Dropping the Dime

Miranda Vaughn Mysteries, Book 2

By: Ellie Ashe

Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt

Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Miranda Vaughn was once falsely accused of stealing millions, and now she's helping others who are facing criminal charges. While being an assistant to her former defense attorney isn't Miranda's dream job, she's eager to prove herself, and her first task is a simple one - protect Kathryn, a shy CFO turned informant, and help her prove that a popular real estate developer is embezzling millions from his company. But what should be a straightforward assignment is deliciously complicated when Miranda is thrown together with FBI Agent Jake Barnes, the man who saved her life, broke her heart, and then disappeared.

Beneath the neatly plotted rows of new homes lurk dark secrets, bitter feuds and a whole lot of greed. Nothing is what it appears; even Miranda's timid client is hiding secrets of her own. Despite her growing distrust of her client, Miranda must protect Kathryn from becoming the target of the FBI's investigation and protect herself from the real thief - all while protecting her heart from the sexy FBI agent she can't seem to resist.

©2015 Ellie Ashe (P)2016 Ellie Ashe

White collar crime and made exciting

Who besides an accountant would think that a financial mystery would be gripping, but Dropping the Dime by Ellie Ashe does that and more. Miranda Vaughn now works for her attorney as financial advisor, since even though she was acquitted of embezzlement, she has discovered that being found “not guilty” does not mean “innocent.” This leaves her unemployable in the financial sector where she is highly qualified. The lawyer takes a case on behalf of a whistleblower who needs a lawyer to walk her through the system. In doing this, Miranda finds herself having to work again with Jake, to whom she is deeply attracted but who has not made much effort to get in touch with her since their adventures together in Macau and Beliz.

Kathryn seems to have a straightforward case, but they keep finding new inconsistencies in her case that make Jake question her veracity, leading to more and more complications.

This book is really well-written and takes financial fraud and makes it exciting and understandable. I have never held an interest in finance, but I really found this book’s addressing of financial crime to be fascinating.

Teri Schnaubelt does a good job of performing the voice of Miranda. When Miranda is in tears, we hear the tears in Teri’s expression, in the same way we hear Miranda’s discouragement and hurt at being treated like a criminal despite being found not guilty.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, Chasing the Dollar, but not nearly as much as I enjoyed this book. That book had too much gunplay and fleeing from the bad guys, but this book turned white collar crime into something interesting and even something further. I give this book five stars.

Whodunit?

Would you consider the audio edition of Dropping the Dime to be better than the print version?

Didn't read it but I prefer audios better than books. I can do other things while I'm listening.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Twists and turns kept you guessing all the time.

Which character – as performed by Teri Schnaubelt – was your favorite?

Miranda was feisty and persevered in her quest.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Intrigue and greed reign!

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Fun Mystery

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Dropping the Dime is the second book in the Miranda Vaughn mystery series. It does stand on its own but I’d listened to Chasing the Dollar right before this one and I was happy to be able to start Dropping the Dime immediately.

Miranda Vaughn is working for the lawyer who had represented her a few months ago when she was found not guilty on fraud and embezzlement charges. She would rather work in finance, her chosen field, but she is considered high risk even though she was cleared of the charges.

Their current case was brought to them by the CFO of a large real estate firm who suspects her boss of embezzlement. The FBI is on the case too, so Miranda has to work with Jake Barnes. She hasn’t seen him since they worked together a few months ago. They still both have feelings for each other but know they shouldn’t get involved since they’re working on the same case.

I like Elli Ashe’s writing style and Teri Schnaubelt’s narration skills. They make a great team. Teri Schnaubelt brings the characters to life and she has good rhythm and timing. I’m looking forward to listening to her narrate the next book.

Dropping the Dime is a humorous mystery with a bit of romance and suspense and a surprise ending. I’m so glad I have the next book in the series so that I can start it right now!

Kept me riveted

Another win for Ellie Ashe! This book, like the first, was smart, fast-paced, & exciting with thoroughly likable characters. The narration is good and keeps you drawn in. Good job, definitely looking forward to the next book!

I was given this book at no charge by the rights holder in exchange for an unbiased review.

Entertaining continuation

Any additional comments?

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Ellie Ashe. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Miranda Vaughn, once cleared of the charges she affronted in the previous book, starts working for Rob, her lawyer. Aware of how unfair is being charged with something and being innocent, she is adamant about defending other people unfairly accused. In this case she will meet Katherine, a very shy CFO, with information about her employee is steeling great quantities for money from his own company. Aware that this can backfire for Katherine, Miranda will try to help her. Everything looks fine until Miranda finds out that one of the FBI agents working on this case is none other than Jake Barnes. On top of it, Miranda will find out that Katherine is hiding things from her, so this case results to be more complicated than what it seemed.

I really enjoyed ‘Chasing the Dollar’ so I was ready for the next installment of the series. This time the setting is not as spectacular as in the previous book but the events are exciting non the less. I liked the fact that it was impossible to know whether Katherine was honest or just playing with Miranda for her own interests. Ashe describes people and places in a very realistic way, and the reader is able to see at all moment what is happening, like if we were watching a movie.

I got a bit confused at the beginning of the book. I got the idea that at the end of ‘Chasing the Dollar’ Miranda was going to buy the old house she had to sell to pay for her defense, but at the beginning of ‘Dropping the Dime’ she is living in the small apartment above her aunt’s garage. I am not sure if maybe Ashe decided to rewrite the first book ending on her mind when she decided to publish a new book. The new situation definitely makes the events in book two work much better.

There was a little bit too much romance for my liking, but I understand that it is something that comes with cozy mysteries. On the other hand, Jake’s attitude towards Miranda is something that would have me running the other way, even though I know that some women tend to like hard to catch men.

Teri Schnaubelt is officially one of my favorite narrators. She does not only transmit the character’s emotions clearly and effectively, but makes the experience a very easy listening, something that I appreciate.

All in all, it was a good book, with some action, romance and well depicted characters and events. A nice light listen for a weekend.

Good audiobook

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to a friend,it was good read and the story was also well written.

What does Teri Schnaubelt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The intonation matches the different situations of the story.Sometimes hearing an audiobook is better then reading the story,just like in this case.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes,but it's a long story so your have to make breaks.

Any additional comments?

“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”

Love this series

Any additional comments?

This is a great series. It's one of those that I really could read like fifty more books with these characters. They are that fun. The cozy format is perfect for someone like me who needs an immediate escape. While I was reading this series, I didn't worry about the other details in my life because the author drew me into the plot and I couldn't get to the end fast enough. I love Miranda. I think she has so much energy and spunk. I fell in love with her because she is so 3-dimensional to me. I know nothing about the finance world, but the author did a great job explaining to me what I needed to know, but not bore me. This is the second book in the series, but I believe you could read this one first if you wanted.

Very Good!

I really love this series and the narrator is great. Heroine was accused of a crime, acquitted at trial, and in the first book actually proved she was innocent but is still tainted. So she works for a lawyer and gets in over her head at times. Fun read and a great series!

Loved it!

I couldn’t wait for the next addition to this series and the author didn’t disappoint. Loved this new story! The characters are well written and fun. The story flows well and it is a light easy fast read. Great for a plan trip (much more interesting than those movies they show on the plane). My husband is an attorney and he has actually had clients that were in this same situation and one even had to wear a wire to work for months!

Dropping the Dime

Loved this second in series. Great surprise ending. Enjoyable narrator. Looking forward to Lucky Penny!