A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE: A Nina Quinn Mystery #1 - Heather Webber

Taken by Surprise, Nina Quinn’s landscaping firm specializing in surprise garden makeovers, is the only thing in her life that seems to be thriving. Her marriage to adulterous police detective Kevin Quinn has wilted. Her antisocial stepson Riley is spreading trouble like pungent manure. Even her gardening tools are disappearing, including a rather valuable set of hoes. Worst of all, the delightful old man who first introduced her to the joys of horticulture is dead—and not by natural causes. Something evil has taken root in Nina’s small Ohio town, and the local police—including dearly unbeloved Kev—are baffled. But it’s amazing what a resourceful gardener can dig up when she puts her mind to it—though, by sticking her hands too deeply into this fetid, fertile soil, Nina might well end up planted beneath her own petunias.

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I already love reading Heather Webber's Lucy Valentine series and I am eagerly looking forward to reading IT TAKES A WITCH: A Wishcraft Mystery she writes as Heather Blake.

If I were to have a landscaping business, it would be like Nina's 'Taken By Surprise'. It's a way cool concept of creating a project in one day and surprising the client. I adore gardening and surprises.

And I adore a well written mystery. And this one fits that profile. It's a mystery that has me very happy to have a Nook so I can read books that are no longer in print except at a used bookstore if you're lucky.

Visit Heather over at the Cozy Chicks: http://www.cozychicksblog.com/

and her website:http://heatherwebber.com/

Five blooming mystery beans.....

ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY: Lucy Valentine #3 - Heather Webber

From the back of the book: Lucy Valentine is still searching for love----for her clients and for herself---and this time, she's about to go public with her private displays of affection.

"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-tunred-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.....

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I really enjoy my time when I get to read what Lucy Valentine is up to in each book. She's sweet, feisty, funny and really wants to enjoy her life and love with Sean and figure out how to deal with her nutty parents who are up to. And who is this Lone Ranger throwing money in the air to the happy masses?

Next book, I hope Heather tells more of the story of Lucy's best friends in the whole world, Em and Marisol. I love their friendship and how they get along and I want to see everyone happy.

Five feisty funny sweet beans.....

DEEPLY, DESPERATELY: Lucy Valentine #2 - Heather Webber

From the back of the book: The irrepressible star of TRULY, MADLY (my review) 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 watns 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 need 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.....

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I really enjoyed the first book in the series, TRULY, MADLY, but I luh-huvved Lucy's adventures here. She's got her wonderful wack-a-doo family, her boyfriend Sean, and her abilities.

What she also has are anonymous letters coming in threatening her, she has her very own journalist hounding her every move, and her boyfriend's ex is back in town and in need.

Lucy hesitates when it comes to Sean. She thinks the curse is going to kick their relationship to the curb and the ex-in-need isn't helping. Sean feels obligated to help her out, but feels bad about leaving Lucy behind.

Lucy also is in cahoots with one of her two best friends, Marisol. The two of them are trying to get the goods on their other bestest friend, Em's, intended. Neither Lucy or Marisol like the jerk and need for Em to see it, too. It's like watching Lucy and Ethel get together on a caper.

The heartwarming bits are when Lucy helps find missing persons. I love watching how she goes about the process and the end results.

Five magical sparkly diamonds.....

TRULY, MADLY: A Lucy Valentine Novel - Heather Webber

From the back of the book: Have any plans for Valentine's Day? Well, have I got a match for you! Her name is Lucy--Lucy Valentine--and she's so fresh, funny, and fabulously original, she just might give flowers and chocolate a run for their money.

Lucy hails from a long line of matchmakers known as Valentine, Inc. According to family legend, the Valentines have been blessed by Cupid with the psychic ability to help couples find true love. Trouble is, Lucy's powers were zapped away by 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 big city like Boston, love is a mystery--and Lucy's upstairs neighbor, Sean Donahue, is a hot private eye whose job is murder. With a little luck, she can help solve the perfect crime and find her own perfct match--with Sean.

Filled with romance, a little mystery and a whole lot of fun, TRULY, MADLY is the perfect gift for readers looking for something truly special. Author Heather Webber has a smart, sexy, engaging voice that reminds us of Janet Evanovich and Jennifer Crusie, but with an irresistable touch of the paranormal. Everyone here at St Martin's has already fallen head over heels in love with Lucy. And with two more books to come--at least--we think this could be a match made in heaven.

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope Dellon, Executive Editor, St Martin's Paperbacks

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I received this SWEEEEET funny book as an ARC from Goodreads and I am so glad I did! It took me a month from receipt to read it. I tend to shy away from romance books, but this one has been getting rave reviews from 'trusted agents' and it had that paranormal and mystery I love so well....I caved (glad I did) and read it rather quickly. I stayed up late to read 'just one more page'! A danger book in that sense.

Wonderfully funny, a little wacky, some hot romance without making me avert my eyes, nifty dialogue and a really intriguing mystery with a neat little twist towards the end that had me wishing for the next in the series to come out soonest.

TRULY, MADLY comes out next month and you definitely should get this little gem.

Five SWEEEEET beans......