When Big Wig moves to the beach, Big Trouble comes with him.Doubtless Bay’s resident private investigator has a dilemma on her hands. With the arrival of a new detective in her small, beachside town, Summer O’Dare has a decision to make: Let him think she’s merely a little kooky or open up the doors to her skeleton-harbouring closet and invite him in.Trust, though, has to be earned. And Detective … in.
Trust, though, has to be earned. And Detective Douche is walking on the wrong side of that equation. Three days in and he’s already dating the realtor next door; Summer’s high school nemesis.
Add in a missing biker, a murdered man, stolen intellectual property, and the surfer staying in her spare bedroom, and Summer’s summer looks like it might heat up to scorching.
Just as well she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve. And a penchant for donuts. But will the detective welcome them? The tricks, not the donuts. Or will he think Summer strange like everyone else does?
A fast-paced cozy mystery set in Northland, New Zealand from Amazon Bestselling Author Nicola Claire.
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Chasing Summer was such a fun start to the new Summer O’Dare mystery series! It is probably not 100% considered a cozy but pretty close. Summer is somewhat wacky but very lovable and I had a great time solving this mystery with her. There were some laughs, a little bit of romance and some paranormal elements.
I am already excited for the next book in this series to be published.
Nicola Claire has given us a brilliant Christmas present this year. We got to start 2018 with a new series, and now we get to end the year with the brand new Summer O’Dare Mysteries series. Woohoo!
Summary:
PI Summer O’Dare prides herself on her supreme investigative skills and quality work. Okay, it helps that she’s a Doubtless Bay daughter, born and raised, and the only PI in the area. Still, she does the community a service and she takes it very serious. Even when that work means staking out a smelly duck pond to stalk it’s quacking residents (please don’t ask). Her work is so good, she’s often contracted with the local police. Until a sexy new detective comes to town. Summer isn’t a woman without her own secrets, and she finds herself in a quandary. Detective Douche, as Summer so aptly named him, isn’t making the best first impression. Not with the knowledge he’s dating the resident Floozy only three days after making town. Should Summer play up the kookiness or fully let him in on her secrets? She may not get the choice, though, when theft, a missing biker, and murder come into play. It’s just as well Summer has a few tricks up her sleeve. Summer’s summer looks to be heating up fast, but with copious amounts of coffee and chocolate-glazed donuts, she might just be able to make sense of this mess. Whether Detective Douche is on board or not remains to be seen. There’s always the chance he’ll think her just as strange as everyone else does.
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I was ecstatic to read this book! Nicola well and truly ramped up the anticipation by teasing us with WIP quotes and irresistible tidbits from Northland, New Zealand. Summer was awesome! I want to be her best friend. She’s a bit kooky for sure, but in all the good ways. She’s also smart, independent, brave, funny, laid-back, and has no small amount of spunk. Her investigative skill is impressive, and she loves her beach hometown, deeply. Summer’s secret also adds another layer of intrigue and entertainment that keeps you wanting more. I wasn’t sure about Danvers at first, but I really came to appreciate him, and by the end, he had me swooning just a bit. He’s an enigma and there’s still so much to learn about him, but I like what we know. He’s smart, open-minded, competent in his job, and takes that job seriously. There’s still a lot more to learn, and I’m really looking forward to that. This is first and foremost a cozy mystery, but Nicola doesn’t leave us completely out in the cold in the romance department. There are some definite sparks, specifically between Summer and Danvers. At this point, it’s all really just anticipatory feelings, but there is definite potential. I can’t wait to see where it goes. Overall, Chasing Summer was a fantastic start to the series. The mystery kept you guessing with some interesting twists and turns, and it allowed for Summer to showcase just what she could do. The plot was perfectly timed, and I never once felt overwhelmed or rushed by details, like in some other first-in-series books. Supporting cast was quirky, fun, and played perfectly off of Summer (except for maybe Suzy the Floozy). I especially love the hilarious Aunt Sadie. One of the things I love most about Nicola’s books is how she can effortlessly pull you into the beauty and splendor of her home country. I felt immersed in the culture of New Zealand, and appreciated the glimpse into the quaint, beachy towns of Northland. It just makes me want to visit even more. Chasing Summer was a light, fun read that had me struggling to put it down. I was sad when the pages ran out, but it’s a book/series I can see myself reading over and over again. With a little bit of kooky, a sexy new detective, dangerous bikers, an aunt with no filter, hot coffee, and yummy donuts, you won’t want to miss it either. Book two can’t come fast enough.