The Las Vegas Desert Flower — Donna Foley Mabry

Feisty, redheaded Alexandra Merritt has the curious dilemma of inheriting her former employer's casino in Las Vegas -- where anything can and does happen. In addition to learning the ins and outs of running the Desert Flower, Alex has to deal with the famous and the infamous with their special quirks. Hot-shot athletes, movie stars, and stand-up comics all converge on the casino. But when more than one of her guests turns up dead, Alex becomes embroiled in a mystery as hot as the Nevada desert.

Beautiful blond Nikki Simmons has the face of an angel, the body of a goddess, and the conscience of a sociopath. A spoiled heiress, she kills for fun. When she instantly takes a dislike to Alex, she decides to put the casino owner on her list of victims. After all, what's one more?

Alex isn't sure who wants her dead, but she better figure it out before the Desert Flower becomes Vegas's next morgue.

With its tantalizing mix of cozy and regional, fans of Carolyn Hart and Cleo Coyle will enjoy this second offering in the Alexandra Merritt mystery series.