Nancy Cane

Moonlight Rhapsody is the second book in author Nancy J. Cohen’s Light-Years Series trilogy. Once again she has managed to pull off the feat of combining science fiction and romance and making the story plausible, believable and thoroughly enjoyable.

It must be hard enough as a writer to create compelling characters and place them in normal, everyday settings, but to set them in strange, unfamiliar environments and give them unique bodies, language and customs and then make us get so caught show more up in the story and the relationships and personalities of these characters that we forget all about the strangeness – that is a rare imaginative talent, and Nancy J. Cohen has it. She meticulously describes beings that look like dogs, or rubbery entities or smell funny, and cultures and worlds that have customs, mores and traditions that are completely unknown to us. But then the action starts and our attention and focus are directed to the nuanced relationships between the characters rather than thinking about spaceships and aliens and warp speed and the stars. We get lost in what is happening rather than where it is happening, although the story still has a science fiction, otherworldly feel.

In the first book in the series, Rolf was the diplomat thought to be destined to marry Sarina and fulfill the prophesy. He was still mourning the loss of his first love, a bit rigid and uptight, and readers were happy when it turned out he wasn’t the chosen one. But Author Cohen showed us enough of his “good” side and made him likable enough that when Moonlight Rhapsody opens and we meet him again, but now as a spy, we’re happy to see him. He’s much more a man of action and passion, and it suits him. While on his first mission, however, an ion storm causes his spacecraft to crash and he is captured and thrown into a slave labor camp. He pretends to be merely a trader and is determined to escape.

Ilyssa, the overseer of the labor camp see him and thinks he may be of use to her and makes him her personal attendant. Just as Rolf has secrets and a hidden agenda, Ilyssa is not who she seems on the surface. Can their agendas merge enough for them to be successful or will they always be at cross purposes? They have a strong attraction to each other, but their sense of duty and mission are just as strong, and they will not be compromised. This is a theme that runs through all of Cohen’s stories, including her very popular, award-winning Bad Hair Day Mystery Series. Justice, truth, and integrity are primary, an obligation or promise made must be kept, even at the cost of personal sacrifice. And attraction does not mean instant trust so they are wary of each other, never relaxing their guard.

The plot is smooth, action packed and fast moving, with danger and intrigue building and building, just as the attraction between Rolf and Ilyssa builds. New characters, worlds, and species are introduced. Many favorites return, as do those with a score to settle. Makes for an adventurous time. The science fiction setting feels familiar yet still original. Ilyssa has the gift of the siren song, able to mind wash men. But is it really a gift? There is constant tension. Could Rolf be mind-washed? If she chooses love, will she lose her gift? Will her sense of duty allow that to happen? You feel sure they’ll end up together, but there is a little doubt that remains. Dedicated to their missions is one way to describe them. Stubborn to the point of being intractable is another.

This a romance after all, so you expect some heat, and you get it. In Cohen’s Bad Hair Days series, while there is obvious strong attraction between the main characters, the good stuff happens behind closed doors; we only get hints. But in the Light-Years series the doors are wide open. Well-written, well done and natural, the romance can get quite steamy, with the characters moving quickly from an instant, heated, non-stop attraction to a state that often distracts them to the point of being speechless and unable to think clearly. Funny, romantic, and a wonderful addition to the story.

Thanks to author Nancy J. Cohen for providing a copy of Moonlight Rhapsody. As noted in my review of Circle of Light, the more of her work you read the more you will appreciate her skill and precision. This is an engaging, delightful science fiction romance, a welcome addition to The Light-Years Series. I thoroughly enjoyed it, highly recommend it, and can’t wait to read the third book in the trilogy. All opinions are my own. show less

A beautiful assassin and a desperate fugitive join forces to catch a terrorist and prevent a war between worlds.

Imagine my joy when I received a copy of the reissued Silver Serenade by Nancy J. Cohen, a well-known, long-time writer and one of my favorites, and discovered that while this story was a departure from her fabulous Bad Hair Day Mystery series, it was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed and could not put down.

Silver Serenade juxtaposes main characters Silver Malloy and Jace Vernon show more risking their lives, knee-deep in space intrigue and political drama, with their budding romance. The chemistry and sex may be hot, but so are their tempers. The course of love is not running smoothly here.

Silver Serenade is packed with action, romance, sex, space ships, danger and murder, and a full cast of fascinating characters, both on- and off-world. Throw in a little bit of the supernatural and lot of humor and you couldn’t ask for more.

Cohen writes a good, solid mystery in the Bad Hair Day series, and apparently she has always done so, because Silver Serenade is top-notch. In addition to the action and fun of the space travel and the hot romance and intriguing aliens there is a strong storyline that keeps you guessing right up until the end about just who on which planet is responsible for what.

Silver Serenade was a very, very satisfying read and I would definitely recommend it – as well as anything else Nancy J. Cohen has written – to everyone. show less

Star Tangled Murder is the eighteenth entry in the long-running A Bad Hair Day Mystery series by award-winning author Nancy J. Cohen. Wow, that’s a lot of books. Each book picks up right where the last one left off and builds on it, making you feel like you are meeting a treasured old friend and catching up. If like me you’ve read them all you’ll delight in spotting the references to the past; if you haven’t read them you’ll delight in this book as a standalone.

Marla and Dalton show more have been married three years now and Ryder is 13 months old. They are comfortable with each other. Comfortable enough to have arguments and get aggravated. Which is exactly how Star Tangled Murder starts. They are on their way to Pioneer Village to observe a recreation of early Florida life, a battle reenactment of the U.S. Army versus the Seminoles in 1836. Dalton will be retiring from his job as homicide detective in a couple months and to say Marla is kind of freaking out would be an understatement. We know how Marla likes her routines. She has the salon and the day spa and Ryder and works hard to juggle it all. The last thing she wants is a retired, stir-crazy, bored Dalton home all day every day upsetting that. Yes, she wants him to be happy and will support him but could he just get on with it and make that decision. To that end, she makes little suggestions: do woodworking, grow corn . . . to the point where it seems everything is a potential job or hobby. It’s almost comical – but only if you’re not Dalton.

Author Cohen quickly sets the scene and the tone for the day and the book, as well as refamiliarizing us with friends and family, Marla’s employees and Dalton’s coworkers. We settle in, this is familiar, these are people we know. But already we are waiting for the other shoe to drop, for that moment when Marla just happens to stumble upon a dead body. Even though she reminds herself frequently to stay away from danger and focus on the home front, she just can’t help trying to protect those she cares about or right a wrong. She starts out methodical and careful and bristling at Dalton’s warnings, but she inevitably unintentionally veers into recklessness. They are strolling along in Pioneer Village and hear a scream, the mystery and the murder to solve are established, and we’re off. The plot is solid, fast-moving, logical and full of surprises. The characters we already know keep us anchored in the familiar, pleasant routine of Marla’s day-to-day life. The new ones are a mix of good and bad: those to trust, those to suspect – and those to fear. Parts of the story are very intense. Marla and her friend Susan are in a lot of danger and have to think and act quickly. Marla was right to be suspicious of some of these folks, but the actions of others come as a shock, with everything leading to a very satisfying conclusion, both for the mystery and Marla’s personal life.

Marla’s life has changed a lot over the course of the series. As a result, she’s matured, and become more confident. In this book she’s even more relaxed, willing to let her often funny side show. She’s always been responsible, dedicated and loyal and now she’s demonstrated she can handle the roles of wife, mother and business owner very, very well. She always wanted to be a hairdresser but sleuthing is like a second calling. She’s good at it: observant, logical, able to get people to open up. So when she declares she’s done with mystery-solving and going to focus solely on the home front I take it with a grain of salt and will believe it when I see it. The inner conflict “to-sleuth-or-not-to-sleuth” is fun to watch.

In addition to the attention to detail and vivid descriptions of hair, clothes, jewelry, food, home and surroundings there is always a bonus to the Bad Hair Day mysteries in the form of learning. Just a little, not too much, fascinating. Cohen enriches these stories with facts you never realized you needed but were happy to get. Marla is curious, inquisitive, and eager to learn new things and Cohen weaves these lessons seamlessly into the narrative of the mystery. Pioneer Village was a treasure trove, starting with marshals vs. sheriffs and touching on muskets and rifles, plants including those that are poisonous, the Seminole Nation flag and Native American food, the history of buttons, buttonholes and fear of buttons, tea history and running an artisan tea plantation, gold coins missing from Civil War days, and last but not least Paleoethnobotany (look it up!) Something for everyone, and don’t forget to check out the author’s notes for more detail and recipes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest adventure with Marla. Cohen does an excellent job of making Marla seem like a real person while expertly blending in the mystery, resulting in a fresh yet familiar story that you will love. The wrap up of both the case and the latest family/friends happenings is terrific. Has Dalton selected a job all on his own so that Marla can stop looking? Is she really yearning for a daughter and might there be an addition to their family on the way? Can she do it – stop searching for clues? You’ll just have to read Star Tangled Murder and find out. And then of course you’ll have to read all the previous books. Thanks to the author for providing an advance copy of Star Tangled Murder via NetGalley. I can’t recommend it enough. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review; all opinions are my own. show less

I am not an author or an aspiring author but Writing the Cozy Mystery: Expanded Second Edition by author Nancy J. Cohen is so thorough, complete and easy-to-read that I think I am probably ready to launch my writing career. Well, maybe not quite yet, but it really is an outstanding reference guide for anyone who writes, ranging from wannabe mystery authors to experienced, published authors who are looking to refresh their books. Detailed and well-organized without being overwhelming, this is show more a good go-to reference to keep on your desktop when you want a quick check or refresher.

Cohen begins by defining what is and what is not a cozy mystery, and then throughout the book provides well-chosen, relevant, relatable examples likely familiar to the book’s target audience. Examples are drawn from television shows, movies and her own work and illustrate the point being made. If you have read any of Cohen’s books, particularly from her long-running, successful Bad Hair Day Mystery series, you will see at once that she does, indeed, practice what she preaches. It’s subtle and not obviously recognized in the structure of her books, but the elements of Writing the Cozy Mystery are clearly there when you stop to look. It’s no wonder the Bad Hair Day Mysteries are so enjoyable to read and the mysteries within such fun to try and solve.

Chapter headings clearly indicate what will be covered in each chapter and chapters are presented in the logical order to begin your writing project. Cohen hits just the right tone, serious and professional but lighthearted enough to prevent it from becoming a dry lecture and the length of the book makes it an easily accessible resource. Exercises are inserted throughout as well as references and links to point the reader to more in-depth explanations or learning or subjects that are outside the scope of this book.

I received an audiobook copy of Writing the Cozy Mystery from the author and purchased a digital copy. Cohen does an excellent job focusing on cozy mysteries; it’s hard to describe, but the look, feel and sound of this book are just like the look, feel and sound of a cozy mystery. Writing the Cozy Mystery was educational, fun to read and a comprehensive, valuable tool to help a cozy mystery writer make the Story Magic happen. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less