The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club - Book One

I didn't know if I would like this book, but I must say it hooked me, reeled me in, and left me wanting more! The characters are believable and easy to relate to. The multiple plots within the plot were quite enjoyable.

I enjoyed the interplay between well drawn characters who I came to care about. The plot moved right along revealing the characters' and plots' complexities and surprises as it kept me happily turning page after page.

Just finished The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club (book one) and it was a fun read that I would recommend. The quirky title caught my eye as I was browsing new titles so I decided to give it a try and I'm glad I did. I'm delighted that there is a book two and I'm looking forward to reading it.

I love reading stories like this with lots of unique characters and trying to put all the pieces together. I really enjoyed this book and it was hard to put down. I hope there is another Babbling Brook book!

I really enjoyed this book! When I realized that each chapter the perspective changed because each chapter is in the first person of one of the characters, I thought I wouldn't enjoy it very much. I had read a few books like that and I didn't like them. Obviously the authors didn't know how to make it work.
But this book really worked for me. It was a very enjoyable read. I got lost in the story and it was just like a bunch of people setting around explaining a piece of their history to me. Excellent work.

I’m kind of a sucker for books that delve into the inner lives and dramas of residents at senior living homes. These stories have such potential for surprise and revelation because they can take advantage of readers’ assumptions about the elderly, flip them on their head, and pop out a plot line filled with characters of unexpected value.

The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club, is not an exceptional book, but it does keep the reader turning the pages because the characters become more and more interesting as you go along. What begins as a simple mystery quickly evolves and becomes a life-or-death drama, and the relationships built between the characters are touching.

The writing is very straightforward, which fits with the style of the story. Personally, I would have enjoyed a bit more description because I think it would have added to the richness of the characters, but I did well enough with just my imagination to go on.

The thing that troubled me about this book, however, is that it was so…predictable. Although there were a number of “surprise” twists, I almost always knew exactly what was going to happen next, and was positive of the outcome of the story within only a few pages of starting the book. While it was still enjoyable to read and experience the journey from A to B, I wish that there had been a bit more creativity involved.

In addition, the characters’ constant inner monologues in which they explained everything that was going on made it feel as if the author couldn’t trust us to figure out the story, which isn’t so complicated that that should be a given.

Despite those issues, however, the book was entertaining, and the writing was pretty solid. It’s a good summer read if you’re just looking for something to pass the time or to use as a relaxing escape. I give it a solid three out of five stars.

Reviewed by Elise at Whispering Stories Book Blog

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Has Ann Warner moved away from her genre of “emotionally engaging fiction”? Not entirely, but the introductory pages of her Naked Poker Club 1 might make a reader think so. It begins as a cute story, and I was tempted not to take it as seriously as I took all of Ann Warner’s other books. Beyond the cuteness, it becomes a detective story, but still one that keeps the reader engaged mostly through amusement. Give it time, though. Ann Warner just isn’t going to send us on our way without emotional involvement, and she’s going to force us to ponder some new questions.

Here’s how the story unfolds: Four women in a retirement community meet to play cards. One of the women suggests strip poker. After some discussion, the women agree on “naked” poker. You’ll have to read the book to know the difference. It goes without saying that in the course of the series of games that follows, the women learn a lot about each other. They also discover things about themselves, and those discoveries are not always good.

This story, like all of Ann Warner’s stories, has good guys and bad guys. True to form, Ann Warner does not burden us much with the details of the really bad guys. They’re mean, they do unspeakably horrible things, and our good guys are left to deal with the results as best they can.

This story departs from other of Ann Warner’s stories in that at least three of the bad persons are given shots at redemption, despite having done things that should land them in prison. What is the outcome for the three of them? We’ll have to wait for Book 2 to be sure. For one of the bad persons, Ann takes us through the self-examination process of determining that s/he isn’t the person s/he wants to be. (Okay, I know those pronouns are confusing, but I’m determined to write a review without spoilers.) This is new--I haven’t see this happen in any of Ann’s other books.

There are still traditional Ann Warner touches in this book. There are persons who have tried and failed at love, and they find themselves frightened by the prospect of another try. What will become of them? There’s a delightful “Go ahead, kiss the girl!” episode. Does the girl get the kiss? No spoilers, I promised! But as our author obviously knows, it takes a lot of courage and plenty of experience to tell someone to go ahead and kiss the girl.

Does Book 1 end in a cliffhanger? Not at all. At the end of Book 1, the crises have passed, and we can be pretty sure some of our protagonists, the ones we care about the most, will find peace and belonging. But I’m looking forward to following along in the progress of their lives in Book 2. And I want to know whether those “kind of bad” persons become less bad or perhaps not at all bad people.

This book was a joy to read. It has interesting characters, characters who would make most people want to spend time in an assisted living facility. Any place that's lively enough to gather a foursome for naked poker is a good place to be! The main character, Josephine, puts an entertaining twist on naked poker which ensures that the four residents aren't tucked away for any cognitive issues. There are also plenty of characters to despise in this book, and I encourage you to read the book and discover these ne'er do wells for yourself.

So many parts of this book made me laugh, and it felt wonderful to unearth a book that made me simply feel good.

I guess you could call it a mystery story though not in the traditional sense. It combines suspense, romance, many twists and turns, a very engaging writing style and old people in a nursing home (not all of which are babbling demented people). All in all a delightful, quick moving story that I couldn't wait to get back to. I highly recommend it.

I was given an ARC of this story for an honest review. From the very first chapter I was hooked. The lush character description and the dialogue was splendid. The setting in a retirement home was an unlikely and zany choice. Almost every character had a voice and I really liked that. It was a unique way of telling the story. Mystery, nosy old biddies, liars, cheats, romance, intrigue, and lots of human frailty and courage all wrapped into one wonderful read. Don't pass up a very enjoyable read.

I loved reading this book. It has everything it needs to make it a great read. A very good story line set in a place that we can relate to. Solme characters that you want for your friends. I think it is great when a writer can come up with characters of a very certain age and not make them boring and more like children than interesting adults. This is a must read if you like a good mystery, a little suspense, a good deal of comedy and even a little romance. This is a must read.

If you like a little love and a little mystery and have a heart for what used to be thought of as “little old ladies,” then you’ll fall for this story set at the Brookside Retirement Community. These ladies are bright and creative and up for mystery and adventure.

By the way, the title is amazing! It comes from the game a group of residents play: “Naked Poker.” If they lose at this poker, they must bare their souls, not their flesh; share a traumatic experience.

The plot is full of action: Josephine’s precious Edward Hopper painting is stolen. The detective assigned to the case falls in love with a worker at the retirement home. There’s also a deceptive son and a resident expert in handwriting analysis who figures out who stole the Hopper.

I enjoyed the book and admire the writing. Good luck with this. I highly recommend it.

I received an review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't sure whether a retirement home was a great setting for a mystery - but of course, it's perfect. Not only do you have a bunch of disparate characters essentially trapped in one place and forced to get along (or not) but you have people who maybe feel they have nothing to lose. After all, elderly people aren't dull, they're just slow-moving. And you don't get to seventy without having secrets. There are several plotlines going on here, with real jeopardy and risk, and the characters are great. Josephine is determined to escape from Brookside, having been more or less incarcerated there against her will by her son. Devi is hiding from something. And the various other characters are trying to achieve their aims, with more or less criminality depending on their situations. I particularly liked Josephine and Lill's relationship, and the reminder that no one ever sees themselves as 'the bad guy'. Great stuff, looking forward to the next one.

I've read a number of Ann Warner's books (Dreams for Stones, Absence of Grace, Persistence of Dreams, etc.) and enjoyed each one. The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club book one is a departure from her other books. It has more whimsy and humor and suspense. Ann has a way of building characters and plots that keeps me turning page after page. Her characters and story lines are totally believable, and each one is a good read.

This is my second Ann Warner novel. While the beginning appeared to be a light, heart-warming mystery, I soon realized there was great depth to the characters and a strong under current, pulling me into a novel that was part mystery, part action, part drama, part light comedy, and part love story.

The story moved quickly, especially toward the end when the unexpected happened. Babbling Brook kept me interested and engaged. It was unlike anything else I've read before. I'll be reading more Ann Warren novels for sure!

Another of Ann Warner's exciting reads!! This story line is fun, some mystery, a little romance and a clear reality of what can take place in a retirement home. I especially like the way the characters are built up and developed. Ann is the best at defining her characters' lives in any setting.
Can't wait for Book two to be released.

I’m kind of a sucker for books that delve into the inner lives and dramas of residents at senior living homes. These stories have such potential for surprise and revelation because they can take advantage of readers’ assumptions about the elderly, flip them on their head, and pop out a plot line filled with characters of unexpected value.

The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club, is not an exceptional book, but it does keep the reader turning the pages because the characters become more and more interesting as you go along. What begins as a simple mystery quickly evolves and becomes a life-or-death drama, and the relationships built between the characters are touching.

The writing is very straightforward, which fits with the style of the story. Personally, I would have enjoyed a bit more description because I think it would have added to the richness of the characters, but I did well enough with just my imagination to go on.

The thing that troubled me about this book, however, is that it was so…predictable. Although there were a number of “surprise” twists, I almost always knew exactly what was going to happen next, and was positive of the outcome of the story within only a few pages of starting the book. While it was still enjoyable to read and experience the journey from A to B, I wish that there had been a bit more creativity involved.

In addition, the characters’ constant inner monologues in which they explained everything that was going on made it feel as if the author couldn’t trust us to figure out the story, which isn’t so complicated that that should be a given.

Despite those issues, however, the book was entertaining, and the writing was pretty solid. It’s a good summer read if you’re just looking for something to pass the time or to use as a relaxing escape. I give it a solid three out of five stars.

Reviewed by Elise at Whispering Stories Book Blog

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Has Ann Warner moved away from her genre of “emotionally engaging fiction”? Not entirely, but the introductory pages of her Naked Poker Club 1 might make a reader think so. It begins as a cute story, and I was tempted not to take it as seriously as I took all of Ann Warner’s other books. Beyond the cuteness, it becomes a detective story, but still one that keeps the reader engaged mostly through amusement. Give it time, though. Ann Warner just isn’t going to send us on our way without emotional involvement, and she’s going to force us to ponder some new questions.

Here’s how the story unfolds: Four women in a retirement community meet to play cards. One of the women suggests strip poker. After some discussion, the women agree on “naked” poker. You’ll have to read the book to know the difference. It goes without saying that in the course of the series of games that follows, the women learn a lot about each other. They also discover things about themselves, and those discoveries are not always good.

This story, like all of Ann Warner’s stories, has good guys and bad guys. True to form, Ann Warner does not burden us much with the details of the really bad guys. They’re mean, they do unspeakably horrible things, and our good guys are left to deal with the results as best they can.

This story departs from other of Ann Warner’s stories in that at least three of the bad persons are given shots at redemption, despite having done things that should land them in prison. What is the outcome for the three of them? We’ll have to wait for Book 2 to be sure. For one of the bad persons, Ann takes us through the self-examination process of determining that s/he isn’t the person s/he wants to be. (Okay, I know those pronouns are confusing, but I’m determined to write a review without spoilers.) This is new--I haven’t see this happen in any of Ann’s other books.

There are still traditional Ann Warner touches in this book. There are persons who have tried and failed at love, and they find themselves frightened by the prospect of another try. What will become of them? There’s a delightful “Go ahead, kiss the girl!” episode. Does the girl get the kiss? No spoilers, I promised! But as our author obviously knows, it takes a lot of courage and plenty of experience to tell someone to go ahead and kiss the girl.

Does Book 1 end in a cliffhanger? Not at all. At the end of Book 1, the crises have passed, and we can be pretty sure some of our protagonists, the ones we care about the most, will find peace and belonging. But I’m looking forward to following along in the progress of their lives in Book 2. And I want to know whether those “kind of bad” persons become less bad or perhaps not at all bad people.

A morose parrot with a reputation for biting sits in the lobby of the Brookside Retirement Community, and to Josephine, a reluctant resident, he just about sums the place up. Nick-named Babbling Brook by friend and handwriting expert Lill, the community is to be the setting for art theft, other dodgy dealings and…naked poker.

High drama and cosy conversations play out as Josephine and Lill play amateur sleuths and do their best to sort the good guys from the bad. But will they take their investigations too far?

I was thrilled when I discovered that Ann Warner was to launch this new series of books. What a treat! I can’t wait for the next one. As emotionally engaging as all her books are, this is book is also a highly absorbing and entertaining mystery. Loved it.

This book was a joy to read. It has interesting characters, characters who would make most people want to spend time in an assisted living facility. Any place that's lively enough to gather a foursome for naked poker is a good place to be! The main character, Josephine, puts an entertaining twist on naked poker which ensures that the four residents aren't tucked away for any cognitive issues. There are also plenty of characters to despise in this book, and I encourage you to read the book and discover these ne'er do wells for yourself.

So many parts of this book made me laugh, and it felt wonderful to unearth a book that made me simply feel good.

I guess you could call it a mystery story though not in the traditional sense. It combines suspense, romance, many twists and turns, a very engaging writing style and old people in a nursing home (not all of which are babbling demented people). All in all a delightful, quick moving story that I couldn't wait to get back to. I highly recommend it.

I was given an ARC of this story for an honest review. From the very first chapter I was hooked. The lush character description and the dialogue was splendid. The setting in a retirement home was an unlikely and zany choice. Almost every character had a voice and I really liked that. It was a unique way of telling the story. Mystery, nosy old biddies, liars, cheats, romance, intrigue, and lots of human frailty and courage all wrapped into one wonderful read. Don't pass up a very enjoyable read.

I loved reading this book. It has everything it needs to make it a great read. A very good story line set in a place that we can relate to. Solme characters that you want for your friends. I think it is great when a writer can come up with characters of a very certain age and not make them boring and more like children than interesting adults. This is a must read if you like a good mystery, a little suspense, a good deal of comedy and even a little romance. This is a must read.

This book is a must for anyone that knows someone in a retirement facility or assisted living center, as well as anyone interested in a cute fun story. The setting of the story is so true to life, you feel the surroundings as you read the story. There is mystery and intrigue, and when the police don't show much interest in the case, a certified handwriting analyst takes things into her/his own hands and solves the mystery, which in turn makes the police take a second look. Any handwriting analyst would be interested in knowing just how this is done, as the author goes into detail. It is a cute story from beginning to end, but leaves us hanging a bit as to what happens to a couple of the main characters which I'm hoping Book Number 2 of Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club brings us closure to what happens with these characters. I can hardly wait. Great story, Ann Warner, you did it again.

I've read and loved all of Warner's books, but this one took me by surprise in a good way. It's filled with Warner's usual variety of believable, interesting, and colourful characters, and is emotionally engaging liker her other novels, but the story is filled with suspense and drama as well as romance. Add frequent splashes of humor, and the result is a fun read that you want to keep reading to find out what happens next..
Josephine, a fun and feisty character, finds herself reluctantly living in a retirement community following her husband's death, but she 's far from ready to let life drift by. When some thefts come to light within the community, she and her good friend, Lill, set out to identify the thief. In the process, she befriends Devi, the retirement community's associate activities director, and Mac, a police officer, both with mysterious pasts that keep us guessing for great chunks of the book.
I especially loved the clever concept of the Naked Poker Club, and learning about Lillian's handwriting analysis expertise.
I highly recommend this for a fun, fast paced read. Looking forward to Book 2!

If you like a little love and a little mystery and have a heart for what used to be thought of as “little old ladies,” then you’ll fall for this story set at the Brookside Retirement Community. These ladies are bright and creative and up for mystery and adventure.

By the way, the title is amazing! It comes from the game a group of residents play: “Naked Poker.” If they lose at this poker, they must bare their souls, not their flesh; share a traumatic experience.

The plot is full of action: Josephine’s precious Edward Hopper painting is stolen. The detective assigned to the case falls in love with a worker at the retirement home. There’s also a deceptive son and a resident expert in handwriting analysis who figures out who stole the Hopper.

I enjoyed the book and admire the writing. Good luck with this. I highly recommend it.

I received an review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't sure whether a retirement home was a great setting for a mystery - but of course, it's perfect. Not only do you have a bunch of disparate characters essentially trapped in one place and forced to get along (or not) but you have people who maybe feel they have nothing to lose. After all, elderly people aren't dull, they're just slow-moving. And you don't get to seventy without having secrets. There are several plotlines going on here, with real jeopardy and risk, and the characters are great. Josephine is determined to escape from Brookside, having been more or less incarcerated there against her will by her son. Devi is hiding from something. And the various other characters are trying to achieve their aims, with more or less criminality depending on their situations. I particularly liked Josephine and Lill's relationship, and the reminder that no one ever sees themselves as 'the bad guy'. Great stuff, looking forward to the next one.

I've read a number of Ann Warner's books (Dreams for Stones, Absence of Grace, Persistence of Dreams, etc.) and enjoyed each one. The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club book one is a departure from her other books. It has more whimsy and humor and suspense. Ann has a way of building characters and plots that keeps me turning page after page. Her characters and story lines are totally believable, and each one is a good read.

This is my second Ann Warner novel. While the beginning appeared to be a light, heart-warming mystery, I soon realized there was great depth to the characters and a strong under current, pulling me into a novel that was part mystery, part action, part drama, part light comedy, and part love story.

The story moved quickly, especially toward the end when the unexpected happened. Babbling Brook kept me interested and engaged. It was unlike anything else I've read before. I'll be reading more Ann Warren novels for sure!

Another of Ann Warner's exciting reads!! This story line is fun, some mystery, a little romance and a clear reality of what can take place in a retirement home. I especially like the way the characters are built up and developed. Ann is the best at defining her characters' lives in any setting.
Can't wait for Book two to be released.

I enjoyed this well-paced and witty story about the residents of the Brookside Retirement Community. One of the residents, Josephine, deviously hides an Edward Hopper painting as financial security - she is sassy and shrewd. I enjoyed the banter between the women as they played poker, as well as the tense rivalry, such as that between Josephine and Edna. The novel is full of one-liners and made me laugh out loud, yet at the same time made subtle observations about human nature. It was very entertaining and I highly recommend it.

A morose parrot with a reputation for biting sits in the lobby of the Brookside Retirement Community, and to Josephine, a reluctant resident, he just about sums the place up. Nick-named Babbling Brook by friend and handwriting expert Lill, the community is to be the setting for art theft, other dodgy dealings and…naked poker.

High drama and cosy conversations play out as Josephine and Lill play amateur sleuths and do their best to sort the good guys from the bad. But will they take their investigations too far?

I was thrilled when I discovered that Ann Warner was to launch this new series of books. What a treat! I can’t wait for the next one. As emotionally engaging as all her books are, this is book is also a highly absorbing and entertaining mystery. Loved it.

This book is a must for anyone that knows someone in a retirement facility or assisted living center, as well as anyone interested in a cute fun story. The setting of the story is so true to life, you feel the surroundings as you read the story. There is mystery and intrigue, and when the police don't show much interest in the case, a certified handwriting analyst takes things into her/his own hands and solves the mystery, which in turn makes the police take a second look. Any handwriting analyst would be interested in knowing just how this is done, as the author goes into detail. It is a cute story from beginning to end, but leaves us hanging a bit as to what happens to a couple of the main characters which I'm hoping Book Number 2 of Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club brings us closure to what happens with these characters. I can hardly wait. Great story, Ann Warner, you did it again.

I enjoyed this well-paced and witty story about the residents of the Brookside Retirement Community. One of the residents, Josephine, deviously hides an Edward Hopper painting as financial security - she is sassy and shrewd. I enjoyed the banter between the women as they played poker, as well as the tense rivalry, such as that between Josephine and Edna. The novel is full of one-liners and made me laugh out loud, yet at the same time made subtle observations about human nature. It was very entertaining and I highly recommend it.