Review of Bare-Naked Lola

Bare-Naked Lola

A Lola Cruz Mystery

Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

Entangles Select 2012

ISBN 9781620610046

   Lola Cruz has just become a full fledged detective at Camacho and Associates. She has been undercover before; but she gets drawn in to more then she bargained for when some Royal Courtside Dancers start getting anonymous letters that border on threatening. She is chosen to be a dancer herself and is forced to go out of her comfort zone by wearing some very revealing costumes. She attempts to keep her activities a secret from her on again and off again boyfriend, Jack, as well as, her ultra conservative family. 

   When one of the dancers is murdered, she has no choice but to visit a local nudist resort because all things point to the murdered woman having ties there. Now wearing skimpy costumes is one thing; but dressing in your birthday suit is another. 

   This is a cute story about a PI Lola who actually seems to be in the wrong profession. I went into this story thinking it was going to be funny like the Janet Evanovich, Stephanie Plum, books. There was a bit of humor in this; but nothing like I was expecting. The storyline is good; but I thought it had a tendency to drag a bit. Lola is a twenty-nine year old who is more concerned about living the way her family thinks she should live, then actually living her life. She sneaks in and out when she is on the undercover case because she doesn't want her family to know what she is doing. Of course, if she didn't live with her family, she wouldn't have to worry about it. She wants to make it as a PI; but she has real problems doing what is necessary when undercover. Other then the boyfriend, Jack, the entire cast of characters is a bit dysfunctional. Even Jack had been involved with a woman who will just not go away. This causes problems for his now relationship with Lola. Lola has a tendency to speak in phrases of Spanish. Since I don't speak Spanish, I had no idea what was being said and I am not going to try and look up the various phrases when I am reading a book. This detracted from my enjoyment of the story. 

   The story is  enjoyable, so, if you like a quirky mystery with some romance thrown in, this one is for you. There are several other Lola Cruz mysteries available; but this one can be read without having read the others. If you like to read books in order, check out the author's website for the listing of the other books in the Lola Cruz series.

   I wish to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any way except for receiving the book to review.

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars