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Jed Had to Die
The happiest day of Payton Lambert's life was the day she graduated high school and watched Bald Knob, Kentucky get smaller and smaller in her rearview mirror. She wanted more for her life than a tiny town where everyone knows your business and you can’t find a decent cup of coffee for at least forty miles. Twelve years later, an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night has her packing up her life in Chicago and racing back home to the one person she ever regretted leaving behind. Upon her return, she sees that Leo Hudson, the scrawny boy who followed Payton around like a puppy and could recite cow insemination facts in his sleep, is long gone. Leo is still hot on her heels, but now he's wearing a sheriff badge and dead set on solving a murder that may or may not involve Payton...along with half the town. In a place where the biggest crime happened the day someone kicked a few of his cows, people are pointing fingers, rumors are spreading like wildfire, and Payton swears she's only making out with the sweet-talking, studly sheriff to distract him from the secrets she's keeping. When you've been tased, peed on by a yippy dog named Bo Jangles, and can't stop picturing what Sheriff Hudson looks like naked, it will be a tough job making everyone agree that...Jed had to die.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2016
240 people are currently reading
3,002 people want to read
About the author
Tara Sivec
66 books10.3k followersTara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when all three of them become adults and move out.
After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. She writes in a wide range of genres including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2014.
In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she'll do and naps she'll take when she ever gets spare time.
After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. She writes in a wide range of genres including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2014.
In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she'll do and naps she'll take when she ever gets spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 671 reviews
August 10, 2017
Recorded Interview
August 6, 2017
Bald Knob, KY Police Department
Katerina: Why am I here?
Deputy Lloyd: Ur, I have no idea, ma'am, you were the one who initiated this interview.
Katerina: I'm pretty sure you know the reason, though.
Deputy Lloyd: Oh right, review purposes!
Katerina: Good boy. Even though I'd have preferred Sheriff Leo Hudson, I keep picturing him as Chris Hemsworth in Thor, is it true that the resemblance is uncanny? Because if it is I wouldn't say no to a trip to Valhalla with him-
Deputy Lloyd: He's not available right now.
But he does look like Thor.
Katerina: Is it true that his muscles are like tree trunks and his eyes the brightest blue of the sky and that-
Deputy Lloyd: Ma'am, I believe you've been carried away.
Deputy Lloyd: But it is true.
Katerina: Why are the good ones always taken?
Deputy Lloyd: ...
Katerina: Anyway, how shall we proceed?
Deputy Lloyd: Um, I suppose I could ask you some questions?
Katerina: Shoot me!
Katerina: You're not very good at this, are you?
Deputy Lloyd: I beg your pardon? I conducted a murder investigation for Heaven's sake! Do you know that our Mayor was killed, and I had to interview a city full of crazy a$$holes who never mind their own business AND a freaking dog?
Katerina: Language, Officer!
Deputy Lloyd: Sorry ma'am.
Deputy Lloyd: So, let's start from the basics. Why did you read Jed Had to Die?
Katerina: Well, some friends on Goodreads and the friends of those friends and then some random strangers raved about this book, and I was in the mood for a rom-com featuring a murder, so...
Deputy Lloyd: From the smile on your face I take you enjoyed it?
Katerina: Wow you're realy observant, Officer! Of course I did, It was fantabulous!
Deputy Lloyd: Ma'am, please don't-
Katerina: Awemusing!
Deputy Lloyd: Ma'am-
Katerina: Smeeeexy!
Deputy Lloyd: You haven't tried homemade moonshine, have you?
Katerina: Nah, just five cups of Liquid Crack!
Deputy Lloyd: So you're a coffee addict, like our Payton?
Katerina: Oh yes, that's why I loved her, besides her sarcasm and her inability to keep her mouth shut and her bad decisions. She understands coffee's sacrosanct nature and healing abilities and-
Deputy Lloyd: Alright, alright, got it! What else did you like about Jed Had to Die?
Katerina: The homey athmosphere! I felt like I was watching Hart of Dixie and, to be honest, Bald Knob reminded me of my hometown with its gossip and meddling!
Deputy Lloyd: Wow, your town actually competes Bald Knob regarding the gossip and the meddling?
Katerina: Yup! Once upon a time someone spread the rumor that my momma was dead and people called to offer their condolences!
Deputy Lloyd: Are you serious?
Katerina: Like a heart attack.
Deputy Lloyd: Um, do you think Jed really had to die?
Katerina: Duh-uh, he deserved everything that happened to him, that twisted bastard!
Deputy Lloyd: Ma'am, you do realise that if the book wasn't finished you'd be a suspect for the murder of Jed Jackson, correct?
Katerina: But I'm not, and we all know that the person who did it was-
Deputy Lloyd: No spoilers, ma'am!
Katerina: Sorry, Officer.
Deputy Lloyd: Did you enjoy the romance?
Katerina: Oh yeah, I loved every minute of it! Leo was such a caveman and a darling at the same time, and the fact that he had those feelings for Payton all those years made me all mushy and cry-baby! They were adorable and VERY hot, if you know what I mean...
Deputy Lloyd: I'm so glad we're talking about my boss's sex life like some pervs. What about the rest of the characters?
Katerina: The female friendships were wonderful, their banters had me cackling like a hen! And I must admit, Officer, your interviews were what made my day!
Deputy Lloyd: At least someone took pleasure in my misery.
Katerina: Oh stop being a drama-queen! You enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, EVERYONE enjoyed it!
Jed Had to Die was definitely a feel-good novel, ideal for a beach read or a midnight read or an I-want-to-have-fun read!
Deputy Lloyd: On behalf of the town of Bald Knob, I'd like to thank you for your kind words. Please, do visit us again!
Katerina: No no no don't leave me yet, I don't want to go back to stupid reality, please-
Katerina: Darn it!
You can find this review and more on BookNest.eu!
August 6, 2017
Bald Knob, KY Police Department
Katerina: Why am I here?
Deputy Lloyd: Ur, I have no idea, ma'am, you were the one who initiated this interview.
Katerina: I'm pretty sure you know the reason, though.
Deputy Lloyd: Oh right, review purposes!
Katerina: Good boy. Even though I'd have preferred Sheriff Leo Hudson, I keep picturing him as Chris Hemsworth in Thor, is it true that the resemblance is uncanny? Because if it is I wouldn't say no to a trip to Valhalla with him-
Deputy Lloyd: He's not available right now.
But he does look like Thor.
Katerina: Is it true that his muscles are like tree trunks and his eyes the brightest blue of the sky and that-
Deputy Lloyd: Ma'am, I believe you've been carried away.
*A moment of hesitation*
Deputy Lloyd: But it is true.
Katerina: Why are the good ones always taken?
Deputy Lloyd: ...
Katerina: Anyway, how shall we proceed?
Deputy Lloyd: Um, I suppose I could ask you some questions?
Katerina: Shoot me!
*Awkward silence*
Katerina: You're not very good at this, are you?
Deputy Lloyd: I beg your pardon? I conducted a murder investigation for Heaven's sake! Do you know that our Mayor was killed, and I had to interview a city full of crazy a$$holes who never mind their own business AND a freaking dog?
Katerina: Language, Officer!
Deputy Lloyd: Sorry ma'am.
*Another awkward silence*
Deputy Lloyd: So, let's start from the basics. Why did you read Jed Had to Die?
Katerina: Well, some friends on Goodreads and the friends of those friends and then some random strangers raved about this book, and I was in the mood for a rom-com featuring a murder, so...
Deputy Lloyd: From the smile on your face I take you enjoyed it?
Katerina: Wow you're realy observant, Officer! Of course I did, It was fantabulous!
Deputy Lloyd: Ma'am, please don't-
Katerina: Awemusing!
Deputy Lloyd: Ma'am-
Katerina: Smeeeexy!
Deputy Lloyd: You haven't tried homemade moonshine, have you?
Katerina: Nah, just five cups of Liquid Crack!
Deputy Lloyd: So you're a coffee addict, like our Payton?
Katerina: Oh yes, that's why I loved her, besides her sarcasm and her inability to keep her mouth shut and her bad decisions. She understands coffee's sacrosanct nature and healing abilities and-
Deputy Lloyd: Alright, alright, got it! What else did you like about Jed Had to Die?
Katerina: The homey athmosphere! I felt like I was watching Hart of Dixie and, to be honest, Bald Knob reminded me of my hometown with its gossip and meddling!
Deputy Lloyd: Wow, your town actually competes Bald Knob regarding the gossip and the meddling?
Katerina: Yup! Once upon a time someone spread the rumor that my momma was dead and people called to offer their condolences!
Deputy Lloyd: Are you serious?
Katerina: Like a heart attack.
*Third awkward silence*
Deputy Lloyd: Um, do you think Jed really had to die?
Katerina: Duh-uh, he deserved everything that happened to him, that twisted bastard!
Deputy Lloyd: Ma'am, you do realise that if the book wasn't finished you'd be a suspect for the murder of Jed Jackson, correct?
Katerina: But I'm not, and we all know that the person who did it was-
Deputy Lloyd: No spoilers, ma'am!
Katerina: Sorry, Officer.
*Shuffling papers*
Deputy Lloyd: Did you enjoy the romance?
Katerina: Oh yeah, I loved every minute of it! Leo was such a caveman and a darling at the same time, and the fact that he had those feelings for Payton all those years made me all mushy and cry-baby! They were adorable and VERY hot, if you know what I mean...
Deputy Lloyd: I'm so glad we're talking about my boss's sex life like some pervs. What about the rest of the characters?
Katerina: The female friendships were wonderful, their banters had me cackling like a hen! And I must admit, Officer, your interviews were what made my day!
Deputy Lloyd: At least someone took pleasure in my misery.
Katerina: Oh stop being a drama-queen! You enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, EVERYONE enjoyed it!
Jed Had to Die was definitely a feel-good novel, ideal for a beach read or a midnight read or an I-want-to-have-fun read!
Deputy Lloyd: On behalf of the town of Bald Knob, I'd like to thank you for your kind words. Please, do visit us again!
Katerina: No no no don't leave me yet, I don't want to go back to stupid reality, please-
*Door closes*
Katerina: Darn it!
You can find this review and more on BookNest.eu!
June 29, 2018
Look, I know I was supposed to love this one cuz y'all did, but I just couldn't!!
She's a lady asshole. A lasshole.
Her and her "edgy" friend are the kind of girls that are NOT in the tribe. They are the judgy girls who cut other girls down because they are just that cool. If you need to cut another girl down to prove to yourself and others how cool you are, you aren't. You're just a mean girl and need to be hit by a bus.
She's a lady asshole. A lasshole.
Her and her "edgy" friend are the kind of girls that are NOT in the tribe. They are the judgy girls who cut other girls down because they are just that cool. If you need to cut another girl down to prove to yourself and others how cool you are, you aren't. You're just a mean girl and need to be hit by a bus.
November 1, 2016
5 Hilarious Stars
I absolutely loved Jed had to Die! This story made me grin from the first page, I loved it so much! Jed Had To Die was hilarious, clever, sweet and fast paced! The mystery was perfect keeping me guessing all the time!
There is a murder, people guessing who did it, two best friends who thought they did it and a hot sheriff to make you swoon! Doesn't this make you want to read it?
I absolutely adored Payton and Leo,they were funny and sweet!The secondary characters were also as fantastic as the main!
"I believe the words you're looking for are Hot Guy and muscly,
but you can call me Sheriff Hudson."
I could talk to your about how much I loved it!If you are looking for a funny story with a great mystery that keeps you guessing all the time this is exactly what you need! Tara Sivec did it again! She delivered a compelling story that will make you laugh out loud!
I absolutely loved Jed had to Die! This story made me grin from the first page, I loved it so much! Jed Had To Die was hilarious, clever, sweet and fast paced! The mystery was perfect keeping me guessing all the time!
There is a murder, people guessing who did it, two best friends who thought they did it and a hot sheriff to make you swoon! Doesn't this make you want to read it?
I absolutely adored Payton and Leo,they were funny and sweet!The secondary characters were also as fantastic as the main!
"I believe the words you're looking for are Hot Guy and muscly,
but you can call me Sheriff Hudson."
I could talk to your about how much I loved it!If you are looking for a funny story with a great mystery that keeps you guessing all the time this is exactly what you need! Tara Sivec did it again! She delivered a compelling story that will make you laugh out loud!
November 4, 2016
4 stars
If you're looking for a light read with a whacky plot and some great laughs, this book has it.
Payton, a coffee-obsessed cafe owner can't believe she's back in Bald Knob, a town she couldn't say goodbye to fast enough right after high school. She's back after 12 years to help her friend Emma Jo whos' husband, town Mayor Jed Jackson was found murdered. Brimming full with copious amounts of coffee and wine, Payton and Emma Jo try to hide their small role in the murder from the town sheriff, Leo Hudson, all while trying to solve the murder mystery.
Oh gosh, Sheriff Hudson-as far as i'm concerned, he downright stole the show here. Especially with that SWEETEST, MOST ENDEARING gift he gave Payton at the end. Perfect epilogue and i loved that Payton never denied her feelings and stood by her decision although she promised never to set foot into Bald Knob ever again.
Filled with hilarious and laugh out loud moments along with some sweet, sexy times Jed Had to Die was an entertaining, uproarious read in classic Tara Sivec style. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
If you're looking for a light read with a whacky plot and some great laughs, this book has it.
Payton, a coffee-obsessed cafe owner can't believe she's back in Bald Knob, a town she couldn't say goodbye to fast enough right after high school. She's back after 12 years to help her friend Emma Jo whos' husband, town Mayor Jed Jackson was found murdered. Brimming full with copious amounts of coffee and wine, Payton and Emma Jo try to hide their small role in the murder from the town sheriff, Leo Hudson, all while trying to solve the murder mystery.
Oh gosh, Sheriff Hudson-as far as i'm concerned, he downright stole the show here. Especially with that SWEETEST, MOST ENDEARING gift he gave Payton at the end. Perfect epilogue and i loved that Payton never denied her feelings and stood by her decision although she promised never to set foot into Bald Knob ever again.
Filled with hilarious and laugh out loud moments along with some sweet, sexy times Jed Had to Die was an entertaining, uproarious read in classic Tara Sivec style. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
February 21, 2020
DNF.
I am not sure what is going on with this book. Someone dies then there is a sexy hero sheriff and a very damsel in distress. The story is about romance mix with murder mystery. The conversations between characters (main and secondary characters) are very confusing and immature. I think I lost it somewhere with all of these stupid immature police interrogation.
The whole village/ town is just immature and stupid. Even the comedy can not save this book.
Moving on...
2 stars
I am not sure what is going on with this book. Someone dies then there is a sexy hero sheriff and a very damsel in distress. The story is about romance mix with murder mystery. The conversations between characters (main and secondary characters) are very confusing and immature. I think I lost it somewhere with all of these stupid immature police interrogation.
The whole village/ town is just immature and stupid. Even the comedy can not save this book.
Moving on...
2 stars
October 31, 2016
4 STARS****
(ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review)
Well, my belly hurts from laughing so hard, and my heart feels happy from swooning so much over Mr. Hot guy, Leo.
Laughs, romance and tons of coffee, what else can we ask for????
Jed Had To Die was totally delicious, a book not to miss.
Payton Lambert lives and breathes for coffee. She left her hometown of Bald Knob, Kentucky after she graduated High school, and opened up her own precious coffee shop; Liquid Crack in Chicago. She hated the small town, where everyone knew her business, and nobody had any appreciation for her wild spirit, or good coffee. So, she left and never looked back.
Until one day, while she's trying to plan her business's new adventure; franchising, Liquid Crack. She gets a call from Bald Knob's hospital, informing her, that her former best friend, Emma Jo is in the hospital.
Payton runs to be with her best friend, and when she gets there, she learns of her sad reality. Emma Jo has been married to a wife abuser who gets off on beating her up whenever he pleases, the problem is, Emma Jo's husband Jed, is the town's major, and everyone loves him. Immediately Payton starts to formulate a plan for her friend to leave her abusive husband, but it won't be so easy, as a few things will get in her way; mainly wine, poisoned blue berry pies and a mystery murder.
In the midst of all the craziness Payton has encounter a very fine male specimen, aka Mr. Hot guy/ Thor lookalike/Mr. Granite chest. Later she learns who he really is; Leo Hudson. He is the former geek, dragons and dungeons guy, from her old High School. Payton can't believe the sweet geeky guy she used to protect from bullies has grown into the hot and sexy town's Sheriff.
Leo and Payton fight, flirt and fight so more. Their chemistry is wild and they can't barely contain themselves in front of each other. But there's a murder to solve, a town to appease and many cups of coffee to drink, before Payton goes and murder someone in the ridiculous town, she loves to hate.
Tara Sivec never fails to make us laugh until we cry with her books. Her writing style is always an awesome combination of humor and romance, that entertain the pants off anyone who reads her stories, and that's why she is one of my favorite authors.
Get this book and let this author take you on a hilarious journey of a woman who swore she would never come back to her small town, not knowing her heart had stayed back and is now ready to claim her.
(ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review)
Well, my belly hurts from laughing so hard, and my heart feels happy from swooning so much over Mr. Hot guy, Leo.
Laughs, romance and tons of coffee, what else can we ask for????
Jed Had To Die was totally delicious, a book not to miss.
Payton Lambert lives and breathes for coffee. She left her hometown of Bald Knob, Kentucky after she graduated High school, and opened up her own precious coffee shop; Liquid Crack in Chicago. She hated the small town, where everyone knew her business, and nobody had any appreciation for her wild spirit, or good coffee. So, she left and never looked back.
Until one day, while she's trying to plan her business's new adventure; franchising, Liquid Crack. She gets a call from Bald Knob's hospital, informing her, that her former best friend, Emma Jo is in the hospital.
Payton runs to be with her best friend, and when she gets there, she learns of her sad reality. Emma Jo has been married to a wife abuser who gets off on beating her up whenever he pleases, the problem is, Emma Jo's husband Jed, is the town's major, and everyone loves him. Immediately Payton starts to formulate a plan for her friend to leave her abusive husband, but it won't be so easy, as a few things will get in her way; mainly wine, poisoned blue berry pies and a mystery murder.
In the midst of all the craziness Payton has encounter a very fine male specimen, aka Mr. Hot guy/ Thor lookalike/Mr. Granite chest. Later she learns who he really is; Leo Hudson. He is the former geek, dragons and dungeons guy, from her old High School. Payton can't believe the sweet geeky guy she used to protect from bullies has grown into the hot and sexy town's Sheriff.
Leo and Payton fight, flirt and fight so more. Their chemistry is wild and they can't barely contain themselves in front of each other. But there's a murder to solve, a town to appease and many cups of coffee to drink, before Payton goes and murder someone in the ridiculous town, she loves to hate.
Tara Sivec never fails to make us laugh until we cry with her books. Her writing style is always an awesome combination of humor and romance, that entertain the pants off anyone who reads her stories, and that's why she is one of my favorite authors.
Get this book and let this author take you on a hilarious journey of a woman who swore she would never come back to her small town, not knowing her heart had stayed back and is now ready to claim her.
February 10, 2017
Coffee: Because crack will get you fired.
—Coffee Mug
This book is one of the most entertaining and hilarious books I have EVER read. I loved it from the very first page, and I could not stop laughing.
Payton Lambert left her small town Bald Knob, Kentucky twelve years ago, determined to make a success of her life, and to get away from the nosy townspeople and their lack of good coffee. But when she gets a call saying her best friend from school is in the hospital and Payton is her emergency contact, she drops everything to be there for Emma Jo. I loved her loyalty to her friend, and how she gave Emma Jo the strength to fight back against her abusive husband, whom the town loves. Payton was so freaking awesome with her feistiness, sassiness, her love of coffee and her willingness to use her middle finger to express herself :-D I adored her, and I want to be her when I grow up. It was so much fun being in her head. I love her coffee shop’s name, Liquid Crack and the names of the coffee size choices: I’m Okay, My Head Hurts, My Eye is Twitching, and PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO DIE. Anyone who can appreciate the true value of coffee is definitely someone I can totally relate to ;-D
“There is still a pointy weapon within my reach and I’ve had a lot of wine tonight, buddy. There’s no telling where I might shove that thing if you keep provoking me,” I threaten him, giving him the sweetest smile I can manage as I glance down between his legs so he knows exactly what part of his body I’m threatening right now.
“My eyes are up here, honey. First, you won’t stop touching my chest at the hospital, and now, you’re picturing me naked. I don’t remember you being this flirty.”
Then there was Leo Hudson, the town’s sheriff. Leo was the scrawny D&D nerd who tutored Payton in high school and who now looks like Thor in a uniform with a badge and handcuffs (so yummy!) He had a big crush on Payton all those years ago, and I loved that he still had a thing for her, and that he’s been fantasying about her for twelve years.
“I know it’s crazy, and I know it probably scares the shit out of you, but I have been dreaming about you and what I would say to you and what I would do if you ever walked back into my life and I got a second chance to make another impression on you.”
Of course Payton didn’t recognise Leo, and understandably he was quite upset that Payton didn’t recognise him after all these years, and because of this their romance had quite a rocky start, but I loved their hilarious banter. It was a bit difficult to figure Leo out and why he acted the way he did in the beginning, ignoring Payton and giving her the cold shoulder, the romance definitely could have done with Leo’s POV, but luckily the more the story unfolded, the more his behavior made sense. I loved the hot sexy times and the very romantic gift he gave her.
The plot was fantastic, although I was sad that the humor lost some of its steam in the middle, but I still enjoyed the hell out of this book. I loved Payton’s friend and manager Bettie Lake, who is also a coffee addict and sarcastic and feisty. I loved all the loony and loyal townspeople, even though I wanted to slap them all silly for being so mean to Payton. And the mystery regarding who killed asshole Jed (who totally deserved killing) was a lot of fun.
I don’t like morning people. Or mornings. Or people.
—Coffee Mug
Also this book gave me a ton of new coffee mug slogans, so I’m very happy about that :-D. This was my first book by this author, and she’s bloody brilliant. I can’t wait to read more of her books. If you want a book that will make you laugh until your abs hurt with a side of romance and mystery, look no further. HIGHLY RECOMMENED.
February 7, 2017
When I first saw this book, I thought it sounded amaaazing. Humor + Mystery + Romance? Sounds perfect. However, those three things I looked forward to most: humor, mystery, and romance - all of them weren't working for me in this particular book.
Pros
-I liked reading the snippets of the police interviewing the townspeople. They were bizarre and a bitttt funny sometimes
-I liked that Payton learned to love her weird small town again.
-Buddy & Emma: She suffered 12 years with a guy who didn't appreciate her and would physically hurt her. On the other hand, Buddy was sweet and nice, and I'm glad she found someone who would appreciate her and treat her right. And I liked that he had a crush on her this whole time
-Ending: Cuute.
Cons
-Humor: I didn't get the humor. I just wasn't clicking with it. It was simply not "my type of humor," which is OK, because people have different sense of humor. This book had heavy doses of comedic moments, so my advice would be that if you don't click with the humor in the 1st 3 chapters, you're probably not going to like the rest of the book.
-Mystery: The mystery was...dull, in my opinion. I wasn't particularly impressed. I didn't find it shocking or clever or interesting.
-Romance: The romance wasn't really romantic or thoughtful or cute. I can see that they are realllllly attracted to each other. I can see that he had a crush in her way back in high school when he was the "nerd" and she was the "hot girl." OK--- And when they reunite, fireworks, because he always held a torch for her, and she didn't recognize him initially, but she thought he was super, super hot. OK. All of these things I can't complain about. It's just what comes after - I wished we had actual depth and development or cute, sweet moments with them.--- After that, there were a lot of moments where she emphasized how much she loooooved his body and his muscles. And if not fantasizing about that, she whined a lot about how he didn't pay attention to her - only focusing on Emma, her best friend (who had been domestically abused for a decade and whose husband just died), or whined about how she owed him two apologies, or whined about how he never noticed/did anything about how her best friend was being domestically abused - when HELLO she was the one who ditched her best friend for 12 years and never bothered checking in, or whined about how he was such a jerk, but she couldn't stop thinking about him and his body. I just didn't really like the protagonist in general, to be honest.
---To be fair, I think the parts I called "whining" were supposed to be humorous or relatable or something. I didn't personally get it, but you might find her funny and cool.
Overall, I gave Jed Had to Die 1.5 stars because I personally couldn't connect with it - the humor, the mystery, the romance, and the protagonist. I think I was hoping for something like Meg Cabot's Heather Wells series but more mature, where there is a mystery going on, and there are a lot of bizarre-funny situations, with a quirky, relatable protagonist, and a dash of romance. I think the problem in this book lies in that my personal preference leans more towards that type of sense of humor and plotting, in contrast to this book's sense of humor and plotting, which I didn't connect with. Other people might find this really funny and amusing though. Try it out, and see if it suits your sense of humor - because this book does rely heavily on comedic moments.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Is there a happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
What age level would be appropriate?
----------
1/4/17
Humor + Murder + Romance??? SIGN ME UPPPP.
I'm actually really excited for this, even though I don't know much about this book. --but pleeeease give me lots of laughter~ <3
Pros
-I liked reading the snippets of the police interviewing the townspeople. They were bizarre and a bitttt funny sometimes
-I liked that Payton learned to love her weird small town again.
-Buddy & Emma: She suffered 12 years with a guy who didn't appreciate her and would physically hurt her. On the other hand, Buddy was sweet and nice, and I'm glad she found someone who would appreciate her and treat her right. And I liked that he had a crush on her this whole time
-Ending: Cuute.
Cons
-Humor: I didn't get the humor. I just wasn't clicking with it. It was simply not "my type of humor," which is OK, because people have different sense of humor. This book had heavy doses of comedic moments, so my advice would be that if you don't click with the humor in the 1st 3 chapters, you're probably not going to like the rest of the book.
-Mystery: The mystery was...dull, in my opinion. I wasn't particularly impressed. I didn't find it shocking or clever or interesting.
-Romance: The romance wasn't really romantic or thoughtful or cute. I can see that they are realllllly attracted to each other. I can see that he had a crush in her way back in high school when he was the "nerd" and she was the "hot girl." OK--- And when they reunite, fireworks, because he always held a torch for her, and she didn't recognize him initially, but she thought he was super, super hot. OK. All of these things I can't complain about. It's just what comes after - I wished we had actual depth and development or cute, sweet moments with them.--- After that, there were a lot of moments where she emphasized how much she loooooved his body and his muscles. And if not fantasizing about that, she whined a lot about how he didn't pay attention to her - only focusing on Emma, her best friend (who had been domestically abused for a decade and whose husband just died), or whined about how she owed him two apologies, or whined about how he never noticed/did anything about how her best friend was being domestically abused - when HELLO she was the one who ditched her best friend for 12 years and never bothered checking in, or whined about how he was such a jerk, but she couldn't stop thinking about him and his body. I just didn't really like the protagonist in general, to be honest.
---To be fair, I think the parts I called "whining" were supposed to be humorous or relatable or something. I didn't personally get it, but you might find her funny and cool.
“God, I’m such a bitch. Your husband is dead in your backyard and here I am complaining about some guy not paying me enough attention. And a guy I don’t give two shits about, at that,” I mutter softly.
Whatever. I’m not lying, YOU’RE lying.
Overall, I gave Jed Had to Die 1.5 stars because I personally couldn't connect with it - the humor, the mystery, the romance, and the protagonist. I think I was hoping for something like Meg Cabot's Heather Wells series but more mature, where there is a mystery going on, and there are a lot of bizarre-funny situations, with a quirky, relatable protagonist, and a dash of romance. I think the problem in this book lies in that my personal preference leans more towards that type of sense of humor and plotting, in contrast to this book's sense of humor and plotting, which I didn't connect with. Other people might find this really funny and amusing though. Try it out, and see if it suits your sense of humor - because this book does rely heavily on comedic moments.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Is there a happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
What age level would be appropriate?
----------
1/4/17
Humor + Murder + Romance??? SIGN ME UPPPP.
I'm actually really excited for this, even though I don't know much about this book. --but pleeeease give me lots of laughter~ <3
November 7, 2016
3.5 stars!
I love Tara Sivec’s humor! Jed Had to Die had humor, heat, and characters that truly made me smile.
I love a good suspense and something that keeps you thinking and on the edge of your seat and Jed Had to Die did just that. Whenever I am looking for something different and out of the box, I know that Tara will give it to me.
Payton is back home to take care of her best friend Emma Jo who was in the hospital. When Emma’s husband Jed mysteriously dies, the girls are freaking out wondering who did it. Payton hasn’t been back to her hometown in a while so when she runs into hot sheriff Leo Hudson, she doesn’t recognize him as the school nerd who was in her class growing up. And boy do sparks fly!!!
I completely loved these characters including the secondary characters who cracked me up throughout the book in their interviews. This book is funny and entertaining and for a while there, I was trying to solve the mystery and for me, EVERYONE was a suspect. I felt like everyone was guilty and I love second guessing myself in a book!
Tara Sivec has the ability to surprise me with each book she releases and the suspense combined with the humor and romance in this book makes Jed Had to Die another must read by an author who is on my always read list!
I love Tara Sivec’s humor! Jed Had to Die had humor, heat, and characters that truly made me smile.
I love a good suspense and something that keeps you thinking and on the edge of your seat and Jed Had to Die did just that. Whenever I am looking for something different and out of the box, I know that Tara will give it to me.
Payton is back home to take care of her best friend Emma Jo who was in the hospital. When Emma’s husband Jed mysteriously dies, the girls are freaking out wondering who did it. Payton hasn’t been back to her hometown in a while so when she runs into hot sheriff Leo Hudson, she doesn’t recognize him as the school nerd who was in her class growing up. And boy do sparks fly!!!
I completely loved these characters including the secondary characters who cracked me up throughout the book in their interviews. This book is funny and entertaining and for a while there, I was trying to solve the mystery and for me, EVERYONE was a suspect. I felt like everyone was guilty and I love second guessing myself in a book!
Tara Sivec has the ability to surprise me with each book she releases and the suspense combined with the humor and romance in this book makes Jed Had to Die another must read by an author who is on my always read list!
July 4, 2018
What a fantastic performance...
***4.5 stars***
Not to take away from the humorous and very talented writing of Tara Sivec but this story was perfect for audio. Or, maybe it would be better to say that Jed Had to Die was perfectly performed by Amy McFadden.
Oh my lordy, I laughed...out loud...in public!!
To be honest, Jed Had to Die nearly killed me. Well sorta kinda my fault but I'll blame Tara and Amy for it too. Kind of spoilery, so proceed with caution. There I am, snuffly from a cold and a little weary, driving home from work and listening to my audio. A scene comes up where the main character, Payton gets tasered. I shouldn't laugh but that was funny in itself. Then, Payton tries to talk while her body is recovering from the jolt. Tears from laughing blur my eyes, my nose is running and I have a sneezing fit. Luckily, I was two seconds away from home and managed to get into the driveway where I proceeded to cackle, snort and sniffle. I survived, and it was a bloody good thing I wasn't driving in traffic.
Amy (McFadden) really gets into character and performs what someone sounds like stuttering and stammering (from being tasered) which was HILARIOUS. There were plenty of times that I appreciated her acting talents and knew that not every narrator would pull off a story like this. Amy bloody nailed it.
Brutally honest, I don't think I would have enjoyed this story half as much if I had read it. For starters, the small town snarky, judgemental and narrow-minded people would have made me livid. I wanted to smack them all in the head for not noticing that one of their beloved citizens was unhappy and suffering. This is not a book to take too seriously as you would be horrified and maybe even disgusted if this was real. But, then again, reality is not so pretty...
Leo, I really liked him. I loved that he's dreamed of Payton coming back to town. He had a huge crush on her when he was a kid and seeing her again, brings back all those feelings. Time has been good to Leo. The scrawny nerd has grown up to be a sexy, muscley sheriff who won't be overlooked by the prettiest girl in town, now. So bloody cute.
I really enjoyed listening to Jed Had to Die. Tara Sivec wrote her usual bust a gut laughing storyline and Amy McFadden performed it in a way that a lot of other narrators couldn't.
4 stars for the story and 5 stars for the performance giving it an overall 4.5 stars.
***4.5 stars***
Not to take away from the humorous and very talented writing of Tara Sivec but this story was perfect for audio. Or, maybe it would be better to say that Jed Had to Die was perfectly performed by Amy McFadden.
Oh my lordy, I laughed...out loud...in public!!
To be honest, Jed Had to Die nearly killed me. Well sorta kinda my fault but I'll blame Tara and Amy for it too. Kind of spoilery, so proceed with caution. There I am, snuffly from a cold and a little weary, driving home from work and listening to my audio. A scene comes up where the main character, Payton gets tasered. I shouldn't laugh but that was funny in itself. Then, Payton tries to talk while her body is recovering from the jolt. Tears from laughing blur my eyes, my nose is running and I have a sneezing fit. Luckily, I was two seconds away from home and managed to get into the driveway where I proceeded to cackle, snort and sniffle. I survived, and it was a bloody good thing I wasn't driving in traffic.
Amy (McFadden) really gets into character and performs what someone sounds like stuttering and stammering (from being tasered) which was HILARIOUS. There were plenty of times that I appreciated her acting talents and knew that not every narrator would pull off a story like this. Amy bloody nailed it.
Brutally honest, I don't think I would have enjoyed this story half as much if I had read it. For starters, the small town snarky, judgemental and narrow-minded people would have made me livid. I wanted to smack them all in the head for not noticing that one of their beloved citizens was unhappy and suffering. This is not a book to take too seriously as you would be horrified and maybe even disgusted if this was real. But, then again, reality is not so pretty...
Leo, I really liked him. I loved that he's dreamed of Payton coming back to town. He had a huge crush on her when he was a kid and seeing her again, brings back all those feelings. Time has been good to Leo. The scrawny nerd has grown up to be a sexy, muscley sheriff who won't be overlooked by the prettiest girl in town, now. So bloody cute.
I really enjoyed listening to Jed Had to Die. Tara Sivec wrote her usual bust a gut laughing storyline and Amy McFadden performed it in a way that a lot of other narrators couldn't.
4 stars for the story and 5 stars for the performance giving it an overall 4.5 stars.
May 5, 2019
Jed Had to Die by Tara Sivec and narrated by Amy McFadden is a fun, witty, romantic novel about a murdered abusive husband who is the town mayor. The abused wife had called her friend she hadn't seen in 12 years to come see her. They start drinking and make a poisoned pie. The abused is never in the house after they made the pie!
The sheriff is a friend of the woman and is angry at the abuser. The abuser is found dead the next day in the back yard. Who did it and how? The small town rumors are hilarious! They grow with each retelling!
It has a hot sheriff too! Things get so crazy in here and funny! Love all the silly things that go one.
Great narration too!
The sheriff is a friend of the woman and is angry at the abuser. The abuser is found dead the next day in the back yard. Who did it and how? The small town rumors are hilarious! They grow with each retelling!
It has a hot sheriff too! Things get so crazy in here and funny! Love all the silly things that go one.
Great narration too!
July 4, 2017
Cute and funny! Quintessential snark is present. The coffee obsession is hilarious. The characters are something else!
June 25, 2018
I wish I had more stars to give this book! It is absolutely hilarious! 🤣
Payton was the kid in the town that was always in trouble. She finally broke free and moved to Chicago. One day she gets a call to rush home because her best friend is in the hospital. She has been the victim of abuse from her husband since they were married. Meanwhile the whole town thinks Jed is a good guy, not an abusive husband.
But when he turns up dead, the whole thinks bad girl Payton is guilty. Sometimes she thinks so, too. 😊
Payton was the kid in the town that was always in trouble. She finally broke free and moved to Chicago. One day she gets a call to rush home because her best friend is in the hospital. She has been the victim of abuse from her husband since they were married. Meanwhile the whole town thinks Jed is a good guy, not an abusive husband.
But when he turns up dead, the whole thinks bad girl Payton is guilty. Sometimes she thinks so, too. 😊
November 2, 2016
Every time I see the title, “Jed Had to Die”, I sing it to the tune of the Dixie Chicks, “Goodbye, Earl”. (Google it. The video is hilarious!) If you’re familiar with the song, you know that a woman has been hospitalized by her abusive husband and she calls her best friend for support. One thing leads to another and the husband winds up dead. It’s a great song that inspired an even better book. Jed winds up dead, but solving the mystery of how it happens unfolds in the most hilarious of ways.
Payton grew up in small-town Kentucky and skedaddled as soon as her diploma was in her hand. She moved to Chicago, opened a coffee shop, and never looked back. When the best friend she hasn’t seen in 12 years calls, she is on the first flight out to help her. After zero sleep and no coffee, Payton inadvertently insults the hot guy she doesn’t recognize from high school. Despite her faux pas, Leo has been harboring a secret crush for years and he’s just what Payton is looking for in a man.
I, too, grew up in a tiny town and like Payton, I could NOT wait to graduate from high school and move on to bigger and better things. I certainly can’t blame her wanting to get away from the busybodies who know everything about everyone in town. Some of the funniest moments in Jed were due to the townsfolk and their reactions to everything happening with Jed's death and the subsequent investigation.
My morbid sense of humor rejoiced while reading this book and I laughed until there were tears more than once. Sivec flexes her writing muscle by injecting hilarious scenes into what could easily have been a depressing story. If you like romance with a side of mystery and a whole lot of shenanigans and inappropriate behavior, Jed Had to Die is definitely a winner!
Payton grew up in small-town Kentucky and skedaddled as soon as her diploma was in her hand. She moved to Chicago, opened a coffee shop, and never looked back. When the best friend she hasn’t seen in 12 years calls, she is on the first flight out to help her. After zero sleep and no coffee, Payton inadvertently insults the hot guy she doesn’t recognize from high school. Despite her faux pas, Leo has been harboring a secret crush for years and he’s just what Payton is looking for in a man.
I, too, grew up in a tiny town and like Payton, I could NOT wait to graduate from high school and move on to bigger and better things. I certainly can’t blame her wanting to get away from the busybodies who know everything about everyone in town. Some of the funniest moments in Jed were due to the townsfolk and their reactions to everything happening with Jed's death and the subsequent investigation.
My morbid sense of humor rejoiced while reading this book and I laughed until there were tears more than once. Sivec flexes her writing muscle by injecting hilarious scenes into what could easily have been a depressing story. If you like romance with a side of mystery and a whole lot of shenanigans and inappropriate behavior, Jed Had to Die is definitely a winner!
January 29, 2020
Payton could not wait to escape from her old home town of Bald Knob and has found success with her cafe, serving the best coffee - in her humble opinion. When she receives and SOS call from her best friend she finds herself returning to Bald Knob for the first time in 12 years.
Within 24 hours she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery and is dealing with the condemnation and gossip from the residents of bald knob. Everyone is pointing the finger at her and just quietly, she might be guilty…
The best thing about returning to Bald Knob is Leo Hudson, the boy who tutored her when she was young and has grown into the most yummiest looking man she has ever met. Payton didn’t recognise him at first but he remembers her, the girl he loved as a teenager and still holds a candle for.
As Payton deals with the attraction she has for Leo, trying to cover up secrets and supporting her best friend, things begin to unravel. She is also beginning to wonder if Bald Knob really is a place she should be running from, especially when her heart now feels like it belongs there.
This was my audio read indulgence for the week and was the perfect way to distract me from all the boring household chores. I absolutely love Tara Sivec’s unique injections of humour and this story had plenty of that.
Within 24 hours she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery and is dealing with the condemnation and gossip from the residents of bald knob. Everyone is pointing the finger at her and just quietly, she might be guilty…
The best thing about returning to Bald Knob is Leo Hudson, the boy who tutored her when she was young and has grown into the most yummiest looking man she has ever met. Payton didn’t recognise him at first but he remembers her, the girl he loved as a teenager and still holds a candle for.
As Payton deals with the attraction she has for Leo, trying to cover up secrets and supporting her best friend, things begin to unravel. She is also beginning to wonder if Bald Knob really is a place she should be running from, especially when her heart now feels like it belongs there.
This was my audio read indulgence for the week and was the perfect way to distract me from all the boring household chores. I absolutely love Tara Sivec’s unique injections of humour and this story had plenty of that.
July 19, 2017
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Genre: Romantic Comedy + Mystery
:: 5 Pretty Little Stars ::
This book. OMG it’s hilarious, mysterious, fun, and totally wacky! I loved every single minute of it. Tara Sivec has a flair for writing romantic comedies, but in this one, the way she adds mystery to the story makes it surpass all her other novels (although yes, I loved those ones too). Gah, I can’t even express my excitement for this book! It’s just really good and you have to read it for yourself! The characters are outstanding- they make this book what it is-. The bantering and shenanigans that follow the heroine and her friends remind me of myself and my friends so I was able to wholeheartedly connect with them. The mystery added in had me guessing the whole way through and I couldn’t figure out who ACTUALLY killed Jed. When I finally found out I was SHOCKED (and so happy LOL). Finally, the love story added into the book really rounded it out well and I found myself not only swooning but so glad that I found myself a hero just as our heroine did. WOW. Just read this book. It’s perfect for those who love romantic comedies, and of course, the authors work in general. I highly recommend it!
Want to know a little bit more about this book? Well, then I will tell you! Payton, owner of liquid crack, and coffee connoisseur returns to her home town of Bald Knob (hehe, the author did this on purpose, I bet) to help a friend in need. Little does Peyton know that things from the past are going to come back to haunt her. Like the time she let the boy she was babysitting watch Mean Girls on T.V. Who would has thought he would repeat things back to his mother – like calling her a whore and yelling BOO YOU WHORE--. Opps! Or what about that time she stole some wine coolers or fell out the tree while trying to sneak her best friend out with her? Yes, this may have all happened 12 years ago when she was kind of a hoodlum, but people won’t hold it against her, will they? THEY DO! But finding out that her best friend has been physically abused for the past 12 years does more to her heart than the hate and sass she receives from her hometown neighbors. And, as if things can’t get any worse, her best friends abusive husband turns up dead and all fingers point to Peyton. Luckily, town sheriff Leo Hudson is there to cool her off… In more ways than one!
This book is adventure filled, hilarious and totally outrageous! Readers who love to read books that will both make them laugh and swoon should definitely grab their copy of this one. It’s AMAZING! And my favorite parts? The fact that every other chapter is filled with hilarity when the towns police officer is trying to interview those who may have seen what happened to Jed. OMG. A must read…. Seriously!
Genre: Romantic Comedy + Mystery
:: 5 Pretty Little Stars ::
This book. OMG it’s hilarious, mysterious, fun, and totally wacky! I loved every single minute of it. Tara Sivec has a flair for writing romantic comedies, but in this one, the way she adds mystery to the story makes it surpass all her other novels (although yes, I loved those ones too). Gah, I can’t even express my excitement for this book! It’s just really good and you have to read it for yourself! The characters are outstanding- they make this book what it is-. The bantering and shenanigans that follow the heroine and her friends remind me of myself and my friends so I was able to wholeheartedly connect with them. The mystery added in had me guessing the whole way through and I couldn’t figure out who ACTUALLY killed Jed. When I finally found out I was SHOCKED (and so happy LOL). Finally, the love story added into the book really rounded it out well and I found myself not only swooning but so glad that I found myself a hero just as our heroine did. WOW. Just read this book. It’s perfect for those who love romantic comedies, and of course, the authors work in general. I highly recommend it!
Want to know a little bit more about this book? Well, then I will tell you! Payton, owner of liquid crack, and coffee connoisseur returns to her home town of Bald Knob (hehe, the author did this on purpose, I bet) to help a friend in need. Little does Peyton know that things from the past are going to come back to haunt her. Like the time she let the boy she was babysitting watch Mean Girls on T.V. Who would has thought he would repeat things back to his mother – like calling her a whore and yelling BOO YOU WHORE--. Opps! Or what about that time she stole some wine coolers or fell out the tree while trying to sneak her best friend out with her? Yes, this may have all happened 12 years ago when she was kind of a hoodlum, but people won’t hold it against her, will they? THEY DO! But finding out that her best friend has been physically abused for the past 12 years does more to her heart than the hate and sass she receives from her hometown neighbors. And, as if things can’t get any worse, her best friends abusive husband turns up dead and all fingers point to Peyton. Luckily, town sheriff Leo Hudson is there to cool her off… In more ways than one!
This book is adventure filled, hilarious and totally outrageous! Readers who love to read books that will both make them laugh and swoon should definitely grab their copy of this one. It’s AMAZING! And my favorite parts? The fact that every other chapter is filled with hilarity when the towns police officer is trying to interview those who may have seen what happened to Jed. OMG. A must read…. Seriously!
October 25, 2016
**Jed Had to Die generously provided in exchange for an honest review.**
4 "Liquid Crack is fine." Stars
Tara Sivec put a smile on my face throughout Jed Had to Die. A cross between the Dixie Chicks song "Earl Had to Die" and Kristen Ashley's Rock Chick series, Jed Had to Die hails as a laugh out loud funny, incredibly zany suspense with sweet & silly romance. With each Rom-com style book of Sivec's her charmingly witty writing constantly seduces me into the romance of her stories add a little mystery coupled with intrigue and the story provides a great respite from the heavy of life.
Payton Lambert owns Liquid Crack a coffee shop I'd go into if I lived in Chicago and I don't drink coffee. But I'd go for the camaraderie, the atmosphere, and the no-nonsense antics from her and her best friend - the hilarious and straight shooting Bettie. Called unexpectedly from a hospital near her childhood home of Bald Knob, Kentucky, Payton rushes home to the side of high school best friend and wife to the illustrious woman beating Jed, Emma Jo. Not one to be super pumped about returning to Bald Knob, Payton finds Bald Knob is exactly same. Same town, same gossip, same players. Except for one wrench in her life. Sheriff Leo Hudson. And holy Hudson, Batman, is Sheriff Leo what RomCom heroes are made of.
A quirky, crazy story of Whodunit? - Jed Had to Die seriously left me crying in hilarity, smiling, and feeling real happy about reading it. Sivec's writing never ceases to entertain and I highly recommend this book for any romance reader who's looking for a fun, comedic, and entertaining read.
December 15, 2016
4 Stars.
I haven't read Tara Sivec for a while but this was a good one to re-start. What can I say? I love being the crazy lady that laughs alone at the train.
This was a hilarious, sexy and emotional book about a guy that just got the girl of his nerdy teenager dreams and about a girl that found out that the place we ran away from, it's actually where we belong.
If you like Tara Sivec or if you just like hilarious romance books... you should definitely read this one.
Steam: Some hot moments.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
I haven't read Tara Sivec for a while but this was a good one to re-start. What can I say? I love being the crazy lady that laughs alone at the train.
This was a hilarious, sexy and emotional book about a guy that just got the girl of his nerdy teenager dreams and about a girl that found out that the place we ran away from, it's actually where we belong.
If you like Tara Sivec or if you just like hilarious romance books... you should definitely read this one.
Steam: Some hot moments.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
November 27, 2016
Tara Sivec, a hot sheriff and homemade moonshine situations?
November 1, 2016
I really didn’t know what to expect when going into this book. Tara Sivec blew my mind with this one. It had just the right dose of humor, romance and mystery to make a great read. The serious message she tried to convey came through perfectly and wasn’t lost in the humor. I have to say this book tops my favorite list of hers now.
Holy Hotness Nerd Alert! Leo, nerd turned superhero. That is the kind of hero I’m talking about. I love romances where the Hero wasn’t always the hot male that he is now. It shows growth and it’s real. Not all of us make it through puberty unscathed. Leo grew into his skin and watch out ladies, he is going to top the book boyfriend lists.
I loved where this book started and how it progressed. Not knowing which direction the author was going in, I liked where the plot went and the storyline. There are lots of laugh out loud moments. Plenty of swoonworthy parts and an ending that will make your heart melt. Definitely a must read!
Holy Hotness Nerd Alert! Leo, nerd turned superhero. That is the kind of hero I’m talking about. I love romances where the Hero wasn’t always the hot male that he is now. It shows growth and it’s real. Not all of us make it through puberty unscathed. Leo grew into his skin and watch out ladies, he is going to top the book boyfriend lists.
I loved where this book started and how it progressed. Not knowing which direction the author was going in, I liked where the plot went and the storyline. There are lots of laugh out loud moments. Plenty of swoonworthy parts and an ending that will make your heart melt. Definitely a must read!
August 27, 2016
Heat, humor, suspense, sexy, muskrats, dead raccoons!!!! SUPERHOT Leo Hudson? Yes please!!!
I love love LOVED this book so much! I laughed my ass off, I cried (dammit!), and I craved coffee the entire time... Haha!
A coffee addict leaves her small-town home in rural Kentucky vowing never to return, establishes a highly successful coffee chain in Chicago, but is pulled back home by her lifelong bestie ending up in the hospital after being brutally beaten by her husband Jed.
HS geeks turned into SEX GOD sheriffs... A drunken night of bestie bonding and baking poisoned pie. Did they kill him? Did some other person who secretly hated Jed sneak in and commit the crime???
You'll have to read it and find out. This one is Adorable and AWESOME, and will leave you smiling so big... and wiping your eyes.
I love love LOVED this book so much! I laughed my ass off, I cried (dammit!), and I craved coffee the entire time... Haha!
A coffee addict leaves her small-town home in rural Kentucky vowing never to return, establishes a highly successful coffee chain in Chicago, but is pulled back home by her lifelong bestie ending up in the hospital after being brutally beaten by her husband Jed.
HS geeks turned into SEX GOD sheriffs... A drunken night of bestie bonding and baking poisoned pie. Did they kill him? Did some other person who secretly hated Jed sneak in and commit the crime???
You'll have to read it and find out. This one is Adorable and AWESOME, and will leave you smiling so big... and wiping your eyes.
November 4, 2016
This was a fun, light and completely hilarious book! There were a couple times I was laughing out loud it was so funny. The romance was really sweet and there were a couple good steamy scenes. I enjoyed the mystery in this one - who killed Jed?? I really enjoyed this one!
November 10, 2016
Funny, cute and crazy. Nothing but entertainment. Enjoyed!
October 31, 2016
When I first heard about Jed Had to Die, I really wasn’t sure what to expect or what I was really getting myself into. But, I will say that I was very intrigued by the story-line and was super excited to dive in.
Jed Had to Die was a quick and easy read. It’s told from dual points of view and had me laughing my ass off. Seriously, I could not get enough of this book. From the small town gossip to the entertaining police reports/interviews, there was not a dull moment. It was hard not to fall in love with this crazy and not so perfect town.
Overall, I thought this was a really great read. As someone who is from a small town, I can totally relate to how Payton felt about the gossip and wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. Yes, this story does have some serious tones to it, but for the most part, it was just a really fun book. It had just the right mix of drama, romance and suspense. I loved the “who done it” feel to the book and had a great time trying to figure out exactly what happened to Jed. If you’re looking for a funny read with lots of great friendship, swoon worthy moments and a “who done it” twist, don’t hesitate in picking up Jed Had to Die today.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
Jed Had to Die was a quick and easy read. It’s told from dual points of view and had me laughing my ass off. Seriously, I could not get enough of this book. From the small town gossip to the entertaining police reports/interviews, there was not a dull moment. It was hard not to fall in love with this crazy and not so perfect town.
Overall, I thought this was a really great read. As someone who is from a small town, I can totally relate to how Payton felt about the gossip and wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. Yes, this story does have some serious tones to it, but for the most part, it was just a really fun book. It had just the right mix of drama, romance and suspense. I loved the “who done it” feel to the book and had a great time trying to figure out exactly what happened to Jed. If you’re looking for a funny read with lots of great friendship, swoon worthy moments and a “who done it” twist, don’t hesitate in picking up Jed Had to Die today.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
November 8, 2016
Jed Had To Die by Tara Sivec
Standalone Romantic Comedy/ Mystery.
If you have followed Ana's Attic for any length of time, you know that Tara Sivec is one of my favorite authors, especially her romantic comedies. The Chocolate Lovers & Chocoholics Series are still my favorite all-time series, but The Holidays and now Jed Had To Die are joining the ranks. *Note: though it may seem I tell too much of the story, I don't go further than the blurb*
The thing I love about Tara's comedies is that she writes awesome friends that you totally want to hang with (this is the reason I started Wicked Book Weekend 4 years ago). While Jed Had To Die covers some serious issues and is a tad bit less zany and raunchy than her other comedies, it is no less fun to read. In fact, it reminded me of a funnier, sexier Janet Evanovich book (The Stephanie Plum Series is still a favorite).
Payton Lambert left her small hometown of Bald Knob (snicker) Kentucky as fast as she could after high school, and headed off to Chicago to get a business degree and fulfill her dream of opening her own coffee shop called "Liquid Crack". Word spread that she sold the best coffee in the city, there were no frou-frou drinks, no working, no business calls, and all of the coffee was served in fun, unique mugs and drank in cushy sofas and chairs, so her business was successful, and about to be franchised.
When you come up to the counter at Liquid Crack, your size choices are I'm Okay, My Head Hurts, My Eye is Twitching, and PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO DIE.
That last one is the extra-large, obviously.
Payton and her other coffee-obsessed employee, Bettie, take coffee very seriously, and I love how they treat people who come in wanting the fancy venti caramel soy lattes.
"You are a disgrace to coffee. Go away before I yank off those stupid Uggs and beat you with them."
Payton hasn't been home to Bald Knob in 12 years, but when she gets a phone call that she is listed as the In Case of Emergency number on her High School best friend's hospital admittance papers, she heads home for the first time to rescue Emma Jo. While waiting for Emma Jo to wake up, she bumps into "Hot Guy", and can't stop thinking about him. It turns out Emma Jo has been beaten yet again by her husband Jed, the guy she married right after high school, who is also the town mayor, and the guy everyone loved. And it turned out 'Hot Guy' was the town sheriff who used to be the scrawny nerd that tutored Payton in high school.
Everyone might like the wife-beating Jed, but they certainly don't like Payton. The town can't forget the troublemaking antics she pulled in high school so everyone just assumes Payton is there to make trouble. But she is there to help her friend, to force her to leave the asshole. To change the locks and stand up to the son-of-a-bitch. But lots of wine makes for some really bad decisions, including baking poisoned pie. So when Jed turns up dead, the girls assume he ate the pie.
Between yelling at a dog peeing on her feet, neighbors remembering Payton stealing wine coolers and peeing on their lawn in high school, and more, the investigation into the murder is looking worse and worse for Payton. She shows up in town and the mayor is dead, and they all heard her threats.
"First it's stealing wine coolers, then it's selling your body for the marijuana, and next thing you know, you're murdering someone in cold blood."
During the zany investigation, Payton and Sheriff Leo Hudson are getting closer.
"I am not about to let how good he looks in a uniform mess with my head. Or his dimples. Or his bright blue eyes. Or how nice it was that he went out and got me coffee even though it tastes like what Bo Jangles pee smelled like."
I loved how Payton and Emma Jo were awesome friends despite not hanging out for 12 years. And I loved Payton and Bettie's banter. But I really really loved Payton and Leo.
"Leo Hudson's tongue is in my mouth.
I repeat, LEO HUDSON'S TONGUE IS IN MY MOUTH!"
Despite his nerdy high school persona, Leo has turned into a fine manly man....yummy. But the real question is, will he find out about the pie? Will the girls go to jail? Can Payton and Leo get together? She lives in Chicago (or possibly jail), he is sheriff of a small town Payton wants no part of. Will Bo Jangles out the killers?
Likes:
•Laugh out loud humor that is a little less crude than Tara's previous books but still funny as hell.
•A group of characters you totally want to hang with.
•A fun mystery.
•The chapter titles are funny coffee mugs.
•The length and pacing were perfect.
•An accurate portrayal of small town life where everyone is in everyone else's business.
•A sexy alpha cop.
Dislikes:
•I honestly couldn't find any.
The Down & Dirty:
Jed Had To Die is the perfect example of why Tara Sivec is my favorite romantic comedy author. She weaves zany, quirky characters into fun and sexy storylines that you can't help but want to be a part of. Tara has the unique ability to make you want to meet and hang with her characters, and the ones in Jed Had To Die are no exception. Her friendships are the kind I have with my friends. We'd do anything for each other, but we may call each other cunt nuggets while doing it. I loved how this was more than a romance, and the added element of a murder mystery made it an even more interesting read. It's totally worth it to grab Jed Had To Die to experience the awesome combination of humor, sexiness, friendship, mystery, romance and small-town gossip that will have you laughing, crying a little, and wishing it wouldn't end.
Rating: 4.5 stars, 4 Heat
Purchase Jed Had To Die by Tara Sivec
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January 12, 2019
ספר מקסים, לא ציפיתי לסיים אותו בקריאה אחת אבל נשאבתי לדמויות ולעלילה.
למרות שהוא מסווג כרומן רומנטי, ובאמת יש בו אספקט רומנטי, הוא לא תופס חלק נרחב מהעלילה.
הספר עוסק בעיקר בנושאים כואבים כמו התעללות במשפחה, שתיקת השכנים והציבור והתעלמות שלהם מהמידע שיש בידם על ההתעללות (מדיניות העלמת העין ואי ההתערבות) והיכולת של הצד שהתעללו בו להשתקם.
הסיפור הוא מעיין יומן חקירת המוות של ג'ד. ג'ד היה ראש העיר של העיירה הקטנה וגופתו נמצאת בשטח ביתו. הסיפור נמסר לקורא בפרקים מתחלפים שמתארים מחד את האירועים השוטפים בחייה של פייטון הדמות המרכזית בעלילה שחוזרת לעיירה ומאידך פרקים שמתארים את חקירת הדמויות המרכזיות בעיירה.
פייטון שמזה 12 שנים חייה בשיקגו ורגלה לא דרכה בעיירת הולדתה, חוזרת לסייע לחברתה איימי ג'ו. היא הטרבל מייקרית של העיירה, וכשחזרתה נודעת לתושבים, הם מעלים באוב אירועים קולוסליים שבהם היתה מעורבת בעבר. היא גם פוגשת את השריף של העיירה, ליאו, שהיה החנון שהיה מאוהב בה.
הספר כתוב בחינניות גם כשהוא עוסק בנושאים כבדים, הוא לא הופך מעיק. בחלק מהמקרים, הסופרת מסיטה את העלילה במידה מסוימת לכיוון הרומנטי ובמידה אחרת כביכול לפתרון תעלומה וכך היא אינה מתמודדת עד הסוף עם ההשלכות של הנושאים העיקריים שניא מעלה.
בכל מקרה לא נראה שהיא מבקשת להתמודד.
הדמות המרכזית פייטון, הצחיקה אותי והפכה את הקריאה למשעשעת. גם איימי ג'ו היתה דמות מקסימה והדמות של ליאו בכלל שוברת לבבות.
אהבתי את הדינמיקה בין התושבים של העיירה לבין עצמם ובמיוחד עם החזרה של פייטון שהוציאה את כל הנחשים והעקבים מתחת לאבנים.
ואהבתי את האופן שבו הסופרת מניעה את הנשים הרווקות של העיירה לנסות ולברר את סטטוס היחסים בין השריף הסקסי והשובר לבבות לפייטון.
למרות שהוא מסווג כרומן רומנטי, ובאמת יש בו אספקט רומנטי, הוא לא תופס חלק נרחב מהעלילה.
הספר עוסק בעיקר בנושאים כואבים כמו התעללות במשפחה, שתיקת השכנים והציבור והתעלמות שלהם מהמידע שיש בידם על ההתעללות (מדיניות העלמת העין ואי ההתערבות) והיכולת של הצד שהתעללו בו להשתקם.
הסיפור הוא מעיין יומן חקירת המוות של ג'ד. ג'ד היה ראש העיר של העיירה הקטנה וגופתו נמצאת בשטח ביתו. הסיפור נמסר לקורא בפרקים מתחלפים שמתארים מחד את האירועים השוטפים בחייה של פייטון הדמות המרכזית בעלילה שחוזרת לעיירה ומאידך פרקים שמתארים את חקירת הדמויות המרכזיות בעיירה.
פייטון שמזה 12 שנים חייה בשיקגו ורגלה לא דרכה בעיירת הולדתה, חוזרת לסייע לחברתה איימי ג'ו. היא הטרבל מייקרית של העיירה, וכשחזרתה נודעת לתושבים, הם מעלים באוב אירועים קולוסליים שבהם היתה מעורבת בעבר. היא גם פוגשת את השריף של העיירה, ליאו, שהיה החנון שהיה מאוהב בה.
הספר כתוב בחינניות גם כשהוא עוסק בנושאים כבדים, הוא לא הופך מעיק. בחלק מהמקרים, הסופרת מסיטה את העלילה במידה מסוימת לכיוון הרומנטי ובמידה אחרת כביכול לפתרון תעלומה וכך היא אינה מתמודדת עד הסוף עם ההשלכות של הנושאים העיקריים שניא מעלה.
בכל מקרה לא נראה שהיא מבקשת להתמודד.
הדמות המרכזית פייטון, הצחיקה אותי והפכה את הקריאה למשעשעת. גם איימי ג'ו היתה דמות מקסימה והדמות של ליאו בכלל שוברת לבבות.
אהבתי את הדינמיקה בין התושבים של העיירה לבין עצמם ובמיוחד עם החזרה של פייטון שהוציאה את כל הנחשים והעקבים מתחת לאבנים.
ואהבתי את האופן שבו הסופרת מניעה את הנשים הרווקות של העיירה לנסות ולברר את סטטוס היחסים בין השריף הסקסי והשובר לבבות לפייטון.
June 10, 2021
DNF @ 40%
While I love Amy McFadden & she’s the whole reason I purchased this… Well, OK, it’s was 80% McFadden, 15% because I enjoy OTT funny, & 5% it was on sale on Kobo...
I guess I’m in the minority here, but this just isn’t working for me. This might be spoilery - I don’t think so, but stop here if you want to be absolutely certain not to encounter them. 🛑
1. I don’t enjoy future/past back & forth. Every other chapter is a time jump. Sometimes it works for me - but it just didn’t here. This is definitely a personal preference and not a knock to the author.
2. I have a hard time reconciling the serious subject of domestic violence with OTT humor. Especially when it’s witnessed by law enforcement and they do nothing about it ... because reasons?
I get funny elements or convos in dark books - that’s not what this was though.
3. Payton was not a likeable character for me. At all. She’s rude, judgmental, self-centered, destructive, etc and it’s supposed to be funny because she hasn’t had enough coffee. Or because she was drunk when she did it. She basically vacillates between the two for the entire story up to the point I quit.
She’s 30 (best I can tell from the math of “she left right after graduation and she hasn’t been home in 12 years). Outside of owning a supposedly wildly popular because it’s not a chain coffee shop (that’s... becoming a chain?) in Chicago - she hasn’t matured since 18yo.
Her best friend was just beaten so bad she was hospitalized and all Payton can talk about is a “hot guy” she saw for like a minute. It’s joke after joke after joke about the “hot guy”.
4. RomCom? It’s more like a Murder mystery with one sided attraction to a person she barely used to know 12 years ago. Then remembering all the ways he was a “nerd”. I want to want the MCs to get together. I just didn’t.
(Psst: Leo. Run. Run now. The crush your 20yo self had was entirely misguided.)
I almost kept going because I was actually more interested in whether something would blossom between Deputy Lloyd & Emma Jo. But I was too annoyed by Payton.
Narration:
McFadden’s narration was wonderful. It’s likely she’s why I managed to get as far as I did.
While I love Amy McFadden & she’s the whole reason I purchased this… Well, OK, it’s was 80% McFadden, 15% because I enjoy OTT funny, & 5% it was on sale on Kobo...
I guess I’m in the minority here, but this just isn’t working for me. This might be spoilery - I don’t think so, but stop here if you want to be absolutely certain not to encounter them. 🛑
1. I don’t enjoy future/past back & forth. Every other chapter is a time jump. Sometimes it works for me - but it just didn’t here. This is definitely a personal preference and not a knock to the author.
2. I have a hard time reconciling the serious subject of domestic violence with OTT humor. Especially when it’s witnessed by law enforcement and they do nothing about it ... because reasons?
I get funny elements or convos in dark books - that’s not what this was though.
3. Payton was not a likeable character for me. At all. She’s rude, judgmental, self-centered, destructive, etc and it’s supposed to be funny because she hasn’t had enough coffee. Or because she was drunk when she did it. She basically vacillates between the two for the entire story up to the point I quit.
She’s 30 (best I can tell from the math of “she left right after graduation and she hasn’t been home in 12 years). Outside of owning a supposedly wildly popular because it’s not a chain coffee shop (that’s... becoming a chain?) in Chicago - she hasn’t matured since 18yo.
Her best friend was just beaten so bad she was hospitalized and all Payton can talk about is a “hot guy” she saw for like a minute. It’s joke after joke after joke about the “hot guy”.
4. RomCom? It’s more like a Murder mystery with one sided attraction to a person she barely used to know 12 years ago. Then remembering all the ways he was a “nerd”. I want to want the MCs to get together. I just didn’t.
(Psst: Leo. Run. Run now. The crush your 20yo self had was entirely misguided.)
I almost kept going because I was actually more interested in whether something would blossom between Deputy Lloyd & Emma Jo. But I was too annoyed by Payton.
Narration:
McFadden’s narration was wonderful. It’s likely she’s why I managed to get as far as I did.
December 24, 2019
⭐️ [4.75/5 Stars] ⭐️
I think Tara Sivec has bumped her way up to my favourite romance authors. This was hilarious and so much fun. It was exactly what I needed. I was hooked from the first paragraph. I HIGHLY suggest listening to the audiobook which is what I did. It made the entire experience so much better. The narrator was fabulous and truly made brought all the characters to life.
I’m not surprised at the ending and I’m guessed the murderer from the start so there wasn’t a huge twist or anything but regardless, I still appreciated the fact that this had more to it than just your regular old rom com. Plus, Leo is a freaking BABE and I adore him.
This book literally radiates crack head energy and was so chaotic. I loved every second of it.
I think Tara Sivec has bumped her way up to my favourite romance authors. This was hilarious and so much fun. It was exactly what I needed. I was hooked from the first paragraph. I HIGHLY suggest listening to the audiobook which is what I did. It made the entire experience so much better. The narrator was fabulous and truly made brought all the characters to life.
I’m not surprised at the ending and I’m guessed the murderer from the start so there wasn’t a huge twist or anything but regardless, I still appreciated the fact that this had more to it than just your regular old rom com. Plus, Leo is a freaking BABE and I adore him.
This book literally radiates crack head energy and was so chaotic. I loved every second of it.
December 6, 2016
This was epic hilarious.... I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh so much.... I loved it... Payton's obsession with coffee reminds me of my friend Papadimakopoulou and I loved her even more.... And I loved Leo even more.... He's a hot looking nerd and in love with Payton since ever... How not to love him?!?! I didn't feel the mystery as to who the murderer is, because I was busy laughing but I couldn't care less... This book was amazing simply with its humor and snarky dialogues... We have a noisy community, with people who care only about gossips but when the time comes they all stand together as one and support each other...
November 4, 2016
This book is a HOOT! Every other person is as eccentric, quirky, nosey countryside small town homebody.
I love the interviews!
I love the interviews!
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