Customer Reviews

Nipped in the Bud (Hometown Mysteries)

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Nipped in the Bud

Susan Sleeman

2010

Hometown Mysteries from Barbour

Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Nipped in the Bud is a fun novel that you will not want to put down, Susan Sleeman has captured a quirky character in Paige Turner, a landscaper, who seems to attract even more quirky listeners to her radio show. Each chapter begins with the transcript of a call from her radio show, which will have you in stitches laughing.

Paige Turner, a local girl come home from the big city, is the owner of a landscaping business, and also the host of a radio program. Finally landing a big contract with the city, for the upcoming Picklefest, Paige is thwarted by the city manager Bud Picklemann, who seems determined to get her fired. Loosing her temper, and threatening him, Paige never dreams it will come back to haunt her within hours, when Bud is found dead in her work area. The local police chief seems to have it in for her, holding a grudge against her over something from their high school days. Paige has to find out who killed Bud, before she is sent to jail. Her handsome young lawyer seems to distract her with his good looks, but more than that, he is determined to hire a professional investigator, which angers Paige.

An exciting book you will want to finish quickly you do not want to miss this book. Susan Sleeman has once again shown that she is a gifted author. 243 pages US $10.99 4 stars.

Learn more about Susan Sleeman at her website. Also check out the contest she is hosting at The Suspense Zone.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Nipped in the Bud is a cozy mystery full of humor and intrigue. The heroine, Paige Turner, is spirited and engaging, and you'll love the hilarious scenes when she's hosting her local radio show called, "Through the Garden Gate." Paige is surrounded by small town characters who are so memorable and quirky that you'll want to write home about them. You don't want to miss this gardening mystery romp by Susan Sleeman!

Reviewed by Anita Higman

Paige Turner returned to her hometown after receiving her degree in landscaping, and opened her own shop, The Garden Gate. She also hosts KALM's radio broadcast, Through the Garden Gate, with her producer friend, Lisa Winkle.

Paige won her first landscaping job of sprucing up the city park in time for the Pickle Fest, fencing off the area. Returning to the site, she engages in an argument with the city manager, Bud Pickleman, about the lack of a proper security fence. She screamed at Bud in a menacing way about his interference at the site. The following day, Bud was found dead in a mound of mulch at Paige's landscaping site. Police Chief Mitch Lawson, an old classmate with a grudge, is out to handcuff and jail her for Bud's murder. She hires Attorney Adam Hayes to defend her, find the real killer, and keep her out of jail.

Not only is this a good murder mystery, with a great plot and plenty of suspects, Susan throws in a quirky, humorous radio show at the beginning of each chapter to offset the seriousness of the murder investigation. The call-ins have a rare, slap-stick comedy. A unique way to downplay the tension.

The suspicious behaviors, multiple arguments, and grudges will have you guessing who the murderer is. Almost everyone seems to be suspect in some way. The plot kept me interested through the whole book. The essence of romantic tension brings another element of delight while all the while trying to solve the murder. Definitely a fun read! Way to go, Susan!

This book was provided by Susan Sleeman in exchange for my honest review.

Nipped In the Bud (Hometown Mystery Series)

Susan Sleeman

5 Stars

Nipped In The Bud is a hilarious Inspirational Sweet Cozy Mystery that will leave the reader laughing out loud at some of the antics, especially the little clips at the beginning of each chapter from the radio show Through The Garden Gate.

Paige Turner has returned home to the small town of Serendipity Oregon after getting her degree in landscaping. Now owner of her own landscaping business she also has a morning radio show called Through The Garden Gate. Needless to say she gets some wacky calls . The upcoming Pickle Fest is a big deal in this small town and when Paige lands the contract to spruce up the park for the upcoming event and she knows that this will help her business get off the ground or in the ground so to speak.. When Bud Picklemann who is determined to get her fired from the job, their ensuring argument is overheard where Paige threatened Bud. Later that afternoon Paige finds Bud murdered in the park, under her mulch and killed with her shovel. Things are not looking good for Paige at the moment.. With no alibi Paige sets out to find out who done Mr. Bud in.

When her best friend Lisa and her husband hire Adam Hayes , a top lawyer to defend her, can Paige learn to let go and depend on Adam to keep her out of jail. Always a person to be in control of things, she is either going to find the real murderer or end up in jail trying. Will she finally let Adam hire a PI to get the scope on plenty of others who wanted Bud dead. As thinks began to simmer between Adam and Paige can she finally turn the control over to Adam and hope for the best not only in setting her free but also in the romance dept. Will they find out who really did murder Bud as they are down to the end of their rope.

Another book in the Hometown Mystery Series, "Nipped In The Bud" is a quick afternoon read that will keep the reader guessing right to the end. The characters are so easy to become connected with and one feels as if they are right there among them helping to solve this mystery. If you are a reader of the cozy mystery genre and you are looking for one that will keep you laughing and trying to figure out her the killer is at the same time , then you need to grab a copy of Barbour's Hometown Mystery book Nipped In The Bud by Susan Sleeman. You won't go wrong.

I would like to thank Barbour Publishing for providing this ARC through Net Galley for my reading pleasure. No review was required and the opinions expressed her are strictly my own.

Here's the blurb from the back of the book:

Paige Turner has secured her first landscaping contract, sprucing up the city park for the upcoming Pickle Fest. But the day after a confrontation with the city manager, she finds him dead in a mound of mulch. With no alibi for the time of death and, according to the police chief, with plenty of motive to carry out the murder, Paige must dig her way out of the mess by finding the real killer. Attorney Adam Hayes aids in her search as he works hard to keep her out of jail....and his heart.

I loved this book! Susan has done such a great job of putting together suspense, humor, murder, and romance in one book! In addition to Paige having a landscaping company, she also has a morning radio program called, "Through the Garden Gate". She gets some real strange characters calling in to her program. At the beginning of each chapter you get a little clip from the radio show. I got a real chuckle from these!

Susan's characters are so true to life and her descriptions of the scenes take you right "in there". I could picture every scene. I love books like this, where the writing is so good that the reader can be there, seeing everything just like the author wrote it! The suspense kept me wanting to read to see who killed Bud. It is not one of those books where the killer is obvious. I really loved that!

Adam, Paige's attorney, is drawn to her but due to his professionalism wants to keep the relationship neutral. Paige is very "smitten" with Adam but hasn't had the best luck with relationships in the past. Susan did a great job of writing their relationship.

I gave this book 5 stars! It might even deserve 6! I would highly recommend it if you're wanting a good suspense/murder with some romance and a little humor sprinkled in.

Paige Turner is a gardening expert who hosts her own radio show, runs a nursery, and has placed a successful bid on the city's gardening projects. However, she runs into trouble with a disgruntled city employee starts harassing her the first day on the job.

When Bud is later found dead, buried under Paige's pile of mulch, with her shovel identified as the murder weapon, Paige suddenly finds herself a "Person of Interest" with the police with no alibi.

Paige's best friend, Lisa, is married to a lawyer who knows a criminal lawyer, and she brings Adam in to represent Paige. Bet despite the strong attraction between Adam and Paige, it may not be enough to keep Paige from being convicted. Will Paige be able to find the real killer in time?

NIPPED IN THE BUD is a cozy mystery. I'm so glad to know that Barbour has not completely discontinued their cozy mystery line, they just discontinued mass-market portion of it.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading NIPPED IN THE BUD and laughed out loud at portions of it, especially the excerpts from the radio show. She had some really wacky callers. Paige is a very aggressive, confident heroine that even made her best friend uncomfortable at times, but definitely helped to keep the pages turning (no pun intended) as I never knew what she would say next. I also didn't guess who the real killer was until right before it was revealed.

If you are looking for a cozy mystery that will keep you laughing and guessing, then make sure you pick up NIPPED IN THE BUD.

Susan Sleeman's "Nipped in the Bud" is a delightful light-hearted mystery populated with striking and often amusing characters. Her heroine, Paige Turner, is a professional gardener, and many elements of the narrative--including some that are outright funny--derive from gardening. (Paige characterizes the people she meets according to the plants they remind her of.) The author has an excellent ear for language and wordplay, and her satire of radio call-in shows alone would make the book worth reading. The mystery itself is well-plotted, but the comedy and satire are so well done that they almost overshadow it. All in all, the novel should bring pleasure not only to adults, but to readers down to junior-high level. Susan Sleeman is a writer with exceptional skill, and I look forward to her subsequent books.

Returning to your hometown after years in the big city isn't easy - especially if everyone thinks you're a murderer. Paige Turner (named by her librarian mother) is just getting her new landscaping business off the ground when the town manager is found dead on the site of her most recent project and her shovel is the suspected murder weapon. The police seem to think their job is to prove that Paige is the killer. So she decides she'd better do the work for them. After all, things turn out best when she's in control.

But Paige discovers that she can't control everything, or maybe even anything, including her feelings toward her attorney, Adam.

Nipped in the Bud is a fun story with elements of mystery, suspense, humor and romance. Like life, it does not fit into a single category. It's a story of friendship, too, and the complex balance of relationships in small community. On top of all that, it's a reminder that we are really not in control of our own lives, no matter how much we want to pretend. We need to let go and trust God and the people God has placed in our lives to help us not just in times of need but at all times. Author Susan Sleeman doesn't preach this message to us--she shows it through the action of the story.

The mystery really kept me guessing, but I particularly enjoyed the romantic elements of this tale. Adam is a wonderfully appealing hero. And the "almost first kiss" scene is priceless!

I had read a Love Inspired/suspense novel by this author and was glad to receive a review copy of Nipped in the Bud. The cover of the book looked intriguing, fun and so did the premiums.

Susan Sleeman has a colorful array of characters that make things interesting in this small town where everyone knows your name and your business too! Paige Turner hosts a gardening radio show and has the strangest people call in to get their gardening questions answered. She does her best to answer their wacky requests.

Paige's boss at the radio show starts running taped programs of her show and calls it the "Best of Through the Garden Gate" show while the town tried to figure out who killed Bud and why. Paige is there number one suspect. She had a huge argument with Bud the day before they found his body, and of course, news travels fast by word of mouth in that little town. Who was the real killer?

The reader gets to know Paige better through these pre-recorded radio shows; there are excerpts from them at the beginning of each chapter. They cracked me up! This sets the tone for the chapter, and the caller's with their serious gardening questions for example...

"...you mentioned the stunning flowers you can get from bulbs, and it sounded like an easy way to garden."

"That's right...once you plant them at their optimum depth, pretty much the only work they require for beautiful flowers year after year is a little fertilizer and dividing them when they get large."

"...I brought every kind of bulb I could think of and so far, no flowers at all."

"Really, I'm surprised. What type of bulbs, have you tried?"

"Forty watt all the way up to one hundred twenty. Even tried the new compact fluorescents, with no success."

Is that funny or what? Not only does this author have a talent for writing, a passion for gardening that shines through the entire book, she also has a great sense of humor. Paige grew up in this small town, moved away and came back. Mitch, the sheriff, has a beef with her from the past and would love to see her arrested. This story gives a whole new meaning to "innocent until proven guilty".

Seems the whole town thinks Paige is guilty except for Lisa, her best friend and Adam Hayes, her handsome attorney. How can she prove her innocence when she had no alibi? Her best friend and lawyer tell her to let go and let God help her in this, but how could she? Give up control? They say God can work things out better than she can? Really?

Paige says, "Control of my day (life) was priority to me, and I didn't react well when things didn't go as planned...If I trust God, it will be easier?...I'm not ready to give up control just yet. I'll think about it, try it even, but I'm not going to give in just like that."

Have you thought this? Susan shows how God is so patient with us! Grin! I enjoyed this cozy mystery with Mr. T, Paige's crazy talking bird, Lisa, her mothering best friend, Adam Hayes her very cute gentlemen and Christian attorney, and Paige herself, a radio host who is trying to get her landscaping business off the ground. This story brought a smile to my face and warm feelings in my heart!! Susan had me guessing 'who done-it?' right up until the end! This book is the thing you need on a snowy day. Turn off the TV, get this book and sit by the fire. Susan will give you hours of entertainment and fun! I highly recommend it!

Nora St.Laurent

The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org

My first exposure to the Hometown Mystery series was Advent of a Mystery by Marilyn Leach which is Christmas-themed and WONDERFUL. I felt like I had found an undiscovered gem in that one, so I immediately looked for other books in the series. While this is considered a series, each book has a different author so there is more than the usual variability between books and this latest read wasn't as nearly good as my first selection.

In this offering, our main character is Paige Turner (say the name out loud to fully catch the "funny" in the name) who has returned to Serendipity, Oregon to start her own landscaping/nursery business. She is also the host of a local radio show on gardening which provides quite a bit of material for the book. Paige grew up in Serendipity but moved away after high school and has been back in town for about a year. She has been hired by the City Council to revamp the play area in the local park prior to the Pickle Festival and ends up discovering a body in a pile of mulch. The local police are quick to accuse Paige of the murder and she spends the rest of the novel trying to clear her name by discovering who the real killer is.

I have to be very honest and say that this isn't a particularly good cozy.

1) The reason that the police accuse Paige is pretty flimsy (she offended the officer's wife in high school by going to prom with the guy she wanted to go with - really ???).

2) The town treats her like an outsider and is hostile to this newcomer even though she grew up there and has been back for a year.

3) There is a bribery theme that doesn't hold water (the payoff amounts to keep people quiet is larger than the amount gained by the "villain").

4) Each chapter starts with an exchange with a caller into the radio show. What starts out as humorous early on gets old quickly and gets sillier and sillier as the novel progresses. I actually rolled my eyes at one point (really).

5) There are way too many characters introduced and character development is virtually non-existant.

My first gut reaction was to give this 3-stars but after seeing this all in black and white, I realized that didn't accurately reflect my opinion of the book. I did finish it, but it just wasn't good and I hold a different opinion from other reviewers. There are much better mysteries out there than this - Tea Shop series by Laura Childs and the Coffee House mysteries by Cleo Coyle to name a couple and the previously mentioned Advent of a Mystery. Very disappointed.

(I did receive a free e-book copy furnished by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. There was no other compensation and no requirement of a positive review - as you can tell.)