This is the 3rd book in the Shelby Nichols Adventures that began with Carrots. The author lets her imagination fly and gets her heroine in and out of many absurd and fantastical situations for her local mob boss, while keeping her lawyer husband somewhat informed of the life and death happenings occurring around her.

I enjoyed the escapism of the story. ( )

I requested to receive this book in exchange for a review through Audiobook Jukebox after having read and listened to the first two books in this, the Shelby Nichols Adventures, series by Colleen Helme. This series revolves around a housewife and mother of two who has acquired the "super power" to read minds. This ability, known by a very few, allows her to willingly help the police solve crimes and not-so-willingly help a local mob boss know who is loyal and who isn't. Someday soon, I suspect she will also help her attorney husband, but that hasn't come to fruition yet.

This series is a light read mystery/suspense and each book is stand-alone. When previous events or former characters are mentioned, the author does a good job filling the reader in on the relevant highlights from a previous book without overwhelming the reader with a long non relevant summary. Also, the author does a fine job keeping the multiple story lines separate and distinct -- it seems that there is a story line related to a case of her husband's, a story line with the mob boss and another relating to s case being investigated by the police. Sometimes two of the story lines are related and the author brings them together smoothly.

Each audio book in the series is approximately 8 1/2 hours (the books are a slightly under 300 pages in length) and are all narrated by Wendy Tremont King. She does a fine job reading and giving each character his or her own voice. She also reads consistently from one book to the next -- keeping the pace similar and the different voices similar from one book to the next.

I would recommend this to all readers enjoying mystery and suspense as well as those who like a lighter read with amiable characters. This would be a good book/series to listen to on a long drive, enough going on for the whole family to enjoy and nothing truly inappropriate for young adults (a quick death or two in each book and loving parents, but nothing explicit or "R" rated).







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4 STARS

I am still enjoying reading this series. Of the 4 so far I have read Trapped by revenge has more humor. This has a lot of the same elements that the other books have. Danger, mystery, humor, romance, good guys and bad guys (You have to like a few of the bad guys)a touch of paranormal, violence and a clean read.

Shelby in Carrots was shot in head and ever since she can read minds. It gets her into a lot of trouble when bad guys want to use her talents. Shelby was being forced to work with local mob boss Uncle Joey when he found out her secret. She works with local detective Harris or (dimples) when she can. Shelby tells him she gets premonitions when around people.

I like the characters. Shelby & Chris (her lawyer husband) are raising two teenagers. Chris has had a hard time with his wife knowing what is going on in his mind all the time. Now someone has beaten up one of the lawyers who was working on the case with Chris and threatening him.

Uncle Joey is local mob boss. He has come to care about Shelby. Someone is trying to take over some of his businesses. He likes the advantage Shelby gives him.

Ramos his Uncle Joey right handman and bodyguard. He has come to care about Shelby and keeps rescuing her. I like Ramos and even Joey.

Shelby is also working to find bank money that was stolen over a year ago. One of the thieves was murdered in court before he could give out the name of his partner.

I like these stories they are entertaining. Some parts seem over the top. You think it would be great to read minds but it really would cause a lot more problems. Shelby is trying to help when she can.

Sadly their is only one more book in this series that I have not read. Secrets That Kill. ( )