Reviews

REVIEWS

THRILLED TO DEATH

Samantha Shaw, dating service owner and wannabe private investigator, is caught between trying to protect her grandfather, a respected magician, and love for her P.I. boyfriend who wants to keep her safe. When Shane Masters, a man who exposes the magic tricks of others in his own act, is murdered, grandpa is the prime suspect. Funny, sexy, and fast-paced, Apodaca's chick-lit mysteries (Ninja Soccer Moms) are good reads for any season.

Library Journal: February 2006

Sam has come a long way from NINJA SOCCER MOMS and it shows in this tale as she still errs, but moves on with confidence in her self she knows what she wants and she goes out to get it. Solving the case of the dead magician proves difficult because the prime suspects besides being friends are expert sleight of the hand illusionists so red herrings abound. This is a fantastic entry as Sam hopes to soon practice under her license not that of her lover.

Harriet Klausner

This latest installment in Apodaca’s Samantha Shaw Mysteries is the best one yet. There are numerous exciting plot threads to add to the enjoyment of seeing this intrepid woman deal with life – be it family, friends, lover, two careers, murder, etc. – as she grows as a person. I can’t wait for more!

Tanzy Cutter, reviewer

THRILLED TO DEATH is the fifth novel in Jennifer Apodaca’s The Samantha Shaw Mystery series. Like its predecessors, it is an action oriented novel with the right amount of lust, intrigue and humor. The plot is plausible and entertaining while the characters are endearing and likable. The reader can easily relate to the lead character’s daily struggle as she tries to balance being a hard-working mom as well as a sexy woman looking for love. Always a hit, Apodaca’s latest addition is sure to be a winner with her devoted fans.

Reviewed by Jennifer Vido

BATTERIES REQUIRED

"...Apodaca's gift for comedy shines though."

--Romantic Times Book Club

Holy Cow! This is one cast of characters that will keep you on your toes. One minute you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat in suspense, and the next minute you’ll be rolling on the floor laughing. I just can’t say
enough good things about this book!

Jennifer Apodaca absolutely has a flair for writing fast, fun fiction! BATTERIES REQUIRED is the fourth book in the Samantha Shaw Mystery series, and it’s intriguing, hilarious and sexy! BATTERIES REQUIRED is the only book I’ve read in the series, and I felt like there were no big secrets given away from the previous books. This novel has all the requirements for a keeper: a plot that is well planned, characters that will keep you highly entertained, and an overall wonderful writing style. To put it simply, Jennifer Apodaca’s writing rocks! After reading this cozy mystery, Ms. Apodaca went at the top of my list for auto-buy authors. I’m headed to my bookstore as soon as possible to get the three other books in this series.

--B.J. Deese; www.romancejunkies.com

There is lots to love about Jennifer Apodaca’s new book, Batteries Required, besides the catchy title...I love Sam, I love Gabe and Angel, and the book is rich with the taste of “real life.” The core of Samantha Shaw is that she is a good mother dealing with a bad situation, and also with the trouble that comes with starting over, when you have “baggage.” Sam’s baggage is in the form of two very real, very lovable boys. This is Jennifer Apodaca’s strength--writing about real people, in humorous, sometimes scary, often heart-wrenching situations.

~~Natalie R. Collins http://www.nataliercollins.com/
WIVES AND SISTERS

This fourth book in the Samantha Shaw mystery series keeps your interest first page to last. BATTERIES REQUIRED is a quick read, and once started, I couldn’t put down. Apodaca writes with a witty flair, and all the characters are quirky, yet wonderful, as is the storyline. I can't wait for the next installment.

Tanzey Cutter, Reviewer

WICKED WOMEN WHODUNIT

'FAST BOYS'

"...Jennifer Apodaca's Fast Boys was a treat, with NASCAR and the incredible appeal it has for America explored. The plot is tight, the characters appealing, and my only complaint that it was too short. Not the author's fault, of course. It is an anthology of novellas."

--www.Readersroom.com

"FAST BOYS is fast paced and enthralling. As a fan of NASCAR myself, I could easily see several drivers as Ark and immediately loved him. There is an instant attraction between Ark and Tess, even if Ark doesn’t recognize her at first. The mystery’s conclusion is a surprise or was for me, as I followed the clues with the characters. I found Ms. Apodaca’s writing intriguing and one of the best stories. I certainly plan to find more of Ms. Apodaca’s work, namely her Samantha Shaw mysteries, as well as looking forward to seeing Tess and her friends again in the future."

--www.Romancereadersconnection.com

Wow! "I totally love Ark and Tess. This is a marvelous hero and heroine, and their sizzling seduction singes

the pages of this great quickie. FAST BOYS is the first story I’ve ever read by author Jennifer Apodaca,

and I’ll be visiting her website to see what other treasures she has to offer!"

--BJ Deese, www.Romancejunkies.com -BJ

"Jennifer Apodaca's Fast Boys melds romance, mystery, NASCAR drivers, and errant e-mails for a fast paced and entertaining tale."

--Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore

NINJA SOCCER MOMS

From Publishers Weekly
Sports moms waiting for practice to end will enjoy the third bubbly entry in Apodaca's cozy series (after 2003's Dying to Meet You) starring Samantha Shaw, amateur sleuth and owner of Heart Mates, her "beloved and struggling dating service" in Lake Elsinore, Calif. When her old friend Janie Tuggle tells her that ex-husband Chad, the head coach of the Soccer Club of Lake Elsinore (SCOLE), has been embezzling funds, Sam is anxious to help. Janie should know, since she managed the club's accounts for years, until Chad left her for a younger woman. No sooner does Sam manage to copy the disk with SCOLE's accounts than Chad is murdered in his office, and Sam and Janie become prime suspects. A number of potential allies stonewall or even hinder Sam's investigation. Now why on earth would they do that? The tension grows as Sam zeroes in on the killer. Amusing characters and situations add to the frothy fun.

...This third book in Apodaca’s Samantha Shaw Mystery Series (following DATING CAN BE MURDER and DYING TO MEET YOU) is a laugh-a-minute with witty repartee, hilarious (and truly likable) characters and a fast-paced plot. I enjoyed it so much, I didn’t put it down until I was done! Bring on the next one!

--Tanzey Cutter, Reviewer tanzey@juno.com http://writerspace.com/tanzey
http://thebestreviews.com

quirky charming romantic mystery
...NINJA SOCCER MOMS is a quirky charming romantic mystery with a plethora of suspects. When the heroine is not aggravating the lead police detective, she aggravates her sleuthing boss with her efforts to prove her independence and that she is his equal in everything. Yet the attraction between Gabe and Sam is so hot, it is a wonder that sparks do not fly off the pages. Jennifer Apodaca writes an appealing who-done-it that will keep her audience interested in more books starring this soccer mom.

--Harriet Klausner

DYING TO MEET YOU

Fans of Apodaca's first mystery to feature Samantha Shaw, Dating Can Be Murder (2002), rejoice. The owner of Heart Mates dating service and single mother of two is back for more amateur sleuthing in the small town of Lake Elsinore, Calif. To promote her business, Sam hires former Heart Mates client and graphic artist Faye Miller to design a brochure. But when Sam stops by the motel where Faye is temporarily residing (after leaving her husband), Sam finds Faye dead at her computer table, the "glossy brochure stuck up like a flag in her loose fingers." The victim's meek and mild estranged husband emerges as the main suspect, but the more Sam delves into Faye's dating history the more complicated the murder investigation becomes. A newspaper campaign against her dating service doesn't help matters, nor does she entirely welcome the assistance of gorgeous hunk and ex-cop Gabe Pulizzi. Sam bumbles along good-humoredly and determinedly, until the plot reaches its knock-down, smashing climax.

...Jennifer Apodaca has penned another hilarious romp in her second in a series of Samantha Shaw mysteries. Janet Evanovich look out--Apodaca is right on your heels. Whether she is facing a face full of oven cleaner--wielded as a weapon by a desperate husband trying to prove his innocence in his wife's murder--or trying to keep her dog from stealing her beer, we laugh along with Sam as she fends off disaster after disaster, aided in her investigations by her two young sons and Grandpa, a former magician with an uncanny knack for hacking into confidential files through the Internet.

Natalie Collins, The Readers Room

DYING TO MEET YOU is a terrific cozy starring a heroine who is smart, sassy, and sexy. The romance scenes between the protagonist and her boyfriend are hot and steamy, making this romantic mystery a novel that will appeal to both genres. Jennifer Apodoca has her heroine jumping from one dangerous action scene into another while she is taking care of her business, her children, coping with her cantankerous mother and worrying about the antics of her grandfather. Readers who like a light mystery without any gore will want to read this exciting who-done-it.

-Harriet Klausner

This is a great second book, following Dating Can Be Murder. All the characters are three-dimensional and quirky, which adds much to the storyline. This series is lots of fun and very witty. Can’t wait for the next installment!

-Tanzey Cutter, Reviewer

This book has everything, mystery, romance, a little comic relief, and a look into the life of a busy mother, businesswoman, granddaughter...Buy this one, readers. I give it 5 stars, daggers, etc.

-GinnyW AKA Mawmaw
mystery reviews
some romance reviews

DATING CAN BE MURDER:

Fast-paced and witty, this sparkling cozy offers a hair-raising climax and a believable cast of supporting characters, except for a relentless mother who's too keen on having her daughter become a realtor. In the best romance tradition, Sam dares to face the things that frighten her most. Surely one can almost hear Miss Marple saying, "You go, girl!"

Sam is cast headlong into an investigation involving her with a sexy cop, an even sexier ex-cop a large GermanShepard, several of her dead husband's girlfriends, and some shady characters.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Janet E. watch out! Jennifer is coming.

-- GinnyW
mysteriousreaders.com
MurderExpress

Fans of Janet Evanovich and Nancy Bartholomew take notice, Jennifer Apodaca is the newest talent in mystery for your must read list. A perfect treat!

--Jennifer Martin, Interludes

Jennifer Apodaca makes her debut with this novel but this is quite a sophisticated novel combining a mystery with a romance even as humor runs throughout the story line. The characters are extremely well developed and the pacing of the plot is very smooth. This is a delightful novel and this reviewer can't wait for the next one in the series. Harriet Klausner "
--Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Five stars to the wonderful Dating Can Be Murder. The characters, and well written scenery of the novel will keep you coming back for more with a smile on your lips, a tug at your heart and a sense of impending disaster with every step Samantha Shaw takes.

--Shadoe Simmons
http://www.geocities.com/shadoelore1/index.html
All About Murder Reviews http://www.geocities.com/murderlist/