Customer Reviews

Maggie By The Book

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

She was doing well writing historical romances but when her sales plummeted she switched genres and is happily writing one historical Regency mystery a year for seven figures. Maggie Kelley, writing as Cleo Dooley, has a New York Times best selling series starring the handsome, suave and devil may care amateur sleuth Alexandre Drake, Viscount Saint Just and his Watson, Sterling Bader. Maggie's imagination made these two characters so realistic that they appeared in her living room one day and never left.

Saint Just decides that all three of them are going to attend the annual WAR (We Are Romance, Inc.) because he wants to win the prize more for the costume and sexiest cover model. From the start, the conference proves to be unsafe, as conventioneers are electrocuted, inundated with prank phone calls, and overwhelmed by an infestation of mice. When a romance reviewer is murdered, it is up to Saint Just and company to figure out whom is the prankster and who is the killer.

If the heroine was more secure and if she believed that Saint Just wouldn't disappear, she might allow herself to care for him. Since she is afraid she tries, sometimes successfully, to ignore the attraction she feels for her creation (shades of Dr. Frankenstein). Kasey Michaels has written a wonderful, funny, and upbeat mystery that satirizes the romance and mystery publishing industries and the conventions they spawn.

Harriet Klausner

While I hold "Maggie Needs an Alibi" a little higher than "By the Book", I adore this one as well.

Having read the first book (as one should before reading the second), it was only slightly more difficult to figure out Whodunnit in the second. So, that is why it is only slightly less satisfying than the first. HOWEVER, in this book you get to see more of Bernie, Mare and Sterling, and that is cause for rejoicing. (Not that there's anything wrong with Maggie or Alex, but I always hold a special place for fun background characters.)

The other day I had one of my overwhelming urges to re-read this gem. I even went as far as to clean my room. No dice - so I'll have to buy the book again. It's worth the second buy!

Looking forward to the third book!

"Killers to the left of me, hacks to the right, here I am...stuck in the middle without a clue." This is a taste of the wonderful sense of humor Kasey Michaels infuses into her protagonist Maggie Kelly in this second entry of the series after Maggie Needs An Alibi. If Maggie's frustration is peeking out a bit, it's no wonder. She has finally started to adjust to having the characters from her popular Regency era mystery series; Alexandre Drake, Viscount Saint Just, now calling himself Alex Blakely, and his sidekick Sterling Balder, brought to all too real, living breathing life, when she finds herself roped into attending a writer's conference, topped off with finding out Alex has entered himself in the cover model contest! Shenanigans, accidents and murder - Oh, My!

This book, for me, is primarily about the characters, followed by the mystery. Michaels' characters, including the secondary ones, are fresh and vibrant, no bland, lifeless personalities here. The emotions felt by the main characters are so understandable and relatable; Maggie's frustrations at herself for her creating the exasperating strutting, self-assured, perfect man Saint Just and Alex's confusion at what Maggie could possibly see in "Left-tenant" Steve Wendell. My favorite is the bumbling, bewildered, but lovable Sterling as he continues to adjust to modern colloquialism. And his stint at becoming a rapper you must read for yourself, I don't want to spoil one moment of the transplanted Regency gentleman's attempts at modern song. While Sterling offers a great deal of humour, it is his understated insights about his companions that gives the book its heart and soul. I also liked the touch of Sterling's first person accounts in the prologue and epilogue.

I was in need of a good, light, fun read and this book filled the niche perfectly. I wasn't sure if Michael's would be able to keep the same unique freshness and novelty as she had in the first book but, no need to worry on that front, she easily succeeds. The author is known mostly for her romance novels, which I have not read, but if you are looking for a cozy mystery with quirky, lovable characters, a completely unique twist and just a touch of romance than give this series a try. Do your self a favor and start at the beginning so you don't miss one delightful moment!

This is the second installment of the Maggie Kelly series and continues the development of Maggie, Alex and Sterling.

What is particularly fun about this installment is that the reader is able to enter the "hallowed halls" of publishing - WAR.

Saint Just wants to earn his own money, Maggie wants her old life back (?) and Sterling is as usual his sweet self.

This series is fun to read - and the characters become more real as they go.

I blew it. I picked up this book because I enjoy Kasey Michaels romances but did not realize it was the second in a series. While reading I thought "Wow, there is really a lot of back story here. It's almost as if there was an earlier book." D'oh! Now I'm reading the first one to catch up on what I missed.

Even though I read this book out of order, I completely enjoyed it. I've been reading romances for a long time so the description of the writers and fans at the WAR convention cracked me up. And I love the way Alex and Sterling adapt to modern life and Maggie deals with having her Regency hero and his faithful sidekick living in her guest room.

For better enjoyment, read "Maggie Needs an Alibi" first but even if you don't, this book is a fun read all on its own.

Still saddled with Alexandre Blake the Viscount St Just and his version of Dr. Watson, Sterling, Maggie Kelly has ample reasons to be tense already. Now that her bestselling characters are out of her head and living with her, writer's block is a problem. Her romantic life is a further complication. She's in love with a sexy figment, though neither fully admits the attraction. Then, to top it off, she is supposed to got to WAR, a romance writers association convention. Dealing with the two percent of raving b's among the ninety eight percent of nice people is enough to shoot her blood pressure through the roof; add it a couple of murders, deadly pranks, Sterling learning to rap, and Alex just being himself, and Maggie knows for sure that someone must have cursed her with an interesting life.

*** Sharp satire zings throughout the plot, making it an enjoyable read whether or not you're in the mood for murder. The writer's cleverness shines through every page, and keen eyed readers will undoubtedly pick up on many in jokes. ***

Amanda Killgore

I loved the first Maggie book, and this one is a completely satisfying second course. I hope that the prolific Ms. Michaels cranks out another Maggie book soon. A "serious" reader might never find this book - unless they took a wrong turn into the aisle that specializes in covers featuring Fabio - but don't shortchange this book by the company it seems to keep in some bookstores. It is witty, well-written, with a decent mystery plot and a developing love triangle as well. Kick up your feet and be entertained - this series is a keeper.

This book was OUTSTANDING!!! I was an avid fan of Michaels' romance books but as a mystery writer she shows her versatility. This sequel to "Maggie Needs An Alibi" exceeds expectations. Our heroine, Maggie, fraught with the same insecurities and foibles as ordinary people finds herself in an extraordinary circumstance as the two main characters of her Regency mystery series come to life. Alexandre Saint Juste and his own personal Watson, Sterling find their way from Maggie's imagination to life in Manhattan. The fun begins with Maggie trying to figure out life with two Regency era amateur sleuths. And wonder of wonders, they manage to find present day mysteries to solve. As a lover of romance, I am compelled by the tension between Maggie and "Saint Just", as Sterling calls him. And I look forward to more installments in this series just to see how the romantic relationship develops between these characters. Of course, just to muddy the waters, there is a "Left"tenant Wendell who has eyes only for Maggie. I so enjoyed this book that I prolonged my reading of it by forcing myself to put it aside from time to time. I hated to come to the end. It is enthralling and well worth the price of the hardcover edition.