Aloha to Laura Levine and MURDER HAS NINE LIVES - Book Review

The future is looking bright for freelance writer Jaine Austen. She's signed up for a new job, she's looking forward to a tropical vacation, and her cat Prozac is slated to star in a major commercial. But when the claws come out behind the scenes, Jaine worries that murder might be the only thing to meow about. . .

A writer's life is far from glamorous. Still, Jaine's new gig to write an ad campaign for Toiletmasters' new line of self-flushing toilets comes with a few perks--including a date with the president's dreamy nephew. And with a much-needed trip to Maui on the horizon, it seems life couldn't get any better--until her cat Prozac is tapped to star in a Skinny Kitty commercial. But Jaine never would have guessed the world of cat food could be quite so catty. . .

Jaine is nervous that Prozac won't be able to take direction, but the finicky furball ditches her diva behavior for the camera, eating and napping on cue like a seasoned pro. But just as Jaine begins dreaming of fame and fortune, Skinny Kitty's inventor drops dead on the set. Everyone is a suspect--including Jaine. And she'll have to get her paws on the truth before the killer takes a swipe at another victim. . .

Curiosity killed the cat because he wanted to know if it really had 9 lives. - Anonymous

MURDER HAS NINE LIVES is Book 14 in Laura Levine's Jaine Austen Mystery series. Jaine is a freelance author living on the edge of Beverly Hills with her cat, Prozac, and her neighbor, Lance. A chance meeting with an animal agent at the vet's office leads Jaine and Prozac to the filming of a Skinny Cat commercial. Fans of the series know that Prozac plays by her own rules ... and things go awry with the filming ... ending with the death of the Skinny cat's creator. Jaine dons her favorite "Count Chocula" t-shirt and grabs the fake USDA badge she bought at a yard sale to investigate the murder and clear her name.

Levine is no stranger to humor.  She is the creator of Count Chocula and Frankenberry cereals for General Mills. She also wrote for The Bob Newhart Show, Three's Company, and Laverne & Shirley. Likewise, Jaine is no stranger to chocolate ... or cinnamon raisin bagels ... or Burger King drive thru. Her diet is a who's who among junk food. Jaine's life is equally chaotic with her constant search for a new writing gig to pay the rent, navigating the LA dating scene, and wrangling Prozac for her cashmere sweater.

MURDER HAS NINE LIVES is pure escapism into a familiar world where laughs abound with Jaine's expanding waistline. Likewise, Prozac's expanded role demonstrates she is more than a diva - she has feelings ala Blanche DuBois from A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE when she realizes she is the "before" cat in the Skinny Cat commercial.  Jaine goes to extreme measures, including a Reiki healer, to bring Prozac out of her funk.  I applaud Levine for poking fun at pop culture - it adds another layer of humor into the lighthearted plot.  Levine also includes the email exchange between Jaine and her parents, retired in Florida, but reeking havoc just the same. 

MURDER HAS NINE LIVES is a refreshing break from reality, akin to meeting a friend for coffee for a respite from our hectic lives. MURDER HAS NINE LIVES can be read as a stand alone novel since Levine provides enough background information about Jaine, Prozac, and Lance.  

Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries, diva cats, and anything chocolate.

I checked out a copy of MURDER HAS NINE LIVES from my local library.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about TV commercials - love them or loathe them?  Do you have a favorite, especially with the upcoming holidays?  I enjoy some of the Geico commercials, including:

- Salt N Pepa's "Push It" (link) - I love the song and the man mowing the lawn.
- Playing Marco Polo in a pool (link) - I love the llama.
- Kids selling lemonade with Ice T (link) - Ice T is an Army vet.

2. Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is open to US resident. But I welcome any comments from our international readers.

3. Comments are open through Sunday, November 27, 2016, 10 pm in Baltimore.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Laura Levine and THE DANGERS OF CANDY CANES (A Jaine Austen Mystery) - Book Review

One more holiday review before you pack up your holiday decorations - an outrageous novella from Laura Levine, the creator of Count Chocula, Frankenberry, and the Jaine Austen Mystery series ...

Included in the anthology, Candy Cane Murder, with Joanne Fluke and Leslie Meier.

When a wealthy suburbanite takes a lethal tumble off his roof while installing a giant candy cane, the roofing contractor being held responsible for murder asks freelance writer Jaine Austen to investigate. But solving this untimely holiday death means delving into the cutthroat Christmas decorating wars among scheming neighbors with dirty secrets in their stocking. It takes a fruitcake hiding a weapon and a stunning confrontation to expose the mastermind of this holiday murder.

Promotional card by William B Steenberge
Public Domain (link)

We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup. - Buddy from ELF

Jaine Austen shares the same diet with the elves - candy canes and fast food fuels this freelance writer turned private detective in Los Angeles.   Her clients often ask her to write jingles for their small businesses ... and solve mysteries that pop up in their lives.   Levine deploys a cookie cutter plot (probably chocolate chip) that still delivers outrageous humor in this cozy mystery.   The story is told from Jaine's first person point of view, allowing Jaine to directly chat with the readers about her "off the record" perspective.  It is the creme de la creme (full of fat, of course) which sets Levine apart from other humor writers.  

Recommended read for fans of heroines who wear elastic waisted pants.

I purchased the anthology as I am a fan of the 12 books in the Jaine Austen series.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash (including several cozy mysteries) to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about your favorite holiday candy - candy canes?  ginger bread?  something else?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 11, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Laura, Jaine, and Prozac the cat at lauralevinemysteries.com.

Aloha to Laura Levine and SHOES TO DIE FOR

Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world. - Marilyn Monroe

Kensington created a new cover for Laura Levine's SHOES TO DIE FOR, released on January 7, 2014:

If clothes make the man, then what do Jaine Austen's elastic-waist trousers and T-shirts make her? A fashion nightmare, according to her neighbour, Lance. She doesn't expect Lance - who works in the designer shoe department at Nieman Marcus - to understand...which is how she ends up visiting his favourite boutique, Passions. While the couture is definitely not for Jaine, the staff's gossip is. Tiny orange-haired clerk Becky starts complaining about her co-worker Giselle - a.k.a. "Frenchie" - a brittle blonde who, when she's not making fun of customers behind their backs, adds extra-marital notches to her Chanel belt. Though Jaine doesn't land a new look, she does land a new job when Passions' owner gives her a chance to write their new magazine ads. But when Jaine arrives the next morning to pitch her ideas, she finds Frenchie pitched over, stabbed in the neck by one of her own stilettos. Now all Jaine has to do is figure out who hated Frenchie the most, in a case of death by designer knock-off...

The Jaine Austen series includes 12 full length books plus a novella.  Levine delivers laughs-a-minute in each.  Book four in the series, SHOES TO DIE FOR, is a comedic satire of the fashion industry.   Jaine Austen is an "average" woman who wears comfy clothes ... as I do!  Yet Jaine (and I) would appear on the "don't" page of any fashion magazine ....   

"Jaine, honey.  Do you realize you're the only person in the restaurant with elastic-waist pants?"

He was right, of course.  The place was filled with perfect bodies in low-rider jeans and tank tops, slender midriffs exposed.  And those were just the guys.

"So what?"  I said, reaching for the menu.   "Am I going to be arrested by the pants police?"

Likewise, Jaine actually eats in a city that doesn't.  Her realness brings on the laughter:

We both ordered a sensible dinner of chicken taos and salad.  Hold the rice and beans.  Okay, so I didnt hold the rice and beans.  And I ordered a beef burrito instead of a taco.  Which is why I happen to be so fond of those elastic-waist pains that send Kandi and Lance into cardiac arrest.

Elastic-waist pants aside, Jaine is more than the average bear, eeking out a living as a free lance writer.  Her muse ignites her creativity in writing and her curiosity when she comes across dead bodies in pursuit of a paying job.   The mystery is lighthearted, giving the supporting cast the opportunity to engage in mayhem as they stumble through life in the fast lane.  

SHOES TO DIE FOR is a fast read for a lazy day.   Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries, sassy characters, and chuckles galore.   I received a print copy from Kensington for an honest review.

Kensington also sent me extra books to share with my readers.  To enter the giveaway of Kensington books, 

1.  What are your favorite shoes?  Mine, of course, are 'slippahs' - flip flops in Hawaii.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, February 22, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Laura, Jaine, and their advenutres, check out lauralevinemysteries.com.