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Miranda Vaughn Mysteries #3
Lucky Penny
From USA Today bestselling author Ellie Ashe....
An abandoned casino. A Hollywood film crew. An underground gambling ring. This boring accounting job just took a turn for the weird.
A year after her acquittal on fraud charges, former financial analyst Miranda Vaughn is finally getting her life back. Not only does she have a chance for romance with her sexy neighbor, FBI Agent Jake Barnes, but she's also got a new job...one that's taking her to a vacation paradise!Perched above the crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe, the Whispering Pines Resort & Spa is a local landmark and a popular destination for the rich and famous who are stressed out from being rich and famous. And down on the water’s edge is the Lucky Penny Casino—an abandoned shell of a once-stylish casino. Max Emmerson, the owner of the Whispering Pines Resort, used to own the Lucky Penny, and he wants it back. Miranda’s job is to get Max’s finances in order so he can borrow the money to buy the casino, and make sure nothing jeopardizes his gaming license. Easy, right?
But the nice boring accounting job spirals out of control with the addition of a Hollywood film crew, an underground gambling ring, and Jake going undercover at the resort as a newlywed—with another woman. As Miranda and Jake each dive into their investigations, they can’t deny their growing feelings for each other. But it’s more important than ever that they keep their attraction hidden. Especially since someone at the resort is watching them very closely, and is willing to do just about anything to keep them from uncovering the truth.
Miranda Vaughn Mysteries:
Chasing the Dollar (book #1)
Dropping the Dime (book #2)
Lucky Penny (book #3)
Chasing Tinsel (holiday short story)
"An engaging read full of mystery and deception."
~ Fresh Ficiton
"High stakes, high energy, and a highly humorous good time!"
~ Gemma Halliday, New York Times bestselling author
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2021
31 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 11, 2016
Another good mystery from this author. I'm so glad I discovered her work. Her main character, Miranda, was arrested and tried for fraud but was found not guilty. Jake, the handsome FBI agent who snapped the cuffs on her at the time, is now her boyfriend. In this story, Miranda' s employer, the attorney who defended her and is now engaged to her aunt, asks Miranda to help out a friend of his. Dottie, a forensic accountant, has been asked to do an audit at a Lake Tahoe resort. The owner, Max, had some health problems and turned the reins over to his nephew while he was gone. Now he isn't too sure about the changes his relative made and wants to make sure everything is above board, especially in light of the fact he wants to restore and reopen a casino there. To do so he has to be approved by the gaming commission.
Miranda jumps at the chance to help Dottie. It will help her gain experience in the accounting field and it also pays well. In addition, all her expenses are being paid which means she can make regular use of the spa as well as all the rest of the resort's amenities. However, once on the job, she finds some discrepancies and a page missing from the books. Not only that but the nephew is allowing a film crew to film a movie at the resort and Miranda finds out they've set up an illegal gambling operation on site. This results in the FBI being called in undercover. Miranda is thrilled when Jake shows up but he's pretending to be married to his partner, Bethany, someone Miranda doesn't exactly see eye to eye with.
Things really begin to heat up when Quinn, a friend of Miranda' s employer, shows up as well. Quinn has never made a secret of the fact he's interested in her and while she's told him she's involved with Jake, things get even more awkward when the film crew believe she's with Quinn. The two of them are more or less forced to act like a couple in order to keep up the ruse with Jake and Bethany.
Have I lost you yet? Trust me, when you read the book everything is made clear and all works out at the end. It's a very entertaining story and I enjoyed the way Miranda' s relationship with Jake unfolds a little bit more with each new installment in the series. I hope there will be more coming in the future as it looks like Miranda has found a new line of employment as well.
Miranda jumps at the chance to help Dottie. It will help her gain experience in the accounting field and it also pays well. In addition, all her expenses are being paid which means she can make regular use of the spa as well as all the rest of the resort's amenities. However, once on the job, she finds some discrepancies and a page missing from the books. Not only that but the nephew is allowing a film crew to film a movie at the resort and Miranda finds out they've set up an illegal gambling operation on site. This results in the FBI being called in undercover. Miranda is thrilled when Jake shows up but he's pretending to be married to his partner, Bethany, someone Miranda doesn't exactly see eye to eye with.
Things really begin to heat up when Quinn, a friend of Miranda' s employer, shows up as well. Quinn has never made a secret of the fact he's interested in her and while she's told him she's involved with Jake, things get even more awkward when the film crew believe she's with Quinn. The two of them are more or less forced to act like a couple in order to keep up the ruse with Jake and Bethany.
Have I lost you yet? Trust me, when you read the book everything is made clear and all works out at the end. It's a very entertaining story and I enjoyed the way Miranda' s relationship with Jake unfolds a little bit more with each new installment in the series. I hope there will be more coming in the future as it looks like Miranda has found a new line of employment as well.
September 13, 2018
3.7 This was an enjoyable murder free mystery! Miranda is working part time after being accused of fraud. Her boss introduces her to a legend in her accounting field, Dottie. Dottie hires Miranda to help her study the accounting of Whispering Pines Resort. The owner, Max wants to get everything in order so that he can buy a casino. Miranda, with the help of her friend Jake, have to figure out who is trying to sabotage the casino.
This was my first book by Ashe. I didn't realize that it was the third in the series before i read it. While this book can stand alone, there were times that i wished for a little more background into the relationships between the characters. However i get that there is a fine line before you alienate your repeat readers. I'll have to go back and read the first two in the series to fix that!
This was my first book by Ashe. I didn't realize that it was the third in the series before i read it. While this book can stand alone, there were times that i wished for a little more background into the relationships between the characters. However i get that there is a fine line before you alienate your repeat readers. I'll have to go back and read the first two in the series to fix that!
December 15, 2015
This is book three in the Miranda Vaughn Mysteries which happens to have a fun mix of mystery and romance for those Chic Lit readers who want the perfect adult clean Nancy Drew.
The book has a few twist but to be honest if you have read her other books you will have a good idea who the main bad guy is but you get a little more invested in the different characters who have appeared in the series. The reader will enjoy the simple yet complex read and the authors pushes her characters forward instead of holding them in a flight pattern.
This book has heart and will have the readers hoping Miranda will be able to get over her past and move on.
I will admit who knew forensic accounting could be so dangerous.
The book has a few twist but to be honest if you have read her other books you will have a good idea who the main bad guy is but you get a little more invested in the different characters who have appeared in the series. The reader will enjoy the simple yet complex read and the authors pushes her characters forward instead of holding them in a flight pattern.
This book has heart and will have the readers hoping Miranda will be able to get over her past and move on.
I will admit who knew forensic accounting could be so dangerous.
May 4, 2017
Note: While this is Book 3 in the series, it works fine as a stand alone.
Miranda Vaughn has a new job that may lead to a bigger, more permanent job. She’s off to the Whispering Pines Resort at Lake Tahoe to help Dottie Russel assess the owner’s finances, since he wishes to buy a currently abandoned casino resort, Lucky Penny, that his family once owned. It sounds like a dream job, at least until things get complicated. With a film crew on site and the FBI coming out to investigate the possibility of illegal gambling, there’s plenty of possible culprits in the mix.
This book is rather different from the last, Dropping the Dime, which was also different from the first, Chasing the Dollar. All 3 have been good, though I think I enjoyed Book 2 the most. There wasn’t an instant mystery and nearly all the action happens in the last quarter of the book. However, since I was hooked on the main characters from the previous books, I didn’t mind the slow burn on this story. Just because we don’t have a body doesn’t mean that Miranda isn’t capable of being in the middle of trouble.
I did like the addition of the film crew and famous movie stars. It made parts of the resort inaccessible so Miranda and Dottie can’t go everywhere. Miranda does meet a personal assistant on the film crew and this lady is very cheerful and bouncy and quite willing to sneak Miranda into the filming area so she can meet the heart throb of the film. That adds to Miranda’s romantic entanglements nearly as much as when Quinn arrives.
In Book 2, Quinn showed definite interest in Miranda and she was definitely tempted, yet she still has this simmering undercurrent of attraction with FBI agent Jake Barnes, who also shows up at the resort later. One thing I have enjoyed about these books is that while there is this romantic element, it’s secondary to the mystery. With that said, the author does bump of the time spent on Miranda’s romance life in this book, which made some parts of the story a little silly or a little slow for me. I prefer the mystery, the hunt, the action, the critical thinking.
So we get to the last quarter of the book and things really pick up. There’s definitely some double dealing going on and the Lucky Penny seems to be at the heart of it. This was the best part of the book though I do have to say that using a sneeze to move the plot along is just a touch cliche. It’s cute, but cliche. Still, even with that, I really enjoyed watching Jake and Miranda figure out who did what, since there’s more than one crime to solve. I suspected one culprit but did not see the other. Clever.
All together, it was a fun cozy mystery. I look forward to seeing what trouble Jake and Miranda can get into in the future and also how their relationship develops.
I received a free copy of this book via The Audiobookworm.
The Narration: Teri Schnaubelt is still great at being Miranda Vaughn. I also really liked her always cheery voice for the personal assistant, her older, quavering voice for Dottie, and her distressed drama queen voice for the female movie star. She was great at the male voices as well.
Miranda Vaughn has a new job that may lead to a bigger, more permanent job. She’s off to the Whispering Pines Resort at Lake Tahoe to help Dottie Russel assess the owner’s finances, since he wishes to buy a currently abandoned casino resort, Lucky Penny, that his family once owned. It sounds like a dream job, at least until things get complicated. With a film crew on site and the FBI coming out to investigate the possibility of illegal gambling, there’s plenty of possible culprits in the mix.
This book is rather different from the last, Dropping the Dime, which was also different from the first, Chasing the Dollar. All 3 have been good, though I think I enjoyed Book 2 the most. There wasn’t an instant mystery and nearly all the action happens in the last quarter of the book. However, since I was hooked on the main characters from the previous books, I didn’t mind the slow burn on this story. Just because we don’t have a body doesn’t mean that Miranda isn’t capable of being in the middle of trouble.
I did like the addition of the film crew and famous movie stars. It made parts of the resort inaccessible so Miranda and Dottie can’t go everywhere. Miranda does meet a personal assistant on the film crew and this lady is very cheerful and bouncy and quite willing to sneak Miranda into the filming area so she can meet the heart throb of the film. That adds to Miranda’s romantic entanglements nearly as much as when Quinn arrives.
In Book 2, Quinn showed definite interest in Miranda and she was definitely tempted, yet she still has this simmering undercurrent of attraction with FBI agent Jake Barnes, who also shows up at the resort later. One thing I have enjoyed about these books is that while there is this romantic element, it’s secondary to the mystery. With that said, the author does bump of the time spent on Miranda’s romance life in this book, which made some parts of the story a little silly or a little slow for me. I prefer the mystery, the hunt, the action, the critical thinking.
So we get to the last quarter of the book and things really pick up. There’s definitely some double dealing going on and the Lucky Penny seems to be at the heart of it. This was the best part of the book though I do have to say that using a sneeze to move the plot along is just a touch cliche. It’s cute, but cliche. Still, even with that, I really enjoyed watching Jake and Miranda figure out who did what, since there’s more than one crime to solve. I suspected one culprit but did not see the other. Clever.
All together, it was a fun cozy mystery. I look forward to seeing what trouble Jake and Miranda can get into in the future and also how their relationship develops.
I received a free copy of this book via The Audiobookworm.
The Narration: Teri Schnaubelt is still great at being Miranda Vaughn. I also really liked her always cheery voice for the personal assistant, her older, quavering voice for Dottie, and her distressed drama queen voice for the female movie star. She was great at the male voices as well.
May 8, 2017
3.5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Ellie Ashe. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Miranda Vaughn is quite happy with her new life. Her aunt is getting married to Robert, Miranda's boss, and the couple seems very happy. She cannot still find a decent job due to her past, but she is fine with the job Robert has offered her. The only downside is that her workload has been going down in the last weeks, and she would like to have something more. It is at that moment when she gets a job offer from one of Robert's friends, to do an audit at a paradise place, at the Whispering Pines Resort & Spa, just beside Lake Tahoe. While busy with this, Miranda will try to find a way to make her relationship with Jake Barns work out.
Ellie Ashe has delivered another great sequel to the Miranda Vaughn' series. The descriptions and character's depictions are very detailed and vivid again. I enjoy how they feel like real people, and their dialogs are fluid and realistic. Ashe's style is fresh and light, and this is what makes her books so successful. They make for an easy listen on a lazy day.
Even though I liked this book, I found it less exciting than the two previous ones. I found the build up very slow, and being already half way into the book did not give me a hint about what could be wrong, of if there was something terribly wrong. There were a couple of things not matching up, but I did not feel that the intrigue was too great to worry too much about it. It could be just a personal perception, since I see great reviews about this book.
There was a bit more focus on the romantic side of things in this book than in previous ones. This is not a good or a bad thing, but I think it is worth mentioning.
Teri Schnaubelt has become one of my favorite narrators. These books are well written, but part of their success is due to a wonderful narration. Schnaubelt style is clear and she transmits well. She also has an ample registry of voices, which makes dialogs easy to follow. She also delivers a perfect audio production.
I really enjoyed this series and I will be on the watch for future installments of Miranda Vaughn's mysteries.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Ellie Ashe. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Miranda Vaughn is quite happy with her new life. Her aunt is getting married to Robert, Miranda's boss, and the couple seems very happy. She cannot still find a decent job due to her past, but she is fine with the job Robert has offered her. The only downside is that her workload has been going down in the last weeks, and she would like to have something more. It is at that moment when she gets a job offer from one of Robert's friends, to do an audit at a paradise place, at the Whispering Pines Resort & Spa, just beside Lake Tahoe. While busy with this, Miranda will try to find a way to make her relationship with Jake Barns work out.
Ellie Ashe has delivered another great sequel to the Miranda Vaughn' series. The descriptions and character's depictions are very detailed and vivid again. I enjoy how they feel like real people, and their dialogs are fluid and realistic. Ashe's style is fresh and light, and this is what makes her books so successful. They make for an easy listen on a lazy day.
Even though I liked this book, I found it less exciting than the two previous ones. I found the build up very slow, and being already half way into the book did not give me a hint about what could be wrong, of if there was something terribly wrong. There were a couple of things not matching up, but I did not feel that the intrigue was too great to worry too much about it. It could be just a personal perception, since I see great reviews about this book.
There was a bit more focus on the romantic side of things in this book than in previous ones. This is not a good or a bad thing, but I think it is worth mentioning.
Teri Schnaubelt has become one of my favorite narrators. These books are well written, but part of their success is due to a wonderful narration. Schnaubelt style is clear and she transmits well. She also has an ample registry of voices, which makes dialogs easy to follow. She also delivers a perfect audio production.
I really enjoyed this series and I will be on the watch for future installments of Miranda Vaughn's mysteries.
May 5, 2017
Cozy mysteries meet Chick-Lit meet fun and romance all brought in to set pace for this new Miranda Vaughn Mystery set in the beautiful depths of Lake Tahoe. There was so much to enjoy here. Miranda has a new job. That gets entangled or complicated by the addition of a film crew, actors, FBI, bubbly assistance, and a mystery surrounding the Lucky Penny Casino. What was supposed to be a simple accounting/analysis job turns out to be a mystery Miranda cannot resist.
A fully engaged reading that gave me a cozy mystery, intriguing deceit, unapologetic chick-lit, subtle romance, and a run for someone money. I have loved getting to know Miranda and Jake better over the course of the three books thus far. I have enjoyed the dynamics added by the new added characters that makes for the mystery of the beautiful setting.
The Narrator . . . of LUCKY PENNY (Miranda Vaughn Mysteries, #3) . . . Terri Schnaubelt has returned as the narrator for the third book in the Miranda Vaughn Mysteries series. I cannot say it enough that this narrator has this character pinned down and executed perfectly. With each new read I fall more and more for this series. I find her voice makes the difference for me. I love the addition of the characters this time around. It allowed for Terri to add on the quirks of the different range for the secondary characters. There was no mistaking one person for another. It was clear with the distinction in the voice. I love Terri’s performance. Another delicious performance with new and exciting characters that enhance the listening.
A fully engaged reading that gave me a cozy mystery, intriguing deceit, unapologetic chick-lit, subtle romance, and a run for someone money. I have loved getting to know Miranda and Jake better over the course of the three books thus far. I have enjoyed the dynamics added by the new added characters that makes for the mystery of the beautiful setting.
The Narrator . . . of LUCKY PENNY (Miranda Vaughn Mysteries, #3) . . . Terri Schnaubelt has returned as the narrator for the third book in the Miranda Vaughn Mysteries series. I cannot say it enough that this narrator has this character pinned down and executed perfectly. With each new read I fall more and more for this series. I find her voice makes the difference for me. I love the addition of the characters this time around. It allowed for Terri to add on the quirks of the different range for the secondary characters. There was no mistaking one person for another. It was clear with the distinction in the voice. I love Terri’s performance. Another delicious performance with new and exciting characters that enhance the listening.
May 11, 2017
I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Lucky Penny is the third book in the Miranda Vaughn mystery series. It does stand on its own but I’d listened to Chasing the Dollar and Dropping the Dime right before this one and I was happy to be able to start Lucky Penny immediately.
Miranda Vaughn has been working for the lawyer who had represented her a few months ago when she was found not guilty on fraud and embezzlement charges. Her chosen field is finance but she is considered high risk even though she was cleared of the charges, so when she gets a chance to work in her chosen field, she jumps on it.
She and her new boss are working with the owner of Whispering Pines, a hotel on Lake Tahoe. He wants to purchase the Lucky Penny which is a casino, so his finances have to be in order. It seems that excitement tends to follow Miranda. A movie is being made at the hotel, she ends up involved with an underground gambling ring, and the FBI (aka Jake Barnes) shows up to investigate the gambling ring. Of course, the heat is turned up as soon as Jake shows up especially because he's been so busy on out of town assignments that they still haven't had their first date.
I like Elli Ashe’s writing style and Teri Schnaubelt’s narration skills. They make a great team! Teri Schnaubelt brings the characters to life and she has good rhythm and timing.
Lucky Penny is a humorous mystery with a bit of romance and suspense. I’m hoping there more Miranda Vaughn novels on the horizon!
Miranda Vaughn has been working for the lawyer who had represented her a few months ago when she was found not guilty on fraud and embezzlement charges. Her chosen field is finance but she is considered high risk even though she was cleared of the charges, so when she gets a chance to work in her chosen field, she jumps on it.
She and her new boss are working with the owner of Whispering Pines, a hotel on Lake Tahoe. He wants to purchase the Lucky Penny which is a casino, so his finances have to be in order. It seems that excitement tends to follow Miranda. A movie is being made at the hotel, she ends up involved with an underground gambling ring, and the FBI (aka Jake Barnes) shows up to investigate the gambling ring. Of course, the heat is turned up as soon as Jake shows up especially because he's been so busy on out of town assignments that they still haven't had their first date.
I like Elli Ashe’s writing style and Teri Schnaubelt’s narration skills. They make a great team! Teri Schnaubelt brings the characters to life and she has good rhythm and timing.
Lucky Penny is a humorous mystery with a bit of romance and suspense. I’m hoping there more Miranda Vaughn novels on the horizon!
September 16, 2017
Evidently, I have been missing out on a really good series. I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit different from other cozy type mystery stories that I have read. The characters, the story and the narration were a great combination that all came together perfectly. It's a fun, entertaining, well written, engaging and very enjoyable story. It pulled me in from the start and held my complete attention until the end. It has a great mixture of mystery, intrigue, secrets, romance, deceit and suspense with enough twist to keep it interesting and fresh.
While this is the 3rd book in the series it is the first I have listened to. There are references to events in previous books, not having listened to the previous books in no way effected my enjoyment of this installment. I enjoyed this book so much I will be going back and listening to the rest of the series.
The synopsis gives a pretty in depth overview of the book. What it doesn't tell you is that this book is really worth your time.
Teri Schnaubelt did a great job with the narration as usual. Nice voice easy to listen to for long periods of time. Clearly spoken with a nice even pace. Really good character voices. Her cadence, tone and delivery were perfect. She was able to bring the story and characters to life. Very enjoyable.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher.
While this is the 3rd book in the series it is the first I have listened to. There are references to events in previous books, not having listened to the previous books in no way effected my enjoyment of this installment. I enjoyed this book so much I will be going back and listening to the rest of the series.
The synopsis gives a pretty in depth overview of the book. What it doesn't tell you is that this book is really worth your time.
Teri Schnaubelt did a great job with the narration as usual. Nice voice easy to listen to for long periods of time. Clearly spoken with a nice even pace. Really good character voices. Her cadence, tone and delivery were perfect. She was able to bring the story and characters to life. Very enjoyable.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher.
May 10, 2017
As Lucky Penny by Ellie Ashe opens, it has now been a year since Miranda was acquitted of embezzlement and she still can't get a full-time job or get hired in the financial sector. So the lawyer for whom she has been doing financial research recommends her to Dotty, a forensic accountant, who takes Miranda with her to Lake Tahoe to serve a long-time client, Max Emmerson, who has just returned to managing his high-end hotel, The Whispering Pines, after being on sick leave for 18 months. But Max suspects his son of mismanaging the hotel. With their effort to purchase back the Lucky Penny Casino, which their family historically owned, they need clean books for the sellers and particularly the Gaming Commission to review and approve. Thus Miranda and Dotty arrive at the Whispering Pines to go through all the books and end up in an adventure.
Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
August 5, 2019
I cannot get enough of Miranda! This series has been so enjoyable to read. My favorite thing about Miranda is she is a straight shooter. She doesnt lead the two men in her lives on. She realized she was hung up on Jake and she told Quinn that right out of the gate. She didnt lead him on, she didn't go back and forth about liking one then the other. She was a grownup about it! I think many of the chic lit mysteries (Stephanie plum comes to mind) are lacking in this type of sophisticated main character. That was refreshing. That being said I still love Quinn. At the beginning of the book o was a little irritated with Jake and it felt like he's just been leading Miranda on knowing how she feels, however by the end of the book he redeemed himself. I came to realize he wasnt leading her on, the timing was just off. I am IMPATIENTLY waiting for the 4th book and hoping Miranda and Jake FINALLY get together!!
May 6, 2017
Lucky Penny: Miranda Vaughn Mysteries, Book 3
: Ellie Ashe
This is book three in series, but the first I've had the chance to listen to and review. The listener is treated to mystery, suspense, romance all woven into a tale that has many twists and turns before delivering an unexpected ending. I want to go back and listen to the first two books in the series.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Teri Schnaubelt is a good choice for this book, even though she is new to me.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
March 12, 2017
I really enjoyed all the characters in this series, and was tearing up, along with Miranda, at the wedding. I hope Ms Ashe decides to add more books to this collection. I can't wait to continue reading about Jake & Miranda's adventures, and follow up with all their friends!!
I usually get the kindle unlimited books or the free ones, but paid out of pocket for the last 2 books, and it was totally worth it!
I usually get the kindle unlimited books or the free ones, but paid out of pocket for the last 2 books, and it was totally worth it!
May 16, 2017
I listened to the audio book and the narrator was wonderful! Review: Will Miranda and Jake finally get to spend some time together? Circumstances are constantly taking them in opposite directions but for once things seem to be lining up. A new character Dottie is introduced and I LOVE her! I can see a lot of exciting job opportunities for Miranda working with Dottie. Besides that, I just love the character! This was a great addition and I can’t wait for more!
November 12, 2017
Fun, quick read
Ms. Ashe makes her books interesting with warm humor. The characters have heart, and you get so caught up in the action you are shocked at how quickly the story went.
Ms. Ashe makes her books interesting with warm humor. The characters have heart, and you get so caught up in the action you are shocked at how quickly the story went.
Read
February 3, 2016A year after her acquittal on fraud charges, former financial analyst Miranda Vaughn is finally getting her life back. Not only does she have a chance for romance with her sexy neighbor, FBI Agent Jake Barnes, but she's also got a new job...one that's taking her to a vacation paradise!
Perched above the crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe, the Whispering Pines Resort & Spa is a local landmark and a popular destination for the rich and famous who are stressed out from being rich and famous. And down on the water’s edge is the Lucky Penny Casino—an abandoned shell of a once-stylish casino. Max Emmerson, the owner of the Whispering Pines Resort, used to own the Lucky Penny, and he wants it back. Miranda’s job is to get Max’s finances in order so he can borrow the money to buy the casino, and make sure nothing jeopardizes his gaming license. Easy, right?
But the nice boring accounting job spirals out of control with the addition of a Hollywood film crew, an underground gambling ring, and Jake going undercover at the resort as a newlywed—with another woman. As Miranda and Jake each dive into their investigations, they can’t deny their growing feelings for each other. But it’s more important than ever that they keep their attraction hidden. Especially since someone at the resort is watching them very closely, and is willing to do just about anything to keep them from uncovering the truth.
The personal assistant is the guilty one. She and one of the film crew. All ends well.
Perched above the crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe, the Whispering Pines Resort & Spa is a local landmark and a popular destination for the rich and famous who are stressed out from being rich and famous. And down on the water’s edge is the Lucky Penny Casino—an abandoned shell of a once-stylish casino. Max Emmerson, the owner of the Whispering Pines Resort, used to own the Lucky Penny, and he wants it back. Miranda’s job is to get Max’s finances in order so he can borrow the money to buy the casino, and make sure nothing jeopardizes his gaming license. Easy, right?
But the nice boring accounting job spirals out of control with the addition of a Hollywood film crew, an underground gambling ring, and Jake going undercover at the resort as a newlywed—with another woman. As Miranda and Jake each dive into their investigations, they can’t deny their growing feelings for each other. But it’s more important than ever that they keep their attraction hidden. Especially since someone at the resort is watching them very closely, and is willing to do just about anything to keep them from uncovering the truth.
The personal assistant is the guilty one. She and one of the film crew. All ends well.
December 13, 2015
Accounting is anything but boring with Miranda
Lucky Penny is the third book in the Miranda Vaughn Mystery series. This is one book series that should be read in order. Otherwise you are likely to be totally confused as to who's who and what the heck is going on! Really. Stop right here and get Chasing the Dollar and Dropping the Dime and read them first.
Okay, aren't you glad you read those? Now you are ready to go to Lake Tahoe and stay in a luxurious hotel, rub elbows with movie stars who are shooting a movie at this hotel, and find out if it is Quinn or Jake making Miranda's heart beat so erratically.
If you ever thought accounting or actually forensic accounting sounded boring, you will change your mind after reading this book. Ms Ashe reminds us that most people find it boring, yet Miranda (and Dottie) can read the numbers and end up learning the most unusual details about people, as well as solve mysteries. The glimpse into a subject I know nothing about was informative as well as entertaining, and never boring. I recommend this entire series, and especially this book as exciting and fun to read.
Lucky Penny is the third book in the Miranda Vaughn Mystery series. This is one book series that should be read in order. Otherwise you are likely to be totally confused as to who's who and what the heck is going on! Really. Stop right here and get Chasing the Dollar and Dropping the Dime and read them first.
Okay, aren't you glad you read those? Now you are ready to go to Lake Tahoe and stay in a luxurious hotel, rub elbows with movie stars who are shooting a movie at this hotel, and find out if it is Quinn or Jake making Miranda's heart beat so erratically.
If you ever thought accounting or actually forensic accounting sounded boring, you will change your mind after reading this book. Ms Ashe reminds us that most people find it boring, yet Miranda (and Dottie) can read the numbers and end up learning the most unusual details about people, as well as solve mysteries. The glimpse into a subject I know nothing about was informative as well as entertaining, and never boring. I recommend this entire series, and especially this book as exciting and fun to read.
February 14, 2016
This is a great series and I enjoyed this 3rd installment a lot. The books are best enjoyed if you read them in order, mostly because of Miranda's story. After losing her career in Finance because she was falsely arrested and accused of fraud, she has come a long way. But it is only a year after being aquitted and Miranda is slowly finding her way in life again. The attraction between her and FBI agent Jake has been simmering on a back burner but it seems to be heating up. FINALLY!
Ar the start of the book I was despairing a bit because of the slow - slow! - movement of their relationship. They have not even been on a date in 2 books! But be assured everything is turning out well :-)
I also liked the main story about the owner of a luxury resort wanting to buy back a casino (the Penny) and needing Miranda to go over the accounts with her new boss Dottie. Dottie is a new character to enjoy and she also provides Miranda with a new career choice. And ofcourse, accounting is never dull in a Miranda Vaughn story!
Ar the start of the book I was despairing a bit because of the slow - slow! - movement of their relationship. They have not even been on a date in 2 books! But be assured everything is turning out well :-)
I also liked the main story about the owner of a luxury resort wanting to buy back a casino (the Penny) and needing Miranda to go over the accounts with her new boss Dottie. Dottie is a new character to enjoy and she also provides Miranda with a new career choice. And ofcourse, accounting is never dull in a Miranda Vaughn story!
December 29, 2015
Miranda is at it again. She's back with a new job. I really like Miranda. I liked her in the first two books and I liked her in this one as well. I really feel for her. She has a down on her luck feel that you just have to relate you and you want her to get her life back together and succeed. All the judgments and guilt even though she didn't do anything…It makes me wonder if I’ve ever done that? Have I rushed to judgment about something just because things seem one way? I hope not. She was found not guilty yet people act like she still is. I would hate to be in that position. I would also hate to be the person doing the judging.
I may have to slap Jake if he doesn't get this show in the road lol. They clearly like each other so why are they dragging their feet? Things seemed more solid at the end, so here's hoping they get closer in the next book.
I enjoyed the mystery. I was pretty sure I had the mystery solved, but there were surprises along the way that really kept me wanting answers.
I'm excited to see Miranda investigate more and see what trouble she will get into next.
I may have to slap Jake if he doesn't get this show in the road lol. They clearly like each other so why are they dragging their feet? Things seemed more solid at the end, so here's hoping they get closer in the next book.
I enjoyed the mystery. I was pretty sure I had the mystery solved, but there were surprises along the way that really kept me wanting answers.
I'm excited to see Miranda investigate more and see what trouble she will get into next.
February 14, 2016
Lucky Penny is a fun and fascinating novel of intrigue and murder. Miranda and Jake are getting so frustrated because fate, mostly in the form of his job with the FBI is constantly intervening when they try to get together. This time it is a job for Miranda that comes up just as Jake lands in town with a little free time. The job working with a nationally noted forensic accountant will provide Miranda invaluable experience as well as an income so she can't back out but once things get dicey, she is kind of wishing she had. An old friend shows up to make free time a little more interesting and he is willing to investigate a building related to the audit she is on but neither one expected to encounter a body. When Jake and he partner who Miranda does not care for show up things get really intriguing but not any safer and not any more fun for Miranda as FBI team sign in to the hotel as a couple.
January 30, 2017
A great read!!!! This is the first book I read by this author and I will look to read more by this author!!!The story is about the abandoned Lucky Penny Casino Perched above the blue waters of Lake Tahoe. Max Emerson the owner of the Whispering Pines Resort used to own the Lucky Penny and he wants it back. Miranda's job is to get Max's finances in order so he can borrow the money to buy the casino and make sure nothing jeopardizes his gaming license. But the nice boring accounting job spirals out of control with the addition of a Hollywood film crew, an underground gambling ring. Someone at the resort is watching and is willing to do just about anything to keep from uncovering the truth.
January 10, 2016
Reading the second book in this series, I wondered why Miranda didn't become a forensic accountant. This book opens with Rob introducing her to one, and she's a hoot. It was good to see her get career goals. I gave the book 4 stars because I really enjoyed reading it and liked the characters. However, as I started to think about a review, I realized that the mystery aspect of the book was pretty weak. The romantic element was stronger, but it also felt contrived. So, I love Miranda, like the pacing and other characters, but was lukewarm on the plot.
December 12, 2015
Excellent!!
I was definitely surprised & entertained by all the twists in Lucky Penny! All my favorite characters, Jake, Quinn, Rob, & even Bethany, are back for this adventure. Dottie Russell is an excellent new addition. What she does in the courtroom is fascinating. This is absolutely a must read!! Can't wait for the next installment to see how all the surprises presented evolve!
I was definitely surprised & entertained by all the twists in Lucky Penny! All my favorite characters, Jake, Quinn, Rob, & even Bethany, are back for this adventure. Dottie Russell is an excellent new addition. What she does in the courtroom is fascinating. This is absolutely a must read!! Can't wait for the next installment to see how all the surprises presented evolve!
January 3, 2016
Took a long time building up. Thought the conflict would be one thing, but it came out of the blue. Liked the ending, even though it sort of just stopped.
December 21, 2016
A trifle disjointed but an enjoyable continuation of the series. I will keep reading this series as long as the author keeps putting them out.
November 7, 2017
A fun cozy uniquely featuring forensic accounting.
April 14, 2017
4.5★ Audiobook⎮ Ellie Ashe has added another gem to the Miranda Vaughn Mysteries series! She has also proven that a great writer can “take their act on the road”, so to speak. Each Miranda Vaughn story has a vastly different setting and premise for the mystery, but each one is as engrossing as the next.
Lucky Penny revolves around a casino and resort setting. It’s described in such vivid detail that the scenes naturally unfold in the listener’s imagination. This setting was even more conducive to the accidental shenanigans Miranda somehow always becomes involved in. Real life casinos and resorts are meant to foster feelings of escapism and excitement. Lucky Penny's literary versions do the same.
Each installment in the Miranda Vaughn Mysteries series has its own all-encompassing mystery that begins and ends with each novel. Unlike other mystery stories, listening isn’t only about solving the mystery before the protagonist. It’s about solving the mystery alongside the protagonist and experiencing her journey.
Miranda Vaughn is an innately endearing and relatable main character. Her personal story is the larger over-arching plot throughout the series. Her romantic life starts out as an inconvenient (to her) crush in Chasing the Dollar, evolves into a will-they-won’t-they scenario in Dropping the Dime, and reaches a satisfying culmination in Lucky Penny. My favorite thing about this romance is the naturally flirtatious manner in which it is written. Throughout the series, the romance remains a subplot, never outshining the individual characters or respective mystery plots. Ashe writes it in such a way that it enhances the development of her characters, instead of hindering it, and still satisfies the [seemingly obligatory] romance requirement for Cozy Mysteries.
There’s even the slightest teasing of a love triangle, which I cannot complain about either. Even if it had developed into a full-fledged love triangle, the excellent character development would have prevented it from becoming too obnoxious. Excellent writing can save stories from typical blunders like that. In a (sub)genre usually deficient in fully developed characters, Ellie Ashe is churning them out like a machine. Her writing style is highly enjoyable and will keep listeners invested in her series and its delightful characters.
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. In fact, it was the first title off my tongue when making audiobook recommendations in a doctors’ office last week. Ashe really has something great going here and I hope we see much more of Miranda Vaughn in the future.
Narration review: Teri Schnaubelt deserves a lot of the credit for making this series so enjoyable. Her voice adds to the coziness factor and gives voice to the many colorful characters. She was 100% the right selection to narrate the series. Everything she does is professional-grade, from voice distinction and emotional emphasis, to timing, articulation and pacing. This is an excellent series in any format, but Teri makes it so much better. ♣︎
➜ This audiobook was graciously gifted to me by its author, Ellie Ashe, in exchange for a review containing my honest thoughts and opinions. Thanks, Ellie!
Lucky Penny revolves around a casino and resort setting. It’s described in such vivid detail that the scenes naturally unfold in the listener’s imagination. This setting was even more conducive to the accidental shenanigans Miranda somehow always becomes involved in. Real life casinos and resorts are meant to foster feelings of escapism and excitement. Lucky Penny's literary versions do the same.
Each installment in the Miranda Vaughn Mysteries series has its own all-encompassing mystery that begins and ends with each novel. Unlike other mystery stories, listening isn’t only about solving the mystery before the protagonist. It’s about solving the mystery alongside the protagonist and experiencing her journey.
Miranda Vaughn is an innately endearing and relatable main character. Her personal story is the larger over-arching plot throughout the series. Her romantic life starts out as an inconvenient (to her) crush in Chasing the Dollar, evolves into a will-they-won’t-they scenario in Dropping the Dime, and reaches a satisfying culmination in Lucky Penny. My favorite thing about this romance is the naturally flirtatious manner in which it is written. Throughout the series, the romance remains a subplot, never outshining the individual characters or respective mystery plots. Ashe writes it in such a way that it enhances the development of her characters, instead of hindering it, and still satisfies the [seemingly obligatory] romance requirement for Cozy Mysteries.
There’s even the slightest teasing of a love triangle, which I cannot complain about either. Even if it had developed into a full-fledged love triangle, the excellent character development would have prevented it from becoming too obnoxious. Excellent writing can save stories from typical blunders like that. In a (sub)genre usually deficient in fully developed characters, Ellie Ashe is churning them out like a machine. Her writing style is highly enjoyable and will keep listeners invested in her series and its delightful characters.
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. In fact, it was the first title off my tongue when making audiobook recommendations in a doctors’ office last week. Ashe really has something great going here and I hope we see much more of Miranda Vaughn in the future.
Narration review: Teri Schnaubelt deserves a lot of the credit for making this series so enjoyable. Her voice adds to the coziness factor and gives voice to the many colorful characters. She was 100% the right selection to narrate the series. Everything she does is professional-grade, from voice distinction and emotional emphasis, to timing, articulation and pacing. This is an excellent series in any format, but Teri makes it so much better. ♣︎
➜ This audiobook was graciously gifted to me by its author, Ellie Ashe, in exchange for a review containing my honest thoughts and opinions. Thanks, Ellie!
April 29, 2017
An adventure packed full of mystery and humor with a bit of romance!
This adventure was full of suspense, romance, surprises and humor. Ms. Ashe adds humor and mystery to create a unique and captivating read. The characters are well developed and interesting. This book held my attention from beginning to end. I really enjoy a book when you are not able to guess how it will end.
The narrator appears to be experienced and her talent showed. The expressions, character differentiation, and emotion that is put into the story was done exceptionally well. I am not one that typically likes audio books as I can’t focus on the story. However, the voice narration and the story drew me in and captivated me from the beginning to the end.
Overall I enjoyed this book that was full of twists and surprises that kept you guessing till the end. I listened to the audiobook of Lucky Penny and the narrator did a great job with it. This was my third book that I have heard/read from Ellie Ashe. I recommend this book to anyone that likes a good mystery with some romance mingled throughout.
This adventure was full of suspense, romance, surprises and humor. Ms. Ashe adds humor and mystery to create a unique and captivating read. The characters are well developed and interesting. This book held my attention from beginning to end. I really enjoy a book when you are not able to guess how it will end.
The narrator appears to be experienced and her talent showed. The expressions, character differentiation, and emotion that is put into the story was done exceptionally well. I am not one that typically likes audio books as I can’t focus on the story. However, the voice narration and the story drew me in and captivated me from the beginning to the end.
Overall I enjoyed this book that was full of twists and surprises that kept you guessing till the end. I listened to the audiobook of Lucky Penny and the narrator did a great job with it. This was my third book that I have heard/read from Ellie Ashe. I recommend this book to anyone that likes a good mystery with some romance mingled throughout.
April 30, 2017
**I received an audio copy in exchange for a review**
I could read 50 more books in this series. This book continues Miranda Vaughn's adventures as she recovers from her trouble with the law. Even though she was acquitted, people don't see her as NOT GUILTY. One of the fun parts of reading a series is to see how the characters develop. It gives the reader a chance to truly fall in love with them. These characters are great. They are real. This author does a great job with showing us the story and letting it develop organically. She doesn't beat us over the head with unnecessary details or treat us as incompetent readers who must be spoon-fed. Trust me when I say combine this cozy series with a poolside lounge chair and free drinks and you will have an excellent summer.
I could read 50 more books in this series. This book continues Miranda Vaughn's adventures as she recovers from her trouble with the law. Even though she was acquitted, people don't see her as NOT GUILTY. One of the fun parts of reading a series is to see how the characters develop. It gives the reader a chance to truly fall in love with them. These characters are great. They are real. This author does a great job with showing us the story and letting it develop organically. She doesn't beat us over the head with unnecessary details or treat us as incompetent readers who must be spoon-fed. Trust me when I say combine this cozy series with a poolside lounge chair and free drinks and you will have an excellent summer.
May 4, 2017
Lucky Penny by Ellie Ashe Note: While this is Book 3 in the series, it works fine as a stand alone.
Miranda Vaughn has a new job that may lead to a bigger, more permanent job. She’s off to the Whispering Pines Resort at Lake Tahoe to help Dottie Russel assess the owner’s finances, since he wishes to buy a currently abandoned casino resort, Lucky Penny, that his family once owned. It sounds like a dream job, at least until things get complicated. With a film crew on site and the FBI coming out to investigate the possibility of illegal gambling, there’s plenty of possible culprits in the mix.
This book is rather different from the last, Dropping the Dime, which was also different from the first, Chasing the Dollar. All 3 have been good, though I think I enjoyed Book 2 the most. There wasn’t an instant mystery and nearly all the action happens in the last quarter of the book. However, since I was hooked on the main characters from the previous books, I didn’t mind the slow burn on this story. Just because we don’t have a body doesn’t mean that Miranda isn’t capable of being in the middle of trouble.
I did like the addition of the film crew and famous movie stars. It made parts of the resort inaccessible so Miranda and Dottie can’t go everywhere. Miranda does meet a personal assistant on the film crew and this lady is very cheerful and bouncy and quite willing to sneak Miranda into the filming area so she can meet the heart throb of the film. That adds to Miranda’s romantic entanglements nearly as much as when Quinn arrives.
In Book 2, Quinn showed definite interest in Miranda and she was definitely tempted, yet she still has this simmering undercurrent of attraction with FBI agent Jake Barnes, who also shows up at the resort later. One thing I have enjoyed about these books is that while there is this romantic element, it’s secondary to the mystery. With that said, the author does bump of the time spent on Miranda’s romance life in this book, which made some parts of the story a little silly or a little slow for me. I prefer the mystery, the hunt, the action, the critical thinking.
So we get to the last quarter of the book and things really pick up. There’s definitely some double dealing going on and the Lucky Penny seems to be at the heart of it. This was the best part of the book though I do have to say that using a sneeze to move the plot along is just a touch cliche. It’s cute, but cliche. Still, even with that, I really enjoyed watching Jake and Miranda figure out who did what, since there’s more than one crime to solve. I suspected one culprit but did not see the other. Clever.
All together, it was a fun cozy mystery. I look forward to seeing what trouble Jake and Miranda can get into in the future and also how their relationship develops.
I received a free copy of this book via The Audiobookworm.
The Narration: Teri Schnaubelt is still great at being Miranda Vaughn. I also really liked her always cheery voice for the personal assistant, her older, quavering voice for Dottie, and her distressed drama queen voice for the female movie star. She was great at the male voices as well.
Miranda Vaughn has a new job that may lead to a bigger, more permanent job. She’s off to the Whispering Pines Resort at Lake Tahoe to help Dottie Russel assess the owner’s finances, since he wishes to buy a currently abandoned casino resort, Lucky Penny, that his family once owned. It sounds like a dream job, at least until things get complicated. With a film crew on site and the FBI coming out to investigate the possibility of illegal gambling, there’s plenty of possible culprits in the mix.
This book is rather different from the last, Dropping the Dime, which was also different from the first, Chasing the Dollar. All 3 have been good, though I think I enjoyed Book 2 the most. There wasn’t an instant mystery and nearly all the action happens in the last quarter of the book. However, since I was hooked on the main characters from the previous books, I didn’t mind the slow burn on this story. Just because we don’t have a body doesn’t mean that Miranda isn’t capable of being in the middle of trouble.
I did like the addition of the film crew and famous movie stars. It made parts of the resort inaccessible so Miranda and Dottie can’t go everywhere. Miranda does meet a personal assistant on the film crew and this lady is very cheerful and bouncy and quite willing to sneak Miranda into the filming area so she can meet the heart throb of the film. That adds to Miranda’s romantic entanglements nearly as much as when Quinn arrives.
In Book 2, Quinn showed definite interest in Miranda and she was definitely tempted, yet she still has this simmering undercurrent of attraction with FBI agent Jake Barnes, who also shows up at the resort later. One thing I have enjoyed about these books is that while there is this romantic element, it’s secondary to the mystery. With that said, the author does bump of the time spent on Miranda’s romance life in this book, which made some parts of the story a little silly or a little slow for me. I prefer the mystery, the hunt, the action, the critical thinking.
So we get to the last quarter of the book and things really pick up. There’s definitely some double dealing going on and the Lucky Penny seems to be at the heart of it. This was the best part of the book though I do have to say that using a sneeze to move the plot along is just a touch cliche. It’s cute, but cliche. Still, even with that, I really enjoyed watching Jake and Miranda figure out who did what, since there’s more than one crime to solve. I suspected one culprit but did not see the other. Clever.
All together, it was a fun cozy mystery. I look forward to seeing what trouble Jake and Miranda can get into in the future and also how their relationship develops.
I received a free copy of this book via The Audiobookworm.
The Narration: Teri Schnaubelt is still great at being Miranda Vaughn. I also really liked her always cheery voice for the personal assistant, her older, quavering voice for Dottie, and her distressed drama queen voice for the female movie star. She was great at the male voices as well.
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