From Amazon.com
From Publishers Weekly
Life in L.A.'s fast lane, from Sherman Oaks' porn studios to swank Beverly Hills salons, sets the pace for Halliday's debut novel, the first installment in a stylish High Heels mystery series. When shoe designer Maddie Springer finds her boyfriend, Richard, has gone missing, along with $20 million of his company's funds, she's determined to track him down—partly because she's certain he's innocent, but mostly because her period is late. Maddie persuades her best friend, Dana, to be her partner in crime solving, and it isn't long before they stumble on the body of Richard's boss—just moments after he's been shot dead. Enter sexy LAPD detective Jack Ramirez, who just wants Maddie to "go home and let him handle this," which, of course, isn't going to happen. The only clues to the murder are two blond hairs and the imprint of a stiletto heel, pointing to a female killer; topping the suspect list is receptionist and designer fashion junkie Jasmine, followed by porn-star Bunny, who's up to her implants in debt. The nonstop action runs the gambit from faulty EPTs to wild rides on L.A.'s freeways to wedding plans gone awry, all of which are guaranteed to keep chick lit and mystery fans happy. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

9/19/06
Any fan of Stephanie Plum will feel right at home with Maddie Springer. She's in way over her head and can't seem to stop herself from getting in even deeper. She trips from one disaster to the next and pulls everyone around her along for the ride. I found myself snickering out loud more than once. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.

Bookray/ring instructions:

When you receive the book, please journal it, and PM the next person in line for their address so you'll have it ready when you've finished the book.

Note: even if you've sent books to that person before, please PM them before mailing this one, to confirm that the address is correct and that they're able to take on a bookring book at this time.

Try and read the book promptly- ideally, within a month of receiving it. (If you expect to take longer, you can request to be put at the end of the list. If you find you're swamped with other books when the person before you contacts you about the bookring, you can ask to be skipped, and then let me know whether you'd like to be moved down the list or dropped entirely. If you receive the book and find it's taking longer than you'd planned to get through it, I'd appreciate an update in its journal entries or on your profile, just to let me and the other participants know you haven't forgotten it.)

When you're ready to pass the book along, please make another journal entry containing your comments about the book and stating where you've sent it, and set the book's status code to "traveling". [If you find that you're having problems contacting the next person in line, or don't think you can manage to mail the book as originally agreed, please let me know; I'll be glad to try to work something out.]

Mailing order to be sorted:
1. ladiibbug - CA/US - US pref.
2. katintheboots - CA/US - US/Canada pref.
3. pammykn - FL/US - intl, surface
4. southernfryed - US - US pref.
5. queensknob - VA/US - intl if necessary
6. ladilee24 - PA/US - intl
7. beekeeper40 - UK - intl
8. loribee - UK - Europe pref.
9. FiBe - UK - UK pref./surface anywhere
10. sunlightbub - UK - Europe pref./surface anywhere
11. book-man-8 - Germany - Intl
12. bargainqueen - Australia - Intl

---back home to macewoman

PM if you would like to join and I'll add you to the end.

9/26: Mailed to ladiibbug. Enjoy!!
DC#420959679102805213907170605857

9/30/06 Arrived today - this looks like a fun read! Should be able to read and get back out in a week or so. Have PM'd next reader for their address - RSVD - a bookring book

10/6/06 Very entertaining cozy mystery! Mailing to Katintheboots. Thanks so much, Macewoman, for sharing :-) - TRAV

* Counts in the Keep Them Moving 2006 Challenge *

I found this one waiting for me in my mailbox this evening. I just finished a book last night, so this arrives with perfect timing. I'll start on it immediately!

Wow, talk about a fast read! I finished this one in under 24 hrs without even trying. I really enjoyed the story, except for the few bits here and there that did just not ring true for life in LA (my town, Ventura, gets a few mentions here and there). This surprised me, seeing as the author has previously worked as an actress. But aside from that, I found the story to be very engaging, and will definitely look for the next book in the series when it comes out next spring.

I PMed pammykn for her address last night and have already received it, so I will put this one in the mail to her either this weekend or early next week.

I accidentally forgot to bring this one with me this morning, but had time this evening to run home, grab it, go by the mail center, and send it off via media mail. And now, off to the local monthly BC meet-up!

thanks looking forward to reading!

Thanks this was a fun light read. I'll look for book #2 in the Maddie Springer series. Sending off to southernfryd.

This book arrived today but I have a couple of bookrings in front of it. I will get to it as soon as possible. It looks like my kind of book.

I am sorry I am running in a little behind. I am just starting this book and will be able to mail it in about a week. Thanks for understanding.

I really enjoyed Maddie Springer. I hope that she and Detective Ramirez will hook up in the next book. Haven't we all worn some pretty tacky bridesmaid dresses? I caught myself laughing out loud several times while reading this one. Thanks for sharing.

PMing Queensknob for her address.

I am sorry for mailing late, holiday stuff got in the way. This book is finally on its way to Queensknob.

Received...will read ASAP.

I love mysteries, but this book left me wanting...great book for the beach or airplane though.

1/23/07 - on it's way to ladilee24

This just arrived today and I hope to start on it this weekend.

Light, fun, fast reading here. I found a number of funny moments in this one, but it was a little too much like the novels by Janet Evanovich, Stephanie Strohmeyer, others in the genre. I enjoyed it, but it didn't make me want to keep following the series.

I'll get this into the mail for beekeeper 40 in the next few days.

Arrived safely - thank you.

I loved this fast paced, easy read. Very similar to Janet Evanovich. I shall look forward to the next in the Maddie Springer series. Thanks macewoman for the chance to read this one. Pming next reader.

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to loribee. Enjoy!

I like Evanovich so am looking forward to reading Gemma Halliday for a change yet in the same genre. Many thanks to all who have passed the book along.

Liked the LA setting, and Ramirez!! Ready to send on to FiBe when I have her address.

In the mail to FiBe in Scunthorpe.

I enjoyed this book. Will send it on to sunlightbub at the weekend.

Thanks for letting me take part. Will be reading the next in the series!

RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to sunlightbub. Hope you enjoy it.

Thanks again for letting me take part!

Two rings arrived today and this was one..Looks like a quick read so I'll get onto it asap xx

A quick read, that was okay , but didn't really grab me.
I haven't read any Stephanie Plum yet although I do have the first 9 (!) tbr , so I hope I'll get a bit more out of them. Thanks for sharing xxxxxx

Got it in the mail. Thanks for the ring and for sending!

Nice read, funny, entertaining, but a little bit too predictable...

RELEASE NOTES:

This is off to the other end of the world - Australia!

This book has safely arrived with me. Thanks for sending from my Home Country Bookman8!!!
Will begin this tonight as have finished my last book.

This took me longer to get into than Stephanie Plum, but I did enjoy it in the end. Nice, funny easy read. I'd like to see more of Ramirez (naked hahaha) but not sure that I will bother getting the next in the series.
Thanks for the chance to read it, and I will send it home soon!

Off home today to it's rightful owner. Seamail.

This arrived back home from its world travels. Hope it brought some ocean breezes with it, because we are suffering with the heat here (upper 90s). I can''t believe how fast this book made the circuit of readers. Thanks to all for keeping the ring moving and for participating. Great finish for my first ring. Thanks all!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Hello and congratulations! You have not only found yourself a good book, but a whole community of booklovers dedicated to sharing books with each other and the world at large. I hope you'll stick around a bit and get to know BookCrossing --maybe even make a journal entry on this book. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (its free!) And if you do choose to join, I hope you'll consider using me, macewoman, as your referring member. Feel free to read and keep this book, or to pass it on to a friend or even set it out "in the wild" for someone else to find. If you do choose to join and journal, then you can watch the book as it travels- You'll be alerted by email each time someone makes another journal entry. It's all confidential (you're known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Happy reading!