Auntie M has been showcasing UK authors you to investigate, and now she turns her focus to home. Georgia author Maggie Toussaint is a trained scientist who loves a good puzzle, which is why she tackles mysteries in addition to writing romantic and contemporary suspense novels.
Of interest to note is one of Toussaint’s romantic suspense novel, No Second Chance, whose proceeds benefit Day’s End Farm Horse Rescue in Lisbon, MD, which rescues horses from all over the country.
One to look for on Amazon.com or in Barnes & Noble is Toussaint’s second Cleopatra Jones novel, On the Nickel.
In For A Penny introduced single mother Cleopatra Jones an avid-but-awful golfer and competent accountant, who lives in rural Maryland and has an engaging family life. On the Nickel is the second in this series, and finds Cleo is watching over her hugely pregnant St. Bernard, two teenaged daughters, and her strong-willed mother, all while trying to contend with a new love in her life and an ex-husband who wants her back.
As if that wasn’t enough drama for any woman to handle, her mother becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, when Mama’s church-lady rival, Erica Hodges, is run over with a car–several times. Then Cleo finds a huge dent in Mama’s Olds, and Mama refuses to discuss her movements on the night in question.
Toussaint gets all the points right: love-able but demanding teenagers; the push from an ex wanting a second chance; the pull of an exciting new love; even the behind-the-scenes hierarchy and drama of Southern churchwomen groups.
This is perfect for summer reading, with its lighthearted, balanced storyline combining more than a hint of romance, as Cleo scrambles find the real murderer of Erica Hodges, and all before her St. Bernard delivers those puppies!
Maggie Toussaint is a member of numerous organizations including Sisters in Crime. To learn more about her and her other novels, visit: http://www.maggietousssaint.com.
[…] more from the original source: On the Nickel: Maggie Toussaint « Auntiemwrites's Weblog Related Posts:Maggie Wolfendale brings horse background to NYRA broadcast team …Horse Rescue […]
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Thanks for the great review. I’m glad you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. As a woman who raised and survived two teenaged daughters, plus knowing a thing or two about churchwomen, this story almost wrote itself.
I admire Cleo’s fearlessness and sense of balance in a world gone crazy. I’m not always able to keep such a level head!
Thanks again!
Maggie Toussaint
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Yes, you got it right! I am one of Maggie’s avid supporters, and ordered both her Cleopatra Jones books for our library. And….I direct people to them–“Oh, I see you chose a mystery. Do you like cozy mysteries, with a little Southern charm and humor? You do???? Well, look at this one….” Oh, I’m such a good ptich person. Once, I had In For a Penny in my hand holding it out to two women, explaining, and one reached out a took it.. the other one said, “wait…I was going to read it.” Yep.
Good going, Maggie, and this review was really very nice! Celia
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I thoroughly enjoyed On The Nickle. And I want a St. Bernard puppy!!
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Wonderful review. It appears that your characters have as much fun with the story as you, do, Maggie. This one has been on my list of books to read, and I might just have to push it up closer to the top. So many books and so little time. SIgh….
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