Tuesday 13 August 2024

Dancing with Danger (Aloha Lagoon Book # 23) by Kimberly Griggs

What's a Southern Belle to do when she dreams of being a hula dancer? Move to Hawaii, of course!

Native Georgian Ruby Bell has her work cut out for her finding her niche among hip-swaying dancers of Kauai. But when she creates Hula Fit, a unique fusion of fitness and Hawaiian culture, she lands herself a job at the premier Aloha Lagoon Resort and Spa. Her class sparks attention from locals and vacationers alike, making Ruby feel she's finally found her bliss.

Unfortunately things go from delightful to downright deadly when Ruby discovers her new friend, Phoebe, strangled by a coconut bra in the back of Ruby's studio! With the local police investigating on "island time," Ruby fears it's up to her to find a killer, save her studio's reputation, and bring justice to her friend's memory. Navigating through a maze of deceit and betrayal, Ruby uncovers a cast of suspects more colorful than an island sunset, including a bodybuilder ex-boyfriend with a volatile temper, a troupe of senior citizens caught at a clothing-optional pool party, a jealous rival, an awkward admirer, and even the hunky owner of the local Smoothie Hut who seems to have his eye on Ruby.

Between blackmail, deception, and a mysterious box of incriminating photos, Ruby finds herself tangled in a deadly dance. Can she hula her way through the shadows and unmask the killer... before the music stops for good?  (Summary via Goodreads)


One of my favorite make believe places to visit is Aloha Lagoon Resort in Hawaii.  There are so many places to see and hang out at, plenty of delicious foods to eat and tasty adult beverages to consume, and a lot of new people to meet and hang out with .... just be careful you don't come across a dead body.  And with twenty-three books in the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series, I am sure you will want to stay as well.

Dancing with Danger is the twenty-third book and it is written by Kimberly Griggs.  This is her first book in the series and I can assure you it is only the beginning for her.

In Dancing with Danger we are introduced to Ruby Bell who moved to Hawaii from Georgia to follow her dream of being a hula dancer.  Unfortunately that dream has not come true yet so she is doing the next best thing and has opened up Hula-Fit and is helping natives and vacationers exercise with hula moves.

Seeing as Ruby is new to the island herself she hasn't made a lot of friends but she does have Phoebe who is becoming a friend.  The two will venture to the Rikki Tikki Smoothie Hut after class and talk.  However on one of their visits getting smoothies, Phoebe is acting wierd but brushes off Ruby's concerns.

Unfortunately when Ruby goes to meet Phoebe at Hula-Fit later that evening, Ruby finds Phoebe strangled on the floor of the costume closet.  

When Detective Ray announces that the fitness/dance center is closed until further notice, Ruby fears that she will be out of a job.  So she decides to look into Phoebe's death and luckily another soon to be close friend, Autumn, agrees to help.  The two bond instantly which Ruby realizes is something her and Phoebe didn't do.  As they begin to look into Phoebe's life and early death, she learns that she didn't know Phoebe at all !!

Readers cannot help but fall in love with the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series.  Each book is written by a different author and centers around a certain person and their career and life at or near the resort.  They all have a common denominator of Detective Ray and the fact that he works on island time does not bode well with the characters which always puts them in the middle of all the chaos.  No matter what book you pick up you will be a fan of this series immediately.  You will want to visit as many times as you can and it doesn't matter who you are rooming with.  

Check out the link to see everything you need to know about the books, the people and all the fun to be had !

https://www.gemmahallidaypublishing.com/aloha-lagoon-mysteries

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