Southwest of Love and Murder

The Love and Murder Series, Book 2

By: Brenda Whiteside

Narrated by: Holly Holt

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Mystery writer Phoebe Anderson owes her success to killing her first husband on paper 17 years earlier. Now, someone has actually done it. When she decides to take a few days away on the ranch of her best friend’s brother-in-law, she doesn’t expect romance to find her...or murder to follow her.

Mason Meadowlark is happy with his wild cowboy ways, avoiding love since the death of his baby and the end of his marriage 20 years ago. When Phoebe shows up, he fights to control his emotions but soon wonders if she just might be worth the risk of opening his heart again.

With an obsessed fan close on her heels, Phoebe is thrown into her own murder mystery…and the next target on his list is Mason.

©2015 Brenda Whiteside (P)2018 Brenda Whiteside

Another great story!

No spoiler review!

The characters of this story are well developed you become connected to the main characters as well as the supporting cast.

The story is well crafted and keeps you guessing until the reveal!

The narration was good. Holly is improving her craft with every book.

Suspenseful Romance

Phoebie is a mystery novel writer that wrote her husbands murder. When the story becomes a reality, she goes away where romance and suspense find her. Mason is a cowboy that lost his wife and child many years ago. He likes to be alone but when he meets Phoebie, that quickly changes.

This is the second book in the Love and Murder series. The first book is referenced, but not essential to hear to understand this one. The story has well developed characters, and a plot that draws you in. I was fully entertained throughout.

Holly, as usual, did a fabulous job of narrating with energy and enthusiasm. She has great character voices and reads at a perfect pace. I love listening to her!

Overall, i recommend this thrilling and sexy romance. You wont regret it!

Note: This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this objective review voluntarily.

A good addition to the series

Both author Brenda Whiteside and narrator Holly Holt are relatively new to me. We met mystery writer Phoebe Anderson in the first book in the series and I really enjoyed her character. Finding out that the second book in the series was her story was great news. Pairing her with her best friends’ brother in law, Mason Meadowlark just seemed like a fabulous added twist.
Phoebe and Mason meet when Lacy and Chance got married and they decide to have a bit of fun. Phoebe is attracted to Mason and when she needs to research her latest book she decides to visit his ranch. Mason has baggage and Phoebe needs to break through the walls he has erected if they are to have a chance. The question is can she and will Mason let her in?
Add in that Phoebe has an obsessed fan stalking her and soon danger rears it’s head.
I love romantic suspense books and this was an enjoyable listen as I felt that the narration had improved from the previous book.
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer

Murder mystery

This book is a romance murder mystery. We get to know Chance's twin brother, Mason better in this book. You get a gist of who the murderer is from the beginning, the mystery part lays in what will be do next in order to gain the attention of his favorite author. The HEA is awesome and the narrator did an outstanding job!
🎧AudioBookObessionReviewer

A few thrills and chills

Another book filled with mystery, death and murder with some hot romance. There is nothing like a mystery author being put right in the middle of a murder mystery that another building around her. Just when she finds a man she thinks she can fall for along comes someone living out her books, starting with killing her ex husband. If that isn’t shocking enough, it is a heart stopping moment when one of her other books comes to life. The question is who will be next, there is a new love in her life which could be in danger. The book is filled with mystery that is very exciting.

I thought the narration was okay, there is background noise when she pauses, there are times when it is to fast and other times when the rhythm moves good. Her character voices are nice, you know who is talking. She reads a little to fast and should pause a little more. It was an enjoyable listen but felt off a little. I can tell when she took what I believe is a break the volume changes. Her male and female voices are very nice, however I do not feel she gives true emotion to her characters. I just don’t feel the emotion the characters are going through. All in all it was an enjoyable listen but just needs some work.

I thought the author did a good job pulling the reader in, giving a believable story, with great characters. Was a good plot and did make me smile a few times. I enjoyed the shocking deaths and near deaths, The romance was very touching and nice. The author made me smiles a few times. The killer is easy to work out, and a little more fillers than I like but is was a good book that I did enjoy.

Stand alone story

While part of the Love and Murder series, you wouldn't need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one. The events aren't related and the characters from the first book don't play a large role in this one.

The actual voice of the narrator was good, but there were many, many instances where a single line sounded like it had been added in later and it didn't blend in at all with the existing recording. I found it very strange and distracting, almost like it was another person's voice interrupting the story.

Overall, I liked the story. I would recommend it to people who like a little external conflict along with the relationship development.

#AudiobookObsession

Murder romance story 💕

This was my first mystery/murder romance story! I absolutely loved it. I couldn’t get enough! Author does a great job making you fall in love with the characters. Narration was beautiful!

In Love

I love this author! This is my 2nd book by her and boy am I WOWED!! This is beautifully written and Holly Holt did a beautiful job with this book! We meet Phoebe in book one as Lacy's writer friend. Now we get to dive deep into her world as she goes on a trip to learn the life of a rancher for her newest murder mystery book she is working on. But life doesn't go according to plan and she didn't anticipate LIVING the murder mystery life. This book has many turns and keeps you ramped up until the end. I never thought I'd be into murder mystery novels but I am hooked to this writer! The plot is well thought out and executed marvelously! I liked that we got to still hear a little bit about Lacy and her new life in peeks but it didn't take away from this story.

well done

As a second book in a series I was afraid the author would fall into trap like many others and kind of repeat the first story with different names and places, No not this author totally different plot and story even tho some of the characters from the first book appear in this story.
Well written very good characters and the story is very good.
The narrator is good.
If you like sweet romance with few murders and crazy people. listen to this one.

Good from start to finish.

A very good romantic suspense. Lots of feels. Great characters. Beautiful location. Hot attraction. Creepy villain. Caring family.
I listened to Audible version. Narrator did good job. Would like more emotion, but she did male voices well, too. I was happy with her pace.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.