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Maid in LA #1
Steamed
The first installment of award-winning & bestselling author Holly Jacob’s MAID IN LA mystery series
Cleaning Can Be Murder on a Manicure!
Quincy came to LA looking for fame and fortune but became a mother and a cleaning service owner instead. While filling in for a sick employee, she accidentally cleans up a crime scene and now that she’s a suspect in a murder case, she only has one option—find the real murderer or end up in jail for a crime she didn't commit…a crime she only cleaned.
There's a killer out there, and Quincy’s going to find them...or die trying.
Cleaning Can Be Murder on a Manicure!
Quincy came to LA looking for fame and fortune but became a mother and a cleaning service owner instead. While filling in for a sick employee, she accidentally cleans up a crime scene and now that she’s a suspect in a murder case, she only has one option—find the real murderer or end up in jail for a crime she didn't commit…a crime she only cleaned.
There's a killer out there, and Quincy’s going to find them...or die trying.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
559 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
About the author
Holly Jacobs
178 books281 followersHolly Jacobs leads a life full of romance and adventure. From skydiving to jet-setting around Europe, from snorkeling in coral reefs to writing while wearing beautiful silk peignoir sets and popping chocolate bonbons, Holly Jacobs leads a life that is the epitome of romance...
Well, my fictional life sounds more interesting, but not better than my real life. Really, I'm the happily married mother of four. I cook a lot, garden and weave baskets! I write for Montlake Romance and Harlequin. My books range from lighthearted comedies to more serious dramas...but at heart, they're all stories of love.
You can visit me at
http://www.HollyJacobs.com.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HollyJacobsA...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/HollyJacobs1
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/hollyjacobs1/
I don't always set out to write a series of books, but seem to find myself gravitating to them. Because so many people have asked, I've posted lists of all my series in order at www.hollyjacobs.com/bookseries.html. I really try to make each story stand alone, but many of my readers enjoy reading the series in order. Hope this helps!
Thank you to everyone who's picked up a single book, or more of them. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by so much support!
Holly
Well, my fictional life sounds more interesting, but not better than my real life. Really, I'm the happily married mother of four. I cook a lot, garden and weave baskets! I write for Montlake Romance and Harlequin. My books range from lighthearted comedies to more serious dramas...but at heart, they're all stories of love.
You can visit me at
http://www.HollyJacobs.com.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HollyJacobsA...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/HollyJacobs1
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/hollyjacobs1/
I don't always set out to write a series of books, but seem to find myself gravitating to them. Because so many people have asked, I've posted lists of all my series in order at www.hollyjacobs.com/bookseries.html. I really try to make each story stand alone, but many of my readers enjoy reading the series in order. Hope this helps!
Thank you to everyone who's picked up a single book, or more of them. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by so much support!
Holly
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
September 26, 2013
Quincy Mac is supposed to be a witty heroine, with a fine blend of tongue-in-cheek self-deprecation and, when she needs it, incredible sexual allure. (That's what she's supposed to be.) She is a single mom of three teen-age sons, all off vacationing with her rich ex-husband and his young-enough-to-be-her-daughter trophy wife. She co-runs a cleaning business in L.A., and while filling in for one of her staff who called in sick, and cleaning a rich TV writer's bachelor pad, she discovers his dead body in the bedroom. Gee, what a mess those blood stains make (smirk smirk giggle giggle).
There are a lot of sloppy writing errors here, not just typos or misspellings, but missing or double words, too. I'm old school--if you want to participate in the world of self publishing and you want to be taken seriously, you should proofread yourself and you should have a good editor double check your work at the very least. The author's website (her book has a lot of self promotion at beginning and end of the very quick novella)suggests she has authored dozens of books, and I see, now that I've visited her website, that a lot of them are harlequins. This was supposed to be a mystery I thought, and it was insipid and easy to figure out, but even judging it as a romance I would say it failed there, too. The hunky detective would break the law just to get to take her to dinner, and after she breaks laws, endangers people, and does several unethical things, all is forgiven because she uses her sexual powers to bend both the detective and his restaurant owning buddy to her will.
The jokes aren't funny, the behaviors aren't believable, the writing style goes for the same joke and lame style repeatedly and never to any better effect. One minute she is terrified she will be sent to the electric chair, the next she is fearless and daring--she vacillates ad nauseum. I doubt a woman like this would ever really get or keep such a guy--but what do I know? The fantasy she represents must be working if the author keeps churning this stuff out--I just wish she'd give her audience more credit and make the character less shallow, the plot less simple, the relationship shifts more believable.
There are a lot of sloppy writing errors here, not just typos or misspellings, but missing or double words, too. I'm old school--if you want to participate in the world of self publishing and you want to be taken seriously, you should proofread yourself and you should have a good editor double check your work at the very least. The author's website (her book has a lot of self promotion at beginning and end of the very quick novella)suggests she has authored dozens of books, and I see, now that I've visited her website, that a lot of them are harlequins. This was supposed to be a mystery I thought, and it was insipid and easy to figure out, but even judging it as a romance I would say it failed there, too. The hunky detective would break the law just to get to take her to dinner, and after she breaks laws, endangers people, and does several unethical things, all is forgiven because she uses her sexual powers to bend both the detective and his restaurant owning buddy to her will.
The jokes aren't funny, the behaviors aren't believable, the writing style goes for the same joke and lame style repeatedly and never to any better effect. One minute she is terrified she will be sent to the electric chair, the next she is fearless and daring--she vacillates ad nauseum. I doubt a woman like this would ever really get or keep such a guy--but what do I know? The fantasy she represents must be working if the author keeps churning this stuff out--I just wish she'd give her audience more credit and make the character less shallow, the plot less simple, the relationship shifts more believable.
June 27, 2023
I dove into Steamed forever ago, so wish me luck on this whole review thing.
From what I remember, Quincy is a maid. She once had hopes and dreams of becoming a famous actress in Hollywood. Then she (sort of) found love, had kids, got divorced and now runs her own company. Sure, she cleans but she is damn good at her job. Maybe too good.
Enter a house and starts to do her thing. Only to find out that someone was murdered and she, ya know, cleaned everything up. Do the detectives have a case? Sure. Do they have suspects? Mostly her because she cleaned all the evidence away. I'm sure it's a common thing... maybe?
Either way, I liked her and Cal. Even if things felt a bit insta-everything between them. I still enjoyed them getting to know one another and flirting like crazy. The little drama with her family, mostly her mom, was a little weird but I understood it at the same time. Then finding out who the actual murderer was seemed way too easy.
In the end, it was a fun cozy mystery book to dive into. Easy to read and easy to spot the murderer. I also liked how the ex-wives, current wives, ex-girlfriends, and current girlfriends didn't hate one another. They all liked each other in some way or another.
From what I remember, Quincy is a maid. She once had hopes and dreams of becoming a famous actress in Hollywood. Then she (sort of) found love, had kids, got divorced and now runs her own company. Sure, she cleans but she is damn good at her job. Maybe too good.
Enter a house and starts to do her thing. Only to find out that someone was murdered and she, ya know, cleaned everything up. Do the detectives have a case? Sure. Do they have suspects? Mostly her because she cleaned all the evidence away. I'm sure it's a common thing... maybe?
Either way, I liked her and Cal. Even if things felt a bit insta-everything between them. I still enjoyed them getting to know one another and flirting like crazy. The little drama with her family, mostly her mom, was a little weird but I understood it at the same time. Then finding out who the actual murderer was seemed way too easy.
In the end, it was a fun cozy mystery book to dive into. Easy to read and easy to spot the murderer. I also liked how the ex-wives, current wives, ex-girlfriends, and current girlfriends didn't hate one another. They all liked each other in some way or another.
June 26, 2018
If you like books about air-headed, feather-brained, ditzy females you might enjoy this book. Me, I had to actually force myself to read it, skipping about half of the book because I couldn't take the
continuous idiotic tirades about how she is going to jail, is there a death penalty, will she get a tattoo there, etc., even after being told, somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 times, that she is not a suspect. She could be gorgeous and I don't think any man could put up with her acute stupidity for any length of time and seeing how the detective spent some time with her, I cannot fathom as to how he would want to have a relationship with her. The only reason I forced myself to continue was to see if I was right in my conclusion as to who done it, the clues for its solution having only been given at almost the end of the book. Personally, I won't be reading any future installments of this ditzoid's adventures.
continuous idiotic tirades about how she is going to jail, is there a death penalty, will she get a tattoo there, etc., even after being told, somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 times, that she is not a suspect. She could be gorgeous and I don't think any man could put up with her acute stupidity for any length of time and seeing how the detective spent some time with her, I cannot fathom as to how he would want to have a relationship with her. The only reason I forced myself to continue was to see if I was right in my conclusion as to who done it, the clues for its solution having only been given at almost the end of the book. Personally, I won't be reading any future installments of this ditzoid's adventures.
December 28, 2019
Quincy Mac came to LA from Erie,
PA to find fame and fortune as an
actress instead she found herself
divorced with three teenage sons
.....16, 17& 18.
Quincy and her best friend own and
run Mac’Cleaned cleaning service.
So Quincy is the black sheep of her
all physician family and only a maid
to them.
Quincy fills in for a sick employee. She
goes to clean award winning writer,
Steve Banning abode and finds a mess
.....panties dangling from the chandelier,
muddy footprints on the carpets and a
messy, sticky award on the couch.
When she gets to the bedroom....Quincy
finds the DEAD body of Steve Banning.
Callin 911....Quincy realizes that she has
just cleaned up a Murder scene.
Detective Cal Parker gets the call. He is
a handsome man. There is immediate
chemistry between Quincy and Cal but
first a murder must be solved.
This book is a murder mystery with some
romance and humorous shenanigans.
PA to find fame and fortune as an
actress instead she found herself
divorced with three teenage sons
.....16, 17& 18.
Quincy and her best friend own and
run Mac’Cleaned cleaning service.
So Quincy is the black sheep of her
all physician family and only a maid
to them.
Quincy fills in for a sick employee. She
goes to clean award winning writer,
Steve Banning abode and finds a mess
.....panties dangling from the chandelier,
muddy footprints on the carpets and a
messy, sticky award on the couch.
When she gets to the bedroom....Quincy
finds the DEAD body of Steve Banning.
Callin 911....Quincy realizes that she has
just cleaned up a Murder scene.
Detective Cal Parker gets the call. He is
a handsome man. There is immediate
chemistry between Quincy and Cal but
first a murder must be solved.
This book is a murder mystery with some
romance and humorous shenanigans.
July 15, 2013
Quincy Mac owns a house cleaning service in L.A. Taking the shift of a sick employee, she is cleaning the home of a Hollywood writer. She finds his award, a Mortie, covered in 'brown goo,' cleans it, along with everything else, including muddy footprints on the carpet. Then she proceeds to clean the bedroom...and comes across the body of a deceased client. Quincy has just accidentally cleaned a murder scene.
I have never read a Holly Jacobs book before, but if this is any indication of other mysteries she may write, she has gained a new fan. This book, while definitely a mystery, is hilarious. Quincy Mac is a mother of three teenaged boys (16, 17, and 18), all of whom have gone to spend the summer with their father, a Hollywood producer. It seems their dad is fond of younger - much younger - women, and keeps marrying (and divorcing) them. But, as Quincy puts it, he's a good dad, which is all she cares about. So, of course, this leaves her alone for three months thinking it will be pretty quiet without her sons.
After calling the police, she imagines herself - and her inner thoughts are the funniest part - in prison (with a new tattoo), for a murder she didn't commit. So of course, Quincy must try and find the murderer before she is wrongfully convicted.
Never mind that the police don't really believe she was involved; never mind that the detective assigned to the case is smoking hot. And in Cal Parker, Ms. Jacobs has definitely created a smoking hot detective who is completely frustrated with Quincy yet completely attracted by her. The interplay between these two is entirely fun to witness.
July 14, 2013
This book was recommended to me by my friend Lisa. It was a good fun read and I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one.
October 7, 2013
Cute & clever and a perfect "pick me upper!"
April 27, 2014
Almost a waste of my time.
There were one or two good moments, but those were rare, and not often enough. I will NOT be reading any more of this series.
There were one or two good moments, but those were rare, and not often enough. I will NOT be reading any more of this series.
July 18, 2018
Actually, there wasn’t an option for zero stars, so I was forced to rate it as one star. Did not finish. Will not recommend. Don’t waste your time.
November 16, 2018
Very enticing read
Loved the book. It kept moving and not where I thought it would go. Definitely recommend it to other mystery readers.
Loved the book. It kept moving and not where I thought it would go. Definitely recommend it to other mystery readers.
September 25, 2013
One of the funniest books I've read lately, and a pretty good mystery as well.
July 16, 2019
I bought this as part of a four volume set and forced myself to read the first one: Steamed. The first-person voice, that I assume is meant to be just your ordinary working-class woman, is so trite, cornball and hokey that the resulting character is no one I'd want to meet in passing, let alone spend the few hours it took to read the book. Her motivation for trying to solve the murder, which she repeats over and over, is to keep herself out of jail, EXCEPT there's no real threat that she's much of a suspect. Especially to the detective who – guess what? – turns out to be the romantic interest. Since he is only the sketch of a character, it makes sense that the two of them get together. The MC manages to put herself into danger and is saved, of course, by the detective. (I sure didn't see that one coming!) The mystery was okay in a Hollywood, lunatic sort of way. I finished the book, but am not at all tempted to read the next three.
June 19, 2018
Imagination will give you nightmares
What a fun light hearted read. She's a mother of three teenage boys, given to wild flights of fancy but with an outstanding curiosity and loyalty to boot. He is a hunky, down to earth detective that deals with facts. When they meet (she runs a cleaning service with her BFF and had just cleaned up a house before she found a dead body) the result is oil and water but with the attraction of a moth to a flame. She is worried that she will be arrested for the crime and is now in all out sleuth form. He just wants the facts and to find the killer whilst trying to deny his attraction to her. Can either clear up the case and allow their natural feelings out. Some humour, some serious but all wrapped up in a plot that is a great read. With characters that come to life before your eyes, the more you read.
What a fun light hearted read. She's a mother of three teenage boys, given to wild flights of fancy but with an outstanding curiosity and loyalty to boot. He is a hunky, down to earth detective that deals with facts. When they meet (she runs a cleaning service with her BFF and had just cleaned up a house before she found a dead body) the result is oil and water but with the attraction of a moth to a flame. She is worried that she will be arrested for the crime and is now in all out sleuth form. He just wants the facts and to find the killer whilst trying to deny his attraction to her. Can either clear up the case and allow their natural feelings out. Some humour, some serious but all wrapped up in a plot that is a great read. With characters that come to life before your eyes, the more you read.
July 19, 2018
Quincy Mac moved to LA from Erie wanting to be an actress but ended up owning the Mac'Cleanes and being a maid. She considered herself the black sheep of the family because her whole family were doctors. Quincy has three teenage sons she is raising, divorced from a well known movie producer. She went to Steve Bannings to clean and found him dead in his bedroom after cleaning up the rest of the house. She called the police and Det. Cal Parker came to investigate saying she cleaned up a crime scene. This gets her involved with trying to find the murderer and with Det Parker. Funny things happen!
March 6, 2018
It’s the maids day to clean for Mr. Banning and his file says he’s a DOG so when Quincey arrives and finds panties hanging from the chandelier, footprints on the carpets and his “Mortie” award statue “sticky” on the couch, she knows she needs to get right to work. When she gets to the bedroom and finds Steve Banning’s body .. she wishes she hadn’t cleaned so thoroughly .. now she is a suspect to a murder.
Clever murder mystery with great repartee and characters. This is a great read for the day that needs some fun. Enjoyed!
Clever murder mystery with great repartee and characters. This is a great read for the day that needs some fun. Enjoyed!
July 31, 2018
Steamed: A Maid in LA strains the credulity more than a bit. If the reader is expected to believe that a person could be so dense as to believe they were going to jail for cleaning a murder scene or didn't know whether there was a death penalty in California, the author vastly underestimates the reading audience. The "heroine" is such a ditzy woman that she never could solve a mystery and the book is not written well enough to allow the reader to believe in the outcome.
I can not recommend these books.
I can not recommend these books.
July 8, 2018
Very funny and very cleverly written. Not a tremendously in-depth book but a real fun read. I like to read light mysteries and this definitely was one.
Very funny and Very cleverly written. Not a tremendously indepth book but a fun read. I like to read light mysteries and this book did not fail me. The characters were very easy to picture especially the yummy detective and I very much enjoyed the fun.
Very funny and Very cleverly written. Not a tremendously indepth book but a fun read. I like to read light mysteries and this book did not fail me. The characters were very easy to picture especially the yummy detective and I very much enjoyed the fun.
January 20, 2023
This started out as a 2 star rating. Quincy's ranting about not going to prison was over the top and really unfounded. I'm adding half a star (not rounding up) because she finally got it through her head that she wasn't a suspect. I'm waffling on continuing the series, so I'm going to read the next one right away to see if it's is worth keeping on my list. Thank goodness they are short. 2.5 stars
June 28, 2018
A quick read
A light easy read very predictable no real twist in the plot you'll pick the answer about 2/3 of the way through as far as the Real Lead but you won't pick the character that did it so three-quarters of the way through. I hope you enjoy it it took less than 24 hours to read.
A light easy read very predictable no real twist in the plot you'll pick the answer about 2/3 of the way through as far as the Real Lead but you won't pick the character that did it so three-quarters of the way through. I hope you enjoy it it took less than 24 hours to read.
July 12, 2018
Maid Quincy Mac cleans up a crime scene and becomes a murder suspect.
Written in the first person, this book is funny and witty. Her inner thoughts were hilarious. Quincy tries to figure out who murdered Mr. Banning. You'd think that was a serious matter. Not with Quincy. Just plain funny.
I loved the ending. Just right.
Written in the first person, this book is funny and witty. Her inner thoughts were hilarious. Quincy tries to figure out who murdered Mr. Banning. You'd think that was a serious matter. Not with Quincy. Just plain funny.
I loved the ending. Just right.
July 1, 2019
A Very intriguing Fun Story
A great way of using caricatures this story is about an owner of a cleaning
Company filling in for a worker who called in sick. Quincy is cleaning the last home for the day when she divorced the owner dead and bloody.
You will have to read this book to see what happens.
A great way of using caricatures this story is about an owner of a cleaning
Company filling in for a worker who called in sick. Quincy is cleaning the last home for the day when she divorced the owner dead and bloody.
You will have to read this book to see what happens.
June 22, 2020
Quincy came to LA looking for fame and fortune in the acting business, but instead became a partner in a maid service. While filling in for one of her employee's, she accidentally cleaned a crime scene. When the crime was reported by her, she became involved in finding the killer and the Detective that was assigned to the crime. No more or there will be spoiler alerts.
November 13, 2017
A definite. 5-star read
I had never read anything by Holly Jacobs before, but now I m a definite fan. This is an amazing book with a lot of laughs to go with the mystery. I loved this read and plan on reading more from this author!!!
I had never read anything by Holly Jacobs before, but now I m a definite fan. This is an amazing book with a lot of laughs to go with the mystery. I loved this read and plan on reading more from this author!!!
June 25, 2018
She's smart, funny, and dangerous
Don't let this owner of "maid cleaning services" fool you. She's good at cleaning, but not so good at lying. Finding a dead body in the last room she cleaned, gave her a scare, then courage and then the fun begins
Don't let this owner of "maid cleaning services" fool you. She's good at cleaning, but not so good at lying. Finding a dead body in the last room she cleaned, gave her a scare, then courage and then the fun begins
July 3, 2018
Interesting light read.
I will consider reading more of this author's books. I don't think these books are anything like "Stephanie Plum's" adventures but each of.us can judge that.
I will consider reading more of this author's books. I don't think these books are anything like "Stephanie Plum's" adventures but each of.us can judge that.
July 28, 2018
Funny charming and sassy
A definite feel good read with murder mayhem and romance to boot. The characters are lively, especially Quincy Mac who is funny, caring and oh do stubborn.
A definite feel good read with murder mayhem and romance to boot. The characters are lively, especially Quincy Mac who is funny, caring and oh do stubborn.
October 2, 2018
Holly Jacobs is one of my favorite authors and this book does not disappoint. It is a fun cozy mystery with some romance also. It is a quick read with a great plot with great, fun characters. I look forward to reading more in this series.
December 2, 2019
Mom the maid
Quincy is the single mother of 3 boys, 17, 18 and 19 years old. She is also part owner of a cleaning business. She cleans a very messy apartment before she finds the owner dead in the bed. Then the fun begins.
Quincy is the single mother of 3 boys, 17, 18 and 19 years old. She is also part owner of a cleaning business. She cleans a very messy apartment before she finds the owner dead in the bed. Then the fun begins.
June 22, 2022
Another great book!
I love Holly Jacobs voice. Her characters -especially Quincy and Cal- were fantastic. While reading it you feel like you are right there watching the story come to life. Thanks Holly, s9r another great read!
I love Holly Jacobs voice. Her characters -especially Quincy and Cal- were fantastic. While reading it you feel like you are right there watching the story come to life. Thanks Holly, s9r another great read!
December 1, 2022
Funny
I stumbled across this book on my kindle app, and glad I did. I think I found my new favorite writer! I'm really going to love Quincy and her love interests story line, probably as much as I love her sluething.
I stumbled across this book on my kindle app, and glad I did. I think I found my new favorite writer! I'm really going to love Quincy and her love interests story line, probably as much as I love her sluething.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews