Blazing Summer by Denise Grover Swank

Summer Butler is killing it in the ratings—and all of America is tuning in as New York Times bestselling author Denise Grover Swank greenlights a new season of TV’s hottest sleuth…

Summer Butler had no idea that Darling Investigations would be such a smash. But ratings don’t lie—fans love watching the former star solve real-life crimes in her hometown. With the first season wrapped, the reality-show PI is feeling the pressure to make the next one an even bigger success.

Though finding a new case won’t be easy—it’s not like another dead body will just fall in her lap—Summer’s willing to give it a try. Besides, reconciling with her family—not to mention her old flame, police chief Luke Montgomery—is a nice way to spend her downtime.

But Summer’s rekindled romance isn’t the only thing burning up Sweet Briar. It seems the town is harboring an arsonist, and all the smoldering signs point to the same culprit: her cousin Dixie. Although this case may be too close for comfort, it seems season two is already bringing the drama—and for Summer it could also be too hot to handle.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

This is such a fun read! Summer Butler’s second adventure fully captured my imagination and made me smile. This time around, Summer is investigating a string of arson attacks and her cousin Dixie is the main suspect.

This is a gentle read. I loved the careful and very funny observations of small town Southern life and the slightly satirical take on reality television. The characters in Sweet Briar really come to life in this story. I enjoyed the relationships and the conversations that the author captures – some of the dialogue is absolutely brilliant. There is probably even less romance in this story than there was in the first one but there is more action and excitement as Summer’s investigation heats up.

I like that I didn’t immediately guess the whodunnit. The mystery part of the story feels quite silly at times but there is actually quite a complex plot that Summer unravels. Everyone in town is a suspect at some point in the book and I really enjoyed the building tension.

This was a great read. I didn’t love the first book but this one really made me smile. I’m looking forward to Summer’s next adventure.

Also Available in the Darling Investigations Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Deadly Summer post.

Denise Grover Swank is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Rose Gardner Mystery Series, the Magnolia Steele Mystery Series, The Wedding Pact Series, The Curse Keepers Series, and others. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomad, living in five cities, four states, and ten houses over the course of ten years before moving back to her roots. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in her own mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children (quite badly, if you believe her offspring). Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity—or so she leads you to believe.

Connect with Denise

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Blazing Summer (Darling Investigations #2) by Denise Grover Swank to read and review.

Deadly Summer by Denise Grover Swank

New York Times bestselling author Denise Grover Swank gives a former TV star one more shot at fame—and it proves to be a killer comeback…

Ten years ago, Summer Butler was television’s most popular teenage sleuth. Since then, she’s hit—what gossip sites just love to call—the gutter. Nearly bankrupt, betrayed, estranged from her greedy mother, and just about unemployable, she’s coaxed into that desperate haven for has-beens: reality TV.

Winging it as a faux PI, she’ll solve off-the-cuff mysteries in her hometown of Sweet Briar, Alabama. For added drama, there’s police chief Luke Montgomery, inconveniently Summer’s first and only love.

It’s when Summer stumbles upon a very real corpse that Darling Investigations takes an unexpected twist. The growing list of suspects is a big draw to viewers, but the reality is that Summer doesn’t know whom she can trust. Someone has written this killer new scene especially for her, and unless Summer gives the role everything she’s got, it could be her last…

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is as sweet and fluffy as a murder mystery gets. The story of a washed-up teen star who stumbles into a real crime while filming a ridiculous reality TV show is full of small town Southern charm. It’s a fun read that builds slowly to a surprisingly exciting end.

I couldn’t help but like Summer more than I wanted to. She has more substance than anyone expects, and she is more self-deprecating than the first few chapters suggest. Her mind is sharp and her humour is slightly darker than I expected.

The murder mystery takes some time to start and it felt like it wandered in circles for a while before there was any real excitement in the book. I enjoyed Summer and Dixie’s unconventional investigation, but parts of the story aren’t terribly plausible.

The romance is almost negligible. Summer’s high school boyfriend is now the police chief and the two have unfinished business. There isn’t much heat in this story but there are some entertaining moments as Summer’s investigations interfere with Luke’s job.

Denise Grover Swank is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Rose Gardner Mystery Series, the Magnolia Steele Mystery Series, The Wedding Pact Series, The Curse Keepers Series, and others. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomad, living in five cities, four states, and ten houses over the course of ten years before moving back to her roots. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in her own mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children (quite badly, if you believe her offspring). Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity—or so she leads you to believe.

Connect with Denise

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Deadly Summer (Darling Investigations #1) by Denise Grover Swank to read and review.