Venita Louise

Reviews

I found Mixed Nuts to be a unique reading experience. The characters are colorful and quirky, and full of life. The story is a pleasure to read, sometimes a bit off the wall, sometimes melancholy, and always a bit humorous. I had read nothing about this book prior to picking it to review, and as often turns out to be the case, feel like I managed to unearth a hidden gem. Set in the 60's this one has a flavor of the unrest of the times. I found this especially true of the wife in this story. Joan longs for more than the happy housewife's existence expected of her and throws herself wholeheartedly into exploring her sexuality when given the opportunity. Far and above, the star of this one is the husband, Frank. He longs for something in his ordinary life and seems to not even know what it is himself. Watching him and his goofy brother stumble their way through voodoo spells and deal with the consequences had me in tears of laughter.
If you are looking for something different, a bit offbeat filled with a lot of zany situations... pick this one up.

Reviewed by: Johnna

Fallen Angels

Venita Louise has created a hysterically funny comedy in Mixed Nuts. I don't know how she does it. Each character is so intriguing, so unique, like Frank Beal's little daughter who wears a hard hat or his savvy son. His son so reminded me of my own son at that age. And that's the other thing. With as quirky and unusual as the characters are, solving their neighbor problem using voodoo, hitting snails over the fence for revenge, wearing a kilt and no teeth, somehow, I could find myself in that plot very easily. Maybe this means that we all have weird kids and quirky relatives and neighbors we are jealous of? I don't know, I just know that I haven't had this satisfying a laugh in a LONG time. Thanks Ms. Louise, you are a pearl. Please write more! I can't wait for the next book!

Hazelstreet Productions

The Romance Studios

I loved picking out the jingles and slogans from past and present ad campaigns. Lots of them took me back several years and I found myself humming “Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us…” along with several other TV jingles. After suffering through Susan’s safety compulsion, I’m glad it turns out for the best since it’ll get the family into the neighbor’s pool! Tito and Tilly are funny as well as Frank’s attempts to hurl the voodoo back at his neighbor. The peacock scenes are a scream.

~Jayne
Dear Authors

Reviews for In the Rough

Eve Ryan should actually be a happy woman. She has a successful job as an Art Director for a top advertising firm, her beloved vintage Mustang and if not Mr. Wonderful so at least a boyfriend that (sometimes) is acceptable. What she doesn’t know is that the FBI has her soon to be ex Michael Beckard under surveillance for fraud and she, due to her involvement with him, is a suspect too. Truth to be told, Eve feels miserable. Her much beloved sister, the only person who ever cared for her well-being moved far away, her boss capitalizes on her creative ideas, taking sole credit for them and Michael turns out to be a veritable Mr. Hyde.
Agent Steve Malloy seems to be Eve’s guardian angel. Actually he was assigned to her by the agency to find out how deeply she is involved with Beckard’s machinations but he soon discovers that Eve is innocent and in deep need of his loving care…

In the Rough is an absolutely fantastic read that left me glued to my PDA from the hurtful beginning to the bittersweet but very fulfilling end. The romantic suspense plot is well thought through and full of eventful surprises and nail-biting twist and turns. The characters are supremely drawn and come to life like real and three-dimensional persons. Beckard is a villain to fear, bad through and thorough and without any mercy. Eve is a very strong woman, despite or even because of her very cruel past and beautifully gets stronger and more self-confident with her growing love for Steve. Well, and Steve is a hero to die for. He isn’t Mr. Perfect and overly alpha, but he has this certain “je ne sais quoi” that makes him simply irresistible. Bravo to Ms. Louise for a truly unique and thrilling read!!

Euro Reviews

Reviewer: Katie

I was caught up in this hot suspense thriller from the first sentence to the last. Eve is a world class heroine, stumbling through terrifying situation after situation…with sexy Steven right there to help her. Through twists and turns and subplots, these two manage to forge something not just scintillating, but solid. A great read about a woman struggling with childhood ghosts, a man who’s ready to move on from his past, and the way their lives become inevitably entangled.

Flesa Black – “Refuge Book 2: Sanctuary”

WOW! This sure has it all – bad guys with good looking butts, a sensitive hunky hero and a tormented girl, classic cars, trucks, rumbling motorbikes. It’s enough to bring the house down! Venita Louise has packed it all in this Romantic Suspense!

- Anne Douglas, author The McCabes 1: Persuading Jo at Loose Id

Anne Douglas
http://annedouglas.blogspot.com/
At Loose Id

What others are saying:

In The Rough is a suspenseful romp through the desert with lots of heat and emotion filled scenes.

Mechele Armstrong—Dinah’s Dark Desire coming soon

"In the Rough" by Venita Louise is a rollercoaster ride of suspense! Just when you think things can't get more intense, they do!
Murder, smuggling, trust and mistrust - the hero and heroine go through ait all.

The personal tragedies in Steve and Eve's lives present a barrier they must overcome if they are going to escape with their lives and their love intact.

Jeanne Barrack - "No One Else on Earth"

Venita Louise writes a fast-paced story full of dramatic and sexual tension. A must-read for any fan of romantic suspense.

Elisa Adams- Divine Intervention

A great romantic suspense with lots of heart--and heat. IN THE ROUGH's
story kept me guessing till nearly the end, and Steven and Eve have
chemistry in spades. Not your everyday romantic suspense!

Barrie Abalard - Hot for Teacher.

Dead on the Money Review

In the novel Dead on the Money, author Venita Louise brings us a new take on the hardboiled detective novel, where the heroine is every bit as smart, tough and courageous as the gumshoe out to save her.

In 1936, on his deathbed in Sing Sing Prison, convicted bank robber and murderer George Sloan passes on to his son one final secret – a map top his hidden stolen loot. Ten years later, a man claiming to be George Sloan arrives uninvited at the engagement party of Olivia Tully and Tom Trask. It seems Tom, an LAPD detective, is the nephew of the man that sent Sloan senior up the river. While this Sloan seems harmless enough at first, Uncle Charlie warns Tom to be very careful. His suspicions are confirmed when Sloan kidnaps Olivia, and Tom desperately searches for his love before it's too late. How far is Sloan willing to go to find his father's stash, and what other shocks lay in store for Tom and Olivia?

The author takes us back in time to the glamorous Los Angeles of the 1940's, to the era of Sam Spade and Phillip Marlow. She spins a tale of intrigue and suspense, ripe with romance, action and adventure. It is a fast paced story, with characters you can relate to and feel for. For a great romantic mystery, Venita Louise is Dead on the Money.

I enjoyed Dead on the Money very much and would give it 4 pearls. Ms. Louise kept the pacing and intriguie at a high level while perfectly adding a noir element to the story. It had something for everyone.

Ron Adams author of Key Lime Squeeze

TAL Pearl Review

Thomas Trask is a detective for the Los Angeles police department. His last case gave him the opportunity to meet one very hot little librarian. He prides himself on determining a person’s true nature just by knowing their initials, and hers are H.O.T. With his initials being T.N.T., he is sure they will have one very exciting relationship.

Hortense Olivia Tully is a librarian in the children’s section at the Los Angeles Public Library. She lives with her aunt, and leads a very quiet life. Reading gives her the excitement and adventure that she has never had in her real life. That is until she meets Detective Trask.

Tom meets Olivia at the library steps while investigating the death of a local doctor. She catches his eye right away, and he knows that she is very special, not the usual dames that go for gumshoes like him. Olivia is just as enamored with Tom. He is exciting and a bit dangerous, nothing like the boring, ordinary men that she has always associated with. However the excitement and adventure become much more than she bargained for when a criminal takes a personal interest in her. She is terrified that she has a stalker, but at the same time she feels the thrill of excitement helping Tom with his investigation. Her knowledge on poetry led Tom to the doctor’s killer, and now she hopes to do the same. However this time the stakes are much higher. Tom is torn between protecting his uncle and his fiancée, knowing that both of them can get into a heap of trouble without even trying. Unfortunately that is exactly what happens. Olivia feels responsible that the police interrogated the wrong man, and decides that she needs to make amends. This leads her and her best friend right into the line of fire. Tom is racing to save his uncle, and then has to do the same for Olivia. His heart is rendered in two with just the thought of Olivia getting hurt. His love for her is the only thing holding him together; imagining life without her is unfathomable.

This 1940’s era mystery is kitschy and entertaining. The colloquialisms are fun to read, and really bring out the personalities of the characters. Olivia is a sweet and gentle soul, but with a lively personality. Tom is the consummate bachelor, fun loving and hard working. But Olivia gives him a whole new perspective. They are perfectly suited as the hero and the damsel in distress. Although they may be a bit too cookie-cutter, they are cute together. The mystery and intrigue are well developed, and the romance sweet and tender. This is a fun read for any age.

Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books

Initials for Murder

Initials for Murder is a picture perfect snapshot of a “Dick Tracy” kind of story, complete with glamor, a puzzling mystery and a pretty lady who’s stumbled onto something dangerous. It is a tried and true formula for a great story. Venita Louise is dead on the money with her descriptive scenes, mannerisms, and even her fashion sense, giving readers a peek in to the past. Initials for Murder is a well-crafted story with a twist on the ending. Great job, Venita Louise!

Reviewed by: Michelle

Fallen Angels

"Initials For Murder is a thrilling and romantic novella set in post war Los Angeles. Vintage fashion, big band music and humor rivet together the mystery, intrigue and emotion of the era. A talented story teller. Anyone can write. But only a chosen few can tell a story." -

Cher Mason - Editor/Author

The Romance Studio