Mardi Gravestone

During her trip to Belle Viella, Lilah Sanderford accidentally hit Daniel Duffy, now he's in a coma. Finding his luggage with a million dollars in it under her van, she knows she has to solve the mystery of where it came from and why Daniel came to New Orleans. The policeman that Lilah and her daughter Angela talked to doesn't seem too interested in the accident, but interested in Lilah. Having confided to Billy Joe, her policeman friend, about the things that have happened so far, she still can't tell him about the money. At the Mardi Gras party given by Vice-President John Gable, she meets Rubio and knows something isn't right; she needs to find out what is going on and fast.

Jay, Daniel's friend, waited for him to show up at the bar hoping they could play some music together before closing time. When he gets a call from Lilah telling him what happened, he's devastated and goes to the hospital. They had been friends since they were kids and had a secret that no one knew about. When Lilah takes the notebook of Dan's to Jay trying to figure out what it means, Jay is able to explain about the car and the safe, but didn't know anything about a diary. Can they find out before it's too late what it all means, or will whoever is after them win? Will Lilah be able to let go of the past in order to let Jay into her life? This book will answer those questions and more.

Ms. Semerad has written a story that takes the reader on a ride that has a surprise ending; you don't see what's coming. It's action packed and shows the sites of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The characters are well rounded and believable. There are a couple of scenes that made me chuckle out loud. One where she is explaining to Billy Joe what she is doing, she is swooshing, that whenever she has a problem she swooshes, putting her arms out, palms up then throwing her arms above her head, he doesn't want her swooshing him. The other is when Lilah and Angela are getting ready to watch TV, Angela wants to watch The Shining, and Lilah is against it. The romance between Jay and Lilah show how two people who'd lost their loves can still find love, it's gentle, warm and refreshing.

Reviewed by: Donna