Diva Las Vegas by Eileen Davidson

Book: Diva Las Vegas by Eileen Davidson

Series: A Soap Opera Mystery

Published:2010

Extras: None

Plot (Goodreads):Alexis Peterson is delighted when her friend, ex-Playboy Playmate Shana Stern, invites her to Hugh Hefner's infamous Halloween party. But the fun ends when, after a few drinks, Shana is found dead. Alex's investigation leads ger to a soap opera convention in Las Vegas, and bodies continue to pile up on the strip. She must catch this killer who is more vicious than any television critic..

My four-sentence or less take on the plot: Soap opera star Alexis Peterson is surprised when her old friend, ex-playmate Shana Stern, invites her to the Playboy Halloween party. Of course, with this being a cozy, the friend is murdered almost immediately. Alex decides it's up to her to solve the mystery while simultaneously getting more serious with her new love interest.

Rating: 9

What worked: I'll admit, I love this series. Alexis is a great character and the insight into the soap opera industry and soap opera conventions is terrific. The side characters are extremely well-rounded and interesting.

What didn't: It's apparently the last in the series! No! That's actually really annoying because the book ends on a solid cliffhanger including Alex's ex-husband.

Keep reading? Absolutely! I love this series. I hope the rumor that it is over is wrong.

Romance Sunday! Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber

Book: Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber

Series: Book 3 in the Lucy Valentine series

Extras? No

Published: 2011

Plot (Goodreads):

“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…

My four-sentence or less take on the plot: Lucy Valentine works in her family's matchmaking office even though she doesn't possess the family ability to make matches through seeing auras. Lucy is able to find lost objects, which has led to a business reuniting lost loves. In this book, Lucy and her boyfriend Sean are hired to find a client's teenage love who may be a career criminal while also trying to solve a mystery of a man who disappeared while walking his dog. On top of all the other threads, there is a masked man who is throwing out cash to the general public.

Rating: 9+

What worked: I love this series. The mysteries were interesting, the romances were romantic, and the characters were likable and intriguing. Even the peripheral characters are well-rounded. Give this series a shot, you won't be disappointed.

I'm sort of cheating here because this book is definitely a romance novel mixed with a cozy mystery (the best of both worlds!). In my local bookstore, the first two books in this series are in the mystery section while this book was in the general fiction section, which proves it's a genre-bender. Heather Webber used to write a truly amazing cozy series about a surprise gardening business, so I'm a big-time fan.

What didn't: Everything worked! I love this series.

Keep reading? Absolutely, positively :)