Review: Better Than First Book But...
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 26, 2013
The Samantha Sweet series revolve around a 52 year old woman who  stumbles onto mysteries while breaking into homes that are about to go into foreclosure.I thought the story was much more involved and intricate in this second book.Yeah, it was much more interesting then the first book, but I suppose you have to introduce the series in book one to really get it going later on.It's too bad there were/are some problems with the series.  I am on book three at the moment and may or may not continue without requiring a refund on book three, so this may (or may not) be my last review on the series.I'm already tired of Sam complaining about her appearance and putting herself down constantly.  The graying hair and extra pounds and why oh why does Beau (the cop) like HER when he could have anyone?The put-downs and self-loathing continue through the series and are so plentiful that I wanted to run to the store....buy some hair color....and throw it at Sam and tell her to stop whining and just color your damn hair already.Truly, if you're happy and content with who you are, you accept yourself and have the attitude of "they either like me for what I am or they don't...I don't care.)If you're NOT happy, you do something about it.  Sam, is clearly unhappy.  I know, because I hear about it all the time throughout the stories.  It gets to be a drag having Sam put herself down all the time.  Maybe she does a much needed makeover as the series continues; who knows.  I may never find out if I don't wish to continue.It's more than fine to make Sam the way you want her to be in your stories (it really is), but if she's a self-loather, please don't have her whine about her gray hairs and extra pounds more than once per book.  It gets on the readers nerves.There are inconsistencies as well.In book one, Sam's friend Zoe's name is spelled just like you see it here...In book two and on in book three, the author starts using an accent mark above the "e" on Zoe's name.  WHY?  Be consistent.  Use it all the time, or don't do it at all.  Want to use it?  Go back and edit book one to include the mark.  The author gives credit to Susan Slater for her "good catches" yet she surely missed this big one.Thoughts that should have been one continuous sentence were messed up and....well, I'll let you read it..."What I didn't tell him is that these came from the cover of that journal you're holding.  Which we found taped to the underside of a nightstand drawer on Elena's side of the bed."No period after the word "holding." and no capital "W" on the word "which."  It's all one glorious sentence, but wasn't caught.Another boo boo..."Looks like everyone in the this office is planning to vote for the man."PICK ONE.  Use either "the or "this" but both are not needed and this as well, wasn't caught.Nothing gets passed me.  It's like this stuff has huge neon signs above them saying..."Hey, we shouldn't be here.  We're mistakes and need to be fixed."Many missing commas as well where they should have clearly been placed.  Picky?  When I pay several dollars for a book, you bet I am.Book two and three contain many many mistakes and typos.  I think I will do a review on book three and post some sample mistakes because that will be a refund book.I honestly love the authors writing and she's very good.  The problem I have is the unprofessional editing and charging five bucks per book with all the mistakes in them.  Unfortunately, this is a common mention in many customer reviews of damn fine great books.  Horrible editing using unqualified editors without a degree, messes up your potential reviews and future income and status as an author.If the books up to this point (one through three) are ever re-edited, I will return and move my 3-star rating up to between 4 and 5 stars and put this author right up there with Patterson and Koontz.  Until then?  3-star reviews and likely refunds.