Showing posts with label Trouble in Paradise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trouble in Paradise. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

On the Take in Waikiki by Terry Ambrose

On the Take in Waikiki

Book Summary

On the Take in Waikiki by Terry Ambrose has Wilson McKenna looking forward to his upcoming wedding to Benni Kapono.  The last thing McKenna wants to get involved in is a case.  Unfortunately, fate has other plans for him.  Benni has McKenna attend a lecture with her given by Sue Ito where McKenna made the mistake of drifting off (the first of several bad moves on his part).  After the talk, McKenna learns that Sue is worried about her father, Kenji Ito who seems to have disappeared.  A reluctant McKenna along with an eager Chance Logan begin making inquiries the next day at Kinohi Village which is Kenji’s pet project.   Kinohi Village will provide housing for families who do not have homes plus help them find jobs, provide daycare, and give them a community.  During McKenna and Chance’s queries, the begin to hear that Kenji may not have been the upstanding businessman they thought.  There are rumors of shoddy workmanship, payoffs, underhanded dealings, and a ruthless demeaner.  When Kenji is found murdered, McKenna worries that he and Chance may be in over their heads on this investigation.  When not investigating or working on wedding plans, McKenna is trying to lease a vacant apartment.  He cannot believe some of the candidates, and McKenna wonders if he will ever find a decent tenant.  Will McKenna get his happily ever after with Benni?

My Thoughts

On the Take in Waikiki by Terry Ambrose is the tenth novel in the Trouble in Paradise series.  I thought On the Take in Waikiki was well-written with developed characters.  Wilson McKenna is a unique character.  I find him to be realistic with his attitude and demeanor.  The former skip tracer manages the apartment building where he lives with his beautiful fiancé, Benni Kapono.  They are getting married in one week and McKenna is trying to keep a special secret from Benni.  McKenna finds himself roped into investigating a missing businessman with Chance Logan.  The mystery was intriguing. The author upped his game with this whodunit.  It was a complex mystery with unexpected twists and a good reveal.  I enjoyed following McKenna and Chance on their investigation.  I could not wait to see if I had pegged the killer or not (I had doubts which is unusual for me).  There is humor sprinkled throughout the story as McKenna tries to find a new tenant for the vacant apartment.  Some of the applicants were doozies.  I could not wait for the wedding between Benni and McKenna.  Benni is a special woman (she must be to put up with McKenna) who complements McKenna.  While On the Take in Waikiki could be read on its own, I recommend reading the series in order or at least Photo Finish for background information on Wilson McKenna.  You would be confused in the beginning of the book until the needed details on McKenna are provided. I enjoyed reading On the Take in Waikiki especially the heartwarming ending.  On the Take in Waikiki is a stimulating cozy mystery with mayhem, murder, and matrimony with McKenna in Waikiki.

On the Take in Waikiki is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other Trouble in Paradise novels here.  All the books in the series can be borrowed through Kindle Unlimited.  Check out Terry Ambrose's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am reviewing The Amish Midwife's Hope by Barbara Cameron.  It is the first book in A Hearts of Lancaster County series.   I hope that you have enriching day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

The Scent of Waikiki by Terry Ambrose plus a Giveaway!


Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Satori (July 19, 2018)
Print Length: 330 pages
ASIN: B07CZ3B389

About the Author

Terry Ambrose is a former skip tracer who tracked down deadbeats for a living. He’s long since turned his talents to writing mysteries and thrillers. Several of his books have been award finalists and in 2014 his thriller, “Con Game,” won the San Diego Book Awards for Best Action-Thriller. He likes cool photography, funny mysteries, and finding the oddest things while walking on the beach.
Author Links:


The Scent of Waikiki can be purchased on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.


The Scent of Waikiki by Terry Ambrose is the ninth novel in Trouble in Paradise series.  Wilson McKenna is working on wedding plans with his fiancé, Benni Kapono at the Sunsetter Apartments where he is the manager.  Grace Takahashi stops by with a serious problem.  She was taken advantage of by a scam artist and is unable to pay her rent.  Grace is savvy in marketing and wanted to purchase a sales display kit for the soon-to-be released Primal perfume.  The day after paying for the kit, her bank account was cleaned out (and she did not get the fictional kit).  McKenna has a dilemma.  He promised Benni he was done fixing other people’s problems, but he does not want to see Grace taken advantage of by this scam artist nor does he wish to evict her. McKenna decides to turn it over to Chase Logan who is working on to obtain his PI license.  When Chase discovers that Primal is made by Island Passion owned by Skye Pilkington-Winchester, he needs McKenna by his side for the visit (no man should visit this woman alone). Skye is not forthcoming, but her assistant is helpful.  The next after tracking down the scam artist, they learn that Skye’s assistant, Angela is dead.  It seems that this case is more complicated than McKenna originally thought.  There is something rotten in Waikiki and it is not just the perfume.   Can McKenna and Chase pick up the scent of the killer and recover Grace’s money?

The Scent of Waikiki is the ninth installment in Trouble in Paradise series and I do not recommend starting with this book.  I believe it is best to read the series in order.  I found the book to be nicely written and to have a steady pace.  There are beautiful descriptions of the island which included the gorgeous weather, the mountains, the ocean and, of course, the beach.  The story has a laid-back feel to it which goes with the island lifestyle.  I liked the humor that is incorporated into the story (the story will have you chuckling).  The mystery is intriguing with the disappearing perfume, a dead woman, a scam artist and a missing suspect.  The author provides misdirection to throw us off the track of the real killer.  McKenna finds himself drawn into the case and neglecting his wedding plans which upsets his fiancé, Benni.  I did not understand why Benni wanted to know all the details of the case and would get upset with McKenna (she does want him to help Grace).  I would have preferred less romance (which means wedding planning, bickering, etc.) and more mystery (just my personal preference).  Relax on a lounge chair next to the pool with a tropical drink and embark on a Hawaiian adventure in The Scent of Waikiki.  The Scent of Waikiki is available on Kindle Unlimited through Amazon.

If you are looking for a charming cozy mystery series, check out Terry Ambrose's A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery series.   Please take the time to enter the giveaway above or you can click here.  Thank you for visiting today.  I hope you take the time to visit the other stops on the Great Escapes The Scent of Waikiki Tour (see below).  I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader
TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 25 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

July 26 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

July 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

July 27 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

July 28 – Laura's Interests – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 29 – T's Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

July 30 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

July 30 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

July 31 - Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST


July 31 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 1 - Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

August 1 - Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 2 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

August 3 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW

August 3 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 3 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 4 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

August 5 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 6 – My Reading Journeys - REVIEW, GUEST POST

August 7 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST