Rose Strickland, diner waitress/amateur sleuth/righter of wrongs finds herself helping out a friend who's accused of putting her man in a coma. The cast of characters from [b:Diners, Dives & Dead Ends|13557115|Diners, Dives & Dead Ends (Rose Strickland Mystery, #1)|Terri L. Austin|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337113331s/13557115.jpg|19128852] return, though some not for long. Rose's determination is fierce, whether she's battling bad guys or handling changes at the diner that take an equal toll on her. And getting to watch how Rose handles her attraction to the hot, not-completely-on-the-up-and-up Sullivan adds an extra dimension to her. Go Rose Stickland!

Terri L. Austin's writing so so darn readable that I polished this off in a couple of hours. I highly recommend this series and hope there are more to come! ( )

Mystery

Last Diner Standing is another really fun read in Terri L. Austin's Rose Strickland Mystery series! (Click here for my review of Book 1, Diners, Dives & Dead Ends.)

{NOTE: Diners, Dives & Dead Ends has a surprise ending, and the surprise ending is mentioned at the beginning of Last Diner Standing. If you haven't read Diners, Dives & Dead Ends and you don't want the surprise ending spoiled, be sure to read it first, then read Last Diner Standing.}

Let's see.... What can I tell you about the book, that won't divulge any spoilers?

Last Diner Standing picks up about six weeks after Diners, Dives & Dead Ends concludes. Rose's co-workers, family members, and friends,that we met in the first book, return in this book. The reader gets to know some of these returning characters better, and meets some new characters in Last Diner Standing.

The title refers to the diner war that is getting starting when the book begins. Ma's Diner, where Rose works, has always been open 6am to 1pm, serving breakfast only. For 20 years, Rudy's Roundup Restaurant has never served breakfast -- until now. In retaliation, Ma is keeping the diner open until 3pm to serve lunch. The ensuing skirmishes are hilarious, as Ma and Rudy try to outdo each other. Does Rose save the day? Read the book, to find out!

Rose's friend Janelle, her study buddy and mother of two kids (nine and seven), is arrested for the attempted murder of her ex-husband. Rose finds an attorney for Janelle, but Janelle's attorney is more interested in cutting a plea deal for her with the DA (only two to six years in jail) than in truly defending her against the false charges.
● "When Axton went missing, you found him. Will you find out who put A$$hat in a coma?"
I hesitated. I'd had my fill of danger when I went looking for Axton. I was a boring girl now and that's the way I liked it.
"Please, Rose. I got to take care of my kids and I can't do that behind bars."
I looked into her worried eyes. "Okay." How could I say no?


Rose's crush on Sullivan has intensified, and she discovers evidence that there is a hit out on him.
● Sullivan sat behind a massive desk. Hotter than a bonfire on the fourth of July. Runner of an illegal gambling operation. Object of more than one erotic dream. He glanced up when the door opened and studied me with his gold eyes.
He was gorgeous. Warm, honeyed skin and strong cheekbones. Black hair brushed away from his flawless face. Yeah, gorgeous almost covered it.


● "Why would someone put a hit on you? Who did you piss off?"
He shrugged. "I have a successful business. If I'm out of the way, it's up for grabs."
His business? Illegal endeavors was more like it. Sullivan was a criminal. Period. Of course he would be a target for other criminals who wanted to move up the food chain. I forgot sometimes who he was, what he did.


● I was on my own in the A$$hat investigation. Sullivan had his own problems, but his new threat added to my worries. It was important to me that he was alive and well and involved in various criminal enterprises. Well, I wished he would get out of his various criminal enterprises and go legit. I cared about him.
Damn it, when did that happen?


Rose's mother continues her attempts to control and manipulate Rose. In this quote, at the Stricklands' Christmas party, Mrs Strickland introduces Rose to an eligible bachelor, telling them they "have similar jobs."
● "Tyler is a media consultant and you're in public relations.... Rosalyn works directly with customers for a small, family-owned firm."
She hated that I was a waitress. In her eyes, I was nothing but a failure. I knew she resented me for letting her down, for not living up to my potential.


There are a lot more scenes, situations, and juicy quotes that I would love to share with you, but they're spoilers, so you will just have to READ THE BOOK.

I loved it! and recommend Last Diner Standing to all Cozy Mystery fans!! Last Diner Standing is another Five-Kitty winner for Terri L. Austin!


[Originally published at JaneReads] ( )

Last Diner Standing is another really fun read in Terri L. Austin's Rose Strickland Mystery series!

{NOTE: Diners, Dives & Dead Ends has a surprise ending, and the surprise ending is mentioned at the beginning of Last Diner Standing. If you haven't read Diners, Dives & Dead Ends and you don't want the surprise ending spoiled, be sure to read it first, then read Last Diner Standing.}

Let's see.... What can I tell you about the book, that won't divulge any spoilers?

Last Diner Standing picks up about six weeks after Diners, Dives & Dead Ends concludes. Rose's co-workers, family members, and friends,that we met in the first book, return in this book. The reader gets to know some of these returning characters better, and meets some new characters in Last Diner Standing.

The title refers to the diner war that is getting starting when the book begins. Ma's Diner, where Rose works, has always been open 6am to 1pm, serving breakfast only. For 20 years, Rudy's Roundup Restaurant has never served breakfast -- until now. In retaliation, Ma is keeping the diner open until 3pm to serve lunch. The ensuing skirmishes are hilarious, as Ma and Rudy try to outdo each other. Does Rose save the day? Read the book, to find out!

Rose's friend Janelle, her study buddy and mother of two kids (nine and seven), is arrested for the attempted murder of her ex-husband. Rose finds an attorney for Janelle, but Janelle's attorney is more interested in cutting a plea deal for her with the DA (only two to six years in jail) than in truly defending her against the false charges.
● "When Axton went missing, you found him. Will you find out who put Asshat in a coma?"
I hesitated. I'd had my fill of danger when I went looking for Axton. I was a boring girl now and that's the way I liked it.
"Please, Rose. I got to take care of my kids and I can't do that behind bars."
I looked into her worried eyes. "Okay." How could I say no?

Rose's crush on Sullivan has intensified, and she discovers evidence that there is a hit out on him.
● Sullivan sat behind a massive desk. Hotter than a bonfire on the fourth of July. Runner of an illegal gambling operation. Object of more than one erotic dream. He glanced up when the door opened and studied me with his gold eyes.
He was gorgeous. Warm, honeyed skin and strong cheekbones. Black hair brushed away from his flawless face. Yeah, gorgeous almost covered it.

● "Why would someone put a hit on you? Who did you piss off?"
He shrugged. "I have a successful business. If I'm out of the way, it's up for grabs."
His business? Illegal endeavors was more like it. Sullivan was a criminal. Period. Of course he would be a target for other criminals who wanted to move up the food chain. I forgot sometimes who he was, what he did.

● I was on my own in the Asshat investigation. Sullivan had his own problems, but his new threat added to my worries. It was important to me that he was alive and well and involved in various criminal enterprises. Well, I wished he would get out of his various criminal enterprises and go legit. I cared about him.
Damn it, when did that happen?

Rose's mother continues her attempts to control and manipulate Rose. In this quote, at the Stricklands' Christmas party, Mrs Strickland introduces Rose to an eligible bachelor, telling them they "have similar jobs."
● "Tyler is a media consultant and you're in public relations.... Rosalyn works directly with customers for a small, family-owned firm."
She hated that I was a waitress. In her eyes, I was nothing but a failure. I knew she resented me for letting her down, for not living up to my potential.

There are a lot more scenes, situations, and juicy quotes that I would love to share with you, but they're spoilers, so you will just have to READ THE BOOK.

I loved it! and recommend Last Diner Standing to all Cozy Mystery fans!! Last Diner Standing is another Five-Kitty winner for Terri L. Austin!


Note: The review copy of Last Diner Standing came from my personal library.

{Originally published on my blog at www.JaneReads2.blogspot.com} ( )

In Diners, Dives & Dead Ends, Terri Austin introduced us to part time diner waitress Rose Strickland, her blue haired anime loving best friend Roxy Block, and to her stoner friend Axton Graystone, a fellow drop out from Huntingford’s social elite. All are back for a second dose of mystery hijinks in Last Diner Standing, the second book in the Rose Strickland Mystery series. Further developing her characters, and adding a few more to the mix, Ms. Austin’s series has become an auto buy for me. If you like cozy mysteries, you’re going to want to add this series to your list so you don’t miss the “awesome sauce” of Ms. Austin’s writing.

When Rose receives an early morning phone call from study partner Janelle, she knows her day is off to a bad start. Seems Janelle’s been arrested for hitting her ex-husband (aka “Asshat”) and putting him in a comma, and for the murder of his lover (aka Chicken Licker). Swearing she’s innocent, Janelle begs Rose for her help since they both know the police won’t really bother investigating the case. After making arrangements to meet Dane Harker (attorney and occasional date) and Janelle later in the day, Rose heads off to “Ma’s Diner” only to find she’s caught in the middle of a “diner” war.

As Rose and Roxy, fellow waitress, and best friend, attempt to calm Ma down, they learn Rudy Jorgenson of “Rudy’s Roundup Restaurant” has decided to start serving breakfast and is undercutting Ma’s prices in order to steal their clientele. As Ma and Rudy battle it out with lower prices, new menu items and basically drive their staff insane, Rose is caught between her loyalty to Ma and the reality that the “diner war” is causing both restaurants to lose money and the waitresses to lose tips.

Meanwhile Rose, accompanied by Roxy and Ax, begins investigating Janelle’s case and becomes entangled in a web full of strippers, chop shops and a couple of mob bosses currently at war. When Sullivan, the sexy and dangerous criminal Rose met in Diners, Dives & Dead Ends, takes center stage and winds up with a hit man on his tail, Rose realizes that Janelle and Sullivan’s problems are somehow tied together. Ms. Austin does a wonderful job as she continues to develop Rose’s character and introduces us to Rose’s colorful sidekicks. The mutual and forbidden attraction between Rose and Sullivan adds just the right touch of heat.

Will Rose discover who’s behind both crimes? Will Ma and Rudy agree to settle the “diner” war amicably and go back to serving the meals they both serve best? You’ll have to read Last Diner Standing to find out. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see if Rose and Sullivan’s mutual attraction makes it to the relationship stage. ( )