BUBBLES ABLAZE

BUBBLES ABLAZE
Sarah Strohmeyer
326 pages
ISBN: 0-451-21217-7
Signet
2003
$ 6.99 Paperback


BUBBLES ABLAZE is an adventure featuring Bubbles Yablonsky, a not-so-dumb blond hairdresser and novice part-time reporter. Bubbles is finding her love-of-her-life with another reporter, Steve Stiletto who is a hunk and a playboy. While receiving a message of an upcoming press conference regarding a death in a coal mine, Bubbles with the anticipation of this being her big break into reporting for a newspaper, rushes to the site to find it deserted.

The first discovery at the site is her cousin’s vehicle. Stinky, known as Carl Koolball, is married to Bubbles favorite cousin Roxanne, and has a reputation for pulling low-class, tasteless jokes. While Bubbles yells for Stinky to show himself in the mine, two gunshots are heard. Next is the coal car behind her with moaning coming from it. This is where Bubbles finds Steve Stiletto with his shirt torn and face bloodied. It turns out the Steve also received a message about a press conference to lure him to the mine. In the attempt to find their way out of the mine, Steve and Bubbles discover a dead man, not Stinky, shot. When they finally exit the mine, Stinky’s car is gone. So who is shot? Why is he shot? Is Stinky the murderer? Why would Steve and Bubbles be lured to the mine for a bogus press conference?

Getting thrown in jail was definitely not in Bubbles’ plans and having to call her ex-husband to bail her out was definitely not high on the list of her favorite things to do. Then the adventure really begins.

BUBBLES ABLAZE is a delightfully comical romp into the life of an investigative reporter. Bubbles does have a slight advantage over her competition in that this is taking place on her home territory and she already has established relationships with many of the major players. This past-paced sassy adventure is a wonderful relaxing read while laughable at Bubbles antics and personality.

Although this is a continuation of a series with BUBBLES UNBOUND and BUBBLES IN TROUBLE, this still is enjoyable as a stand alone without having to have read the previous books. BUBBLES A BROAD will be released in July 2004.

Sarah Strohmeyer has worked as a newspaper reporter and lives in Vermont with her two children.