Rating: 
Summary: Not Everyone Reads a Mystery for the Mystery
Review: If you haven't been sucked in by Janet Evanovich's mystery plots, Sarah Strohmeyer's books won't conquer you either, unless you're looking for a good writer with a quirky sense of humor; and plots are secondary, then Sarah's your girl. Bubbles Ablaze is her third book.All Strohmeyer's books are about Bubbles Yablonski. Bubbles is the narrator of her own adventures and here you meet one unique babe. If you want to see her in person, you can; all you have to do is go to one of Sarah Strohmeyer's book signings. Bubbles (in blonde wig) will be there. The Bubbles books are set in Eastern Pennsylvania where Sarah grew up; she describes these locations brilliantly. I should know, I live there. She invents caricatures fun to watch complete with speech characteristics you can almost hear as they jump off the page. Her stories are based on some real-life stuff, inside real-life towns, which she's cleverly renamed, although she writes of their proximity to Easton and Allentown. One such town is Centralia, the not-quite deserted town that's been in the news. It sits upon an underground mine fire. She's named the town Limbo. While there are elements of an interesting read in Bubbles Ablaze, such as sock-it-to-you humor, as well ad the Pennsylvania coal region as setting, and cartoon-like characters such as the Slagville Sirens, who you probably wouldn't want to spend too much time with in real life, it's the book's multiple mysteries that didn't grab my attention. Even though there is a lot of zany action, including a subplot around Bubbles' mother who frantically searches for a supposedly heisted pierogie cookbook penned by Bubbles' grandmother. Some readers don't read books to solve the puzzle. They follow the characters, who in this case, are not mainstream: Bubbles, herself, is a thirty-something hairdresser/amateur news reporter who dresses like a teenager bent on making men slobber. Her over-weight mother Lulu wears leather, obsessed with regaining her former "bad girl" image. She hangs out with Genevieve, a rough-and-tumble broad who packs tranquilizing darts and uses them to protect Bubbles when the last thing she wants is help.
Stiletto is Bubble's would-be lover. He's gorgeous and whether or not Bubbles actually gets to consummate her passion is more of a grabber than who killed who and why. He's rich and spends his time photographing for the Associated Press. That sets up he and Bubbles, who works for the lowly News-Times, in competitive stance but you'll probably wonder why he's attracted to Bubbles and maybe he isn't. Read and find out! Bubbles Ablaze ends with an epilogue. There are a few too many details in this caper to commit to memory. So many twists and turns, as well as characters, that I feel Strohmeyer was forced to write her epilogue in order to explain what wouldn't fit into action and scenes, but should have. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, I stopped caring. On the other hand, she's hilarious. No, the plot isn't credible, but then what are we looking for? Reality? Oh please, we're getting way too much of that on TV!
Rating: 
Summary: Always so much fun!
Review: It's been a while since I've read about Bubbles, with her wacky antics and home-made recipes that always bring a smile to my face. If you like reading about Bubble's adventures, you will not be disappointed with her latest.
Rating:
Summary: Not Great
Review: Not only was the book filled with way too much detail about coal mining and its history, but there were way too many characters to keep straight, way too many subplots going on, and having the culprit turn out to be someone who wasn't even involved in the story, and didn't show up until the end of the book, just to tie it to the previous book, was a complete letdown.
I see the next book is also tied to this person. I hope it's not totally out of left field too or I'll be done with this series, which is definitely not on par with Stephanie Plum.
Rating: 
Summary: Bubbles Ablaze does it again for Sarah Strohmeyer
Review: Okay, I think one of the bumper stickers for this book pretty much tells it all: "Bubbles Ablaze - Think Virginia Woolf with Makeup Tips." :-) This series is incredibly enjoyable - excellent humor interwoven with a suspenseful mystery plot. The characters are thoroughly likable, which allows the reader to really care what happens to them in the story. I read the first after hearing Ms. Strohmeyer speak. I have bought the second and third ("Bubbles Ablaze") the day they came out, and am already looking forward to the fourth in the series. Ms. Strohmeyer is gifted with both the talent to write a suspenseful story and the sense of humor to make me laugh out loud. Each and every person to whom I have recommended her books has become an instant fan like I did. Read and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: With a name like Bubbles, it's got to be good!
Review: Sarah Strohmeyer excels at funny names, from her heroine Bubbles to Bubbles' boyfriend Steve Stiletto, to a cousin named Stinky. In this third book of the series Bubbles is looking forward to a romantic getaway with Stiletto at the Passion Peak Resort. Before Steve arrives, however, Bubbles receives a fax from her editor directing her to cover a story at an abandoned mine. She finds an injured Steve and the body of another man. There is an explosion and from there on the action is non-stop. Strohmeyer populates her books with crazy characters, including Bubbles' mother and her cousin Stinky. There are inevitable comparisons between the writing of Sarah Strohmeyer and Janet Evanovich but surely there is room for two comical heroines who manage to solve the mystery and catch the bad guy at the end of a fun-filled tale. Keep us laughing, ladies!
Rating:
Summary: With a name like Bubbles, it's got to be good!
Review: Sarah Strohmeyer excels at funny names, from her heroine Bubbles to Bubbles' boyfriend Steve Stiletto, to a cousin named Stinky. In this third book of the series Bubbles is looking forward to a romantic getaway with Stiletto at the Passion Peak Resort. Before Steve arrives, however, Bubbles receives a fax from her editor directing her to cover a story at an abandoned mine. She finds an injured Steve and the body of another man. There is an explosion and from there on the action is non-stop. Strohmeyer populates her books with crazy characters, including Bubbles' mother and her cousin Stinky. There are inevitable comparisons between the writing of Sarah Strohmeyer and Janet Evanovich but surely there is room for two comical heroines who manage to solve the mystery and catch the bad guy at the end of a fun-filled tale. Keep us laughing, ladies!
Rating:
Summary: I have visions of Stephanie Plum dancing in my head!
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Great vacation read!
Review: The author has done it again! Another fast read. Once you start, you do not want to put it down. The characters in the book are a pleasure to know and some of the things that happen will have you laughing out loud. This is a fun mystery series to read. Each book gets better and better. This author is a keeper!
Rating: 
Summary: Ok, but not her best
Review: 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!!!
Rating:
Summary: Investigation turns up the heat!!!
Review: 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!!!
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