{"id":12759,"date":"2021-07-01T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-01T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/?p=12759"},"modified":"2021-06-30T18:33:25","modified_gmt":"2021-07-01T01:33:25","slug":"book-review-denied-by-mary-keliikoa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2021\/07\/01\/book-review-denied-by-mary-keliikoa\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Denied by Mary Keliikoa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Denied
Denied by Mary Keliikoa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Title: Denied (Kelly Pruett Mystery #2)
Author: Mary Keliikoa
Genre: Mystery Suspense
Rating: 3 of 5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not for me, maybe for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I enjoy a good suspense novel, but the writing style of Mary Keliikoa didn’t work for me despite giving her two books to sell me on it. I find it slow, dry, and rather pedantic. In my head, the voice of the main character was a drawl. The entire thing was frustrating as hell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PI Kelly Pruett is following in her father’s footsteps. She’s trying to keep his private investigation agency going after his death. After almost dying on a case, she’s on recovery when she takes a new investigation for a childhood friend to find the woman’s missing father.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

One thing that drives me crazy is when an author confuses determined with pigheadedness. Kelly Pruett is often stupid about seeing things through. Despite saying how important her daughter is, she doesn’t put her own well-being at any importance to act cautiously. It drives me nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Denied is an improvement, story-wise to Derailed. I enjoyed this book more. There were a few points in Derailed where the pacing made me want to give up. Denied was better paced, and the rollout on reveals was more satisfying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think that there is an audience for this book. It just isn’t me. I bet my dad would love it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advance copy of this book<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

About Mary Keliikoa:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary Keliikoa is the author of the Lefty and Agatha award nominated PI Kelly Pruett mystery series and the upcoming Misty Pines mystery series featuring Sheriff Jax Turner slated for release in September 2022. Her short stories have appeared in Woman\u2019s World and in the anthology Peace, Love and Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by Music of the \u201860s. A Pacific NW native, she spent a part of her life working around lawyers. Combining her love of legal and books, she creates a twisting mystery where justice prevails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When not in Washington, you can find Mary on the beach in Hawaii where she and her husband recharge. But even under the palm trees and blazing sun, she\u2019s plotting her next murder\u2014novel that is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with Mary Keliikoa:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Website<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Twitter<\/a> | BookBub<\/a> | Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Book Review: Denied by Mary Keliikoa
\nTitle: Denied (Kelly Pruett Mystery #2)
\nAuthor: Mary Keliikoa
\nGenre: Mystery Suspense
\nRating: 3 of 5 stars<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[3137,3,3357,3254],"tags":[3524,3526,3525],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Denied-Banner.png?fit=815%2C315&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12393,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2021\/04\/16\/book-review-the-mary-shelley-club-by-goldy-moldavsky\/","url_meta":{"origin":12759,"position":0},"title":"Book Review: The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky","date":"2021-04-16","format":false,"excerpt":"Book Review: The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky Title: The Mary Shelley Club Author: Goldy Moldavsky Genre: Thriller, Young Adult My rating: 4 of 5 stars","rel":"","context":"In "Book Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1TheMaryShelleyClubTourBanner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12427,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2021\/04\/23\/book-review-operation-jade-helmet-by-ashley-fontainne\/","url_meta":{"origin":12759,"position":1},"title":"Book Review: Operation Jade Helmet by Ashley Fontainne","date":"2021-04-23","format":false,"excerpt":"Book Review: Operation Jade Helmet by Ashley Fontainne Title: Operation: Jade Helmet Author: Ashley Fontainne Genre: Christian Fiction\/Suspense\/Futuristic My rating: 3 of 5 stars","rel":"","context":"In "Book Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"Operation Jade Helmet by Ashley Fontainne","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Operation-Jade-Helmet-banner-anim.gif?fit=649%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11880,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/21\/cover-reveal-gulf-of-deception-by-kelly-ann-hopkins\/","url_meta":{"origin":12759,"position":2},"title":"Cover Reveal: Gulf of Deception by Kelly Ann Hopkins","date":"2021-02-21","format":false,"excerpt":"Gulf of Deception by Kelly Hopkins Title: Gulf of Deception (Gulf Shores Mysteries, #1)Author: Kelly Ann HopkinsGenre: Mystery, Young AdultRelease Date: 08 March 2021 Fort Myers Beach has it all: sun, sand, music\u2026and murder. On the cusp of her high school graduation, Lily Harmony needs to figure out how to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"Gulf of Deception by Kelly Hopkins","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/GulfOfDeceptionRevealBanner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9146,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2020\/03\/10\/cover-reveal-hickville-crossroads-by-mary-karlik\/","url_meta":{"origin":12759,"position":3},"title":"Cover Reveal: Hickville Crossroads by Mary Karlik","date":"2020-03-10","format":false,"excerpt":"Title: Hickville Crossroads (Hickville High Series #4)Author: Mary KarlikGenre: Contemporary,\u00a0Romance,\u00a0Young AdultRelease Date: 15 May 2020 Frasier Anderson is one of the hottest teenage actors in the UK, but he\u2019s virtually unknown in the US. Now he\u2019s landed the leading role in a big-budget Hollywood film that could make him an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/HickvilleCrossroadsRevealBanner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9921,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2020\/06\/28\/book-review-the-redpoint-crux-by-morgan-shamy\/","url_meta":{"origin":12759,"position":4},"title":"Book Review: The Redpoint Crux by Morgan Shamy","date":"2020-06-28","format":false,"excerpt":"The Redpoint Crux by Morgan Shamy Title: The Redpoint CruxAuthor: Morgan ShamyGenre: Gothic FictionMy rating: 2 of 5 stars This book isn't for me. How do I know? Because I read it and it bored me to tears. 20% in I almost DNF'ed it, but I stuck with it only\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"The Redpoint Crux by Morgan Shamy","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/TRC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11739,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/28\/book-review-in-the-penalty-box-by-kelly-anne-blount-lynn-rush\/","url_meta":{"origin":12759,"position":5},"title":"Book Review: In The Penalty Box by Kelly Anne Blount & Lynn Rush","date":"2021-01-28","format":false,"excerpt":"Book Review: In The Penalty Box by Kelly Anne Blount & Lynn Rush Title: In The Penalty Box Author: Kelly Anne Blount & Lynn Rush Genre: YA Sports Romance My rating: 3 of 5 stars","rel":"","context":"In "Book Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"In The Penalty Box by Kelly Anne Blount & Lynn Rush","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/In-The-Penalty-Box-by-Kelly-Anne-Blount-Lynn-Rush2.png?fit=815%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12759"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12759"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12763,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12759\/revisions\/12763"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}