Jennifer Ward’s To-Do List:1) Turn in my business partner and his lying, cheating, law-breaking client to the SEC for insider trading. 2) Cooperate with the FBI. Do not kiss— scratch that. Do not yell at Special Agent Nicholas Kelly, the FBI agent leading said investigation. 3) Discover a dead body… Jennifer Ward, MBA, CPA, and business consultant, likes a nice, orderly lifestyle. Schedules and … lifestyle. Schedules and To-Do lists are what gets her through the day. So when the by-the-numbers fashionista finds her business partner was breaking the law, she turns him into the SEC. Which brings the FBI to her door, and her ordered world to an end.
But that was three weeks ago. Things couldn’t possibly get worse. Right?
Until Jen discovers her business partner dead in his hotel room. With Nic the handsome FBI agent dogging her every step, Jen must use her skills to discover the truth. Who killed Henry? And will she be next?
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A new series by Annabel Hunter, Barrow Bay Mystery, called Number’s Up stars the accountant Jen and F.B.I. agent Nic. This is the second time the F.B.I. has shown up with a warrant to Jen’s home and place of business. Nic is there pushing all her buttons. She was the one who called in the tip her business partner and mentor was cooking the books. She has a meeting with her partner and goes to it hoping to get answers, only instead she finds the dead body of her partner. Good thing Nic was following her or she would be a suspect. Now she just needs to find out who killed him.
This is an amazing book! It is a funny, witty, cozy mystery chucked full of zany characters and set in possibly the oddest town in America. The carefully crafted characters are full of personality that make them likeable pulling you into the story. The narrative and dialogue give the characters even more depth and is serious at times and laugh-out-loud funny at other times. The mystery is complex, full of surprises, obstacles and twists that keep you engaged until the end. This is a great first book in a new series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Number’s Up is the perfect laugh out loud funny book. It is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Number’s Up by Annabelle Hunter is a witty, faced-paced mystery filled with humor, romance and the perfect amount of snark. I loved all the quirky character that fill up this delightful town of Barrow Bay.
Jennifer Ward
Jen is an accountant, she works from home, and her partner is involved with some questionable clients. Now with the FBI involved everything is spiraling out of control. Jen doesn’t handle the loss of power well. However, she is distracted by the FBI agent assigned to the insider trading case. I love Jen. She is tall for a lady, smart, and has a hilarious inner voice. Oh, and she loves a good drink.
Some of my Favorite things
• The Marvel superhero references used throughout the book.
• The way the town recruits people for job positions.
• I find it funny that Jen or Lark think they have a say in what the town has planned for them.
• Lindsey’s town blog that Lindsey runs is more of a gossip rag than the town newspaper.
• The sewing circle ladies.
• That everyone tries to help each other out even though that person may not want that type of assistance.
• The tea house and high tea. I guess the love of tea exceeds my expectations.
• The way that Jen and Nic learned who the murderer is.
• Nic is a gentleman and won’t take advantage of an intoxicated lady.
There are so many more, but it will honestly be easier if you just read the book.
5 Stars for Number’s Up by Annabelle Hunter
Ok, I adore this book. The whole book is fabulous. I love the way that Ms. Hunter writes. Oh, and what a fantastic imagination she has. Barrow Bay and its citizens are so spectacular. I swear I have met a few people like them before.
Since this is the first of the Barrow Bay series, I am looking forward to the next one. At one point, I was laugh so hard that I could barely see the words, but I couldn’t put it down in case a new incident happened. My rating is five stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Number’s Up by Annabelle Hunter.
Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Jennifer Ward turns in her business partner for insider trading. She didn’t want to do it, but it needed to be done. She had always thought of him as a father figure in her life. During the investigation, the FBI searches her home twice, and one has to wonder if the second search was truly necessary or if the good looking FBI agent Nic was just trying to make contact with her again.
Jennifer’s business partner asks for a meeting at a local hotel, which she finds odd, as he rarely comes to town for a visit. When she arrives at the hotel, the hotel owner pulls her aside and insists she take some hotel guests on a tour of the town, as they are considering moving there. By the time Jennifer gets to her business partner’s room, he’s dead.
By now, Nic is spending as much time as possible with Jennifer. Jennifer learns that her business partner had invited his entire family, including his ex-wife and a few clients to stay at the hotel for the weekend.
The story is quirky, and full of dark humor. One questions if there isn’t something borderline inappropriate about the FBI agent spending so much time with Jennifer.
The reader will either love or hate the characters, but the story is well-written and holds your attention with twists and turns all the way to the very end.
This is the first in the Barrow Bay series by Annabelle Hunter. I look forward to reading more of her work.
I love Annabelle Hunter’s books and this one was great! This book is about Lark’s best friend, Jen, and her issues with finding out about insider trading going on in the CPA firm she co-owned. Nick is the FBI officer investigating…or as she likes to call him, Satan. Hey, it’s shorter than Officer Ass Hat! I love the funny bantering between Jen and Lark and Nic. It makes the book a joy to read. And when Jen met the drag queen, that was priceless! I so wish this was a real town to move too. I’d go in a heartbeat!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My first book from this author and I loved it! There were times Jennifer was plain ridiculous but I loved her and her quirkiness. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
This is a great cozy with a great protagonist and, in fact, all of the characters are pretty cool. I loved the storyline, going at a great pace that really kept me reading with interest to the end. This is an excellent cozy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Three weeks ago Jennifer Ward turned her business partner (Henry) into the SEC for insider trading. Now she has the FBI breathing down her neck trying to see if she was also involved, but that all changes when Jen discovers her business partner dead in his hotel room. Is this a cover-up by someone not wanting the truth to be unearthed? And is Jen next on the killer’s list?
This is the first book in the new Barrow Bay mystery series. It is filled with crazy and quirky characters, a by the numbers main character, a handsome FBI agent, lots of madcap adventure, and a storyline that keeps you wanting more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Accountant Jen did what was right by giving a tip about shady dealings going on in her firm. Now the FBI is searching her home and questioning her repeatedly. When she finds the body of her boss and mentor, things get decidedly more dangerous. She will have to rely on her own moxie, her friends, and even the snarky FBI agent to help her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
This is the first time that I read a book written by this author.
I thoroughly enjoyed it from the start to the end.
The characters are well written and thoroughly enjoyable with lots of humour throughout that had me laughing out loud
The way that Jen and Nic the FBI agent bounce off each other, is great they are either bickering or flirting the chemistry between them is explosive, and is well written.
Throw in a murder mystery, some insider trading, Jen is a CPA who has noticed some irregularities in the accounts so has tipped off the FBI, and Jen’s friends trying to set her up with Nic the FBI agent who is looking into her business for the insider trading that she reported and who has searched her house, a few time’s. She finds him attractive but finds it hard to admit to herself, let alone anyone else. Can she solve the case before it catches up to her? Will she give into her feelings for Nic? Will he move to be with her? These questions are all answered when you read the book.
I would definitely recommend this book, it is a standalone book with no cliffhanger.