"Exposed" by a Boston Herald reporter, Lucy Valentine 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…
USA Today bestselling author Heather Webber loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book. *Heather also writes under the pen name Heather Blake.
I adore this. The romance is not overly done, the characters are engaging and they all have their own personality.The mystery is also not something that is taken out from Encyclopedia Brown stories and of course I'll be reading the next books in the series.
I really like this series! Lucy and Sean make a great t eam and I enjoy seeing them together. I also like how the cases are different from your typical cozy and aren’t centered around a murder but they are still solving something. There were lots of intertwined threads here and it was fun seeing them come together. I also didn’t realize that I hit a trifecta for the mod approved bingo category - on the shelves of both mods and #readforkimberly
This series is light and refreshing. The characters are quirky, including the 4 (or 3 *g*) legged varieties. There is a nice mix of "contained within one book" plot versus "development across the series" plot. Also, a nice mix of mystery versus romance.
The books remind me of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich or the Eve Dallas books by J.D. Robb. All are enjoyable, full of characters that are nice to visit again and again, but the books will never hit that "rock my world" level of excitement. I don't mean that as a bad thing. Like desserts, there are some books you find yourself drooling over, and some that just make you happy. Literary jello.
And, yes, that was meant as a recommendation. *g* Sometimes you want a book to break your heart. Sometimes you want a book to rock your world. Sometimes you want a book to expand your view of the world. And sometimes, you just want a fun read. Save this for when you want a fun, optimistic read.
The Good: I love Lucy. Her family is a riot and her relationship with Sean makes for compelling reading. More than that, I am really enjoying seeing Lucy come around on Preston and getting to see the reporter has more going on personality-wise than what has been aggressively on the surface. Lucy spends a lot of time doubting if she's doing the right thing with her case and her ability to find someone in this book and I felt that was wonderfully genuine. You get the feeling she cares about her clients much like readers care about her.
The Bad: The Lone Ranger mystery was fairly obvious. I figured it out way too early in the book and that kind of killed a lot of the intended suspense. While not the focus on these books, I would really like to see more actual matchmaking from the matchmaking business.
Better than book 2. I liked the mysteries and how they tied into each other. I really liked Lucy's full acceptance of her abilities and how she slowly is learning more it herself. I wish Sean would open more for Lucy- he does in this one, but I think he stills to do more since Lucy is pretty much an open book.
The third installment of this delightful series did NOT disappoint! Between Lucy Valentine's friends, family, clients, Preston....well, let's just say there's plenty of drama to keep Lucy busy.
"The Lone Ranger" is still at it, tossing $20 bills around then disappearing. Then Lucy notices her mum is dressing and acting differently, making her wonder what's going on. Add in a missing man she's asked by her mum and Dovie to find, and a client searching for the boy she loved when she was in the foster care system and soon the game is definitely on!
Soon Lucy encounters an aging rocker, the FBI and a paroled criminal...takes in a dog that's lost his master...and deals with her continued doubt about her relationship with Sean due to Cupid's Curse. Yep...PLENTY of drama!
All the familiar characters are there, although some not as prominently as in the first two books. We learn more about several of them as relationships change & progress.
Now...I have to wait for Book 4 and HOPE HOPE HOPE there will be more in this series!
Absolutely, Positively is another great installment of the Lucy Valentine series by Heather Webber. I continue to grow fond of these characters, and really appreciate the subtle development in the romance department as well.
Truth be told, I really don't know what to say about this book that I haven't already said about the previous two books.
Lucy is a great character, steady and lovable. Sean's developments are a great new touch to the story--though I can't remember if his background was mentioned much in previous books.
While he was always the "Perfect Boyfriend" material since book one, I must admit, there's a bit of a new twist in his character that came across a little frustrating, specifically having to do with the romantic relationship between him and Lucy. But I'm glad that, with each book in this series, the couple manages to work out their conflicts to continue moving towards a stronger relationship.
The rest of the characters are as wonderful as ever from Marisol to Em, to the parents, and Raphael. Even the newest addition from the previous book, Cutter, is kind of cool even if he doesn't make much of an appearance. I still find Preston a bit annoying, but I can kind of almost see how she's growing on Lucy.
Finally, there were, I think, three separate mysteries in this book that were actually quite pleasantly twisty-turny. Two of the mysteries I kind of figured out as they came out pretty predictable, but were still planned really well. The last little mystery--which, when you think about it, isn't much of a mystery--really didn't turn out the way I had thought it would; though to be honest, I liked how everything concluded.
The ending of this book felt a little awkward, though, so I don't know how to feel about that; almost rushed, like we were in a hurry to wrap things up. But I blasted through the entire book in no time, so obviously I was entertained.
I forgot how lovely this series is! Also why don't I read more cozy mysteries?? They are such nice books to read. They have some intrigue to keep the momentum up but nothing gory or too scary. Some funny antics from the local townspeople and characters. And of course a sprinkle of swoony, fluffy, love. I should really read more of them.
I really connected with Lucy in this one and her struggle with worrying about things. I love how she's starting to get more confident in her abilities and using her gift. Also, I. Love. Sean. Does he need to open up more to Lucy? Absolutely. But I love how quiet and confident and secure they are in their relationship. Even if Lucy is experiencing some fear of the future. I read a lot of romance, and it's so nice to read a book where the couple is already together and living their life, with the majority of the story drama not being their relationship.
Such a nice series and I am definitely picking up the next one soon!
2022 bk 112. When an acquintance of Dovie (Lucy's grandmother) goes missing, Lucy and company start searching. Along the way they have encounters with a teenage granddaughter, a dog, a Lone Ranger who spreads the wealth, and more members of Lucy's circle. Another fun read in this series.
This is another psychic detective novel. The story is very interesting and it makes you feel good once you finish it but again, not that much romance going on.
No doubt about it. I am absolutely, positively, sure that I loved this book. Lucy is doing well in her new job of reuniting lost lovers, working closely together with Preston, almost becoming friends. But this new case might just be way over her head, when the man she has been asked to find, appears to be a master criminal. The story told by her client though, is heart breaking, and Lucy is sure there must be some redeeming qualities in Tristan Roarke. Otherwise, Meaghan would not be still in love with him. But Tristan is undoubtedly dangerous, and he keeps scaring Lucy until he gets or finds what he wants. But it is up to Meaghan to decide if she wants contact or not. And when Tristan gets involved in a murder case of his former foster father, both the FBI and the local police are on the lookout for him.
The other case Lucy and Sean are working on, involves a missing person. A long time friend of her grandmother’s, and Dovie has asked them to look for Mac Gladstone. He has disappeared a month ago, leaving his beloved dog and all his possessions behind. His daughter Jemima and her husband (former one night rock star Rick Hayes) seem to be so sure he is dead, and Rick is already talking about having him declared dead, so Jemima can inherit.
Searching through Mac’s study, they do find some clues, and Lucy ends up taking Mac’s beloved dog Rufus with her, as Jemima has had enough of the dog and wants him gone. Her daughter Christa is heartbroken about it, she was the one taking care of Rufus. But her mother is determined, and rather than allowing the sweet golden retriever and his rubber chicken to the shelter, she takes him home with her. But knowing her three legged cat Grendel is not going to be happy about it, she leaves him at Dovie’s. Her grandmother is protesting about it, but Lucy knows she already loves the dog by the time she and Sean leave for her little cottage.
Did Mac commit suicide, did he disappear because he wanted to, or is there something else going on? Rick Hayes is talking about a reality show about his life, something Mac really opposed, and did not want to fund. So with Mac out of the way, the show might go live after all. Uprooting his daughter from her last year in highschool, and showing her pain on camera seems to be something Rick is actually looking forward to, as it will up the viewer stats.
Still, Lucy is not convinced Mac is dead, and following the only clue they have, a hideous orange sweater bought in a consignment shop, she will be trying for the first time if her powers work in that case.
On the personal side, Lucy is very much in love with Sean, but still afraid of Cupid’s Curse. Sean is looking for a new place to live, now his brother has told him, he has outstayed his welcome. This is perhaps more due to his suddenly incontinent little doggie. She would love to have Sean living with her for real, he is over at her place a lot of time already, but still unsure. It is just so early in their relationship yet. Lucy is also getting used to having a brother, and getting to know him. Her father is trying to get him involved in the family business, as he is the only one besides her father, who can see aura’s to match couples. But so far, Cutter is refusing. And what is with this strange dating thing between her parents? They have been living happily separated for so long now. Can her mother really trust that her father will stay this time? But things will change anyway, with Raphael moving out as well, to live with his new lady love. Her father also gets a little of what he deserves though.
So, lots of things are happening in Lucy’s life, some good, some to be seen. I loved her sleuthing, and the little surprises on the way. It are the small details that make a good mystery, and I have to be honest, I did expect the truth about the murder case. But the missing person case was the most intriguing and fun to read about. I have to admit, I was in tears s well when Rufus disappeared into the night while Lucy was walking him, and she could not find him again. Later on, I did suspect the truth, but nevertheless, it tugged on my heartstrings.
Heather Webber sure knows how to write characters you fall in love with, who feel like close friends. I love the paranormal/psychic twists in the book, and the settings of the story. I am looking forward to the next one.
Another great read in this series. I love the characters and the way the relationship between Lucy and Sean is developed throughout the series. It may have been love at first sight, but it's also based on spending time together, working out their various issues and learning about each other. You'll hope that these two stay together and nothing happens to separate them. I also enjoy the mysteries as there are always two or three different puzzles to solve and while I figured this one out before Lucy did, I still enjoyed watching her put it all together. The surrounding charcters are all well crated, having plots of their own weaving through the story. It does have a big cast of characters and you'll likely want to read the other books prior to this one, just to know who's who. I think you could start with this book and enjoy it, but it's more fun when you have a solid sense of everyone. Lucy's friends, Marisol and Em, don't appear in this one as much, but Preston, the reporter that Lucy has reluctantly befriended, is still on the hunt for her big story. Lucy's parents and her grandmother, Dovie, add some small bits of comic relief. And there are enough little bits unfinished that there's obviously more to the story, BUT without any type of cliffhanger, thankfully. Definitely a worthwhile series.
I really liked the first 2 books in the Lucy Valentine series. This one was good and I did enjoy it , however, it was not the best in the series. Heather Webber is super cute and is very dedicated to her writing. You can find her everywhere! I never really read books like this but I won a copy of the first book Truly, Madly and was sold. Heather is on Facebook, Goodreads, and seems to pop up everywhere!! I really do enjoy her and I really liked this series.
Lucy Valentine has some sorta psychic ability and she can find lost object when someone is thinking of that object. It leads her to find missing people and solves many other mysteries sometimes funny situations. But what draws me into the books is of how real Lucy character is. Even though "abilities" are non-existent, I liked her as a person. I especially feel in love with Sean and I would love to know more about his story since we only got a little taste of it.
There is a lot I can say about this book and say who I loved and who I hate but the book isn't so long and detailed I feel like I would give it all away but it is a nice comforting quick read so you can probably read the series in a week or two!
As usual, Heather Webber has written a fun story with Lucy Valentine, her cooky family and her budding romance with the P.I., Sean. Lucy is tasked with finding a former teenage love with a history the likes of Romeo and Juliet. Unfortunately, Tristan turns out to be more of a Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. When Tristan is accused of murder, Lucy's client, Meaghan will do anything to prove his innocence.
At the same time, Dovie's old friend and budding romantic interest goes missing under mysterious circumstances. And there is a man, the news papers have nicknamed The Lone Ranger, who's throwing money away in the streets and Preston is determined to find out who he is.
Lucy has to contend with her parents dating again, her concerns over her future with Sean, Preston trying to find out the family secret and trying to get Aiden and Em together.
The book isn't as funny as the previous two, nor does Lucy put herself in the same dangers as the other books, but the writing is solid. Heather does justice to a growing character with adult issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In the 3rd installment of the Lucy Valentine series, by Heather Webber, we get to visit again with the usual cast of characters. Lucy's on-again-off-again parents, her newly discovered 1/2 brother (didn't know that, you better read #2), The Lone Ranger (not the TV show guy), Preston, and Sean (her love). We're also introduced to a new set of characters which liven up Lucy's already lively life. This time there's a notorious thief, an elderly man who disappears, a down and out rocker who is trying to make a comeback, and Lucy meets someone who just might be able to help her hone and understand her abilities.
Webber again delivers a fun, easy, comfortable read that is perfect for a "day off". What's that, right? It's great for a day off, a relaxing summer day, or (since the holidays are coming up) to escape the craziness that becomes our world. Why? Because while it's easy to set down when life requires you're attention, it's also very enjoyable to pick right back up again.
It seemed like I was smiling when I was reading this one. First we have all of Lucy's family drama, so much about that made me laugh. Then there were the lost and found stories. From the start I was rooting for all the people. I wanted Meaghan to find Tristan and for them to get their HEA. It was iffy for a while due to Tristan's past. I hated what Tristan had lived with, but was glad that he learned it was all wrong. Even things with Mac had me hoping. I think things ended great for Mac and his family. I was glad that his daughter finally woke up. Even Lucy's friend Em, has a bright future due to her friends butting in. And lastly it seems like Lucy has come to terms with the limits Sean has, a very good thing.
4 1/2 stars -- Lucy Valentine's latest adventure includes a missing artist and his dog, a lonely heart looking for her lost love whose last address was a prison,an old rock star, and of course family, friends and love.
These books are just so entertaining. And after reading all three of them, I still can't quite put my finger on why. I think it may just be a perfect mix of romance and mystery. There is so much love in the books. Not just romantic, but love of friends and family. Oh, and some of the best pets I have ever read about.
Lucy Valentine is at it again, now that everyone knows she has a gift when it comes to finding lost items using her Cupid blessed talents to help find missing people as well as uniting lost loved ones. When a mysterious and sexy man dubbed The Lone Ranger starts throwing around money on the streets, it ends up causing chaos in Lucy' life as well as her new found relationship with Sean, her newly hired private detective who has captured her heart.
17/20 En bref, encore un excellent moment avec Lucy, sa famille et ses amis. L'auteur nous réserve quelques belles surprises et quand on pense avoir tout compris, paf, elle nous retourne le cerveau et on repart pour un tour d'enquête. Les personnages sont toujours aussi géniaux, je suis in love de Sean et Lucy me fait toujours autant rire ! C'est une amie fidèle et authentique que je prends toujours plaisir à retrouver !
This book is beautiful. We get caught up with my favorite characters - Dovie, Lucy, Sean, etc. But we meet a few new characters that add to the story. I liked how Heather added more on Sean and his heart. I work on the type of pacemaker Sean has, so to me it adds to the story. I have enjoyed this entire series. I have enjoyed this entire series. I am looking forward to more books from Heather Webber.
Book three certainly took me a little while to get into it and the mystery wasn't as good either. But still an enjoyable read. I like how the characters continue to grow and evolve. I liked in the earlier books that Lucy was certainly not TSTL. In this book she started to drift in that direction. I'll certainly continue to read the series, but we'll see what direction the story takes.
I've really enjoyed this series. A lot of reviews I've read have compared it to the earlier books in the Stephanie Plum series, and I can kind of see that, but these are much better - plot-wise and character-wise. I'm looking forward to reading more.
I get such a nice, warm feeling when I read this series. A little mystery, a little romance and lots of interesting characters make these books a delight to read! I loved the dogs in the book, too.