"Chipper private investigative romance"

In Chester County, Pennsylvania, private sleuths Stella Valoccchi and her former fiancé Jake Carpenter lie in a pigsty waiting to reposses a toy Santa, a sleigh and reindeer from drug kingpin Joey "Smack" Spagnazi, the self proclaimed Santa. A shotgun blast sends Stella and Jake fleeing with a partial load that will have to satisfy their client the Lifetime Novelty Company. The toy Santa flies off their truck as there was no time to tie it down causing the vehicle chasing them to crash. Stella takes Jake, who was shot to the hospital.

Mia Lange wants Stella and company to find her brother who, like her, was adopted years ago. She explains that her biological sister, adopted by a third family, contacted her with the need of a kidney transplant, but Mia is not a match. Though Jake is ready to go to hell for the beautiful Mia, Stella thinks something just is not right about the case, but the money is good. Meanwhile Joey Smack and his thugs stalk Stella, her family, and Jake.

The sequel to STELLA GET YOUR GUN is a fun private investigative romance that stars a wild dysfunctional but likable cast with Stella thinking she is the lead. The investigation is cleverly handled so that Stella gains an inch but loses a foot with each clue. Jake wants to be more than just her employee as he wants to be her partner in life, but knows Valocchi is suspicious of everyone especially Jake perhaps because she is a former cop. Nancy Bartholomew gets plenty of readers with her Stella Gets New Jersey tales.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted December 27, 2004