Truth, Lies and Second Dates
Danger, Book 3

I Picked Up This Book Because: #NetgalleyNovember.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Scribd
Dates Read: 11/18/2022 - 11/19/2022
Stars: 3 Stars
Narrator(s):Morgan Hallett

The Characters:

Ava Capp:
Tom Baker:
A Bunch of people

The Story:

Writing: It was okay. Well I should say the writing was good, the story was okay.
Forward Motion: It did move along at a good clip.
Overall Interest: I won’t lie, I was a bit in and out. I would say I was in for about 88%.
Length of Reading Time: Good.
Re-read-ability: No.

The Random Thoughts:

To be clear I have a netgalley copy but I’m doing much better with audiobooks these days so I listened to this via audiobook on Scribd. ( )

3.5

After living through the murder of her best friend, Ava Capp has been running from the past (or rather flying away from her past). Now a notable pilot on a commercial airline, Captain Ava Capp (yeah she knows), loves flying all over the country, but avoids stopping in Minnesota whenever possible. Unfortunately, it's not always possible, and eventually you have to face your past. But with the ten year anniversary on the horizon, much more has been coming to light about the still unsolved case, such as the fact that the murder has now set their sights on Ava.

Medical Examiner Tom Baker remembers well the violent case that rocked the community although he was still a kid when it happened. He recognizes Ava immediately upon seeing her, and despite himself sparks fly.

Tom and Ava form a team determined to figure out what really happened all those years ago and prevent the same from happening to Ava now.

So, anyone who reads the author's note at the beginning (highly recommended) will know that MaryJanice Davidson's goal was to jam-pack this story with as many mystery/thriller/romance tropes as possible and pretty much turn all of them upside-down. Anyone who has previously read a book by MaryJanice Davidson will recognize the quirky, frenetic characters and pacing. Having to juggle a lot of quick back-and-forths. It's pretty much keeping with MaryJanice Davidson's typical style.

I was initially interested in this idea of the mystery/thriller/romance with a more humorous twist about it. Something that changes the typically serious tone of these types of stories. I think that's a really interesting add for this genre. I just kind of wish that there was more focus on that aspect of the story instead of focusing more on subverting the various tropes. Because with that there were times where the story felt too full and I ended up missing at least half of what what trying to be commented upon.

That said, it was an enjoyable read. I liked Ava. I liked that she went through some very traumatic stuff and pulled herself out of the downward spiral in which she found herself. I liked that she's so successful at her job and has the friendship and adoration of those she works with and over. I very often found myself laughing out loud at her inflight announcements to the passengers.

The chemistry between Tom and Ava was fine. It was another aspect that I think was trying very hard to push the tropes in whatever is deemed the "opposite" direction and didn't really focus too much on creating the connection between them. I can read a dozen romances with the same trope and be perfectly fine with it as long as I feel that connection between the characters just jump off the page with each scene they share together. While I liked Tom and Ava, together, as individuals, I didn't necessarily feel that for them.

Overall, MaryJanice Davidson wrote the story I expected. I'm not let down by it, I'm not blown away by it. I know I can count on MaryJanice Davidson to deliver a quirky book with quirky characters and a fast pace, and often humorous. I appreciated the mystery/thriller that was on the lighter side without necessarily slipping into the "cozy" category. As strange as it kind of feels to say that about a book that deals with a grisly murder and the murderer still on the lose, it felt more like a comfort read. Something guaranteed to entertain and pull me away from the real world for a bit. ( )

Ava is an airline pilot, a very good one at that! She is actually famous. (you will need to read this to find out why.) She has to fly into her hometown and she is not happy about it. Then her past comes back to bite her in the butt…

This story is a little spastic in places. I could not decide if it was a mystery or a romcom. I basically think the author changed her mind in the middle of this book and made it a romcom. And some of the conversations were confusing. I am not sure if it was the format of the early ebook or if it was just the way it was written.

I know it sound like I did not enjoy this book. But, I did enjoy it to a degree. I loved Ava. She is strong and funny, hilarious, as a matter of fact. Then there is Tom. These two together really make the whole story worth reading.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates was the first book I’ve read by author MaryJanice Davidson. I had no idea what to expect other than this author’s website is a little unconventional so I was hoping for something fresh and new. I was not disappointed. What a treat this story was! Yes, it felt fresh and new, and In some ways so unique as to almost defy description, but at heart it’s a sweet, sexy, funny and totally satisfying contemporary romance.

Airline pilot Captain Capp – yep, that’s her name – is bold, brash, bossy – and brilliant. Also brilliant – if just a bit to the side of normal - is Medical Examiner Dr. Tom Baker. Competent, sweet, intense . . . and odd. The attraction between them is steamy hot, but there’s something else going on there, some kind of softness and care each feels for the other.

This is not a conventional mystery with a trail of clues, but reading it is like peeling the proverbial onion. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, because it was just so much fun to take the ride as details are revealed a little at a time. The story is well developed, a terrific mix of dealing with the past while figuring out the future, with murder, intrigue, danger, suspense and lots and lots of humor and a captivating cast of supporting characters thrown in. I would think I knew where the story was going and then something totally unexpected that actually made perfect sense would pop up.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of this delightful story via NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it without hesitation. All opinions are my own. ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Truth, Lies and Second Dates by MaryJanice Davidson is a fun romp of a contemporary romance that takes many of the tropes most used in romance and mystery novels and turns them around to create a story that I found simply delightful to read. Captain Ava Capp is a pilot who’s spent the last ten years flying from her past, keeping things light and easy to avoid forming any strong connections. Unfortunately, she ends up in her hometown on the tenth anniversary of the murder of her best friend from high school. She can’t come up with an excuse to avoid attending the memorial service where that past rises up, and she’s right back in the middle of everything she’s been trying to escape. Medical Examiner Tom Baker was just a kid when Danielle Monahan was murdered. Still, he’s never forgotten the cold case and a chance encounter with Ava has him pulling out the file and examining it carefully. Lighthearted, with well written supporting characters, this story is one that will keep you guessing till the end. Steam Level: Medium Publishing Date: December 15, 2020 #TruthLiesAndSecondDates #MaryJaniceDavidson #StMartinsPress #StMartinsGriffin #ContemporaryRomance #RomanticMysteryNovel #WhoDunIt #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #NetGalley ( )