Debra E. Marvin

The Case of the Beleaguered Bride the third book in the Nosy Parkers Mysteries by Debra E Martin is an enjoyable fun cozy mystery I couldn't put down. It is a mixture of family, faith, friends with an intriguing mystery of murder wrapped around the past and politics of County Cork Ireland. It is the perfect setting for a cozy mystery and a great puzzle to figure out. I give it 5 stars.

Heather Munro has gone to County Cork for the wedding of friends Kat and Dan but with the murder of her Kath's ex-boyfriend things begin to fall apart at the seams. Heather is once again caught in the middle trying to help her friend figure out who is behind the murder and get things back on track but family secrets, politics and intrigue is making it unusually hard. Can Heather put all the pieces together before the threats she is getting puts her in danger too?

I love how this book sort of reminds me of classic mysteries. It has a kind, intelligent, nosy and relatable main character in Heather. She reminds me of a grown up Nancy Drew. She has a good mind and a kind heart which adds to the story. There is one person that from the start I knew she was not to be trusted and that was Trish. I didn't like her flippant flirty way and just knew she was trouble but she was full of surprises.

This book keeps you guessing from the start to the surprising end. It is written with great description of Cork and the surroundings where you can just picture journeying through it with Heather as she snoops around. I highly recommend this book. If you were a fan of Nancy Drew or Agatha Christie you will like this book. I highly recommend it.… (más)

The Case of the Beleaguered Bride, which is part of the Nosy Parkers Mystery series by Debra Marvin, stars nosy amateur sleuth Heather Munro as she travels to Ireland for the wedding of two of her friends. When the wedding is cancelled by the appearance and then death of the bride-to-be’s ex-fiance, Heather feels drawn to try to solve the mystery. I loved visiting Ireland vicariously through this book and feeling the atmosphere, language, and vibes from that area. It was also fun to read about Heather’s newest adventure in sleuthing and to catch up with some of her friends from the first book in the series. Heather’s friend Tom is a favorite of mine, and he’s such a great character. I did get a little confused with all the new characters in the book, so it was nice to have a few I was familiar with.

Lots of twists and turns kept me guessing as to the outcome of the mystery and kept me turning pages. I’m looking forward to more adventures from this author and also seeing the outcome of the relationship between Heather and Tom.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own.… (más)

It's 1933 during Hollywood's Golden Age. Thea Knight, who works in RKO Studio's costume department, uses her holiday break to go back and help out at her family's Arizona ranch. There she meets Eugene Tanner, a lyricist seeking inspiration to help create what he hopes will be an award-winning song for a Western film. But Thea and Eugene soon find themselves caught up in a ghost town mystery near the ranch in Desert Duet by author Debra E. Marvin.

Well! I believe this is the first inspirational historical Western romantic mystery Christmas novella I've ever read. A mouthful, if I'm even saying it right, but whatever the case, I enjoyed this read.

I immediately appreciated the voice carrying the story, with a clever and upbeat but unpretentious and down-home kind of wit. The main characters come off as real and likable, and the romance is natural, without sappiness or melodrama. Hints of big-city glamour, Hollywood ambitions, 1930s popular culture, and the sting of the Great Depression are woven into the grit of country life and the danger lurking in the Arizona hills and desert.

And without snowmen, sleigh rides, or fragrant evergreens twinkling with lights, this tale pulls out its own country Christmas. Worth the read for sweet and inspirational historical Western romantic mystery/suspense fans—or some combination of what I just said!… (más)

“Starlight Serenade” is a delightfully involving historical romance with elements of mystery and suspense. Author Debra E. Marvin sets the story in Arizona of the 1930’s, and she wonderfully captures the atmosphere and energy of the time and place. After the death of her mother, Clara Longworth heads for Hollywood and hopes for stardom and a successful life for herself and her younger brother, Henry. Their journey takes a detour, however, when their bus breaks down outside Flagstaff, Arizona. They are given a lift to the hotel by none other than famed author Zane Grey, and that is just the beginning of their adventure along the new (and forever famous) Route 66. Clara is a talented dancer and singer, and Henry, while enormously gifted, doesn’t quite see life as others do—he is somewhat in a world of his own. Events occur quite quickly to make it seem as though Clara’s dreams for the future may be rerouted, just like she and Henry were diverted on their way to Hollywood. However, Fate has much in store for the Longworths, including a sweet surprise romance and a renewal of faith for Clara. Many obstacles have to be overcome on the road to happiness, and compromise may be the only answer. Danger lurks, though, and courage will be needed to in order to solve the mystery—and survive. The author does a terrific job of story building, and once I started reading, I had to keep on reading it to learn the outcome. This is a short work of fiction—a novella—but it is fully-realized. Readers are in for a real treat when they travel back to a time when the famed Route 66, also known as “The Mother Road”, was a newly-minted pathway which would link the Midwest to the West Coast.

Book Copy Gratis Author… (más)