Kensington, May 2004, 22.00, 304 pp.
ISBN: 0758204493
When her husband dies, Samantha Shaw learns that he was cheating on her and everyone in town knew it but her. She decides to change her image so the soccer mom gets breast implants, wears chic clothing, and opens up Heart Mates, a dating service for people desiring to meet their significant other. While she enjoys her business, she also likes working as a private investigator under her lover Gabe's license.
Janie Tuggle, former wife of the soccer coach, asks Sam to investigate whether Chad embezzled funds from the soccer clubs of Lake Elsinore. Sam tricks Chad and soon downloads his financial records. She and Janie realize that $16,000 is missing. Shortly afterward, someone murders the coach. Janie asks Sam to learn who and why because any one of the suspects he was blackmailing could be the killer. Now Sam feels it is more critical to locate Chad's ominous files so no one else gets hurt.
NINJA SOCCER MOMS is a quirky charming romantic mystery with a plethora of suspects. When the heroine is not aggravating the lead police detective, she aggravates her sleuthing boss with her efforts to prove her independence and that she is his equal in everything. Yet the attraction between Gabe and Sam is so hot, it is a wonder that sparks do not fly off the pages. Jennifer Apodaca writes an appealing who-done-it that will keep her audience interested in more books starring this soccer mom.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of Ninja Soccer Moms
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases - 10% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards lover
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Is Romance a MAJOR (25%+) part of story?
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- small businessman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- small businessman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
