Review: Brandy #5 - Dog fighting?  There's no way Brandy's letting THAT crime go unpunished!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 3, 2013
Brandy's knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time throws her into the violent world of street gangs, drugs and dog fighting.  While it seems that Brandy has made her choice when it comes to which man she'd like to be in a relationship with, that doesn't mean it's smooth sailing.  Brandy has a tough time watching her ex-lover move on with his life, and an even tougher time finding a way to fit into her new lover's very complicated lifestyle.I owe a huge debt to the Amazon poster who turned me on to this series - I'm thoroughly enjoying it!  From book to book I've watched Brandy evolve.  She's getting a grip on her chaotic personal life, her investigative skills and street smarts are definitely improving and she's developed some serious backbone.  This, to me, is what a series should be all about - the characters grow and change; they don't simply re-enact the same scenarios from book to book.  Well done.As the series progresses the storylines do get more intense, and this one has some dark (and heartbreaking) aspects.  There's still a lot of humor (much of it at Brandy's expense), and the supporting characters continue to add plenty of color and flavor to the plot.  Authentic sounding dialog and great use of location add to the story's appeal.Series Brief: Brandy Alexander is a 28 year old "puff piece" reporter that has recently moved back to her native Philadelphia. In between solving mysteries, she tries to figure out what to do about the two men in her life. Mostly she's busy just trying to stay one step ahead of whoever is out to get her this week.Frequent strong language and some sexual content. There are one or two brief love scenes that are not particularly explicit, but they're not "closed door" either.Favorite quote:  "Brandy Alexander, you are so far from ordinary, words fail me.  If I've made you feel less than cherished, that is my deepest regret.  I don't know what I can offer you beyond that, Angel, but you are my heart." (loc 2629)*No Such Thing as a Secret: A Brandy Alexander Mystery (No Such Thing As...A Brandy Alexander Mystery)*No Such Thing As a Good Blind Date: A Brandy Alexander Mystery (No Such Thing As: A Brandy Alexander Mystery)*No Such Thing as a Free Lunch (No Such Thing As...: A Brandy Alexander Mystery)*No Such Thing As A Free Ride...A Brandy Alexander Mystery (No Such Thing As...A Brandy Alexander Mystery)*No Such Thing As a Lost Cause...A Brandy Alexander Mystery (No Such Thing As...A Brandy Alexander Mystery)