Propelled into danger, Serena must stay the course and solve this case before anyone else dies. But just how is she supposed to do that when the two men in her life arrive on the scene, bringing with them a boatload of romantic complications--and even a secret or two?
 Reviewer: Jasmine Boquiren I don't normally do mysteries, but YOU GUYS. I literally got hooked the first page. Maybe it was her writing? Or Serena? I could hardly put it down once I started it. Mysteries are usually not my thing because normally, I am going to be completely honest, I get bored somewhere in the middle and end up just giving up. BUT NOT WITH THIS BOOK. This book has really changed my view on mystery novels. Bless you, Sandra Orchard. Bless you. I actually finished this book on a Sunday morning, before church. Call me a heathen, but then I'd just respond with a swift: "But I was just 50 pages from finishing! And it was a whodunit mystery! And there was a love triangle that actually didn't annoy me!" So you would have lost the argument, just sayin'. Let's see. Things I liked? Serena is, like, my new favorite person. Literally, she was kick-butt-awesome. She was witty and fabulous and quirky and I just adored her so much (even without reading the previous two books!). The thing about this book was there was not too much of a character arc. These kind of action books are more focused on the plot, while the characters are amazing, they aren't the most important part of the story. I GET THAT. And I am so pleased with how wonderful this book was even if Serena didn't really have a development in the end. It was still amazing and she's still amazing, so that's pretty cool. The side characters were also kick-butt-awesome, btw. I can't even begin to say how much I enjoyed all the side characters. I don't know how Mrs. Orchard did it, but she managed to incorporate distinct personalities, voices, and humor in each of the characters and I just LOVE how thoughtful they all were! None of them bored me when they spoke or did anything. I was drawn in by every aspect of the novel, including the barely-there people. They mattered, and Mrs. Orchard made sure of it. I get kind of annoyed whenever there are those characters that when you see their name on the page, you kind of inwardly cringe and try to brace yourself and force your way through that scene; it's awful and I feel bad but honestly I suffer from those moments. But not in this book! There was a sense of equality here which I appreciate. Can I just say how much I loved both Tanner and Nate? So many things that I can't mention, but these two guys are hilarious. I can't tell you how many times they made me have to stop reading and shake my head, chuckling. OH. Aunt Martha? She is so boss. Can I just be her when I grow up? Thanks. The mystery in this book was phenomenal. I haven't read a lot of whodunits, I'll be honest, but I don't think that would really matter; what matters is this book was so thrilling and exciting and I can't wait to read all of Mrs. Orchard's other books! There were so many things, so many problems, so many fingers pointed and questions unanswered that created this amazing novel. Everyone was a suspect and nobody was completely innocent. There was always some connection between characters and events and it made everything so complicated and mind-boggling but OH SO SATISFYING. It's hard to read mysteries because I'm always scared I'm going to miss something, there's going to be clues that I will pass over and ignore and hints that I won't catch. But I'll tell you what, it was so fun to follow along in this book, even if my mind was blown up partway through. IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH THE BRAIN DAMAGE. 'nuff said. Just kidding, that was NOT enough said. Because now we come to the romance! *internally screams (but in a good way hehe)* I will refrain from spoilers here because YES this is a LOVE TRIANGLE and I know that people that have read the previous book and not this one will not appreciate me just screaming what happens in this book in relation to the ship (if it's a love triangle, it would be plural though, right?). Let's just make things clear: it was clean and comical. And I love it and so should you, so go read this book right now. There ya go. IN CONCLUSION TO THIS BLESSED PIECE OF LITERATURE: This book is the perfect mixture of thrilling action, romance, humor, and all things lovely. Serena is such an awesome protagonist and I cannot wait to read more about her. As far as cleanliness goes, this book has zilch yuckies; the romance is *spot on* and I wouldn't change a thing about it. The mystery is SO enthralling and... you need a good few hours to finish this because you're not going to want to put it down! Once you start, you're emerged in this entire adventure and you never want to leave. After I finished it that Sunday morning, I just sat in bed, still as a rock, pondering all that my damaged brain couldn't soak in. This is a masterpiece that needs to be appreciated by everyone. So go add it to your to be read pile. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group.  Reviewer: Jessica Sichel If you are looking for a high adventure book with lots of light drama and low intensity, “Over Maya Dead Body” will be a fun read for you. Serena Jones, an FBI art investigator, is caught up in a murder case that hits close to home. While delving into the mystery, Serena becomes entangled in a different kind of snare when two love interests make appearances. Who murdered her uncle, and with whom will she find love? Though this story scored three stars, it rates almost four. Author Sandra Orchard has an engaging writing style, which allows for a fast pace throughout the story. There are very few editorial issues, keeping the reader from being distracted by unresolved typos and phrasing. As for development, the characters and story are well detailed, though they are not too involved, making for a lighter read. Other positives in this work are that the answer to the mystery remains a mystery throughout the work, and while there is murder, there is limited gore. There are a number of good points about this book; however, there are some areas needing improvement. For example, the fervor Orchard uses with her characters is a bit too energetic to feel realistic. At many points, the onomatopoeia goes too far, such as when Serena narrates her actions as so: “I clapped my gaping mouth shut.” In reality, it is doubtful that an FBI agent would do something as obvious as that in front of a witness. Similarly, Orchard’s word choice crosses into the aggressive, as is exemplified by the opening sentence: “I snatched my bag off the luggage carousel…and plunked it next to my parents as a sticky-fingered urchin tried to liberate the brightly colored ribbons I'd tied to the handles.” The word “snatched” and calling a child an “urchin” in the first sentence, unfortunately, caused a negative feeling at the start of this story and does not quite do justice to its categorization of “Christian fiction,” though it does work for a lighter “beach read.” Another area of concern is consistency. There are a number of interruptions with the back-and-forth nature of Serena’s suitors, Nate and Tanner. The reader is shuffled around between “does she love him” and “does she love the other him?” Moreover, there are consistency issues with the main characters. For example, why does Serena start being attracted to romance at this point in her life after an apparently long-standing resistance – or obliviousness – to relationships? Also, Serena’s emotions seem to be very compartmentalized, with her feeling a certain way for a particular block of time, then shifting abruptly into a different mode. Overall, “Over Maya Dead Body” is as its title sounds – an amusing murder mystery. It has a bit of a rocky start, but towards the middle of the book, it becomes pretty difficult to put down. Thank you to Sandra Orchard! Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group.  Reviewer: Jane Daly
This was the perfect summer read. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. Serena was quirky, funny, and a true romantic, even though she carried a gun. Her family was a hoot, especially her grandma. If you like a good mystery with fun, well-developed characters, this is the story for you. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group. 6/28/2017 10:09:28 pm
Jane, thanks so much for reviewing Over Maya Dead Body. I'm so pleased to hear how much you enjoyed it. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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6/28/2017
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