Interrobangbang

“Truly, Madly” by Heather Webber

My rating: 4.5 stars

Time for me to read: 5.5 hours total, with interruptions

Lucy Valentine belongs to a long line of match-makers, all good at their job because of their genes–and their special gift.  Family legend says that Cupid himself gave the Valentines this gift but they also received Cupid’s Curse.  The family can make matches like no one’s business, but they can’t stay happy in their own relationships.  When Lucy’s Cupid-given power deserts her she tries to separate herself from the family business and skill, until she is forced to take over after her father’s heart attack.  While not sure at all of her skills as a matchmaker, she finds the seemingly useless power she was left with actually helps her to do some good–and prove to herself that she isn’t a complete lost cause.  But what of Cupid’s Curse and the cute private investigator that works upstairs?  You should just read it.  What?  You thought I was going to give everything away?

Ms. Webber’s narrative is smooth and flawless, once the reader adjusts to the first-person story of Lucy Valentine.  She expertly blends humour with mystery, romance, and the supernatural to give it amazing pull.  I had a great deal of difficulty putting it down and found myself wanting to read Deeply, Deserately now rather than in August of 2010.  Don’t let mentions of romance and matchmaking fool you.  Although this is a book that has romance, it’s not a “romance novel” and will insert you into the story like no burly man in a kilt could.

Look for Truly, Madly by Heather Webber in bookstores February 2010 from St. Martin’s Press.  You can pre-order your copy now at Amazon.com.  My review is based on an Advance Reading Copy, which I received via LibraryThing as a member of their Early Reviewer program.