Synopsis:

Book Details
Genre: Cozy Mystery – New Series
Published by: Wordsmiths4u
Release Date: April 22, 2013
Number of Pages: 242

In this first Darla King novel, Darla returns to square dancing in midlife following tragedies in both her personal and professional lives. She moves from Florida to Texas and from high-powered investigator to life in a small town and a job as far removed from crime as she can think of—she becomes a square dance caller. But when an unconscious stranger turns up on the ranch of one of her dance club members, her specialized knowledge may hold the key to the identity of his assailants. At first, Darla is concerned that her friend Doug is the target. When the same square dancer is assaulted not once but twice, she realizes something else is wrong. Even more telling is the secretive but disturbingly handsome FBI agent that enters the picture.

Darla didn’t plan it this way, but her curiosity pulls her into the case and she has to use the investigative skills from her past that she thought she’d left behind. She’s inquisitive by nature, and looks for patterns to unravel it all. Patterns like the ones she uses to choreograph a dance. Combined with her contacts as a square dance caller and her square dance knowledge, she’s just the person to fit all the pieces fit together. Darla, along with her close friends from the Clearton Squares Dance Club, ends up in the thick of things—and in danger.

Review:

I’m always up for a new cozy series because you never know when you will find a winner.  While I’m not sure that this is a new series that I will follow, it wasn’t too bad for a first book.  There was a crime but no murder…which was sort of a deviation from cozy books that no one died.  Someone was attacked and left for dead but that was about as close as it got.  Since this book follows the square dancing circuit, I thought it might be interesting to learn more about this type of dance.  I’m not sure that I really learned anything, and probably had more questions than answers.  The book did seem to get better towards the end and there was some excitement as they were solving the crime.

Overall I’d give it 3 1/2 paws.  I’m not sure this is a series I will follow but if you saw my stack of books to read you’d probably understand!

About the Author:

Rosalee Richland is the pen name of two real-life square dancing writers. As Rosalee, co-authors Cyndi Riccio and Rhonda Brinkmann joined forces to create the Darla King cozy mystery series. Darla and her friends portray the best of the square community, the warmth and friendship among people in it, and the enjoyment square dancing brings worldwide. Darla’s curiosity often puts her squarely in the midst of unusual circumstances, and Darla can’t let go until the mystery is solved.

When not writing, Darla’s co-authors enjoy reading, traveling, meeting readers and fans, networking with other authors, and – of course – square dancing. They are learning to blog, and are always working on Darla’s next mystery. If you have a chance, stop in at a book signing and find out which half of Rosalee shows up! In the meantime you can stay in touch with Rosalee and Darla on on Facebook, Goodreads, or the Darla King Series blog. Or just search for “Rosalee Richland” anywhere in cyberspace.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook

Buy the book:

Amazon * B & N * Book World

Tour Participants

August 26 – Mommasez… Review
August 27 – StoreyBook Reviews Review
August 28 – Brooke Blogs Guest Post
August 29 – A Blue Million Books Interview
August 30 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner Review
September 2 – readalot blog Review
September 3 – Books Are Life – Vita Libri Review
September 4 – Melina’s Book Blog Review
September 5 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading Review, Interview
September 6 – THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK Review