Member Reviews
Here they go again! Brandy and Vivian are in trouble..nothing new there. In this, the 11th book in the series, Brandy and Vivian are hoping that their antiques show will continue. One big problem pops up in the form of Brandy's police chief boyfriend's ex-wife. She isn't really his ex and she is getting in the way as a rival bidder. She becomes the murder victim and Brandy gets framed for her murder. I usually don't like narrators alternating chapters but Barbara Allan makes it work. Brandy in jail, Vivian on the outside with sweet little Sushi the ShiTzu to keep her company.
This cozy can be read out of order but I'd be willing to bet that, if this is your first encounter with these wacky ladies, you will be eager to read the rest of the series. My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Antiques Frame is the 11th book in the Trash and Treasure Antiques Mystery series. This book can be read as a stand alone . I do recommend the entire series . I have read the entire series and enjoy each book.
In this next in series our protagonist Brandy Borne and Grandmother Vivian Borne (referred to as Mother) are on a case that is proving difficult. Right in the middle of filming their reality antique show, Brandy has discovered the body of her boyfriends ex wife and her boyfriend is the local police chief. He recluses himself from her case and Brandy ends up in jail. While she is in jail her Grandmother Vivian is on the case with wit and humor that this reader has come to love with this series. Both are determined to solve the case as they pursue clues and suspects that abound .
The writing is fast paced and the descriptions of the people are warm and humorous. The sleuth is very well crafted and I enjoyed the clues and surprises at the end. This is a fine addition to the series. I highly recommend The Antiques Frame for your reading enjoyment. Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.
A little too sure it's all terrifically. cute! The death of her love and work rival after her being in vicinity clearly looks like a frame up - but the crime that unravels and a death bed. confession are soft solutions for me - her mother is an amateur sleigh who is required to have a persistent character - she's just a nuisance! Or else I just don't go for the batty, funny older woman stereotypes anymore.
Brandy, Vivian and the group are fun, smart, interesting and caring. The way Vivian seems to unintentionally create a whirlwind is a blast. Easy read without violence or sex.
Barbara Allan enters Antiques Frame in the Trash n Treasures series. Brandy Borne and her ditzy mother Vivian have to solve the murder of the estranged wife of Brandy's beloved. Excellent front cover to entice the reader but the delivery is only moderately successful. This series is running out of steam
When the man in your in love with past comes back too haunt you both you can look past that. When it mess with your business that's another story. These books get better and better the characters the setting. The mother ,daughter duo is a delight to read and mystery always leave me wanting more
Oh my gosh, I could not stop laughing! The format of the book is unique, with the narration alternating between Brandy and Vivian as they "write" their book. Every so often the editor has to jump in to get Vivian back on track. The mystery was interesting, but for me reading Brandy and Vivian's antics was the best part.
This series has made me laugh over and over again, love the relationship between mother and daughter and your u never know which direction they will head next. Strong storylines and sometimes I have to back for a second read because I missed how they figured it out, unusual for me.
I hadn't read earlier books in this series which could be why I was a bit confused from time to time but no matter- this is a funny entry in the cozy genre. There is a lot going on and there are alternating narrators for the chapters. Brandy and Vivian have a wild relationship and are a dynamic duo. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Another great entry in the Trash n Treasure mystery series. The zany mother and daughter antiquers are now stars of their own reality antique show and still driving the local police crazy with their "help". Now their rival antique dealer is found dead and Brandy is the prime suspect. Her mother, Vivian is now investigating and stirring the pot to make the local police mad. She is also taking the lead in writing their next mystery. This is a great cozy series that has you laughing out loud.
Mother and daughter amateur sleuths are at it again. One or the other may end up in jail, once again. It required a bit of getting acquainted or reacquainted with the style of writing. Switching between mother and daughter's points of view and humor adds to the charm. The parenthetical asides are a hoot. A fun cozy series.
As the 11th book in this fun series about an "Antiques" business, Brandy Borne and Grandmother Vivian Borne (referred to as Mother) are old hands at solving murders and mysteries over the years. After the first couple books I stopped trying to figure out the convoluted parentage of Brandy, who's sister is really her mother and her mother is really her grandmother. Phew! Almost as convoluted are the characters themselves. It's kind of sad when the 33 year old prozac taking daughter is jailed for murder, and resigns herself to jail time without as much as a shout of foul! (Even sadder she almost stepped into her Mother's shoes in prison and started planning on producing a play with the inmates.) But this is all part of a normal life for sleuths Brandy and Vivian.
This time Brandy discovers the body of her boyfriend's estranged wife. Unfortunately her boyfriend is the police chief, and he can't do anything to help her. However in true fashion, Brandy and Vivian muddle on and manage to figure out some other going-ons as well. The two ladies are funny and surprisingly good at getting results despite being slightly inept. A lot of colorful characters and small town antics are used in the book, as well as unusual sources for information about crime in general.
This book is one of the better in the series and will provoke most readers to chuckle many times. I felt like Brandy and Vivian stayed focused more than in other books, adding to the success of the story. The authors have packed a lot of side stories into the book making the twists along the way especially good.
While I loved the cover of this book I did not enjoy the story.
Antiques Frame
Barbara Allan
Available: April 25, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Ahhh, Serenity. I love visiting Brandy and her trials and tribulations with her mother Vivian. I get my dose of small town Mid-America with a slice of murder. In the 11th book (has it already been that many?) in the series, it’s still a quick, funny read, especially when Vivian takes over a chapter or two and goes off on various tangents. While I figured out the killer rather quickly (for me at least), I really liked the spin on the ending. But my favorite part had to be Vivan’s speech to the hipster in the hospital at the end; she hit the nail on the head and is preaching to the choir!
What I loved: The godfather – he’s one of my favorite re-occurring characters. I would love to see him take a trip out west to visit Serenity and see what Vivian can say about the Caddy. Knowing Vivian – she’d having him eat out of her hand in just moments. Strip Scrabble indeed!
What I didn’t love: Usually, there’s more about Brandy’s fashion in the books. I missed that, but I guess it reflected her depression over the situation with Tony. Women cannot live in grey sweatshirts alone! I’d also love if her son would make an appearance again – he was such a cute character and he is missed.
What I learned: Men can gossip just as bad as women can..
Overall Grade: B
I love Barbara Allen's Trash 'n' Treasure Mysteries. Brandy and her mom, Vivian are the main characters and her Mom is a real hoot! They always manage to get tangled up in a murder and it takes them a while to figure things out. This book will keep you laughing all the way.
Antiques Frame
Brandy Borne and her interesting mother, Vivian have a hit reality TV series, Antiques Sleuths. But another “hit” enters the picture, after a rival bidder becomes a one-woman show at their televised auctions—and it’s the estranged wife of Brandy’s police-chief beau, Tony! When I say she is always around she is always around.
Brandy’s mom—her daughter, Brandy, is now wearing basic jailhouse orange— and Vivian is working overtime to help resolve this situation. Brandy and Vivian race to solve the problem. They are aided only by Sushi, their loyal shih tzu, and police dog Rocky, the wacky mother-and-daughter sleuthing team must learn the killer’s identity.
Book Review and 4. 4 stars
There is one thing about this series that I haven't been able to understand: that is do Brandy Borne and her mother like each other. My thought is that they do like one another, but I also Screenshot 2017-04-09 19.23.25.pngthink tha they need each other to keep their world from crashing down. I think most people will enjoy this book. They characters remind me of people I meet everyday.
Antiques Frame by the talented Barbara Allan is a hit.
Brandy & Vivian Borne are not your typical mother & daughter team. They are actually grandmother & granddaughter, but for most of the seasoned readers, mother & daughter works best.
Vivian is a way out there character and Brandy tries to reign her in, unfortunately Vivian marches to the beat of her own drum.
Brandy is a fun character and her ability to find herself in such dire predicaments is what makes this series a top hit for me.
In this story, Brandy is still reeling from the fact that her true love, Tony Cassato is still married. Believing the divorce was final years ago has left Brandy in turmoil and Tony isn't being very helpful.
Working on the last season of Antiques Sleuths, their new reality show, Brandy & Vivian try to outsmart the current Mrs, Cassato, who has conveniently opened up her own antique store and seems to follow the dynamic duo to every auction they show up to.
After a sudden outburst at a farm tool auction, Brandy is feeling lost and more depressed. When she encounters the chief's wife in another shop, Brandy is surprised to find Mrs. C being somewhat cordial.
Is this all a ruse? Find out April 25th!
Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Books for granting my wish to read this book. I voluntarily read the ARC of this book.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Antiques Frame was an entertaining and fun cozy mystery. Told in the first person by Brandy Borne and her mother Vivian, the story moved along fast and was really funny. I hadn't read any of the previous Trash 'n' Treasures mysteries, but the recaps were really helpful.
The story is about Brandy and Vivian's antiques television show, Antiques Sleuths. When they go to buy an old cornhusker for their show, they are outbid by another dealer who is found murdered. The dealer is the police chief's ex-wife, and he's Brandy's current boyfriend. Brandy's prints are on the cornhusker used as the murder weapon, so she goes to jail. The jail chapters are very amusing.
Brandy and her mom have to clear her name, and stumble into a smuggling ring before the murder can be solved.
The plot moved along really quickly and was well written. I liked the alternating chapters written in the different voices of Brandy and Vivian. The characters were entertaining and interesting.
I can recommend this book, and I'll read the other books in the series based on this entry.
I love reading about Brandy and her mother and in this book Vivian gets more chapters than usual, which makes it even more fun. Because, in addition to their own reality show, these two are responsible for writing the books about their exploits and talk directly to the reader, letting you know which book to read to catch up on whatever past events they're describing. I started reading this series with the tenth book and I'm still not caught up, but I know which ones I need to read first to get to the bits of backstory that intrigue me most. If you like funny cozies that (I hope) could never happen in real life, I highly recommend this one!
As always, I enjoyed Vivian's and Brandy's adventures. This one wasn't as over the top as some of the previous books, maybe because Vivian and Brandy are both taking their medication. I thought while I was reading that the series would work just as well for me if the humorous bits were dropped.
The story very much focuses on the heroines and only a few of the secondary characters briefly show up. Since there was enough action otherwise, I had no problem with that.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.