NOT THAT KIND OF CALL GIRL by Nova Garcia

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Latino

4****

Blurb: JULIA NAVARRO, a plucky newspaper call center manager, juggles like a pro—not tennis balls but quirky employees, cranky customers, and a sleazy boss. Pregnant and short on time to complete her “get ready for baby checklist,” Julia rushes to fill a job vacancy by hiring Carmen Cooper, a shy, inexperienced college student. When Julia finds out Carmen never made it to work, she and a newsroom pal go undercover to find out why. Their shocking discovery leads them to cook up a half-baked plan to save Carmen from a Hollywood legend turned hermit, a man she calls “Papa.” Will the gamble pay off or pave a path to disaster?

Thoughts: This was an engaging story with a mix of mystery/suspense and humor that melded well. The main character, Julia, has to find employees to hire for the call center of the newspaper where she works. Her boss is someone I wanted to slap, and then call out for what he does to her. While I understand the author’s reasoning for the character not to go to HR, it still made me cringe. But things like this do happen, even today. I loved that Julia was a list-maker. And that part of Carmen’s story is told through her diary. And how having a baby is not easy – before, during, and after. I liked that Julia and her best friend, Jerry, go on a hunt for the truth about Carmen and her life.

The story includes issues about abuse and intimidation as well as human marketing which can be a trigger for some. But these are also things that happen in our world which makes the story realistic and current.

Recommendation: Recommended

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”