The Owl's Nest Mysteries #2
By C.S. McDonald
Read by Maren Swenson Waxenberg
Alexa Owl's life is going great. Her couturier shop is doing well. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Cliff Slater, is heading toward love if she is reading things correctly. There is just one little hiccup to mess with her life - Detective Bobby Starr is back and has another case that needs Alexa's assistance.
But this time, the dearly departed that needs Alexa and Bobby's help doesn't seem so innocent to Alexa. But Maxine Krogen is the next case Bobby's been assigned on his quest to join the Guardian Angel Squad, so it's back to the 1950s and some truly fabulous clothes.
But as Alexa looks for clues using the technology of today, she finds herself drawn to Hank's Sandwich Shop with its tragic past. Not that Hank has any link to her case with Bobby, but still, there is something...
As before, Alexa and Bobby have 3 days to solve the case and determine who killed Maxi's husband and landed her in the doghouse. With time against them and a less-than-helpful widow tagging along, this case just might prove a bit more challenging than their last case.
Maxed Out is the second book in The Owl's Nest Mysteries, and all the cast is back as Alexa tries to balance life in her present and her time-shifting excursions - which may result in a few hiring mishaps abilities, which are less than stellar. Maxed Out is a contemporary read that is a cozy mystery that also could be a candidate for magical realism with a touch of romance. The book isn't long, coming in under six hours, and would make a perfect afternoon read - especially if you have an evening commute on your schedule. The narration by Maren Swenson Waxenberg is well done, the pacing is good, and she makes Maxi even less appealing than she is in the printed version.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - All thoughts expressed are my own.
* Per the author, the content rating is G, but for those wanting a clean read, there are pointed hints at relationships that have intimacy outside of marriage - nothing is shown on the page.
Book Details:
Book Title: Maxed Out (The Owl's Nest Mysteries)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 184 pages or 5 hours, 32 minutes
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: April 2021
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.
Book Title: Maxed Out (The Owl's Nest Mysteries)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 184 pages or 5 hours, 32 minutes
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: April 2021
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.
Book Description:
The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!
The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!
Also Available
Book Details:Book Title: Back to the Burgh and Beyond (The Owl's Nest Mysteries, Book 1)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 208 pages or 5 hours, 59 minutes
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Sep 10, 2020
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.
Book Description:
Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He's been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!
Meet the Narrator:
Ms. Waxenberg is a voice-over artist and presentation coach. She serves as a consultant to the Professional Development Company, Inc., teaching presentation and interview skills seminars to a variety of clients, Columbia MBA, and SIPA graduate students. Maren has a 30-year background in special events, performing arts production and the entertainment industry. In 1996, she founded Maren Productions which produces audio books, radio and television voice-overs, and podcasts. Maren Productions also offers special event production and consultancy services.
Ms. Waxenberg has worked in Special event production with George Trescher Associates, theater production and management at the TheatreVirginia in Richmond, the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, and The New Dramatists in New York. She edited and formatted feature films for ABC Motion Picture Post Production. Maren served as the concert manager of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall for four years, produced events for the promotion department of The New York Daily News, and has produced chamber music recitals at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Ms, Waxenberg has produced, directed and performed in numerous Off-Broadway theatre productions. She trained with the CoActive Training Institute.
Ms. Waxenberg is a voice-over artist and presentation coach. She serves as a consultant to the Professional Development Company, Inc., teaching presentation and interview skills seminars to a variety of clients, Columbia MBA, and SIPA graduate students. Maren has a 30-year background in special events, performing arts production and the entertainment industry. In 1996, she founded Maren Productions which produces audio books, radio and television voice-overs, and podcasts. Maren Productions also offers special event production and consultancy services.
Ms. Waxenberg has worked in Special event production with George Trescher Associates, theater production and management at the TheatreVirginia in Richmond, the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, and The New Dramatists in New York. She edited and formatted feature films for ABC Motion Picture Post Production. Maren served as the concert manager of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall for four years, produced events for the promotion department of The New York Daily News, and has produced chamber music recitals at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Ms, Waxenberg has produced, directed and performed in numerous Off-Broadway theatre productions. She trained with the CoActive Training Institute.
Meet the Author:
For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.
Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!
Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.
Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!
Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
Tour Schedule:
Oct 3 –Mystery Review Crew – book spotlight of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 3 –Paws.Read.Repeat – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 4 –Duckfacekim09 – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 4 - Leanne bookstagram - book review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 5 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 6 -Literary Flits – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 6 - Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 7 – Books for Books – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH
Oct 11 - Leanne bookstagram - book review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 12 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 12 -Duckfacekim09 – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 13 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 13 - Bigreadersite - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 14 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 17 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 17 - Paws.Read.Repeat – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 18 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 18 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 19 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 20 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE - giveaway
Oct 20 - Leanne bookstagram - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 21 – Books for Books – audiobook review of MAXED OUT
Oct 24 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 24 - Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 25 - Cheryl's Book Nook - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 26 –Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 28 - Books for Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE
TBD – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE
Oct 3 –Mystery Review Crew – book spotlight of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 3 –Paws.Read.Repeat – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 4 –Duckfacekim09 – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 4 - Leanne bookstagram - book review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 5 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 6 -Literary Flits – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 6 - Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 7 – Books for Books – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH
Oct 11 - Leanne bookstagram - book review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 12 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 12 -Duckfacekim09 – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 13 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 13 - Bigreadersite - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 14 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 17 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 17 - Paws.Read.Repeat – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 18 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 18 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 19 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 20 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE - giveaway
Oct 20 - Leanne bookstagram - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 21 – Books for Books – audiobook review of MAXED OUT
Oct 24 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 24 - Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 25 - Cheryl's Book Nook - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 26 –Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 28 - Books for Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE
TBD – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE
Enter the Giveaway:
Thanks so much for this lovely review!
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