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Tarri Feden's review Oct 15, 2017 · edit
it was amazing

Kathy Daley writes several cozy mystery series, but the TJ Jensen series is my favorite. In Fireworks in Paradise, just as TJ's family gets settled in for a vacation, TJ gets a call that her father and one of his friends were badly hurt in an accident, only it wasn't an accident at all.

As always, the mystery isn't obvious nor is the guilty party. The friends and family have changed over the course of the years, but they have all changed together so the books don't necessarily have go be read in order.

Reading is a great way to spend a Fall day, and I don't think you will go wrong with Fireworks in Paradise.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley, the opinions in my reviews are my own.

Great book! Great author! I love the characters so much that I'm going to round up books 1-7 in the series. I enjoy mystery series the most that have loyal friends and a great locale that carry on from book to book. This one fits right in!

Tj Jensen is back to Paradise Lake, having gone away to South Carolina, after receiving word that her father was in a serious car accident that put him in the hospital and which proved fatal for the driver of the car in which Mike was a passenger. So Tj is trying to deal with her father's care, as well as trying to get everyone back home, dealing with Rosalie now living with them, navigating her newly begun romantic relationship with Kyle, helping out with the 4th of July festivities put on by Maggie's Hideaway, and trying to find the murderer responsible for the crash that injured her father and claimed the life of Harold Harper. There's also a new cop in town and she is recalcitrant to accepting civilian help on official cases.

This is a great continuation of the story so far and it was good to go back to Paradise lake and catch up with friends there. Any fan of the series will definitely not want to miss this installment.

I received an advance copy of this from NetGalley but am voluntarily providing a review.

This was my first book in this series and was easy to read as a stand-alone even knowing nothing of the series I felt comfortable with the characters and situations- The characters are vivid and easy to emotionally bond with. Daley keeps you on your toes with the little-hidden twists and turns that make a good mystery so enjoyable. What would be the fun if you new who-dun-it in the first few chapters? I was provided a complimentary copy by the author and look forward to more of her work.

I received this book from Netgalley and these are my unsolicited opinions and comments. I would like to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this book (and for granting wishes).
This is the first book in the series that I have read. It is the seventh in the series but works well as a standalone story. I liked that it was well written, the characters were developed and the mystery was carried well throughout the book. I had plenty of suspects. The book is a quick read and took me to the towns of Splendid and Lake Paradise. The story is more than a mystery. It shows the closeness of family and friends and the small town community feel. I could see the lake, the celebration and the activities going on.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to starting this series from the beginning so I can see the characters development and their backstories.

Kathi Daley's Fireworks in Paradise is book eight in the TJ Jensen Mystery series. TJ rushes home from South Carolina when she receives word that her father is in a coma following a serious car accident. As she begins to piece the story together, it becomes obvious that the wreck was no accident. TJ and her friend Kyle investigate along with police officer Roy. The investigation has to be done quietly when Roy's new partner threatens them. I have read a previous book in this series, but it is not necessary. I look forward to seeing how the characters progress as the series continues.

Ok, so I've read a few of this series now and enjoyed them, but this one is starting to tread quite close to my line for meddling detectives. There's no denying that Tj shouldn't really be getting involved in investigations to the extent that she does and this makes this obvious to a point where it started to jar with me.

The mystery was ok, but I saw the solution coming and I didn't like this quite as much as I've enjoyed the previous ones.

I have to give the author credit. I had not read any of the previous books in the series, but the author did a great job of helping me become acclimated to the world of the series.

Unfortunately, I didn't really find myself investing in the characters or the story. To be fair, if I had followed T.J. and her family through the previous books, I might have cared more about what she felt for her love interest, whether to express that, and so on. As it was, I just found those aspects of the story a little tedious and thought she was analyzing everything to death. The family was likeable. I also found it very easy to visualize the various settings. The mystery was fine. I didn't really find it becoming a page-turner as it approached the big resolution, but it was resolved pretty well.

Though this wasn't exactly a page-turner for me, I might be interested in continuing the story. There's a promise for some interesting conflict ahead, and that might spice things up a bit.

The best part of these stories is the town and all of the local characters. I love when a town is a character and this series does it so well.

This is one of my favorite Kathi Daley series. This time around, TJ finally seems to be coming into her own. She has realized how she truly feels about Kyle, and they are slowly growing their relationship into more than friends. There is a great scene where her younger sisters sit her down to talk about that relationship, which is so realistic and believable. Family is of major importance in this story, not just the murder mystery.

Speaking of the the mystery, it is once again very well written, with several suspects, and clues that may lead the reader in more than one direction before bringing you to the realization of the killer's identity.

My only real issue with the book was that this story takes place before the three books I've already read in the Writer's Retreat series, so some of the information in this one was old news. However, with as many series as the author writes, that's a small blip in the scheme of things.

Tj Jensen rushed home when her father was critically injured. When she arrived home, she was shocked to hear that the tragedy that killed Judge Harper and put her father in the ICU was no accident. She won't rest until she finds the person responsible. Tj's investigative skills are impressive. She makes a lists of suspects and isn't afraid to ask the hard questions. I like her. She's a loving woman who cares for her family and friends. I love her romance with Kyle. He's a good man who cares for her and is always there to support her. When there together I feel their love. This cozy mystery is a perfect blend of suspense and romance. The town of Serenity and the Forth of July festivities combine to showcase this exciting adventure. Kathi Daley did a great job. She kept me guessing. With the multiple suspects and motives I didn't know until the end who the culprit was. I like the characters, the small town vibe and the suspenseful mystery. They are an unbeatable combination.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

Fireworks in Paradise is a well written mystery. This book has a great plot that kept me guessing. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good whodunnit.

TJ rushes home when her father is in a bad accident that has greatly injured him and killed a family friend. At first it seems like an accident but when evidence comes to light showing that it wasn't TJ jumps right in to figure out who was responsible and why. With the Fourth of July week approaching and her feelings for Kyle yet defined TJ has more than she can handle but knows she must move forward. She just can't let it go but the suspect pool is deeper than she thought, will she be able to wade through this mixed up group of people to figure out just who killed the judge and came close to doing in her father. This was an emotional ride that had me feeling as if I were on a roller coaster but I didn't want to get off until the end. It was a terrific whodunit that had me guessing up to the end. I can't wait to find out what happens next to this wonderful cast of characters.

This was my first book by Kathi Daley and this was the 8th book in the series.

The book was a decent read. However, I was not able to really get into the main character, T. J. She seemed pretty flat to me. I'm not sure if that was because the character was more developed in the earlier books or not.

And, for me, she was a little annoying in her attempts to find out what had happened in the accident that almost killed her father, but did kill his friend, the Judge.

I definitely found T. J. too annoying and bland to bother going back and reading the other seven books in the series.

Thanks to Henery Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This is a great book; this is the eighth book in the Tj Jensen Mystery Series written by Kathi Daley. While on vacation in South Carolina, Tj Jensen receives a call that her father has been left in a coma after a devastating car crash. Back home in Paradise Lake, Tj learns the accident that killed family friend Judge Harper and left her father clinging to life wasn’t an accident at all—someone cut their brake lines. To make matters worse, her friend and police contact, Deputy Roy Fisher, is working with a new partner who has no intention of letting Tj anywhere near the case. Facing an investigation more explosive than the annual fireworks show, Tj enlists the help of her best friends to unravel the mystery, all the while navigating a new romance and the thought her father may never wake up. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Fireworks in Paradise
A Tj Jenson Mystery, Book #8
5 Stars
Kathi Daley

Synopsis:

“Daley’s characters come to life on the page. Her novels are filled with a little mystery and a little romance which makes for a murderous adventure.” – Tonya Kappes, USA Today Bestselling Author of Southern Fried

While on vacation in South Carolina, Tj Jensen receives a call that her father has been left in a coma after a devastating car crash. Back home in Paradise Lake, Tj learns the accident that killed family friend Judge Harper and left her father clinging to life wasn’t an accident at all—someone cut their brake lines. To make matters worse, her friend and police contact, Deputy Roy Fisher, is working with a new partner who has no intention of letting Tj anywhere near the case. Facing an investigation more explosive than the annual fireworks show, Tj enlists the help of her best friends to unravel the mystery, all the while navigating a new romance and the thought her father may never wake up.

Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), book club recommendations, amateur sleuth books, small town.

Books in the Tj Jensen Mystery Series:

PUMPKINS IN PARADISE (#1)
SNOWMEN IN PARADISE (#2)
BIKINIS IN PARADISE (#3)
CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE (#4)
PUPPIES IN PARADISE (#5)
HALLOWEEN IN PARADISE (#6)
TREASURE IN PARADISE (#7)
FIREWORKS IN PARADISE (#8)

Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you'll probably like them all. (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. In this installment Tj finds herself right in the middle of a family emergency and it will take all of her faith and family love to get through it. She will have to rely on her family and friends to solve this mystery and bring her family back together again. I love the tight knit group that she surrounds herself with, they are all caring and loyal. In all of her books, family and friends are very important and this book is no exception.

The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book. There were plenty of clues to sift through and suspects to consider. And as usual, there is more than one mystery to solve and they both are woven together like a beautifully made sweater.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in creating a cozy small town setting and I would love to visit the places that she creates.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This book is a great addition to an already fantastic series.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this book (and for granting wishes).

Fireworks in Paradise is the eighth installment in Kathi Daley's Tj Jensen Mystery Series and picks up just as the previous book, Treasure in Paradise, ends. Tj, her two small sisters, grandfather, his best friend, and Tj's good friend Kyle Donovan, were in Gull Island, South Carolina, overseeing the renovations to the family resort of her dad's friend while he was convalescing. While there, not only were they able to solve crimes, but also stumbled upon Tj and Kyle's repressed feelings for one another.
Soon after this discovery, they received a phone call telling them that Tj's dad had been in a horrible accident leaving him with life threatening injuries and having killed retired judge and current acting major of Serenity, Judge Harper.

Kyle, her wealthy and charming friend, moved mountains to make plans to get Tj back home as quickly as possible. He then orchestrated getting the girls and her grandfather back the following day, the resort looked after, the sale of their vehicles, and chartered a plane to get Doc and the animals back to Serenity.

It had been determined that Judge Harper's brake line had been cut, the crash was no accident. The investigation takes many twists and turns with a couple of very likely candidates. However, it is hard to determine whether it could have anything to do with some of the judge's old cases, the current city council doings, or something personal.

Kathi Daley's stories are engaging and fast-paced. They always entice and entertain. Her characters are rich and likable. I have enjoyed everything of hers that I have read and do recommend this book.

This was my first book by Ms. Daley, now I'm hooked! I loved the combination of mystery and romance. The story was so well written I didn't figure it out until the end. Highly recommend!

Family and friends come first in this wonderful series of, so far, eight mysteries. Add some romance and an excellent mystery and I'm a happy reader. TJ Jensen has been enjoying a vacation when she gets word that her father has been seriously injured in a car crash that killed the other person in the car. TJ returns to be at her father's side and her boyfriend follows with friends and pets in tow. Who would have wanted the Judge dead? TJ is ready to jump in to help find the answers but hits a road block when her friend in the police department, who has always listened to her theories of the previous crimes, has a new partner who is in no mood to allow civilians to stick their noses into police business. I enjoy the way this is handled, with TJ investigating in tandem and not thinking that she can do it better. The mystery is well plotted, the relationships are so real and well developed, this series is a pleasure to read. If you are new to this series, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. You will have many hours of reading pleasure ahead of you.

This is the first TJ Jensen book I’ve read but the author provided just enough back story that I didn’t feel lost. I like the characters, the story flowed well and kept me invested in finding out who the killer was.