You’ve already met my cousin, Caro Lamont, the pet therapist in Desperate Housedogs. Even though we’re both former Texas beauty queens, have overbearing Mama’s, and have fallen head-over-heels in love with southern California, we attack life differently. While my lovely cousin is determined to save the world, I’m a little more rebellious.

Much to the dismay of my Mama, I tossed aside my pageant tiaras for Swarovski crystal dog collars. See, I own Bow Wow Dog Boutique. It’s the perfect little set-up for a disgraced beauty queen. I love my new life.

Up until last week, a typical day included a relaxing morning walk with my bulldog, Missy, a yummy chai latte from the Koffee Klatch, dodging phone calls from my well-meaning Mama and advising my customers on the best bling for their canine loved ones. Oh, and hanging out with my best friend, Darby Beckett.

That was before the Fur Ball, Laguna Beach’s annual animal rescue charity benefit. Before Mona Michaels, (the customer from hell) pushed someone so far they killed her. Before Mona’s dog, Fluffy, a daytime TV star, somehow became my responsibility.

Worse than that, Darby’s suspect number one on Homicide Detective Judd Malone’s “whodunit list.” Just because she has a secret. Seriously, we all have secrets. Okay, maybe not as huge as Darby’s, but still. So while I’m juggling my growing business, my on-again-off-again fiancé, Grey Donovan, and Fluffy’s snob-dog attitude, I’ve decided it’s up to me to prove Darby had nothing to do with Mona’s death.

Easier said than done. Did I mention Darby’s Texas-sized secret? Oh, did I forget to tell you, Detective Malone has made me promise to stay out of his investigation? I’m sure you can see where this is headed.

But if Caro can help uncover a crazed killer, I can too. Hopefully I can dig up the truth before the killer buries me.

You can read more about Mel in GET FLUFFY, the second book in the “Pampered Pets” mystery series.

Meet the author
Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of mystery writers Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often write at ML’s dining room table or at the Starbucks up the street. If they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and, depending on the time of day, either an iced tea or a margarita. When their publisher, Bell Bridge Books, asked them to choose a pen name, they chose to use Sparkle Abbey because they liked the idea of combining the names of their two rescue pets – Sparkle (ML’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). Mary Lee is President and Anita is Vice-President of Sisters in Crime – Iowa. Readers can contact them through their website at: www.sparkleabbey.com

Books are available at retail and online booksellers.