Playing With Poison is a Quarter Finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!Amazon.com Review This was one of my favorite submissions so far. I loved the main character, Jessie Hewitt, a middle aged romance writer (ex-pool hustler) having the time of her life. The story began with Jessie suffering from writer's block and bra shopping (hoping to find some inspiration). I could envision 52 year old Jessie selecting unmentionables in a Victoria Secret like store. I also liked the way the author blended humor, mystery and just the right amount of romance. I can clearly see Captain Rye and Jessie Hewitt flirting even dating while trying to solve the mystery. I thought this submission was original (in that the main character was middle aged), although it did kind of remind me (a little) of a Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich) novel (in tone). Either way, I definitely wanted to read more about Jessie, Rye and Snowflake, and would probably buy if this story was available. Amazon.com Review I loved this excerpt. It was an easy, breezy read with a very likeable heroine. Seems like the target audience is women but men would like it too if the males who populate it were fleshed-out more. I liked Captain Rye but he wasn't described in much detail. We women like our men described down to the socks they have on. Gives us something to daydream about. So make him real. Murder meets menopause. Take a guess which wins. PRAISE for Playing With Poison "I just love Jessie Hewitt. She is the bomb." Melina Mason, Melina's Book Blog "These characters are a hoot!! A lighthearted cozy that will put a smile on your face." Lori Caswell, Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book "A fast paced read with humor and mystery blended together to create the perfect story." Yvonne, Socrates Cozy Cafe "Playing With Poison is a lighthearted, fun, breezy, witty page-turner of a mystery novel." Peter Lacey OVERVIEWPool shark Jessie Hewitt usually knows where the balls will fall and how the game will end. But when a body lands on her couch, and the cute cop in her kitchen accuses her of murder, even Jessie isn't sure what will happen next. Playing With Poison is a cozy mystery with a lot of humor, a little romance, and far too much champagne.MORE PRAISE for The Cue Ball Mysteries "Even if you've never played pool in your life, this really is a mystery series you need to pick up. I would compare it to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum...it's just that much fun." Melissa Lapierre, Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and More "Wrap a pool-shark around a mystery, and throw in a lot of humor, and you've got a great read." Howard Lewis "Fun cozy mysteries that will keep you laughing and on your toes all the way to the nail-biting end. Cindy Blackburn brings a fresh new voice to the mystery genre." Dorothy St. James, author of The White House Gardener Mysteries