Review: Easy to Read and Laugh Out Loud Funny!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 19, 2014
Dog Eat Dog by J.R. Mattison ( Jen Mattison) is a 2013 Rochester publication.  I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Liza Radley, Housewife Detective is back for another case, this time involving a dognapper.  Well, at least that how things got started.  With her trusty partner, Jack,  Liza opened the Crimes of the Heart Detective Agency.  They need money in a bad way because rent is due and they don't have it.  Before long Liza and Jack are trying to stop an illegal dog fighting ring among other things.  If that weren't enough to stress anyone out, Liza's mother is laying on the guilt trips,  and the tension between Liza and Jack is palpable.  Frustrations sets in when Liza's sixth sense is telling her something is off and they need to investigate further  and Jack thinks it might be time to throw in the towel... in more ways than one.Dogs, romantic tension, family drama, and of course Liza's investigations all make for a hilarious romp of fast paced adventure mixed in with a feel good story.  Who doesn't love dogs?  Adopting an adorable dog, and saving dogs from being abused is a great story line, but there were more dangerous plots at hand too, and LIza of course is in the big middle of it.  I did not have the chance to read the first book in the series, but I think I will go look it up.  You don't have to read the first one to enjoy this one, but I always like to know the whole story from the beginning.  In this case, Liza has sworn off men after catching her husband cheating on her,  but Jack is trying to soften Liza'a stance on dating.  Liza and Jack have a wonderful snappy dialogue with each other, and If Liza doesn't wake up soon, I just might like Jack for myself.  He's absolutely dreamy.  This is a  really light hearted cozy mystery, easy to read, and laugh out loud funny in some places.  I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to cozy mystery lovers, but also to chick lit or contemporary romance lovers too.  Of course, as with most books that fall into the cozy genre there is no explicit sex, graphic violence, or harsh language.  Adult content is PG.  This one gets an A.