Review: Absolutely, Positively

Absolutely, Positively
Heather Webber
Romantic Mystery
Lucy Valentine/Book 3
St. Martins/February 1, 2011

*Possible Spoilers for Previous Books*

From the back cover ~

"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...

The third book in the irresistible Lucy Valentine series takes Lucy one step further in her relationship with Sean and sees her gain more confidence in her ability to find lost loves. I really like the progression of growth in both Lucy and Sean and love the world that Webber has created at Valentine, Inc. It's funny, quirky and emotional without being over the top unbelievable.

Lucy has two new cases to work on plus her relationship with Sean is front and center. She's not sure if she's ready to take the next step with Sean by suggesting he move in with her. Throughout the book, we see how Lucy goes through the pros and cons of living with Sean. I really liked that Webber didn't have Lucy take this decision lightly but rather worked it out in her head as well as her heart.

The first case of young love reunited was interesting although I wasn't always sure of the woman's motives. For some reason I thought Meaghan might have a more sinister reason for wanting to find Tristan. Looking back, it surprises me how detailed the plot and characters are considering the length of the book. Both Meaghan and Tristan are well developed for secondary characters given how much page time the get. I thought Tristan was even more so and enjoyed him matching wits with Lucy.

The second case of the missing recluse also had it's share of secondary characters, giving insight into what recluse Mac Gladstone's life was like and what might have caused him to disappear. I don't think the outcome was surprising but I did enjoy the journey to it.

Lucy's parents are always interesting to see but this time there is more going on there. I'd say that Lucy's father is my least favorite character, primarily because he comes across as very selfish with the occasional outpouring of love for Lucy. He doesn't come off as much of a father figure for her and that's where I have problems with him. I do however like Lucy's mother and her grandmother Dovie. They both add that eclectic flavor to the series.

Once again, Heather Webber has added an entertaining installment in the Lucy Valentine series. I'm really curious to see where Lucy and Sean's relationship goes and where their next case takes them. And what's with Preston and Cutter? That's one thing that I really appreciate about this series - the endless possibilities of where the author can take me.

Rating: A-

Books in this series ~

Truly, Madly
Deeply, Desperately
Absolutely, Positively

February Reads...

February flew by - why is it that 2 to 3 less days make it seem so much shorter? This past weekend I was hoping to have a little reading marathon and finish a couple of books I had started earlier in the month. That didn't happen. Instead, Saturday was spent at Matsuri, a Japanese festival with lots of music, food and shopping. And I can't forget all the people decked out in costumes. WOW! Surprisingly, I even recognized a few! LOL Most are from video games, manga and Japanese music videos. Still, it's fun to see how much detail the cosplayers put into their costumes even when I don't know who they are. :)

On to the reading...


Audio Books

1. In The Bleak Midwinter/Julia Spencer-Fleming/Mystery/A-
2. A Fountain Filled with Blood/Julia Spencer-Fleming/Mystery/B+
3. Out of the Deep I Cry/Julia Spencer-Fleming/Mystery/B
4. To Darkness and To Death/Julia Spencer-Fleming/Mystery/B
5. All Mortal Flesh/Julia Spencer-Fleming/Mystery/B-
6. I Shall Not Want/Julia Spencer-Fleming/Mystery/A-
7. Destined for an Early Grave/Jeaniene Frost/Urban Fantasy/B+

As you can see, once I got going on Julia Spencer-Fleming's Reverend Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyne series there was no stopping me! It's filled with fascinating characters in a setting that Spencer-Fleming really brings to life. The narrator, Suzanne Toren, does a wonderful job, giving each character a very distinct voice. Now I have to wait, along with everyone else, until April for the next book.

And just when I thought I'd caught up with Jeaniene Frost's Cat & Bones series, the next book comes out. This Side of the Grave was released on the 22nd so I will most likely read it instead of listening, although I do so love hearing Bones' cockney accent. :)

The Numbers

Mystery ~ 6
Urban Fantasy ~ 1

A- ~ 2
B+ ~ 2
B ~ 2
B- ~ 1

Print/Electronic Books

1. What She Needs/Anne Calhoun/Erotic Romance/A
2. Notorious Pleasures/Elizabeth Hoyt/Historical Romance/A
3. Whisper of Warning/Laura Griffin/Romantic Suspense/A-
4. Deeply, Desperately/Heather Webber/Mystery/A-
5. Animal Magnetism/Jill Shalvis/Contemporary Romance/B+
6. Nick All Night/Cheryl St. John/Contemporary Romance/B+
7. Master of the Mountain/Cherise Sinclair/Erotic Romance/B+
8. Chasing the Sun/Kaki Warner/Historical Western Romance/B+
9. Truly, Madly/Heather Webber/Mystery/B+
10. The Heat is On/Jill Shalvis/Contemporary Romance/B
11. Shadowfever/Karen Marie Moning/Urban Fantasy/C+
12. Master of the Abyss/Cherise Sinclair/Erotic Romance/C+
13. The Vampire Voss/Colleen Gleason/Historical Paranormal Romance/Review to come

The Numbers

Contemporary ~ 3
Erotic Romance ~ 3
Historical ~ 2
Mystery ~ 2
Historical Paranormal Romance ~ 1
Romantic Suspense ~ 1
Urban Fantasy ~ 1

A ~ 2
A- ~ 2
B+ ~ 5
B ~ 1
C+ ~ 2

Format

Print ~ 9
E-book ~ 4

Another good month. I kept switch the Heather Webber books back and forth between Romantic Suspense and Mystery. Whatever they're labeled - they're very good. The Anne Calhoun was a quick read (28 pages) and while I don't plan to review it, I would highly recommend it. Excellent writing with steamy, emotional scenes.

The number read was a bit lower than I'd hoped but the grades were pretty good so that evens it out right? LOL So far March is off to a good start and with some highly anticipated releases this month, it should prove to be another good one!

So how was your reading month? Anything you read that you absolutely loved and think everyone should read?

*Pictures are of the stage were the Cosplay competition took place and the winners. It was very crowded and unfortunately, I didn't get that many good shots. There were about 30 people total on stage in costumes and for most I had to ask the teen who everyone was. :)

Review: Deeply, Desperately

Deeply, Desperately
Heather Webber
Contemporary Mystery/Romance
Lucy Valentine/Book 2
St. Martin's/August 3, 2010

From the back cover ~

The irrepressible star of "Truly, Madly, " is back in business. This time, Lucy Valentine will go to the ends of the earth to find true love for her clients...and maybe even herself.

Lucy wants to breathe new life into her family’s Boston-based matchmaking company. But how? Even though she comes from a long line of ancestors blessed by Cupid with psychic abilities, a freak accident left Lucy with only one special skill: finding things. Car keys, socks in the dryer, needles in haystacks...and now, in a stroke of professional genius, lost loves

It’s not long before Lucy’s on a winning streak, helping old flames reunite and create new sparks. Business is booming. But when Lucy finds herself involved in a possible case of murder, she realizes she’s in too deep. Enter Sean Donahue. Lucy’s handsome fire-fighter turned private-eye neighbor, Sean is just the man she needs to help her on the job. Could he also be the man she’s been looking for all along? When it comes to Valentine, Inc., falling in love is always serious business…

And... she's back! My goodness but I'm so happy I got past the cutesy covers and started this reading this series. Lucy is one of those characters if she were real, I'd love to be friends. She has this wacky, crazy life where sometimes it seems like she's the only sane one in the bunch. Which is funny because Lucy isn't exactly normal.

Lucy is now gainfully employed in her family's business but she not into the traditional match-making. She uses her 'gift' to find lost loves which gets complicated when she also finds a dead body. Things are never simple with Lucy; she's trying to solve a murder, search for a missing person, get some alone time with Sean and possibly stop her best friend from marrying the wrong guy. The subplot of Lucy and her friend Marisol trying to get the goods on their friend Em's fiancé was comical and with help from an unlikely source only adding to the fun. I love the dynamics of the three friends, even with their busy lives, they stay close.

Reporter Preston Bailey is still around, much to Lucy's irritation. She was hounding Lucy for a story in the first book and is now back, with Oscar Valentine's blessing, tagging along with Lucy. Preston adds another dimension to Lucy's crazy life and while there is tension between the two women, there is also an odd affection developing. Odd because they are often arguing with each other. At first I wasn't thrilled with Preston still being around but she's grown on me.

Lucy has a highly functioning dysfunctional family. Her parents are married but live like they're divorced, still friends but leading separate lives. Her grandma, Dovie, is active in protesting for causes and desperate for grandkids. And now Lucy may have stumbled into a family secret that could change her family dynamics.

Lucy and Sean can't get a break when it comes to making some times under the covers or on the couch or even on the kitchen table. Fate or Cupid's Curse seem to be conspiring to keep these two would be lovers apart. Sean's ex is back in the picture and man, did I feel sorry for Lucy and everything she had to go through. I thought she was very mature and while I understood why Sean acted how he did, it was still hard to see how it affected Lucy. This was a surprisingly emotional part of the story. Lucy and Sean finally get that break and boy do they make the most of it! I really like these two together. Webber makes the most of the characters strengths and weaknesses to create a believable couple of Lucy and Sean.

This is a fairly short read at just over 300 pages and with a lot going on but Webber does a great job keeping the different threads from becoming jumbled. There really isn't any down time. It's a fast read, keeping you reading well into the night. Don't start this thinking you'll just read a chapter or two, because the next thing you know, you'll be half-way through.

The only minor problem I had was how things were resolved with Sean's ex. It all happened rather quickly. I would have like to see more dialogue on the part of Sean and Lucy concerning what happened and how they dealt with it. Other than that, I loved this book! If you haven't started this series, what are you waiting for?!

Rating: A-

Books in this series ~

Truly, Madly
Deeply, Desperately
Absolutely, Positively

Review: Truly, Madly

Truly, Madly
Heather Webber
Contemporary Mystery/Romance
Lucy Valentine/Book 1
St. Martins/February 2, 2010

From the back cover ~

Lucy Valentine is as smart as can be, as single as you can get, and so not qualified to run a matchmaking service. But when her parents temporarily step down from the family business, Valentine, Inc., it’s Lucy’s turn to step up and help out—in the name of love.

Plus, her rent is due.

Here’s the problem: Lucy doesn’t have the knack for matchmaking. According to family legend, every Valentine has been blessed by Cupid with the ability to read “auras” and pair up perfect couples. But not Lucy. Her skills were zapped away years ago in an electrical surge, and now all she can do is find lost objects. What good is that in the matchmaking world? You’d be surprised. In a city like Boston, everyone’s looking for something. So when Lucy locates a missing engagement ring—on a dead body—she asks the sexy private eye who works upstairs to help her solve the perfect crime. And who knows? Maybe she’ll find the perfect love while she’s at it…

So happy I started this series! I first heard about this last year when Nath reviewed it. Then the series popped up again when Nath reviewed Deeply, Desperately, book 2. Thankfully, I finally took the hint. :)

Lucy is a fun, quirky heroine who is open and easy to relate to. I don't want to say she's misguided so much as having a hard time finding her place in life. She's tried numerous careers but none seem to stick. When Lucy lost her ability to read "auras" she figured she also lost her chance to work in the family business. Fate intervenes in the form of Lucy's dad and a heart attack. While he's recovering in St. Lucia, Lucy must take over the family business of match making. She thinks she's out of her element but she does surprisingly well her first day. It's when she starts digging up the dead and hiding out from the police that the trouble begins.

Lucy has this offbeat group of secondary characters to help her with her efforts in the match making and mystery business. Her eccentric grandma Dovie, BFFs Em and Marisol, hunky PI Sean Donahue and Yoda like chauffeur Raphael. Through Lucy's relationships we see how she is a people pleaser, having a hard time saying no. It may seem like she lets people walk over her but when it comes to the real important stuff, she shows her backbone of steel. I felt sorry for Lucy for having to deal with everything that is dumped in her lap but at the same time, I thought it was just what she needed - to be needed.

The mystery was a good one - a twist, a surprise ending and Lucy is a hero with what looks to be a new career. The pacing is quick with Lucy jumping from one situation to the next. When she's not hunting down leads on her missing person, she's juggling Dovie's match making, her friends career problems, dodging the police and trying not to get distraction by her attraction to one very fine looking PI. The budding romance between Lucy and Sean was sweet to see unfold. Lucy believes in the family curse of no lasting love and sees no reason to get romantically involved. But she keeps turning to him for help and he keeps helping her which puts them together a lot. I'm looking forward to see how their romance continues to progress in the coming books.

There are a number of different sub-plots but it never felt confusing even with the numerous characters coming in and out of Lucy's life. There is mystery, romance and comedy but nothing too heavy even though some of the subjects can be serious, Webber keeps things fairly light. I do think it would have been more fulfilling had Lucy and possibly a few of the secondary characters been fleshed out more. With so many to choose from, we got pieces of each character but not quite enough to complete the whole picture. Which is why I'll be reading the next books in the series.

Rating: B+

Books in this series ~

Truly, Madly
Deeply, Desperately
Absolutely, Positively