Crafts and Life

House-flipper Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod have found their latest project. The property, formerly owned by the late Cal Juniper, is filled with debris that must be cleared before the real renovation begins. But a trip to the attic reveals something more disturbing than forgotten garbage—a skeleton wearing a locket and rings that Jazzi recognizes . . .
 
Tests confirm that the bones belong to Jazzi’s aunt Lynda, who everyone assumed moved to New York years ago after breaking up with Cal. Soon enough, the whole family is involved, sifting through memories and rumors as they try to piece together what really happened to Lynda—and the baby she gave up for adoption. In between investigating and remodeling, Jazzi is falling for the old house’s charms—and for her gorgeous contractor, Ansel. But with surprises lurking in every nook and cranny, a killer might be waiting to demolish her dreams for good . . .

Oh my word! A new to me author and a new series and in my view a brilliant start, I love the fact that Judi Lynn seems to sum up her characters in just a few words and when it came to the mystery it kept me guessing right until the end (at one point I actually thought the Detective was the guilty party!), before I finished it I had already pre-ordered the next in the series, which seems to sum up my enjoyment pretty well – 12 out of 10 stars for me!

Jasmine Zanders (Jazzi) and her cousin are house renovators, when it comes to their latest project they get stuck in along with Ansel (their contractor), Ansel had hoped to buy it to do up himself but his girlfriend said no (Emily is rather, okay VERY controlling!), Jazzi herself decides she would like to keep it (which Jerod is fine about as a few years back he did the same thing), after clearing the lower floors they head to the attic, only to discover a skeleton in a trunk, a skeleton who it turns out was a) engaged to the previous (now deceased) owner of the house and b) related to Jazzi and Jerod.  With it being a cold case they are not expecting to find out too much about what happened, but then another corpse is found, and this is NOT a cold case, now Jazzi and Gaff (the Dectective) are sifting through the evidence and finding out what happened in both cases.

An Interview With A Character

What is your full name?

My full name’s Jasmine Elizabeth Zanders, but everyone calls me Jazzi.

What is your Profession?

My cousin Jerod and I buy houses in disrepair, fix them up, and flip them.  Seeing a beautiful, old house sit neglected makes me sad. Ansel Herstad, a contractor who’s even taller than Jerod and whose parents settled in Wisconsin from Norway, is a contractor who often works with us.   We don’t work too far out from River Bluffs, though. There are plenty of fixer-uppers to keep us busy in our own city.

What is your current favourite book or movie?

I read a wide variety of genres.  I get bored if I read too many of the same types of things back to back.  Whenever Ilona Andrews or Patricia Briggs comes out with a new urban fantasy, I buy it, but my second love is mystery.  Right now, I’m hooked on Lynn Cahoon’s Tourist Trap series. As for movies? My longtime favorite is The Thirteenth Warrior or the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice.

What is your go to comfort book or movie?

I love to cook, so when I want a comfort book, I flip through one of my favorite cookbooks—and I have a lot of them.  My old Pillsbury Hearty Soups & Breads Cookbook is falling apart, so I have to rubber band it together. A comfort movie would be any of the PBS versions of Agatha Christie mysteries—Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple—either one—occupies me enough to help me relax.

If someone was to play you in a movie who would it be? OR what would be the character you would want to be in a book?

I’d want to be Kate Daniels from the Ilona Andrews series with a big, sharp sword and a “get in my way and die” attitude.

What is your ideal evening?

I’m pretty much a homebody, but I love to entertain.  I’d have a few friends over for supper and enjoy their company.  Then at the end of the day, I’d pop on my PJs and enjoy a good book.  And if a glass of wine was involved, so much the better.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 26 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 26 – The Montana Bookaholic  – REVIEW

November 27 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

November 27 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

November 27 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

November 28 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW

November 28 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Varietats – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 30 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

December 1 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 3 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, GUEST POST

December 3 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

December 4 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 5 – The Avid Reader  REVIEW

December 5 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT