Sarah Strohmeyer's BUBBLES IN TROUBLE is mystery lite. That is not
to say it lacks plot twists or even a few corpses. But it does lack
the darkness characteristic of most mystery novels. The eponymous
Bubbles is Bubbles Yablonksy, a bleach blonde, high-heeled
hairdresser who has a knack for solving crimes and getting herself
into dangerous situations. In this, the second Bubbles book, our
heroine finds herself undercover in Amish country looking for her
friend Janice and for the killer of Janice's uncle Elwood.

When Janice fails to show up at the church for her own wedding,
Bubbles is quickly on the trail of her disappeared friend. Her
first stop is Janice's house, where she finds the bride's uncle
dead in the bathroom and his Rolls Royce missing. Now no one can
blame cold feet or Bubbles' rendition of "Free Bird" at the
bachelorette party the night before: Lehigh, Pennsylvania is
undoubtedly the scene of a crime. Bubbles, her eccentric mother
Lulu, and her mother's friend Genevieve head to Whoopee, PA, where
Bubbles will stay with the Stoltze family, posing as Sally Hansen,
an Amish woman from Ohio, and Lulu and Genevieve will attend the
Pickle Fest.

Preoccupied by her squirrelly ex-husband, her love interest Steve
Stiletto, and her precocious daughter, Jane, Bubbles barely manages
not to blow her own cover (removing her gold toenail polish
would've been a good start!).

During her stay in Whoopee, Bubbles encounters an original cast of
characters, including the spooky Omer Best, distributor of deadly
shoofly pies; a goofy clerk named Nimrod; and the mysterious Wolf
Mueller. She uncovers a plot against area farmers, gives a hot oil
treatment to Dolly the cow and moonlights at a hair salon in the
mall. She also reunites with Steve Stiletto, strengthens her
relationship with her daughter and, oh yes, solves the
mystery!

Funny and sweet, BUBBLES IN TROUBLE is more comedy than crime
novel. It is short and original; the perfect summer read. In
Bubbles Yablonsky, Strohmeyer has created a genuine character, one
whose strengths and weaknesses both are apparent. Bubbles is not a
genius but she is thoughtful, and she is not classy but she is
honest and true to herself (even when posing as Sally Hansen). Her
concern for her friends and her family seem real despite her often
over the top exploits and her outrageous outfits (described by
Strohmeyer in loving detail). Bubbles is often tacky and larger
than life but she is completely likable, and the reader cannot help
but root for her throughout the story. BUBBLES IN TROUBLE is
recommended for those who love a good mystery and those who love a
good laugh!