Review: 'Precious' by Zanna Mackenzie (2014)

Who would want to murder former pop star Flynn Garrison? 
That’s exactly what Amber Reed, the Celebrity Crimes Investigation Agency’s newest recruit, needs to find out. 
She’s desperate to get to grips with her first assignment and prove she’s up to the job but there’s a lot at stake… and it’s not only her new career that’s on the line. 
Is mixing business and pleasure ever a good idea? Will her relationship with fellow CCIA agent Charlie survive the challenge of the two of them working together? 
And then there’s agent extraordinaire Martha, a man-eating six foot blonde goddess, also assigned to this murder investigation, who clearly has designs on Charlie. 
Trying to uncover who killed Flynn and why whisks Amber from glamorous red carpet film premiere, to learning Scottish dancing at a Highland party in a grand country house - and the distinct possibility of becoming the murderer’s next victim. 
Can Amber solve the case and still keep her relationship with Charlie on track?
Today I've got a review for a book that's both written by a lovely author and part of a thoroughly enjoyable book series to share with all of you! 'Precious' is the second part of author Zanna Mackenzie's romantic comedy/murder mystery 'Amber Reed CCIA Mystery' series, and the sequel to 'And the Earth Moved', which I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing last year (click here to read my review). I really liked the beginning of the series and was excited to start reading 'Precious', which was first released in December 2014, and once again be back with the same main characters, Amber and Charlie!
Amber Reed is really excited about her new job working for the CCIA, the Celebrity Crimes Investigation Agency. After her intensive training, she's ready to go into the field and is asked to help out and investigate the death of former pop star and teen idol Flynn Garrison. The case not only brings her to the shores of Scotland, but also requires her to work together with fellow CCIA agents Charlie, who also happens to be her boyfriend, and the beautiful and flirty Martha. Amber knows there's a lot on the line; she needs to do well on this case in order to secure her job. But is mixing business with pleasure a good idea or will it only cause trouble for both Amber and Charlie and their relationship?
Another entertaining and fast-paced read by Zanna Mackenzie, and one that has certainly made me want to keep an eye on any other parts of the 'Amber Reed CCIA Mystery' series that might be coming our way in the future! 'Precious' is the second part of this book series and while it can definitely be read as a stand-alone, I personally preferred already knowing the characters' backgrounds and how Amber got to work for the CCIA. Amber is a heroine that's really easy to like; she's determined to prove herself as a new agent, but at the same time she's quite insecure and worries about a lot of things, which made me relate to her quite easily. Charlie is a handsome male lead and I really liked that the character of Martha was added to the mix, stirring things up a bit between Charlie and Amber.
I loved that the storyline included both the murder mystery, which was intriguing and had me guessing until the very end, but also some personal elements, such as Charlie and Amber's relationship and the secret Martha seems to be hiding from them. I've seen other reviews in which the book is described as a 'cosy mystery' and I have to agree with that description. I loved the combination of romance, chick lit, and murder mystery, especially combined with Zanna Mackenzie's comfortable and well-paced writing style. Overall, 'Precious' is a thoroughly entertaining and intriguing chick lit read with a good dose of murder mystery at its core; a great second part of the 'Amber Reed CCIA Mystery' series and I'm already keeping my fingers crossed for a third book!

Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.