A kidnapping. A ticking clock. Three hot PI’s. A Black Widow kills again. Will Holly’s first case end in disaster? Will the two men in Holly’s life give her too much heat? Motivated by the murky circumstances surrounding her father’s reputation-ruining murder, Holly vows to clear his muddied name, prove herself as a PI, and redeem Garden Investigation’s integrity and dwindling list of clients. … clients. Then her best friend, Matt, is kidnapped…and everything changes.
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I love stories in Texas. What a great read! Holly is definitely a terrific character. The book is very heartwarming and inspirational. Anne is one of my favorite fiction writers and she always keeps the language clean and easy to read. This is quite a turn from the male PI and a welcome site. Anne never ceases to put in the right plot for a mystery. I would highly recommend this book to you. You will be pleasantly surprised!
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my honest opinion.
Red is for Rookie by Anne Greene has Holly Garden trying to prove that her father was not a dirty private investigator to restore his good name and that of Garden Investigations. She also wants to prove that she is a good investigator since her own mother does not trust her. Garden Investigations is providing security at a gathering for lonesome workaholics (at $500 a person) hosted by Violet Garden, but Holly learns that Violet also hired the competition, Ace Investigations as well. The dashing Stryker Black (of Ace Investigations) was assigned the task. Some wrestler looking types cause a ruckus and Holly’s co-worker, Matt Murdock is kidnapped. Holly’s Uncle Robert, head of Garden Investigations, assigns Holly the task of locating Matt. Can she find Matt in time? What happened with Holly’s father? I thought Red is for Rookie was well-written with interesting characters. Red is for Rookie has mystery, humor, intrigue and romance. We see the importance of faith in their lives. I enjoyed reading this fast paced story with an intelligent female character with strong Christian beliefs. I would love a cozy mystery series featuring Holly Garden. Red is for Rookie is an entertaining mystery with striking single men, a kidnapped coworker, a mysterious murder and a steadfast sleuth.
When a Valentine’s Meet-a Thon that Holly Garden has been assigned to provide security ends in a kidnapping, Holly is determined to find the culprits in order to save her best friend, Matt Murdock. Inquisitive, energetic and driven, Holly has what it takes to make a good detective. She just needs a bit of help from her handsome rival PI, Stryker Black and to be taken seriously by the police and her uncle who runs the detective agency.
With a dark cloud of suspicion and mysterious circumstances of her father’s death, as well as nefarious threats, the story moves along and leaves you wondering what really happened to Mr. Garden. Was he a dirty detective or was he framed for something he discovered as Holly believes. This unsettling question and the love triangle in which Holly finds her heart entwined are left unanswered at the end of the book. These questions have you eagerly anticipating the next book in the Handcuffed in Texas series.
Thank you to the author for a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
HOLLY GARDEN, PI: RED IS FOR ROOKIE by Anne Greene is the first book in the Handcuffed in Texas series. It’s the story of Hollyhock “Holly” Garden, a rookie P.I. in the family business, Garden Investigations, on her first big case – finding and recuing her best friend, Matt Murdock, who was kidnapped.
Holly only wanted three things: to be taken seriously, become the best P.I. she possible can and save her family’s business after having its reputations smeared. She is determined to prove her father’s innocence and clear his name after he was accused of abetting drug dealers and murdered.
Holly’s first job is working security at the Valentine’s Meet-A-Thon, one of her mother’s events. It isn’t long before she recognizes Stryker Black, a P.I. with Ace Investigations, a competitor firm. A fight breaks out between a group of wrestlers and security in which Matt is knocked unconscious, attended to by paramedics and leaves in an ambulance. It turns out that the fight was rigged with Matt kidnapped instead of taken for medical care.
Will threats and danger deter Holly? Can she find Matt alive? Why was he kidnapped to start with? Will people, including her own mother, ever take Holly seriously? Will the memories and humiliation of being left at the alter on her wedding day ever fade allowing Holly’s heart to love another? Can she save her father’s company?
HOLLY GARDEN, PI: RED IS FOR ROOKIE by Anne Greene is a fabulous Christian based romantic suspense book that will have you immediately falling in love with Holly, feeling the excitement of the PI world and pulling for Matt to be found and justice to prevail. Loved being able to read a clean book with a faith thread that could have you on the edge of your seat one moment and your heart pumping the next with a sweet romance.
The Handcuffed in Texas series is off to a wonderful start. The story in HOLLY GARDEN, PI: RED IS FOR ROOKIES is a complete, standalone story, but there are enough details that could lead to possible stories and introduction of character is this first book to leave you anxiously anticipating the following books in the series. I most wholeheartedly recommend this book. It’s a big 5+ stars from me!
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed RED IS FOR ROOKIE!! The story is based around Holly, who
is a Private Investigator trying to prove she is worthy and capable of being one.
A lot of exciting adventures and surprises going on in this book!!! I definitely recommend it for everyone to read!!!
An exciting page turner!
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2021
I’m looking forward to the rest of this new Handcuffed in Texas series. I really enjoyed wondering what would come next for Holly. Her determination to prove her dead dads’ innocence was remarkable! I only gave RED IS FOR ROOKIE 4 stars because author Anne Greene didn’t wrap up the ending quite as tight as I like, but it still was a great book. I received a complimentary copy of this book & the opinion is my own.
A fun read filled with suspense and humor. This book has it all! Wonderful complex and interesting characters and a fabulous storyline making it a real page turner. I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my honest opinion.
Wow!! What a great read! Packed with one exciting event after another. Not knowing what is going to happen next; definitely a page turner. Truly a great read and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my honest opinion.
Hollyhock Garden (her real name, but goes by Holly) lives in a family with women with flower names. She and her mother inherited her father’s private investigation firm. Holly used to work there when she was younger, so she has some knowlege. She also has a PI license and a gun. She doesn’t have a lot of confidence, but enough to get started in her new role.
She wants to clear her late father’s name, which has been smeared. Meanwhile, she gets drawn into investigating the kidnapping of her best male friend. She also reluctantly finds herself in the middle of a love triange.
This is an interesting and engaging story. Holly is somewhat reminiscent of Stepanie Plum, but more competent. Not quite as competent as Kinsey Milhoun. And her Christian faith is at the center of who she is.
While there is some violence, this book can be read by most readers, including young adults.
I enjoyed the story and I would happily read other books in the series. The author gifted me a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
A woman PI trying to make it in a “man’s world”. Holly Garden is following in her late father’s footsteps, but she has to work twice as hard to prove herself to others and more to herself that she can do the job. I love that the author makes the main character, Holly, a strong Christian woman. There is a secondary story going on, but you will have to read the next in the series to find out what happens.
*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my honest opinion.
Loved this book by Anne Greene. She is a Christian writer and she shows her Christianity in her books. This one is about a new PI that is trying to solve her father’s murder. I loved how the author weaves in the prayers and some scripture. And, it’s a clean romance book. There is just enough romance and intrigue to keep you going to the end. If you like good clean Christian stories, then this one is for you.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my honest opinion.
A great story! I loved the style of writing! And a great eye catching cover. I found this book easy to read and one I could hardly put down. My husband is really looking forward to reading it!
The author gave me a copy of this book, but all opinions are my own.