With Courting Misfortune, Regina Jennings has once again crafted a book with a great cast of characters and plenty of incentive to keep turning pages.
Book Blurb
Calista York needs one more successful case as a Pinkerton operative to secure her job. When she’s assigned to find the kidnapped daughter of a mob boss, she’s sent to the rowdy mining town of Joplin, Missouri, despite having extended family in the area. Will their meddling expose her mission and keep Lila Seaton from being recovered?
When Matthew Cook decided to be a missionary, he never expected to be sent only a short train ride away. While fighting against corruption of all sorts, Matthew hears of a baby raffle being held to raise funds for a children’s home. He’ll do what he can to stop it, but he also wants to stop the reckless Miss York, whose bad judgment consistently seems to be putting her in harm’s way.
Calista doesn’t need the handsome pastor interfering with her investigation, and she can’t let her disguise slip. Her job and the life of a young lady depend on keeping Matthew in the dark.
My Thoughts
I love a good Pinkerton story, and Courting Misfortune did not disappoint. Calista’s determination makes her a great detective, and I enjoyed watching her go about the city trying to find Lila. Matthew’s presence not only provides a distraction but also conflict that threatens to keep Calista from her goal. The resulting tension is delicious and keeps you turning pages.
And the secondary characters definitely provide comedic relief. The antics of Calista’s antics had me laughing out loud, and I loved their interactions with both Calista and Matthew.
I loved the reminder that not everything is as it seems. Matthew assumes Calista is a sheep gone astray, not realizing she has a deep faith that sustains her. A lot of this issue stems from Calista’s willingness to enter a gray area in order to progress in her investigation. I think this definitely gives Christians some food for thought. Is it important how we present ourselves to the world? And does our conviction to witness to lost souls sometimes lead to an inflated sense of self-importance? Matthew’s frustration that his mission wasn’t going the way he wanted definitely made me wonder about this. Do we want to serve God or create a name for ourselves? I think it’s an easy line to cross.
I think Matthew’s zeal and the lessons he learns also deepened the romance with Calista. Their determination to help others is what makes them a great couple, even if it sometimes creates conflict between them. But all that conflict made the ending that much sweeter.
I could say so much more, but I want to avoid spoilers. Let’s just say Jennings takes you on an adventure filled with misunderstandings, mishaps, and an unexpected twist.
Overall, Courting Misfortune is an entertaining read historical romance readers will love.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Further Information
To grab your own copy, click the image to order from Bookshop.org, a website that supports independent bookstores. Or you can check out your favorite book retailer.
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