A Cutthroat Business: A Savannah Martin Novel (Savannah Martin Mysteries Book 1)

~I enjoyed most of the book as I read it, however I do have some reservations. I would not continue on with the series because I was not too impressed with the main character, Savannah. She was self-centered and very one-dimensional. I’m sure there are real-live people just like her…and I choose not to associate with them either. Likewise I don’t want to read about them. ~I did not care for some of the language…the use of certain slang when referring to specific people. Maybe if this was a historical piece, where this terminology was in common place speech it might have better fit in. However, this was a modern day story; we don’t need to, or shouldn’t be, talking that way. ~It was just an okay book as in a 3-star; not one that I liked as in 4-Star.

This book sounds like it was written in the 50s. It is certainly racist and homophobic, not to mention shallow and moronic.. How this series has carried into the double digits is beyond belief. Then again maybe all the hate was just buried as evidenced by the state in which the country currently finds itself. As for the "Southern Belle" main character, I believe I would be likely to want to slap some sense into her or just tell her to find her backbone should we meet. Nothing in this book rings true. Like many readers, I found myself skipping pages, then chapters and finally the rest of the series.

It was just ridiculous. No romance, just poorly written and really racist (!) mystery. I'm not from the South so maybe I don't understand it but if this is how people are on South, then I'm glad I'm not one of the Southern Belles. I didn't like Heroine. She was infantile and naive and thought she is better than others and she likes eating for free with everyone. I was interested in Hero but he was almost not in the book. I was all the time waiting for some twist but even ending was disappointing.

This is a review of the series, books 1 to 15. I’ve read them all, to my great enjoyment. This series features both the mystery component and the relationships component. Each book is a standalone mystery. However, each book progresses the relationships and, along the way through the series, there are multiple revelations which are surprising and a real treat to read. The main character is 27 yr old Savannah, who grew up the town princess in an antebellum mansion on a hill in a small community an hour south of Nashville. She now lives in Nashville, is divorced, and is trying to start a new career in real estate. She’s smart, a bit ditzy, and keeps coming into conflict with some stifling Southern Belle expectations. The other main character is 30 yr old Rafe, who grew up the town bad boy in the same community as Savannah, only on the other side of the tracks, so to speak, and is of mixed race. He went to prison at the age of 18 for beating a man. He and Savannah haven’t seen each other since high school, their paths unexpectedly cross, and so begins the series.... The tone of the series is light, though there are serious moments. I really enjoyed the evolution of the various relationships over the course of the series, which takes place from August of one year to December of the following year. In case any of the following bothers you, 1. This series touches on hidden and not-so-hidden racism in the fictional Middle Tennessee town that is at the heart of the series. There’s a big, nasty racial slur very early on in “A Cutthroat Business” that nearly caused me to stop reading. I’m glad I continued because the book didn’t go where I feared it was going; however, though I understand the context, I really wish that word was removed from the book. It’s low to use it, hugely offensive and totally unnecessary, in my view. 2. There are multiple out-of-wedlock births. Life is messy sometimes. Plus, these births are part of the great revelations. 3. There are infrequent swear words, like the eff word. The use of this language is realistic for the few situations where it was used. 4. There’s a fair amount of descriptive sex (non-marital and marital) throughout the series, beginning with book #3. Personally, I thought it was realistic and what I would expect of young lovers (having been young and madly in love myself). Plus, I thought it was hot. 5. There’s a bit of mild, descriptive violence at times, though not much and usually only towards the bad guys. 6. There’s occasional mild disrespect toward the family matriarch, who has a touch of #1 above and needs to be nudged into the 21st century. I recommend reading “A Cutthroat Business” because it sets up the key relationships and tone for the series. If you like that, you’ll probably like the other books. I didn’t read them in order, and it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the books or the series. I give the series as a whole 5 stars for the great relationships arc, though individual books might be less than that. I give this first book, A Cutthroat Business, 5 stars. Good writing, good mystery, hot sexual attraction (no sex), and 2 eff words. My public library carries all of the books in this series. Thumbs up for that.

I read about half of the book, and then couldn’t read further. I enjoyed the plot itself; there were several suspects and events among the way to the answer of who did it in the end. However, the amount of racism, discrimination, and elitist nature got too severe for me to be comfortable with finishing. In fact, it has turned me off reading anything by this author.

Stereotypes abound. I found the grammar that all black characters used to be irritating, the heroine a Scarlett O'Hara want to be. I am born and bred southern and can assure you this is too , too much! The people I know don't act like this, the black people don't use poor grammar. Maybe this author is too wrapped up in past history of south and has never been here! No more of her books for me.

Gossipy snide main character. It's impossible to like her. I hardly ever quit reading a book, it has to be really bad. I stopped reading this one (after a ridiculous amount of catty comments) when someone was identified as that woman who got pregnant by "that colored boy". Really??

The main character, Savannah has an inner nature very different from her external self. She is constantly refraining herself from saying to others the nasty things she is thinking and feeling inside. She considers herself obligated to behave according to the standards of a Southern Belle and not to her real self. She is supposed to be sweet and demure but inside she is full of hostility and anger. She has no kindness or affection in her heart for people and judges harshly, specially the externals of physical appearance and lack of elegant manners. She constantly uses language so harsh to describe people that it sounds like she is continually roasting others. It is so unfiltered that it is comic too. Her inner judgements and feelings she lets the reader know, but hides them from the characters she deals with in the story. She considers herself too well-mannered to let all that inner hostility and harshness be shown to others. She supposedly blushes and trembles frequently like a sensitive person would but I find it contradictory with the coldness and cruelty that characterizes her inner self. No wonder her husband left her for another woman, he must have been famished for affection.

Jenna Bennett is a talented writer and was able to capture the racial tension and prejudices that are common in the south very admirably. The book was very well written and the plot, well planned with surprising twists and turns. There were some parts of the book which I was uncomfortable with, though. I found the bigoted racist's remarks, comments and descriptions of African Americans in the book disturbing and the descriptions of people's weight (Brenda's and Marquita's) unsympathetic and derisive. The main character, Savannah was not very likable.... So what if she comes from a rich family, is blonde, slim, attractive, can trace her ancestors back to several generations and moves in the best circles in Sweetwater? She was still bigoted and prejudiced. It seemed that Savannah was not even aware of her intolerance or bias against people different from her, either due to their weight, size, race or origin. I didn't like her attitude to her colleagues especially her insensitivity to Hazel who had a problem with overeating. It surprised me that Rafe seemed to be endlessly patient with her even though he was aware of the attitudes she and her family had towards him; she had no trouble telling him off on numerous occasions. To be fair, the story also captured Savannah's softer side, her kindness to Rafe's grandmother, her honesty in questioning impressions she's always had. I hope to read more about her and discover her evolution from a snobbish, privileged, southern belle to someone who is more sympathetic to the faults and shortcomings of others.

This blurb is misleading for me. For instance, the “making no bones about what he wants from her.” is wrong. Maybe I’m dense but it didn’t seem he wanted anything from her. Actually it seemed he was indifferent to her. And she made it very clear from the beginning that she wasn’t into him. They both seemed very cordial to each other, I never felt any goosebumps from their interactions and she was dating someone else during their meetings anyway. So that knocked a star off right away since its classified as a romance. Other than that, this book was a pretty quick read for me. A clean NA Mystery that was very fun to read and solve. OK, so I never figured out the whodunit, having to wait till the end and see. But its the journey my friends, the journey! I really enjoyed how flawlessly Savannah was able to get info out of people. It didn’t seem forced or awkward. Her southern belle charm was so over the top as to be funny to me. She was so ridiculously polite and very demure, but it was intentional. Therefore her going out of her comfort and investigating this murder on her own was pretty neat to experience with her. Rafe was no one special to me, I actually got annoyed with him pretty early on. His flirtations were half hearted and incomplete to me. It was like he was just doing it for the attention. Trying to get under her skin for the sake of getting under her skin. Which turns me right off. He did take helping her seriously, which I appreciated. All in all, I wouldn’t classify this as a romance in the slightest, but its a great mystery.

~I enjoyed most of the book as I read it, however I do have some reservations. I would not continue on with the series because I was not too impressed with the main character, Savannah. She was self-centered and very one-dimensional. I’m sure there are real-live people just like her…and I choose not to associate with them either. Likewise I don’t want to read about them. ~I did not care for some of the language…the use of certain slang when referring to specific people. Maybe if this was a historical piece, where this terminology was in common place speech it might have better fit in. However, this was a modern day story; we don’t need to, or shouldn’t be, talking that way. ~It was just an okay book as in a 3-star; not one that I liked as in 4-Star.

This book sounds like it was written in the 50s. It is certainly racist and homophobic, not to mention shallow and moronic.. How this series has carried into the double digits is beyond belief. Then again maybe all the hate was just buried as evidenced by the state in which the country currently finds itself. As for the "Southern Belle" main character, I believe I would be likely to want to slap some sense into her or just tell her to find her backbone should we meet. Nothing in this book rings true. Like many readers, I found myself skipping pages, then chapters and finally the rest of the series.

It was just ridiculous. No romance, just poorly written and really racist (!) mystery. I'm not from the South so maybe I don't understand it but if this is how people are on South, then I'm glad I'm not one of the Southern Belles. I didn't like Heroine. She was infantile and naive and thought she is better than others and she likes eating for free with everyone. I was interested in Hero but he was almost not in the book. I was all the time waiting for some twist but even ending was disappointing.

This is a review of the series, books 1 to 15. I’ve read them all, to my great enjoyment. This series features both the mystery component and the relationships component. Each book is a standalone mystery. However, each book progresses the relationships and, along the way through the series, there are multiple revelations which are surprising and a real treat to read. The main character is 27 yr old Savannah, who grew up the town princess in an antebellum mansion on a hill in a small community an hour south of Nashville. She now lives in Nashville, is divorced, and is trying to start a new career in real estate. She’s smart, a bit ditzy, and keeps coming into conflict with some stifling Southern Belle expectations. The other main character is 30 yr old Rafe, who grew up the town bad boy in the same community as Savannah, only on the other side of the tracks, so to speak, and is of mixed race. He went to prison at the age of 18 for beating a man. He and Savannah haven’t seen each other since high school, their paths unexpectedly cross, and so begins the series.... The tone of the series is light, though there are serious moments. I really enjoyed the evolution of the various relationships over the course of the series, which takes place from August of one year to December of the following year. In case any of the following bothers you, 1. This series touches on hidden and not-so-hidden racism in the fictional Middle Tennessee town that is at the heart of the series. There’s a big, nasty racial slur very early on in “A Cutthroat Business” that nearly caused me to stop reading. I’m glad I continued because the book didn’t go where I feared it was going; however, though I understand the context, I really wish that word was removed from the book. It’s low to use it, hugely offensive and totally unnecessary, in my view. 2. There are multiple out-of-wedlock births. Life is messy sometimes. Plus, these births are part of the great revelations. 3. There are infrequent swear words, like the eff word. The use of this language is realistic for the few situations where it was used. 4. There’s a fair amount of descriptive sex (non-marital and marital) throughout the series, beginning with book #3. Personally, I thought it was realistic and what I would expect of young lovers (having been young and madly in love myself). Plus, I thought it was hot. 5. There’s a bit of mild, descriptive violence at times, though not much and usually only towards the bad guys. 6. There’s occasional mild disrespect toward the family matriarch, who has a touch of #1 above and needs to be nudged into the 21st century. I recommend reading “A Cutthroat Business” because it sets up the key relationships and tone for the series. If you like that, you’ll probably like the other books. I didn’t read them in order, and it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the books or the series. I give the series as a whole 5 stars for the great relationships arc, though individual books might be less than that. I give this first book, A Cutthroat Business, 5 stars. Good writing, good mystery, hot sexual attraction (no sex), and 2 eff words. My public library carries all of the books in this series. Thumbs up for that.

I read about half of the book, and then couldn’t read further. I enjoyed the plot itself; there were several suspects and events among the way to the answer of who did it in the end. However, the amount of racism, discrimination, and elitist nature got too severe for me to be comfortable with finishing. In fact, it has turned me off reading anything by this author.

Stereotypes abound. I found the grammar that all black characters used to be irritating, the heroine a Scarlett O'Hara want to be. I am born and bred southern and can assure you this is too , too much! The people I know don't act like this, the black people don't use poor grammar. Maybe this author is too wrapped up in past history of south and has never been here! No more of her books for me.

Gossipy snide main character. It's impossible to like her. I hardly ever quit reading a book, it has to be really bad. I stopped reading this one (after a ridiculous amount of catty comments) when someone was identified as that woman who got pregnant by "that colored boy". Really??

The main character, Savannah has an inner nature very different from her external self. She is constantly refraining herself from saying to others the nasty things she is thinking and feeling inside. She considers herself obligated to behave according to the standards of a Southern Belle and not to her real self. She is supposed to be sweet and demure but inside she is full of hostility and anger. She has no kindness or affection in her heart for people and judges harshly, specially the externals of physical appearance and lack of elegant manners. She constantly uses language so harsh to describe people that it sounds like she is continually roasting others. It is so unfiltered that it is comic too. Her inner judgements and feelings she lets the reader know, but hides them from the characters she deals with in the story. She considers herself too well-mannered to let all that inner hostility and harshness be shown to others. She supposedly blushes and trembles frequently like a sensitive person would but I find it contradictory with the coldness and cruelty that characterizes her inner self. No wonder her husband left her for another woman, he must have been famished for affection.

Jenna Bennett is a talented writer and was able to capture the racial tension and prejudices that are common in the south very admirably. The book was very well written and the plot, well planned with surprising twists and turns. There were some parts of the book which I was uncomfortable with, though. I found the bigoted racist's remarks, comments and descriptions of African Americans in the book disturbing and the descriptions of people's weight (Brenda's and Marquita's) unsympathetic and derisive. The main character, Savannah was not very likable.... So what if she comes from a rich family, is blonde, slim, attractive, can trace her ancestors back to several generations and moves in the best circles in Sweetwater? She was still bigoted and prejudiced. It seemed that Savannah was not even aware of her intolerance or bias against people different from her, either due to their weight, size, race or origin. I didn't like her attitude to her colleagues especially her insensitivity to Hazel who had a problem with overeating. It surprised me that Rafe seemed to be endlessly patient with her even though he was aware of the attitudes she and her family had towards him; she had no trouble telling him off on numerous occasions. To be fair, the story also captured Savannah's softer side, her kindness to Rafe's grandmother, her honesty in questioning impressions she's always had. I hope to read more about her and discover her evolution from a snobbish, privileged, southern belle to someone who is more sympathetic to the faults and shortcomings of others.

This blurb is misleading for me. For instance, the “making no bones about what he wants from her.” is wrong. Maybe I’m dense but it didn’t seem he wanted anything from her. Actually it seemed he was indifferent to her. And she made it very clear from the beginning that she wasn’t into him. They both seemed very cordial to each other, I never felt any goosebumps from their interactions and she was dating someone else during their meetings anyway. So that knocked a star off right away since its classified as a romance. Other than that, this book was a pretty quick read for me. A clean NA Mystery that was very fun to read and solve. OK, so I never figured out the whodunit, having to wait till the end and see. But its the journey my friends, the journey! I really enjoyed how flawlessly Savannah was able to get info out of people. It didn’t seem forced or awkward. Her southern belle charm was so over the top as to be funny to me. She was so ridiculously polite and very demure, but it was intentional. Therefore her going out of her comfort and investigating this murder on her own was pretty neat to experience with her. Rafe was no one special to me, I actually got annoyed with him pretty early on. His flirtations were half hearted and incomplete to me. It was like he was just doing it for the attention. Trying to get under her skin for the sake of getting under her skin. Which turns me right off. He did take helping her seriously, which I appreciated. All in all, I wouldn’t classify this as a romance in the slightest, but its a great mystery.

Likes: The plot has depth and a good mix of characters. The mix of personalities make the interactions interesting and enjoyable, as well as adds humor with each clash. Dislikes: There are a number of characters, so it helps being able to have a visual picture of each. There are descriptions of each here and there, but would have helped paint them in the moment, with describing how they appeared in that snapshot of time. The events take place around real estate, so everyone knows there are papers that need to be sorted and agreements and contracts worked through, but there is little joy in having to read about it. Would have liked to have seen more time spent describing the environment, weather and how the characters were fitting into the moment rather than just the general thoughts of the main character at the moment. Did I mention this is real estate? I am exactly halfway through the book now. We know the main character is attractive, but that has not been capitalized on to draw the reader through the less then excited business dealings. We know that the mysterious guy is attractive, but other than just repeating over and over again that women find him attractive, this has not been explored. We know that there is a guy that the main character's mom would like to see her with, and there has been some light interactions, but once again defaults to proper Southern charm rather than tapping into some Southern passion...or at least a little romantic tension. The main character is divorced, and talks a lot about who she is not interested in, but a date or two with someone she is interested would have gone a long way. There is a lot of hinting at a lot of relationships and scandal, but the story line remains real shallow in these areas, yet goes deep into the mundane moments of characters with a lot more interesting and colorful side stories that are never explored. Summary: You keep reading to solve the mystery, but long for development of side story lines to "sweeten the tea" a bit and make getting to the end a truly enjoyable Southern experience.

I rarely stop a book in the middle but the main character was so dispcable I had to stop after she was going on about how she was looking forward to the victim's memorial service because with her slender figure and pale blond hair she just looks so good in black...barf...her main comments about the victim are how fat she is, even when she finds the body she talks about her fat little hands Then her client..who her mother talks about as the son of the woman that got pregnant by that colored boy...no I'm not kidding..and no it doesn't take place in the 50s But apparently it's all ok, she's a southern belle...she keeps telling you...usually after she says something vile...skip it...I got it free and I feel cheated...I'm trying to figure out how to delete

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is the second one I have read but except some discrepancy with her ex boyfriend/husband (the book I read previously had her leave her boyfriend at the altar rather than marry him because he was running around on her). Anyway, in this book ACutthroat Business, Savannah is called to let a perspective buyer in to look at a house because another agent did not show up. When she gets there, the client turns out to be Rafe, a boy that had gone to her high school. Rafe was from the poor side of town and had got in a bar fight. He had been sent to prison. He was now a "hunk" in every sense of the word. As she goes to unlock the door she finds it is already unlocked. They enter the house and she start to show Rafe the house they find the body of the realtor who was suppose to show Rafe the house dead on the floor with her throat cut wide open. As the story progresses Rafe is coming on to her and although she is truly hot and bothered and determined to have nothing to do with him (because her family would strongly object). However, soon secrets start coming out about the dead realtor and then another person from the office commits suicide. Or did she? Are Savannah and bad boy Rafe getting together? You have to read this book to find out!

A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS A Savannah Martin Mystery JENNA BENNETT Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author Savannah is a newly minted Real Estate Broker who finds herself and a childhood acquaintance standing over the dead body of one of her cohorts, blood everywhere. She calls 911, and the mystery begins. What makes this particular multilayer whodunit different is the characters, which are colorfully defined by the author. Savannah, the lead, is your typical Southern Bell who has the propensity to evaluate the situation at hand, and she goes through some difficult ones. The cast comes in all shapes and sizes. An example is Savannah's childhood hunk of a bad-boy man friend who becomes an integral part of the situation at hand and the shade of a possibility of a romantic attachment, mostly on his side because her mother's words are in her head. He and Savannah come in contact throughout this adventure which leads to an unlikely killer with a well put together ending the reader will want to go on. Book 2 is right around the corner. This mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to figuring out the who, and why the crimes were committed. Savannah turns into a better sleuth than a Real Estate Broker.

Savannah Martin has left her department store sales counter to venture into the world of 'Realty'. She finds things can get 'really' bad, 'really' fast when she tries to do a coworker a favor and meet a customer who wants to see a house. Of course no good deed ever goes unpunished, so when Savannah lets the customer in the house they find the coworker dead. Oh, by the way, the customer turns out to be a bad boy from Savannah's school days, who definitely from the wrong side of the tracks. Follow along with our favorite realtor as she tries to solve the murder while staying out of the bad boy's bed, a fate that would NOT be worse than death. Get this book now if you want a good read. After you read it, give it an honest review, since reviews are very important to those of us who sell books on Amazon. I found this book to be well written even if it did contain a few boo boos. Ex. She locks the door of the house before she leaves. What's wrong with that you ask. I'm pretty sure that's the same door the cops had to burst through a few minutes before. There are others but they do nothing to detract from your enjoyment.

Savannah Martin is new to the real estate business. She hasn't sold her first house yet. One morning, while in the office, she answers the phone. A client has called to look for Brenda Puckett, the real estate agent hasn't showed up for their appointment to look at a house. Savannah calls all the numbers she has for Brenda, but doesn't get an answer. Hoping to get a sale, she decides to show the house to the perspective client herself. When she gets to the house, she recognizes Rafe Collier, a former schoolmate. He had been a bad boy in school and eventually went to jail for beating a man. Savannah finds herself to be intimidated and attracted to Rafe at the same time. In the middle of the house showing, they discover the body of Brenda Puckett with her throat slit. The police are called. Savannah and Rafe go down to the station for questioning. No one seems all that sad that Brenda is dead. Her husband has quickly moved on to the neighbor lady he was having an affair with. People at work have seemed to have moved on quickly. Savannah feels guilty, because she didn't like Brenda all that much, but she is curious to who could have killed her. On top of that, there is some mystery surrounding the house on Potsdam Street that also has caught her attention. I enjoyed reading this book. Savannah is a likable lead character. Rafe is also likable. I see that there are several books in this series. I would consider reading the continuation of this character.

So there were two current bloody bodies, one suspected current OD, and two historical shootings. Why do writers feel that all mysteries need a bloody body? The mystery itself was good, I did not suspect who the killer was. However Savannah fainted from the sight of the body, being kissed etc. All that southern belle charm does nothing for me. Most of the characters were just too cliche and made me cringe when they were described. I don't think I will read any more of this series.

A good murder mystery with a love attraction for the heroine and hero/male lead. Of course, murder is always serious but the author writes with a light-hearted hand. The heroine is young, energetic and new to the real estate business The hero is just a bit older. They know each other from high school but have not met recently. He is charming and alluring. Need I say more than there is a strong attraction between them, A must read if you like murder, mystery and a little romance.

I loved this series, all five books and the recently released novella. I look forward to the sixth installment in this series coming next spring (can't wait). The first things that attracted me to this book were the fact that the heroine's name is Savannah (same as my daughter) and the fact that it was a mystery. Being a woman from the south (Texas), I identified with Savannah in many ways. I did not grow up in a big antebellum home, but good manners were ingrained in me from birth. I also identified with being told who was acceptable to be friends with, date, and/or marry. I grew up in a home where racism was present, much like Savannah. However, I can also relate to Rafe, as I grew up in a single-wide trailer and didn't have much money for extra stuff. I found the books to be entertaining, and I liked that Savannah does some soul searching throughout them. The romance aspect of these books is refreshing. I like the inuendos and double entendres that are present throughout the books, as well as Rafe's blatant references to his attraction to Savannah. That being said, even though Rafe is not physically my type (think more Todd Satterfield), I do have a literary crush on him! I hope that this author never stops writing about Savannah and Rafe and the hijinks that ensue while Savannah is just trying to earn a living and figure out who she is and what she wants in life.

unnecessary sex too much for me. It became more about that than the mysteries.

A very well written mystery. Set in Nashville, Tennessee yet not one mention of the music business, the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium or Opry House. As one who has spent most of her youth growing up in and around East Nashville I recognized certain streets and other places mentioned in the story line. The plot moved wonderfully without extreme violence or sexual content. The characters were well developed. The ending was amazing. The murderer was not revealed until the last of the book. There were enough red herrings to keep the reader working on just whodunit. I like a good mystery and this one kept me turning the pages. Now if you think I'll tattle and tell you whodunit....ha ha ha. I don't give away endings. Jenna Bennett put too much into the writing for this reader to tell all. READ the book. You won't regret it.

I picked up "A Cutthroat Business" a few days ago and finished reading it in one sitting. The book is about a realtor, Savannah, who finds a dead body at a house she is showing. The book involves her helping to solve the mystery (by accident) and us finding out more about Savannah's life. It is a mystery book with just a hint of romance (which I'm assuming will be more fleshed out in future books). This is the first book in the series. I wasn't sure if I'd like the book but am glad I picked it up. It was well-written without a lot of grammar or typo issues and without clunky wording or shifts in perspective. The story is all told from Savannah's perspective. I felt like she was a real, fleshed-out character. Regarding the mystery, it was well done and I was kept guessing as to who it was (although I did guess about 2/3 into the book). I liked the real estate information; I don't know real estate, but I am in business. I liked that aspect of the book that talked about things such as who can put a house on the market and how a real estate contract worked (these were part of Savannah's everyday life and involved the house with the dead body -- so it was done in an organic way). Weaknesses of the book included the fact that the "mystery" surrounding Rafe dragged out a bit too long. Also, there are still WAY too many unanswered questions about him. The the lawyer from her hometown who takes her out on dates seemed out of left field and I have no idea what that added to the story. However, overall I enjoyed reading the book; I liked the characters and the mystery held my interest.

What? A book with no f-words, no steamy move-by-move sex scenes? For this alone the author deserves five stars. Add to this a protagonist, who, in spite of her Olde Southerne upbringing, tries to help a person of another race? Here you have a woman entirely believable with all her faults, prejudices, fears, respect for family, and too-too-precious upbringing who is still openminded. What more could you ask for? So much for the character. The plot is interesting, possible if not probable, and the writing style is light, humorous, and fresh. The characters are treated fairly, with no obvious villains, only people less likable for reasons that are given. Having worked in situations where the entire office seemed to be against me, I can relate to the way Savannah is treated by her co-workers. Yeah, it happens. Altogether an interesting book, humorous, fast reading, and an author who shows real possibilities.

Savannah Martin, her mother Margaret Anne Martin nee Dixon, her brother Dixon Calvert Martin, enigma Rafael Collier, Detective Tamara Grimaldi, Officers Spicer and Truman, teenager Alexandra Puckett, Rafe's friend Marquita, homeowner Tondalia Jenkins; these are some of the more interesting characters introduced in this first "Savannah Martin Mystery". I left out almost everyone who could realistically be considered a suspect after the second apparent homicide. I, also, left out a few characters who were mentioned but not really developed (yet) and a few whom I found disagreeable. I am not as polite as Savannah. I enjoyed meeting these folks and I look forward to getting to know them better. I like Savannah and I admire her manners and her kind heart. She was willing to go to considerable trouble for several people who, at most, had tenuous claims on her. Two little picky nits: I got a bit tired of Rafe's repeated use of 'ain't', it seemed contrived; I felt that Savannah was a tad wishy-washy regarding last minute dinner dates with a man she truly didn't seem to care for. Overall - Fun, easy, and I expect this series to improve.

Savannah Martin is trying to build a career as a realtor in Nashville, Tennessee. After two months without making any sales, she answered the phone at the office when a potential client called to say he was supposed to meet Brenda Puckett, one of her colleagues at a house The woman, who happened to be the top salesperson, had not shown up and he had been waiting for 45 minutes. Savannah drove to the house, which was listed for almost $250,000, and discovered that she knew the client from high school. He was a couple grades ahead of her, looked fantastic, and was one of the bad kids. When she tried to get the key from the lockbox, it was missing, but she discovered that one of the doors was open. The house was very neglected but she showed him around, starting with the rooms on the second floor. When they got to the first floor, they found Brenda, lying in a pool of blood with her throat cut. There are a lot of people who didn't like Brenda including her colleagues and her family. For various reasons, Savannah tries to find out who murdered her. Along the way, another one of the staff is found dead, questions arise about the legality of some of the real estate sales made by Brenda, and Savannah's mother tries to get Savannah back with a high school boyfriend. The story moves rather well. The plot is somewhat predictable: one woman, two men from different economic classes, and assorted lying and confusion by some of the characters. Jenna Bennett brings up racism and homophobia with a bit of stereotyping for the latter. It's one of a series and I may read some of the others.

In the well written first book of this cozy mystery series, Savannah has a lot to learn about the real world, but she is well on her way, and a sexy rebel from her past may be just the man to teach her. The man of her mother's dream has divorced Savannah, and she is nearing the end of the money from the settlement. The real estate business is pretty cutthroat even within her office, but she needs the money and likes her boss well enough to hang on despite the jerks who work there. She has not sold a house in the months that she has been a real estate agent, so she is willing to do all the work it takes to make a sale. When she gets a Saturday call about another relator missing an appointment, she races to the house and the waiting stranger. She has no idea that this house will lead her to a relationship with a gorgeous acquaintance from the wrong side of the tracks, a needy teenager, a needy old woman, as well as a murder and a murder attempt on her life. Life may never be the same, but maybe that is a good thing. I recommend this book with a caveat: Be prepared for the fact that Savannah is from a throw-back world of debutantes and prejudices. She doesn't really seem to believe that the mores under which she was reared are valid, but she does have a battle with them. If I believed that the author supported these prejudices, I would not be able to continue the books. But what I see is a woman who has always lived the life her mother expected her to live, who now has to start thinking for herself. She seems intelligent enough to get it; it will just take time. It can be grating to see the attitudes of some of the people, but it is also realistic. I also feel, as Savannah seems to, that Rafe is putting on a show for some reason, and I can't wait to find out more about him.

Edited on November 14, 2014: Here's what I said after reading book one in the series: "As a native of Nashville, I was hoping for a real look at the culture of the city. That didn't happen, but my interest was held by the story and its unexpected turns. The solution to the mystery was a surprise after a well-developed story line. The characters were believable, but none of them were particularly likeable. Savannah seemed a bit immature, and Rafe was just too crude, especially for her. The first person narration technique made Savannah easy to understand and it was a refreshing effect . In fact, it saved the book for me. I will read the second "installment" because I liked the first with its neat story with a hope that I come to like Savannah and Rafe better." Addition: I need to add that I have completely fallen for the Savannah and Rafe story. As the series developed (I have now read all nine books) the characters became likeable and their relationship became strong. I regret that I felt Savannah was immature and that Rafe was crude. Savannah becomes her own person and Rafe become a sensitive man who loves Savannah deeply. All the other characters come into their own as well. It turns out that there are reasons for the attitudes displayed in this first book in the series, so, if you are disappointed here, keep reading and you will be enlightened, enthralled, and entertained. I have read many series, and I usually lose interest around the third or fourth. This series only gets stronger as it develops. I am waiting not so patiently for the tenth book.

I have read the first three Savannah Martin mysteries and enjoyed each one, and highly recommend them. Savannah, a beautiful, blonde Southern Belle, makes her first appearance in "A Cutthroat Business." She's recently divorced, pursuing a career as a Realtor, and not very successful at it. One Saturday morning while at the office manning the phones, she receives a call from a prospective buyer who complains that he was to meet Realtor Brenda Puckett at an old mansion for sale, but she never showed up. Savannah immediately jumps at the chance to come and show the place. When she arrives at the property, she is surprised to see that the interested buyer is a "drop-dead gorgeous" former school mate, Rafe Collier, who came from the bad part of town. Nevertheless, she proceeds to show him through the rooms. However, in one room, they come upon the dead body of Brenda, whose throat has been cut, and is covered in blood. Savannah faints. Rafe carries her outside. And the police are called. From there, Savannah, proceeds to investigate Brenda's murder with the help of Rafe, with whom she is becoming more and more friendly. And more and more attracted to, though Savannah persistently denies this. This greatly annoys Todd an Assistant D.A. whom Savannah dates on and off. And Todd tells her how dangerous Rafe is, and that he spent two years in prison for assault and battery. Savannah strikes up a friendly relationship with Detective Tamara Grimaldi, who is investigating Brenda's murder. After a second murder, Savannah also assists her in both murder investigations. Savannah is a charming character, with a great sense of humor, who went to finishing school and was raised to act at all times like a proper Southern Belle reminiscent of Scarlett from "Gone With the Wind." She is careful to eat sparingly in a restaurant in front of a date, and never eat dessert because her mother told her that is right and proper. She now becomes friendly with Rafe Collier, a biracial son of trailer park people and who never learned the niceties of life, and her life begins to change drastically. Rafe is a fascinating character who calls Savannah "darlin," and he says that he intends to bed her down. The tension between the two characters is great fun. And yet, Savannah, in the end, unmasks the murderer.

Savanna starred as the heroine of the book. A whole lottA southern charm & twang went into this book. Typical good vs evil with good always winning. Must say that the ending was a bit of unexpected fun. The door was left wide open for future fun. May check out book 2 of the series to see if any of the previous players reappear.

Jenna Bennett's A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS is one of the best cozy mysteries I have read this year. The only thing it's lacking is a cat, a dog, or even a ferret! Savannah Martin, divorced Southern Belle, is trying to make her way in the world by selling real estate. The business is hard to break into and she is doing phone duty at the office when a call comes in from a man waiting for a realtor that didn't show up for their appointment. Savannah jumps at the chance for a possible client and hurries over to the listing to find former classmate (and hunk) Rafe Collier waiting for her. Once in the house, it becomes clear why the realtor was a no-show, she's found dead inside, her throat cut. Because the deceased was a nasty person with dubious business practices, the list of suspects grows. This is a well plotted, fast paced read, with twists and turns that keep you on your toes. The characterization was great, these are recognizable people that you could run into anywhere. The look into the world of real estate from the other side is spot on, writing what you know is smart! The romantic (and sexual) tension between Savannah and Rafe is so tantalizing. I will be continuing with this series because I want to be there when they finally realize this was meant to be, despite the fact that racially mixed couples have a very hard time finding acceptance, especially from traditionally raised families. Well done!

The first third of the book flows very fast thanks to a quick pace and a witty style. But afterwards the narration becomes too slow and too wordy as Savannah's suspicions and theories are repeated and repeated. The reader's attention is lost in pointless descriptions of places, real estate's procedures and so on. Luckily, around the last third of the book, the story becomes more vivid as the mystery becomes deeper and more intriguing. Unfortunately,not as much can be said about the relationship between the main characters. The interaction between the two is very shallow and superficial. The supposed-to-be love story results more like an expedient to spice up the mystery's part than a thoroughly developed plot. Savannah seems to have no idea of what she really wants in her life (especially in the love department), she's only preoccupied of what her family or friends think. Rafe is flirting with her but doesn't show any other real interest in her. She closely risks her life and he is nowhere to be seen for days and when they meet he doesn't mention anything about it or show any concern. I would have enjoyed having more romance there.

She writes very snarky and puts everyone down. It was very distracting from the story. Not a good start to this series.

Readers will be taken with Bennett's breezy writing style, the witty repartee and the sexual innuendo. In other words, it's the perfect exemplar of the chick-lit murder mystery. Her protagonist Savannah's food and body issues (manifesting mainly as competitiveness with other women around appearance) are off-putting, however. If you live in the South, you know someone like that, and it is easy to tell yourself, "That's just the character." But it isn't. While there are good, bad, and ordinary slim people in the novel, every person who's above average size is stereotyped--lazy, greedy, hateful, scheming, covetous, boorish, tacky slobs. (Gay men don't come off too well in here, either.) So if you are a slender person who enjoys a little vicarious body-snarking with her cozies, this may be the book for you. If you are above-average size and do not wish to spend your hard-earned money and scant leisure time being insulted on nearly every page, it is not. And regardless of size, if you have an eating disorder, A Cutthroat Business is likely to be triggering.

Jenna who also writes under Jennie Bentley is one of the authors whose work I consistently enjoy. This particular series is set in Nashville. While it is set in the South it doesn't take southern to the extreme as many authors do. While Ms. Bennett was not born in Tennessee (from her bio) she seems to have a good feel for the area and the people and apparently lives in the area now. The main character Savanah seems to have a penchant for finding dead bodies but as you read the series there is a method to murder so to speak. If you are a fan of the genre and looking for a good read I think you will enjoy this series. I originally picked it up as I am a retired real estate broker and liked the idea of a realtor being the main character. By the way it is apparent that Ms. Bennett has real estate experience from this series. I found all of the books in the series enjoyable and I am looking forward to the next. At this point she has promised at least two more. I am hoping to see her expand Savanah's brother's role as well as the police detective's role in a future book. I think she has the makings of another interesting series.

This was a fun, humorous lark of a mystery. Savannah is an indulged, spoiled Southern Belle who strikes out on her own as a real estate agent, then finds a dead body in the house she's showing. She can be warm and compassionate and then snarky and huffy. The plot and pacing were fast and fun. The characters felt real, and the humor--for me--was right on.

Familiar Romance with Mystery kindle book though a bargain at the current (zero) price. Tongue in Cheek? Yes,I simply refuse to believe that the author didn't get a kick out of her traditional Mistress of the Manor-Stable boy plot device nor the hardly virginal (divorced) heroine's response to her "unacceptable" lust for her former "Bad Boy" fellow student. That aside, this is a familiar Kindle book plot, with a genteel Southern Woman as Amateur detective, working now as a real estate agent, who faces murder by person or persons unknown and determines to help the police find out who dun it. Parallel to the murder mystery are her efforts to mask the fact that she is seeing, all in the interest of crime-solving, a man who is socially unacceptable to her family which still lives by the social norms relevant to the acceptable spouse for a young woman. The book dwells not at all seriously with the problems facing the heroine and the police, nor at all seriously with the will she/will he/if he does, then what, central non-murder related aspects of the story. It is well written, with a suitably light touch, and over-all, an entertaining though familiar story.

I gave up after 5 chapters. The main character has no redeeming qualities and I was totally taken aback by the racism and rude comments about weight.

I cannot recommend this book. The excessive mentions as to the proper etiquette for a true southern belle were off-putting and one of the reasons why I deleted the book. Truthfully I wanted to like this book, but it just did not click for me. I cannot comment on the amorous content of the book because I did not get that far, there is a graphic description of the murder scene. I quit when Savannah was visiting her mother, not sure how far into the book that is though.

Forewarned is forearmed – or something like that. However, if you don’t heed the warning you could come to the gunfight unarmed. (Warning: there is no gunfight – it’s just a figure of speech). Thank heavens for the Mauve Heather #56. I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.

A will written thriller murder mystery in the South. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is fast moving with lots of twist and turns leading to the conclusion. I would recommend to anyone who likes murder mysteries. Enjoy reading 2020

I gave this book five stars because I truly think it deserved an excellent rating. I only discovered Jenna Bennett recently. I knew her as Jennie Bentley, who writes the Do It Yourself Mysteries. I have read all of those books and was so excited she had this series. These books are very different from her books as Jennie Bentley. There is a little more romance and that adds to the story. Savannah Martin is the main character. She is a real estate agent, who has a nose for mystery and murder. She is from a very affluent family in Tennessee. One of the characters in this book is Rafe He is from a very low class family (lived in the bog) and she fights her feelings for him throughout this book. Her family constantly reminds her to stay away from him, but she has a difficult time doing that. This is a very fast read and I am currently reading book 2 (Hot Property) I think there are about 8 books in this series and I am looking forward to each one. Let me tell you Rafe moves to book 2 and that ain't bad.

I discovered this series through Kindle book deals. The cheap books offered through Kindle Deals and BookBUB gives you a chance to discover new authors for under $3.00. I am now on the 3rd book of this series. If you like a lighter read mystery this series is for you. I love mysteries and go back and forth between the more intense (J D Robb type) and these less intense ones. Savannah Martin is a fun character. She is a Southern Belle who just happens to come across murders every time she turns around. The cast of characters who surround her are fun and interesting. She is torn between two men...one a Southern gentlemen and the other a bad boy from the wrong side of town. I like this series and intend to follow Savannah through all of them. I believe there are now 5 in this series. Thanks Amazon for your Kindle Deals!! I have found a number of new authors since I received my Kindle for Christmas.

I got the first book mainly because it was free and positively rated. But when I was done, I wanted the second book. And the third, etc., etc. I didn't even take a break to read something else in between. I read them straight through. Why did I like them so much? Savannah Martin is totally likeable. She's smart (like Elizabeth Peters' heroines), loving, and refreshingly normal. Though I agree that there are some similarities to the Stephanie Plum books, the characters in this series are not caricatures. They're very real, very believable people that you want to hear more about. You root for them. Jenna Bennett has a genius for plotting. In each book, you can see that she has laid some breadcrumbs that could be used in subsequent books. I'm thinking Rafe will find himself coming to the rescue of Savannah's mom or someone very close to her, at some point. In book five, the author even foreshadowed some prequels. I won't say more, other than that I would love to read the prequels!

I am constantly looking a new author (who isn't over priced) to read on my Kindle. Luckily, I stumbled on Jenna Bennett and a Cutthroat Business. The only negative thing about the book is the very long inner monologues the lead character had. The story dragged a bit because of them. However, the plot itself sucked me in from the beginning. I loved the chemistry between Rafe and Savannah. I could practically hear the southern drawl from his character as he said "Darlin". The other characters were also likable and believable. The mystery was interesting and although I had an idea who the culprit was I wasn't sure, nor did I have a motive. It wouldn't have mattered anyway because I would have finished the book just to see how it played out. Before I finished the book ( which I read in a day) I had already bought the next book in the series. This is a quick fun book that cozy mystery lovers would definitely enjoy.

I liked this book, in large part, because of what it was not: It was not gruesome, it was not full of foul language, it was not full of sexual innuendo (or more). It managed to be quite entertaining anyway, allowing me to get to know the characters and see if I could deduce who the guilty party really was before it being revealed. Alas, the murderer was revealed before I had come to any firm conclusion. But that was fine, as I enjoyed reading it anyway.

I got this book for free and enjoyed it so much, I picked up the rest of them. Savannah is a Southern belle trying to become a real estate agent after her divorce. She was raised on the "right" side of the tracks yet after the murder of a colleague, she runs into Rafe, a bad boy who grew up on the "wrong" side in her hometown. Now, Savannah seems to find herself in the middle of some nasty things yet she can't stop thinking about Rafe. I'm not going to go into anything more because the story is well written and pretty funny at times. The one thing that I could complain about is how sometimes the Southern belle thing actually made me roll my eyes. This could be because I am not Southern and don't understand their culture very well. If you love a good series with continuing characters, I would say definitely pick this series up. They are fun stories and not that expensive. Plus, in order to find out what happens to Savannah and Rafe, you'll have to read all 5. Enjoy!

This review refers to the five books in the series, of which 'A Cutthroat Business' is the first. In this series, the author has created appealing characters in the two protagonists, the southern belle Savannah, an open minded woman with a strong empathetic nature, and the enigmatic Rafe, a decent man in spite of having experienced the very worst of human nature throughout his life. They are accompanied by a variety of well drawn secondary characters, many of whom the reader is happy to meet again over the course of the five months of life-changing events in Savannah's life that the series covers. The dialogue is realistic and often amusing, the drama is often tense and the humour is frequently satirical. What stands out in this series are the human issues that the author incorporates into the stories, which give them a distinct substance -- issues such as unquestioned values; the complexities of personal identity (especially when imposed from without); racism and hypocrisy; age, gender and class power/powerlessness, to name a few. On the mystery level, Savannah becomes involved in solving crimes revolving around friends, acquaintances and family, often putting her life in danger. While the reader can sometimes work out the identity of the villain well before Savannah does, this doesn't detract from the worth of the books -- Savannah herself is the first to admit her naivete and occasional stupidity -- instead it adds to the dramatic tension. The investigative experiences enhance Savannah's growth in personal courage and confidence, as well as facilitating the growth of her relationship with Rafe. In these activities she at times enlists his help but also accidentally interferes with his own work, sometimes causing unforeseen consequences in his life. On the romance level, the books present a developing love story between a woman from a conservative and privileged social sphere and a man whose background includes violence, poverty and a prison sentence -- a man whose integrity is dismissed by many in Savannah's world because he is deemed to be both black and 'white trash.' When they first meet, Savannah is in the process of questioning many of the standards and conventions that she was brought up to maintain and while it takes her a long time to acknowledge that she loves Rafe, she soon understands that being with him allows her to think for herself; he is the catalyst that allows her to grow into her true self. Similarly, meeting Savannah proves to be a life-changing experience for Rafe (although for other reasons). While Rafe comes to love Savannah, he is too worldly-wise to readily verbalize it, as he fully understands the reality of their life situations. It takes misunderstandings, tragedy, near-death experiences and the support of siblings and friends to clarify to both of them the special value of their relationship. The series was entertaining and I hope the author continues with it beyond book five.

A fun read. Savannah is savvy and believable as a newbie agent. I liked how she refers back to her charm school roots when politely telling it like it is, Bless her heart. Using the families ancestral wisdom, especially her Mother's, mixing with her own gut instincts is a nice touch..and the fact she is a smart independent blonde makes it even better, but when she needs help she asks. The story is a bit vague when it comes to Raph, Todd, ex-husband, etc. Hopefully, more background will emerge in book 2. I would recommend this book as a fun mystery that unravels along the way with southern antidotes thrown in. I like a book that is grammatically correct with a good mixture of proper and trash slang.

The flow and pace of the story were very good, and the writing consistent throughout. The conclusion of this mystery was just a little unsatisfying, but I will leave it to future readers to determine why this seems to be.

I enjoyed this book. It had a good mystery and Savannah is smart and funny without being silly. Rafe was very mysterious and intriguing-can't wait to find out more about him. In fact, the only negative I can say is that I didn't learn enough about either character and was quite impatient with both that and the slow pace of any romance. But, I realize that this was primarily a mystery, not a romance novel. And, there appears to be more development in the other books on the series. So, I guess the author did a good job. I'll be getting the rest of the books to find out more! I do have to disagree with a previous review posted on Amazon: I did not find thiis book to be racist at all. While there were characters in the book who were very race or class bigoted, this should not be a surprise when a book is set in the south-even today. And the language reflected that reality. I was very pleased to see that the main character, Savannah, was absolutely not. If anything she was more worried about someone being an ex-con rather than about race. It's a shame you didn't read the whole book--you missed a good mystery and an entertaining read.

If a slow build story is your thing (like it is mine) then boy is this the series for you. I love anything with a enemies to friends to lovers thing and although Savannah comes off as a moronic biped (to quote JB Lynn's series), she eventually comes around. Read the series. Enjoy the immensely slow romance. It makes it that much sweeter when they finally get there.

This mystery was filled with suspense,some humor and even a little romance. It was a murder mystery with several suspects and lots of clues that kept you guessing until the very end. The only thing I didn’t like was that it had some bad language and sexual insinuations that I didn’t enjoy. I probably would read more Savannah Martin Mysteries.

This is an enjoyable and light murder mystery with a little romance and fun included. It's a good, clean story, and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys a "cozy" type mystery.

This is the first in a series of teasingly romantic, light hearted, well crafted mysteries that WILL get you to buy the next in the series. The Southern sex-conflicted heroine is hilarious, the real estate business a perfect setting for murders, the hero totally hot and probably not as BAD as the Southern belle imagines. This is a fun read which I took on vacation and ended up buying more in the series. (Thank you Kindle!) There is just enough unfulfilled sexual encounters to keep you coming back. How long before she finally gets what she really wants in spite of her proper upbringing? How many bodies will she find this time? And will she EVER make her first sale? Just good fun! Enjoy!

This book is a great quick cozy mystery. I really did enjoy the storyline and cast of characters. But I must say I did find the who dunnit slightly anti climactic. The build up was great but it seemed to burn out too quickly and suddenly. The romance was fun but didn't get quite as steamy as I had hoped. Overall, the experience was good but not enough for me to continue in the series at over $5 a pop.

If you are a fan of Janet Evanovich's' Stephanie Plum series you will love Savannah Martin. There are many similarities in terms of characters but many of those characters are the direct opposite of those in Stephanie Plum. The style and quality of writing are very good. The story line flows effortlessly. There is no attempt to embellish the story line by contriving to insert long descriptions at every turn. The writing is as good as the early Evanovich stories, which were by far her best.

Even though this wasn't an abrupt cliffhanger, it still didn't end properly thus only getting 3 stars. You are left wondering what happens next. Having said that I really liked the book and could have given it more stars. It is a slow read but interesting nonetheless. She is a Southern belle trying to get into the real estate market. He is a bad boy. A dead body is found in a house she is trying to sell and he is an interested buyer.

This was a pretty good book and I would have given it 4 stars but it was too wordy for my tastes. I don't care for books that tell you a couple did something and then don't give you any details but I equally dislike books that give too much detail or add scenes that really aren't necessary and wouldn't be missed had they been omitted. Because of so much of what I consider to be unnecessary detail I got bored with the story. I had already figured out the guilty person(s) so I skipped to the end of the story. Shame on me for doing so but I was ready to move on to something else.

An enjoyable mystery with some unexpected characters. Holds the interest pretty well, although some characters may not be believable. A light hearted diversion from many mysteries.

I kept waiting for it to get better but it never quite got there. My main problem is with Savannah. She is way too Southern Belle -to the point she is not believable. She just goes on and on and on.The most interesting character was Rafe. I kept reading it to learn more about him and was left dissatisfied at the end of the book. If I read another it would only be to find out his story but frankly I don't think I want to wade through the whole southern belle thing to find out. Too bad - it did have some potential.

Savannah is relatively new to the world of real estate and is looking for clients and listings. When an agent doesn't arrive for a showing, savannah steps in ...... only to find the agent dead with a slit throat in the house!!! The client is an old acquaintance with a shady background and with stunning good looks. An engaging story, snappy dialogue - really enjoyable and with plenty of room for future stories .

I expected this to be a piece of fluff, but discovered interesting characters, a well paced story, and some fun moments. I liked this book very much.

Loved this mystery. Great writing. Loved the characters and the plot. Kept me guessing and interested. I also loved the location of this story, because I live in Southern middle Tennessee, an hour south of Nashville and thirty minutes south of Columbia. Love Savannah' s character

Savannah Martin is a newcomer to.real estate sales who hasn't made a sale in her first two months. When she answers the office phone one moring her adventure begins. Seems the caller did not meet the agent who was to show him a house, so after attempting to locate the agent, she takes it upon her self to help. Turns out the missing agent is dead in the listed house. Also turns out the client was an old classmate and the house had belonged to his grandmother. Savannah spends the next few weeks attempting to fine the murderer. You'll be surprised who the killer is,as is Savannah. It's a good story and I recommend it.

Real estate is murder sometimes. And as savannah discovers more cut throat than she knew. Fortunately her manners and ability to snoop are better than her sales !

This looks like a fun new series - similar to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, this "detective" (in this case a newly-licensed realtor) also gets herself into hot water by not being able to curb her curiosity. Savannah Martin has the added dimension of having been brought up a Southern Belle, so she tries to be polite in her snooping - not always wise! And like Stephanie's muddled love life, Savannah's has a few challenges too. And don't even mention her straight-laced family! I enjoyed it a lot. Not great literature, but excellent "escape" reading!

I loved this fast-paced mystery with all its twists and turns. I also loved the fact that strong language was kept to a minimum and used in context, not gratuitously. Ditto the sexual tension. Nothing wrong with a good clean read. So it wasn't 100% "politically correct"--neither is life. I got the impression that the author was making a thoughtful point about people and their personal outlooks/foibles rather than intending to intentionally insult any group. Definitely looking forward to book #2 to see how things develop between Rafe and Savannah!

I enjoyed this novel. The relationship between Susannah and Rafe reminded me of the Janet Evonavich books. However, it still was entertaining and the Real Estate, a cutthroat business for sure, is very interesting. I think the author added a bit of mystery about Rafe to keep the reader returning to real more of the series to find out just what this man really does and why he is so mysterious.

Very entertaining...I wish the author had made the lead character (Savannah Martin) a little less beautiful, desirable, fantastic. You can be a Southern Belle without all the physical greatness. But getting past that, I liked Savannah as a person. The story moves along with many twists and turns. I would recommend this book to readers that don't like to "wade" through a story.

Jenna has a really good feel for plot. As a mystery writer she deftly handles the delivery of key information in such a way that the reader works things out slightly ahead of her lead character. This is refreshing as other mysteries I have read have a smaller cast of characters but the interactions are written in such a way that I am confused about who is who. Jenna is adept at casting a large circle of friends and family and acquaintances without the reader losing track of anyone. Well written and a thoroughly enjoyable read!

The tag for this book said any fan of Stephanie Plum would be sure to enjoy Savannah Martin. Well, whoever wrote that has not read Stephanie Plum. She and Savannah are worlds apart. True, they are each trying to find their place in the world, have crazy family and friends,and a mysterious "is he a good guy, is he a bad guy?" man in their lives, but that's where the similarities end. The Stephanie Plum stories are humorous, tightly written, with unexpected twists and turns. This story meandered without a hint of realism to be found anywhere. Seriously, a seasoned police detective is going to tell a newly accredited real estate agent that if it hadn't been for her the crime would not have been solved? Not a police department I want responsible for my safety, even in literature!!!!! I had such high hopes for this series, but luckily, it was one the free ones Amazon offers, so I didn't waste any money on it. Then I would have been disappointed. Oh, and FYI, the overuse of the term "dahling" to reinforce a Southern atmosphere can be extremely irritating. Especially to those of us who live in the South and don't use the word with every third sentence.

Very very good start to a series. I have read all the books in the series and did read in a row some of the books go over stuff already covered and be come redundant at times until the last few books, however I did love the series and will read more. I can't wait really really good read great mystery, romantic, laughs and suspense. If you haven't yet read ( Stephanie Caffrey Raven McShane mystery ) and (Jana DeLeon miss Fortune mystery ) do so.

If you are looking for something fun, light, girly and interesting to read, this book is one. I was hooked by the book opening, a real estate agent showing an empty house to a potential buyer and found her co-worker's body in the house. From there, the story line inter winded with the inter-racial dating in the deeply racially divided south, displaying southern hospitality, southern lady manner secrets, southern history, all things southern style. The story is told in a manner of entertainment, making you laugh. It makes my boring 14 hours flight easily tolerable.

What an enjoyable little story!!! I loved the heroine - strong yet witty; she reminded me of someone I know. It has been over twenty years since I walked away from my addiction of romance series (I loved romantic trilogies), but I enjoyed this one so much, I am looking for "Hot Property" because I cant wait to see what happens with Savannah and Rafe. Marianne Curtis Author of Finding Gloria, Moondust and Madness: A collection of Poetry, Behind Whispering Pines, Finding Gloria - Second Edition and Brian's Last Ride

I really enjoyed the introduction to Savannah Martin. Not being a "Southern Belle" myself - I had a tough time swallowing some of her personality traits at first. Once I got over it - (didn't take me long) I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it so much, I immediately purchased the five pack with all five of her stories. There were times I thought she was a little dense about things that were going on, but I put it down to "Southern Belle" thing. If you enjoy suspense mixed with romance - you'll enjoy this and the subsequent books in series.

This was a fun book to read. I loved the author's style of writing. She was so descriptive of southern manners and customs and, as I am from the north, found this entertaining.

This is not the book you figure out 1\2 way through! Looking forward to future trips through the Real Estate ladies life! More please?

I really enjoyed this book, much to surprise. I usually choose light reading, because I read waiting for the bus and that allows me to put it aside when I'm at work. But it was hard to set this book aside. It was engaging and I liked the pace of the book and the characters, too. Usually, southern belles are not my cup of tea and at the beginning, I thought the main character would be someone I couldn't like, but she proved me wrong.

My Review:This is a lighthearted romantic murder mystery. I really enjoyed it. The main character manages to unravel the mystery before she gets killed herself, all while maintaining her southern finishing school manners. The romance is enough to keep you interested without getting graphic, a plus in my book. I would recommend this to anyone looking for that light summer read It is even free a the moment. I would pick up more in this series for a quick read. I give this book 5 stars.

All the books in this series are great fun. A feisty heroine, a drop-dead gorgeous hero (and what woman doesn't have a sneaking hankering for the "bad boy, alpha male type?), and a big dollop of Tennessee culture make this one of my two favorite ebook series. I grew up in Middle Tennessee and live in the Nashville area, so the setting was fun for me. Just start with "A Cutthroat Business" and plan to read straight through all five books, because you won't want to stop once you begin. I love them so much I actually emailed the author to beg her to write more of them. She says she has some ideas floating around and might actually do so! Very exciting! Can't wait to see how Savannah and Rafe's relationship develops.

A wonderfully written intrigue woven with threads of murder mysteries, villains and of course more. Twits and turns and some humorous situations are introduced to entice you to becoming a fan of Jenna Bennett's business as author.

hello, just finished reading my first Savannah Martin book. I really enjoyed it too, a bit of sexy, bit of purity, murder mystery, and good humor. thanks so much

I enjoyed this mystery so much I continued on to the next in the series. Savannah is moving on after a failed first marriage trying to make it on her own, much to the dismay of her mother. Her mother would've been happier had she come running home to her. The relationships in the book provided entertaining reading for me just as much as the solving of the crime. The characters are extreme in some cases but for me that adds to the enjoyment of the book. If you enjoy reading mysteries set in the South, chances are you'll this series.

I do believe I now have a favorite series! I don't appreciate the price but what are you going to do! I truly enjoyed Book #1 and have already downloaded #2. Can't wait to see how Savannah if going to grow as a realtor. And her and Rafe, HOT! Thank you!

I didn't expect the kind of suspense that is found in this book. I have read the entire series and I must say that I got hooked. Each book gets more suspenseful than the one before it. Rafe and Savannah are characters I came to love. This series is more than a mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed reading (or should I say "devouring") it. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I do recommend this book, and the whole series.

I was thinking this might just be another formulaic "bad boy" romance thinly disguised as a murder mystery. Though not a complicated thriller, this book kept my interest with its smart plot and interesting characters. Definitely recommend for a light, fun read.

Whether writing as Jennie Bentley in the DIY cozy mystery series, or as Jenna Bennett in the Savannah Martin series, all of her books are a delightful reading experience. A Cutthroat Business stars newly minted real estate agent, Savannah Martin--a fun character with humor and a deliciously twisted outlook on life. She's a blend of true southern elegance and down-to-earth common sense. Plus, the mystery keeps you guessing! I'll be reading all of this series.

Living in TN it’s great to find a really good author who writes stories about this area. Nashville has plenty of good reasons to write stories about it. Enjoyed this book immensely!!

I liked the main character, Savannah. She was funny and smart and a tough cookie. I just bought the next book in the series.

Fun characters great writing! Suspense humor Jenna Bennet has a bit of a bit in this series can't wait to read the next

Couldn't get into this one and couldn't finish it. The main character is irritating to the core and because of that I had to stop reading and delete the book.

It wasn't bad. Some of the characters are hard to take. They are either wimpy with no backbone or comes off as a jerk who tries to control those around them. Any of these books could be a stand alone, the author goes into great detail in all of these books to as what happened in the ones before. Don't know if I will continue reading this series.

Keeps you reading , funny and enjoyable.

Fun and suspenseful read. Beginning of what seems to be a good series to lose oneself in. I'm ready for the next one.

Savannahs a real estate broker and gets caught up in a murder investigation. This book keeps you guessing on who done it and has some fun doing it

If you like Stephanie Plum, you'll enjoy Savannah Martin mysteries. As with Stephanie, don't expect high tech heroes, but down to earth mystery solvers who resolve the crimes through deduction and mistakes. Enjoyable characters. Recommended.

A friend recommended this series and I am so glad she did. I really enjoyed the book it had everything you could want in a book. The extra cast in the book was just as great as the main ones. The thing I didn't like was that Savannah didn't pick up any listings that made her money.

Great read! I am always looking for new authors and will definitely add Jenna Bennett to my list. A Cutthroat Business was well-written and cleverly organized to keep the story flowing while developing characters we will want to see again. The tension was good, both in the mystery with clues, logical but not see-through, and sexually with Savannah and Rafe. Anxious to read more in the series.

One of the best books I have read! The characters are wonderful, Savannah and Rafe are just too good. The mystery is beyond, the humor is witty, and the southern belle manners are on point! Wonderful job!!!

I found it to be too predictable, and am tired of the constant ploy in so many of these cozy mysteries that the lead woman initially dislikes or fears the male love interest, but ends up falling for him in the long run. And the Southern Belle stereotype was way over done. I won't be reading the rest of the series.

I found this cozy mystery entertaining. But I prefer mysteries with more edginess. The dialog was believable. The main female character is very young. The "bad boy" has a good heart. I couldn't identify with female lead but I think others will.

This was an enjoyable mystery with comedy and a hint of romance thrown in. Well-written, with great Southern characters (making for some delicious dialogue including the scene where the murderer politely apologizes for having to try to kill the heroine and like a true Southern lady, the heroine graciously accept his/her apology!), it was so much fun to read. I will be purchasing the rest of the series pronto!

I liked the mystery about the reality world, the main character was a little bit to foo foo forward me though. Interesting mystery with lots of tangled scenario s and the characters were pretty different yet it worked in this story, no I am not going to hold my breath to see if she finally gets together with Race.

I need more of this. Will she or won't she? I wonder. Would I? Oh yes in a heart beat.

The murder story line was plausible. However the Main character Savanah was way too 'sophmorish' with her relationship to male character.

Great story! The characters were great, the plot was good and I won't say that I didn't figure out the perpetrator until the end but that person was definitely on the top of a short list. Lots of action!

Savannah was a proper Southern lady. But even proper Southern ladies have a t least a small curiosity of what it would be like to be with a bad boy. When Savannah finds a realtor from her office dead, she finds that she has to put her faith in the bad boy, and this leads to excitement like she has never experienced before. It's a great read, and I enjoyed it very much!

I was interested in this book based on other reviewers comparing it to Stephanie Plum, a favorite of mine. While not as humerous, this writing did remind me of the writing of Janet Evanovich. I did lose patience with her at times due to her girly southern manners which would cause her trouble. Intelligent, but not enough sass. I usually order heavy murder mysteries and this was a welcome change. Try it.

Cutthroat kept my attention and made me want to keep reading. A Southern romance mystery that involved modern day suspense. Rare turned out to be someone to explore further!

JB has written a mystery novel about a young woman who becomes a real estate agent. Her first listing ends in a murder with a Harley rider present. Assumptions are made and then the young lady spends her time trying to solve the murder mystery. This is an excellent read for the genre..... ER

This is the first I've read by Jenna Bennett and the first in the series and I'm looking forward to continuing on with the next book. If you're looking for a funny read that will keep you guessing and hold your interest, this one's for you!

I have downloaded numerous free books from Amazon looking for new authors. This was my latest find. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and have since downloaded the Cutthroat Business Boxed Set (first 5 books). This is a nice mystery with a bit of "almost" sexual tension between the two main Characters, Rafe and Savannah. The book was well written and kept my attention throughout. I Liked it!

GREAT READ

This type of book is an easy read. Has romance, mystery and humor. What more can a girl ask for? Thanks you Amazon

Very entertaining cozy. The author made getting to "who dun it" enjoyable. I love wit and this author delivered. I'll read another.

I enjoyed reading A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS by Jenna Bennet. I recommend it to mystery readers. I am looking forward to book 2.

Ah! what a delightful book to read. Savannah,prim and proper, meet her tall,dark and handsome, but forbidden!!No no, the waiting is killing me!! Is it going to happen in book 2???

Got through Book 1 (which I got for free) and immediately had to buy Book 2. Now buying Book 3 ... I gotta know what happens between Savannah and Rafe! I'm one of those people that love free Kindle books and it's a little annoying having their relationship as a cliff hanger because each book has to go through some of the history of the previous book, but it's definitely effective. I'll buy them all, I'm sure. Fun reads! Savannah is quirky cute and I keep rooting for her and Rafe to hook up.

Like a fellow reviewer stated, this author/book is anything BUT racist. I'm not sure what that other reviewer, who stated otherwise, was reading. As a "person of color", all I read were real Southern characters and romance brewing between two unlikely characters from different cultural, socioeconomic backgrounds. Or are they all that different? I'm excited to find out in the next book. I hope people give this book a chance. It's free after all!

I bought this book because everybody kept recommending it and now that I've read it, I can see why. It's such a great book I loved it! I'm glad it was recommended by many because I never would have scrolled upon this awesome read. Basically what I want to say is that this is a great book that everyone should read and trust me you'll love it!!!!

So wonderfully written. Story was clearly written leaving me feeling like I was along side Savannah throughout the book. Looking forward to seeing relationships build between all parties. I strongly recommend reading this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was perfect read before bed. Loved the flirting between Savannah and Rafe. A page turner that kept me up at night, trying to finish.

The first book of this series captures the readers' attention. There are clues to who the culprit is, but not until the last few chapters. I look forward to reading the next book.

A view of southern life enlivened this book. I found it utterly entertaining from start to finish. Savannah is an appealing character who makes you want to keep reading about her. The mystery is well done. You are so caught up with events that it takes a while to realize who the murderer must be. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a classy mystery.

I would read another of this author's books or in this series. I really enjoyed it and I would rank it the highest of the books that I have obtained from amazon kindle. The book kept me interested and captivated by the two main characters which is what a book is meant to do. I liked the real estate theme for something different. It was well written and I did not notice any editing errors.

This is my first book by this author and I eagerly await more! Mix Southern belle gentility with a little dose of Yankee tenacity and you have our protagonist Savannah. I was especially impressed that this girl was no shrinking Violet. No vapors here even though Rafe was fine enough to make her feel faint on several occasions. When Savannah discovers her professional nemesis dead and finds herself reluctantly attracted to a likely suspect, she doesn't let silly ole things like race and social status stand in her way to finding the truth. I can't wait to see if she thumbs her nose at society and gets the guy too!

During down time, I always enjoy reading books with plots that don't make me think too hard. This book met my specifications. What made it better was it took place in Tennessee, my home state. My only complaint is that the author got too caught up in Southern colloquialisms in the characters' dialogue. All Southerners do not talk like that!

I guess her vocabulary is so limited she had to resort to curse words to...to do what? Turn off readers that don't curse or like to be around those that do? Why ruin a good book that way?

I enjoyed this book. It is a quick, easy read and it keeps you guessing until the very end. I recommend it and am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

Great story with good suspense and the grass of romance. Great twist at the end. Next installment should be interesting too.

love the house and the descriptions....lots of twists was surprised with the ending...read all the way through

I love this book Ms Martin is a great character & I look forward to The developing of the supporting character her mother..her brother..etc For all the mystery lover out there you will enjoy this on I promise ... can't wait for the next book....I hope she & Rafe get together in the next book because she need him two loosen up & he need her two try new things

Jenna Bennett presented us with a fun read in "Cutthroat Business". I was entertained while being challenged to discover which of the characters committed the murders.

Nice well brought up southern girl trying to make it in real estate. First one murder that get her involved with the bad boy from high school days. Then things got complicated with another murder, a surprisingly relationship between bad boy and owner of the listing. Didn't have the romantic ending expected

Somewhat entertaining, but was not remotely close to Stephanie Plum series which has lots of laughs from beginning to end. No laughter in this start of a series, maybe it'll pick up in the second book. Didn't pull me in to want to keep wanting to read a second in the series. Like a TV series I'm give this series a second chance to see if it picks up.

Loved the story. Light & refreshing easy read. Main character was funny & author kept the plot moving right along.

My very first time to read from this Author or the series.. I have to say I love it to pieces..it's clean, with enough almost romance to to keep cheering Fo More ,More ,More.. I must read the rest of this series..

I really liked this book and could not stop reading till I finished it. Want to read the rest in the series. The writing was a little different for me as it was written like she was telling a story. Not a bad thing, just different.

Fun, easy read...very enjoyable.

Great book! Funny, story line is good, characters are just that. Sexual tension between Savannah and Rafe reminds me of Stephanie Plum and the Range Man. I cannot wait to read #2.

What a totally delightful person Savannah is, and a marvellous Gothic hero Rafe is (as in, is he good or is he bad?). A thoroughly enjoyable mystery with a touch of romance, Savannah being truly Southern-ladylike the whole time. Well-deserving victims and villain, bless their hearts.

A little slow moving at the start but got better as it progressed. It really kept you guessing. Very good

This book was different from my usual reading. I tend to read popcorn books. This one made me think. It was like working on a puzzle and getting a piece of the puzzle every other chapter. And still not seeing the big picture. If you like puzzling then you like this book.

Good story was funny hope the older lady Showing up in the peace police following her and her trying to stay at her home in the long run that's where she belongs not in a nursing home and was really glad when she figured out who the killer was

Enjoyed this cozy mystery. The story was well written with few editorial errors. It held my interest until the end but the heroine was not someone I could relate with. I would rate as PG with some sexual tension but clean language.

I enjoyed this book. I had read another of this series so the characters were familiar and the plot was interesting. I think Jenna Bennett has a great writing form and enjoy her work.

Did I mention a beautiful southern bell and a handsome scoundrel? All set within a cut throat reality deal gone wrong. What more could you want. Read it.

This book was funny, intriguing and never a dull moment. Savannah and Rafe are two very different people and the interaction between them plus the murders and the very interesting insight into the cut throat world of Real Estate make for and interesting and entertaining read. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I enjoyed this book so much! The characters were well developed and interesing. It is so refreshing to find a book without the bodice ripping so many have resorted to. This author is talented enough to capture and hold the readers attention.

I really enjoyed reading this story and find Bennett a writer that I would like to read more of her books. It was a great story and enough intrigue and romantic inclinations to keep you wanting to get to the next page so you could find out what happened!

In this the first book of the series we are introduced to some unbelievable characters and right off the bat a major mystery. The books are well crafted; the writing is outstanding and the development of the plots exciting. The book was hard to put down and I immediately bought the others in the series.

A Cutthroat Business was a cute, quick, and fun story that I enjoyed. I like the interaction between Savannah and her family and friends, especially with Rafe. I look forward to reading the rest of the series to see how their relationship moves forward.

All the necessary ingredients: young pretty a wee clumsy girl, mysterious dark bad guy, a few murdered people and enough twists to keep it interesting. I really enjoyed reading this crime story set in the realtors environment.

A fun mystery with great characters with a southern flavor. A little romantic tension thrown in for an interesting read.

Very good tale, though a bit heavy in the romance department for my taste.

This mystery had a nice, breezy feel to it in spite of the ugly murder. I liked the old mystery mixed in with Southern class issues and real estate. I used to work for a realtor, so the business details were familiar. Sexy Rafe from the wrong side of the tracks was a nice contrast to "finishing school" Savannah.

What can I say to entice any one to read a good book? Tell them about murders, bank robberies, car crashes or police mistakes? Do you wish to learn the truth? Well, this is one story you have to read yourself to find out what actually occurs in this tale!

A Cutthroat Business starts out on a very human heart warming level and soon takes the reader into the life of the narrator. Good plot, enough information to 'lead' one down many avenues of possibilities without maudlin descriptions. Very well written, and has some suspense and friction as well, which all lends to good reading.

This book seemed to drag on. I got to Chapter 5 and was done. I went to the end to see how it all worked out. No spoilers. The cast was believable and could be your neighbor. Nice, down home Southern hospitality but not my Mint Julip.

When I started reading I was not at all sure about it as it was too light but as I got into it I changed my opinion and enjoyed the fact that it was not that deep. I nice read before going to bed and I must say....I did enjoy it and will look for her other books. A change for real deep books although there was murder but somehow it was handled with a bit of a humourous vein.(is that possible?)

This was intertaining.

Much enjoyed the background / setting, out of the ordinary. The tradition of a traditionally reared southern woman to modern day working girl is so funny!

Very well written. Held my interest all the way through. I could not figure out the guilty party and was surprised to find out the one who was. That person was not one of my suspects.

I enjoyed the book very much...very suspenseful...couldn't put it down...Jenna Bennett has a BRIGHT future as a novelist...My first exposure of reading her works...BUT...won't be my last!

A easy to read mystery with characters that could shift from loveable - to not. Like so many books lately, tired of the 'babe' phrase. Mysterious, funny at times and romantic at times - a mix I enjoy.

Want to read the next book this one was so good. Great plot with mud eras the mystery to be solved

I read the description and I was intrigued by it, so I bought it. I tried, I really really really did try to like it, but I couldn't. The story dragged on and on; it was filled with unnecessary placement of the word 'had'; it was dry, and finally, there was too much emphasis on how overweight Brenda was and the fact that Walker and Tim were gay. Just about every time their names were mentioned, it was followed up by expressing Brenda's plumpness or the two men's sexual preferences. It was completely unnecessary. I ended up skimming through the story after awhile and finally skipping to the end. I cannot in good faith, recommend this book to anyone.

The only reason I finished reading this book was to see who done it. Sadly I guessed right off who it was. I don't think I've disliked a character in a book as much as I disliked Savannah. We got to read page after page , how well breed,, prim and proper, classy, so on and on she was.. While not missing a beat writing ever horrible, nasty, rude, stereotypical thing she could think of about overweight people. Now if this wasn't rude enough , she had to add rude disrespectful remarks about old people. After we find out who the killer is we get page after page {I read this on my Kindle so I don't know the number of pages} of a recap of the whole story. Which sadly read like her {Ms Bennett} notes for writing the book. Don't even get me started on why the murdered women's teenage daughter would call Savannah. That parts is just plain stupid with a capital "S" I sure hope Ms Bennett feels good about herself over all the fat shaming, and elderly shaming.

Absolutely LOVED it! So glad I found this series I'm on #8 now! Give me more of savannah and rafe!

The characters were very believable and charming. We the storyline was excellent with a good mystery that will keep you guessing.

I've never been more engrossed in a character. I read all the available books in the series in about two weeks, and probably ignored my work and husband more than I should have, but I just couldn't put them down. My favorite series ever! I still live with Savannah in my head, and think of her every time I order a chef's salad!

Just finished reading A Cutthroat Business (Savannah Martin Mystery). I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the genteel Savannah trying to survive in the real estate business and maintain her cultured southern ways. I look forward to reading more Savannah Martin Mysteries!

I enjoy Jenna Bennett's Books as they are filled with History of New Orleans. It makes the Romance feel nostalgic as well as intriguing. Her books are hard to put down as you always want to know what is happening next.

It's entertaining and fun. The main characters are funny and the story is light and enjoyable. I do find it somewhat predictable but there has a twist or two that keep me guessing. I will read the others in the series because I've come to like the characters and want to see where they end up.

Loved the tongue in cheek humor. Although I think there are some who may not get it and risk being offended. Not something I would worry about though. I loved the twist and especially loved that I didn't see it coming. Looking forward to the next one!

Clever characterization is always a plus and this writer seems to have a gift for being able to make you feel like you know the protagonists. Throw in a couple of quirky twists in the plot and you have a great recipe for a mystery.

Pretty good, but just on the edge of the "bodice rippers" Savannah reads. I liked the mystery part and did not guess the solution until close to the end. I just prefer not to be given too much information of the private kind.

The dialogue seems to be more in Savannah's head more often than between the people. You could read for a full page or more before the dialogue between 2 characters is even evident. The storyline is thought out but the pace doesn't really match the interactions.

This book is fun and a page turner! The characters are fun and easy to root for, no you won't learn secrets to the universe or be educated but this book is entertaining and begs to read with a slice of cheesecake! I've already purchased the second book in the series and I'm only 80% done with the first.

I was delighted by how well written this book is - Savannah Martin is my new favorite amateur sleuth. The pacing was nicely done and the characterization even better. Looking forward to reading the whole series.

Not fond of this book

I really enjoy this book. I got it as a freebie one day through Amazon. I enjoyed it so much, that I bought book 2 and now book 3 to read. I really like the possible "connection" between Savannah and Rafe - or what I'm hoping will become a connection. This book is definitely worth reading!

First book in series, has good mystery components with Savannah trying to get into the real estate business and finding the body of a major competitor. Fun flirting with a "dangerous" guy from her past. Easy read, but well written for this genre.

Predictable cute plot except the actual killer was not evident until close to the reveal which made the read much more interesting. Cute personality of main character comes through. Love her. Can't wait to read next book.

Fun read. I think the author should consider improving her use of the English language. Just because a person is born in a situation not considered wealthy--doesn't mean they can't speak proper English!

Need more. I mean what happened between Savannah and Rafe? I did have the mystery solved pretty early but getting there was a lot of fun

Another super cute book. Yes, someone dies but...you aren't really concerned. You're more worried about whether the girl will get the guy who get his family and etc. Good summer/winter read. :)

Very enjoyable story with enough mystery and intrigue to keep you reading. I hope to read more stories by this author.

I found the story interesting with multiple murders and suspects. Reader kept guessing as to murderer. Solution somewhat unexpected Savannah has her hands ful with Rage, good or bad guy.

A decent read

This is a well written book that kept me interested without the use of bad words or raunchy sex scenes. Thank you Jenna kept on entertaining us.

I really enjoy a good murder mystery

This book kept you guessing the whole time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Jenna has a way with being able to keep the suspense going without getting boring.

Well written and one of those stories that you just can't put down. Enjoyed very much!

I enjoyed the way this was written. It kept you wondering will she or won't she get romantically involved. Then who the murderers was. Very suspenseful.

While I enjoyed reading this book, it never really captured my attention to the extent that I didn't want to put it down. The characters are somewhat flat and undeveloped; for example, it appears in the beginning of the book that Rafe is going to be a major character, but he is out of the story line for much of the book. One of the problems, in my opinion, is that characters who are actually minor characters appear far too often and in totally unnecessary scenes that slow the pace of the story; conversely, characters who are obviously supposed to be the main characters are not fleshed out. More than a few of the plot twists are implausible, given the story line, and that doesn't help this novel.

I enjoyed reading this book. I especially like strong female characters. The story line was fast paced,and the tension between Race and Savannah was a treat. I will be reading more in this series.

Ms Bennett is a great writer and she knows how the South operates. The twist and turns will have you scratching your head trying to figure this one out. So enjoy it and see how it turns out.

This was actually a fun read. It had the mystery I like to read while being downright funny at times. I could just picture the characters and scene while I was reading it. A Cutthroat Business kept me reading till the end and the ending was a bit of a surprise as well.

love this series..always interesting story line and characters..well worth your time and money..a love story inclosed in a murder mystery what could be better...will always buy the next book in the series..