This is a funny and romantic mystery featuring feisty Samantha Shaw, who, upon the death of her no-good husband, gives herself a sexy makeover, buys a dating service and makes a match with murder.

From the author of "Dating Can Be Murder, " which "Publisher's Weekly" called "a new cozy with sass, " comes the second book in the series featuring the funny and feisty protagonist Samantha Shaw.

Samantha Shaw, owner of the Heart Males dating service, hates soccer. But she doesn't have a problem with settling scores—especially when deceitful ex-husbands are involved. So when Janie Tuggle, the former wife of town hero and championship-winning soccer coach Chad, asks her to investigate her embezzling ex, Sam dives right in. Turns out, the weasel is not only pocketing $16,000, but has been cheating on Janie at every opportunity. Exposing him will be a pleasure. But before Sam can make a call. Chad is found dead in his office—and Sam and Janie are both suspects. Detective Logan Vance is breathing down Sam's neck, her boyfriend and sleuthing partner Gabe Pulizzi is working the case for Chad's sexy former lover, Dara Reed, and unwelcome discoveries are springing up all over town. Netting the killer feels like a long shot, but as another cheating husband's crimes threaten Sam's business, her brand-new relationship, and even her life, the penalty for slipping up could be fatal.

Frothy fun. — Publishers Weekly on Ninja Soccer Moms If only life came with operating instructions. Samantha Shaw's dating service, Heart Mates, is barely paying the bills, and her relationship with private investigator Gabe Pulizzi isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of her knack for romance. And now Sam's friend Angel has disappeared just as she was about to launch a new lingerie business, leaving behind a ransacked, bloodstained house. Detective Logan Vance—alias romance novelist R.V. Logan—is busy fending off the advances of a lovesick fan so, with Gabe in tow, Sam questions Angel's ex-husband, Hugh Crimson. Sam knows her friend's divorce has been filed under "unpleasant" but she can't believe Hugh's capable of ex-wife-napping—or murder. If Hugh isn't a killer, who messed up Angel's house—and why? Where is Angel? And what's Sam going to say when Gabe insists she make a decision about their relationship? Solving this case will require every ounce of energy Sam's got, and she's going to unearth some high-voltage surprises along the way. . . Jennifer Apodaca grew up in southern California and still makes it her home. She loves creating characters with attitude and then getting them into all kinds of trouble. The unlimited support of her husband and three sons has made writing a joy. Jennifer is hard at work on the next Samantha Shaw book.

On the surface, Samantha Shaw's life looks pretty good—she has a hot boyfriend, private investigator Gabe Pulizzi, and her own business, Heart Mates Dating Service. But raising two boys and keeping track of her ornery magician grandfather is tricky business. . .especially when you add murder to the mix. . .. Knocking down the wall between Samantha Shaw's dating service, Heart Mates, and her boyfriend Gabe Pulizzi's P.I. office seemed like a good idea. The construction dust is causing chaos, but the real trouble is how Sam's going to handle her two sons, her grandfather, her business, and training for her P.I. license—and squeeze in a relationship with Gabe at the same time. She hasn't even begun to figure it out when her grandfather, Barney Webb, winds up in trouble of his own—he's been accused by arrogant magician Shane Masters of hiring a hit man to kill him. Sam knows it can't be true, despite Shane's practice of exposing other illusionists' secrets in a series of popular "spoiler" shows. Proving Grandpa's innocence is priority number one, even though the old man is strangely resistant to her offers to get to the bottom of Shane's accusation. Then Grandpa's protégé Fletch Knight shows up in Lake Elsinore, asking Barney to help him videotape backdrops for his upcoming performance at the House of Magic. Sam thinks Barney should be focusing on clearing his name, but she doesn't have much time to push the issue since she's just landed a new case—discovering which magician's secrets Shane will expose for Shane's ex, Nikki Eden, whose high-concept illusions depend on secrecy. With another of Grandpa's former students in town, and Gabe's troubled brother arriving unexpectedly, Sam is up to her ears in sleight of hand and whispered secrets when Shane Masters' murdered body suddenly appears. Detective Logan Vance, Sam's police connection, is furious that she's withheld information. With so many balls in the air, Sam is tempted to throw in the towel and take up juggling, but finding a killer comes first. There's no shortage of suspects, but with Sam's own life at stake—again!—figuring out whodunit is going to be the most spectacular trick of all. . .