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Samantha Sweet #16
Tricky Sweet
It’s Spring Break and a trio of California college kids head out, not to the beach but to the mountains of New Mexico, where they plan on a week of snowboarding, beer, and fun. But the instructions to reach their vacation rental are less than precise and it’s late and snowy when they arrive at Taos Ski Valley. They’re surprised to find an older couple in the cabin they believed to be theirs but hey, Casey Hardwick, the ringleader of the group, is not known for reading directions or getting all the facts. Maybe the place is actually a B&B. They troop inside and are shown to a bedroom.
Days later, Casey’s sister is calling the only friend she knows in Taos—Kelly Sweet—hoping to get word to her brother that their mother’s condition has worsened and she doesn’t have long to live. No one has heard from Casey, and she urgently needs to reach him. Samantha and Kelly are together when the call comes, and the mystery only deepens once they talk to Sheriff Evan Richards. Yes, the family reported the missing boys and he investigated. He found no evidence that they’d ever arrived. His theory is that the boys changed their plans at the last minute and are living it up somewhere else.
But Sam has a bad feeling about it. Without the help of law enforcement, will she and Kelly figure out how the boys disappeared? And can they find the boys and get Casey home before it’s too late to see his mother again? Their only clues seem to come from the mysterious book of runes.
Readers are raving about these lighthearted, relaxing, well-written books—Samantha may not be young, beautiful or have the perfect body, but she is intelligent, independent, and hard working, the kind of person you feel you already know.
~ ~ ~
Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous
“The best yet!! Not only was Sweet Magic fantastic, it left me dying to see where life is headed for Samantha and her family! Heart-gripping, fast-paced, and amazing.” – J.J. 5-stars, online review
“LOVE, LOVE these books!” —5 stars, online review
“Fantastic! Impossible to put down!” – 5 stars, Amazon reader
“Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal
“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review
Days later, Casey’s sister is calling the only friend she knows in Taos—Kelly Sweet—hoping to get word to her brother that their mother’s condition has worsened and she doesn’t have long to live. No one has heard from Casey, and she urgently needs to reach him. Samantha and Kelly are together when the call comes, and the mystery only deepens once they talk to Sheriff Evan Richards. Yes, the family reported the missing boys and he investigated. He found no evidence that they’d ever arrived. His theory is that the boys changed their plans at the last minute and are living it up somewhere else.
But Sam has a bad feeling about it. Without the help of law enforcement, will she and Kelly figure out how the boys disappeared? And can they find the boys and get Casey home before it’s too late to see his mother again? Their only clues seem to come from the mysterious book of runes.
Readers are raving about these lighthearted, relaxing, well-written books—Samantha may not be young, beautiful or have the perfect body, but she is intelligent, independent, and hard working, the kind of person you feel you already know.
~ ~ ~
Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous
“The best yet!! Not only was Sweet Magic fantastic, it left me dying to see where life is headed for Samantha and her family! Heart-gripping, fast-paced, and amazing.” – J.J. 5-stars, online review
“LOVE, LOVE these books!” —5 stars, online review
“Fantastic! Impossible to put down!” – 5 stars, Amazon reader
“Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal
“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review
Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2022
About the author
Connie Shelton
115 books312 followersMy love of books started with weekly trips to the library as a child and from the moment I learned to read I can't remember a time that I didn't have at least one book going. For the past 25 years, that list has grown to include what I'm reading and what I'm writing at any given time.
I began writing my Charlie Parker series when my husband and I lived on Kauai, then continued them in my home state of New Mexico. Charlie lives in Albuquerque and manages to travel to a variety of locations, wherever her investigation business and her husband's helicopter business take them. My second series featuring Samantha Sweet, the 50-ish woman who breaks into houses for a living, is set in Taos, New Mexico.
In addition to reading and writing, I've traveled quite a lot, taught writing courses, and been a speaker at a whole lot of mystery conventions and writing conferences. In my spare time I also love to paint, draw, cook and spend time at the beach.
Series:
* Charlie Parker Mystery
I began writing my Charlie Parker series when my husband and I lived on Kauai, then continued them in my home state of New Mexico. Charlie lives in Albuquerque and manages to travel to a variety of locations, wherever her investigation business and her husband's helicopter business take them. My second series featuring Samantha Sweet, the 50-ish woman who breaks into houses for a living, is set in Taos, New Mexico.
In addition to reading and writing, I've traveled quite a lot, taught writing courses, and been a speaker at a whole lot of mystery conventions and writing conferences. In my spare time I also love to paint, draw, cook and spend time at the beach.
Series:
* Charlie Parker Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 11, 2023
not the best
Let me start by saying I love this series, the plots, the characters,etc. I have read them all and I will probably read the next one and the next one.
in this particular book, I liked the premise of the book and the plot line until we get to the ending. Basically, (by the way, spoiler alert,) Prepper kook holds these 3 guys against their will, drugs them for several days, and then locks them in the basement at gun point. They have to escape at two in the morning in a blizzard, and are found 2days later.
So basically, they don’t want to prosecute crazy prepper for Grandtheft auto because the car was found without any damage. Really?
They don’t charge the crazy prepper because there’s no sign of abuse???
How about assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, intentionally drugging these boys locking them in the basement at gunpoint?? Then having them almost fie of hypothermia because they were trying to escape from a guy who took the car and their keys and their phones etc.?
Crazy prepper was already talking about taking them out to the middle of the woods, where no one would find them at gunpoint… and there’s no sign of abuse???
So he’s set free to go off and deal with his mental issues and continue his crazy very dangerous actions without even a mental evaluation??? What kind of justice is this? And why wouldn’t the boys, especially Casey, not insist on this guy being sent away to prison.
Under what legal code is it ok to walk away with a slap on the wrist for drugging, kidnapping, and assault? “No abuse” indeed.
Let me start by saying I love this series, the plots, the characters,etc. I have read them all and I will probably read the next one and the next one.
in this particular book, I liked the premise of the book and the plot line until we get to the ending. Basically, (by the way, spoiler alert,) Prepper kook holds these 3 guys against their will, drugs them for several days, and then locks them in the basement at gun point. They have to escape at two in the morning in a blizzard, and are found 2days later.
So basically, they don’t want to prosecute crazy prepper for Grandtheft auto because the car was found without any damage. Really?
They don’t charge the crazy prepper because there’s no sign of abuse???
How about assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, intentionally drugging these boys locking them in the basement at gunpoint?? Then having them almost fie of hypothermia because they were trying to escape from a guy who took the car and their keys and their phones etc.?
Crazy prepper was already talking about taking them out to the middle of the woods, where no one would find them at gunpoint… and there’s no sign of abuse???
So he’s set free to go off and deal with his mental issues and continue his crazy very dangerous actions without even a mental evaluation??? What kind of justice is this? And why wouldn’t the boys, especially Casey, not insist on this guy being sent away to prison.
Under what legal code is it ok to walk away with a slap on the wrist for drugging, kidnapping, and assault? “No abuse” indeed.
October 22, 2022
What If
What if three young men decide to go on a ski trip but get lost along the way? What if they come upon a cabin and think they found their rental place? What if a kindly old couple welcomes them into their house but then things get weird? Sam and her daughter Kelly learn about the missing boys from a college friend of Kelly’s. The clues to the boys whereabouts slowly unravel but will it be soon enough? This certainly is a tricky mystery for our friend Sam and the authorities.
What if three young men decide to go on a ski trip but get lost along the way? What if they come upon a cabin and think they found their rental place? What if a kindly old couple welcomes them into their house but then things get weird? Sam and her daughter Kelly learn about the missing boys from a college friend of Kelly’s. The clues to the boys whereabouts slowly unravel but will it be soon enough? This certainly is a tricky mystery for our friend Sam and the authorities.
January 4, 2023
Great
As always Samantha solves the case . This book was a little different from the norm there wasn't no murders which was a nice change I look forward to many more Samantha books and I love I look forward to many more Samantha books and I love That her daughter Kelly is getting involved in helping solving mysteries.
As always Samantha solves the case . This book was a little different from the norm there wasn't no murders which was a nice change I look forward to many more Samantha books and I love I look forward to many more Samantha books and I love That her daughter Kelly is getting involved in helping solving mysteries.
June 28, 2024
Tricky Sweet
I can't help but give each book a five-star rating. Connie Shelton has once again swept me into the story! Whenever someone asks about wanting to find a new author to read, I always recommend Connie. Her characters are so relatable, and the storylines are believable. On to the next book in the series!
I can't help but give each book a five-star rating. Connie Shelton has once again swept me into the story! Whenever someone asks about wanting to find a new author to read, I always recommend Connie. Her characters are so relatable, and the storylines are believable. On to the next book in the series!
June 6, 2023
Intense and compelling
Samantha helped again! She wasn't the one to find the missing individuals but she helped get the Sheriff's department to look closer than just a first glance!
Samantha helped again! She wasn't the one to find the missing individuals but she helped get the Sheriff's department to look closer than just a first glance!
October 21, 2023
Three young men from California go on a ski vacation to the mountains of New Mexico. They get lost trying to find their vacation rental and end up in a mountain cabin with an elderly couple who are survivalists. A local baker and her daughter get involved in the hunt for the young men.
October 22, 2022
Great Sam Sweet Book
I really enjoyed this Sam Sweet book. It's not a typical mystery but very enjoyable. The characters are well written.
I really enjoyed this Sam Sweet book. It's not a typical mystery but very enjoyable. The characters are well written.
October 30, 2022
Latest book in the Samatha Sweet series.
Read
November 5, 2022A great cozy
I love this series by Connie Shelton . I love all the characters and have from book one and I can't wait for the next one.
I love this series by Connie Shelton . I love all the characters and have from book one and I can't wait for the next one.
August 1, 2023
I have loved everything I've read of Connie Shelton's and I've read many. I enjoy the Samantha Sweet series and this is no exception. I'm looking out for the next one...
April 16, 2024
A good story. I enjoyed it.
November 9, 2024
2.5
None of the red herrings were viable and they were long winded.
None of the red herrings were viable and they were long winded.
October 28, 2022
Totally intense with tons of heart and a touch of magic.
January 30, 2025
It was a different vibe. Prefer when the plot keeps the main players as the focal points throughout the story.
January 14, 2023
great story!
The beginning of this story moved at a slow pace. But keep reading because the story’s pace picks up nicely.
All our regulars are present and we get to hear about Easter decorating at the bakery. Nice!
We meet three college guys who are in the area to go snow boarding during their spring break. All goes according to plan, until the young men disappear without a trace.
The beginning of this story moved at a slow pace. But keep reading because the story’s pace picks up nicely.
All our regulars are present and we get to hear about Easter decorating at the bakery. Nice!
We meet three college guys who are in the area to go snow boarding during their spring break. All goes according to plan, until the young men disappear without a trace.
October 24, 2022
another great read!
Connie has done it again! Another great read about Samantha Sweet and Taos, New Mexico! Love this series and how the story lines are so riveting!
Connie has done it again! Another great read about Samantha Sweet and Taos, New Mexico! Love this series and how the story lines are so riveting!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews