Drape Expectations by Karen Rose Smith

Caprice has family problems, boyfriend problems, and a murder to solve.  She's trying not to get involved but Ace was going to marry the victim and he wants her to find out who killed her.  As you can guess, the cops aren't happy about that...

Kensington Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It was published July 28th, so you can grab a copy now.  This is the fourth in the series and the best one yet.

The more Caprice tries to find out about Alanna, the more she realizes she was hiding something.  She's not sure what, so she keeps digging.  After all, she was staging Alanna's house for selling and she'd worked with her.  She didn't like her and it seems most folks didn't.  She was a widow, had no children and only one sister.  There was a son from an affair her husband had in the past but Caprice was sure he wasn't the murderer, just like Ace wasn't.  What could motivate someone enough to kill?

Caprice goes home for the family dinner on Sunday and picks up the tension as soon as she opens the door.  Her estranged Uncle has come home.  After rejecting the family for his new wife, he no longer has a wife and is trying to come home.  Her father is letting him stay but Nana is very upset.  He betrayed her and he hasn't apologized.  When Nana ends up in the hospital, Caprice talks to them both.  She's not sure that's going to help.

Her long distance boyfriend, Seth, is still fun and she still loves him, but can she live with the cancellations of dates, meals, and plans that come with doctor's work?  Does she want to follow him from one hospital to another on his career path?  Does she want to leave the comfort of her friends and family?  And how has Grant gotten so important to her?

All in all, Caprice is very busy in this book.  It was a good murder mystery as well as a good romance.  I'm ready to read the next one and see what new challenges Caprice finds!

Gilt by Association (Caprice De Luca Mystery #3) by Karen Rose Smith

Caprice has a new puppy, a cat, a not-quite-for-sure boyfriend, and a home staging business.  That's where you spruce up or spice up a home and hold an open house to entice someone to buy it.  She does the redecorating and provides the special furnishings.  She doesn't need anything else to do, she's busy enough.

Kensington Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It's the third in the series and will be published January 27th.

When she goes to the house on the day of the open house, she expected Louise to be already at her friend's house.  When she can't find her inside, she checks the greenhouse.  She's shocked to find Louise shot to death in the greenhouse!  What she does know now is what not to do.  She checks to make sure she's dead and then she backs out and waits for the police.  She's not going to contaminate this murder scene.  The cops tell her to stay out of it and go about her business.

She's planning on doing just that when her mother asks her to see what she can find out.  Louise was her mother's friend, what can she say?

This is a cozy mystery with recipes, dog training tips, and secrets from Louise's past.  It's a pleasant read although I want to shake Caprice and say pick a guy to date and get over it!  Wiffle-waffling bothers me.  It does make a good story though.

Deadly Decor by Karen Rose Smith

Why would someone want to kill a painter?  He's good looking and a big flirt, but isn't death just a bit too far?

Kensington Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published so you can grab a copy now.  It's the second Caprice De Luca Home Staging series and I enjoyed reading them both.

Caprice has a boyfriend, rescues cocker spaniels, and stages homes for sale presentations.  She changes colors, furniture, and decorations to make the rooms stand out and impress the folks shopping.  Her designs help sell houses, so she keeps busy.  She has a good eye for what will grab people's attention.  Now if she didn't have to use her "eye" for murder, things would be fine.

What I like about this author's books is that she makes her characters human.  They aren't extra beautiful or extra smart or extra lucky.  They are people who get put in uncomfortable positions and try to work their way through to a solution.  Isn't that what most of us do in life?

Trying to find a suspect in Bob's case is hard because he's a womanizer and there are lot of irritated women in his past.  Caprice suspicions one of them might have killed him, but which one?  And why now?

Ms. Smith writes a good mystery and slowly brings the mystery pot to a boil.  Caprice has to be careful or she's going to find herself boiled in the pot.

Have a read, it's a cozy mystery that keeps you reading and wondering when the murderer is going to stand out.