Soccer mom Samantha Shaw is trying every way she can think of to advance her dating service, Heart Mates, so she's planned a big open house in a few days. Best friend Angel's new intimate lingerie business also needs a boost. When a man they meet at the casino, Mitch St. Claire, offers them a sample kit of sex toys, they figure the naughty little items might work in well with Angel's enterprise. Angel entrusts Sam with the sample kit for the weekend. With three inquisitive males in her household, two sons and her grandpa, Sam hides the kit until further inspection of it can be done by Angel and herself. This starts a change of events that proves to be hilarious, as well as deadly.

Arriving at Angel's house the next day, Sam finds the place torn apart, bloodstains on the floor and Angel missing. Frantic to locate her friend, she calls the police, which means that Det. Logan Vance (aka romance author R.V. Logan) arrives to investigate. These two have a volatile relationship that just gets worse with each encounter. But Sam knows the shocking secret of the detective's alter ego, which he doesn't want to be made public.

It doesn't help matters any that lately a lovesick fan of R.V. Logan's, named Zoe Cash, has been accosting Sam to introduce her to R.V. Logan. You see, Zoe has found out that her most favorite author in the whole world is really a man, and she's positive that Sam knows the author personally, since she reviews all of his books. Zoe is sure she and Logan are soul mates, and Sam is destined to bring them together. After all, she does own Heart Mates.

Now, if that weren't enough to deal with, Sam's hunky PI boy-friend Gabe Pulizzi is pressuring her to make a decision about getting her PI license, so they can continue to work together. When he hires an assistant -- a young, pretty female -- Sam is really ticked off. Just how does he think this will improve their relationship?

Of course, a dead body has to be added to this wild and wacky mix to make things even more complicated, but our Sam is nothing if not smart and resourceful. And luckily everything is resolved in time for Heart Mates' open house, which proves to be a big success. In the end, Gabe has a few more surprises in store for Sam, who takes it all in stride, ready for the next adventure in love.

This fourth book in the Samantha Shaw mystery series keeps your interest first page to last. BATTERIES REQUIRED is a quick read, and once started, I couldn't put down. Apodaca writes with a witty flair, and all the characters are quirky, yet wonderful, as is the storyline. I can't wait for the next installment.