All Rise

All Rise Series, Book 1

By: Rosemarie Aquilina

Narrated by: Amy M. Carlin

Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Arrested by detectives for murder of the Chief Judge, former judge Nicoletta Kikkra learns there isn’t any problem that can’t be solved out of her recently opened Ratification Hair Salon, Spa & Café. Nicoletta’s cowboy boots and every day is wedding hair spray day sense of humor keeps everyone around her in good spirits even when 12 inexplicable bank accounts totaling 1.2 million dollars are discovered in her name - money that detectives pinpoint as her motive to kill. Nicoletta quickly loses control over her life as a cast of characters, including former court staff and grateful rehabilitated felons, pets included, transplant into her life to ensure she remains a free woman.

To complicate matters, to the rescue comes entrepreneur ex-husband Dexter Breckenridge, who posts a million dollars in bond money that to him equate ample reason to keep her safe. Dex hires Nicoletta’s ex-boyfriend Hunter Greene, a private investigator, to protect his investment. Throw into the mix her handsome boyfriend, Australian attorney Sebastian Pearce who represents her. The three men who know her best persistently try to solve the murder, always managing to also outshine each other much to her infuriation.

The trail leads to more murders, high-speed car chases and flying bullets, snakes and suspects - but as she tries to hone-in clues, her home is turning into a bed and breakfast and her hair salon and café into an animal retreat. Nicoletta begins to regain the power she lost with help from two inside female Judges and mysterious notes telling her to follow the money. Finally, she realizes Dark Money and court insiders may not only be behind Chief Judge Warren Donnettelli’s murder, but now they want her dead.

In All Rise by Rosemarie Aquilina, everyone is in for a wild ride as cars blow up, trash-bin fireworks explode and skunk fumes burst from perfume bottles, and snakes slither in. You’ll want to keep revisiting Nicoletta’s world, the men in her life, and her whacky but all-supportive, all-in friends.

©2020 Rosemarie Aquilina (P)2021 Rosemarie Aquilina

So Loved This Book and love Judge Aquafina!!

I became a Fan of Judge Aquilina during Larry Nasir trial. I love how she is such a confident, creative, and authentically herself as a woman and as a judge. Loved this book and can’t wait for the next one!! Thanks for the interview after too!! I have been working on a book of my own and your interview only pushed me onward and upward!!

Loved!

I just finished this book and am ready to start again! The characters are so fun. Amy is an excellent narrator and hope she does the next one too!

My Favorite Book

I enjoyed every aspect of All Rise, this fast paced, mystery novel. I was engrossed in the story from the first page to the last. The book was finished (for the first time anyhow!) in less than two days. The personalities of the characters are written in great depth. Each contribute a piece (or pieces) to solving the murder of the Chief Justice, even though their "piece" is not immediately apparent. Additionally, the characters have a wide variety of quirks that kept me laughing. They are so different from each other! Enjoy Dinky Do!

Ms. Aquilina sprinkles different types and levels of humor throughout this latest masterpiece. There were many times that I laughed loudly when reading in a public place.

Because of Ms. Aquilina's style of writing, I experienced many emotions while reading All Rise. An incredibly tense scene was followed with an often random, hilarious comment from a character or a plot twist. Additionally, Ms. Aquilina's writing kept me in constant suspense about characters' motives and if they could be trusted. I continually revised my mental "suspect list," and that is a sign of a seasoned author. The mystery is not solved until the final chapter.

I was able to easily relate to the main character, Judge Nicoletta Kikkra. Like many others, she has "go to" stress relievers, in her case being caffeine and hairspray. She is a compassionate, brilliant, hard working person. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and her love for her family is immeasurable. Judge Kikkra sees the potential in others, both as a Judge and then as the owner of a salon. These traits draw people from varying backgrounds to her and her concern for others leads to a large circle of people eager to help her beat the murder charge.

You will enjoy this book! I highly recommend it!