Book Review
Dangerous Changes
by Joyce T Strand
(An Emily Lazzaro Mystery)
NEW RELEASE….
A series of events rattle Emily Lazzaro: a near-death encounter with a pickup on a narrow mountain road, the murder of a would-be client, and an ex-fiancé who won’t let go. Can she survive a police investigation, pressure from her ex’s company, and the suspicions of a possible new love-interest—so that she can make the changes to create a meaningful new life in a special town in southern California?
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About Emily Lazzaro
Emily Lazzaro is the daughter of Wayne Lazzaro, the winemaker for the Hilltop Sunset winery in the previously published three Brynn Bancroft mysteries. She moved with her fiancé to Ramona, Calif., a rural community near San Diego, following graduation from college with a degree in hospitality. Her fiancé was eager to purchase a vineyard and develop a winery in the up and coming Ramona wine region, which suited Emily’s goals.
However, after moving to Ramona, it becomes apparent to Emily that she is not a good match for her fiancé. She discovers that he does not respect her opinions and insists on making decisions without her input. So she breaks off the engagement.
She decides to remain in Ramona despite her fiancé living there with his new vineyard. She appreciates the unique rocky terrain and proximity to the ocean and San Diego, along with the mixture of fine wineries, artists, and equestrian activities. She makes her living doing people’s taxes, and when Dangerous Changes opens, we discover she is looking to make a career change.
Hubbie's Book Review
An excellent novel based around a fraudulent scheme and the real beauty of the book is the real capture of human emotions around the good old formula of trust.
As the main character has moved to start her life afresh, being a newbie in a close community she struggles with her conscious on whether to follow her heart or her head. The psyche portrayed by all the characters shows that the author has a deep understanding of what makes humans tick and the means they will go to achieve their own pursuits. With this in mind, as the plot unfolds, you as a reader are left guessing as to what path and who the heroine will turn to in the end.
Having read other Joyce Strand books I always think it is courageous of an author to create new story lines and characters away from those who have been so popular. In this she does not disappoint, a well written page turning novel with twists and turns with an attachment to human emotions make for a very good read indeed. Having short chapters gives the reader plenty of time to contemplate what is happening.
The strong message of this book is that in blind faith in those you trust can leave you in a position of desperation. Follow your instincts and not your heart.
An interesting read for any lover of thrillers and being tested mentally.
About the Author
An excellent novel based around a fraudulent scheme and the real beauty of the book is the real capture of human emotions around the good old formula of trust.
As the main character has moved to start her life afresh, being a newbie in a close community she struggles with her conscious on whether to follow her heart or her head. The psyche portrayed by all the characters shows that the author has a deep understanding of what makes humans tick and the means they will go to achieve their own pursuits. With this in mind, as the plot unfolds, you as a reader are left guessing as to what path and who the heroine will turn to in the end.
Having read other Joyce Strand books I always think it is courageous of an author to create new story lines and characters away from those who have been so popular. In this she does not disappoint, a well written page turning novel with twists and turns with an attachment to human emotions make for a very good read indeed. Having short chapters gives the reader plenty of time to contemplate what is happening.
The strong message of this book is that in blind faith in those you trust can leave you in a position of desperation. Follow your instincts and not your heart.
An interesting read for any lover of thrillers and being tested mentally.
Our Rating
About the Author
Joyce T. Strand is the author of who-done-it contemporary and historical mysteries set in San Francisco, Napa-Sonoma wine regions of California, or Ventura, California.
Her most recent novels, Overcast Sunset and Landscape for Murder, feature protagonist Brynn Bancroft, a financial guru in transition to winemaker from corporate executive. Brynn Bancroft is a minor character in Strand’s first three novels On Message, Open Meetings, and Fair Disclosure—three mysteries solved by Jillian Hillcrest, a publicist in Silicon Valley whose boss was Chief Financial Officer Brynn Bancroft.
Her first historical mystery, The Judge's Story, tells the story of a Superior Court Judge with a passion for social justice as well as the law who strives to discover the truth behind the mystery of a robbery-murder in a small California town in 1939.
All of her novels are inspired by actual events and/or real people, although they are definitely fictionalized.
Much like her protagonist Jillian Hillcrest, Strand headed corporate communications at several biotech and high-tech companies in California’s Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. Unlike Jillian, however, she did not encounter murder in her career. She focused on writing by-lined articles, press releases, white papers, and brochures to publicize her companies and their products.
She lives with her two cats and collection of cow statuary in Southern California, and enjoys exploring and writing about the growing wine region in the Ramona Valley near San Diego.
She received her Ph.D. from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and her B.A. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Find the author on the following sites....
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Sharon Martin
Blogger & Promoter at Beck Valley Books          |
I'd be happy to sit on my back deck and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMy ideal setting is anywhere quite away from other people.
ReplyDeleteI like to enjoy a glass of win in front of the fireplace.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
The ideal setting would be in a beachfront cabana.
ReplyDeleteI would like to enjoy a bottle of wine dining in Tuscany.
ReplyDeleteMy ideal setting for enjoying wine is actually my front porch!
ReplyDeleteI'd like one in front of a fire while the snow is coming down.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
My ideal setting for enjoying a glass of wine is at home with the guy I love, warming each other by the fireplace while it's snowing outside...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to read and review the first Emily Lazzaro mystery. I especially appreciate your appreciation of the characters as real people. I'm sure Emily will evolve into a stronger person in her next adventure.
ReplyDeleteI don't drink wine, but when I want to relax, I like to sit outside under a shaded tree.
ReplyDeleteLife as Leels says her twitter is suspended. Great giveaway with a frightening read. Mystery and suspense are good to a point, this one sounds thrilling in an evil way. Most will love it.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this book! It might make you think twice before you start to make massive changes in your life!!
ReplyDeleteI love a good thriller that makes you think!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really good book. My mother is into mystery type books and I think she would like this one.
ReplyDelete