Bowled Over

Maggie Kelly Mystery #6

by Kasey Michaels

Maggie wouldn't mind putting a little distance between herself and the hunky Regency hero of her novels, Alexandre Blake, the Viscount Saint Just, who has miraculously come to life with talk of sweeping her straight down the aisle. But now that her parents have split up, Maggie is having trouble resisting Alex's tender loving care. So she invites him along to visit her family. Unfortunately, they arrive just in time to watch her father being taken away in handcuffs as a murder suspect!

The local police are convinced Evan Kelly has killed his bowling buddy, who happened to be having an affair with Maggie's mom. It doesn't help that Evan's bowling ball was found next to the dead body. Her dad may have had motive, but Maggie knows he's definitely no killer. Luckily, she has Alex riding to the rescue--and making her wonder if a happily ever after might not be out of her league after all...

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Cozy Mystery, Adult

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

About the author

Kasey Michaels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books (she doesn't count them). Kasey has received three coveted Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, two for the historical romances, THE SECRETS OF THE HEART and THE BUTLER DID IT, and a third for contemporary romance LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (that shows diversity, you see). She is a recipient of the RITA, a Waldenbooks and Bookrak Bestseller award, and many awards from Romantic Times magazine, including a Career Achievement award for her Regency era historical romances. She is an Honor Roll author in Romance Writers of America, Inc. (RWA)

Kasey has appeared on the TODAY show, and was the subject of a Lifetime Cable TV show "A Better Way," in conjunction with Good Housekeeping magazine, a program devoted to women and how they have achieved career success in the midst of motherhood (short version: "with great difficulty").

A highly praised nonfiction book, written as Kathryn Seidick, "...OR YOU CAN LET HIM GO," details the story of Kasey and her family during the time of her eldest son's first kidney transplant.

Kasey has written Regency romances, Regency historicals, category books including novellas and continuities and a few series "launch" books, and single title contemporaries. She has coped with time travel, ghosts, trilogies, the dark side, the very light side, and just about everything in between. Hers is also the twisted mind behind her ongoing Maggie Kelly mystery series starring a former romance writer turned historical mystery writer whose gorgeous hunk of a fictional hero shows up, live and in color, in her Manhattan living room – to melt her knees, to help her solve murders, and to leave the top off her toothpaste. And, says Kasey, she's just getting started!

Series:
* His Chariot Awaits
* Lion On the Prowl
* Crown Family
* London Friends
* Chandlers Request
* The Trehan Brothers
* Maggie Kelly Mystery
* Romney Marsh
* Sunshine Girls

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice ending to the series. We got a lot more in depth view of Maggie's family. I liked how Maggie and Saint Just both evolved in this book. The mystery was pretty good too.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

Maggie, Alex and Sterling go home for Christmas after learning Maggie's parents have separated. They were just in time to see Maggie's father taken into custody for killing his long time bowling buddy. The victim turned out to be the local Lothario who seem to have slept with virtually all the women in town, including Maggie's mum and sisters!

The murderer's motive is bonkers but it was the one I thought of straight away... I wonder if that means I'm a bit psycho myself???

I was hoping to have a more satisfactory finale in the romance department but apart from evidence of both Sterling and Alex becoming mortal, that's about it. I actually wouldn't mind if the author continue with this series. It's been quite entertaining.

[Mascanlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun, I love these characters, the very suave Saint Just from Regency England with his sidekick Sterling and their author/creator Maggi. This is a cross-genre book and although I don't usually read romance its blended with an above average mystery.

[Wench · Rating 2 out of 5]

I disenjoyed this so much I finished it three days ago and haven't bothered marking it. So much casual ableism and fat hate, a mystery that wasn't at all hard to figure out, and just bleah. Bleah bleah bleah. What a disappointing end to this series.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't hardly believe it. Two romances in a row that had no sex scenes and very little bad language and no violence. And was a good read. See? It can be done.

[Debra McEathron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a stand alone book in a series. if you have read the others in the series you can relate to the references that are made and learn most about Saint Just and Sterling.

[Bernadette Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I have finished reading all of the Maggie Kelly mysteries and I believe that this last story is a fitting end (or beginning) to the series!

[Lychee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost the definition of frothy. Didn't realize it was part of a series until partway through, so that might have served as the source of my dissatisfaction. Although most annoying to me was the inclusion of a few brief (and imo entirely unnecessary) chapters of asides by the author to the reader about the villain that took me out of the flow of the story. Although others may enjoy those kinds of asides. The most appealing part of the story is the premise underlying the series -- a regency romance author whose hero comes to life. I may give the first in the series a try just to see if it was starting in the middle that left me only mildly entertained.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, the plot has now gone to the absurd, but I still found something likable about this, if only because Michaels starts to make Maggie and St. Just change. Too many series keep the character static, never letting them change--like Joanne Fluke and the interminable inability for her heroine to choose between two guys.

I don't know if the series will continue, but I would continue to read it, if only to see what happens to Maggie as she changes her life and her plotlines in the books she writes.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a bad romance/mystery book. The hook with this series is pretty interesting: the main character's character of her novels comes to life and they, with the character's manservant, help her solve real-life mysteries. This series is light and fun and recommend it for those who don't want the sex found in other "romance" books.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 2 out of 5]

some time ago a woman's fictitious characters from her regency mystery novels come to life and help her solve mysteries. This mystery involves the author's family: her dad has been accused of murdering the man who had an affair with both the accused's wife and other daughter. The author daughter and her 2 guests come to the rescue.

[Kasey M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could definitely have been better. For a light read though it was a good story. My only real problem was that I saw this entire ending coming from the moment they introduced Barry, which is rather irksome. Oh and the whole interlude with our Shadowy Figure ruined all suspicion thst thr killer could have been Evan.

[Kimber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 2.8 rating. Cute and light. But I could put it down. St. Just is a cutie, but their relationship is a bit of an enigma. (Why does he like her so much when he's constantly picking out her flaws???)

I'm getting a little tired of the series apparently...sigh...it was fun while it lasted. :) (I'm sure I'll read more.)

[Pandora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read fantasy, mystery romance series

Ms. Michaels knows how to grab our interest and keep the fun coming til the end of the book. You will adore her characters, enjoy the backdrop and want to be immersed in the story. Absolutely perfect!!

[Meeta]

This book is actually called Bowled Over, but the title is wrong in GoodReads. No idea why.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't even imagine why a publisher would decide that this was okay. The only reason I'm admitting to reading it is so that someone else doesn't make the same mistake.

[September · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book just had me lost. I don't know. I just didn't really like it. Sometimes that happens, I guess. I finished it, but I was just luke warm about it.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and fluffy, though I'm vaguely weirded out by the fact that the Maggie is romantically involved with the character she came up with. Enjoyed it even so.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting to get to know even more about Maggie's family, and very satisfying to watch how the characters and relationships developed throughout the story. Good read!

[The Twins · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only have two words "hard work"

[Jennifer]

Michaels' dialogue is still snappy, but somehow the fun has gone out of the series. (Chances are, it's the shark-jumping transition from UST to RST.) Light, fluffy fare.

[T.M. Carper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirk, light chit-lit fic that's a blend of tame romance and suspense. Interesting characters and a fast pace. First Kasey Michaels' book I've read.

[Tory Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very silly book! Couldn't get with the idea of the writer who brings to life (really!) 2 of her characters.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy fun read...

[Karen Desmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Beby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seri terakhir dari Maggie Kelly Mystery. sayang sekali sih sebenernya, gue masih pengen baca lagi petualangan Maggie, Alex & Sterling.

[C K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an author that I have read a lot of and have added her books to my 'keeper' book shelf. Most I have read at least twice and some even more than that.

[Rej · Rating 3 out of 5]

its interesting but it bores me once in a while all in all its comme c'est comme ca :D

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alright. finished it.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a good read, although not as good as other in the same series.