Solving a mystery is like cleaning a toilet, only easier!
Moli Soto and her three-year-old son relocate from Los Angeles to the Gulf Coast of Florida, taking refuge with her retired ex-cop uncle Manny who is revitalizing a run-down Florida motel and sharing the spare room with a one-hundred-pound Bordeaux Mastiff named the Dude. While earning her keep, cleaning toilets, making beds and running the check-in/check-out desk, Moli finds a semi-comatose guest in Cottage Fourteen and realizes her everyday routine will be turned on its head. When the local police threaten to close the motel down, Moli has to solve the mystery in the sun, sand, and salt of Cabana Bay, or the new place will be forced to close, and her uncle will lose his retirement savings. *************** “One may not want to live there, but Cabana Bay is a nice place to visit for procedural mystery fans…Gonzales, the author of various mystery series, writes with a vivid sense of place and character…Moli, especially, proves herself to be a resourceful amateur shamus…This breezy beach read promises a bright future for the sleuthing uncle/niece duo.” –– Kirkus Review Ruben D. Gonzales mixes humor and genuine emotion to craft an entertaining, heartwarming story. The mystery is intriguing without overshadowing the warmth of the characters…keeping readers engaged without becoming overwhelmed. The setting, with beachside cottages and idyllic views, provides a vivid backdrop. Gonzales captures the charm and personality of the Florida coastline…The relationships are authentic, showing themes of family, friendship, and second chances. Cabana Bay is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys a mix of mystery, humor, and heartfelt storytelling. It's a fun and engaging story that will appeal to all readers. Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite Book One in the Black
Mountain Mystery Series 
Emma Shaw returns to her N.C Blue Ridge Mountain home to bury her big brother, the small-town chief of police, who died in a mysterious accident. Follow Emma as she faces the demons of her past under the shadow of Black Mountain. "Photographer Emma Shaw can see people's true colors, literally. Although her ability to read a person's aura isn't entirely failsafe and is subject to interpretation, she's determined to use her gift to help solve a murder that took place in a nearby lake. Readers will enjoy trailing along with Emma as she attempts to form a true picture of whodunnit and why." Diane Kelly - award-winning author of the Mountain Lodge Mysteries. |
In book three of the Black Mountain Mystery Series - Emma Shaw must find out who killed the local charismatic preacher before her father is arrested for the murder. Will her ancestral gift of aura reading be enough? In this third installment of the Black Mountain Mysteries, Ruben Gonzales once again fills his story with a wealth of detail, bringing to life the people and the world of Black Mountain. -- Jane Tesh, author of The Mountain Lodge Mysteries. 
The Lake Nebo
Murder A Black Mountain Mystery Series Book Two Follow Emma as she returns to her Black Mountain hometown to go into business, face an unforgiving past, and murder on Lake Nebo. "...Gonzales paints a vivid picture of a quaint town, and he expertly weaves the central crime into the culture and history of the North Carolina area. The various characters feel like real people, and readers with similar small-town backgrounds will find them particularly relatable. …A compelling whodunit grounded in aspects of small-town life. - Kirkus Review – February 2022 Also by Ruben D. Gonzales 
The Cottage on the Bay"
a North Carolina historical novel Published in 2018 A Civil War family saga of Martha Stewart Thorpe and her life in the Cottage on the Bay as she navigates through Southern reconstruction in search of atonement, redemption, and love. www.amazon.com/s?k=the+cottage+on+the+bay+by+ruben+gonzales&i=specialty-aps&srs=13270229011&dc&ref=a9_sc_1 Join the discussion! Book Club Discussion Questions |