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Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Sunday Barnaby

Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery, #3)Diamonds & Deception by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Diamonds & Deception by Ellen Butler
Four Stars

Diamonds & Deception is the third book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery Series by Ellen Butler. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read this series in order. You get a great background on the characters if you do. This book like the previous books, hooked my attention from the very first page. I love the humor sprinkled in with the mystery and intrigue.
Karina and her sister Jillian dig a little too deep into a friend’s troubles andend up on the wrong side of the mob. Now, Karina must call on Mike to help, but will he be around to answer her call. If you love mystery, adventure, comedy and romance rolled into one this is definitely the read for you.

Review by @sunbarn
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Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler – Review by Sheri Schrader

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 is written by Ellen Butler. Karina is a lobbyist in Washington D.C. who has a Senator drop dead at her feet. Nothing is ever simple for Karina and she becomes a “person of interest” in the death. Luckily Karina is smart and inquisitive so she starts her own investigation before she can be blindsided by the FBI.
This is well written with great thought to the story and dialogue. I was drawn into the story as I had been with the first book in the series. This could be read as a standalone but I think it would be sad to lose what was built in the first novel with the characters. I like that Karina is smart and curious. Sometimes this gets her in some bad situations but helps her also in her quests of solving the mystery. I look forward to where this series takes Karina next.

Review by @sherimichelle1

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Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler – Review by Angelina Frazzini

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation by Ellen Butler is book two of the Karina Cardinal Mystery Series. This book is full of suspense, drama, and mystery. You are definitely on the edge of your seat the entire time.

Karina is independent, strong, and smart. Karina witnessed something she never expected to see. However, now that she’s considered “a person of interest”, she is determined to get to the bottom of it. There is a lot in Karina’s way but she’s determined not to let them get in the way. Karina has to maneuver politics and money.

I enjoyed this book even more than the first book I think. It has everything you could want out of a book and it’s very well written! Karina is such a strong character. She’s driven and determined. She’s definitely someone you could picture as yourself. I am glad I picked this book up!

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Fatal Legislations: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler – Review by Erica Fish

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation is the second book in the Karina Cardinal series. Ellen Butler is an amazing writer who can keep me guessing throughout the story. Bulter investigates her topics to the point where I can honestly believe what is happening could be true. Karina is amazing at her job. She does on occasion seem to get in trouble. That is when the fun starts. With this story Karina is at the wrong place at the wrong time. Senator Harper just happens to die at her feet after a remark was said. Now Karina has become paranoid wondering if she is next. Mike Finnegan who is in a relationship with Karina has just had the news handed to him about Senator Harper. Next, he is about to find out that Karina may have had something to do with it. Will Karina find out what really happened to the Senator or will she be next to be eliminated? Make sure you are prepared to read in one sitting because it is a page turner.

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Fatal Legislation (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book #2) by Ellen Butler – Review by Krista Beck

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Karina Cardinal has a knack for getting herself caught up in some serious situations! The second installment of Karina Cardinal finds our heroine is now a lobbyist in Washington, trying to take things to the next level with her FBI boyfriend, and getting caught up in a hot mess! Karina is smart, funny and not afraid to get to the bottom of things. I am enjoying this series so much. If you like a good suspense and like to try and figure out who did it, then you definitely need this series. The book is well written and the characters are great! I hope there are more!

Reviewed by @klbeck

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Fatal Legislation: a novel (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2) by Ellen Butler – Review by Kerry Baker

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation; a novel by Ellen Butler is the second book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series. This book is a gripping tale with twists and turns that will leave your head reeling.
When a debtor drops dead at her feet Karina quickly becomes a person of interest. In a bid to help herself she begins her own investigation. But can she work out who is responsible before she is blamed?
This book is just as good as the first. It is well written and captivated you immediately. It is faced paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat. As much as o tries to guess who was responsible the author did such a good job at misdirection that I never could figure it out. A brilliant book.

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Fatal Legislation: A Novel ( Karina Cardinal Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Sunday Barnaby

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation by Ellen Butler
Four Stars

Fatal Legislation: A Novel is the second book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery Series by Ellen Butler. This book can be read as a standalone, but I can’t think of one reason why you wouldn’t want to read the first book in this series. This political mystery thriller left me reading long past my bedtime to find out what would happen next. The twists and turns had me thinking, who did it throughout most of the book. This book follows Karina Cardinal as she plows through Washington DC politics to discover what really happened to and who killed Senator Harper. I’m really enjoying this series and hope to read more by Ellen Butler in the future. If you like a good murder mystery this is the right book for you.

Reviewed by @sunbarn

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Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler – Review by Jana Teppih

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation is the second book in Ellen Butler’s Karina Cardinal Mystery series! She opened the series with a bang and set a bar so high that one had to ask oneself if she would be able to deliver again AND SHE DID! She gave us a smashing political mystery thriller that doesn’t leave anyone cold!
The writer gives us danger, intrigue, suspense, action, FBI investigation … and also a dash of romance (oh yeah, go Mike Finnegan!!!). Karina becomes a ‘person of interest’ in the death of a senator she was arguing with when he dropped dead at her feet and off she goes … Karina cannot leave the investigation for the FBI (remember what happened the last time!!!) so off she goes in the midst of her budding relationship with the FBI agent Mike Finnegan playing politics and following the money trail …
The writer has a way of pulling us into the story so that you cannot put the book down and she pulls from what is happening around us and what we struggle with/are unhappy with (Big Pharma and politics surrounding it). And as a present to all of us strong women, she has given us a one strong female heroine who doesn’t take any prisoners!

Reviewed by @teppih

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Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery book 2 by Ellen Butler – Review by Kristan Anderson

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation by Ellen Butler is book two in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series. It’s seems as though Karina is never in the right place at the right time. She always tends to find herself in the mist of some sort of crazy scene. Though a different twist than book one, this story is more political but just as interesting. A run in with the senator and uncovering a few murders, just a day in the life. I was nervous for Karina and her boyfriends relationship. Mikes character was very well put together and I enjoyed the two of them. I recommend this series, read in order as there are some tie ins from the first book.

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Fatal Legislation: A Novel (Karina Cardinal Mystery Series Book #2) by Ellen Butler – Review by Angela Hayes.

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

Fatal Legislation is the second exciting instalment in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series by Ellen Butler. This is an excellent political mystery- with danger, intrigue, action, suspense, drama, FBI investigation, and some emotion. Ms. Butler has cleverly constructed her story adding gripping tension which makes the whole story quite an unpredictable and intense ‘ride’.
Karina Cardinal is a lawyer turned lobbyist in Washington D.C. She’s smart, controlled, spirited, independent and hard-working. After the events of the last book, Karina is now in the beginning phase of a relationship with her old college friend, FBI Agent Mike Finnegan. In this book, Karina’s finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery when a Senator drops dead at her feet, and she becomes a ‘person of interest’ in the investigation. But knowing what happened the last time the FBI swooped into her life, Karina is determined to get a jump on things and do some digging of her own to try to uncover what’s going on- after all she has her reputation, her job, and perhaps even her life, on the line (not to mention that she is voraciously curious by nature). What will become of the budding relationship (with Mike) with the pressure of the investigation weighing on them both? Who/what is behind the death/s and why? Will they figure it all out?
This is a fantastic story, that had me totally engrossed from beginning to end. It has a fast pace, a smooth flow and was really easy to read. The characters are really well crafted into fully realised individuals. Ms. Butler has once again proven herself to be a masterful storyteller- easily weaving a wonderfully rich, detailed and thoroughly polished mystery- packed full of surprises which kept me guessing the whole way through.
I can’t wait for more!!

Thank you, Ms. Butler!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Isabella’s Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Jana Teppih

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting is the opening act of Ellen Butler’s Karina Cardinal Mystery series. It is my first encounter with the writer and I am sure it will not be last. She will be one of the writers I will go back to when I need my next fix of straight up mystery.
Isabella’s Painting is the story of Karina Cardinal, lawyer turned lobbyist who happens to stumble upon a mystery and being the person she is, she cannot let it go and start investigating putting her own life and also of the other’s in danger. Luckily for her, she has an FBI connection so off she goes into danger, intrigue, action, drama, mafia, humour and some romance sprinkled in! The story is fast paced and as you get pulled in from page one, at times it feels like it goes too fast (but that is only because I would have loved to linger more) but that is ok as there will be another mystery so we will get more of the gorgeousness of Karina and co! And for you, the detailed orientated mystery buffs? Isabella’s Painting should be just down your alley!

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Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) By Ellen Butler – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Star
Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery ( Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) By Ellen Butler is a book filled with suspense, mystery and some Romance and one that will hook you in the beginning till the very end.There are a few twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what happens next. This story is about Karina and how she overheard a conversation that wasn’t meant for hers.Find out what happens next. I highly recommend this book.

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Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Lisa Boltiador

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting was a fun mystery story. Karina gets caught up in an old Painting Heist mystery when she stumbles upon a stolen piece at Christmas. It’s in her boyfriend’s parents’ house, so that adds a whole other element. Then she runs into an old friend and things just kind of get crazier from there. One thing I appreciate in this story is Karina’s strong personality. She’s solid, independent, has a good head on her shoulders. I found the characters interesting and the story entertaining.

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Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (A Karina Cardinal Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Sunday Barnaby

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery by Ellen Butler
Five Stars

Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery by Ellen Butler is the first book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery Series by Ellen Butler. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Butler, but definitely won’t be the last. I was hooked from the very first page. This is mystery, suspense and romance rolled into one. It also has an unusual aspect, that the story is based on a real life theft. I couldn’t put it down down till I finished because I just had to know what would happen next. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I really loved Karina’s character and look forward to reading more about her in future books in this series.

Reviewed by @sunbarn

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Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler – Review by Kristan Anderson

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler is book one in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series. The plot was very interesting. A mystery without murders is so different. Karina finds herself in quite the mess after discovering a rare and missing painting in the home of her boyfriends parents. Will she be able to return it to its rightful place? Or will she simply just put herself in more danger. The book was fast paced although I found myself skimming at times. There was a lot of mundane detail, I found. Though historical fiction is not what I’d normally pick up, it was a different type of story and refreshingly pleasant. The story was based on true life and I found myself wanting to know more about the story it was based on. As the first piece I’ve read by this author, I can say I would like to read more into Karinas story and the stories of the other characters.

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Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Angelina Frazzini

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery by Ellen Butler is book one of the Karina Cardinal Mystery series. This book has it all; a little humor, a little romance, and some mystery. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I enjoyed it.

This book is based on a real life unsolved mystery. It prompted me to want to look more into it and I really enjoyed the authors take on the whole thing. Karina while quite self conscious is definitely resourceful and intelligent and her investigative skills get her in deep. Karina may not be fully prepared for the risks she’s taken but she can’t give up. The book was definitely suspenseful at times and I was at the edge of my seat.

The author did such a good job portraying this real life situation. I enjoyed the characters and the suspense and couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. I would be interested in reading the next book of this series.

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Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Candida Hopper

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1)
By Ellen Butler

This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed being pulled into this intriguing mystery. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, I enjoyed the suspense, danger, humor, and a bit of romance. This story had everything. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down unti I found out what happened. I really liked Karina, she’s intelligent and independent, even if she didn’t really understand the danger she was putting herself in. I don’t want to give anything away so you must read this book to find out what happens, I highly recommend this story.

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Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) by Ellen Butler- Review by Samantha Scannell

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a book full of mystery and romance. Should she follow her instincts or leave it be and mind her business? You literally are on the edge of your seat as you read this book. Between all the steamy romance and the great mystery you will find this to be a great page turner. The author has done a great job keeping your drawn in. The author clearly has a great passion for this genre. She has done an amazing job doing something she loves. Make it a great stormy day or cuddled up by the fire kind of read. Enjoy! I can’t wait to read the next one.

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Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1) – Review by Sheri Schrader

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery by Ellen Butler is the first book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series. This is one well written mystery that has humor, DC political scene, romance, and mystery. I was first intrigued as an art history student because the Gardner Heist still has so many unanswered questions. Ms. Butler did a great job of a “what if” scenario that is well thought out and logical. I loved the main character Karina Cardinal and how she went about trying to weave her way through the twists and turns. I also appreciated that the mystery was interesting and had lots of different characters to wonder about their intentions. I will be definitely looking for more from this author in the future and look forward to more of the Karina Cardinal series.

Review by @sherimichelle1

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Isabella’s Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery Series Book #1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Angela Hayes.

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

“On March 18, 1990, in the wee hours of the morning, two men dressed as police officers obtained entry into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Holding the guards at gunpoint, the thieves marched them to the basement and proceeded to blindfold and handcuff them. Then the pair returned to the upper floors and, for the next eighty-one minutes, stole eleven paintings/drawings and two artifacts valued at $500 million….. The Gardner Museum robbery is considered one of the highest valued thefts of private property in history. In the years following the heist, FBI, investigative reporters, professional art recovery specialists, and amateur detectives have spent hundreds of man hours trying to locate the paintings. As of this book’s publication, all the artworks remain at large. The Gardner Museum has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the masterpieces.”

Isabella’s Painting is the first book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series by Ellen Butler. This is an excellent mystery- with danger, intrigue, action, suspense, humour, drama, the mafia, FBI, and a priceless stolen painting. Even though the story itself is fiction, it is based on a real- life robbery that happened back in 1990- which baffled investigators, and still remains unsolved all these years later. The author has done an amazing job of tying her story together with the actual events, blending the two together quite brilliantly.
Karina Cardinal is a lawyer turned lobbyist in Washington D.C. She’s smart, independent and hard-working. She’s doing well, with a good career and a great boyfriend. Even though she and Patrick haven’t been together all that long, things are getting serious between them and everything seems to be pointing to them taking the next step. But, when the two attend a Christmas party at Patrick’s parents place, Karina inadvertently sees something she wasn’t meant to- a painting which was stolen nearly three decades earlier and was part of a much bigger heist. Karina can’t believe her eyes and proceeds to do some investigating. What she uncovers places her in quite a predicament- not only jeopardising her job, her relationship, and her morals- but also her life. When an old college friend, now FBI Agent, joins the mix, things get really interesting….
This is a fantastic story, that had me totally engrossed from beginning to end. It has a fast pace, a smooth flow and was really easy to read. The characters are really well crafted into fully realised individuals. There must have been an incredible amount of research that went into the planning of this book, because there are so many elements woven into this story, small inter-connected details which gives the whole thing authenticity- and making it entirely believability, and also quite memorable. This book has a complex, and multi-layered storyline which is brought to life by the vividly descriptive story-telling, and by Ms. Butler’s meticulous attention to detail/s. She has woven a very polished mystery , full of surprises which kept me guessing the whole way through.
I can’t wait to dive into “Fatal Legislation” (Book #2), due for release in December 2018.

Thank you, Ms. Butler!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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