Gretchen Archer

Davis Way Cole lives on the twenty-ninth floor of the Bellissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. This is due to the fact that she's the wife of Bradley, General Manager, and mother to a pair of three-year-old twin grils. She's also part of a three-person security team for the resort, along with Fantasy and Baylor (just Baylor). When her husband puts her in charge for the week he's going to be out of town - along with owner Richard Sanders and Davis's boss No Hair (forever), she show more agrees, thinking, what could go wrong?

Aside from the fact that five million dollars has completely disappeared? And there's an Elvis convention filling the rooms and the town? And the woman who runs the Lost and Found - where the money was left - is also gone? Not much...unless you count Davis's mother, her ex-ex-mother-in-law, a missing cashier, a howling cat, frisky dog, and a smell so rancid it will put you in a coma...

When Davis and Fantasy are on the hunt for the missing money (and Birdy, the old, old lady who runs the Lost and Found) they don't want to tell Baylor. Because he'll squeal and tell their boss and anyone else who will listen. So the two women try everything to get the money back, but all that occurs is more problems..and more. And what ensues is complete chaos, Davis trying to find a moment to regroup and not go insane, and her mother spending all her time cooking everything she can. (because cooking is love).

The casino is a madhouse, there are Elvii (or Elvises, depending on who's arguing the point) everywhere, and Davis is frantic to put her hands on the money and keep her family safe. She's also discovering that what seems like an accident wasn't, but when she finds this out it may be too late for all of them -- in more ways than one.

It's a wild roller coaster ride from one end of the casino to another, and one floor to another, moving tomato plants, gawd-awful smells, and several missing persons needing to be located. Meanwhile, she's babysitting a woman who's nearly a hundred, and trying to stay out of the sight of her mother and ex-ex-mother-in-law (a long, long story best saved for another time, and who shouldn't even be there in the first place, according to Davis).

Ms. Archer takes us on this crazy journey from the first page, and keeps us moving through the story like we're trying to find our way out of a house of mirrors at a carnival. Without help. With people trying to kill us. It's fascinating, humorous, suspenseful, and even a little maddening (but that might just be Bea Crawford). If you blink, you'll miss something.

It's an old saying: follow the money. But in this case it's true - if you can find the money; which Davis can't. So there's that. But it starts with that thread and leads into a whole lot more, until you have a regular tapestry in front of you that she needs to unravel. And it's the unraveling that's the most fun you'll ever have. Highly recommended. show less

Davis Way Cole works at the Bellissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi as a sort of "secret super spy." When she's needed, she does whatever necessary to keep things running exactly the way they should, even if it means turning into a female James Bond.

Right now she and her family - her husband, President and CEO Bradley, and twin daughters Bexley and Quinn, need to evacuate the casino because of impending hurricane Kevin. But that can't be done until they remove all the cash from show more the machines, and there's only herself and her partner Fantasy to do it. The rest of their team - Baylor and No Hair - are in Hawaii for Baylor's wedding to Davis's nanny July.

Unfortunately, they also have in residence Davis's lookalike Bianca Sanders, who, along with her husband Richard, own the casino (Richard is in Norway) a couple of women from Michigan who couldn't leave because of flight problems, the Bellissimo Storm Team (first responders and specialists), and a television production crew, and a couple of gaming agents.

But things never go according to plan, especially so when Davis and Fantasy hear a gunshot while removing the cash boxes from the machines. They follow the sound and find Davis's ex-husband Eddie (who is there because for some reason unknown to Davis - and unwanted - her high school reunion was supposed to take place at the casino) apparently shot, and his girlfriend Danielle - Davis's nemesis - lying in a pool of blood. Which turns out not to be hers. But which also means it has to belong to someone else, and that someone else isn't Eddie. Which means there's a shooter in the casino, and they need to find out who and where that person is.

Needless to say, Davis isn't going anywhere, and neither is anyone else; which means they're all going to be huddled up on Disaster, the unnamed thirteenth floor that Bianca's father built as a fortress in just this kind of emergency and which no one is supposed to know even exists.

Now that the stage is set for riding out a hurricane in a deserted casino, holed up in a fortress that isn't there, let me be clear: In Davis's life, things never go as easy as riding out a hurricane in a fortress. This is about to be made clear in her latest escapade. Which all takes place in under 48 hours.

It's an intense ride, rather like being on a roller coaster - backwards, upside down, blindfolded, and in the rain. Even if you could see, it wouldn't be a pleasant trip. Davis finds out that there's more at stake than finding a lone shooter in the casino. It's finding out who killed the man on the floor... and who took the fifty million dollars they removed from the machines. But, unfortunately, the only witnesses are Danielle, who seems to have amnesia, and Eddie, who's dumber than a sloth (which is the dumbest animal on the planet). Which means Davis has no help at all.

What ensues is worse than chaos, and Davis is stuck right in the center of it, like being in the eye of the hurricane. Endlessly. With no way out. It's full of suspense, intrigue, conspiracy, and cunning. The tale is masterful, with Ms. Archer pulling you into the story immediately, and right from the amusing phone call with her mother (who wants her out of the casino now) to that first gunshot. By that time, you are hooked.

But there's more afoot to be found: People who are not what they seem, and even what appears to be forthright problems on the surface turn out to be something else entirely. (Sorry, but in saying more I'd be pretty much telling you enough so that you wouldn't need to read the book - so I won't). It's enough to say that not only are the twists and turns aplenty, it's a tale that weaves so many threads throughout you could create a tapestry. It's crazy. Insane. Totally enthralling. It makes me grateful I don't have to live Davis's life.

Some of the characters are annoying (even I was starting to hate Eddie and Danielle as much as Davis) and I probably wouldn't have been able to keep from slapping Filet, so Davis has the better of me there. Or more patience. Either way. I do think Bianca has grown on me, since I actually like her, too. I don't know why. I love Davis, Bradley, and the rest of the crew, who are always there and always have each other's backs, and not a stupid one among them. I even like her parents (her mother, while trying at times, does have her moments).

When we reach the climax and everything starts to come together, it's woven so tightly you couldn't pull the threads apart if you tried. It's a delightful narrative, engaging, and those last few moments when the action finds it way to a close are surprising. An ending to be proud of. A book to be read and reread. Highly recommended. show less

Once again, Davis Way, Fantasy, Baylor and No Hair are trying to save the casino. Bradley (Davis' husband) is now the manager and they are working together. Being newlyweds, this might not be the best idea. When the events manager disappears, the vault is robbed and Davis and Bradley are living at the casino in the managers suite that looks like New Orleans spewed all over, you know there is going to be mayhem. Add in that Davis is sure Magnolia, the previous manager's wife, is sneaking into show more their apartments, Biana Sanders is still as crazy as ever and there is a rather crazy pilot helping them out and the laughs are also there. This story has a more serious take on it than previous ones, but Davis still bumbles her way into and out of trouble. Someone had to find the missing platinum and Davis is sure the Banking Conference has something to do with it. Missing guests, counterfeit money and a printing room found hidden in their quarters gets Davis up in arms, especially when Bradley tells her to butt out.

The characters in this story are fleshed out a bit more. We find out about Fantasy's home life and family, and she makes a big mistake in this book that could cost her a lot. Baylor comes across as a young, dumb, bodyguard type character in this story, even more than the last one, but comes through when he is needed. Bradley and Davis show some sides of their relationship that we have not seen before and it adds some dimension to Bradley. Finally, Bianca actually had me feeling a bit sorry for her. The new characters in this story were portrayed well, some funny, some nasty. The plot moved quickly as there was a lot going on, but it was not confusing. Once again, I enjoyed the escapades of Davis and her team. I can't wait to see what Gretchen Archer has in mind for her next story. show less

When in doubt, blame David…er Davis. Davis Way is back and this time in DOUBLE DIP she might be in over her head. If you haven’t read the first book, DOUBLE WHAMMY, it’s not necessary to do so in order to enjoy DOUBLE DIP. Gretchen Archer does a good job describing past events and gives a clear picture as to who’s who in terms of reoccurring characters.

We have good character development and this important because it’s the second book in the series. Archer continues to develop her show more characters and we get to know them better. I’d like to say there’s more to Davis Way, but no she’s still the same. I love getting in her head with regards to nicknames and her reasoning for giving them. It just cracks me up! I’m more than happy to report that we get to know the mysterious Bradley Cole a little better and yes, he’s still super awesome! Seriously Archer, where can I get my own Bradley? We have several secondary characters that a play a vital role including Davis’ ex-husband, Eddie to his own grandmother. Though, the real scene stealer is the Bellissimo’s Master of Ceremonies, Matthew Thatcher. He just oozes charisma and you can easily imagine his legion of fans.

Narrative is first person via Davis and if I thought she was a bit unreliable as a narrator in DOUBLE WHAMMY, I can honestly say, she’s a bit more balanced in DOUBLE DIP. The fact we aren’t given a back story to Davis’ life like we had in WHAMMY, really helps. While I liked the back story scenes in WHAMMY, they did take a bit away from Davis and really getting to know her. She’s still quirky and a bit out there, but she’s just so much fun! I can count on Davis and her antics to put on a smile on my face. Overall, Archer gives us a more a polished story in terms of knowing what to focus on and what’s important, something I felt that was slightly lacking in WHAMMY.

As for the overall mystery, it was exhausting trying to figure it out. I really liked the double mystery and I feel as if I’m giving spoilers by saying there’s two cases to be solved. I won’t go into much detail, but Archer threw me off with regards to Bradley’s case. While I liked Davis’ involvement in Bradley’s case, I have to admit that her involvement felt a bit forced. It was almost as if Archer had to have her involved in his life somehow to make their relationship relevant. Despite this slight hiccup, I really did like how Archer brings it all together. In the end, it all will make sense!

Despite enjoying DOUBLE DIP, I do have some complaints. The first is on the use of Davis’ ex-husband Eddie. I won’t go into detail because a large part of his presence is connected to the plot and I don’t want to spoil things, but having Eddie show up threw me for a loop. In DOUBLE WHAMMY, Davis spent way too much time talking about him and I wished we had seen more of him. In hindsight, despite Davis wanting to move on, perhaps she isn’t quite over Eddie as we are led to believe? I was annoyed with Eddie’s appearance and even more so when Davis’ family doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with it. When we see Bradley’s reaction, I was devastated for Davis, but at the same time, I wanted to shake some sense into her and just leave Eddie on his own. The second complaint I have is regarding the timeline from when DOUBLE DIP takes place. I’m use to books in a series taking place shortly after one book ends or at least being notified of a time change and at no point does Archer inform us of the time change until she makes a slight note. It threw me off a few times especially since I expected to pick up right where left off in WHAMMY.

Overall, Gretchen Archer’s DOUBLE DIP is a light fun book. It does end on a slight cliffhanger, but not one that will have you throwing the book across the room. I personally can’t wait to see what’s in store for Davis in book three, DOUBLE STRIKE. show less