Up a Dry Creek by Avery Flynn

Publisher:  Evernight Publishing

Published: 6/13/2011

 Buy here

Rating:  Appetizer










 Dry Creek might be a small town but to Claire Layotn and her brothers, it was home. Claire had a successful restaurant, and if her chef hadn’t just walked out she would be fine, except for the small mountain of debt and the dead body in her dumpster. When the killer wants to use Claire to retrive the dead girl’s phone and flash drive, things went straight to the crapper. Her over protective brother’s are smothering her, now add in the cocky, big city PI working for the dead girl’s family and Claire just wants it all to go away. Jake Warrick needs to wind this up quick and get back to his dying father, but this case is really starting to stink. Things just aren’t adding up and his rampant attraction to Claire Layton isn’t helping matters. 


 Whew! Have on your oven mitts when you're reading this one, because this is one HOT read. It must be true that danger is the ultimate aphrodisiac because, even though they initially fight the attraction, Jake and Claire are on each other like bees on honey. Neither of our protagonists are looking for a relationship, heck they're not even looking for a dinner date. Claire was seriously burned by her ex, and Jake has abandonment issues.  Fate and her glorious bitchiness is gonna do what she does, when she wants to do it. I really liked Claire, she has a lot of small town chutzpah, and didn't need a man (lover or brother) to solve her problems. She was not afraid to take the bull by the horns, nor was she above doing a little protecting of her own.
Jake had severe commitment issues. He didn't mind a one or even a two night stand, but he had his own family matters to tend to. Thankfully he wises up and gives in gracefully.


 The action happens quick and furiously, there is no down time. Make sure you have your drinks, and nibbles ready because you're not going to want to put this book down to get them. There are some sneaky twist Ms. Flynn tosses at the reader, and a few lighter moments as well. Claire's mother is a flat out hoot, and Claire's smelly dog Onion holds his own. I can't wait to read the Layton boy's stories. They need a little feminine influence. This promises to be a sexy, fun and compelling series, and I highly recommend it.