Cocoa and Chanel
by Donna Joy Usher
Series: Chanel #1
Series Rating:
Published by Lush Publications on December 31, 2013
Setting: New South Wales, Australia
Genres: Traditional Mystery
Pages: 268
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
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The New South Wales Police Force Just Got More Fashionable!
Faced with the unattractive options of an affair with her boss's husband or the unknown, Chanel Smith chooses the unknown and unwittingly traps herself into joining the New South Wales' Police Force.
More interested in fashion than felony, she staggers through training and finds herself posted to the forces most notorious crime hot spot, King's Cross. There, she becomes entangled in a case of the worst kind - a serial killer targeting young women.
As she is drawn further into the seedy underground in her attempt to unravel the truth, Chanel makes new friends, new enemies and attracts the attention of the killer. Can she solve the case in time, or will she become the killer's next victim?
This is a light-hearted cozy mystery with plenty of laughs suitable for fans of Janet Evanovich, Deborah Coonts, Jana Deleon and Stephanie Bond.
Cocoa and Chanel by Donna Joy Usher is a cute tale that shows a different side of the ultimate blonde hairstylist.
Will Chanel figure out the serial killer before someone she knows is hurt?
Chanel Smith
Chanel lives in a small town in Australia. She is a hairstylist who changes her hair color a lot, and she likes shopping and fashion. Some might say she is an airhead. Yet, Chanel has a dream (a recent one) to be a police officer. After rigorous training, she graduates from the academy and gets her first assignment in King’s Crossing. Even with all the training, Chanel isn’t the best at procedures but is curious and courageous. She decides to find the culprit when she stumbles upon a serial killer taking out ladies of the night.
Chanel is a girly girl with all the designer shoes, bags, clothes, and accessories. She looks pretty shallow, but her moral compass is strong. Although, she doesn’t always see what’s right in front of her. Yet, she sees things that others don’t see. I like Chanel. She’s a great character. I loved that she wasn’t judgmental. Chanel is like Lucy Ricardo in some ways. There is seriously always drama around her.
The Mystery
The first half is about getting to know Chanel and seeing her make it through the Police Academy. The mystery occurs in the book’s last half; once she is assigned a station. It’s not so much that she is a fantastic investigator, as she is tenacious and decides she will figure this out. Some of the clues she missed are crazy, and her naivete is first class.
Supporting Characters
There are so many characters that Chanel is friends with, and that helps her along the way.
Susie
The chubby girl at the police academy wants to be an officer but likes to eat and not exercise. Chanel and Susie team up to help each other get through the academy.
She is sweet. It was nice that they had each other to vent and laugh together through the hard times at the academy.
Nastacia
The perfect girl at the academy who has been planning and working towards being on the force her entire life. It’s in her blood, and most of her family are part of the police. Nastcia is mean to Chanel and Susan. However, she has a secret that Chanel keeps for her. In the end, the two become good friends.
At first, I hated ‘Nasty,’ but she redeemed herself after she and Chanel had it out.
Rick
He’s a member of the Riot Squad. Rick assists Chanel with her Cocoa issue and trains Susie and Chanel so they can pass their physical test. I thought these two would make a cut couple, but that didn’t happen. Chanel has a thing for bad boys. Too bad she and Rick were sent to different stations.
Bruce
The first friend that Chanel makes in King’s Crossing is Bruce. Bruce, his dog, Lancelot, Chanel, and Cocoa meet at the dog park. They become good friends. Cocoa and Lancelot are even best buddies. Bruce is a good guy. Hopefully, he will find someone in one of the following books.
Martine
Martine and Chanel hit it off. The two of them discuss fashion, and Martine helps her with clues to find the serial killer. Martine has a secret identity that Chanel doesn’t know how to deal with. It’s funny.
Mom, Lorraine
In the beginning, Chanel’s mom, Lorraine, is a no-cussing or drinking housewife who sits at home and cares for Chanel. She has no life of her own. However, when she changes, Chanel faces a mom she doesn’t know and is having difficulty dealing with. I think there are many things that Chanel doesn’t know about her mom. Hopefully, she will ask her before they all show up.
Four Stars
I read this book before but couldn’t remember it. So, when Karen suggested it, I was like…sure, why know? I am glad that I did. It resonated more with me this time than it did the last time. My rating for Cocoa and Chanel by Donna Joy Usher is four stars. I hope to get to the rest of the series at some point. Seriously, the next installment has them off to Las Vegas.
The Chanel Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Cocoa and Chanel by Donna Joy Usher.
Until the next time,
About Donna Joy Usher
DONNA JOY USHER is the multi-award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of The Seven Steps to Closure, The Chanel Series, Agents of APE, and The War Faery Trilogy. Born in Brisbane, she started her working career as a dentist. After 15 years of drilling and filling she discovered there was more to life, and put pen to paper. Now she drills by day and writes by night.
When not doing either of those things she likes spending time with her two little dogs, traveling to exotic destinations, and drinking chai lattes or wine, on her deck.
She has lived in a myriad of places: Melbourne, England, Rockhampton, Roxby Downs, Sydney, Cairns, New South Wales Central Coast and is now situated in Perth.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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