A Bundle of Deceit by Stacey Watts ~ review

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Class Act Books (2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1938703162
• ISBN-13: 978-1938703164

This book is also available as an ebook.

It was a string of bad luck and unfortunate circumstances that led Lucy Jennings to show interest in the two grandmothers that sat across from her desk. Six months ago Lucy discovered her boyfriend in bed with her best friend, and promptly decided that a major lifestyle change was in order. She dumped her steady job as a Police Officer, and opened up her own Private Investigation Agency. The only thing the ladies could offer her was $250 and a letter from The Wishful Hearts Adoption Agency. The elderly ladies seemed to think the Agency had something to do with their grandson and his family's sudden disappearance, and Lucy knew a couple of phone calls would clear up the matter quite nicely. A simple visit to Wishful Hearts, however, turns this minor blurb in the newspaper to front page headlines and the office manager, Duncan Michels, turns her world upside down with his stunning good looks and flirty behavior. Thrust into a scandal that sees the death of a key witness and blackmail in the highest parts of city government, Lucy must protect a young family and a man she would prefer not to fall head over heels in love with in A Bundle of Deceit.

My take on this book:

After finding her boyfriend of ten years in bed with her best friend Lucy Jennings has had enough. She dumps the boyfriend, thing is she was a police officer and said boyfriend was her partner. Was being the key word because Lucy decides to quit her job along with dumping the cheating boyfriend and become a Private Eye. Cases are slow and money is becoming scarce when she gets a case that involves a missing couple who has just had a baby, the only thing to go on is a letter from Wishful Hearts Adoption Agency, seems like the couple might have given there baby up for adoption. Easy case, well not so much when Lucy realizes that something fishy is going on at the Adoption agency, and it involves someone in town government. Lucy hopes that she might be able to convince Duncan Michels the office manager to provide a few answers. Lucy quickly finds herself with a bundle of problems in "A Bundle of Deceit" when someone winds up dead! Can Lucy solve the case before she  becomes the next victim?

Stacey Watts certainly knew how to hook me from the get go! The writing is visually stimulating,  allowing me to easily picture the action that goes on! She creates a fantastic main character with Lucy Jennings, who is actually carrying some hurts from her childhood that causes her to be a bit guarded which makes her a very likable character.Her mindset over being cheated on was spot on. Her sharp wit is laced with just the right amount of humor. Romance was the last thing she really wanted, but the spark turns into a flame between her and Duncan! Creative plot twists really kept the momentum going making for a page turning read. Ms. Watts blends together just the right amount of humor in this action packed, romance laced, baby selling, who dun it of a murder mystery to keep me guessing who the bad guy was. The ending was something I really didn't see coming and truthfully I didn't figure out the mystery until the author revealed it, something that doesn't happen often! I will caution there are a few sexual situations, but they are very tastefully done. Anyone who enjoys a good, suspense filled, mystery will certainly enjoy "A Bundle of Deceit."  Ms. Watts certainly left me hoping that I will see Lucy Jennings solving another mystery soon!

Reviewed for Readersfavorite.com