Reviews

Cocoa and Chanel by Donna Joy Usher

lynguy1's review

4.0

This was a quick read filled with lots of humor as well as being a mystery set in Australia. It was highly entertaining, but a little over the top in places. There were a few grammatical and spelling errors in the Kindle version that I read.

The main character is naïve, caring, likeable and entertaining. Will she survive her probationary constable period? It will be interesting to see if or how her character develops in the series. I was able to determine the antagonist relatively early in the book.

Despite the plot line being hard to believe and part of the story being lightweight, the series has potential. All in all, it was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

lemonlaiime's review

2.0

This was a great read that had me hooked from the moment I started reading it. However, there were some things that were glossed over or blatantly missing. You should want to read the next book because you want the next adventure with these characters, not to find out what happens in the next 5 minutes.

iskanderjonesiv's review

4.0

Another book by the multi-award-winning author, Donna Joy Usher

Winner of the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Ebook Fiction Category

Winner of the 2014 National Indie Excellence Awards Humor Category

Please note - this is a light-hearted, humorous, chicklit, female sleuth novel. If you are looking for a literary masterpiece with a deep meaning this is probably not the book for you.

Faced with the unattractive options of an affair with her boss’s husband or the unknown, Chanel Smith chooses the unknown and unwittingly traps herself into joining the New South Wales’ Police Force. More interested in fashion than felony, Chanel staggers through training and finds herself posted to the forces most notorious crime hot spot - King's Cross, where she becomes entangled in a case of the worst kind. A serial killer targeting young women.

As she is drawn further into the seedy underworld in her attempt to unravel the truth, Chanel makes new friends, new enemies and draws the attention of the killer. Can she solve the case in time, or will she become the killer’s next victim?

I love reviews as much as any other author (especially the 5 star kind), but please, no spoiler reviews.

**

From the Author

I'm so glad you're going to read Cocoa and Chanel. I based Chanel's core personality on a dear friend of mine - a funny, effervescent jewel of a lady who went on to become a police officer.

I had a heap of fun writing this book and have been told that that translates into the tale.

I hope you agree.

About the Author

DONNA JOY USHER is the multi-award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of The Chanel Series, The Seven Steps to Closure, and The War Faery Trilogy.

She published her first book three years ago and since then has receivedmuch praise and acclaim for her work, as well as winning six awards andplacing in a further six.

Born in Brisbane, she started her workingcareer as a dentist. After 15 years of drilling and filling shediscovered there was more to life, and put pen to paper. Now she drillsby day and writes by night.

She is currently living in beautiful Perth with her husband and two miniature Schnauzers, Chloe and Xena. 

kcqwilter's review

5.0

Great fun!

I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but this story caught me up in it from the start. The bad guy was sort of predictable, but the humor was excellent and had me chuckling out loud - I'll definitely read the next in the series - can't wait to see what happens in Vegas!

lilianportia's review

4.0

I read this book in one day. Not as impressive as it might sound, but recently it's been difficult for a book to hold my attention. This isn't even the genre I would normally read. I just couldn't put it down. At work, then while cooking, and then while eating, I had to know what Chanel was going to get herself into! While she is naive, she really goes for it- and, coming from a small town myself, I think that with her character is totally plausible. I look forward to seeing her grow. The other characters really are fantastic as well; the variety is wonderful, and hilarious. Going to go read Goons 'n' Roses immediately.

hugbandit7's review

4.0

I really enjoyed this new (to me) cozy series. Set in Australia, Chanel lives in a small town and is a hairstylist. After her boss' husband corners her, she announces that she is going to become a policewoman. Little does she know that there is a shortage of women and they are accepting all women that want to join.

The book follows her through training and her first assignment in Kings Cross. She makes some new friends that, while it isn't said right off the bat, many of them are drag queens. It is quite a hoot and I wonder if Chanel is that naive or what. These women have quite the personality and are a hoot. What makes it even better is that her mom moves to this town and we learn more about her background that even Chanel didn't know.

The mystery is who is killing prostitutes. Chanel is a rookie but investigates when she can and even catches the eye of one of the detectives - let's just say some chemistry is at play. Anyway, it is crazy how things play out and who is the killer. I was very surprised as I usually have some idea who to suspect.

This book is funny and filled with a great cast of characters.

sandyfrancesca's review

3.0

3.7 Stars.

jen_baroness_mom's review

4.0

 Cocoa and Chanel by Donna Joy Usher is a cute tale that shows a different side of the ultimate blonde hairstylist.

Will Chanel figure out the serial killer before someone she knows is hurt?

Chanel Smith
Chanel lives in a small town in Australia. She is a hairstylist who changes her hair color a lot, and she likes shopping and fashion. Some might say she is an airhead. Yet, Chanel has a dream (a recent one) to be a police officer. After rigorous training, she graduates from the academy and gets her first assignment in King's Crossing. Even with all the training, Chanel isn't the best at procedures but is curious and courageous. She decides to find the culprit when she stumbles upon a serial killer taking out ladies of the night.

Chanel is a girly girl with all the designer shoes, bags, clothes, and accessories. She looks pretty shallow, but her moral compass is strong. Although, she doesn't always see what's right in front of her. Yet, she sees things that others don't see. I like Chanel. She's a great character. I loved that she wasn't judgmental. Chanel is like Lucy Ricardo in some ways. There is seriously always drama around her.

The Mystery
The first half is about getting to know Chanel and seeing her make it through the Police Academy. The mystery occurs in the book's last half; once she is assigned a station. It's not so much that she is a fantastic investigator, as she is tenacious and decides she will figure this out. Some of the clues she missed are crazy, and her naivete is first class.

Supporting Characters
There are so many characters that Chanel is friends with, and that helps her along the way.

Susie
The chubby girl at the police academy wants to be an officer but likes to eat and not exercise. Chanel and Susie team up to help each other get through the academy.

She is sweet. It was nice that they had each other to vent and laugh together through the hard times at the academy.

Nastacia
The perfect girl at the academy who has been planning and working towards being on the force her entire life. It's in her blood, and most of her family are part of the police. Nastcia is mean to Chanel and Susan. However, she has a secret that Chanel keeps for her. In the end, the two become good friends.

At first, I hated 'Nasty,' but she redeemed herself after she and Chanel had it out.

Rick
He's a member of the Riot Squad. Rick assists Chanel with her Cocoa issue and trains Susie and Chanel so they can pass their physical test. I thought these two would make a cut couple, but that didn't happen. Chanel has a thing for bad boys. Too bad she and Rick were sent to different stations.

Bruce
The first friend that Chanel makes in King's Crossing is Bruce. Bruce, his dog, Lancelot, Chanel, and Cocoa meet at the dog park. They become good friends. Cocoa and Lancelot are even best buddies. Bruce is a good guy. Hopefully, he will find someone in one of the following books.

Martine
Martine and Chanel hit it off. The two of them discuss fashion, and Martine helps her with clues to find the serial killer. Martine has a secret identity that Chanel doesn't know how to deal with. It's funny.

Mom, Lorraine
In the beginning, Chanel's mom, Lorraine, is a no-cussing or drinking housewife who sits at home and cares for Chanel. She has no life of her own. However, when she changes, Chanel faces a mom she doesn't know and is having difficulty dealing with. I think there are many things that Chanel doesn't know about her mom. Hopefully, she will ask her before they all show up.

Four Stars
I read this book before but couldn't remember it. So, when Karen suggested it, I was like...sure, why know? I am glad that I did. It resonated more with me this time than it did the last time. My rating for Cocoa and Chanel by Donna Joy Usher is four stars. I hope to get to the rest of the series at some point. Seriously, the next installment has them off to Las Vegas.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Cocoa and Chanel by Donna Joy Usher.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove. 

casseyt's review

3.0

A cute, light read with some mystery elements.

sbnich's review

2.0

Wicked insomnia means fluff at 2 am rather than my usual books. This book is definitely fluff, fluff that until the last two chapters wasn't terribly compelling.

The plot is hardly realistic, but the characters are endearing and the story gets a little better as it goes on. Chanel is an accidental cop who swoons over every man she runs into, but what she lacks in brains shemakes up for in dogged determination and hapless bad luck.

And the last sentence ensures you will download the second book in the series (free) just to see what the comment meant.

If you're looking for mindless reading, this is nowhere near as clever as Sophie Kinsella's books, but it has some entertainment value.