HOT, SHOT AND BOTHERED by Nora McFarland

This book appealed to me for many reasons and I wasn’t disappointed by any of them. Here are just a few examples why I enjoyed it so.

First, it’s a cozy murder mystery. It tackles murder and mayhem, but is sprinkled with humor and just enough zany mishaps to be believable and fun. It’s suspenseful while taking readers on a fast-pace ride filled with likeable characters.

Second, the protagonist is a journalist. Well, actually Lilly Hawkins is a shooter - a nickname for a TV news photographer. Her dedication to her profession plays a role in the story and gives a lot of insight into who Lilly is. Author Nora McFarland relates the pulse-pounding adrenaline rush one feels when on a breaking news story.

Another reason HOT, SHOT, AND BOTHERED caught my eye is because author Nora McFarland lives in my home state, Georgia.

In the book, Lilly has been assigned to cover a deadly wildfire bearing down on the town of Elizabeth Lake. Capturing the images of the massive evacuation and approaching inferno are demanding and keep Lilly on the move.

When a reckless party girl is discovered drown amidst the wildfire, Lilly doesn’t give it much attention at first glance. Then she learns the woman is someone she knew as an environmentalist, not a wild child, 13 years earlier. Lilly can’t accept her friend’s death as accidental and begins to search for answers. Can Lilly find the answers she’s looking for before the fire - or the murderer - ends her latest assignment?

HOT, SHOT, AND BOTHERED is the second installment in the Lilly Hawkins trilogy, but is a stand alone book. The book also includes a reading group discussion guide. The first book in the series is A BAD DAY’S WORK and the third book is scheduled for release the summer of 2012.

Lilly Hawkins is a delightful, funny, and engaging character you will adore. She deals with work, family and her love life with zeal and zest. Can’t wait for Lilly’s next assignment.

Author Nora McFarland’s website is www.noramcfarland.com and for more information on the book, visit Simon & Schuster.

Hot, Shot, And Bothered by Nora McFarland, A Lilly Hawkins Mystery, Touchstone Books/Simon And Schuster, @2011, ISBN: 9781439155561, Paperback, 304 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.