Book Review: Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream

Author: Diane Kelly
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Series: Tara Holloway # 6

Fired. Tara Holloway can’t believe it. After all she’s done for the IRS, a few too many shots fired from her weapon and suddenly she’s public enemy number one. To add insult to injury, another agent has replaced her, and a ten-million-dollar assault case is hanging over her head. So much for traveling to Tokyo with Special Agent Nick Pratt, former partner and current boyfriend. Tara’s stuck in Texas, and using green tea ice cream to soothe her disappointment, as well as the terrifying prospect of a life behind bars.

Tara’s former boss, Lu “the Lobo” Lobozinski, has a plan—to stick Tara in auditing, where she can’t possibly get into trouble. But between bumping into a college frenemy whose family business is under audit, Tara’s stubborn determination to keep an eye on Nick behind the scenes, and her new long-range rifle, she’s about to get a taste of just how dangerous her life can be, in Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream from Diane Kelly…

“Don’t believe it. I didn’t kill anyone. I just shot four men who deserved it, that’s all!”

Especially men. They seemed to fear that admitting an error would shrink their testicles.

I punched the button for the garage and sent a reply. I’m damaged goods.

This series, along with Tara Holloway, have stolen my heart. Tara is a kick butt heroine with some series butt-stomping skills. She is fierce and passionate about what she does. This series continues to develop in a positive way, and give readers new cases and brand new characters to grip ahold of! At the start of this book, and the end of the last one, readers learn that Tara has been fired from her job, and for someone like Tara this constitutes a mental breakdown. But as always, Nick steps in to save the day and Tara is on another mission once more!

I didn’t really know how to feel about Tara no longer working for the IRS, but once again Diane Kelly comes through in a clutch. I worried for nothing it turns out because even though she no longer has a badge and a holster packed with heat, she still has other advantages to getting inside some of her very own cases. Tara, as well as the author who wrote her, is highly intelligent and incredibly clever and she always gets what she wants! Tara is someone for other women to look up to; she is a feminist herself and believes in equal treatment for all women. In Tara’s eyes, women can do all that men do, and do it better. She is an outstanding heroine that continues to grow and bloom with each addition to this series.

Tara and Nick’s relationship makes me happy! I love watching it mature and develop into more for both of them. Nick really respects Tara’s space, which any man must do if he is going to date Tara. Tara proves that she cannot be held down, and Nick has just the right personality to work alongside her. Their relationship works well and adds humor and a light romantic fluff to the stories, just what they needed!

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at St. Martin’s Paperbacks in exchange for my honest review***