He kicks down doors, and she serves hors d’oeuvres. And the Big Uneasy delivers them both a huge helping of high stakes danger—and a chance at romance.A happy ending skeptic and caterer, Sarah Burland has a high profile gig at a fundraiser. It’s a coup for her catering company until murder kills the party spirit and triggers a hostage situation.SWAT Team Member Calvin Baker’s job cost him his … Member Calvin Baker’s job cost him his marriage. He’s done with romance—even if he does find himself taking an interest in a family friend, Sarah, from time to time. He’s sure his feelings are platonic until he finds out she’s caught in a hostage situation.
Cal’s team affects a rescue, but Sarah’s troubles aren’t over. The victim’s friends—and enemies—keep trouble cooking, and the deeper they dig, the more confusing things get—and the more their attraction to each other grows.
Can the cook and the cop survive long enough to work out their differences? Take a ride into another installment in the engaging Big Uneasy series and find out!
more
Sarah Burland is catering a high society fundraiser and anyone who’s anyone is there, including a wiseguy and his four bodyguards. Just as she’s dead on her feet, screams echo around the ballroom. One wiseguy is dead with a sharp piece of the ice sculpture sticking out and his bodyguards are holding the guests and Sarah hostage. SWAT’s called in, led by Cal Baker, and the bodyguards are taken into custody. Sarah takes Cal up on his offer to stay with her. She likes Cal but thinks he only thinks of her as a friend. She’s visited by more wiseguys and wisegals than she can shake a stick at, yet nothing calms her nerves like being in Cal’s company. If only he’d kiss her… But as the body count rises and there’s another hostage situation, Sarah knows she’ll have to use all her wits to uncover the killer behind these hits. If she can’t figure it out, the people the police finger will take their revenge out on her… with her life.
Fais Do Do Die is book five in The Big Uneasy series and yet, it’s my favorite to date. There’s a full cast of off-the-wall characters, each with their own agenda. There’s sweet Sarah who’s a whiz in the kitchen and trying to make her catering business a success. She’s such a joy to read because even in the midst of a hostage situation, she maintains her humor and wit. There’s Cal, who’s a Baker. He’s sworn off women yet can’t help falling for Sarah, even if both his brothers are ‘dating’ her. There’s the matriarch of New Orleans society who can make a wiseguy almost pee his pants in fear. There’s the various members of the Baker clan and their significant others. Finally, there’s the city of New Orleans herself. She’s a main character, while unusual for fiction, but Pauline Baird Jones makes it work. Descriptive narration so intricate, I can smell, feel and taste all that New Orleans has to offer and more.
If you’re looking for a side-splitting cozy mystery with an unlikely romance, pick up Fais Do Do Die. Think Agatha Christie meets The Sopranos. Highly recommend!
Favorite Character/Quote:
Sarah. I think she’s my favorite character in the series. She can spot a sleezoid a mile away and thinks happily ever after is a pipe dream. But she’s willing to take a chance on Cal who makes her sweat, but in a good way. She’s familiar with the Baker family and can stand up to the fiercest criminals. I’d want her in my corner if ever I was in trouble or needed a caterer.
My Rating: 5+ stars
This book was so good! It was my first in this series, but I had no problems getting into the story, as it could stand alone. Sarah and Cal are just so perfect together. The mystery was great. I had no idea who the murderer was. The confession just blew my mind! I plan on reading more of this series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Our heroine is a caterer caught up on a hostage situation. Our hero is one of her rescuers and discovers his feelings are not entirely professional. Out of the frying pan for both of them…
This is book five of the series, but it is written as a standalone. No prior reading is required.
This is a cozy mystery with a strong sense of humor. From the zany cast of characters that populate the story to the amusing banter between our hero and heroine, this story provides action, mystery and laughs in equal measure. This plot is fast paced and full of twists and turns which keeps you guessing as to what comes next. I was sucked into the story right away and it kept my attention right through to the end. Overall, a wonderful story and I look forward to reading more from this author and in this series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
Sarah is catering at a very exclusive party for cancer. As the party is winding down, she notices a local Russian mob boss dancing with a local deb. Then suddenly the deb backs away and screams. The mob boss falls. His bodyguards panic and take everyone hostage. Meanwhile Ben, a long time family friend, and his SWAT team are called in when Sarah manages to get her workers to leave before the hostage situation. Ben is interested in Sarah but backs off because word is that his older brother is her boyfriend. That changes when he takes her home and she tells him lots of gossip that has him chuckling and making her understand she needs to keep in the gossip loop. Things start to heat up with the murder and with the feelings between these two. Will the murderer turn his attention onto Sarah or is she safe from the weirdness.
Fantastic story and read!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sarah and Cal have known one another for a while; her best friend is married to his brother. Cal is in law enforcement, as are many of his 13 siblings, and as a SWAT officer he is called to a hostage situation one night at a society event. Sarah is the caterer and Cal rescues her, surprised at just how concerned he was for her. The incident brings them together and they get close as they get drawn farther into the mystery. I received an advance copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
This short novel “Fais Do Do Die” is as enjoyable as the earlier entries in Pauline Baird Jones’ “The Big Uneasy” series. It builds on the actions and characters from earlier stories in the series, so probably best if read in order.
The good guys are still good. The bad guys may have a moment or two in the gray areas, but are still mostly bad. And there are some characters that are just interesting and a little twisted.
A fun little read.
Cal Baker is not looking for love. His career with the SWAT team was the cause of a failed marriage. Sarah doesn’t believe in the happy ever after kind of love. She is content with her job as a caterer. At a fundraiser, Sarah is in a hostage situation and the SWAT team is called in. Confronting danger may have them both rethink their feelings. I enjoyed both the mystery and the romance in Fais Do Do Die.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Two romantic skeptics might have a sit together – or are they more platonic?
A bizarre kidnap scenario that involves SWAT, family and friends of the victim, and a medley of mixed motives – romance could live or die- along with the players!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sarah is a caterer, Colin Baker works for the SWAT division of the police force. As Sarah’s catering job is winding down for the evening there is a scream. A certain mob member that has been hitting on her has been murdered. His bodyguards are spooked and take the remaining guests as hostages, realizing one of them is a killer. Enter the Baker family, who she has known for awhile. Most of them are employed by some type of law enforcement. Sarah is visited by several mob members, male and female, the next day, hoping maybe she saw something or the deceased said something to her before his unfortunate death. Is Sarah dating, Ben, Frank or Colin? Read the book if you want plenty of excitement and action, throw in a little romance and you have a great story. This is the first book I have read in this series and I had no trouble following it but I think I would have benefited by reading them in order.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.