The Lady Has a Past by Amanda Quick – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Investigative apprentice Lyra Brazier, the newest resident of Burning Cove, is unsettled when her boss suddenly goes on a health retreat at an exclusive spa and disappears without another word. Lyra knows something has happened to Raina Kirk, and she is the only one who can track her down. The health spa is known for its luxurious offerings and prestigious clientele, and the wealthy, socialite background Lyra desperately wanted to leave behind is perfect for this undercover job. The agency brings in a partner and bodyguard for her, but she doesn’t get the suave, pistol-packing private eye she expected.

Simon Cage is a mild-mannered antiquarian book dealer with a quiet, academic air, and Lyra can’t figure out why he was chosen as her partner. But it soon becomes clear when they arrive at the spa and pose as a couple: Simon has a unique gift that allows him to detect secrets, a skill that is crucial in finding Raina.

The unlikely duo falls down a rabbit hole of twisted rumors and missing socialites, discovering that the health spa is a façade for something far darker than they imagined. With a murderer in their midst, Raina isn’t the only one in grave danger—Lyra is next.

 

 

 

Review:

The Lady Has A Past by Amanda Quick is the 5^th book in her wonderful Burning Cove series. Refresher: This series takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the recurring characters we have met in the previous books continue to have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove.  Burning Cove is a small resort town with many Hollywood stars or the very rich, but it seems that is it also a magnet for danger

Lyra Brazier, our heroine, has just started working as an assistant private investigator for Raina Kirk; she is sent on her first case, which turned into a nightmare. When Lyra meets the woman, who requested her to come to her home, she finds the woman being accosted by her husband in the pool.  When the mad man runs toward Lyra, she grabs the only thing she sees nearby and hits the man with a golf club.  When the police come, it seems someone (the wife) hit the man multiple times to make sure he was dead.  So, Lyra in her first case, has no idea if she killed the man or was it the wife.

We meet Simon Cage, our hero, who is on assignment for Luther Pell, and confronts a man who threatens to kill him for a book that is worth a lot of money; Simon manages to stay alive and get the book he needed.  After the case is over, Simon decides after visiting Pell, to stay in Burning Cove to take a vacation break.  It is at this time, that Raina Kirk (who is Luther Pell’s girlfriend, as well as owner of the detective agency), disappears. Lyra, Luther and Simon try to find clues where Raina has gone, and they learn she was heading to a resort, which has a famous health spa.  Simon and Lyra make plans to go to the hotel as newlyweds, to find Raina.

Lyra was a wonderful heroine, who not only was independent, but smart, bubbly personality, very inquisitive and her witty hilarious banter was pure fun, especially with Simon.  I loved how quickly Lyra was able to get people to talk, and learned so much from Simon on how to be a real detective; as well as seeing his paranormal ability to sense danger.   Simon at first didn’t know how to handle Lyra, but in a short time, he started falling for her.  Their romance started to heat up, as each began to learn more about each other, and their chemistry was great.

What follows is an exciting and intriguing story that has many surprises and twists. Lyra and Simon were great together, and when Luther joins them, they begin to learn the truths of what has been happening in the hotel and spa, putting people’s lives in danger. The danger escalates, as the three of them are desperate to find Raina, before someone kills her.   I do not want to give spoilers, saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

The Lady Has A Past was a wonderful exciting, intense, enthralling suspenseful story, with a bit of romance, great couple, as well as having a slight paranormal element.  Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything in this glamorous historical world of 1930’s.  I suggest you start this series from the beginning to enjoy the setting of this series, as well as meet some very good characters. However, each book does read very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Amanda Quick and Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of THE LADY HAS A PAST to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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