Customer Reviews

Bubbles Ablaze (Bubbles Books)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the third in the Bubbles series, one of the few series of books that I buy instead of waiting to get them from the library. If you're a fan of authors like Crusie, Evanovich, Heller, Bartholomew, Hayter, etc., you'll love these books. I love this genre--the humorous romantic mystery-and am always on the lookout for new authors to read, and was happy to discover Bubbles a couple of years ago. I totally recommend Bubbles books (Bubbles Unbound, Bubbles in Trouble, and now Bubbles Ablaze) to anyone looking for a fun read.

This is the third entry in a slapdash, over-the-top mystery series featuring Bubbles Yablonsky, a hairdresser who looks like trailer trash but who longs to become a respected journalist. On the way to her goal, she stumbles and bumbles into one mystery after another, with the aid and support of the Mel-Gibson-esque Steve Stilleto, a top-level news photographer, whom she met on her first assignment.

Bubbles lives in a small blue/black-collar town in a part of America usually forgotten - the coal mines of Pennsylvania. Every character has a story connected to mining; Bubbles' father was killed when she was a young girl because, her family believes, he was a union organizer. Steve, the estranged step-son of a ruthless mine owner, hates his connection to the misery wreaked by Big Coal on innocent men and women.

It's almost impossible to describe a Strohmeyer plot; in a review of an earlier book in the series I think I said she used every idea she ever had. In my 40-some years of mystery-reading I can't think of a more convoluted (and somewhat ridiculous and highly unbelievable) plot.

In this outing Bubbles has left hairdressing for journalism and gets involved in a life-threatening, mysterious "accident" in a mine thought to be dormant and where a murder occurs while she and Steve are there after receiving mysterious messages. The race is on, with casino gambling, underground mine fires, a pierogi fight and who-knows-what's-next among the dozen or so plots and sub-plots.

Normally that would bother me. But Strohmeyer has a tremendous gift for creating eccentric characters, ones you usually can't help but love and want more of. Bubbles can spot a phony ten miles away, but her big heart accepts even the strangest individual, if s/he is hurt and honest (except the multi-pierced "G," a suitor for the hand of her beloved, ultra-smart daughter, Jane, whom she has raised single-handedly and for whom she wants a better future than that which Bubbles endured.

Strohmeyer's work resembles that of reigning working-class detectives' Queen Janet Evanovich, but I like Bubbles and her crew more (making me, a NJ native, a traitor of sorts). Their stories, like Bubbles, continue to develop in each book. Your suspension of disbelief will have to be extra-willing at times, but the fun to be had makes it worthwhile.

This one reminds me a bit of Nancy and Ned in the old Nancy Drew books. It's hard to take a mystery seriously when the main character is named Bubbles and the guy's name (well, his last name) is Stiletto. Bubbles, true to her name, looks frothy and wears Spandex, but we're to believe a mind hides beneath the hair spray (reminiscent of Legally Blonde) as she investigates what appears to be theft, extortion and maybe murder.
Totally silly, but fun.

I have read all the Bubbles books and enjoyed them all. This one was not as good as the others. SPOILER Don't read farther if you don't to have the end given away: The "bad" guy was not even a character introduced in this book. One reason to read a mystery is to figure out who did it and why. This plot seemed to be cheating. Any book in a series should be able to stand alone, but if you never read the last Bubbles book you wouldn't even know who this character was.

I also had a difficult time believing that Silletto loves Bubbles as much as he seems to claim when he keeps leaving her when she needs him. And allows the beautiful reporter he is working with to imply there is more going on. example: "Come on Loverboy, we will miss the party" As he is leaving Bubbles after someone tried to kill them??? It is time for the relationship to move ahead, with Steve showing he loves her, saying it doesn't make it true. I will give Bubbles one more chance, but if the next mystery pulls another fast one, I will just have to re-read Stephanie Plums adventures.

Bubbles is trouble and a "laugh-and-a-half". Almost a Lucy Ricardo type. I've read all her books and totally enjoy them and the quirky corner of Pennsylvania, where the stories are located.

However, this one, "Ablaze" never set off the fire for me. First of all, this part of Pennsylvania is rather depressing - and economically depressed - (I've visited there) so its a little hard to make light of. I read half the book and put it aside for a few months before I could get into it again. But now I am totally confused with so many characters, subplots - like is Strohmeyer and/or Bubbles in a manic state or something? I felt the writing was just rushing one from one detail to another character to whatever was next. A little Lithium here, please!! Still, I love Bubbles and will stick with her no matter what, though I wish she's get out of Slagville. How about a little visit south to Bucks County for some relief?

Some mystery series lose steam as they go on, but this third installment in the Bubbles Yablonsky series is a page-turner. The zany characters and plot are similar to the popular Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series.

Bubbles starts her latest adventure at a planned rendezvous with hunk Steve Stiletto. Instead, she finds herself deep in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, where politics, intrigue and even murder draw her in --- in her pursuit of a scoop to report. When a missing friend is accused of murder, there is more at stake than her journalism career. This crazy plot has as many surprises as fun characters, including her intrepid teen daughter Jane, her mother with her gun-toting friend, and of course, the mysterious Stiletto. Even some new characters are added to the mix.

While Bubbles enjoys spandex and makeup, she's no airhead. She survives attempts on her life in between giving readers recipes for beauty products, such as homemade glycerin rose soap. This book also enjoys depth from an author who adds subtle political commentary throughout the book, including a group of women who form a semi-militia to stop the mining. An introduction about how the author's grandfather killed himself when he lost his mining job during the Great Depression adds interest and history to the tale.

Many cosy mysteries have heroines solving crime in the midst of everyday suburban life. This series enjoys a unique narrator, quality writing and fun plots that skirt the believable, with a good dose of humor.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Have you read the other Bubbles books? If you have not, stop right here and go read the others! They are very funny and witty! Bubbles, our favorite living Polish-Lithuanian Barbie, is using her investigative skills again. The lust of her life is injured as her practical-joking cousin-in-law is on the lam and Bubbles has to find out what is going on in coal country. Mama Lulu is here running a pierogie shop with Genevieve and Jane is back with G. Then to confuse issues there is Zeke, and ya gotta love his parents! Also, the author of this book is really nice and very involved with her yahoo group!

Bubbles Ablaze is the third book and has flavors of the first book `Bubbles Unbound.' This story is focused on a small town and a coalmine murder. I loved the Pennsylvania and polish reference very amusing. Looking forward to Bubbles a Broad her fourth book. Check out her web-site http://www.sarahstrohmeyer.com so fun stuff....

Hold on to your hat, we're off on another adventure. Sarah Strohmeyer is a talent that shouldn't be missed. Bubbles is laugh out loud funny, witty, and as always a joy to read. Don't miss what could be the best book of the year.

This book was funny, easy, fast and a delight to read. Bubbles is a hairdresser/ journalist who finds her self caught between an exciting man and a deadly mystery. The coal mines of a small Pennsylvania town are burning and appear to be worthless. The mystery begins when people are murdered in order to keep interest away from a specific mine. When the plan backfires and peoples lives are on the line, the mystery deepens.
When the coal miners wives begin to work together, and Bubbles begins to investigate, things heat up!!!