Murder, Curlers, and Cream: A Valentine Beaumont Mystery (The Murder, Curlers Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

I was hoping to find a good clean fun mystery, but in the first few pages it was continual sexual innuendos. What has happened to us that we can't have good clean fun anymore and that every that is book that is supposed to have a little humor has to be loaded with sex and off-color remarks? This is one I'm deleting from my device, and I only got 6% in. Wish Amazon would give us a heads-up about the books that we're buying.

I managed to finish this book but it wasn't easy. The premise was good but the endless chatter was crazy. I still don't know much about the heroine except she is supposed to be sexy looking, likes gaudy clothes and is incapable of making a reasonable decision. I get that it's supposed to be funny and quirky but if one of your stylists knocked out a customer you would fire her no matter what death bed promises you made. The whole book was so superficial. The love interest had no real interaction with Val. Why would he fall for her. The only character who remotely had a personality was Max, her fellow stylist. Why did she use to afford Jimmy Choos but can't now. Why is she so indecisive and against men. Why would anyone go to her salon. There was a lot of unrealized potential here but not enough that I would get book 2.

I thought this book had great promise when I read the description and I did finish it. However, the main character was flighty and irritating. Her best friend/employee Max was the best character in the book. I knew and understood more about him than I did Valentine.SPOILERS TO FOLLOW:I find it incredible that this woman is actually a business owner as she seems to have no concept on how to run a business. She usually doesn't have enough money to make her mortgage payment and doesn't seem to understand the concept of liability. Because of a promise made to a family member, she employs a distant cousin who is hateful to everyone, repeatedly insults customers, destroys equipment, and actually injures customers. Yet she is not fired for that, but is fired for calling another employee stupid. In the real world and even most fictional worlds, she would have lost her shop to lawsuits for damages some time ago. As far as the crime is concerned, she keeps receiving threats and doesn't share them immediately with the police. In fact, after receiving one threat, rather than telling the detective in charge about it, she wonders what he will share with her about the case.The ending was actually decent, if somewhat expected, as the least likely person is the murderer. However, the final scenes are much better than the rest of the book and may indicate future books will be better. I won't know because I am done with this author.

The story reminded me of a cartoon-oversimplified character ‘types’ and bumbling around making ridiculous decisions. Frustrating. Especially when the main character is repeatedly insulted and smirked at by her love interest ( by the way, there is no logical reason they would be attracted to each other), and all she does is think “ ooh”. Her sidekick Max brings the most interest.

How could this possibly get five stars. Too much talk about sexy clothes, shoes, and accessories. Too much talk about all the fattening food she eats. (And can still wear sexy clothes, and no exercise?) Too much mean comments between co workers. And I don't care about family promises, no hair salon owner would keep such a horrible hair stylist.

This book is described as "the first book in the hilarious Valentine Beaumont Mystery series. If you like ambitious heroines, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and unlikely romances, you’ll love Arlene McFarlane’s clever tale!"I finally deleted the book after 6 chapters. I'm so glad it was a freebie - I didn't waste any money, only my time. As first in a series, why is there so much focus on things that took place prior to this book. It's as if this is really the 2nd book in the series, not the first. I found the constant references to earlier situations very annoying. There is supposedly some reason that the heroine behaves the way she does, but it's apparently a secret. The only thing explained is why she keeps the obnoxious, untalented cousin who ruins everybody's hair as a stylist. And it is way beyond believable. If she wanted to honor her promise to employ this woman, it doesn't need to be as a stylist.I didn't find the book hilarious, or even remotely amusing. The dialogue did not make me laugh out loud as I don't care for rude, nasty people. There is way too much sexual innuendo - the heroine is obsessed with sex.The heroine isn't even a little bit likable. Her actions, decisions, and attitude are stupidly ill-advised. I don't know why she was described as ambitious. She doesn't give much attention to her business. And I am so tired of heroines who immediately set out to thwart the police at every turn and solve the crime themselves. Perhaps the reason for her appalling attitude is buried in the secret crimes prior to this book?While I would never describe this as a CLEVER TALE, I would describe it as a terrible story that is well-written. I might try another book written by this author, but certainly not one in this series.

For me, there was way too much of Valentine (Val) lusting after the "hot" Detective Romero, even though she thoughthe disliked her. Every time she saw him or thought about him, her knees gave way, she had hot shivers, sexy thoughts,etc. - you get the picture. There was no sex or swearing though, which was a plus.Apart from that it was rather repetitive with Val wondering which of the many people who hated Portia had actually killed her.She discussed this with her staff, her cop sister, Romero and even the suspects. I admit I didn't guess the killer.Val put herself into danger many times, despite Romero's warnings and much to his despair.There was also too much about her makeup and clothes, particularly her shoes. I expect this part of the book and the"hot men" (there were several in the book) would appeal to teenage readers. And I couldn't believe that any employer wouldput up with Phyllis. Val's business would have been healthier if she had paid Phyllis to stay away!It was a quick read and will appeal to a lot of people, but too fluffy for me.

Loved it. Humour and emotion crafted into a great plot that will have you enthralled from the start. Her business is everything to her as she has put her heart and soul into her spa. However all this could be taken away from her shortly when she finds her best client dead on the massage bed. Okay the culprit was dead easy to spot but I loved the way she stumbled through the investigation until she got to the truth. She is tenacious and determined to save her business even when faced with the hunk that is the lead detective. Some great amusing situations and some great red herrings. A wonderful read, glad I took the risk of reading a new author.

Valentine Beaumont is struggling to keep her beauty salon afloat and the murder of one of her regular clients shouldn't help matters but inexplicably, it apparently does. The best thing about this unlikely tale is the burgeoning romance between Valentine and the smoking hot Detective Romero. Otherwise, the murderer is pretty obvious, Valentine's pathetic attempts at amateur sleuthing are, well, pathetic and the ridiculous notion that anyone in the police force would want to encourage her detecting ambitions are, without doubt, ridiculous. The appalling Phyllis fails to add any humour and no decent employer would or could ever allow an employee to treat her clients so badly. In fact, I'd be surprised if there weren't excellent grounds for some of Phyllis's victims to sue for assault. Both Max and the so-called 'Sensei' are stereotypical and add little to the storyline. Not the best book of its type in the Cozy series.

Four stars for a thoroughly great read but oh my gosh how does she actually survive. Valetine is a really good character who cannot let anything go. She tries her best and has the best of intentions and sees only the best in people. Struggling to keep her business afloat with a murderer about, townsfolk adding heir bits and boy is she suspicious of people. Really a danger to herself but in a cute way. No amount of family pressure would make me keep Phylis on as an employee. She was hopeless.

This is the first story I’ve read from this author and I loved it! I always find these kinds of mysteries fun and light hearted. It was hilarious! Who new so much damaged can be caused via perm rods and chopsticks?The characters were all likeable, bar Phyllis of course. I didn’t like when Romero used the word ‘Honey’, it didn’t make him very manly as I was made out to believe throughout the book. But Valentine was such a loveable character, she reminded me of the the main character in Legally Blonde.I never suspected the outcome at all! I was so so surprised and I won’t spoil it for others.This was a fantastic read and I’m already off to get the next one!