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The Mitzy Neuhaus Mysteries #1
Foreclosed
Mitzy Neuhaus is the top selling Realtor in Portland, but even her office is dead in this economy. Foreclosed is the word no homeowner wants to hear and Mitzy is determined to save the incredible mansion on her street from that fate. But with the homeowner desperate to keep Mitzy away from his property and Alonzo, the dangerously hot rival investor trying to snatch it out from under her, Mitzy knows she has to work fast, or the economy won’t be the only thing dead… If you love quirky mysteries with humor and sass, you'll love Hilton's Mitzy Neuhaus!
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2010
1156 people are currently reading
1730 people want to read
About the author
Traci Tyne Hilton
33 books137 followersTraci Tyne Hilton is the author of The Plain Jane Mysteries, The Mitzy Neuhaus Mysteries and the Tillgiven Romantic Mysteries. When not writing she has been known to knit socks, play the spoons, and teach Sunday School, though these days she is most often seen in her role as taxi-driver to busy children.
She has been indie publishing since 2010, and though she's had offers from small and large presses, she hasn't gone hybrid yet. She was the Mystery/Suspense Category winner for the 2012 Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, a finalist for Speculative Fiction in the same contest, and has a Drammy from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild. She blogs at TheWriteConversation.blogspot.com.
Traci is an active member of the ACFW, who was lucky enough to teach a continuing ed class on indie publishing at the 2015 conference in Dallas. She also serves on the board of her local chapter.
Traci attended Fackelbararnas Bibelskola in Holsby Brunn, Sweden, and earned a degree in History from Portland State University. She lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director, two busy teens, and their dogs, Dr. Watson and Archie Goodwin. (Her family just admonished her not to forget the cat!)
You can join the Good Clean Book club at http://www.tracihilton.com and be the first to find out when her next book releases.
She has been indie publishing since 2010, and though she's had offers from small and large presses, she hasn't gone hybrid yet. She was the Mystery/Suspense Category winner for the 2012 Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, a finalist for Speculative Fiction in the same contest, and has a Drammy from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild. She blogs at TheWriteConversation.blogspot.com.
Traci is an active member of the ACFW, who was lucky enough to teach a continuing ed class on indie publishing at the 2015 conference in Dallas. She also serves on the board of her local chapter.
Traci attended Fackelbararnas Bibelskola in Holsby Brunn, Sweden, and earned a degree in History from Portland State University. She lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director, two busy teens, and their dogs, Dr. Watson and Archie Goodwin. (Her family just admonished her not to forget the cat!)
You can join the Good Clean Book club at http://www.tracihilton.com and be the first to find out when her next book releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
October 5, 2013
Very awkward prose, misused words, grammatical errors, and an incoherent, illogical plot are just some of the problems with Foreclosed.
At first, I read on because I always try to give a book a chance to get better, but soon it became apparent that I would have to finish this book to see how bad it could get. In that regard, it did not disappoint.
Mitzy may be a perfect name for the ditzy protagonist, but calling the owner of a one-agent real estate firm Neuhaus (new house) is really over the top. In addition, the author calls Mitzy a real estate "mogul" and goes out of her way to emphasize that education is not necessary for success. While this may be true in some cases, Hilton is rather mean about it, characterizing Mitzy's sister-in-law as having nothing to show for her Ph.D. but a lot of student debt.
Following are a few "gems" pulled from the pages of Foreclosed. My comments appear in parentheses.
"'A bored staff is a bad staff.' She smiled. Clever. She would write that one down."
(And that is just about how clever this book is.)
"It took a regular appointment with her stylist to keep her hair the right blonde and the right latitude."
(Latitude? Perhaps a GPS would help.)
"It was one of her personal goals to make Ben less of a pessimist."
(Perhaps her personal goals should be, um, personal?)
"Bruce was negotiating his donut into his coffee and offered a grunt."
(Never negotiate with a donut.)
"Her voice was warm with hurt and disappointment."
(Warm?)
"She chewed on the idea of investments."
"...she chewed on the idea."
"...he chewed on ways to get his name 'out there' so to speak"
(Too much chewing going on to swallow!)
"Bruce showed up into the silence."
(Does he have his donut with him? Perhaps he could grunt.)
"Their particular office was quite small; the reception area, just a couple of square feet."
(I'll say it's small. A couple of square feet would be one foot by two feet, or 18 inches on each side. Where is this real estate office, in Lilliput?)
"And his head hurt like a four letter word."
(The character's effort not to swear, one appearance in church by two characters, and a few odd comments about God are supposed to make this book a "Christian cozy." It's not too convincing.)
After reading Foreclosed, my head now hurts like a four-letter word.
At first, I read on because I always try to give a book a chance to get better, but soon it became apparent that I would have to finish this book to see how bad it could get. In that regard, it did not disappoint.
Mitzy may be a perfect name for the ditzy protagonist, but calling the owner of a one-agent real estate firm Neuhaus (new house) is really over the top. In addition, the author calls Mitzy a real estate "mogul" and goes out of her way to emphasize that education is not necessary for success. While this may be true in some cases, Hilton is rather mean about it, characterizing Mitzy's sister-in-law as having nothing to show for her Ph.D. but a lot of student debt.
Following are a few "gems" pulled from the pages of Foreclosed. My comments appear in parentheses.
"'A bored staff is a bad staff.' She smiled. Clever. She would write that one down."
(And that is just about how clever this book is.)
"It took a regular appointment with her stylist to keep her hair the right blonde and the right latitude."
(Latitude? Perhaps a GPS would help.)
"It was one of her personal goals to make Ben less of a pessimist."
(Perhaps her personal goals should be, um, personal?)
"Bruce was negotiating his donut into his coffee and offered a grunt."
(Never negotiate with a donut.)
"Her voice was warm with hurt and disappointment."
(Warm?)
"She chewed on the idea of investments."
"...she chewed on the idea."
"...he chewed on ways to get his name 'out there' so to speak"
(Too much chewing going on to swallow!)
"Bruce showed up into the silence."
(Does he have his donut with him? Perhaps he could grunt.)
"Their particular office was quite small; the reception area, just a couple of square feet."
(I'll say it's small. A couple of square feet would be one foot by two feet, or 18 inches on each side. Where is this real estate office, in Lilliput?)
"And his head hurt like a four letter word."
(The character's effort not to swear, one appearance in church by two characters, and a few odd comments about God are supposed to make this book a "Christian cozy." It's not too convincing.)
After reading Foreclosed, my head now hurts like a four-letter word.
April 23, 2013
The author needs to cut down on her caffeine intake. This book was all over the place. There were disjointed sentences and misplaced words. Character descriptions kept changing. Also, it's not a good start when a sentence on page 9 reads "Mitzy walked on at a comfortable, contemplative pace and contemplated her situation."
The book is about a real estate mogul and the author is very good about using real estate terms but that is as far as it goes. As the entire first half of the book is a set-up for the mystery, she didn't do a very good job with her research. A real estate expert would know about building codes, commercial real estate rentals and the cost of installing a retrofit elevator.
The first half also devoted too much time with unnecessary information. Okay, we get it. Mitzy Neuhaus likes purple.
This book was free and still not worth the time.
The book is about a real estate mogul and the author is very good about using real estate terms but that is as far as it goes. As the entire first half of the book is a set-up for the mystery, she didn't do a very good job with her research. A real estate expert would know about building codes, commercial real estate rentals and the cost of installing a retrofit elevator.
The first half also devoted too much time with unnecessary information. Okay, we get it. Mitzy Neuhaus likes purple.
This book was free and still not worth the time.
January 14, 2012
I did a search on Christian books for my new Kindle Fire, and this is one of the ones that came up. This a cute story. I liked the idea for the mystery, an old house with mysteriously missing, important furnishings, and the author is clearly knowledgeable about real estate, the field Mitzy is in. Mitzy is an employer with a good heart and a good citizen. Her antagonism toward a commercial real estate rival, Alonzo, is easier to understand when you realize how independent and competitive she has had to be. It is a well-written, engaging story. The characters are likeable and I cared about what happened to the one who got mugged, the ones who drove too fast, even the leaky puppy.
These people live their ordinary lives, and the two whom we are told are Christians show evidence of it, even if they are hard-pressed in a world of car wrecks and daily sexual innuendo. I know we all struggle with how to be Christlike when we have to earn a living and get along with the rest of the world. Big hair and purple nail polish seem to trump a college degree, at first, because Mitzy has had it tough competing with her relatives and her family's expectations on the way to becoming her own person. But she is successful, and no one can deny that. Successful in her career, and in her relationships with the people who matter.
It is a mystery without any murders, which was kind of a relief. There is drinking, and getting drunk is portrayed as funny. There are a couple of swear words hastily repented of to show the person is trying. There is some admiration of female legs and figures. When a man and woman are tied up back to back by a bad guy, the man enjoys the woman's wiggling against him to escape. I personally did not object at all to the female admiration.
Mitzy takes a person to task for speaking in a sexually suggestive manner, but then apologizes for doing so. Not sure why she did that, but it helped in future relationships. I wonder how I would show ordinary Christians' relationships with the "real" world, and I have to admit that Traci has carried it off well on the whole.
These people live their ordinary lives, and the two whom we are told are Christians show evidence of it, even if they are hard-pressed in a world of car wrecks and daily sexual innuendo. I know we all struggle with how to be Christlike when we have to earn a living and get along with the rest of the world. Big hair and purple nail polish seem to trump a college degree, at first, because Mitzy has had it tough competing with her relatives and her family's expectations on the way to becoming her own person. But she is successful, and no one can deny that. Successful in her career, and in her relationships with the people who matter.
It is a mystery without any murders, which was kind of a relief. There is drinking, and getting drunk is portrayed as funny. There are a couple of swear words hastily repented of to show the person is trying. There is some admiration of female legs and figures. When a man and woman are tied up back to back by a bad guy, the man enjoys the woman's wiggling against him to escape. I personally did not object at all to the female admiration.
Mitzy takes a person to task for speaking in a sexually suggestive manner, but then apologizes for doing so. Not sure why she did that, but it helped in future relationships. I wonder how I would show ordinary Christians' relationships with the "real" world, and I have to admit that Traci has carried it off well on the whole.
February 10, 2017
In Traci Tyne Hilton's Foreclosed, the first installment in the Mitzy Neuhaus Cozy Mystery series, get ready to enter the world of real estate. Mitzy Neuhaus is the top realtor in Portland who's against a rival realtor named Alonzo Miramontes. While the economy is dead for new prospective hot properties, there's a mansion that's been foreclosed by the bank. She wants to sell it to its new owners. But she had hit some snags along the way, besides Alonzo wanting that home for her sister Carmella to use as an inn. First, there's the stolen Russian jewelry at a charity auction that was bid on, her brother and sister-in-law's home broken into, including her office too. And there have been more things that have gotten awry, even after she broadcasted over the air in her radio spot. The potential buyers of that Victorian home pulled out, her best friend gets assaulted, and her rental burned down. When she wanted to check the place for herself, she meets the owner of the home and would do anything to stop her from buying it, even if the stolen jews are hidden inside somewhere. It's up to Alonzo to team up and work together to stop him in its tracks.
June 18, 2011
I was very disappointed in this book. First, what was the mystery? The first half of the book was basically very obvious set up for the last part, but the story line was very weak and disjointed. The characters were 1 dimensional, and, please, the love interest pathetic. I do not mind reading Christian based books, but this seemed to have added the Christian theme as an afterthought. I found it annoying and distracting and added nothing to the story.
April 5, 2013
Foreclosed is one of the most boring books I ever picked up. I called it quits about halfway through it.
January 19, 2016
Not as good as I hoped.
The language was clean. At one point a character struggles with his language and it is pointed out that cursing/swearing is forbidden in the Bible. He still does use a few replacement words, but those weren't offensive.
There wasn't any direct smut, but the main character deals with a rather crude radio announcer. Was it really necessary to write out the dialog? I understand she wants to develop a situation to demonstrate Christian forgiveness, but there are more delicate ways to do that.
It was nice that for a Christian book the characters weren’t perfect, even the heroine. She struggles with her temper, jealousy, loneliness and self control. It gets irritating when she sets herself up as the only one capable of fixing the real estate market, saving the neighborhood, stopping crime, and finding Mr. Right. The most annoying part is the crime fighting. After a week she is tired, her word, of it, but she hadn’t done anything about it except talk about it on the radio. She doesn’t even call the police. She’s just all around overly dramatic.
The solution, I won’t give it away, is just sad. The crook would have had to be just plain stupid not to get what he was searching for. Those who succeeded were just plain lucky.
I don’t think I’ll be reading any more
The language was clean. At one point a character struggles with his language and it is pointed out that cursing/swearing is forbidden in the Bible. He still does use a few replacement words, but those weren't offensive.
There wasn't any direct smut, but the main character deals with a rather crude radio announcer. Was it really necessary to write out the dialog? I understand she wants to develop a situation to demonstrate Christian forgiveness, but there are more delicate ways to do that.
It was nice that for a Christian book the characters weren’t perfect, even the heroine. She struggles with her temper, jealousy, loneliness and self control. It gets irritating when she sets herself up as the only one capable of fixing the real estate market, saving the neighborhood, stopping crime, and finding Mr. Right. The most annoying part is the crime fighting. After a week she is tired, her word, of it, but she hadn’t done anything about it except talk about it on the radio. She doesn’t even call the police. She’s just all around overly dramatic.
The solution, I won’t give it away, is just sad. The crook would have had to be just plain stupid not to get what he was searching for. Those who succeeded were just plain lucky.
I don’t think I’ll be reading any more
February 2, 2012
FORECLOSED by Traci Tyne Hilton is 230 pages. I read this one on my Kindle and it was a free book from Amazon. It is a Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery.
I did not enjoy this book very much. I thought it was just a very light mystery and if it is supposed to be Christian Fiction, I felt that fell short of the mark too. It took forever to get to the real mystery and once you were there, you didn't really care in my opinion. I know that Cozies are to be light and fun, but this was just a story in my opinion with a love interest at the very end. Maybe the next one will be better, but I am not sure that I will read that one.
I think the editing could have been a little better done too. Not sure if that is because it was a free e-book or because it was just bad editing. I just didn't feel like parts were put together in a proper sequence. In other words, I thought it jumped around too much.
I am giving this 2 out of 5 stars because I believe this was a first effort. If I thought this was the 2nd or 3rd book I might have given it less.
BUY NOW: AMAZON $2.99 Kindle Format
I did not enjoy this book very much. I thought it was just a very light mystery and if it is supposed to be Christian Fiction, I felt that fell short of the mark too. It took forever to get to the real mystery and once you were there, you didn't really care in my opinion. I know that Cozies are to be light and fun, but this was just a story in my opinion with a love interest at the very end. Maybe the next one will be better, but I am not sure that I will read that one.
I think the editing could have been a little better done too. Not sure if that is because it was a free e-book or because it was just bad editing. I just didn't feel like parts were put together in a proper sequence. In other words, I thought it jumped around too much.
I am giving this 2 out of 5 stars because I believe this was a first effort. If I thought this was the 2nd or 3rd book I might have given it less.
BUY NOW: AMAZON $2.99 Kindle Format
May 26, 2014
I continued reading this book because I thought the story had potential despite the awkward writing and poor grammar. I was wrong. If the author wants to write other book I would suggest that she find a competent editor. Her sentences and paragraphs were riddled by grammatical errors that made it hard at times to follow her meaning and, in one particular case, the scene jumped with no warning or explanation. I got this book as a "free Friday" selection from Barnes and Noble and although I consider the time I spent reading the book a waste, I am glad that at least I did not waste my money.
February 10, 2017
Not my cup of tea. I began to wonder with the short choppy sentences at the beginning, but then it began to flow better and I started to become hopeful.
But, my word, the author put so much real estate info into the beginning that I began to ask myself, when will the story start??? And really, do I care about this info?
My answer = I don't!!
Talk about filler. I finally lost interest and quit reading.
But, my word, the author put so much real estate info into the beginning that I began to ask myself, when will the story start??? And really, do I care about this info?
My answer = I don't!!
Talk about filler. I finally lost interest and quit reading.
August 15, 2017
"An easy read for all ages"
Who knew the world of real estate could be so exciting? I enjoyed the settings, and the characters. The story was interesting enough to keep me engaged. While it may be a little tame for some tastes, it certainly has more merit than many books I've read this year. It's the sort of book I could have recommended to my Mother without reservation. That's no bad thing; there are millions of Mothers out there looking for a book to read.
Who knew the world of real estate could be so exciting? I enjoyed the settings, and the characters. The story was interesting enough to keep me engaged. While it may be a little tame for some tastes, it certainly has more merit than many books I've read this year. It's the sort of book I could have recommended to my Mother without reservation. That's no bad thing; there are millions of Mothers out there looking for a book to read.
December 30, 2012
One of the worst books I've ever read. I want my 99 cents back.
April 4, 2017
Mitzy Newhaus, the main character in this cozy mystery, Foreclosed:A Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery by Traci Tyne Hilton is a good hearted Realtor, who battles the poor housing market economy but still tries to keep her employees stable with a steady income. Her main rival is the heart throb Realtor Alonzo, who happens to be competing for the same Victorian mansion which is almost in foreclosure.
I found this book slow to start, with many facets dealing with the real estate business which didn't keep my interest. The interaction with the secondary characters was not fleshed out. By the time the mystery started, I was about half way through the book.
A little bit of flirting, but even the small of amount of romance didn't seem to carry the story. This book has all the right elements for a cozy mystery, but not the pace or the total interaction of all the characters.
I would say that this mystery could fit the bill for some cozy buffs, but for me, a little to slow, a little to late.
I found this book slow to start, with many facets dealing with the real estate business which didn't keep my interest. The interaction with the secondary characters was not fleshed out. By the time the mystery started, I was about half way through the book.
A little bit of flirting, but even the small of amount of romance didn't seem to carry the story. This book has all the right elements for a cozy mystery, but not the pace or the total interaction of all the characters.
I would say that this mystery could fit the bill for some cozy buffs, but for me, a little to slow, a little to late.
February 28, 2014
I really liked the idea of this book...a cozy mystery centered on a beautiful Queen Anne Victorian and missing Russian jewels. I was severely disappointed in its execution, though.
This just simply was NOT a well-written book. Cliches, awkward dialogue, and a plot that darted around everywhere was the least of its issues. My main complaint is the main character, real estate "mogul," Mitzy Neuhaus.
I understand that this was supposed to be a Christian based mystery and that no one, Christians included, are without their faults. However, Mitzy came across as an arrogant, self-righteous *itch. As hard as she pretends to be, she's not a nice person and even worse, she's a hypocrite. She makes it her personal mission to attack the wrong-doings of society, but doesn't give a second thought to trespassing and even going through her sister-in-law's office without permission. She also seems to think that everyone else in the world is an idiot besides herself and its her other personal mission to educate we poor fools about how not to fall victim to the 2008 economic collapse that is discussed ad nausem throughout the book!
Seriously, I wanted to strangle this girl, and was deeply disappointed that no one in the story ever got around to it, lol. Apparently saving the world does not entail, oh, I dunno...actually doing charity work or donating money to causes that actually help people in need. Rather, Mitzy would rather spend her cash reserves on a $50,000 art museum gala to sell a house she has no right to sell (and make her sister in law look bad). She's quite impressed with herself, constantly admiring her image in the mirror, bragging about the square footage of her penthouse and talking about how a local daytime talk show NEEDS her and her expertise. No wonder the only men who take an interest in her are a perverted radio jockey and a slimy businessman who gets so angry with her that he smashes his Hummer into an armored vehicle.
And what the heck is with the "stuck in the 80s thing?" This book takes place in 2008 and Mitzy is constantly referred to as young. What is with the big hair, blue eye shadow, and blazers with shoulder pads? That isn't even retro-cool 80s...that's just sad, lol.
Anyway, as you can gather, I did not care for this book. Luckily, I downloaded it for free from Amazon, so only my time was wasted. I will not be looking for any others in the series, free or not.
This just simply was NOT a well-written book. Cliches, awkward dialogue, and a plot that darted around everywhere was the least of its issues. My main complaint is the main character, real estate "mogul," Mitzy Neuhaus.
I understand that this was supposed to be a Christian based mystery and that no one, Christians included, are without their faults. However, Mitzy came across as an arrogant, self-righteous *itch. As hard as she pretends to be, she's not a nice person and even worse, she's a hypocrite. She makes it her personal mission to attack the wrong-doings of society, but doesn't give a second thought to trespassing and even going through her sister-in-law's office without permission. She also seems to think that everyone else in the world is an idiot besides herself and its her other personal mission to educate we poor fools about how not to fall victim to the 2008 economic collapse that is discussed ad nausem throughout the book!
Seriously, I wanted to strangle this girl, and was deeply disappointed that no one in the story ever got around to it, lol. Apparently saving the world does not entail, oh, I dunno...actually doing charity work or donating money to causes that actually help people in need. Rather, Mitzy would rather spend her cash reserves on a $50,000 art museum gala to sell a house she has no right to sell (and make her sister in law look bad). She's quite impressed with herself, constantly admiring her image in the mirror, bragging about the square footage of her penthouse and talking about how a local daytime talk show NEEDS her and her expertise. No wonder the only men who take an interest in her are a perverted radio jockey and a slimy businessman who gets so angry with her that he smashes his Hummer into an armored vehicle.
And what the heck is with the "stuck in the 80s thing?" This book takes place in 2008 and Mitzy is constantly referred to as young. What is with the big hair, blue eye shadow, and blazers with shoulder pads? That isn't even retro-cool 80s...that's just sad, lol.
Anyway, as you can gather, I did not care for this book. Luckily, I downloaded it for free from Amazon, so only my time was wasted. I will not be looking for any others in the series, free or not.
August 5, 2015
while this was a clean, light enjoyable read... it was a little all over the place. The story was goes along at a pretty good pace when suddenly the author decides its time to finish the book. And the story main character and her nemesis, are suddenly all good, buying the property together and making googly eyes at one another... It just seemed really haphazardly thrown together and random. I will not be reading any of the others in the series.
April 16, 2014
A good mystery,a little romance even nods to God!
I loved the characters, there was enough background to make them interesting. that's why I love to read, it's like getting to know someone new. there was history to learn as the story unfolded. I love Victorian houses and would really like to explore the Baltimore house. I would recommend this book,highly!
I loved the characters, there was enough background to make them interesting. that's why I love to read, it's like getting to know someone new. there was history to learn as the story unfolded. I love Victorian houses and would really like to explore the Baltimore house. I would recommend this book,highly!
September 21, 2019
This was a cute, though somewhat underdeveloped and unconvincing story. Mitzy Neuhaus is a top-selling Portland realtor with a weekly spot on a local radio station, her own office building with cute, quirky staff members, a love for all things purple and a fantastic business sense.
When Mitzy learns that a house next door to a rental property she owns is facing foreclosure, she's determined to save it and the neighborhood from loss. She pulls out all the stops to find a well-to-do buyer with the cash and motivation to purchase the historic home at a good price, despite the sagging economy. She's especially ecstatic about the upgrades she finds in the kitchen, and then is appalled when she learns that the owner not only didn't pay the installers, but he removed them from the property before the house could be sold. When Mitzy announces on the radio that she's going to find the responsible party and make him pay, things start going haywire.
Alonzo Miramontes wants the old house to turn it into a bed and breakfast, so his sister can have a job, his employees can have a project and he can invest some money he's put back for something that may earn an income for him during the economic downturn. He's butted heads with Mitzy about wanting to buy her office building for his renovation business, but she hasn't budged. Since she's not the not the seller's realtor and he's not about to have her broker the deal for him, the two of them are at odds.
The bizarre thing about this story is where the author takes it from there. Through verbiage and a plotline as amateurish and forced as a movie filmed with a shaky camera, the story unfolds with the original owner coming after Mitzy and her other real estate deals, stolen jewels at a museum fundraiser she sponsors and various other events. Everything seems unrelated, but Mitzy manages to piece them all together, and they lead both her and Alonzo back to the house--and into each other's arms.
While the story was fun and enjoyable, it was far from believable. Especially the part about Mitzy and Alonzo winding up on the same side. I am glad this eBook was available for free. While I did like it, I didn't "buy" it, and I probably won't read anything more by this author.
When Mitzy learns that a house next door to a rental property she owns is facing foreclosure, she's determined to save it and the neighborhood from loss. She pulls out all the stops to find a well-to-do buyer with the cash and motivation to purchase the historic home at a good price, despite the sagging economy. She's especially ecstatic about the upgrades she finds in the kitchen, and then is appalled when she learns that the owner not only didn't pay the installers, but he removed them from the property before the house could be sold. When Mitzy announces on the radio that she's going to find the responsible party and make him pay, things start going haywire.
Alonzo Miramontes wants the old house to turn it into a bed and breakfast, so his sister can have a job, his employees can have a project and he can invest some money he's put back for something that may earn an income for him during the economic downturn. He's butted heads with Mitzy about wanting to buy her office building for his renovation business, but she hasn't budged. Since she's not the not the seller's realtor and he's not about to have her broker the deal for him, the two of them are at odds.
The bizarre thing about this story is where the author takes it from there. Through verbiage and a plotline as amateurish and forced as a movie filmed with a shaky camera, the story unfolds with the original owner coming after Mitzy and her other real estate deals, stolen jewels at a museum fundraiser she sponsors and various other events. Everything seems unrelated, but Mitzy manages to piece them all together, and they lead both her and Alonzo back to the house--and into each other's arms.
While the story was fun and enjoyable, it was far from believable. Especially the part about Mitzy and Alonzo winding up on the same side. I am glad this eBook was available for free. While I did like it, I didn't "buy" it, and I probably won't read anything more by this author.
September 17, 2020
Mitzy has a passionate nature, loving to always educate people about the advantages of assisting the economy by purchasing real estate. There are many answers that could assist so easily and she had them all, except for her love life, or should we say lack of.
Alonzo one of the property that was owned by the ever-popular Mitzy. He contacted her to remind her he would be a wise investor and all she needed to do was think about going back into the suburbs and allow him to do what he does best.
Things aren't very easy with the radio show Mitzy speaks on more often than she'd like. She has a big fan base but the sexual harassment weighs her down. She wants to assist her new client by assisting her to get stolen goods from her native country. What occurs next isn't an easy or understandable occurrence at first.
The conflict resolution skills Mitzy has are dynamic. The insurmountable odds faced to handle success are really breathtaking as well as the boiling chaos that surrounds most of the characters in this thick plot! This is a 5 Star Mystery novel. I decided to leave a review because it was amazingly written. It made me want to open to reading this genre more often!
Alonzo one of the property that was owned by the ever-popular Mitzy. He contacted her to remind her he would be a wise investor and all she needed to do was think about going back into the suburbs and allow him to do what he does best.
Things aren't very easy with the radio show Mitzy speaks on more often than she'd like. She has a big fan base but the sexual harassment weighs her down. She wants to assist her new client by assisting her to get stolen goods from her native country. What occurs next isn't an easy or understandable occurrence at first.
The conflict resolution skills Mitzy has are dynamic. The insurmountable odds faced to handle success are really breathtaking as well as the boiling chaos that surrounds most of the characters in this thick plot! This is a 5 Star Mystery novel. I decided to leave a review because it was amazingly written. It made me want to open to reading this genre more often!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2020
Foreclosed was an enjoyable story to read whilst sunbathing during lockdown.
It follows the story of Mitzy, an estate agent (or realtor in American, lol) who is trying to keep her business afloat and start the local economy moving again by helping people manage their money on a local radio show after the 2007 economic crash. Meanwhile, she gets entangled in a mystery surrounding a house that has been foreclosed, but the previous owner is illegally selling off fittings and fixtures, and some jewellery that has been stolen from the museum her sister-in-law works at.
It is a cozy mystery, so whilst it keeps you on the edge of your seat, there is no great violence nor horrifically gory scenes. The author manages to keep you intrigued in the story, as the various twists and turns develop. I will say, though, that because it is subtitled "A Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery" I was expecting Mitzy to be an amateur detective solving the mystery, rather than getting embroiled in it herself.
Enjoyable, light reading.
It follows the story of Mitzy, an estate agent (or realtor in American, lol) who is trying to keep her business afloat and start the local economy moving again by helping people manage their money on a local radio show after the 2007 economic crash. Meanwhile, she gets entangled in a mystery surrounding a house that has been foreclosed, but the previous owner is illegally selling off fittings and fixtures, and some jewellery that has been stolen from the museum her sister-in-law works at.
It is a cozy mystery, so whilst it keeps you on the edge of your seat, there is no great violence nor horrifically gory scenes. The author manages to keep you intrigued in the story, as the various twists and turns develop. I will say, though, that because it is subtitled "A Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery" I was expecting Mitzy to be an amateur detective solving the mystery, rather than getting embroiled in it herself.
Enjoyable, light reading.
June 17, 2017
Pretty good
I enjoyed the second half of the book a lot. The first half was very difficult to stay focused on. It felt slow.
The characters were decently developed.
It felt like a Lifetime movie, but super clean.
Though there are religious comments, it's not a religious read.
There is no sexual content other than a few mild remarks from a character you're meant to hate.
As far as profanity goes, I recall two mild uses of profanity but they were worded in ways that showed a character's moral progression and then there is no more, because the character decides profanity isn't Christian-like.
I would rate the book 3.5 stars because of the fact that it was slow and not a grabbing mystery. But it wasn't a bad read, and there were a "few" moments that the mystery-factor surprised me--in a good way!
I enjoyed the second half of the book a lot. The first half was very difficult to stay focused on. It felt slow.
The characters were decently developed.
It felt like a Lifetime movie, but super clean.
Though there are religious comments, it's not a religious read.
There is no sexual content other than a few mild remarks from a character you're meant to hate.
As far as profanity goes, I recall two mild uses of profanity but they were worded in ways that showed a character's moral progression and then there is no more, because the character decides profanity isn't Christian-like.
I would rate the book 3.5 stars because of the fact that it was slow and not a grabbing mystery. But it wasn't a bad read, and there were a "few" moments that the mystery-factor surprised me--in a good way!
February 9, 2022
~Light & fluffy in the murder mystery genre
~Some random thoughts on this story…it was okay…I got it for free, so, I’m not out anything…it was something to read, I do enjoy reading authors that I am not yet familiar with…cozy mysteries tend to stretch reality and believability to the limits, this one was no exception…it was nice to read a book that was not filled with profanity…it was a good light read in-between heavier books…I can’t say that I “really liked it” (4-stars)…I did finish reading it but, I’d not go as far as saying that “I liked it” (3-stars)…it was more of simply wanting to finish it and move on to my next book… thus, 2-stars says “it was ok”, I would not go out of my way to read any other books in this series.
~Some random thoughts on this story…it was okay…I got it for free, so, I’m not out anything…it was something to read, I do enjoy reading authors that I am not yet familiar with…cozy mysteries tend to stretch reality and believability to the limits, this one was no exception…it was nice to read a book that was not filled with profanity…it was a good light read in-between heavier books…I can’t say that I “really liked it” (4-stars)…I did finish reading it but, I’d not go as far as saying that “I liked it” (3-stars)…it was more of simply wanting to finish it and move on to my next book… thus, 2-stars says “it was ok”, I would not go out of my way to read any other books in this series.
June 7, 2017
Poorly Written. An excessive amount of grammatical errors. The characters were poorly described and I felt like they changed and it was confusing. Further, the relationship in this book was not realistic nor fun. It was rushed and I didn't care about either character at the end. I will not be continuing this series. Something about the cover made me think there might be something to do with hauntings or the spiritual world...not a beautiful mansion like described in the book. The book cover I have for it has dark skies and lightning with Foreclosed written ominously. Amazon still uses this cover. The one linked to goodreads seems more appropriate.
April 21, 2020
An excellent first book of a series!
I love when I run across an author and am so entertained by their work that I binge read the rest of their series. That is the case with this story. I cannot wait to read the next story in the series!
This is a well-written, clean, fun, and easy read. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great mystery story.
A quote from another reviewer that I agree with 100%, “I have enjoyed 4 of your books and all of them should get 5 stars. I loved that she was not so lacking in her vocabulary that she had to use vulgar language and cursing as so many of her fellow authors.”.
I love when I run across an author and am so entertained by their work that I binge read the rest of their series. That is the case with this story. I cannot wait to read the next story in the series!
This is a well-written, clean, fun, and easy read. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great mystery story.
A quote from another reviewer that I agree with 100%, “I have enjoyed 4 of your books and all of them should get 5 stars. I loved that she was not so lacking in her vocabulary that she had to use vulgar language and cursing as so many of her fellow authors.”.
April 29, 2020
Overall it was an easy read - the only problem being that there were a lot of typos. As the first book in a series, it spent a lot of (maybe too much) time setting up the characters. The main reason that I give it 3 stars is a personal one. The real estate part was just not believable. I had to keep reminding myself that it was just a book and to suspend my disbelief. It is a lesson in the importance of research. No realtor would spend THOUSANDS of dollars trying to sell a home that is listed by someone else. That is just one of the mistakes the author made. However, overall I did like the characters and when I could but the business aspect aside, I found it to be a pleasant cozy mystery.
May 1, 2018
Though I finished this (I almost never drop a book once started), it really was a waste of time. The characters were shallow, the plot :O-hum, and the dialogue stilted. I guess it was written for the Christian fiction market, but any references to religion, prayer, church, etc. Seemed liked they were just dropped in or forced in to make the book fit that market. I enjoyed the references to Portland and the real estate business--both of which are in my last, but even these were sketchy and not developed well. The setting could have been any city, and the real estate end was very shallow.
December 6, 2018
I only got about 16% through the book. I've read a lot of books with Christian characters, but few where you're hit over the head with it from page one.
The interactions between Mitzi and Alonzo and Mitzi and Johnny were too annoying. In fact, I found the characters too annoying to continue on with the book. I got it from Kindle Unlimited, so at least I didn't waste money on it. I read more than enough KU books to get my money's worth out of the subscription.
The interactions between Mitzi and Alonzo and Mitzi and Johnny were too annoying. In fact, I found the characters too annoying to continue on with the book. I got it from Kindle Unlimited, so at least I didn't waste money on it. I read more than enough KU books to get my money's worth out of the subscription.
January 3, 2019
Pretty yet slightly naive Mitzy’s real estate business in Portland Oregon is dormant. She is strong-minded to save the grand manor on her road. She recognizes she has to work promptly or situations could get grim. The attraction amid her and Alonzo is outward from the get-go and complements the enticing amorousness throughout the pages. Their interaction is immense and the clash of determinations truly carries the story. An entertaining cozy Christian mystery.
April 9, 2019
Not the worse I've read, but, close.
It feels like the author just tossed in the Christian theme, to sell it as a 'Christian ' book. It was clean, which I appreciate. It was slow going then rushed at the end, which was predictable. It was a freebie so I didn't lose money. I'd be willing to read the next, in hopes it was better, if it were free, but, if I never do, I won't miss it or the characters.
It feels like the author just tossed in the Christian theme, to sell it as a 'Christian ' book. It was clean, which I appreciate. It was slow going then rushed at the end, which was predictable. It was a freebie so I didn't lose money. I'd be willing to read the next, in hopes it was better, if it were free, but, if I never do, I won't miss it or the characters.
October 16, 2017
This is not a cozy mystery. There is no murder (or death even) in this story. It is a confusing blend or real estate, Russian royal jewels, a foreclosed mansion and a undertone of Christian faith. Who is the good guy and who is the bad guy I'm still not sure but I will not be reading any more of this series.
January 27, 2018
Meh. This was exactly like the 2 star rating says; it was ok. The mystery wasn't very exciting. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't like I was clamoring to get back to it either. It also felt like the Christian fiction aspect was just thrown in there. I've read Christian fiction before and it felt like it was a meaningful part of the story. In this one it felt like an afterthought.
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