Member Reviews
"Plowed Over" by Ellen Ann Callahan, is a gripping journey into the mysterious and snow-covered Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland, offering a mix of thriller, small-town fiction and murder, with a small hint of romance.
One of the standout aspects of the novel is the authenticity of the characters. Lucy Prestipino, the protagonist, is a well-drawn and relatable figure, navigating her new life while carrying the weight of her past. The dynamic between Lucy and Deputy Marshal Peter Etchers is a highlight, offering a blend of tension and camaraderie that adds depth to the narrative. The small-town setting is vividly portrayed, creating a backdrop that enhances the overall mystery and suspense.
The author excels in capturing the nuances of Lucy's adjustment to her new life. Her job as a snowplow operator on treacherous mountain roads provides an unexpected source of thrills and a unique twist to the traditional female sleuth narrative. The introduction of Maryland State Trooper Jimmy Bittinger as a friend adds a layer of warmth and a hint of romance to the storyline, creating a well-rounded set of characters.
The plot unfolds seamlessly, blending Lucy's personal journey with the discovery of a dead man on a snowy night. The murder mystery is well-crafted, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the very end. The connection to Romero Sanchez, the notorious gang kingpin, adds complexity and an element of danger that propels the story forward.
While the book is an overall compelling read, it's not without its minor flaws. There are moments where the pacing feels a bit uneven, particularly in the build-up to the discovery of the dead man. Additionally, some plot points may be predictable for readers well-versed in the mystery genre.
In conclusion, "Plowed Over" is an engaging read that successfully combines elements of mystery, small-town fiction and female sleuth intrigue. Ellen Ann Callahan's ability to craft authentic characters and weave a compelling narrative makes this novel a worthwhile recommendation. It's a snowy plunge into the complexities of Lucy's new life, and I encourage fellow book enthusiasts to embrace the mystery that unfolds in the Allegheny Mountains.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
This is my first title by this author and will read more in the future.
Will recommend this to anyone looking for a thriller.
I requested this book as i was drawn in by the cover and thought it looked interesting.
I thought the story line was great and unique and haven't read another one like this before.
Thanks again for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
5/5 stars
Free-spirited Lucy Prestipino has a new life, a new job, and a new look. The U.S. Marshals Service has hidden her in a small town nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. Peter Etchers, a cantankerous deputy marshal, protects her from those who want her dead. She grieves the loss of her former life as a Baltimore bicycle messenger. Her old friends are gone, along with her sense of self.
Lucy is slowly adjusting to the constraints of witness protection. She extricated herself from Romero Sanchez, a notorious gang kingpin. Her job plowing snow from dangerous mountain roads provides the thrills she craves. Maryland State Trooper Jimmy Bittinger warms her with his friendship. Life is getting better.
Until the snowy night she plows up a dead man.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
I read this story during a snowstorm and it had an interesting premise...a dead body plowed up by a snow plow driver? The story takes place in western Maryland, in places that I have visited many times. I love reading about familiar places, it always makes the story more fun. I began to lose interest in the story at the halfway mark and had to skim it to finish. This is the second book in a series and there were many references to the main character's life before the story started. Although I didn't feel lost, I did feel as though I was missing out on a lot of pertinent information. I also found the main character's name (Happy Holiday) to be silly and unrealistic, especially given the circumstances. Overall, not my favorite.
Unfortunately I had to purchase a new Kindle device and could no longer access this book. I will come back and review if I read this in the future.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel on March 14 from Netgalley, Ellen Ann Callahan, and Parks Wells Publishing LLC. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to add Ellen Ann Callahan to my favorite author's list - she writes a fast-paced novel with eye-popping word pictures about the challenges and landscaping of the Allegheny Mountains and western Maryland and clear-sighted, self-confident, daring-do females who aren't afraid to get things done. I am particularly fond of Lucy Prestipino/Happy Holliday/Lady Gelato and hope to find more works by Callahan. I can heartily recommend her to friends and family.
As a rugged, western mountain lover and resident, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about what I had considered the eastern United States 'tame' mountains, and Ellen Ann Callahan describes life in Deep Creek, MD, and environs with both affection and a dose of reality. This was for me a thoroughly enjoyable novel, and I wish I had read the Acknowledgments section first - the amount of detailed research that went into the making of this tale is impressive, to say the least. Maryland is now added to my bucket list.
This was an enjoyable read and very well written. Rich in detail, it tells the story of Happy who is in witness protection. The mystery was suspenseful and kept me guessing.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
The title of this book intrigued me to read and found that it was very interesting and hard to put down. Happy’s new life which enjoys but dislikes not being able to do what she used to do is making her restless. Happy risks her job by taking her dog with her, an incident causes issues and puts her on suspension. A murder mystery which leaves her feeling puzzled and delves in to solve the mystery. I love the ending and I hope that she really gets what’s deep down in her heart.
Review run date on 18 May 2020 for Netgalley and Facebook also will be posted on Amazon.com.au, goodreads, Barnes and Noble, kobo, googlebooks and iBooks. I received a complimentary copy of this book from BooksGoSocial through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Facebook reader blog page link, is https://www.facebook.com/BlueFalkon95-Readers-blog-104660277776984
#PlowedOverOnTheWing #NetGalley
Lucy Prestipino has a new life, a new job, and a new look.But she misses her former life as a Baltimore bicycle messenger and all her old friends.
Lucy is slowly adjusting. Her job plowing snow from dangerous mountain roads provides the thrills she craves.
Until one snowy night she plows up a dead man.
I guess this has a sequel and I didn't know it..so it was difficult to get in to the book when you feel that something missing. But it was ok written and i kinda enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley it just wasn't for me.
I did not realize this was a sequel, and was unable to get into the story without having some information from the first book.
DNF: I am sorry, but I couldn't finish this book! I got to page 100 and usually the book either takes off or falls flat. This book was the later. I just couldn't get invested in with the main characters
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book
PLOWED OVER by Ellen Ann Callahan is a well-written mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end! I enjoyed its simplicity and the protagonist, Lucy Prestipino a.k.a Happy Holiday. Her character was believable and likable. With her shady past kind, she was helpful and willing to help others. She missed her old life and her old self but didn't gloss over her past.
Lucy had to enter WITSEC (Witness Security Protection Program.) Lucy's WITSEC handler and Christine White, her new-found friend were very authentic people you've met or really known. The book's pacing was not hurried nor dragged. The story had a realistic and natural flow to the death investigation and the sexual tension of romance within the novel.
Callahan did her research well even in the technical aspects of the story such as the task of plowing snow. The author's acknowledgments impressed me with her research and the skill necessary to operate a snowplow. With an occasional light touch of humor, the plot concluded with a satisfying end
Wasn't sure what I'd get here. I got a great read and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well written with wonderful characters. Real twist in this one.
suspense, survivor-s-guilt, recovery, romance, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, Maryland, friendship
This story gives some insight into the kind of PTSD that someone in witness protection suffers and the feeling of isolation and fear that they will forever lose who they are. It is also a good mystery novel populated by some very interesting characters. I enjoyed it a lot.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
As a result of a criminal investigation Lucy enters witness protection and assumes a new identity . Relocated and now known as Happy she works as a snow plough driver clearing public access areas. She seems to be getting her life back on track till one night she plows up the body of a half naked man. After viewing the body she is sure he is trying to send her a message and feels compelled to investigate his death.
I was surprised when her best friend Trooper Jimmy became a love interest then shortly after ended their relationship. It seemed a little hasty to me and gave the impression he might have been a little flakey.
Happy's little dog was a welcome addition to the story line and I enjoyed his character as much as the human ones.
It seems pretty cool to be female and drive a snow plough. I can imagine it takes a fair bit of experience and skill to handle a job like that and do it well. It also makes a nice change from the typical female occupations used in novels.
Just when I thought the author was going to start winding things up Chapter 53 took me by surprise . The twists and turns were well handled and kept my interest up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review
I will be leaving a review on Amazon today May 27, 2019
Plowed Over by Ellen Ann Callahan is the 2nd book in the On the Wing series, and my first book by this author. The main character of the story is Happy Holiday who is in the witness protection progam and her dog Steppie. I found the book to be very well written, it moved along at a decent pace and there always seems to be something happening. I enjoyed Happy's interactions with the other characters in the book. I found the book to be full of suspense, and it kept me guessing what the final outcome would be. I would certainly recommend this to those that enjoy reading mysteries.
Sorry not my type of book. I couldn’t get interested in any of the characters and I expected there to be more depth to the story,
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.
My initial review was a complaint that I couldn't open the book (see below). Within a few days I received an email from the author saying she was getting this corrected. And she did!
The mystery was good, the characters were likable, yet not perfect that none of us can compare to! There was one time that we seemed to skip ahead in time and it made me stop and wonder how I had missed that months had passed. Maybe fast reading on my part and I missed something but I don't think so. That's my only complaint -- the passing of time needs to be clearer. Went from first date to months into a relationship.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, wanted to know what would happen next, and will recommend it. She is a newly published author and I think she will be one to watch! If you haven't read this one, pick it up at your bookstore or library and give it a try. I think you'll be please. Ms Callahan, I'll be waiting for your next one!
Initial Review:
I cannot read the book as it is Kindle only and I do not have a Kindle and it will not work on Kindle for Computer Too bad. I was looking forward to previewing this book for my library. We have a huge group of thriller/mystery readers and this looked like a good one.
Plowed Over by Ellen Ann Callahan is the 2nd book in the On The Wing mystery series, and my first book by this author. Happy Holiday is in the witness protection program, and living in a small town in Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. One night while working, plowing dangerous mountain roads, she runs over a man. Happy felt the dead man was trying to tell her something, so she was determined to get to the bottom of what happened to him. I really enjoyed this book, and plan on going back and reading the first book, On The Wing. I had no problem understanding this book, so it can be read as a stand alone. I recommend this book for people who enjoy mysteries.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a little bit difficult to engage in the story at the beginning but going beyond the chapter 4, everything had changed and it became a real pleasure reading it.
Plowed Over (On The Wing 2) is an interesting story. I liked the variety of characters who were well designed what keep readers wanting more from the author.
Happy (the main character), her dog Steppie and her friends are adorable; I really liked the way they were taking care of her. She is part of a witness protect program and she has to do all things what she can to protect her real identity; otherwise she will be targeted by a gang who would like to kill her.
Happy is starting to rebuild her life as a snowplough driver clearing and pushing snow off roads. In the midst of a huge storm she discovered a dead body. It is then the beginning of an arousing investigation which took her for looking the causes of the death what have put her at risk.
Ellen Ann Callahan did a great job giving details on the context and describing places (mountains, raods, vehicles, small towns, landscapes, etc). It is my first book written by this author. I really enjoyed her style of writing and I am looking forward to reading more from her.
I highly recommend this book to those who like mystery-romance books.