Blurb Blitz, Review & Giveaway for Eye Spy by Jenna Mattison

Welcome to my stop on Jenna Mattison’s Blurb Blitz Tour for Eye Spy.  Please leave a comment or question for Jenna to let her know you stopped by.  Jenna will be awarding one digital copy of Eye Spy to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop. You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.  Please leave your email address with your comment so that Jenna can notify you if you are the winner.

Eye Spy

By Jenna Mattison

Liza Radley Housewife Detective Chronicles, Book 1

Publisher: Rochester Books

Release Date: July 9, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Comedic Mystery

Available At:  Amazon

Book Description:

When Liza Radley realizes it’s cheatin’ season and no self-respecting detective’s gonna spy on her husband for the $800 and change she has hidden in a plastic soap dish, she does what any normal transplanted Georgia Peach would do--she becomes a private eye. While downing her fourth maple-glazed curbside, Liza discovers “Eye Spy”, a shop for the self-motivated sleuth in the heart of Boston.

Inspiration strikes and she enters the world of Jack Parella, the owner/operator who talks like Humphrey Bogart but with a Southie accent and is more than willing to train Liza in the ways of amateur sleuthing, while simultaneously infuriating and titillating her. Though Liza starts the journey intending to rebuild her crumbling suburban life, she finds herself thrust into a fiery mystery as head of "Crimes of the Heart Detective Agency" with Parella by her side. Thus our dynamic duo is primed for their next adventure.

Excerpt:

Speak of the devil, Mr. Cocky Parella himself saunters in from the back room vigorously chomping, half a sub sandwich in hand. The moment he spots me a goofy grin crosses his face.

      

“Of all the spy shops in the world she had to walk into mine.” He utters this with his mouth full so it’s even more ridiculous.

      

I roll my eyes, of course, but I can’t help but let a small grin escape. He is a bit charming, I guess. And damn, can he fill out a pair of jeans.

      

Yumm.

      

“What’s up, doll?”

      

“I need some sort of listening device. Something small that I can put in a coat pocket or something.” 

      

He eyes the ratty wig dangling from my fingers and cocks a brow.

      

“Oh, and I also want to return this.”

      

As I drop the mangled black hairball on the counter, I immediately regret my decision. Jack lets out a chuckle. I quickly grab the unsightly wig and tuck it back into my satchel.

      

“Umm, actually… never mind. I’m just going to keep it…for like Halloween or something.”

      

“Yeah, you do that. Now I can definitely help you with the audio surveillance. How much you wanna spend?”

      

“How much do I have to spend?” We lock eyes for a moment and he gives me that wry smirk again.

      

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll give you the hot broad discount.”

      

Butterflies and dirty tingles.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Mattison started her career in Chicago appearing on television and radio.  She founded founded Cheshire Smile Productions, bringing to life and penning her first feature film FISH WITHOUT A BICYCLE, a festival winning coming of age comedy which was directed by Brian Austin Green.   “Fish” is now available on Netflix. Mattison also wrote Cheshire’s second release THE THIRD WISH now available at Blockbuster and distributed by the Hallmark Channel.

Lionsgate’s FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY, based on a true story of Jewish gangsters set in the 1970’s starring James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Edward Furlong and Jeffrey Tambor was also produced and written by Mattison.   Most recently Jenna has written a TV movie called COMMITTED, which wrapped production this spring to premiere on television this fall. Her novel The Tree Of Jesse is a romantic religious thriller and will be released this spring, available worldwide. Mattison next novel is Eye Spy the first in a comedic romantic suspense series available this summer. 

Website: http://jennamattison.net/

My Review

Part comedy, part mystery, Eye Spy by Jenna Mattison is a fun; contemporary tale of a married woman who finds out her husband’s a cheater and somehow ends up becoming a private detective.  With likable characters, witty dialogue and a good supporting cast, Ms. Mattison’s book had me turning the pages from beginning to end.  While there is a small mystery, it’s the comedy in the book that not only had me laughing out loud but made me fall in love with the characters. 

The wife of a podiatrist, Liza Radley can’t believe her friends think her husband’s cheating on her.  Just to prove them wrong, Liza decides to hire a private detective to spy on him.  Only she can’t afford the $5000 retainer fee.  Deciding to do it herself, after all how hard could it be, Liza ends up at Eye Spy, a store specializing in electronic surveillance equipment.  Shocked when her friends turn out to be right, Liza finds herself filling for divorce and helping another woman check up on her husband.

Jack Parella was forced to give up his badge as a Boston detective due to an injury received in the line of duty.  Running a store specializing in surveillance equipment is his way of staying on touch with his “cop” roots.  Attracted to a client who’s determined to prove her husband is not a cheater, Jack is both saddened and relieved when Liza discovers her husband is a looser; he’s relieved she’s going to be free and available but saddened to realize she now thinks every man is a cheating looser.  Determined to prove her wrong, Jack agrees to be partners on a case she took on while in his store. 

The scenes between Liza and Jack are a riot.  They have great verbal give and take, and it’s really fun watching a former cop, who’s a big fan of film noir, chatting it up with a woman mostly stuck in the 80’s.  It helps that Liza is completely hopeless when it comes to using verbal clichés and always gets them wrong.  Ms. Mattison does an excellent job developing both characters, separately and together, and it’s great to watch Liza realize she had given up on her dreams and desires for someone else.  Watching her sort of fall back in love with herself and with her ideas was really great.

Will Liza and Jack prove their client’s husband is faithful or a cheater?  Will Liza realize she wants to be a “private eye” for real?  You’ll have to read Private Eye to find out, I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to reading what Ms. Mattison puts these characters through next.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns

FTC Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I did not receive any additional compensation for my opinion of the reading material provided.  

Don't forget to leave a comment or question for Jenna to let her know you stopped by.  Jenna will be awarding one digital copy of Eye Spy to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop. You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.  Please leave your email address with your comment so that Jenna can notify you if you are the winner.