Pandemonium on Saint Pat's. After a childhood spent living on the road with a free-spirited aunt, all Ivy Michaels wants is a quiet, no drama life. A chef, Ivy returns to Savannah, Georgia, the town of her birth, and opens the Cosmic Café. Life is swimming along just as the meticulous Ivy has planned until her aunt is found floating in the Savannah River.
Soon after her aunt’s murder, Ivy is burglarized, and Riordan Security Systems is called to restore her peace of mind. Only, the handsome ex-cop is both an attraction and an irritant when he spots the blue diamond ring on her finger and informs Ivy that the ring inherited from her aunt is stolen property, linked to the decade’s old robbery and murder of his mother.
Falling for the security system owner, Ivy is torn between her desire for romance and her loyalty to loved ones. Determined to regain her low key, well-oiled life, Ivy, aided by her grouchy cat, Sergeant Pepper, sets out to solve the mystery only to end up in the cross hairs of a ruthless killer.
As the world’s second largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade kicks off, Ivy must stop marching to the beat of her own drum and work with her new love to uncover the secrets of the past before they find themselves buried along with the truth.
*Sweet Tea & Live Oaks heavy with Spanish Moss. *A warm breeze rustling the Spartina. Now, add a cozy little murder & a dash of mayhem! I live in the hauntingly beautiful Savannah, Georgia/South Carolina Low Country area. My Cozy Mysteries feature strong Southern female sleuths, a motley crew of locals, plot twists and a splash of romance all set amidst the splendor of the coastal South.
This book had me turning Kindle pages so fast and held my interest all the way through. It was just suspenseful enough without being overly creepy or anything and had a lot of good cozy elements. There were times when Ivy was one of those TSTL characters, but I'm pretty sure that was written that way on purpose because Ivy always learned what not to do, mostly the hard way. Her main problem was being stubborn to the point of not wanting to listen to reasonable things that may tend to help her not get killed.
The showdown was a real nail biter and I couldn't read fast enough to see how Dom and Ivy were going to deal with their perp. Luckily, all ended well and Ivy enjoyed a good opening for her new café. I loved Tina's character! That girl needs bestie of the year award or something for putting up with Ivy, lol. Ivy's a nice person that just needs some direction! It'll be interesting to see what Ivy, Tina and Dom get into in the next book!
Ivy Michaels is preparing to open a café when her estranged aunt, who raised her after her parents’ death, is found dead. In the process of wrapping up her aunt’s affairs, Ivy finds she has inherited a diamond ring. This small item leads to a world of trouble and Ivy will have to stay one step ahead of a killer!
Overall, I enjoyed the book and story. This cozy emphasizes a romance between the quirky and likeable main character and the handsome ex-cop she’s thrown together with as trouble ensues. The plot is unique and the writing makes it easy and pleasant to read.
The mystery is interesting and intriguing. If you’re looking for a fun read, especially as we approach St. Patrick’s Day, I’d recommend this one!
I liked the mystery but I was not invested in the characters. The heroine cried at the drop of a hat. I prefer strong women who make good roll models. The hero's thoughts about the heroine when he first sees her were crude and rude. And I believe in Insta love when I am reading paranormal, only because of the fated mates phenomenon. But I do not believe the H\h can feel true love after 3 days and one date. Also, the book needs a good proof reader. The godfather was referred to as Jamie or Jaime throughout the book, even on the same page. Plus, there was one chapter about 80% into the book that was repeated 3 times. Again, proof reader please. I am going to try the short story to see if it is better, as I did like the mystery.
What a great plot and the mysterys that became slowly unraveled even the reved up romance but what I've never understood is female writers who make their character women so intelligent in day-to-day life but so ditsy when it comes to emergencies or dangerous situations when its common knowledge that most women under stress actually take control and deal with the issues with strong success ,even keeping men calmer by giving calmed down instructions and once the danger is over then a women might unravel. Just saying. But all in all I give this cozey mystery mayhem and murder a two 👍 up 😉😀Kat
The concept is charming and imaginative, with a quirky world that immediately draws you in. There’s a lot of potential in the setting, and the tone is light and engaging.
Unfortunately, the plot never digs as deep as it could. Emotional arcs feel underdeveloped, and the story tends to skim the surface rather than explore its ideas fully.
It’s fun while it lasts, but once finished, it doesn’t linger. Enjoyable, but ultimately forgettable.
Com and Ivy come together from an attempted robbery of what??? Papers of no seen value or could it n e the "fake" blue jewel Ivy finds after her Aunt is killed? Together these two find a solution to an old unsolved case, but what becomes of the future? Read on to find out.
Overall the story was cute, if not overly predictable, the timeline wasn’t always clear and overall felt rushed. There are also many grammatical issues that distracted from the story - for example the use of you’re instead of your. A good quick palate cleanser, willing to see what the author does next.
Thoroughly entertaining and engaging story. Loved the characters and plot. Kept me guessing the whole time. That's a good thing. I can most times figure it out by the 3rd chapter. It took me more time than I realized. Great job at keeping me guessing.😁
I loved this book. Having never read a suspend up romantic mystery before I didn’t know what to expect. The story has me enthralled and wanting to know what was going to happen next. Great characters. Keen for book 2 :)
This book was a great read. I had planned on reading for a few minutes every day, but couldn't put it down. The characters were unique and believable and the story and mystery involved kept me wanting to find out what happened.
The main character, Ivy, was someone I could relate to and cheer for. Every chapter was action packed, moving the story forward. Her best friend, Tina, is quite the character and I can't wait to find out what trouble she finds herself in. As for the ex-police officer? Through the ups and downs I couldn't help but root for him and hope that they both got their happily-ever-after.
This new-to-me author will be going on my watch list. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next, and hope that the story line continues.
Ivy and Don were brought together because of a ring. Ivy thinks it is costume jewelry. It has bad memories for Dom. Can they solve the mystery with looking their lives.
This book had a charming premise and a cozy, magical atmosphere, but it never fully reached its potential. The world-building was enjoyable, and the mystery aspect kept me curious, but the stakes never felt particularly high. The story was engaging enough to keep me reading, but I never felt truly invested in the outcomes. The characters were likable, but they lacked real depth. I cared about their actions to a point, but by the middle of the story, I found myself wanting more internal conflict and development. Some plot points felt convenient, and a few twists were predictable. I liked the interplay between the characters and the way the story built suspense at key moments. The magical elements were creative and enjoyable, even if they were underutilized. There were fun surprises here and there, but they were not enough to elevate the story into something memorable. Overall, this was a pleasant read, easy to enjoy without demanding too much emotional investment. I would recommend it for someone looking for a light fantasy with some intrigue, but it is not a story that will stay with me. Three stars felt fair.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Ivy Michaels meets handsome security expert and ex cop Dominic Riordan right after her Aunt Fey is murdered. It’s a very intense time for Ivy because she is also opening her restaurant and her aunt was all the family she had. But she does have her best friend Tina who also works in her restaurant and her Godfather, James Brogan who’s always been there for her; and made her dream of owning her own restaurant a reality. Dominic Riordan can’t get over the fact that the woman he’s attracted to is Senator James Brogan’s mistress. Not just because she’s almost young enough to be Brogan’s granddaughter but because she’s wearing a diamond that he last saw on his mother’s finger the night she was murdered. Dom hates Brogan and knows that he’s dishonest but so far Brogan’s used his political power to avoid investigation. He knows that Brogan is involved with his mother’s unsolved murder, and both the diamond and Ivy Michaels are the means to finally prove it.
As Dominic starts getting emotionally involved with Ivy, she becomes less and less, the means to an end and something much more important. Ivy is no fool, her aunt had a succession of boyfriends and Ivy is not the kind of woman to be accepting about being used or be happy in a relationship that’s based on deceit.
Though Dominic starts off intending to use Ivy he’s soon caught in his own trap, torn between solving his mother’s murder, making Brogan pay and praying that Ivy will be understanding of his actions and believe that he truly loves her. Dominic is a likable character who does something stupid. To his mind he rationalizes his actions, likening it to working undercover. If Ivy was Brogan’s mistress then she must be as dishonest as he is. Then he gets to know Ivy and finds that the honesty and openness he sees in her isn’t an act. James Brogan has never allowed Ivy to see beyond his charming generous persona. It’s the same persona he shows daily as a politician. But once Dominic comes into her life, he represents a safe haven because soon her life is threatened. But with the secrets and lies between them and her hurt and anger, she doesn’t know if she should trust him.
In this enjoyable romantic thriller, Ivy reacts in a very believable way when she finds out that Dominic is investigating her godfather. She doesn’t cry, then fall into Dominic’s arms and say ‘all is forgiven’. And the fact that Ivy is slow to believe Brogan’s duplicity is really more about the fact that has never shown her his true face and not because she’s naïve.
This is a well written thriller, a perfect piece of escapism!
For Ivy Michaels, the day started out normal. She was determined to let nothing bring her down. Her life was finally calming down. That was about to change with the arrival of some bad news. From the very instant I started reading, Ms. Lynne drew me in right away with the suspense.
Ivy has gone through quite a few things in her life. But despite the obstacles life throws her way, she still shows the characteristics of a strong woman. I felt inspired by the way she handled herself in the story. As Ivy's unstable past continued to affect her, she only got stronger.
Enter Dom. From the moment I met him, I knew he had some kind of ulterior motive when he met Ivy. Though I suspected he was a good guy, I questioned his connection to the situation that arises. His first meeting with Ivy made me wonder, because of his strong reaction to her. But what was it? Why did he react the way he did when Ivy stepped into his line of view? The suspense intensified at that point, pondering questions in my mind until I found the answers that I'd been asking. Dom informed ivy of his suspicions and as Ivy found them hard to believe, so did I.
There are plenty of secrets to be discovered in this intriguing tale. The action is nearly non-stop and the tension between Ivy and Dom is intense as they have to learn to trust each other and keep ahead of the villain. As the pieces of the mystery came together, I was still surprised at the ending. I enjoyed this book very much! Ms. Lynne wrapped up the story well, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The emotional depth of the hero, heroine and secondary characters were done well.
If you like fast paced romantic suspense, then grab hold of this story and don't let go until the wild adventure ride is over.
Ring of Lies is a nice blend of mystery, adventure and romance. The story moves along at a good pace, each chapter made me anxious to read on and I found it hard to put down.
The author has a gift for setting the scene. When the heroine searched her aunt’s “rundown rent-by-the-week efficiency apartment,” I felt like I was there watching as “a family of roaches scurried away to hide under a pile of newspapers.”
The main characters, Ivy and Dom, are attracted to each other but a series of secrets and misunderstandings cause them problems and their romance gets off to a rocky start. But anyone can see these two are perfect for each other and would make a great crime-fighting couple. Hopefully we’ll see them again in a future book.
Rachel Lynne's debut novel is a wonderful read. I won't say I'm surprised because I'm not, having met Rachel through an online critique group and finally face to face at this year's RWA Conference in Orlando. Rachel's voice is solid and easy to read. Her love for her hometown of Savannah rings through in every description. Ivy Michaels is just trying to carve a life for herself in Savannah with her new restaurant, Cosmic Cafe. Her aunt's death is a suckerpunch she didn't expect, nor would she have ever expected herself drawn into a world of murder and intrigue. Dominic Riordan never expected to discover that the beautiful new restaurant owner would be the key to his mother's murder. The rollercoaster ride of attraction, seduction, denial, and discovery will have you turning the pages. At 153 pages, it's a fast read and over too soon.
This story, set in beautiful Savannah, grabbed me on the first page and kept my interest throughout the fast paced ride to the finish. I liked Ivy right away, but Dom had to work for it due to his initial deception with Ivy. I loved the way the characters and story developed. And while it frustrated me a bit when Ivy refused to accept who the guilty party was, I think that’s as it was meant to be. It made me want to yell at her – “Hello? Can’t you see who’s doing this???” Yes, I was definitely invested in the story! Ring of Lies has the right blend of action, intrigue, and romance for a nice fluid story.
I thought it was a great read and I will definitely be reading this one again. I would recommend Ring of Lies to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense. I’m looking forward to Ms. Lynne’s next book!
Ring of Lies by Rachel Lynne was one in-depth read. Ivy is traumatized by the death of her one remaining relative, and is introduced to the possibility that her aunt was into some unsavoury behaviour linking a personal belonging to the brutal murder of her boyfriend’s mother.
In this web of deceit she must learn to use her mind to ferret out the truth and decide if the one person she’s known since childhood is a callous murderer, or if a string of events are coincidental, or if she is now the target of a cold hearted murderer. As the story developed I hope Dom would continue to be there for Ivy even if the outcome confirmed his worst fear.
This book is well worth your time if you like strong, suspenseful stories with lots of twists and turns as secrets unfold and danger mounts. Ivy starts out a bit naive, but she wises up through the story as she realizes the lies that have been glossed over since her childhood. Dom starts out with a hard heart and a personal vendetta that involves exposing Ivy to some nasty people. Ms Lynne did a fantastic job of keeping me on the edge of my seat, worrying for Ivy and Dom and for the long-overdue righting of a wrong that destroyed two families. An excellent read!
A great action packed, fast paced read. I enjoyed the growth of the romance in a natural pace. The suspense kept me from sleeping, turning pages. I missed the aunt, though we aren't really allowed to get to know her, for reasons obvious in the first couple of pages. But Rachel gave her a colorful depth in the story, you just can't help wishing to know her personally. Love the characters and the book. I'll read more from Ms. Lynne.
I loved this book! I'm putting Savannah on my got to see list, and I fully expect to find Dom and Ivy there when I arrive. Ms. Lynne's characters are believable and fun, and people I'd like to meet in person. The book is a great mix of humor, mystery and action. You won't want to put it down!