Perfectly Matched by Heather Webber

Perfectly Matched by Heather Webber is the fourth book in the “Lucy Valentine” mystery series. Publisher: Blue Dandelion Press, May 2012

The heat is on…

When Boston psychic Lucy Valentine finds herself involved with a group of eccentric mediums trying to fine tune their abilities, she is convinced a rare spring heat wave has flushed all the local crazies out of hiding.

Adding to her theory is her newest client in the Lost Loves division of Valentine, Inc., her family’s lucrative matchmaking firm. He’s an animal whisperer who hires Lucy to locate his soul mate—because his cat told him so. Finding his purrfect match, however, isn’t as easy as it seems.

But craziest of all is the Beantown Burner, a serial arsonist who is targeting private eye Sam Donahue, brother of Lucy’s boyfriend, Sean. With the help of her kooky psychic group, Lucy must tap into hidden abilities to catch the firebug before the fires turn deadly. She never expected to discover that the motive behind the flames hits a little too close to home…and dangerously close to her heart.

Like fine wine, this series keeps getting better and better. I love it! The heat is definitely on in this tale of mystery and intrigue. Someone is setting fires and it will take Lucy’s hidden abilities to stomp out those flames. All the familiar people are back from Marisol, to Sean to Preston, to Em, to Dovie and of course Lucy as she tackles several cases including a missing person; the search for a soul mate; an arsonist causing havoc and the usual family quirkiness that has her searching for answers. This non-stop, fun-filled and fast-moving story was a great read that I could not put down. This mystery kept me guessing and that ending…WOW! With a lovable cast, entertaining dialogue and a very comfortable tone, this is the best one ever in this delightfully appealing series.

Bare-Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

Bare-Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez is the third book in the “Lola Cruz” mystery series. Publisher: Entangled Publishing, May 2012

Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she’s out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento’s professional basketball scene in a barely-there cheerleading outfit is one thing—but parading around in nothing but smile? If she has any chance of hiding this from her traditional family and on-again/off-again boyfriend Jack, she’s going to have a lot more than her duct tape bra and killer dance moves to keep under wraps.

What a great read. Lola latest case has her going undercover as a cheerleader. When a clue points her in the direction of a nudist resort, how far will Lola go to get the job done? Well, you’ll have to get your own copy to find out. What a great read. This was one fun and sexy drama that I did not want to see end. The mystery kept me guessing but the comedic exploits and the romance, oh the romance had me smiling as the story progressed. With sexy and spitfire Lola on the case, the killer does not stand a chance. With amusing and witty repartee and a lovable cast, this story was muy excelente and the best one ever. I look forward to more exciting adventures with Lola and her friends in this enjoyably entertaining series.

Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte by Diane Kelly

Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte by Diane Kelly is the second book in the “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, February 2012

It’s all in a day’s work for Tara Holloway, the U.S. Treasury’s latest, greatest, soon-to-be-skinniest weapon against the biggest, richest tax cheats in the nation.

When she joined the Criminal Investigations Division, Tara knew she’d be investigating some very real crooks. Forget about waitresses hiding tips from the IRS or babysitters not declaring income! Tara and her partner, Eddie, are going after one of country’s richest, dirtiest felons. Being on a diet doesn’t help Tara’s mood much. Hopefully, by the time the investigation is over, she’ll be sitting somewhere in a string bikini, far, far away.

But first: Reality. Marcos Mendoza is a suspected loan shark with connections across the Mexican border. He’s never been accused of any crimes, yet his business associates have a history of disappearing…and resurfacing…in body bags. Will Tara risk life, limb, and the pursuit of filing a joint tax return with her maybe-serious boyfriend Brett? Fighting crime, like drinking a cup of coffee with low-fat milk and artificial sweetener, is often bittersweet.

What a fun read. Tara and her partner are after a dangerous loan shark and romancing her boyfriend has to take a back seat until she can closes this case. Along the way she gets assisted from an unlikely source and her life will never be the same. I knew the moment I turned the first page that there will be non-stop laughing and full speed ahead action. The mystery is more of how will Tara and the gang get their man and the journey to the end is an amusing and humorous escapade. This is a very enjoyable read and I can’t wait for the next chapter in the entertaining series.

A Done Deal by Jenna Bennett

A Done Deal by Jenna Bennett is the fifth book in the “Savannah Martin” mystery series. December 2011

Silver bells, silver bells…

It’s Christmas time in Nashville, and all Savannah wants to unwrap on Christmas morning is Rafe. Unfortunately, things don’t look so good. He’s back in town, but not alone: on his arm is a stunning brunette, just the kind of woman Savannah always suspected was his type.

When Alexandra Puckett asks her help in figuring out a way to stop Maybelle Driscoll from marrying Alex’s father Steven, Savannah jumps on the chance. It’ll give her something to think about other than Rafe and the mysterious Carmen, and anyway, she doesn’t like Maybelle much herself.

Between investigating Maybelle’s past, helping her clients Aislynn and Kylie buy a house, and stalking Carmen and Rafe, she soon has her hands full. And that’s before someone starts gunning for her. Suddenly it’s not a question of unwrapping anything on Christmas morning anymore; it’s a question of whether she’ll even survive to see another Christmas.

If there ever was a love story that needed to be told, this was it. I devoured every sentence, every paragraph, every page and every chapter of this heart-warming mystery. The mystery kept me turning the pages and the author did a great job in delivering the story I’ve been waiting for—the accumulation of a romance that started in book one and has captivated me since. If this series has to end, then it ended on a high note, as this is the best book in this charmingly appealing series.

Death, Taxes and a French Manicure by Diane Kelly

Death, Taxes and a French Manicure by Diane Kelly is the first book in the new “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, November 2011

Tara Holloway has got your number. A special agent on the IRS’s payroll, she’s dead-set on making sure that money crimes don’t pay.

Tax cheats, beware: The Treasury Department’s Criminal Investigations Division has a new special agent on its payroll. A recovering tomboy with a head for numbers, Tara’s fast becoming the Annie Oakley of the IRS-kicking ass, taking social security numbers, and keeping the world safe for honest taxpayers. Or else.

Tara’s latest mission finds her in hot pursuit of ice-cream vendor Joseph “Joe Cool” Cullen. Along with frozen treats he’s selling narcotics—and failing to report his ill-gotten gains on his tax returns. Over Tara’s dead body. Then there’s Michael Gryder, who appears to be operating a Ponzi scheme…with banker Stan Shelton…whose lake house is being landscaped by Brett Ellington…who happens to be dating Tara. If following that money trail isn’t tough enough, now Tara must face a new conundrum: Should she invest her trust in Brett—or put him behind bars? New love always comes at a cost but justice? Priceless.

What a fun book! Tara is an IRS special investigator who enjoys going after tax cheaters and is quite a sharp shooter, if necessary. Her latest case has her going after two tax cheaters, one of whom, her new boyfriend may be involved, or is he? This page turning story will have you laughing at the antics that Tara finds herself in; enjoying her down-home style while she pursues the criminal elements and delighting in her energetic spirit that makes her a lovable character. This amusing and entertaining story was very enjoyable and I look forward to the next book in this likable series.

Close to Home by Jenna Bennett

Close to Home by Jenna Bennett is the fourth book in the “Savannah Martin” mystery series. Publisher: Bente Gallagher, September 2011

Sometimes, trouble hits too close to home.

Savannah’s late. The kind of late that comes with midnight feedings and the pitter-patter of little feet. And while it’s a circumstance that should make everyone happy – now she can finally settle down and marry Todd Satterfield, the way everyone’s been hoping and praying! – it isn’t Todd’s baby. And Rafe Collier, whose baby it is, didn’t sign on for fatherhood.

Add in the murder of Savannah’s sister-in-law Sheila, the trial of Sheila’s friend Marley, and the disappearance of Rafe’s twelve year old son David – the kid he never knew he had – and things get complicated fast. And there is worse to come: When Rafe comes back to Nashville to help look for David, and learns that Savannah’s pregnant, things do not work out the way Savannah hopes. In the end, she’s left with nothing she wanted and a whole lot of trouble she didn’t, and when she gets in over her head, Rafe’s not there to save the day.

This story evoke so many emotions that I could not put this book down. This was a departure from the previous three titles when a murder hit very close to Savannah and her family. While dealing with her own health issues, a missing “boyfriend”, helping her brother find an heir; Savannah looks into who wanted her SIL dead and faces an opponent that gave her cause. The page-turning, action-filled drama pulled me in from that first sentence to the last line and I can’t wait to read the next book in this wonderful series.

Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber

Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber is the third book in the “Lucy Valentine” mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, February 2011

“Exposed” by a Boston Herald reporter, Lucy is suddenly the talk of the town. Long back-story short: Even though the rest of her Valentine ancestors were blessed by Cupid with psychic abilities, Lucy’s only special power lies in her ability to find things. This skill has proven quite a blessing for those who come to her matchmaking agency in search of finding their long-lost loves. Now that Lucy’s secret is out, she has more new clients than she knows what to do with. But soon a certain man of mystery steals Lucy’s spotlight.

No, it’s not Sean Donahue, the sexy fireman-turned-private-eye who’s stolen Lucy’s heart. It’s a masked man in a cowboy hat, dubbed “The Lone Ranger,” who’s been throwing handfuls of cash across the Common. Now all of Beantown’s abuzz. Can Lucy unmask the mysterious money man, track down all her clients’ old flames, and turn up the heat on her love life? Absolutely, positively.

This is an absolutely, positively lovable story from beginning to end. Using her abilities, Lucy takes on a case of lost loves where everything is not as they appear and with Sean the disappearance of her grandmother’s friend. Meanwhile unmasking The Lone Ranger is on the top of everyone mind, including Preston who is looking for the scoop of the century. As dysfunctional and quirky as the Valentine family is, you can’t help but fall in love with them and their friends over and over again. This was a fast-filled, fun and entertaining read that will delight all your senses.

Sweetheart in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

Sweetheart in High Heels by Gemma Halliday is the seventh book in the “High Heel” mystery series. Publisher: Gemma Halliday, January 2011

Being the wife of a cop isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Especially when dead bodies keep ruining your romantic dinner plans. But fashion designer turned amateur sleuth Maddie Springer is determined that her husband’s latest case, dubbed the “Sex Shop Murder”, will not keep him from celebrating their first anniversary together, which just happens to fall on the most romantic of all holidays, Valentine’s Day. She’s ready to do whatever it takes to make this night special and distraction-free-even if it means solving his case herself!

It’s Maddie and Ramirez first anniversary and Valentine’s day as a married couple. When a murder case threatens to ruin their special day, Maddie decides to help Ramirez solve this case. This was a typical Maddie escapade that very enjoyable and sweet.

Available as an e-book

Christmas in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

Christmas in High Heels by Gemma Halliday is the sixth book in the “High Heel” mystery series. Publisher: Gemma Halliday, November 2010

Fashion designer turned amateur sleuth Maddie Springer can’t wait to spend the holidays with her boyfriend, LAPD Detective Jack Ramirez. It’s their first Christmas together, and Maddie wants it to be perfect. But between her zany family and wacky friends, Maddie’s having a hard time finding alone time with her man. But come Christmas morning, this is one holiday she’ll be sure to remember…naughty or nice!

It’s their first Christmas and all Maddie wants is Ramirez.

Showdown in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon

Showdown in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon is the third and final book in the “Ghost-In-Law” mystery romance series. Publisher: Love Spell, July 2010

Who Killed Helena Henry?

Actually, considering her past, a better question would be: who didn’t want her dead? Prying, spying, pushy, pesky—she was the most meddlesome mother-in-law in all of Louisiana. Death hasn’t changed anything, either. Her specter still roams and is looking for justice…and a snack.

Of course, mortals such as self-proclaimed psychic Raissa Bordeaux believe there are more important mysteries to be solved. One involves a rash of child kidnappings. Another is New Orleans Detective Zach Blanchard: why do such fine behinds always end up on such uptight men? If only her crystal ball really gave answers. Instead, she’ll have to rely on Mudbug’s garrulous ghost, her own dark past and a Bayou boy-in-blue who might turn out to be her very own frog prince.

When a young girl is kidnapped Raissa using her psychic abilities inform the police that this is not the first kidnapping. When the police disregard her claims, Raissa along with help from her friends, Maryse and ghostly Helena use the skills that they have to find the young girl while secrets from Raissa’s past are revealed. This was a good read full of humor, mystery and romance that kept me turning the pages to see what happens next. There’s never a dull moment while reading this light mystery romance and being the final book in the series, this was worth the wait. My rating: 4 stars