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scoutmomskf's review
4.0
Good book with a slightly slow start as all the characters get introduced. The book is categorized as a romance, but I feel it is more a romantic suspense, with more emphasis on the suspense than the romance. Still, I really enjoyed it. Mojo is trying to get her life together again. She is currently living above a biker bar and eking out a living doing medical billing from her home. Her divorce from her cheating, now dead, ex-husband Nick left her with a lot of debt that she's still paying off, and a lot of resentment toward Nick. She is beginning to remember details from witnessing the murder of her parents when she was five. Her babysitter from that period kidnapped her to keep her safe, and they spent years moving from place to place. Along the way she acquired two foster sisters, with whom she has interesting relationships. That same babysitter/foster mother is now in a nursing home after suffering a stroke, with Mojo and her sisters visiting often. She also has an on-again off-again relationship with undercover cop, Tucker, who has his own issues to deal with.
The fun starts when she wakes up in the middle of the night with the ghost of her dead ex-husband in bed with her. Understandably freaked out, she's incredulous when he explains that he has to earn her forgiveness before he can move on. Other things from her past are catching up with her. Her uncle, a state senator, reappears in her life, claiming that he's been looking for her for years. Her half-brother, Geoff, who went to prison for the murders of her parents, has been released and has been making random appearances. An ex-boyfriend's ex-wife is stalking her. And someone is trying to kill her.
I liked Mojo. She's a loyal friend who will go out of her way to help you. She's resilient, which she has had to be to survive all the upheaval she has had in her life. She has a rather quirky sense of humor which can come out at inopportune moments. She is smart, though she doesn't think so, using a whole series of "Damn Fool's" guides to educate herself on many subjects. Not satisfied with her job in medical billing, she is thinking about becoming a private investigator.
Mojo's life becomes quite the roller coaster ride. She becomes a person of interest when her friend and landlord is nearly killed during an attack at his bar. Her sister, Greer, hires her to investigate her husband, who she believes is cheating on her. Her long lost uncle wants to be part of her life, but his bodyguard and his wife don't seem to be on the same page. Then there are the death threats that she's receiving.
There's plenty of wild action as Mojo copes with everything that is happening to her. It's great fun to see Nick's ghost popping in at awkward times, though he also comes through with a few well-timed warnings. The threats against her escalate with an attempted poisoning and the murder of her foster mother. Returning memories have Mojo reliving the deaths of her parents, and questioning what really happened. Everything builds to a final confrontation that provides some surprises along with the truth of what occurred that night.
There isn't really much shown of the relationship between Mojo and Tucker. There are definitely sparks between them. He is still dealing with his divorce and Mojo isn't quite convinced that he's over his ex-wife. She's a little wary of letting herself fully commit to him, having been burned once before. I liked that Tucker was understanding of her reluctance and didn't push. I also liked the way that he believed her when she told him about Nick's ghost. Tucker the cop was also very good at being there when she needed him. I liked the ending as they seemed to be ready to pursue what they have a little more deeply.
The ghost storyline was fun. I enjoyed seeing Nick pop in and out. For someone that was so selfish and self-centered in life, he seems to have undergone some vital changes. I loved how he brought the cat to her and the effect it had on her. There are some really fun scenes when he and Mojo are together, and his revelation that she's about to become private investigator to murder victims' ghosts was hilarious. The book ends with her next case sitting in the back seat of her car. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
The fun starts when she wakes up in the middle of the night with the ghost of her dead ex-husband in bed with her. Understandably freaked out, she's incredulous when he explains that he has to earn her forgiveness before he can move on. Other things from her past are catching up with her. Her uncle, a state senator, reappears in her life, claiming that he's been looking for her for years. Her half-brother, Geoff, who went to prison for the murders of her parents, has been released and has been making random appearances. An ex-boyfriend's ex-wife is stalking her. And someone is trying to kill her.
I liked Mojo. She's a loyal friend who will go out of her way to help you. She's resilient, which she has had to be to survive all the upheaval she has had in her life. She has a rather quirky sense of humor which can come out at inopportune moments. She is smart, though she doesn't think so, using a whole series of "Damn Fool's" guides to educate herself on many subjects. Not satisfied with her job in medical billing, she is thinking about becoming a private investigator.
Mojo's life becomes quite the roller coaster ride. She becomes a person of interest when her friend and landlord is nearly killed during an attack at his bar. Her sister, Greer, hires her to investigate her husband, who she believes is cheating on her. Her long lost uncle wants to be part of her life, but his bodyguard and his wife don't seem to be on the same page. Then there are the death threats that she's receiving.
There's plenty of wild action as Mojo copes with everything that is happening to her. It's great fun to see Nick's ghost popping in at awkward times, though he also comes through with a few well-timed warnings. The threats against her escalate with an attempted poisoning and the murder of her foster mother. Returning memories have Mojo reliving the deaths of her parents, and questioning what really happened. Everything builds to a final confrontation that provides some surprises along with the truth of what occurred that night.
There isn't really much shown of the relationship between Mojo and Tucker. There are definitely sparks between them. He is still dealing with his divorce and Mojo isn't quite convinced that he's over his ex-wife. She's a little wary of letting herself fully commit to him, having been burned once before. I liked that Tucker was understanding of her reluctance and didn't push. I also liked the way that he believed her when she told him about Nick's ghost. Tucker the cop was also very good at being there when she needed him. I liked the ending as they seemed to be ready to pursue what they have a little more deeply.
The ghost storyline was fun. I enjoyed seeing Nick pop in and out. For someone that was so selfish and self-centered in life, he seems to have undergone some vital changes. I loved how he brought the cat to her and the effect it had on her. There are some really fun scenes when he and Mojo are together, and his revelation that she's about to become private investigator to murder victims' ghosts was hilarious. The book ends with her next case sitting in the back seat of her car. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
dgignac's review against another edition
2.0
I had a hard time getting into this book. In fact, I probably only had about 50 pages left in the book when I started to finally get into it. Of course it ends with a bit of a cliffhanger... So I'm reading the next one in the series. Not sure if I'll read any more of them (if there is anymore) after that.
bookwife's review against another edition
3.0
I actually kind of liked this book... my issue is the cop with all the baggage. I don’t like that. I don’t want him to be the love interest
cmrams's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, easy read. Very on par with the Stephanie Plum series by [a:Janet Evanovich|2384|Janet Evanovich|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1308327981p2/2384.jpg]
librarydanielle's review against another edition
4.0
these are really good. the second is better, imo, but this was good too (I read them out of order).
kboc923's review against another edition
5.0
once you suspend reality and get past the ghosts, it's actually a fun story!
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first novel by Linda Lael Miller. Up until recently I never read anything with a western theme and L. L. Miller writes many contemporary and historical western themed romances. The cover of this novel would suggest this book was also western themed. Well, don't judge a book by it's cover.
Deadly Gamble is a contemporary romantic suspense novel.
Mojo Sheepshanks, has a lot going on in her life. She witnessed her parents being murdered when she was five. She has no memory of what happened that night. Her baby sitter, Lillian, kidnapped Mojo that night, to protect her. Lillian raised Mojo as her own daughter, along with another girl, Greer, that they found in a bus station, and her step-daughter, Jolie. Now, Lillian is in a health care facility with rapidly declining health.
Mojo, lives in an apartment located above a biker bar, is on a break from her boyfriend, Tucker, and is now seeing the ghost of her ex-husband. If that wasn't enough, she is being stalked by a former boyfriend's ex-wife. But, to put the cherry on the cake, Mojo, is receiving death threats, and her memory about the night her parents were killed is starting to come back.
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. The book has many dark themes, but it's a light mystery, with a little complicated romance, and action. Mojo ( a sort of nickname for Mary Jo) is a likeable character, easy to relate to. She isn't supermodel material, not perfect, but not a shrinking violet either. Her "sisters" also have a large role in her life. (Even if they don't always get along) The main mystery of course is Mojo finally learning the truth about her parents murder. There are laugh out loud moments, sad moments, and tense suspense.There is some SC, violence, and adult themes. Nothing overly explicit or graphic.
Deadly Gamble is a contemporary romantic suspense novel.
Mojo Sheepshanks, has a lot going on in her life. She witnessed her parents being murdered when she was five. She has no memory of what happened that night. Her baby sitter, Lillian, kidnapped Mojo that night, to protect her. Lillian raised Mojo as her own daughter, along with another girl, Greer, that they found in a bus station, and her step-daughter, Jolie. Now, Lillian is in a health care facility with rapidly declining health.
Mojo, lives in an apartment located above a biker bar, is on a break from her boyfriend, Tucker, and is now seeing the ghost of her ex-husband. If that wasn't enough, she is being stalked by a former boyfriend's ex-wife. But, to put the cherry on the cake, Mojo, is receiving death threats, and her memory about the night her parents were killed is starting to come back.
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. The book has many dark themes, but it's a light mystery, with a little complicated romance, and action. Mojo ( a sort of nickname for Mary Jo) is a likeable character, easy to relate to. She isn't supermodel material, not perfect, but not a shrinking violet either. Her "sisters" also have a large role in her life. (Even if they don't always get along) The main mystery of course is Mojo finally learning the truth about her parents murder. There are laugh out loud moments, sad moments, and tense suspense.There is some SC, violence, and adult themes. Nothing overly explicit or graphic.
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