Cowabunga Christmas!
Series: Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery, #1
By: Anna Celeste Burke
ISBN: 1517347785 (ISBN13: 9781517347789)
Author’s Website: http://www.desertcitiesmystery.com/
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Synopsis:
It’s a Cowabunga Christmas in Corsario Cove for newlyweds, Kim and Brien. Surf’s up at the exclusive resort they’ve chosen as their honeymoon destination. The Sanctuary Resort and Spa at Corsario Cove has everything: a spectacular location with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, luxurious accommodations, 5-star cuisine, spa services, and a staff that aims to anticipate and meet your every need. A romantic midnight swim in the Club Level terrace pool changes everything when an unexpected guest drops in wearing a Santa Suit with a couple bullet holes in it! Who killed Santa? Kim and Brien are soon swept up in murder and mayhem trying to unravel the mystery.
Review:
Cowabunga Christmas! is another fine book by Anna Celeste Burke!!! In addition, it is a wonderful start to the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery series. I must admit I find the writing of Ms. Burke easy to get into and once I start one of her books, it is very difficult to put it down.
Brien and Kim are two characters from Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series by Ms. Burke. I have always chuckled when I read about Brien’s antics, so I did come in to this new series with some expectations. He was always a bit goofy (some would even say immature with a lack of smarts), but dumb he is not, he is a hard worker and he has the biggest heart. I found the tie in to the Jessica Huntington series well done, though I must admit if I had not read the other series first, the reference to Kim’s previous life with Mr. P might have been a tad confusing (though not really a big deal).
Kim and Brien are on their honeymoon in California during the Christmas holiday season. During a late night swim in the pool a Santa drops into the pool – a dead Santa! Now doesn’t that just put a damper on ones honeymoon! So what’s a honeymoon without a bit of detective work trying to help the local constabulary solve the mystery of the dead Santa? The evolution of the relationship that Kim and Brien had with Detective Mitchum was interesting to follow. In the beginning there was frustration on the part of the detective towards the Brien and Kim. But then, this was to be expected after all as Detective Mitchum had a murder to solve during this holiday season.
One of my favourite parts of the story was when Kim and Brien went surfing. I really loved how supportive Brien was of Kim’s novice attempts at surfing. To me it really showed his loving nature towards his wife as well as his love of the sport.
I found the numerous descriptions of the local terrain really made me visualize and feel like I was there – for example:
“The cove was awash in brilliant sunlight, mesmerizing as it played on waves that broke into frothy chaos when they hit the beach.”
There were many possible suspects and numerous twists and turns (and let’s not forget….MANY Santa’s), which definitely added to my enjoyment of the story. Happily, it took until the reveal at the end of the book for me to conclusively know “whodunit”. Just the way I like my mysteries. 🙂
Thank you Anna Celeste Burke for writing yet another engaging and entertaining cozy mystery! I will wait with baited breath for the next installment in this new series……or for any other story you wish to pen.
Wow! Thanks so much for this lovely review! It is thoughtful and funny. I enjoyed reading it very much. I’m glad you like Brien and Kim–it was fun for me to construct a rosy future for the two of them. There are still more bumps in the road, of course, with more adventures in Corsario Cove and Palm Springs. Cheers! Anna Celeste Burke