Maxed Out (An Owl's Nest Mystery) ~ Book Blog Tour Review & Giveaway!

 

Book Details:
Book Title:  Maxed Out (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Genre:  Adult Fiction, 184 pages
Category:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  April 2021
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

 

Book Description:

The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N
add to Goodreads

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Book Review:

HALL WAYS REVIEW: Maxed Out is the second book in the fun and quirky Owl's Nest Mysteries by C.S. McDonald. Like the first book, Back to the Burgh and Beyond, I was drawn to the story because of the kicky cover but also because of the setting in one of my favorite stomping grounds, Pittsburgh, PA. 

In this second installment, our favorite characters are back -- including that pesky pothole in front of Alexa's boutique! Those small (umm, or HUGE in this case) details of live in the 'Burgh are what made the story authentic and often giggle-worthy. I've seen some of the strongest broken by unfixed potholes. Seriously. Much of the story, both present and past, take place in landmark establishments that have been around for ages, which is very much a Pittsburgh thing. Hank's Sandwich Shop made me think of The Original (fondly known as "The Dirty O"), and mention of taking the incline to a fancy restaurant called LeMont reminded me of the experience of taking the Duquesne incline up to The Cliffside restaurant for elegant dining back in the day. (Sadly, both the O and Cliffside are closed, now.) But whether you're familiar with Pittsburgh or not, C.S. McDonald makes it familiar. Her attention to detail and description is excellent and evocative. You'll feel like you're there. 

Also wonderfully done are the author's descriptions of main character Alexa's clothing. Whether it's contemporary casual, or retro 1950s chic, both Alexa and the ornery Maxi are always stylin'. Again, it's easy to feel like a fly on the wall, watching the action unfold. And action there is! This second book goes from zero to sixty very quickly. Honestly, it was a little too fast for my liking. The book comes in at under 200 pages and felt rushed with more events happening than unfolding first. I would have liked a little more time between the book covers with more fleshing-out of backstories, side stories, and maybe even a little more conflict in the mix. (Including between Alexa and Cliff -- lots must have happened between book one and two.)

The introduction of Maxi, the ghost, really livens things up. Her unpredictability and sneakiness are a good counter to the Alexa's orderly style. But readers get the biggest bang for the buck any time the delightfully blunt and clever Winnie is on the page. She is infinitely quotable. There is a concerning part where Winnie's slammed a few drinks before getting in her car and driving. Granted, Winnie's not the kind of person who would cooperate with turning over her keys (I can imagine her stream of cursing), but still...

Overall, this was a delightful and much-needed escape for me, and I will definitely be on board for the third book, which surely must be in the works. We can't leave poor Detective Bobby Starr without his full-fledged angel wings, right?

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Also for Your Listening Pleasure, Enjoy These Cozy Mysteries:

Book Details:
Category:  YA Fiction, 198 pages
Run Time: 6 hours, 52 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Nov 5, 2019
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

CLICK TO READ HALL WAYS REVIEW

Hooray! Fiona has finally convinced her boyfriend detective Nathan Landry to go on a romantic Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, their fun on the high seas is interrupted by murder. It isn’t long before they discover a boatload of suspects, who have motives deeper than the ocean for wanting the victim out of their lives.

Audible ~ Amazon

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Book Details:
Category:  YA Fiction, 184 pages
Run Time: 5 hours
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  May 19, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Mysterious notes are showing up in Fiona’s kindergarten classroom, claiming a suicide from 2005 was actually a homicide. Detective Landry maintains the messages are too vague, possess no integrity, and do not warrant a review of the old case.

Fiona’s not convinced. She’s determined to find the author of the enigmatic notes and uncover the truth about a man who had many secrets and countless enemies, including Fiona’s mother and former suspect Nancy Quinn!

Can Fiona crack this cold case, and what will it take to get Detective Landry involved? Don’t miss taking notes on this murder!

Audible ~ Amazon

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Meet the Author: 

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries has nine books.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Cindy resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

 

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Enter the Giveaway:

Win a signed copy of Maxed Out & a tumbler!

(ends 7/23/2021)

MAXED OUT Book Tour Giveaway

Tour Schedule:
 

June 21 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 21 - Working Mommy Journal – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 21 - Locks, Hooks and Books - audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 22 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 22 - Bound 4 Escape – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 22 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 22 - Rajiv's Reviews – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 23 – Splashes of Joy – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 23 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 23 - Working Mommy Journal – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 23 - Rajiv's Reviews – book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 24 - Buried Under Books - book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 24 - Rajiv's Reviews – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 24 - Locks, Hooks and Books - audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 24 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 24 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 25 - StoreyBook Reviews – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 25 - Olio by Marilyn - book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 25 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 28 - Books for Books - book review of Maxed Out
June 28 - Blooming with Books – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 28 - Cover Lover Book Review – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 29 - Literary Flits - book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 29 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 29 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 30 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 30 - Blooming with Books – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 1 – Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Maxed Out
July 1 - I Read What You Write – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 1 - Literary Flits - book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 2 - Olio by Marilyn - book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 2 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 2 - I Read What You Write – book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 5 - Cover Lover Book Review – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 5 - Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder
July 6 - Blooming with Books – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 6 - Buried Under Books - audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 6 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 6 - Literary Flits - book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 7 - I Read What You Write – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 7 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 7 - @twilight_reader – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder
July 7 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 8 – Bigreadersite – book review of Maxed Out
July 8 - Laura's Interests – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 8 - Books for Books - audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder
July 8 - @twilight_reader – book review of Taking Notes on Murder
July 9 – Hall Ways Blog – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 9 - Westveil Publishing – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 9 - @twilight_reader – book review of Maxed Out
July 9 - Books for Books - audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder
July 12 - Chit Chat with Charity – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 12 – Bigreadersite – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder
July 12 - Buried Under Books - audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 12 - Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Taking Notes on Murder
July 13 - The Momma Spot – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 13 - Cheryl's Book Nook – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 13 – Bigreadersite – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder
July 14 - Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 14 - Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 14 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 15 - Locks, Hooks and Books - book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 15 – Chit Chat with Charity – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 15 - Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 15 - Cheryl's Book Nook – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 16 – Lisa's Reading – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 16 - Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 16 - Olio by Marilyn - book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway

 

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Click for Hall Ways Review