Bennett Sisters Series Series by Lise McClendon, Rory Tate

When Merle Bennett's husband dies suddenly her whole world is turned upside down. Not least because of his death: the secrets he left behind, and the things Merle discovers about herself, make a new life not only possible but mandatory. She inherits her husband's house in a small village in southwest France and armed with a long list of chores to keep her busy, organized, and sane, she arrives to remodel the place. But when she arrives a deranged squatter won't let her inside... moreWhen Merle Bennett's husband dies suddenly her whole world is turned upside down. Not least because of his death: the secrets he left behind, and the things Merle discovers about herself, make a new life not only possible but mandatory. She inherits her husband's house in a small village in southwest France and armed with a long list of chores to keep her busy, organized, and sane, she arrives to remodel the place. But when she arrives a deranged squatter won't let her inside.  Secrets from the post-war period, when France was left to wither by Nazi occupation, and secrets of a newer kind, occupy what should by rights be a fine French summer. With her teenage son in tow, a sexy roofer in her kitchen, and a nasty discovery in the garden, there is plenty to keep her mind off her endless to-do list. A story of murder, self-discovery, and family, deep in the heart of France.  In her first stand-alone suspense novel, Lise McClendon reaches deep into the past to find a France untouched by the outside world of tourism and fashion. Writing in a "lyrical, often humorous style," she brings both the pain and rewards of rebirth and the rich French countryside to life.  Now a series, the Bennett Sisters' adventures continue in The Girl in the Empty Dress, Give Him the Ooh-la-la (a novella), and new for 2016, The Things We Said Today. Check out Lise's kick-ass thrillers written as Rory Tate,  PLAN X and Jump Cut. Read more at lisemcclendon.com/ "This book brought me back to wanting to keep reading until the very end. Pour yourself a nice Merlot and keep turning the pages."  "An intriguing story, a mystery with heart." "The characters were real and completely developed. All loose ends were tied up very nicely. This book climbed inside the main characters, flaws and all." "A very well written story, with characters that are interesting, likeable, and you care about them. There are dead bodies, suspense, and mystery. It's just a great story!"  "It would be a great chick flick!" "A heartbreakingly beautiful story of love, loss, sisterhood, and the ties that bind us together."---Jenny Siler. less

The long awaited sequel to Blackbird Fly is here. Merle Bennett is turning fifty, and her four sisters are helping her celebrate by going to France on a walking tour of the Dordogne. But one sister invites along a law colleague whose annoying ways upset what Merle had hoped would be just 'wine, women, and walking.' When Gillian Sargent, the sixth wheel, finds an injured dog beside the road the idyllic summer vacation takes a dark and dangerous turn... moreThe long awaited sequel to Blackbird Fly is here. Merle Bennett is turning fifty, and her four sisters are helping her celebrate by going to France on a walking tour of the Dordogne. But one sister invites along a law colleague whose annoying ways upset what Merle had hoped would be just 'wine, women, and walking.' When Gillian Sargent, the sixth wheel, finds an injured dog beside the road the idyllic summer vacation takes a dark and dangerous turn. Why is the dog special? Who is after her? And what will they do to get the dog back? Truffles, wine, romance, and intrigue in the heart of France. All five Bennett sisters are lawyers. One is writing a blog about their trip, baring family details. As the intrigue heats up, one of Merle's boyfriends shows up from New York while her French boyfriend arrives unexpectedly. The delicate karma of sisterhood is rife with bickering, tears, and French law as the questions about Gillian Sargent pile up. Who exactly is she? What is she hiding? And where the hell has she gone with the dog? Do you love women's suspense? Are you a not-so-secret lover of all things French? Come along on a trip to France with the Bennett sisters. Praise for Blackbird Fly, the first Bennett Sisters novel: "This was a fabulous book. There was drama, love, obsession, murder, betrayal and plenty of surprises. A lovely, layered tale of a woman's struggle after had husband dies and she is left to make sense of the financial irregularity he has left behind. This is one of the best novels that I have read this year." "I really enjoyed the way the writer wove this story. I enjoyed the characters, the settings, the emotions, the mysteries and the romance. Made me reflect on my own life, my values and what's important." "A little something for everyone. Adventure, interesting characters, (non-syrupy) romance and a satisfying end. Although I think this book is mostly apealling to women, it had enough adventure and suspense to appeal to the male reading public as well." "Such a great story, the story kept a good pace and the characters were engaging. I read it in day. The author knows how to tell a story." "If the life you knew changed in an instant, would you cling to what you had, or risk letting go of what you to know in search of who you might become? That is the central theme in this enjoyable read with an interesting cast of characters. Would love a sequel just to see what choices the various characters make." And the sequel is finally here. Read The Girl in the Empty Dress to go back to France with Merle and her sisters. Will she choose her nice, stable lawyer boyfriend or last year's fling, Pascal? Will her sisters be there for her or let her make her own mistakes? Find out about all five sisters and that mysterious friend in this new, exciting sequel to Blackbird Fly. less

One of the Bennett Sisters got engaged at the end of 'The Girl in the Empty Dress.' Now it’s Christmas and time for an engagement party. Merle’s French lover arrives just in time and sweeps her off her feet again. But is he really here for the engagement party and the holidays, or does he have a secret agenda — like he did in 'Blackbird Fly'? When Pascal takes Merle to see a drag revue she is even more confused... moreOne of the Bennett Sisters got engaged at the end of 'The Girl in the Empty Dress.' Now it’s Christmas and time for an engagement party. Merle’s French lover arrives just in time and sweeps her off her feet again. But is he really here for the engagement party and the holidays, or does he have a secret agenda — like he did in 'Blackbird Fly'? When Pascal takes Merle to see a drag revue she is even more confused. What is he up to? Is he working with French consulate on wine fraud? How is the French drag queen involved in all this? Festivities, fun, food, and fraud in the novella that answers some of the questions posed in 'Blackbird Fly.' Will Merle finally shed herself of the shame of her late husband's family? Does she have a future with Pascal? Read on! less

In this 5th installment of the Bennett Sisters Mysteries, attorney Merle Bennett goes to France for an extended stay to drink in the essence of 'la France Profonde' and write her own novel. But the countryside is not as tranquil as she hoped. A missing Frenchman, a sinister one, an elderly one, a thieving one, and a vandalizing one: all conspire to turn Merle's sojourn of reflection into a nightmare of worry... moreIn this 5th installment of the Bennett Sisters Mysteries, attorney Merle Bennett goes to France for an extended stay to drink in the essence of 'la France Profonde' and write her own novel. But the countryside is not as tranquil as she hoped. A missing Frenchman, a sinister one, an elderly one, a thieving one, and a vandalizing one: all conspire to turn Merle's sojourn of reflection into a nightmare of worry. Where is Pascal, her French boyfriend? Who is the man with the terrible scar? Why is someone spray-painting her little stone house in the Dordogne? And will her novel about the French Revolution - snippets of which are included - give her a soupçon of delight or a frisson of danger? less

PARIS, SECOND CHANCES, CHERRY BLOSSOMS, AMERICANS ACTING BADLY-- DID I MENTION PARIS? When Francie Bennett, 4th in the line of lawyer/sisters, comes under serious allegations of wrongdoing at her law firm, she is mortified to learn she must take a leave of absence. Just a formality, they say, but she is sure this is the end of her reputation and her law career... morePARIS, SECOND CHANCES, CHERRY BLOSSOMS, AMERICANS ACTING BADLY-- DID I MENTION PARIS? When Francie Bennett, 4th in the line of lawyer/sisters, comes under serious allegations of wrongdoing at her law firm, she is mortified to learn she must take a leave of absence. Just a formality, they say, but she is sure this is the end of her reputation and her law career. Will she sit around her apartment and eat cheese, drink wine, and binge Netflix for weeks while hoping it gets worked out? ZUT ALORS! NON! She is off to Paris on assignment by the mother of a student jailed for serious drug crimes in France. She stays with her sister Merle and her boyfriend, the debonair policier Pascal, in the Marais district while trying to navigate the murky waters of the French criminal system. Is the student an actual European drug kingpin? Or has he been framed by someone? He looks guilty as hell, but first impressions can be confusing, especially inside one of France's worst medieval prisons. But wait-- a distraction from crime. A law school boyfriend that the flighty Francie kicked to the curb years before has surfaced. Instead of the boring lad she flicked away, Dylan Hardy is now sophisticated and suave-- and speaks perfect French from working in an international law firm. And he's single again, Merle discovers, eager to find her sister a real boyfriend after many rejects over the years.IT'S SPRINGTIME IN PARIS-- or would be if the rain would ever stop. In between visiting the student in prison, gumshoeing about his University, and witnessing drug stings gone wrong, Francie longs to find blooming cherry trees that make Paris the magical place she imagines it is. Will Dylan's sudden re-appearance in her life be a good thing, or a repeat of her many romantic failures? Will she figure out what is going on with the drug dealer/student? Will she ever find her pink trees of legend?Francie, sister number four, has her own adventure in law, love, and France. less

The full trilogy of DEAD FLAT, a mystery featuring the Bennett Sisters' favorite Frenchman, Pascal d'Onscon. Pascal is a wine fraud policeman who is called out of the Dordogne to investigate a bottle scam in Champagne as a favor to his boss... moreThe full trilogy of DEAD FLAT, a mystery featuring the Bennett Sisters' favorite Frenchman, Pascal d'Onscon. Pascal is a wine fraud policeman who is called out of the Dordogne to investigate a bottle scam in Champagne as a favor to his boss. Thus begins a whirlwind August for Pascal and Merle, as he must also rescue his sister from a bad domestic situation, investigate the suspicious death of a vintner, and decide if he will accept a desirable promotion that will take him to headquarters in Paris-- and away from his life with Merle Bennett. less