Truly, Madly

Fun. It didn't catch me right away - the first couple of chapters are setup and a little confusing, though reasonably well-presented (not _too_ much infodump), and it took me a while to decide I liked Lucy. The situation is interesting - the two variants on psychic power, and the very clear lesson (by the end of the book) why the family have kept it a secret. The instant attraction is romance-normal (so only a little annoying), and the steps beyond that have better reasons. Sean's a neat person, and I'm glad we do eventually find out what's up with him physically (and a clever pun, even if it is mostly to avoid saying what she doesn't want to deal with yet). And Lucy's 'commitment issues' are rather neat too - this isn't your standard show more 'all wrapped up by the end of the book' story. Which I find fun - my worst problem with most romances is that they're too shallow, giving the characters little time to know one another before they end up in bed and acknowledged in love - this one has nice twists. Max made me cry - her reaction to being able to help was great. Her reaction to Aiden saying 'I've dealt with people like you' was odd - if it were me, I'd want to know who else was like me. But I suppose she's lived all her life with her family - she hasn't felt alone with her power, only with the specifics. As I said, it took a while to catch me, but I really enjoyed the story (and the twist - twists - at the end), and definitely want to read more Lucy Valentine stories. There's a preview for the second one at the end of the book - another predictable romance plot, but neatly set up by events in this book - realistic, not author's fiat. I like. show less

To be honest, I had my doubts about the book, thinking it would be too cutesy or sappy before I even started. But the sarcasm in the first six paragraphs had me snorting with laughter, and from there, I couldn't put the book down. If you've read my other reviews, you might say I'm too easy to please, but it's just not true. I edit books for a living, and I wish I could edit a book half this entertaining just a few times a year.
No, it's not a serious book. It's not even full of romance or hard-core mystery. It can't easily be classified as anything, as far as I'm concerned, but it's an easy, entertaining read that I just couldn't stop reading. I read the whole book in just a few hours, promising myself as I started each chapter, "At the show more end of this chapter, I'm going to bed," and then breaking my promise every time.
Would I have picked the book up off the shelf or ordered it off of Amazon without the recommendation of a friend? Probably not. Will I recommend it to others? Whole-heartedly. Loudly. Laughingly. show less

Lucy Valentine's family has been in the matchmaking business for generations, using their psychic gifts to introduce soulmates. When her father is caught in a compromising position, he jets off to St. Lucia to lie low until the whole thing blows over, and leaves Lucy in charge of the family business. But Lucy has a problem -- her psychic gift was short-circuited by an electrical shock at age 14, and now all she can do is find lost objects. With no choice but to fake it until she makes it, Lucy attempts to settle in at the matchmaking agency.

Almost immediately, things begin to get complicated. A client still carrying a torch for a lost love lands Lucy in hot water with the police and in the middle of a murder investigation. She finds show more herself dodging the interference of her nosy grandmother, Dovie, and helping a friend weather an identity crisis. And then there's Sean Donahue, the sexy private eye she gets wrapped up with, despite her fear of the Valentine Curse. For it seems that even though they're born to unite true loves, the Valentines themselves have never had success in love or marriage.

I found Truly, Madly to be a smart, sexy, and really enjoyable novel with a twist that I didn't see coming. I definitely recommend it for fans of Stephanie Plum and Sookie Stackhouse, as well as anyone looking for a well-written and entertaining mystery with a terrific protagonist. I'm really looking forward to the second Lucy Valentine book, Deeply, Desperately, which is due out in August. show less

Well now, that sure was a lot more fun than I thought it would be!

The cover (I know, I know: book covers and all that) was kind of off-putting, like some really shallow romance thing. I am not sure if I even realized it was going to be a mystery. But it is and I actually enjoyed it. I liked her characterization, and the pacing. Didn't see the end coming, so that was a treat, too.

I already like Ms. Webber's writing and style, since I seem to be reading loads of her books. I like her gentle sprinklings of the supernatural, yet depicted in the most natural possible way. And this one was like that. But I also liked that through the main character, she explores how having unusual abilities affects people who do not want to seem crazy or show more superhuman. Can't wait to read the next one in this series. show less

Ever since Lucy Valentine lost her ability to see auras (as the rest of her family can), she's felt like a misfit in her family. She can no longer dream of carrying on the family match-making business, and her ability to find lost objects seems useless in comparison. Useless, that is, until a little boy goes missing in the woods and until she 'sees' the engagement ring one of her father's clients lost - on the finger of a hidden corpse. Lucy enlists the help of Sean Donahue, the sexy P.I. upstairs to investigate the cases her ability reveals, and maybe to help do a little match-making herself.

Lucy Valentine is thoroughly charming - despite the fact that she's a 'never touch my trust fund' baby, despite the fact that she's appallingly show more slow to figure out that 'finding lost objects' could relatively easily translate into 'finding lost people' and despite her irritating harping on her family's 'cupid's curse' - she charmed me. I enjoyed the scrapes she got into during her investigative work with Sean. I loved her inability to say 'no' to a one-eyed hamster or a three-legged cat - and their very literarily apropos names (Odysseus and Grendel). I especially adored Lucy's conversations with her driver (who reminded me strongly of Hector Elizondo - probably because of his stint as Princess Mia's put-upon chauffeur in The Princess Diaries).

I was particularly drawn to the premise - romantic aura-matching, and psychic abilities are always fun, particularly when there are some steamy visions every time Lucy touches Sean (not described in detail). The mystery was intriguing with a (for me) unexpected solution. I liked watching Sean and Lucy work together and banter, and I was pleased that, unlike many other amateur sleuths, Lucy was tracked down and questioned by police in short order whenever she stuck her nose in police business.

Truly, Madly was a fun, light-hearted read. The mystery is cozy, the romantic elements high - and the sizzle factor promising when Lucy lands her guy. The real strength of Webber's debut, though, are the lovable secondary characters she creates - Raphael, Lucy's grandmother Dovie, her best friends, and even the three-legged cat. I'd recommend it for cozy lovers who enjoy a splash of psychic.

Also posted at A Hoyden's Look at Literature.

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy for review from the publisher. show less

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 show more when Lucy locates a missing wedding ring—on a dead body—she asks the sexy private eye who lives upstairs to help her solve the perfect crime. And who knows? Maybe she’ll find the perfect love while she’s at it…Lucy Valentine 1 show less

Lucy Valentine is a charming, delightful heroine in this quirky romantic thriller. She shows surprising resilience and strength of character in both her mature outlook on life and her attempt to make a name for herself outside of the family business. How many others would turn down their trust fund in the name of independence?

In addition, the book also shows surprising depth that requires one to not consider it solely "chick lit". Ms. Webber deals very respectfully with a topic that many would consider frivolous or silly, psychic ability. In fact, she shows the serious side of paranormal abilities, how others will attempt to take advantage of them, will doubt their existence, and how they can be considered a curse rather than a gift. show more In addition, her handling of the issue of missing loved ones is both respectful and noteworthy as it lends credence to Lucy's conflict.

Throughout Lucy's comedic adventures, Ms. Webber also throws in a few great messages for the reader to remember well after finishing the last page. Specifically, through Lucy's exploits, the reader uncovers great advice on love, on friendship, on using talents to their fullest, and on the fact that the easy way may not be the best way. I personally enjoy a story that requires me to reflect on life and provides me with food for thought many days after I finished reading it; Truly, Madly definitely lives up to this challenge, which was a pleasant surprise for one who was expecting a traditional romantic thriller. Another quite pleasant surprise is the mystery itself. There are enough unexpected twists and turns that will hold the reader's attention and keep them guessing the answer until the very end.

Ms. Webber's writing style is fairly simplistic and includes more dialogue than description. As such, her focus is on people and appearances rather than on places and their descriptions. This does not mean her descriptions are inadequate. Rather, at times it was difficult to picture the backdrop because the action revolves around the people rather than the surroundings. However, this did not detract from the overall story.

Truly, Madly is a refreshing addition to the romantic thriller genre. While I was expecting more fluffy, albeit enjoyable, chick lit, what I found was so much more than that. Mystery, murder, danger, heartbreak, loss, and sacrifice all cross Lucy's path, forcing her to take a stand for every value she holds dear. Lucy will charm her way into many a reader's heart and gain many a fan with her unconventional outlook on life, her ability to find trouble, and her absolute faith in helping others. show less