REVIEW: The Devil Wore Sneakers (+$30 Amazon GC Giveaway)

Title: The Devil Wore Sneakers

Author: Nora LeDuc

Series: N/A

Pages: 252

Date Published: 2015

Format: Kindle

Genre: Mystery-Romance

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
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Synopsis:
Who shot Lucy Watson’s estranged brother, the popular high school teacher who brought snacks for the staff and volunteered to help troubled students? When Lucy Watson returns to her hometown in New Hampshire to bury her brother, she learns law enforcement is looking into several suspects. But soon the search for the killer grows intensely personal for Lucy. The police discover a fierce argument occurred the day of the murder between Lucy’s brother and his best friend Liam McAllister, Lucy’s first love. The cops shift their focus to Liam.
Determined to get justice, Lucy becomes involved in the mystery and must choose to put her faith in Liam one last time, or face the truth; she is in love with her brother’s murderer.

When former bad boy Liam McAllister runs into Lucy Watson, he feels the familiar hunger and tug of attraction that they once shared. Since their breakup five years ago, he’s regretted ending their relationship and dreams of winning her back. Now is his chance. He invites her to his bar and grill to show he’s a reformed, self-made businessman. But his plan comes apart. The bank threatens foreclosure on his establishment, and he falls under suspicion for the death of his pal and Lucy’s brother. Liam struggles to overcome his personal challenges while proving he’s changed. Can he convince Lucy to trust him, or is it too late for a second shot at love?

~My Thoughts~

This murder-mystery seems to come alive and straight out of one of the classic "who-dun-it's". When Lucy Watson's brother, a well-liked, upstanding member of the community, gets shot, it turns the small New Hampshire community on it's head. Returning to bury her brother and find out what happened, Lucy is determined to find the killer and get justice for her brother. Of course, who is the prime suspect but the only guy who can still make Lucy weak in the knees, Liam McAllister, who also was her brother's best friend. 

I loved the interplay between all the different characters. One of the most interesting relationships was between Lucy and her dead brother strangely enough. Although he is gone, Lucy's grief is palpable, and is the clear driver behind most of her behaviors and motivations during the story. And the romance and general tension between Lucy and Liam was extremely high as well, obviously. 

There were a LOT of side characters and little trails of plot or storyline that kept steering us from the main story. There were so many characters in fact, that I had trouble keeping them all straight at one point. Sure it was a great addition to making me not suspect the real killer, but did there need to be quite so many old high school friends and nieghbors? lol 

The Devil Wore Sneakers is one of those books with a compelling, driving plot the moves you to keep reading even when you have much more important things to do... (Refinancing my house can wait guys, I'm knuckle-deep in a page-turner here!)... Definitely give this one a shot of you like murder-mysteries, romances, and definitely well thought out books with a great resolution.

~Try an Excerpt!~

“We’re also investigating Liam McAllister.”

“Liam?” A knot formed in her stomach.

The chief eyed her with interest. “Surprised? How many years since you’ve seen him?”

“Five.” She forced herself to relax her fisted hands. “He wouldn’t shoot Ryan. They were friends. Even if that changed, I know Liam’s not a killer.”

“A witness who doesn’t want to be named reported them arguing near the Mad Moose bar and believed they would come to blows. Your brother died later that night.”

Strange. “What did they quarrel about?”

“We’re looking into the squabble. Any ideas?”

“Me? No.” The chief had nothing. Her head hurt, but his last accusation irritated her more than her headache. “One fight doesn’t mean Liam would shoot my brother.”

“You were engaged to McAllister once, right?”

She went still at the familiar ache inside her. She couldn’t explain what she felt when her relationship with Liam came up. Was it anger, regret, or pain over the wasted four years of dating? Maybe it was the way he’d broken up with her.

Liam had ended their relationship on the day she’d expected a proposal. Then he’d gone off to party all night. Yes, that was the problem. No matter how hard she tried to forget, their last evening together was seared into her memory.

 “Investigate him. I understand.” She grabbed the handle of her suitcase, ready to leave and end this painful conversation.

~Meet Nora!~ 

Nora grew up in rural New Hampshire, picking blueberries in her backyard and wandering the woods with her brothers. Now that she’s older, she still lives in rural New Hampshire and enjoys writing stories. She was first published in 2000 and has written historical romances, contemporary romance, romantic suspense and mystery. She is a co-founder of the New Hampshire Romance Writers chapter, which meets monthly at the Bow Library. Here she enjoys great speakers and the company of fabulous authors.

When not writing, Nora spends time with her family, sews quilts, gardens and takes road trips to anywhere fun.

Nora will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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