A Case Samantha Can’t Refuse
As much as I’ve been enjoying the Samantha Kidd Mysteries, one thing I have noticed is that her love interest, Nick Taylor, is one of the least developed characters in the series. It makes sense because he hasn’t gotten too much page time. That changes in a great way in Cement Stilettos, the seventh in the series.
It’s been a week since Samantha said yes to Nick’s proposal of marriage, and they have been floating ever since. However, they are about to crash back down to reality when Samantha finds a dead body in Nick’s showroom. His assistant has been murdered and stuffed into one of the cabinets. Then Samantha gets a phone call that hints Nick isn’t all he seems to be.
Despite the usual warnings from the police, Samantha can’t stay out of this. She wants to help Nick. But Nick is being very silent. As Samantha begins to investigate, she uncovers surprises that makes her question if she knows the man she’s agreed to marry. Can Samantha solve the case? Will her relationship with Nick survive is she does?
As I said earlier, Nick hasn’t gotten much page time over the course of the series. He’s a shoe designer, and he is quite often in Italy for work. However, with him being the focus, it gave us a real chance to get to know him better. I enjoyed that, and I also enjoyed seeing Samantha grow as their relationship grew. I can see how she is maturing as the series goes along, and I am enjoying the journey.
It’s no surprise to fans of the series that the mystery is filled with twists and turns. While the book does reach a logical conclusion, I did feel like a few of the details didn’t quite mesh along the way to the ending. It’s a small issue for me. Overall, the case and the solution make perfect sense.
I’ve talked before about enjoying reading a book in the season when it is set if I can. I didn’t even plan it, but this book takes place in January. That was a nice bonus for me.
While Samantha might be maturing, that doesn’t mean the comedy is going away. Yes, there are some serious moments and themes, but on the whole this book is fun, with plenty of smiles if not outright laughs along the way.
The Samantha Kidd Mysteries continue to be completely fun and entertaining. If that’s what you are looking for, be sure to give them a chance. Whether you start with Cement Stilettos or go back to the beginning, you’ll be hooked before you know it.
Enjoy the rest of the Samantha Kidd Mysteries.
I just listened to a Diane Vallere (With Vics You Get Eggroll) and it had been awhile since I read anything by her. I had forgotten how funny her books are. I'm glad to hear that Samantha is maturing as that is an issue I frequently have with her main characters. I'll have to give this series a try.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great series of books. I am going to have to check it out. Sunshine
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