Review - - The Usual Family Mayhem

The Usual Family Mayhem

by HelenKay Dimon

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors—her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags’ Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in “best friend” Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal…and now she has a problem.

Mags and Celia aren’t interested, which isn’t a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they’re hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business.

As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia’s nephew and Kasey’s long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey’s boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands—even if those husbands deserve it—might be impossible…but Kasey never shied away from a challenge. 

PJ's Thoughts:

I had high expectations for this book. Dimon's first novel in this vein, Moorewood Family Rules (read my review), was one of my top books of 2023. While The Usual Family Mayhem didn't quite reach that level for me, it was still a very enjoyable read. 

I loved the relationship Kasey has with her grandmother and Celia; the unconditional love the two women have for a young woman who is still trying to find her path. Those two are sharp cookies. It's hard to put anything over on them, though Kasey tries her darndest. In the end, though, it's Gram and Celia who show it's never wise to underestimate two white-haired ladies or what they might be hiding behind those sweet smiles. 

I enjoyed Jackson's character a lot. I found him to be interesting, endearing, and multi-layered. I appreciated his honesty but also his loyalty and how far he was willing to go to support those he loves. Kasey, on the other hand, is a clueless - but lovable - mess. She creates much of the drama in the book but has good intentions at her core. 

If you enjoy a madcap cozy mystery that features dysfunctional family (Jackson's), supportive family (Kasey's), humor, finding one's path, murder (or is it?), female empowerment, dispensing justice, and a sprinkle of romance, give The Usual Family Mayhem a try.  

Review & Giveaway - - Moorewood Family Rules

Moorewood Family Rules: A Novel

by HelenKay Dimon

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: April 25, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

One day a con man met an heiress, wooed her, married her, had two kids…and kept on conning. Jillian Moorewood is the oldest child from that meet-cute-gone-wrong marriage. The stable one. The sensible and dependable one. The one who protects and fixes. The one who went to prison to save their sorry butts. Now, thirty-nine months later, she’s out and she’s more than a little pissed.

Finally home she finds the scheming clan in full family fleecing mode. They all claim they didn’t really agree to Jillian’s previous go-legit-or-else ultimatum before she went away. They viewed it as a “suggestion” then ignored it. So, business as usual. But Jillian is done with the lies and fakery. She demands the whole messed-up crew clean up its act, and this time she’s not kidding—she has the leverage to make it happen.

Problem is, her life is in shambles, but with the help of a great aunt (crooked but loveable), a bodyguard (who is a nice surprise after three years in prison), and a few allies (all working undercover), Jillian starts to put her life back together. She kicks out a few mooching relatives living under her roof, sets limits on everyone’s access to the money, ducks from their various attacks, and sees if that bodyguard is maybe interested in sticking around for a while. For the first time, she’s Jillian Moorewood, her own woman, and she’s ready to figure out who she is. 

PJ's Thoughts:

I gobbled up this book like a bag of Peanut M&M's after a 40-day fast. Would I want to be part of this dysfunctional (dare I say, murderous?) family of con artists in real life? Absolutely not! But, in the capable hands of HelenKay Dimon, and a fictional story I happily immersed myself in, I couldn't get enough of them. These characters are fascinating. Each and every one of them has so many intriguing layers, keeping me off balance, wondering which - and on whose - side they would land. Some are obvious. Others, not so much. All of them keep the story moving forward at a brisk pace, skillfully guided by their creator through a myriad of twists and turns that kept me eagerly flipping pages to see what would happen next. And when I reached the end, somewhere around 3:00 AM? The first thing I wanted to do was go back to page one and read it all over again to soak in all of the clever lines, unexpected detours, and subtle nuances I may have missed the first time through. This is one I know I'll be reading again. It checked all of my happy reader boxes.

Moorewood Family Rules is quirky, twisty, cringey, laugh-out-loud fun. If you've seen Knives Out or Glass Onion (A Knives Out Mystery), it has that same vibe. In fact, the publisher describes it as "Knives Out and Ocean’s 8 meets The Nest." I would agree. 

I don't know if Dimon plans to write any more books in this vein but I can guarantee that if she does I'll be first in line to buy them. Moorewood Family Rules is one of the most entertaining books I've read this year. I enthusiastically recommend adding it to your summer reading list. And, for you happily-ever-after romance fans, yes, there is a love interest for our heroine. And he's pretty yummy. 

~~~~~~~~~

Because I've gushed so much about this book and want to share it with everyone, Avon has very generously offered a print, trade-size copy of Moorewood Family Rules for today's giveaway. So, tell me...

Have you read anything by HelenKay Dimon?

Do you enjoy twisty, quirky stories that bring the suspense but also keep you laughing?

Have you seen any of the movies referenced above?

What's the most entertaining book you've read so far this year?

One person, randomly chosen, who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, April 29 will receive the print copy of Moorewood Family Rules. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Secret She Keeps

The Secret She Keeps
by HelenKay Dimon
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: December 30, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
  

No matter where you run to…

Connor Rye seeks solace on remote Whitaker Island. When his first quiet evening ends with a blow to the head, it’s clear that nothing—and no one—is as it seems. Still haunted by his sister’s murder, he’s buried himself in work while trying to hold his family together. Now, when he has a minute to breathe, he knows better than to get involved with a stranger, but it might be too late to keep his distance.

Desire will find you...

For years she’s pretended to be someone else, but Maddie Rhine is done living in the shadows. Old habits are hard to kick however, and when her past follows her to Whitaker she’s forced to hide once more. Except with Connor. Effortlessly sexy Connor makes it difficult to ignore him. He sees right through her…and senses her fear.

Someone is watching her. And waiting for the right moment to strike. This time Connor vows to be ready.

PJ's Thoughts:

Connor Rye is a protector. Following his sister's death, he stepped in to take care of his family, and the family business, but he's never faced his own grief or (misplaced) guilt over his sister's murder at the hands of her husband. Now, at his family's insistence, he's on a small island in the Pacific Northwest and, instead of the peace they were hoping he'd find, he's smack-dab in the middle of something far more dangerous.

Maddie Rhine is hiding from the dangers of her past and a remote cabin on a remote island seems the perfect place to do it. Maddie has been careful to maintain both anonymity and distance from the island's residents but when Connor arrives, a miscalculation on her part changes her carefully laid plans. Now she finds herself more and more exposed to the other people on Whitaker, and the danger that is far closer than she realizes.

I adored these two. Following their unexpected - and unconventional - introduction, sparks fly. So do bullets, firewood, and various articles of clothing. Their chemistry sizzles, the emotional connection that develops, unexpected to both, and the eventual coming together between a man who's a natural protector and a woman who is determined to save herself, so much fun to watch. There's plenty of danger, suspense, and some heart-wrenching emotion in Maddie and Connor's journey but Dimon tempers it with rapid-fire banter, well-placed humor, and a cadre of quirky island residents who keep everyone on their toes. As for the mystery, I figured out the villain's identity pretty early on but knowing that didn't lessen my involvement in the story as I still had no idea of the person's motivation or how events would eventually play out.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, romantic suspense story with quirky characters, plenty of danger, and an emotional journey that will have you laughing, crying, gasping, and gripping the edge of your seat, give HelenKay Dimon's The Secret She Keeps a try. I also recommend book one of this series: Her Other Secret (read my review here). You don't have to read them in order but it is fun to watch the evolution of other residents on Whitaker Island. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series and hoping it might star the island's law enforcement officer and a newly arrived mystery woman. 


Where would you go if you wanted to get away from it all? Mountains? Beach? A remote island in the Pacific Northwest?

One randomly chosen person who comments before 11:00 PM (Eastern), January 10, 2020, will receive a print copy of The Secret She Keeps. 

*U.S. only
*Must be 18 or older.

Review - - Her Other Secret

Her Other Secret
by HelenKay Dimon
Whitaker Island Series - Book 1
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

Is it the perfect escape?

Whitaker Island is more than a getaway. For Tessa Jenkins, the remote strip of land in Washington state is a sanctuary. Fleeing from a shattering scandal, she has a new name, a chance at a new beginning, and a breathtaking new view: Hansen Rye. It’s hard not to crush on Whitaker’s hottest handyman. At six-foot-three and all kinds of fine, he’s also intensely private—and the attraction between them soon simmers dangerously out of control.

…or a private trap for two lovers?

After a devastating family tragedy, Hansen finds the pebbled shores of the faraway island to be an ideal refuge. Letting down his guard for the sexy, impulsive Tessa is an unexpected pleasure. But there’s another newcomer to Whitaker. He’s no stranger to Hansen. And when he’s murdered, the crime casts a threatening shadow. As suspicion falls on Hansen, all his secrets are about to collide with Tessa’s. Now the pasts they were determined to outrun are catching up to them. So is a killer who’s putting their love—and their lives—on the line.

My thoughts:

HelenKay Dimon launches her newest series with this twisty tale that's sure to appeal to lovers of mystery and romance alike. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Dimon's remote Whitaker Island is a perfect refuge for people seeking to leave their secrets behind. But when someone's past decides to pay a visit that results in murder, nobody's secrets are safe. In fact, nobody on Whitaker Island may be safe, period. 

I love a good whodunit with quirky characters, multiple mystery threads, amateur sleuths, and an assortment of potential villains, all of which Her Other Secret has in spades. I immediately felt an affinity with Tessa and her impulsive, inquisitive nature. As for Hansen...let's just say that a sexy, grumpy, man of few words, with a hot body and hidden emotional wounds is one who will always hold my attention. He's a bit of a jerk in the early stages of the book but, not to worry. He steps up, thaws very nicely under Tessa's care, and by the end of the book, I had fallen for him just as hard as she did.

There are multiple mystery threads running through this story. One I figured out early on while the other took me longer but while solving them lessened the suspense a bit for me, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the rest of the story, especially the evolution of Tessa's and Hansen's relationship. There are also intriguing secondary characters and multiple mystery threads - Who really owns the island? How is Sylvia connected to them? And, what's up with  Maddie and Ben? - that I'm looking forward to learning more about as the series progresses.

I will definitely be tuning in for book number two!

Where would you go if you were trying to outrun secrets or scandal? Personally, I think I'd opt for something a little more tropical than Washington State.

One person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, June 29, will receive a print copy of Her Other Secret. (U.S. only) 

WINNERS, WINNERS, EVERYWHERE!

Congratulations to the following winners from recent blogs:

Katie Porter's winner is Karyn Gerrard!

HelenKay Dimon's winner is our final commenter of the day, Cathy P!

Maggie Robinson's winner is Ellen Thompson!  

Ladies, please send your name and mailing address to theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your books.  Thanks!

Today's Special - - HelenKay Dimon

It's our pleasure to welcome HelenKay Dimon to the Romance Dish today!  This multi-published, award-winning author took several other careers for test drives before settling into full-time writing.  Following time spent in journalism, politics and divorce law, HelenKay now scripts happy endings for a living.  HelenKay writes contemporary romance novels, many of which have an element of suspense.  Her most recent release, LEAN ON ME, is the second book in her Holloway small town contemporary romance series.  

Find more information about HelenKay at her website and connect with her at Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Please give her a warm welcome!

Thank you for having me here today to talk about my newest release, LEAN ON ME.  It just came out, so I'm thrilled to talk about it.

I'm going to tell you a little secret…I like talking about this book, specifically this heroine, Cassidy, because I can pretend (for a second) to have her bravery. See, she's a Himalayan mountain climber.  Well, she was until an illness sidelined her high-altitude mountaineering career.  Her goal was to be the first U.S. woman to climb all fourteen of the highest peaks in the world. 

When it comes to heights, my goal is to get to the top of a step ladder without melting into a puddle of tears.  Yes, I am terrified of heights.  Actually, is there a word that's stronger than terrified?  Whatever that word is, that's what I am.  With this fear it's hard to believe that in high school I was a member of a high adventure explorer group. I blame my then best friend, Missy, for convincing me to join the group.  Missy was the fearless one.  Even now, she a forester and fights forest fires in her off time. By the way, go ahead and add fires to the list of things that scare the crap out of me.  Anyway…as part of this group we went caving, camping, hiking, kayaking and a whole bunch of –ing things that the grown-up me is stunned she once did.

Reading LEAN ONE ME, you'll see the hero, Mitch, has trouble with heights. He's a guy so he doesn't admit to things like being terrified. But he doesn't like them and I feel his pain. There's a scene where he sees the Cassidy on a ladder and is panicked for her, never mind the woman once climbed Mount Everest. Take a look:

"You should not be crawling around up there. You could fall or slide."

She didn't show any signs of moving. Didn't even come down a step. "I'm standing on a ladder, not hanging off a cliff by a rope."

That visual image made his stomach flip. "On the fourth step."

Those dark eyes widened. "Mitch, are you afraid of heights?"

"Did I use the word fear?"

"I did, but it was an educated guess based on the color of your face and wild terror in your eyes."

As far as he was concerned, this was a matter of common sense not fear. "I'm not scared of anything. But if I were, plunging to my death would be at the top of the list."

And if you need proof that I was once this high-adventure queen, you can look here – I'm in the left front (but please ignore my taste in hairstyles and clothes – it was the 80s after all).

HelenKay is giving a digital copy of LEAN ON ME to one randomly selected person leaving a comment on today's blog. (Open to everyone!)  So tell us, dear readers, are you a high adventure queen, able to climb high mountains...or to the fourth step of a ladder?  Or do you prefer to leave the adventure seeking to the characters in the books you read?