Val Fremden Mysteries Series by Margaret Lashley

La Dolce Vita or BustWe’ve all dreamed about ditching everything and running off to another country. But almost no one actually does...Well, Val Jolly feels like she's almost no one. Invisible to her husband and dissatisfied with her life, deep in her soul Val yearns to be someone else. Someone sexy. Someone happy.With only her favorite romance novel to guide her, Val decides Italy is the perfect place for some relaxation, romance and reinvention... moreLa Dolce Vita or BustWe’ve all dreamed about ditching everything and running off to another country. But almost no one actually does...Well, Val Jolly feels like she's almost no one. Invisible to her husband and dissatisfied with her life, deep in her soul Val yearns to be someone else. Someone sexy. Someone happy.With only her favorite romance novel to guide her, Val decides Italy is the perfect place for some relaxation, romance and reinvention. But she soon finds out that handsome men, like life, have plans of their own.Will Val score a home run? Or will she just want to run home? In the race to rediscover herself, what awaits Val at the finish line may be a completely unexpected type of victory. That's up to you to decide.If you've ever dreamed of ditching your life and running off to Europe, now’s your chance! Join Val on a roller-coaster ride through Europe that will leave you gasping! From gut-busting hilarity to gut–wrenching gaffs, finding yourself again is always worth the price of admission. Get your ticket now!Absolute Zero is not a mystery per se. (Unless you count the mystery of why we do the crazy things we do!) It is a stand-alone novel, and the funny, yet often heart-wrenching prequel to the hilarious Val Fremden Mystery Series. Just like life, this satirical look at starting over after forty is full of ups and downs. It's told through the eyes of a sharp-witted, reluctantly redneck woman who’s always played it safe – until now. Freedom comes at a great price for Val. Will it be worth it in the end?Pick up a copy and come along for a tour of Italy, Germany and the human heart.Praise for Absolute Zero:“Loved it. Couldn’t stop, had to see what happened next.”“This character makes you proud to be a woman.”“Want a good laugh and a new friend? Grab this.”“Her characters are lovable and believable and you cheer, and cry, along with them.”“Wonderful book. Had me at the first paragraph.” less

Solving the Mysteries of Midlife and Other Weird Stuff....One crazy old lady. Two gin and tonics. Three derelict beach-bum friends. Will Val’s fourth stab at starting over add up to a big fat zero?St. Pete Beach attracts weirdos like mosquitoes to a bug zapper. But when thrice-divorced native Val Fremden feels the tug to fly back to her old stomping grounds, she finds everyone and everything she knew squashed under the heels of change... moreSolving the Mysteries of Midlife and Other Weird Stuff....One crazy old lady. Two gin and tonics. Three derelict beach-bum friends. Will Val’s fourth stab at starting over add up to a big fat zero?St. Pete Beach attracts weirdos like mosquitoes to a bug zapper. But when thrice-divorced native Val Fremden feels the tug to fly back to her old stomping grounds, she finds everyone and everything she knew squashed under the heels of change. Reluctantly cast into the weirdo world of down-and-outer beach bums, Val’s got nothing to go on but her own dry sense of humor and the life coach advice of a beer-guzzling old lady she meets at the beach. When an old hoarder passes away and leaves an uncertain heir to the throne, Val and her pals stir up a hornet’s nest trying to uncover the truth. Who’ll get stung and who’ll be named queen to the throne? It’s anybody's guess.If you like wacky, deeply flawed characters and laugh-out-loud situations, you’ll love Glad One! It’s the first book in Margaret Lashley’s hilarious Val Fremden Mystery Series. less

Ever Notice How a Wedding Ring and a Noose have the Same Basic Shape? Val’s always been unlucky at love – and a whole bunch of other things. But she’s never actually felt cursed. Until now. When fiancé Tom plans a romantic getaway and can’t go, one of Val’s pals goes instead. On the first day, her friend entangles Val in a prank that ticks off the wrong tourist. On the second day, she gets Val charged with murder. To clear her name, Val must go fishing for the real culprit... moreEver Notice How a Wedding Ring and a Noose have the Same Basic Shape? Val’s always been unlucky at love – and a whole bunch of other things. But she’s never actually felt cursed. Until now. When fiancé Tom plans a romantic getaway and can’t go, one of Val’s pals goes instead. On the first day, her friend entangles Val in a prank that ticks off the wrong tourist. On the second day, she gets Val charged with murder. To clear her name, Val must go fishing for the real culprit. But what kind of bait do you use when you don’t want to get caught yourself? With both marriage and jail feeling like life sentences, Val’s going to have to do some pretty fancy angling to get herself off the hook this time…. If you like deeply flawed characters and laugh-out-loud situations, you’ll love Five Oh. It’s the fifth book in Margaret Lashley’s hilarious Val Fremden Mystery Series. less