Deeply, Desperately

Lucy Valentine #2

by Heather Webber

Alternate cover edition for 9780312946142

The irrepressible star of Truly, Madly is back in business. This time, Lucy Valentine will go to the ends of the earth to find true love for her clients...and maybe even herself.

Lucy wants to breathe new life into her family's Boston-based matchmaking company. But how? Even though she comes from a long line of ancestors blessed by Cupid with psychic abilities, a freak accident left Lucy with only one special skill: finding things. Car keys, socks in the dryer, needles in haystacks...and now, in a stroke of professional genius, lost loves!


It's not long before Lucy's on a winning streak, helping old flames reunite and create new sparks. Business is booming. But when Lucy finds herself involved in a possible case of murder, she realizes she's in too deep. Enter Sean Donahue. Lucy's handsome fire-fighter-turned private eye neighbor, Sean is just the man she needs to help her on the job. Could he also be the man she's been looking for all along? When it comes to Valentine, Inc., falling in love is always serious business...

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Paranormal, Chick Lit, Cozy Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 26, 2010

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Heather Webber loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book. *Heather also writes under the pen name Heather Blake.

Facebook author page:
Heather Webber Facebook

Facebook Bookaholics Group: Heather Blake Webber Bookaholics

Reviews

[Paige Bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars

I rarely read "heavy,drama-filled, wreck-my-emotions" books during weekdays. I don't want to go to work looking like Chris Evans denied the existence of our love child and a colony of bees stung my eyes.

So it's a good thing I found out the Lucy Valentine series because I do need books to survive and a cozy mystery is just the perfect thing to solve the problem.

Deeply, Desperately is a quirky book. I enjoyed reading the characters, the love stories (there are a number of them in the book) and the sexy chemistry between the h/H.

I love the fact that they have this slow romance even though it was "love at first" between them. I rarely read insta-love stories because fuck that, but Heather Webber created a book where even though it's sure as hell that it's insta-love, she still gave us a slow-paced romance.

If you want a fluffy, cozy-mystery book with a likable characters, give Heather Webber's Lucy Valentine series a peek.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Objects set in motion tend to stay in motion.

Deeply, Desperately is a perfect installment to the Lucy Valentine series. Heather Webber does a great job of delivering a light romance filled with mystery, comedy and suspense that does nothing short of taking the reader on a fun adventure.

I’m a huge fan of the narrator Lucy Valentine, as she’s in constant motion trying to build her business using her ability to find lost objects through telepathic means. She finds herself solving possible murder and missing persons cases as well as lost loves hoping to reunite and rekindle an old flame. At the same time, she has her own set of happenings when she starts to get threatening Handmaiden letters from a possible stalker. To top it off, Sean is being pulled from her when his ex, Cara, suddenly finds herself suffering from a mysterious illness that just might have him leaving Lucy to tend to her bedside.

This series offers several storylines in one book without it being the least bit overwhelming, and I find myself plowing through the pages trying to figure out the mystery. It’s engaging, but most of all just fun and light. I can’t wait to read the next installment. Great read!

Song Choice: Show me what I'm looking for – Carolina Liar

[Fedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Πόσο μαγευτικό είναι όταν διαβάζεις κατά τύχη ένα βιβλίο που διαδραματίζεται τον μήνα στον οποίον αποφασίζεις να το διαβάσεις; Διάβασα το πρώτο της σειράς Lucy Valentine όταν άλλαξε η ώρα τον Οκτώβρη (όπως ακριβώς αναφερόταν στο βιβλίο), και η σύμπτωση με ακολούθησε στο δεύτερο της σειράς, μιας που περιγράφει μια γιορτινή ατμόσφαιρα πριν τα Χριστούγεννα!

"The city was absolutely gorgeous covered in white. Like a scene from an old-fashioned Christmas card. Flakes clung to spindly trees, sat adrift on light posts and mailboxes."

Ήταν ελαφρύ chick-lit ανάγνωσμα με δυο-τρεις αξιαγάπητους δευτερεύοντες χαρακτήρες, αλλά ομολογώ δεν μου άρεσε όσο το πρώτο. Για δύο βασικούς λόγους:
1. Μου φαίνεται υπερβολικό κάποιος να συγκινηθεί τόσο τόσο πολύ μαθαίνοντας απλώς πως έχει έναν αδελφό, να τον αγαπήσει τόσο πολύ χωρίς καν να τον έχει γνωρίσει. Δεν μεγάλωσες μαζί του, μπορεί να είναι ψυχοπαθής απ' όσο ξέρεις. Όλη αυτή η βαρύτητα που δίνουν αρκετοί (άνθρωποι και βιβλία) στους δεσμούς αίματος είναι κάτι εντελώς ξένο σε εμένα. Όπως και ένα υιοθετημένο παιδί παίρνει τα χαρακτηριστικά των θετών του γονιών με τον τρόπο που μεγάλωσε, έτσι και οποιοσδήποτε θα επηρεαστεί από τις αξίες της οικογένειας που μεγαλώνει. Αλλά εντάξει, ας πούμε πως το συγχωρούμε... Όμως η ιστορία αυτή για να δείξει πως τα Χριστούγεννα είναι και οικογενειακή υπόθεση, το κάνει δύο φορές!

2. Το βρίσκω αρκετά προσβλητικό να θεωρούν οι άνθρωποι πως είναι εύκολο να υποκριθεί κάποιος πως πάσχει από σκλήρυνση κατά πλάκας. Συγκεκριμένα λέει πως "it was smart to pick a disease (refering to ms) that's nearly impossible to prove." Όχι, δεν είναι. Και όταν ορισμένοι δεν πιστεύουν τους πάσχοντες που υποφέρουν, απλά προσθέτει στα ήδη υπάρχοντα προβλήματά τους.

Γι' αυτό και τα 3 αστεράκια... Το 2 θα ήταν μάλλον πολύ σκληρό.
Θα το σκεφτώ αν θα συνεχίσω την σειρά.. Μπορεί και ναι, μπορεί και όχι, μιας που υπάρχουν αρκετά του είδους να διαλέξω...

[~Tina~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy's been busy at her fathers company, Valentine Inc as a Lost Love Locater as well as helping the police with random missing person cases. Blessed (or cursed) with Cupids gift, the Valentines have a special knack at matchmaking since they have a the ability to see auroras and thus finding the prefect match for hopeful couples, only Lucy got her powers zapped out when she was a teen, and now is reduced to only being able to find lost objects. However, leave it to Lucy to put her talents to good use. She can help find lost couples reunite and find the missing pieces to investigations, now, if only Lucy would stop worrying about when Cupid's curse will strike, and finally take a hold of her love life.

After reading Truly Madly, I couldn't wait to continue on with Heather Webber Valentine series. I have so much fun in Lucy's world. It's filled with some good old fashion whodunit mystery, quirky characters, a gush-crushing bubbling romance and just a whole lotta fun!
Webber writes with an amazing steady pace, it simply flows, you'll be entertained from the very first page till the very last.

I simply adore Lucy Valentine, she has such a big beautiful heart and always looks for the best, even if it feels hopeless. She's absolutely adorable. I actually love the whole cast of characters. Raphael, Dovie, Marisol, Em, Oscar, Sam, Aiden and last but not least Sean. Hell, even Preston was pretty cool in this one. I'm glad that she got added more into the storyline since she was a thorn in the last book. She's definitely growing on me now. Each conversation is feisty and fresh They all have such a strong chemistry that it feels effortless to get lost in there drama.
Sean and Lucy are pure magic together, what an irresistible swoon-worthy couple!

Simply put? Deeply, Desperately is a sensational read!
It's snappy, and sassy and smart, filled with great twist and turns and I love the unpredictability of it all, I had such a great time trying to unfold each mystery.

Such a fun fun series. Definitely my favorite Valentine!

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

I enjoyed Truly, Madly when I read it last year. It was cute and fun and different enough to stand out. But while Deeply, Desperately was still entertaining, I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the first book.

Psychic Lucy Valentine is back at it, trying to reunite people with their lost loves, help the police with missing persons, avoid a stalker, figure out what’s going on with her crazy family, and find true love. There certainly was a lot going on in Deeply, Desperately. Maybe to the point where some elements didn’t get the page time they needed in order to strengthen the story.

While the romance still had its cute moments, it was also the thing that annoyed me the most in this story. The sort-of love triangle in the first book was annoying but tolerable because they were really still at the flirting level. But in this book they are actually dating and getting serious, but there is still a love triangle issue. It’s a personal hang-up, but it totally pisses me off when people are wishy-washy about moving from one relationship to the next. Make a decision, dude.

The other problem was that the mystery element was much weaker. It took a backseat to the personal drama. I would barely even count this as a mystery. And the conclusion of the missing persons case and the stalker plot lines were both underwhelming. One of the other subplots was very heartwarming, and the romance was still cute overall. But I did find this installment a little on the disappointing side. I still plan to read the next book, but I hope it is more like the first book.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really need to read this series more often than every 5 years. This book was thoroughly enjoyable. Lucy is very like able and I love the cases that she works on. There were 2 cases going on plus lots of personal stuff. Can’t wait to see what happens next and it won’t take me 5 years to do so. #readforkimberly

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

This second installment of the Lucy Valentine series wasn't as great as the first book, but still extremely enjoyable.

A lot of things happen, and I think the book carries four different mysteries/story tangents.  Between that and the rushed ending, I think my enjoyment of the book in comparison with the first might have been influenced.  I'm not saying it was a bad book, because it wasn't--far from that.

The characters are great, the love line is sweet, and the separate mysteries were actually quite twisty and well-thought out.  There was a slight modicum of predictability, but overall, I think all the story lines were handled quite well.

I only had a few frustrated quibbles, which include Detective Aiden Holliday and the police force's incompetence in dealing with the case of the missing woman.  I get that the final case-breaking point was truly thanks to Lucy's psychic radar.  What I don't understand was how Lucy was the only person who saw the single, most biggest time discrepancy of evidence used against the missing woman's husband, which could have gone a long way to help prove that he wasn't abusive towards his wife or children.  It's something that could have been either proved or disproved easily if someone had bothered to do the investigation properly.

Instead, Lucy figures it out from a sheet of paper that manages to float out of the case file folder.

I was also a little taken aback by the appearance of a potential K-drama trope: that of the "my ex-girlfriend is sick and therefore I need to be by her side" persuasion.  This situation is one I'm familiar with, having seen it in many various Hong Kong dramas and Korean dramas.  It's so widely used to create romantic angst that if not done properly could potentially become a little comical or frustrating--done correctly, it DOES create the desired effect.  At this point, I'm still a little bit conflicted as to how I feel about seeing this plot device used, yet at the same time, I can see the reason behind it's use and how the desired effect on a few different levels was achieved.

Still...

My next complaint is about the reporter, Preston Bailey.  I kind of get the whole "annoying like a sibling" relationship she's developing with Lucy, but at the same time, I'm sorry to say that Preston had more than enough moments where she was just plain annoying, rather than endearingly sibling-like annoying.  I have siblings--I know the difference.

Finally, on the romance front, things are steaming up for Lucy and Sean.  And to be honest, the intimacy level was a bit more detailed than I had expected from a cozy mystery, but not to the point of blushing or fanning myself.  So rest assured if you're not one to prefer more sensually detailed sexy times--everything is still fairly closed-door with some exceptions.

Sexy times aside, the love line is really just plain sweetness and hot chemistry.  Due to reasons, Sean and Lucy had less interaction in this book than the previous, so the relative quick pacing of their romantic progress was only a little surprising.  Despite loving my immediate results, being a romance fan and all, I was actually expecting more of a slow, slow burn over the course of the series as opposed to what we got in Lucy Valentine.  But I'm not really complaining.

Not really.

All-in-all, Deeply Desperately had a whole lot of story going on crammed into a surprisingly short length for all the story it had.  At the same time, however, I still really liked it, continue to like the characters, and am looking forward to the next book.


***

2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in this series was so much better. This was okay, but there was a lot of just filler that just added words. I dislike repetition, and this book had a lot of them, as if we can’t hold simple information from one chapter to the next. The first book is worth a fun quick read.

[kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book of this series was good, introduced the basic premise and all ther characters, but this one ramps everything up and in a word, it's perfect.
There isn't anything about this book that I'd change. There are several plotlines gracefully interwoven throughout the book. It can be very tricky keeping everything moving forward and not leaving anything behind. Webber knows her stuff and has a very deft hand in combining all the stories.
Lucy Valentine is a wonderful charcter. She has a kind heart, but yet, she's not a pushover and when she needs to be tough, she's able to do it. She's smart and intuitive. Her growing relationship with Sean is beautifully developed and you'll be pulling hard for these two to get together.
I love the dialogue in this book, particularly the cute banter between Lucy and Sean, but also the conversations with her family and friends.
There are several twists to the various mysteries along the way and I do love me some twists. I like it when I don't see what's coming or it goes in a direction that I'm not expecting.
All in all this is a great read and I can't wait for the next book.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this entire series. I've read the first four books, and I think this second book was my favorite so far. It's definitely light mystery romance reading, with a strong vein of paranormal fantasy included.

Each entry in this series has a different mystery that revolves around the main character Lucy's psychic ability to use lost objects to locate missing people in some way. No matter how improbable the events, the story seems plausible as you're reading it, and the characters and their fortunes will keep you engaged and entertained.

The characters and their relationships advance with each book in the series, so I would definitely recommend reading it in order.

[Houds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I know what I said. But I can't resist the early 2000's charm of these books, the cosy vibes, the possibility of following an ongoing story through multiple books, while still getting a lil murder mystery in there. This scratches a nostalgic itch in my brain I swear.

I think all of the characters are written amazingly. The Valentine family is unusual, quirky, and I'm fascinated. The love story is built up so nicely, it literally feels like the early CW TV series. The side stories? I'm obsessed and still claim that Aiden was the most wonderful twist/surprise.

And then we got a lil mystery, a potential murder. The stakes are low (lower in this book), and I love it! A cosy mystery set in Christmas.

I think it would be more fun to pick up a book every now and then, instead of binging them all at once

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why am I so mean to myself? I read book one 8 years ago and absolutely loved it! I loved this one just as much.

We all know I am not a huge fan of paranormal but I love this type of paranormal. Being able to see peoples auras and match them with their soul mates. Perfect for sappy me.

This book takes places during the cold, damp Boston Christmas season. A husband and father trying to prove he didn’t kill his wife, a former POW wanting to find the love of his life that moved on when she thought he perished in the war, and a family finding each other.

I am not waiting as long to read book 3. Heather Webber writes the most beautiful stories that leave you filled with contentment.

[Ellie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but it turned out to be pretty good! There are lots of different themes this book could go under, but I’d probably describe it as mystery, romance, a little bit of fantasy/magical aspects, and revenge.

This book is an easy read, so it’s perfect for the summer!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is second in the Lucy Valentine series. Lucy is working for her father's matchmaking agency helping people find their missing loved ones through her psychic abilities. She's also working out her relationship with her new love as well as her family. This is a fun and fluffy series which is sometimes just what I need.

[Melliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review:
https://bookadept.com/2020/09/06/true...

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this series! I fell in love with Lucy Valentine and her eclectic family and friends in the first book of the series, Truly, Madly, and everyone is back for a fun romp in Deeply, Desperately. These books have just the right mixture of mystery, suspense, psychic ability, and love. This has quickly become my new favorite series and I am now eagerly anticipating MANY more books in the series. (Note: If the author happens to be reading this, please tell me there WILL be MANY more books!! LOL).

Lucy is back and with a new business venture of locating Lost Loves, she is keeping very busy. Her two clients, Leo, an elderly gentleman who is looking for his World War II sweetheart, and Faye, a distraught mother looking for her daughter who went missing two years ago, keep Lucy on her toes. With twists and turns at every corner, the reader is taken on a suspenseful journey as Lucy tries to find these lost loves. In the midst of all this, she is trying to figure out her new romance with Sean, she is getting harrassing letters in the mail, her father is acting strangely, she is developing a tentative friendship with reporter Preston, and she joins up with her friend Marisol to investigate their friend Em's fiance.

There is a lot going on in this story, but it's not confusing at all. All of the parts are plotted perfectly, with satisfying conclusions to each one. There were so many shocking moments in this story! I LOVED it! I didn't anticipate anything that happened! This is a fantastic, light cozy mystery series that I highly recommend. I can't wait for the next installment!

Jennifer
http://www.crazy-for-books.com

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

have i mentioned that Sean Donahue is the guy that i've been wanting for MY life? lol

i find the story light and easy to read. i'm not saying i'm complaining. i actually love it. so much!

this book cracks me up. and makes me all gooey inside. (because of Lucy's and Sean's growing relationship.)
I really like Lucy Valentine's character. she has a lot of goodness inside her and it makes her character really likable.
Sean Donahue on the other hand is such a sweetheart! i love him!
these two are really perfect for each other. i must say. :)
these two tease and flirt with each other in a very sexy way that i also want for myself. lol and that's really saying something.

just like the first book, i like the story of this one too. Especially the friendship that Lucy has with Preston(the very nosy writer). The progress of the Lost Love of Valentines, Inc. How the characters have grown, namely, AIDEN(the police officer), Raphael and Em and Marisol.
I also like the newcomer, Cutter McCutchan.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, you need goofy, sappy, love stories, and if that's what your looking for this series, is right up your ally.

Deeply, Desperately was a quick, fun, ride though a tremendous story full of, surprises, love, richness, and joy - paralleled by some intense moments, after all one of Lucy's gifts allows her to "find lost things" and sometimes those things that are lost, become desperate to be found in a scary, looming and dark way.

Deeply, Desperately was a wonderful addition to the Lucy Valentine story, I love the world that Heather Webber has created, full of unique and interesting characters, not to mention a plot like none other - I mean a character that's basically got cupid's gift, but at the same time is dammed to possibly never find love for herself? Unique is putting this series in a mild light.

Full review to come.

[Laurie Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment of Deeply, Desperately is just as enjoyable as the first, then again I am a sucker for a fun and romantic stories. This time around Lucy is up to her eye balls again, in cases, keeping her love life going, helping friends, then to top it off a surprise is added to the Valentine family. There is no way I could pull of what Lucy does in a few weeks LOL. You get a little more romance between Lucy and Sean in this installment. I found this a brilliant story and fun to read.

I recommend this series to any mystery, paranormal romance lover. The reason for recommend this to a paranormal romance reader is Lucy and her family can read peoples auras and Lucy is physic. You wont find this series on the hot and steamy side like paranormal romance books, but if you’re like me and like a fun mystery romance, you have to give Miss Valentine’s series a try.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more of the first. I like that Lucy is using her gift in a good way. The 2 cases couldn't have been more different, but I thought both ended in a good way. I especially loved the choice that Lucy made with the younger family, it needed to happen.

I also really like that Lucy is starting to view her trust fund in a different way and using it in creative ways that still holds true to why she ignored it in the first place.

Lucy's personal life becomes quite messy in this one, but ends well on a couple different fronts. I was worried about Sean, I wasn't sure that he would see what was so obvious, but glad he did. I also loved how Lucy "helped" Sean with things. The new development in Lucy's family is intriguing, it will be interesting where things go from here.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series so goddamn much.

Lucy Valentine has a stalker, on top of running "Lost Loves," for her father's company, Valentine's Inc. She's enlisted to help solve a mysterious disappearance of a young woman, and everyone believes that the woman's husband killed her and covered it up. Lucy's drama is amped up further with the return of Sean's ex-girlfriend and the Cupid's Curse that keeps Sean from consummating their relationship.

Lucy is so awesome -- she's funny, independent, a good friend, and is just all sorts of awesomeness. I think the first book was pretty comparable, as it was very inconsequential. I feel so happy when I'm reading this series; it's so light and bubbly, which makes it a great chick-lit novel. Definitely going to read the next one!

[Jackie Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the second book in this series. The series kind of reminds me of Evanovich's series, but a tad different.

This book was a light read with a twinge of danger and mystery. I love that Lucy struck out on her own and is so determined to make it on her own.

The relationship between Preston and Lucy seems to be getting better and Lucy's relationship with Sean is moving along. I love how Lucy helps bring people together. Leo's story was so heartwarming and Sarah's story was very sad.

I am excited to read the next book to see what new troubles Lucy can uncover.

[Bandmama (aka Lucy) - Claiming Mitch as mine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has been great, especially this second book. The mystery, the paranormal, and the smoking hot love affair thrown into the middle of one wild and crazy family makes me love these books. So much. I think I inhaled this book in one day and immediately purchased the third. I also have to add that I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the twists and turns I expected to happen never happened but there was a lot of, "I didn't see that coming", and one, "Oh Thank you Jesus - finally", events. Thanks to Heather Webber for a fantastic little series.

[LeslecturesdeMylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

17/20
En bref, un second tome génial, le monde de Lucy est un mélange savamment dosé que l'on prend plaisir à découvrir avec elle. Les personnages sont très attachants, les rebondissements nombreux et surtout on sent et ressent les choses avec eux. Une aventure qui se dévore !

http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Heather Webber's Lucy Valentine series! This is the second book and I thought it was even better than the first. It has everything, humour, mystery and romance. Looking forward to the next one.

[~Megan~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is just so cute and fun! There were about 3 or 4 mysteries going all at the same time, so it was never boring. The romance between Sean and Lucy is so sweet. I think really the best thing I can say about the series is that I just read it with a smile on my face.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book. It was great from start to finish. This is a wonderful series with just enough mystery to keep you on your toes and a little splash of romance thrown in for some smiles and tears.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute mystery/romance. Lucy Valentine finds lost things with her psychic abilities, and we get a good dose of friends and family. 3.5 stars rounded up because the people all acted like mature adults instead of being insecure.

[Melodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked TRULY, MADLY so much I went ahead and picked this one up right after. Liked it every bit as much as the first one and am looking forward to ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY!

[Linh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this book in one day...easy but good read!