by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Pot Luck. We also have a link to order it from Amazon, and from an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.

Elliott Lisbon never realized that Lola Carmichael owned the entire trailer park she lived in, but it does explain how she has been a long-time donor to the Ballantyne Foundation. That ownership is also why Lola is requesting Elliott’s assistance in locating who just paid off Fisher’s Landing Trailer Park’s past-due mortgage. Elli is earning hours towards a private detective license, so she quickly agrees to fit in this task along with being the Director of the Ballantyne Foundation. It’s going to be a bit of a challenge, considering that the Ballantyne is hosting their annual Irish Spring St. Patrick’s Day backyard party fundraiser. It’s an event Lola normally avoids, as a result of her ex-brother-in-law Chef Tom Carmichael competing in The Pot O’Gold Cook-Off that attracts chefs from all around the South. Elli manages to convince Lola to attend, an invitation that proves tragic when Lola is murdered and Chef Carmichael found standing over her with a bloody knife.

Completely guilt-ridden and unable to accept that Sea Pine Island’s beloved Chef could have committed murder, Elli hurtles herself into the investigation. This despite the fact that Chef confessed, refuses to speak to Elli, and her own boyfriend was the one who made the arrest. Lola’s returning daughter Lucy, whom Elli mentored over twenty years ago, is now a fully licensed private detective herself and wants nothing to do with Elli or her amateur investigation. That’s not an option for Elli, and repairing their friendship is right up there with caring for two adorable bundles of time-consuming pug puppy love, Lola’s Colonel Mustard and Mrs. White.

The Ballantyne Foundation has had more than its share of bad luck and the occasional murder, but this time Elli is certain that Lola’s murder was connected to whoever anonymously spent nearly $400,000 to keep her from losing her trailer park. The unfriendly Carmichael family, along with a terrifying pug-snatching event, have Elli reluctantly submitting to her sexy Lieutenant’s security and surveillance safeguards, but that doesn’t mean she won’t engage in a little trailer break-and-entering, spying, or using the amazing Google as research.

Elli’s most appealing trait is the same one that makes her such a devoted investigator. She is absolutely loyal to those she loves, and nothing can stop her missions to protect them. The realization that she neglected a friendship is yet another reason for her to feel guilty, and the investigation is as much a way to get back into Lucy’s good graces as it is to free Chef Carmichael and find justice for Lola. Elli’s newfound maternal devotion to the puppy pugs is a delight, as are her witty and wry reactions to obstacles. Readers will only want to spend more time in the company of this spunky heroine, whose strong streak of independence gets her into trouble as much as it has her taking up the burden of her friends.

This book was published by Henery Press. To learn more about their books check out their website: henerypress.com.

To enter to win a copy of Pot Luck, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “pot luck,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 14, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

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Pot Luck

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.