Nothing ruins a marriage faster than finding your football star husband holding private cheerleading tryouts in your bedroom—especially when the three woman on top of him are wearing nothing but high heels and using pompoms in ways so dirty they’d make a stripper blush. Can you believe that actually happened to me? I mean, Bryan and I had been drifting apart for a while, but seeing him at the bottom of a pile of busty twenty-two year-olds in naked pyramid formation was the last straw.
Needless to say, I kicked the floozies out of our condo and gave my cheating hubby my spirit finger. After a whirlwind—and, thanks to Bryan’s NFL stardom, very public—divorce, I left my job at a clothing store in Atlanta, packed my life into an oversized Prada duffel bag, and came back to the one place that’s ever truly felt like home. So, now here I am: Kaley Kalua, twenty-seven year-old divorcee and Aloha Lagoon’s newest permanent resident.
Bless my Aunt Rikki; not only did she welcome me home with open arms, but she offered me a job as the manager of the Happy Hula Dress Boutique, the shop she owns in the merchant area of the Aloha Lagoon Resort. You’d really like Rikki—from her funky blue and black hair to her to her infectious energy and generous spirit, there’s no one else quite like her. After my parents were killed when I was twelve, she took me in and raised me like her own child. I don’t know where I’d be without her. That’s why, when one of her employees was recently murdered and Rikki found herself at the top of the suspect list, I swore I’d do whatever it took to prove her innocence.
Between juggling my day-to-day responsibilities at Happy Hula and trying not to strangle my high school rival, Harmony Kane (seriously, what was Aunt Rikki thinking hiring her?), I’ve been spending most of my days lately trying to track down the person who really killed Happy Hula’s former assistant manager, Louana Watson. It seems the woman had no shortage of enemies, not that I’m surprised—the one time I met her, she was screaming at my aunt and threatening to sue her. As it turns out, Rikki isn’t the only person that Louana treated horribly. Nearly everywhere I look, I find a new person who may have wanted her dead.
Lucky for me, I’ve got help following up on all these leads. There’s my new gal pal, Jamie Parker, the resort scuba instructor. She moved to the islands from the South, just like me, and in the few days since we met, she’s already proven to be a fiercely loyal friend. Sure, Jamie’s inhumanly perky after a night of drinking, and she’s about as subtle as a foghorn when it comes to being my wing woman—but hey, she means well. Plus, our shared love of shopping and mani pedis makes her my one of my new favorite people on the island.
Then there’s my childhood best friend, Noa Kahele, who also recently moved back to Aloha Lagoon. Noa’s funny, modest, and looks like he climbed out of the pages of a surf shop catalog—long, dark hair, rock hard abs, and dimples for days. Picture Jason Mamoa, and you’re on the right track. Mmm.
I wish I could chat for longer, but I’ve got to get back to work. After all, there’s still a killer loose on the island. That, and Detective Ray of the Aloha Lagoon Police Department seems to be building a strong case against Aunt Rikki. The deeper I pry into the lives of my potential suspects, the more danger I’m finding myself in. If I don’t find out the truth soon, I could wind up the next victim.
You can read more about Kaley in Bikinis and Bloodshed, the first book in the “Kaley Kalua” mystery series.
After a very painful—and very public—divorce from her cheating football star husband, Kaley Kalua just wants some peace and privacy. Cramming only the essentials (clothes, shoes, and makeup) into her Prada duffel bag, Kaley returns to her hometown of Aloha Lagoon to manage her Aunt Rikki’s clothing shop, the Happy Hula Dress Boutique. A new job, new friends, and a change of scenery are just what she needs to turn her life around. It doesn’t hurt that Kaley’s handsome childhood best friend, Noa Kahele, has also moved back to the small resort town.
Unfortunately, life on the island isn’t quite the peaceful paradise that Kaley was expecting. Not everyone is thrilled about her return—especially the Happy Hula’s assistant manager, who thinks that she deserves Kaley’s new job. And when the woman is found strangled by a bikini top from the boutique, the police make it clear that Aunt Rikki is their main suspect. But Kaley is determined to prove her aunt’s innocence! Between dodging a nosy local reporter and sparring with her high school nemesis, Kaley compiles her own list of suspects. In the process, she also attracts the attention of a dangerous killer. If Kaley isn’t careful, she could wind up trading her colorful wardrobe for funeral black. . .
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Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon e-gift card. The giveaway ends August 7, 2017. Good luck everyone!
About the author
Anne Marie Stoddard is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author, iBooks Bestseller, Amazon Mover & Shaker, and former Amazon Top 100 Author. She writes supernatural thrillers and cozy mysteries with an edge, many of which are based on her experience working in radio and at music festivals across the U.S. Aside from writing, Anne Marie loves college football, hula hoops, music, coffee, and anything pumpkin-flavored. Connect with Anne Marie at amstoddardbooks.com.
All comments are welcomed.
This book sounds like it will be a riot! Thanks for the introduction.
I’m glad you think it sounds good, Donna 🙂
I’d like to read this book with all its quirky characters! Thanks for offering this!!!
Oh boy…another cozy series to add to my list…
Thank you, Gram! The other Aloha Lagoon books are written by other authors, and they’re all fabulous!
I’ll be adding this to my TBR list!
Thank you, Christi!
Thanks for the introduction to Anne Marie Stoddard and her interesting but quirky sounding book. I’ve added it to my to be read list.
Thank you, robeader 🙂
I like robeader’s description of this sounding “quirky”.
Quirky is definitely what I was going for 😉 I love quirky characters!
This is a “new to me” series. Thanks for bringing it to my attention and thank you for the chance to win.
This is a fun series and this particular book was very enjoyable! Nice twist and great characters! Thanks Dru Ann for the post. Thanks Anne Marie for the chance to win a gift card!
Thank you, Barbara! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Oooooooooooo! $10 for Amazon. Nothing much beats that!
Sounds like a great read! Definitely on my TBR list.
Everyone should have a kind but wacky aunt in Hawaii!
It looks like a fun read. It’s a shame none of our local county libraries have a copy to borrow. I guess I’ll have to win the gift card so I can buy a copy.
i love mysteries set on islands…fun sounding read!
I read Bikinis & Bloodshed and loved it. Very entertaining–as are all the Aloha Lagoon stories. I hope there are more adventures planned for Kaley. Thanks for the chance to win a gift card.
Thank you, Linda! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
can’t wait,sounds great
I could have used an Aunt Rikki when I started getting phone calls for my husband from girls that refused to believe he had a wife. Thanks for you contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This is a new author to me. I really enjoyed the description of the book. It sounds like a really fun read.
I LOVE THIS SERIES! I have the book ready to read…thanks for participating in the giveaway. My book budget is in need of an infusion.
Thank, Kat! I’m glad you enjoy the series –all of the other authors have written such fabulous books!
A Hula Dress Boutique sounds like a whole new thing!
Sounds like a fun read.
A new author and series goes on my TBR list. Thanks.
I like my mysteries with a little edge. This one sounds good.
Thanks, Jana! Cozy mysteries with an edge are my specialty (and my favorite!) 😉
A new author and series for me. Thanks for the intro!
Have yet to read this author. And I am looking forward to doing so. Do hope this will be a beginning
Visiting Hawaii is on my bucket list–I’m looking forward to reading a new author about a place I’m dreaming about
I’ve already started this book and it’s quite good!
Thanks, Maria! I’m glad you’re enjoying it 🙂
Sounds like a fun read! I love books that can make me laugh out loud!
I’ve enjoyed meeting the different authors that write in this great series. Thanks for a chance to win the gift card.
**** WINNER ****
$10 Amazon gift certificate is Gram
Congratulations!