states, and here comes Special Agent Jack Russo of the FBI tracking his serial killer to wintry St. Paul.
Well, Russo and Rosetti team up after a fashion, as Russo's authoritarian approach to local police meets Kate Rosetti's bristly personality...and can't you just see the romance starting? Kate's problematic sister Jane turns out to be important to the plot, in ways that add to the mystery, so all the scenes of sibling conflict aren't really wasted. Kate's lucky her much older partner Jimmy tolerates her (just hanging in till retirement), and her rudeness often crimps interviews with suspects. To some extent she acknowledges this, so we go along with her for the ride.
I had a good deal of trouble, though, with the author's decision to bring in that overused character the Handsome Young Billionaire who inexplicably develops a keen interest in Kate. Instantly we ask what this guy is up to, and Kate wonders too from time to time when she's not being lost to his charms. He seems to function as a potential alternative to the potential romance with Russo, but--with his sumptuous new nightclub where everything seems to happen--he's also a key figure in the investigation. Others lose no time questioning Kate's judgment, and as expected she bristles.
So the story line was quite enjoyable, and the interpersonal relationships had their ups and downs. All in all I liked this book, which translates to three stars in Goodreads' code.
May 10, 2020
Shoot the Breeze is another great start to a new series by Gina LaManna! It’s a bit grittier than her other series, but even with them chasing down a serial killer, it’s still on the mild side.
This was a fast read and has a love triangle that I am actually excited to see where it goes (I’m rooting for the Billionaire!)… which says a lot for me since I’m not a huge fan of love triangles.
LaManna does a fabulous job with character development, having the side characters being just as in depth as the main ones. And the book’s location in Minnesota is also a character in the story when it comes to the weather and customs. I really enjoyed reading about Kate’s Italian heritage too, and how her family interacts and are supportive in their own ways.
As for the mystery, I didn’t guess the killer, so that always makes me happy! Already looking forward to book two in the series, Riddle Me This.
This was a fast read and has a love triangle that I am actually excited to see where it goes (I’m rooting for the Billionaire!)… which says a lot for me since I’m not a huge fan of love triangles.
LaManna does a fabulous job with character development, having the side characters being just as in depth as the main ones. And the book’s location in Minnesota is also a character in the story when it comes to the weather and customs. I really enjoyed reading about Kate’s Italian heritage too, and how her family interacts and are supportive in their own ways.
As for the mystery, I didn’t guess the killer, so that always makes me happy! Already looking forward to book two in the series, Riddle Me This.
April 2, 2020
Kate Rosetti, first heroine from Lamanna I didn't like
This is a review I didn't want to write. I love this author and her many series. I love how she writes female leads. That being said, I did NOT like Kate. She is entirely to prickly, she was wishy washy about her feelings and goodbye treated Gem and Russo. I loved Jimmy her partner. Her mom was a little over the top, but loveable. I even liked the barista Elizabeth whom we barely know more than the main character. I'm not thrilled with love triangles, especially when they drag out. I'm hoping that isn't the case with this series. The last couple of chapters seemed to be better, as far as her personality. I love strong, independent, smart leads. Kate was rash, judgemental, brash, and was reckless with her safety to try to prove she was independent. Russo and Gem both handsome, successful and easy going. There is zero reason they should have had anything to do with Kate after their first meetings with her. Apart from being pretty, she was mean to them and accusatory. The author didn't give us one reason why either Gem or Russo would want to pursue her, other than looks, and yet they did. There is no way an FBI agent would step aside and let her run an investigation into someone he has been after for years. I gave it three stars because it is written well, it flows, is easy to read and has a couple twists. The premise is interesting and I genuinely loved the other characters in this book. I'm hoping book two is a heck of a lot better. I'm a huge fan of Lacey Luzzi series, magic and mixology series, hex files series and Lola Pink series. This review hurt to write.
This is a review I didn't want to write. I love this author and her many series. I love how she writes female leads. That being said, I did NOT like Kate. She is entirely to prickly, she was wishy washy about her feelings and goodbye treated Gem and Russo. I loved Jimmy her partner. Her mom was a little over the top, but loveable. I even liked the barista Elizabeth whom we barely know more than the main character. I'm not thrilled with love triangles, especially when they drag out. I'm hoping that isn't the case with this series. The last couple of chapters seemed to be better, as far as her personality. I love strong, independent, smart leads. Kate was rash, judgemental, brash, and was reckless with her safety to try to prove she was independent. Russo and Gem both handsome, successful and easy going. There is zero reason they should have had anything to do with Kate after their first meetings with her. Apart from being pretty, she was mean to them and accusatory. The author didn't give us one reason why either Gem or Russo would want to pursue her, other than looks, and yet they did. There is no way an FBI agent would step aside and let her run an investigation into someone he has been after for years. I gave it three stars because it is written well, it flows, is easy to read and has a couple twists. The premise is interesting and I genuinely loved the other characters in this book. I'm hoping book two is a heck of a lot better. I'm a huge fan of Lacey Luzzi series, magic and mixology series, hex files series and Lola Pink series. This review hurt to write.
October 4, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Winter in Minnesota can be bitterly cold, and so can a serial killer. A killer who has left his latest victim along the banks of the mighty Mississippi. Detective Kate Rosetti catches the case, but soon Agent Jack Russo of the FBI claims the case is his, but that he is willing to work with Kate and her partner, Detective Jimmy Jones. British billionaire Alastair Gem has a connection to the case and also an interest in Kate.
Soon, the complex case starts hitting way too close to home for Kate. Will she be able to take down the killer? Or will she be their next victim?
Kate Rosetti is a force, a woman you don’t want to mess with. She is strong-willed and can be abrasive, but she is determined to find the truth. You never want to get between her and her caffeine fix, either. Her partner, Jimmy, is a kind soul and a great cop, holding on until he can retire. He and Kate have a rhythm and understanding. They work well together and look out for each other. Agent Jack Russo crashes onto the scene and into Kate’s case, so the relationship had a rocky start but evolved over the course of the story. Billionaire Alastair Gem is an interesting character with a diverse background and business sense. His relationship with Kate also evolves as the murder mystery plays out. We also meet Kate’s sister, Jane, whose life is in flux but has a surprising twist. Kate’s mother, Annie, owns and operates the Seventh Street Cafe next to the police station. She can be a little over the top, but she brings a lot of humor to the story.
Chasing down a serial killer is not easy, but Kate, Jimmy, and Russo are used to hard cases. The billionaire’s nightclub is the place where most of the clues converge, but they followed every clue wherever it led, which didn’t make the killer happy. When the information finally came through to pin down the killer, Kate finds herself with a door between her and a person she needs to save, and the killer. The way Ms. LaManna plotted out this mystery was excellent. The serial killer was not even on my suspect list. I love it when that happens.
I am mad at myself for not diving into this series when this book was released. Shoot the Breeze gives this series a super start. Kate Rosetti is a protagonist I can get behind and root for. This mystery was well-plotted and written. The frigid winter weather of St. Paul could be felt, almost like another character in the story. I am excited to continue reading this series. Riddle Me This is waiting, not so patiently, on my Kindle Paperwhite. I am going to squeeze it in as soon as I can.
*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Winter in Minnesota can be bitterly cold, and so can a serial killer. A killer who has left his latest victim along the banks of the mighty Mississippi. Detective Kate Rosetti catches the case, but soon Agent Jack Russo of the FBI claims the case is his, but that he is willing to work with Kate and her partner, Detective Jimmy Jones. British billionaire Alastair Gem has a connection to the case and also an interest in Kate.
Soon, the complex case starts hitting way too close to home for Kate. Will she be able to take down the killer? Or will she be their next victim?
Kate Rosetti is a force, a woman you don’t want to mess with. She is strong-willed and can be abrasive, but she is determined to find the truth. You never want to get between her and her caffeine fix, either. Her partner, Jimmy, is a kind soul and a great cop, holding on until he can retire. He and Kate have a rhythm and understanding. They work well together and look out for each other. Agent Jack Russo crashes onto the scene and into Kate’s case, so the relationship had a rocky start but evolved over the course of the story. Billionaire Alastair Gem is an interesting character with a diverse background and business sense. His relationship with Kate also evolves as the murder mystery plays out. We also meet Kate’s sister, Jane, whose life is in flux but has a surprising twist. Kate’s mother, Annie, owns and operates the Seventh Street Cafe next to the police station. She can be a little over the top, but she brings a lot of humor to the story.
Chasing down a serial killer is not easy, but Kate, Jimmy, and Russo are used to hard cases. The billionaire’s nightclub is the place where most of the clues converge, but they followed every clue wherever it led, which didn’t make the killer happy. When the information finally came through to pin down the killer, Kate finds herself with a door between her and a person she needs to save, and the killer. The way Ms. LaManna plotted out this mystery was excellent. The serial killer was not even on my suspect list. I love it when that happens.
I am mad at myself for not diving into this series when this book was released. Shoot the Breeze gives this series a super start. Kate Rosetti is a protagonist I can get behind and root for. This mystery was well-plotted and written. The frigid winter weather of St. Paul could be felt, almost like another character in the story. I am excited to continue reading this series. Riddle Me This is waiting, not so patiently, on my Kindle Paperwhite. I am going to squeeze it in as soon as I can.
*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Read
March 29, 2022Dnf 54%
October 7, 2021
The start of a fun, light detective series. Kate Rosetti is the smartass detective. She's joined by a sassy cast of characters that include her family, her partner and friends. There's also a possible love interest with movie star handsome FBI agent/Jack Russo in the works. But he's not the only one interested in Kate in this story. The hunt for a murderer took some decent twists and turns. Enough to keep me guessing.This series has some great reviews, so much so that I'm intrigued enough to move on to the next book.
March 27, 2020
Another winner!
Yet another winner from Gina LaManna!! You’ll love Kate,Jane, Jimmy, Russo, and Gem. Page turner that’ll keep you up late into the night. I’m looking forward to more mysteries with Kate.
Yet another winner from Gina LaManna!! You’ll love Kate,Jane, Jimmy, Russo, and Gem. Page turner that’ll keep you up late into the night. I’m looking forward to more mysteries with Kate.
May 2, 2025
Pretty sure I only read for a couple hours and finished this bad boy. It was mindless entertainment and a fun lil mystery to solve with plenty of distractions to keep you hooked.
September 9, 2025
Decent murder mystery written from the eyes of a detective. I don’t read enough thrillers because the whole time I was waiting for the love story to begin lol ooopsie
November 19, 2020
***this is for the audiobook format***
I like this writer and have enjoyed listening to many of her books on audio. I find them very entertaining. One thing though, sometimes I'm not bowled over after listening to the first book but then by the end of the 2nd book of a series, I'm sucked in. This is one of those cases.
Kate isn't one of my fave of LaManna's characters but I love the way she keeps threatening to shoot people if they cross her. (especially since she does own a gun & could do it)
the chemistry b/w kate & jack wasn't very strong. I'm thinking it'll develop over time. it seemed like it was a bit forced as per the usual trope.
Jack was ok but a little fishy in a FED who was so easily brandishing his credit card.
As per the writer's style, there were a few other sexy guy choices for our lead protagonist female.
(I preferred Gem but I'm in the minority as usual.)
Also, while this has a mystery element it isn't the focus of the narrative. Like a lot of cozy's, it becomes as much about the fascinating characters in the location. (Kates' mom was great)
Because this is MN, there's an extra addition of winter/cold becoming it's own character. That was cool!
Some humor.
FYI: I sent an email to the writer thru her website to check & she confirmed. this series is a parallel one to her other one-the Lacey Luzzi mafia series. Which also means that there will some character cross-overs in a book in one of these series.(similar to how hex files & magic mixology series cross- over)
I like this writer and have enjoyed listening to many of her books on audio. I find them very entertaining. One thing though, sometimes I'm not bowled over after listening to the first book but then by the end of the 2nd book of a series, I'm sucked in. This is one of those cases.
Kate isn't one of my fave of LaManna's characters but I love the way she keeps threatening to shoot people if they cross her. (especially since she does own a gun & could do it)
the chemistry b/w kate & jack wasn't very strong. I'm thinking it'll develop over time. it seemed like it was a bit forced as per the usual trope.
Jack was ok but a little fishy in a FED who was so easily brandishing his credit card.
As per the writer's style, there were a few other sexy guy choices for our lead protagonist female.
(I preferred Gem but I'm in the minority as usual.)
Also, while this has a mystery element it isn't the focus of the narrative. Like a lot of cozy's, it becomes as much about the fascinating characters in the location. (Kates' mom was great)
Because this is MN, there's an extra addition of winter/cold becoming it's own character. That was cool!
Some humor.
FYI: I sent an email to the writer thru her website to check & she confirmed. this series is a parallel one to her other one-the Lacey Luzzi mafia series. Which also means that there will some character cross-overs in a book in one of these series.(similar to how hex files & magic mixology series cross- over)
February 3, 2021
The best I can say about this book is that the writing is uneven. I really wanted to like it, I'm always looking for book series with good stories and interesting characters that don't take themselves too seriously. There was promise, but the repetitive misuse and abuse of both adjectives and adverbs made it impossible for me to enjoy. A couple of paragraphs would be fine, even get me interested in the story. Then it was as if someone had gone through with a thesaurus app to try and disguise the cliches. It didn't work. "Child gloves" instead of "kid gloves" and other bad editing errors led me to skip through to the end. Because I ordered all four books in the series, I read (ok, skimmed through) the second book as well. I was hoping that as with some other authors, the editing and writing development would improve. I think the second book was a little better, but still full of mismatched descriptors-often in the same sentence. If you enjoy well written books skip this and try anything by Darynda Jones, Faith Hunter, Emily Griffiths, Val McDermid, Richard Kadrey, Benedict Jacka, Patricia Briggs, Seanan McGuire...
May 3, 2020
Really mimics Rizzoli and Isles, too much
I would give this four stars if it didn't seem LaManna was taking characters from Rizzoli and Isles and tweaking a little bit. Names are even similar. The writing is really good so I'm going to get book two in hopes there's more originality.
I would give this four stars if it didn't seem LaManna was taking characters from Rizzoli and Isles and tweaking a little bit. Names are even similar. The writing is really good so I'm going to get book two in hopes there's more originality.
March 31, 2020
A ridiculously transparent knockoff of
Rizzoli and Isles.
Changing the location to Minnesota doesn't obscure the three dozen ways this tips off that series. I'm really happy I didn't have to pay for this.
Rizzoli and Isles.
Changing the location to Minnesota doesn't obscure the three dozen ways this tips off that series. I'm really happy I didn't have to pay for this.
March 25, 2021
2nd rate Rizzoli & Isles knock off
The characters in this series are almost a mirror image of the Tess Gerritsen series, except the characters,plots and dialogue are shallow and sophomoric.
The characters in this series are almost a mirror image of the Tess Gerritsen series, except the characters,plots and dialogue are shallow and sophomoric.
July 3, 2020
Good times.
With comparisons to Janet Evanovich, the bar was set pretty high. Wished it had a little goofiness in it, but really enjoyed the companionable relationships.
With comparisons to Janet Evanovich, the bar was set pretty high. Wished it had a little goofiness in it, but really enjoyed the companionable relationships.
April 20, 2021
Good book! I enjoyed this book!
December 27, 2022
Shoot the Breeze (Detective Kate Rosetti Mystery, #1)
This was a free e-book on amazon.com and the premise sounded interesting. As I started to read this book and the characters were introduced, I was struck by how closely these characters resemble the TV series Rizzoli and Isles. I checked to see if this is the same author and no it is not. Tess Gerritsen is the author of the books on which the TV series is based.
Looking at the number of 4- and 5-star reviews, obviously most readers don't care that the characters/plot are similar. For me this was just an ok read.
This was a free e-book on amazon.com and the premise sounded interesting. As I started to read this book and the characters were introduced, I was struck by how closely these characters resemble the TV series Rizzoli and Isles. I checked to see if this is the same author and no it is not. Tess Gerritsen is the author of the books on which the TV series is based.
Looking at the number of 4- and 5-star reviews, obviously most readers don't care that the characters/plot are similar. For me this was just an ok read.
November 27, 2023
those poor girls 💔 and the babe
hate men
was a rlly great mystery book! loved gem and rome? hope to see more of him especially in a romance way …
can’t wait to finish reading the rest of the series
hate men
was a rlly great mystery book! loved gem and rome? hope to see more of him especially in a romance way …
can’t wait to finish reading the rest of the series
January 10, 2025
It was time for a straight forward detective story. Not too dark but tough enough to be entertaining. This was far from hard boiled but it was sort of a romp. I’m committing myself to this series for a while. I liked it all and the sister was interesting…
January 26, 2023
As lighthearted as Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Can’t wait to see how the rest of the set goes.
November 9, 2023
Fun mystery with an excellent narration. Clean storyline and romance. On to the next episode…. 4-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 10, 2024
The story was really good but the main character was terrible. I kind of hating her. She doesn’t deserve any attention for the guys. Extremely exaggerated her strength. So there was not romantic click…
July 17, 2020
It's ok
But I will not be rushing to read others in the series. The lead character is a female detective, Kate Rosetti, who is supposed to come off as feisty but has her vulnerabilities (a sister who is always in trouble, a mother who is desperate for her to have a boyfriend)... She is a homicide detective, investigating a murder of a young woman who, in turns out, is one of serial killers victims. To be honest I found her irritating and not that good a detective to be honest, given that her sister appeared to be more clued up than her in the end. To me she spent to much time worrying/arguing with male protagonists, an FBI agent and a billionaire. Maybe as the series grows the character will develop but I really am not in a hurry to find out.
But I will not be rushing to read others in the series. The lead character is a female detective, Kate Rosetti, who is supposed to come off as feisty but has her vulnerabilities (a sister who is always in trouble, a mother who is desperate for her to have a boyfriend)... She is a homicide detective, investigating a murder of a young woman who, in turns out, is one of serial killers victims. To be honest I found her irritating and not that good a detective to be honest, given that her sister appeared to be more clued up than her in the end. To me she spent to much time worrying/arguing with male protagonists, an FBI agent and a billionaire. Maybe as the series grows the character will develop but I really am not in a hurry to find out.
September 16, 2021
Where do I begin!
This was one of the worst books I’ve ever wasted my time on. Nothing about this book was original. Serial killer, female detective (who is rude, boring, plain Jane, etc) poor and boring dialogue. The only description of the main character is that she is Italian, 25 yrs old, straight black hair with a big nose! And she has no life outside of work. Pretty boring and very obnoxious yet there is a tall,dark and handsome FBI agent AND a Billionaire Tycoon both madly vying for her attention. I read LOTS of books and I can say without any hesitation “don’t waste your time on this book!” I gave it 1 star only because it was a Kindle unlimited read,
This was one of the worst books I’ve ever wasted my time on. Nothing about this book was original. Serial killer, female detective (who is rude, boring, plain Jane, etc) poor and boring dialogue. The only description of the main character is that she is Italian, 25 yrs old, straight black hair with a big nose! And she has no life outside of work. Pretty boring and very obnoxious yet there is a tall,dark and handsome FBI agent AND a Billionaire Tycoon both madly vying for her attention. I read LOTS of books and I can say without any hesitation “don’t waste your time on this book!” I gave it 1 star only because it was a Kindle unlimited read,
July 13, 2020
Shoot the Breeze is about a detective named Kate. She's on a new case that includes an FBI agent, and another man who she finds attractive. There's sort of a love triangle thing, or more like which one will she choose, but other than that it was an interesting story. I enjoyed Kate and I liked how she interacted with everyone. I just hated her secrets at times. It was annoying, but I still really liked the book.
October 4, 2021
Although I don’t mind unrealistic, I prefer this in tv series. This young detective would not have this authority and I don’t think the FBI comes in and just observes. Plus the fact this detective is a leak in the department to a news source and none of the other members of the department which are part of this group stop this. The book kept flowing as long as I read as a tv series with scenes that would not happen in real life.
June 10, 2020
A lot of editing issues with this story that caused the flow to be disrupted and you can figure out the killer quickly. A serial killer is loose and its up to Kate Rosetti to track the clues with the help of a fed. Kate has attitude, has skills and has sister issues. All the while the billionaire has taken a shine to Kate, cooperating with the investigation and hoping to spend time with her.
September 4, 2024
This was a bit more serious than what I’m used to. A bit more realistic, too. Kate had to catch a killer and didn’t stop until she did. In between questioning people she harped on her sister, worrying about her every second. Then there’s Russo, an agent with the FBI who was sent out from DC to assist Kate with her case.
However, Kate doesn’t play well with others. She’s cold-hearted. She’s got ice so thick around her heart that a blow torch can’t even get through. But maybe Gem, a local billionaire can warm her up some. Perhaps he’ll be in future books. Then there’s Russo. It took Kate a very long time to let her guard down the tiniest bit with him. Let’s face it - Kate’s a b**ch. This is probably why Gem and Russo are falling over themselves to get her to soften up some and let loose for a second.
Kate asks herself why she left the Christmas party so quickly after she arrived. I know exactly why. It’s because she’s scared. After dancing two songs with Gem and his having an effect on her loins, she nearly ran and then threw herself out a window just to escape the attraction. Geesh, girl! Have some fun!
Here’s a couple of excerpts that explain not only what Kate is like, but also clips of her dry sense of humor:
“I’ve got an early morning,” I said. “And I need to get home and talk to my sister. Who knows what she’s gotten into while I’ve been away. If my house is destroyed...”
“You’ll shoot her,” all three women finished in unison.
“I really need a new line,” I said…
(At this point - 22% of the way through this book - Kate has already threatened at least 3 different people by telling them she’ll shoot them if they do this or that. To give her credit she did lay off on saying it as often after this time.)
Kate after seeing that her sister put up a Christmas tree and decorations at her house while staying with her. After a mental eye roll Kate mentions she’s not a Grinch and that she does like Christmas. She’s just too busy for decorating. And then her thoughts:
“I had scarfed down at least one green and red doughnut. I could be festive.”
(The lady doth protest too much).
I like LaManna’s books. I read another one of her series - The Lacey Luzzi mystery series. Great series! LaManna always makes her main characters hard-azz women with mafia ties, so you can always count on snark and hand-to-hand combat. Hand to eye combat? (You’ll understand that remark when you read this book).
Next is Book 2 in the Detective Kate Rosetti Mysteries is Riddle Me This.
However, Kate doesn’t play well with others. She’s cold-hearted. She’s got ice so thick around her heart that a blow torch can’t even get through. But maybe Gem, a local billionaire can warm her up some. Perhaps he’ll be in future books. Then there’s Russo. It took Kate a very long time to let her guard down the tiniest bit with him. Let’s face it - Kate’s a b**ch. This is probably why Gem and Russo are falling over themselves to get her to soften up some and let loose for a second.
Kate asks herself why she left the Christmas party so quickly after she arrived. I know exactly why. It’s because she’s scared. After dancing two songs with Gem and his having an effect on her loins, she nearly ran and then threw herself out a window just to escape the attraction. Geesh, girl! Have some fun!
Here’s a couple of excerpts that explain not only what Kate is like, but also clips of her dry sense of humor:
“I’ve got an early morning,” I said. “And I need to get home and talk to my sister. Who knows what she’s gotten into while I’ve been away. If my house is destroyed...”
“You’ll shoot her,” all three women finished in unison.
“I really need a new line,” I said…
(At this point - 22% of the way through this book - Kate has already threatened at least 3 different people by telling them she’ll shoot them if they do this or that. To give her credit she did lay off on saying it as often after this time.)
Kate after seeing that her sister put up a Christmas tree and decorations at her house while staying with her. After a mental eye roll Kate mentions she’s not a Grinch and that she does like Christmas. She’s just too busy for decorating. And then her thoughts:
“I had scarfed down at least one green and red doughnut. I could be festive.”
(The lady doth protest too much).
I like LaManna’s books. I read another one of her series - The Lacey Luzzi mystery series. Great series! LaManna always makes her main characters hard-azz women with mafia ties, so you can always count on snark and hand-to-hand combat. Hand to eye combat? (You’ll understand that remark when you read this book).
Next is Book 2 in the Detective Kate Rosetti Mysteries is Riddle Me This.
April 1, 2020
Another wild bang of a series starter for Gina LaManna! Shoot the Breeze is everything you're looking for and more! Our leading lady, Detective Kate Rosetti, brings about all of LaManna's past humor (that we know and love) and craftily turns it into a full-length crime thriller! I was happily reminded of J.D. Robb's "In Death" series and can easily see Kate's cases taking us on some wild and thrilling adventures!
For me, I feel like, if nothing else, 2020 has been full of 5, and 4, star reads... the world could use a bit more of this! When life gets crazy, and we find ourselves losing control, there's a peacefully satisfying bliss associated with losing yourself inside of a book! Shoot the Breeze was precisely what I needed to finish off this last week! While facing the latest pandemic news, three elementary-aged kids home from school (for the unforeseeable future, and at each other's throats I might add) and moving, combined with worrying about my husband's job as a trucker... immersing myself in Gina LaManna's latest novel hit the sweet spot quite literally! Can I just stop here and say #bookporn in the most innocent way possible?! The comedic relief alone would have been worth it, yet what I found most exciting was the progression from cozy to straight-up thriller! I can't recommend this book enough!
Shoot the Breeze takes on the role of assumed familiarity, making the journey all the more enjoyable. As with any heroine, Detective Kate Rosetti makes it her mission to take on the world - she can sleep when she's dead. Hopefully, the dead part won't be anytime soon, though, as she has more than enough on her plate with a serial killer on the loose! I sure got a kick out of her character - feisty and can't stop threatening to shoot everyone. She has my favorite kind of take-charge, take no crap attitude. Kate's carefree older sister and meddling means-well, coffee-shop owning mom make the perfect addition to her chaotic family. Sprinkled mentions of her father's law enforcement past and mob ties have me eagerly looking forward to finding out more about the Rosetti family history. Add to that the inviting and believable banter between Kate and her partner, as well as friends/colleagues. Finally, let us toss in one good-looking FBI agent and one billionaire, and we've got ourselves a page-turning gem of a read!
Many thanks go to the author Gina LaManna for providing me an advanced reader's copy of this title in exchange for my honest review! I'd recommend this to fans of her previous works as well as fans of Janet Evanovich and J.D. Robb! A cozy mystery favorite for sure! This is one you won't want to miss; order now on Amazon or check it out on Kindle Unlimited!
For me, I feel like, if nothing else, 2020 has been full of 5, and 4, star reads... the world could use a bit more of this! When life gets crazy, and we find ourselves losing control, there's a peacefully satisfying bliss associated with losing yourself inside of a book! Shoot the Breeze was precisely what I needed to finish off this last week! While facing the latest pandemic news, three elementary-aged kids home from school (for the unforeseeable future, and at each other's throats I might add) and moving, combined with worrying about my husband's job as a trucker... immersing myself in Gina LaManna's latest novel hit the sweet spot quite literally! Can I just stop here and say #bookporn in the most innocent way possible?! The comedic relief alone would have been worth it, yet what I found most exciting was the progression from cozy to straight-up thriller! I can't recommend this book enough!
Shoot the Breeze takes on the role of assumed familiarity, making the journey all the more enjoyable. As with any heroine, Detective Kate Rosetti makes it her mission to take on the world - she can sleep when she's dead. Hopefully, the dead part won't be anytime soon, though, as she has more than enough on her plate with a serial killer on the loose! I sure got a kick out of her character - feisty and can't stop threatening to shoot everyone. She has my favorite kind of take-charge, take no crap attitude. Kate's carefree older sister and meddling means-well, coffee-shop owning mom make the perfect addition to her chaotic family. Sprinkled mentions of her father's law enforcement past and mob ties have me eagerly looking forward to finding out more about the Rosetti family history. Add to that the inviting and believable banter between Kate and her partner, as well as friends/colleagues. Finally, let us toss in one good-looking FBI agent and one billionaire, and we've got ourselves a page-turning gem of a read!
Many thanks go to the author Gina LaManna for providing me an advanced reader's copy of this title in exchange for my honest review! I'd recommend this to fans of her previous works as well as fans of Janet Evanovich and J.D. Robb! A cozy mystery favorite for sure! This is one you won't want to miss; order now on Amazon or check it out on Kindle Unlimited!
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