Book picks similar to
Key Weird by Robert Tacoma


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Wedding Tiers / Sowing Secrets / Chocolate Wishes


Trisha Ashley - 2013
    It seems like it’s going to be always the cakemaker, never the bride until charming photographer Noah arrives on the scene…Sowing Secrets tells the story of Fran, who seems to have it all with her lovely husband and cottage in the country. That is until ex-boyfriend Tom turns up and Fran’s perfect world is turned upside down.Life is sweet for chocolate maker Chloe in Chocolate Wishes. That is until the new vicar Raffy arrives in the village; Chloe’s first love and the man who broke her heart…

Boca Knights


Steven M. Forman - 2009
    . ." - Lincoln Child In a debut novel sure to both excite passions and elicit laughter, author Steven M. Forman has created a different kind of hero in a most unlikely criminal hotbed: Boca Raton. Eddie Perlmutter's career as a much-honored Boston cop has come to an end. At sixty, he's still energetic and virile, but decades of harsh New England winters and collaring the pug-uglies of Boston's underworld have taken their toll - especially on his knees. So what does a lonely, retired cop with arthritic knees do? Heads to sunny Florida, of course. But instead of enjoying a relaxed, laid-back retirement, Eddie quickly discovers the darker side of Boca Raton's endless sun and palm trees, where hate crimes, counterfeiting, and worse lurk beneath the deceptively calm surface of the cushy retirement communities. With his no-nonsense crime-fighting skills and roll-with-the punches attitude, Eddie hits Boca Raton like of a Nor'easter from Hell, fast, fresh, and unstoppable. A compulsively readable comic thriller with an egalitarian message that will inspire readers of all ages, Boca Knights will have readers in stitches and keep them on the edge of their seats. "Boca Knights is a can't-put-down read, full of laugh out loud humor, fast paced hijinks, and lore. Part Robert Parker, part Carl Hiaasen, Eddie Perlmutter is a high-testosterone, no-nonsense detective with a tender core, and makes turning sixty a carnal, tropical ride." - Andrew Gross "Fast, funny, and incredibly wise . . . a compulsive read that will make you want to live next door to its hero, Eddie Perlmutter, who is without a doubt one of the best new characters to appear on the literary horizon in some years." - Gayle Lynds "Steve Forman strafes the south Florida scene with Boca Knights, an outrageously funny mystery novel with a raft of offbeat characters and prose that moves trippingly off the pen. His main man, Eddie Perlmutter, ex-Boston cop attempting semi-retirement in Boca Raton like a fish trying to retire out of the water, is a character for the ages. Carl Hiaasen, watch your back." - Douglas Preston "Ever wonder what would happen if you crossed Philip Roth with Elmore Leonard? This impressive crime debut novel provides a hint. . . . An entertaining mix of comedy and drama." - Booklist "Mystery fans who like their operatives macho with an offbeat sense of humor will certainly enjoy this book and look forward to the next in the series." - Library Journal

Crazy in Paradise


Deborah Brown - 2011
    Tarpon Cove is not your typical sleepy beach town: Seduction, drunks, ex-cons and fugitives are not the usual fare for someone looking to start a new chapter in their life. Wrestling control of the property from both the lawyer and the conniving motel manager will be no easy feat. But Madison likes living on the edge so she feels right at home. Bullets fly, a dead body turns up, a kidnapping and blackmail. Madison really has to learn not to leave home without her Glock or it could get her killed.

Heart of Glass


Christy Hayes - 2011
    Nothing about Danny Flannery’s life is what Kate thought it would be, and as the truth is revealed she longs for a big fat do-over. Danny’s made a success of his building firm but is hesitant to participate in a flashy magazine spread. He’s dead-set against it when he realizes the journalist sent to interview him is the only woman he’s ever loved and lost. Under pressure from his business partner, Danny agrees to sit down for an interview with the girl he once knew as Kat Fordham and realizes her name isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Everything he thought was true about the past is a lie. When Danny discovers Kate still wears the heart shaped sea glass necklace he made for her years ago, they clear the air and their passion reignites. But Kate’s still keeping secrets to protect their fragile new relationship. With her family estranged and her career on the line, will she come clean before Danny finds out the truth, and can Danny risk his heart again for the only woman he’s ever loved?

The Life and Death of Bayou Billy


C.L. Bevill - 2010
    Two towns that he lived in immediately begin to bicker over which one will get to bury the notorious criminal, thus achieving the prominence and revenue that goes with the burial. Pascal Waterford, mayor of Sawdust City, Texas, is cheered by Bayou Billy’s death. The reward of tourism from the outlaw’s death will gain them monies that the nearly destitute town desperately needs. Ophelia Rector, a prominent citizen of Albie, Louisiana, is also jockeying for control of Bayou Billy’s remains and is obsessive about putting the outlaw in her family’s cemetery. Both Pascal and Ophelia will fight to the bitter end to discover how low each can sink in order to obtain the rights to a rotting corpse of a dislikeable man whose fame was more prestigious than the man himself. God help anyone who gets in their way.

The Murder Pit


Jeff Shelby - 2014
    A new husband. A bunch of kids. A charming old house. What she doesn't want is a dead body. When a frozen pipe in the basement of her century-old home leads her and her husband downstairs into a newly discovered crawl space, they find a coal chute they didn't know they had. And a corpse inside of it. Things become complicated when Daisy realizes she knew the victim. And things get even worse when it becomes increasingly clear that the body was placed there to make Daisy look like the killer. Against her husband's advice and her own common sense, Daisy makes it her mission to prove to the denizens of Moose River that she is innocent. But doing so may be more dangerous than she planned.

Western Swing


Tim Sandlin - 1989
    When Loren Paul spends too much time contemplating the meaning of life, his gorgeous, headstrong wife Lana Sue drives South to meet some cowboys. While Lana Sue drinks and flirts in country bars, Loren soul searches and starves in the Wyoming mountains. Loren and Lana Sue couldn't be on more different paths, but they're both steering toward the same surprising truth: maybe they deserve each other.

Deadly Dancing


Nicolette Pierce - 2011
    . . until reality hits. And it hits hard! He has a secret and a long list of aliases. He’s not what he seems and Mars is dragged into a killer’s path. Mars needs to outsmart an irresistible man and outrun a killer, all while pulling off her friend’s wedding without a hitch. Unfortunately, when it comes to the exotic dancer, she just can’t say no.

Blissed


Jamie Farrell - 2014
    But it’s redemption time, and she’s putting on her big girl panties to make sure this year’s bridal festival goes off without a hitch. Even if it means she has to play nice with the man who broke her fairy tale.She’s definitely not the one for him. Or is she...World adventurer and reluctant local hero CJ Blue doesn’t want to be in Bliss anymore than Natalie wants him here. But family obligations have brought him back, and now he’s somehow been roped into saving the town tradition he’d rather forget with the woman whose kiss he can’t forget. She frustrates him and drives him nuts but he's had more fun giving her a hard time about the bridal festival than he has in years.And their fun is just starting...Despite their rocky past, these two wounded souls have more in common than they expect. They’ve both loved and lost, they’ve both tried to move on, and now they’ve both been been banned from the local church confessional after...well, they’re not supposed to talk about it. But by joining forces for the sake of Bliss, they might find the courage and the sparks to risk love one more time.Note: BLISSED was previously published for like 5 minutes many years ago as THE HUSBAND GAMES. Publishers Weekly called it a "Marvelous romantic comedy" in a starred review and named it as a "Self-Published Star" of 2014.

Murder in the South of France


Susan Kiernan-Lewis - 2011
    Along the way, she finds handsome Laurent Dernier, a sexy if nefarious Frenchman who it's not clear is there to help or hinder Maggie's search for the girl. Meanwhile, her sister's murderer sets his sights on the little girl — and Maggie.The first book of the Maggie Newberry Mystery Series, Murder in the South of France was originally titled Murder on the Côte d’Azur.

Love Under Construction


M.C. Cerny - 2017
    Cerny, Love Under Construction is book one in the Love By Design series. Come meet a sullen, stubborn hero with a 2x4 stuck up his rear about falling in love, and a heroine who has watched every episode of the Property Brothers ready to flip her dream house. Between every construction nightmare possible, animals that need to move out, and friends determined to interfere, what could possible go right? Step into a small town with a big heart, and laugh your way into love. Each book in the LBD series is a standalone HEA romance. Hunter Hart knows construction. He knows relationships hurt after watching his parents self destruct. Somehow he forgot all the warnings when Taylor Jane Bryant blasted through the crumbling foundation around his heart. Taylor Jane Bryant knows home design. Well... she thinks she knows based on marathon sessions of her favorite television show. Now she's all grown up and ready to nail the last stud, Hunter Hart.

A Nasty Bit of Rough


David Feherty - 2002
    In this first volume of his misadventures, Gussett sets his sights on the most prestigious prize in golf, the petrified middle finger of St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. Presiding over the world's most cantankerous golf club, Gussett must motivate his members through battles with incontinence, single malt Scotch, and a litany of other unmentionable afflictions in a friendly competition with their ancient rivals, the notorious McGregor clan. Anyone who loves the game or knows someone who does will be unable to resist Feherty's hilarious storytelling and golfing gravitas.

Bet you can't... Find Me


Linda S. Prather - 2012
    No gun, no weapon. Nothing more than a thought."Catherine Mans has the ability to see and hear what others can’t. With the help of Homicide Sergeant Cody Allen, she’s turned that talent into a successful profession as a psychic consultant. But Catherine’s past is coming back to haunt her. Someone is threatening the lives of everyone she loves. Nine bodies have been discovered, and Catherine is the FBI’s prime suspect. To prove her innocence, she must unravel the secrets of her past, and answer the challenge of a deranged psychic.Bet you can’t…FIND ME!

Up and In


Deborah Disney - 2014
    But when Kate befriends the spoilt and moody Mirabella, Maria must learn to play nicely with Mirabella's mother, Bea - the beguiling yet beastly queen of the toffee-nosed school mothers at Riverton.A series of social blunders and intentional snubs make Maria determined to ensure Kate's rightful position both at school and on the Saturday morning netball team, but as Maria works hard to negotiate the social hierarchy, her previously contented life with Joe falls far from view.With her mastery of dialogue and character, Australian author Deborah Disney skillfully balances keen and witty observations about daily life with the more serious issues of schoolyard bullying and social isolation.You will laugh, you will nod along, and you will want to take the increasingly neurotic Maria aside and point out that in all her desperate, gaffe-filled attempts to fit in with the well-heeled, champagne-swilling mummies of Riverton, she might just be risking all that she holds dear.'My stand-out fiction read for 2015' Rebecca Sparrow, author, Mammamia columnist and host of So What Are You Reading?'This story showcases a world where motherhood is a competitive sport ... highly recommended' Chicklit Club (High Raters)'While the book is satirical and clearly a mummy-mafia-on-speed version of events, it has so many nuggets of truth that Up and In is destined to become the next must-read for any mum navigating schoolyard politics' Kidspot Parenting Magazine'I am so excited that this is Deborah Disney's debut novel. It's accomplished, compelling and one of those novels that will tug at the heartstrings one minute and have you giggling the next. Warm, extremely well-written and a complete delight to read. If you're looking for a light, funny, yet insightful novel then congratulations - you've found it!' Bookaholic Holly

Desperate Housewives of Olympus


Saranna DeWylde - 2011
    When a new goddess moves to Ambrosia Lane, Hera decides she's finally had enough of her philandering husband. She offers herself and the crown of gods to Hades. Hades doesn't want the crown, but he'll take Hera. (Often and twice on Sunday.) He's a heartless bastard--having had Aphrodite rip it out so he'd stop loving Persephone after he set her free. Persephone is scheming to get back to Tartarus with the aid of Thanatos, who trips on his leather trench coat and falls in love with her. Thanatos' titan mother, Nyx thinks she's past all the drama until she turns up pregnant. Demeter has secrets of her own and the new goddess Abstinence lands in a steaming centaur pile when she falls for the King of the Gods himself whose own dark needs could tear them apart. Come along for the ride as these goddesses take control of their Fate (or so they think) and find their Happily Ever Afters.