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Meet Dolores 'Lola' Cruz.
Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she’s out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento’s professional basketball scene in a barely-there cheerleading outfit is one thing—but parading around in nothing but a smile? If she has any chance of hiding this from her traditional family and on-again/off-again boyfriend Jack, she’s going to have a lot more than her duct tape bra and killer dance moves to keep under wraps
Praise for the Lola Cruz Mysteries
“Ramirez’s muy caliente debut introduces Dolores “Lola” Falcón Cruz, a Sacramento, Calif., PI whose kung fu moves are only part of her chica charm. A missing persons case—the disappearance of 42-year-old Emily Diggs, who left her six-year-old son, Sean, stranded at school—turns into a murder investigation after a boater finds Emily’s body near Riverbank Marina. Lola’s old high school crush, Jack Callaghan, now a Sacramento Bee reporter, provides some unexpected help. Emily had approached Jack about her 18-year-old son Garrett’s recent death—from what Emily believed was a “heart infection” due to a faulty tattoo. Lola’s determined to uncover the facts and catch the killer, even if it means, gulp, getting a girly belly-button piercing. Ramirez keeps the action tight, the plot smart and humor light in this spicy blend of crime solving and romance. Lola’s Latina perspective adds extra sizzle.” - Publishers Weekly
4 1/2 Stars: “Tightly plotted, with scenes of laugh-out- loud humor, great dialogue and supporting characters, this is a sassy, fun story that will have you waiting impatiently for the next book.” - Romantic Times Book Reviews
365_Books_A_Year
Posted August 22, 2012
It's kind of difficult to review mysteries. If you mention something and
say it's not a spoiler, then you're basically giving away the fact that
that's not a clue/important, etc. Which is a spoiler. So I like to focus
on characters because I think that in the modern cozy-type mystery,
characters make or break the story. Why? Because most of these are
series and you have to like and/or be interested enough in the
characters to keep reading the series year after year. Which brings us
back to this series and its main character, Lola. Now, the previous book
in the series, Hasta la Vista, Lola!, was released in 2010. Then, no
book in 2011. I was disappointed and sad because I really like the MC,
Lola. So, I'm very happy that this series is continuing. More
importantly- for review purposes- is that I even remember Lola. Now, I
read about 400 books a year. I've read 1000's of mysteries. Many of the
mysteries blend together and I often can't remember the name of the main
character, but I do remember Lola. I love Lola's loving, loud, sweet,
and eccentric extended family as much as I love the mystery parts of the
book. The one bad thing about this series: not enough of Lola's grandpa.
Who I just think is adorable and cute. This is why creating great and
memorable characters is so important in a mystery. Every year when you
get the latest book in the series, it should be like going to a family
reunion. It should feel like visiting and catching up with friends. And
this is how that series feels. Back to this book...in part of it, Lola
needs to do some investigation at a nudist resort. Which, um, Yuck. And
because Lola shares my feelings about nudist resorts, the scenes there
are among the funniest in the book. The nudist colony pretty much freaks
Lola out. I think that Lola would agree with my "4 Layers
Rule". Which is logical and only right when you think about it. The
"4 Layers Rule" is one of the cornerstones of my family's
neuroses. The "Rule" states that: "At all times there
should be 4 layers of clothing between your genitals and other people's
genitals." (Your underwear and pants/dress/skirt and the other
person's underwear... 4 layers.) Now obviously a nudist colony violates
The Rule in an extreme way and, rightly, this kind of leads to Lola's
discomfort with being there. In a humorous way. Just thinking about
someone getting all gross and sweaty playing naked volleyball, then
going into the (nudist) restaurant and sitting their sweaty...um, butt
on a chair...that I would later sit on. {{{Shudder}}}
Bare Naked Lola is the third book in the Lola series by Melissa Bourbon Ramierz. This book is a fun read, with the main character being asked to go under cover this time as a cheerleader. She also finds out that the victim often went to nudist resorts. Lola must face her own issues in order to strip this mystery down to its most basic elements.
If you enjoy the Stephanie Plum novels, this book will appeal to you.
DAinNY1
Posted May 22, 2012
What a great read. Lola latest case has her going undercover as a cheerleader. When a clue points her in the direction of a nudist resort, how far will Lola go to get the job done? Well, you'll have to get your own copy to find out. What a great read. This was one fun and sexy drama that I did not want to see end. The mystery kept me guessing but the comedic exploits and the romance, oh the romance had me smiling as the story progressed. With sexy and spitfire Lola on the case, the killer does not stand a chance. With amusing and witty repartee and a lovable cast, this story was muy excelente and the best one ever. I look forward to more exciting adventures with Lola and her friends in this enjoyably entertaining series.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.shelleyrae
Posted May 17, 2012
Bare Naked Lola is the third book in the Lola Cruz Mystery series by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez, who is also the author of the Magical Dressmaking Mystery series.
This fun, cozy series features Latina Delores (Lola) Cruz, a private detective at Camacho and Associates by day and a waitress at the restaurant owned by her family, Abuelitas, by night. Despite her penchant for finding herself at the center of awkward and dangerous situations, Lola is determined to prove herself as a PI, even with the objections of her traditional Catholic family and constant distraction in the form of gorgeous journalist, Jack Callaghan. The comparison to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series is inevitable and there are general similarities, but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment this author provides.
Lola is a fun and feisty heroine who is witty, smart and capable of looking after herself (as evidenced by her Black Belt in martial arts). She is determined to solve her first undercover case, investigating threats made against the Royals Courtside Dance team, even if it means wearing the skimpy cheer outfits, and duct tape, in front of thousands of people. As a good Catholic girl, Lola finds baring too much skin uncomfortable so when the clues lead her to a Naturist resort she has to decide where to look, and exactly how far she will go, to close the investigation.
While the mystery element, identifying the sender of the notes, and later the killer, worked out satisfactorily, I think the plot would have benefited by having different perpetrators for the incidents, just to add a little more depth to the investigation. I really had no clue who to suspect for at least three quarters of the book and didn't see the motive coming at all which I am not too sure about. I think a few hints seeded earlier in the story would have been a good thing. Sara, Callaghan's loco ex, does provide a sub plot of sorts but no real complications.
I enjoyed meeting the characters that populate the series - Lola's family, colleagues and friends. Even though this is the first of the series I have read I didn't feel as I was missing anything crucial as Bourbon provides some back story.
I enjoyed Bare Naked Lola, Bourbon has a great sense of humor and this book is a quick and easy read. If you are a fan of the mystery/comedy genre the Lola Cruz mystery series is sure to please, keep an eye out for the previous titles Living the Vida Lola and Hasta la Vista, Lola!.
"Bare-Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez was indeed a intriguing mystery read. This was book three... (The Lola Cruz Mysteries) and my first of the series. I did enjoy this mystery and thought it was well written ....positively a page turner. I was very much entertained with all of the twist and turns of this read. Believe me it was a hilarious read.
From the Camacho and Associates.. a local PI Agency...there was Deloris (Lola) Cruz....This very sassy, smart, investigator was going 'undercover in the Sacramento's professional basketball team' as a court side dancer....... looking for a murder suspect......... but how did she end up in a 'nudist resort?' Now..just how did that happen? The main thing was that Lola wanted to keep this from her family and boyfriend...Jack who had a ex girlfriend that had 'fatal attractions tendencies. Oh, less not forget Lola other job at the restaurant that her parents owned... being a waitress at Abuelitas.'... Lolas' night job..... and what about her family...a very interesting read.
Be ready to find plenty of suspense, mystery, romance, lots of laughter and even some danger in this good read. Now I don't want to leave out Jack....he was the 'HOT journalist' who had known Lola since HS...Would Lola and Jack finally get together? What about Sarah (the ex)?....How would this case come out? You will simply have to pick up this good read because it gets real interesting!
The characters were really off the chart...Lola, Jack, Manny, Detective Bennett, Chely, Victoria, Lance, Zac, Selma, Rochelle, Jennifer, Steve, Larry, Deirdre, Tiffany, Detective Seavers, ,Vanessa, Cassie, Reilly, Neill, Craig, Brooke, Sarah, Gracie, Lucy and the list goes on....giving you a well written novel that has plenty of mysteries solved that will come out. I do not want to tell you about this .... you will just have to pick up this read and find out and I am sure you will be surprised... I was.... who would have thought it was..... and ......!
If you are in for a good mystery..."Bare-Naked Lola" will be for you and yes I would definitely recommend this novel for a good mystery read.
BARE NAKED LOLA by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez is an interesting mystery/suspense novel. It is Book #3 in (The Lola Cruz Mysteries),but can be read as a stand alone. See, “Living the Vida Lola, Book one,Hasta la Vista, Lola”, Book two,and “The Lola Cruz Christmas Story,A Lola Cruz Novella”.Lola Cruz is a private investigator,smart,sassy,and goes undercover with the Sacramento’s professional basketball team in search of a murder suspect.What she doesn’t expect is a “nudist resort”. For a bundle of giggles and a bunch of smiles read “Bare Naked Lola” you will not be disappointed. Of course with a bit of suspense,mystery,romance,laughs, and a bit of danger how could you go wrong. Received for an honest review from the publisher. Details can be found at Entangled Select,the author’s website and My Book Addiction and More.
RATING:4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More
Anonymous
Posted October 22, 2012
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Posted October 22, 2012
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Posted October 21, 2012
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Overview
Meet Dolores 'Lola' Cruz.
Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she’s out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento’s professional basketball scene in a barely-there cheerleading outfit is one thing—but parading around in nothing but a smile? If she has any chance of hiding this from her traditional family and on-again/off-again boyfriend ...