Undercover Bride, By Margaret Brownley

Maggie Cartwright is a detective for the Pinkerton Detective Agency. She and her partner have been sent to Furnace Creek, Arizona, to find evidence to convict Garret Thomas of the Whistle Stop Train Robbery. He fits the general description of the man seen robbing the train, killing a guard and riding off with $70,000.00 in cash.

The Pinkerton's have had Maggie pose as a mail order bride and correspond with Garret in an effort to embed her in his life and get the evidence needed to convict the man of the crime.

Unfortunately when she meets Garret who knew that she would fall in love with him. Who knew that she would be taken in by his two children and his kindness. This complicates things as she has a job to do but in doing that she is lying to a man that she is developing strong feelings for and desires to actually become his wife.

Margaret Brownley develops the characters well and develops the plot line of the story very well. She builds on the plot from one chapter to the next while all the time building the 'backstory' of the characters involved. In the midst of this she also weaves through the story the theme of forgiveness, a need for God, trust in the Almighty as well as in your fellow human.

Side plots involve Garrets time in the Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. It also involves Maggies growing up in an orphanage because of a terrible family background.

Can the two find love? Can Maggie find the robber? If it turns out to be Garret, can she bring him to justice? All good questions and woven well in a fun story.

Enjoy!

Come Rain or Come Shine, by Jan Karon

First of all I would like to thank Net Galley and the Publisher for making a review copy of this book available to me for review.

It has been some time since we have visited with the good people of Mitford, a lot has happened. Father Tim has retired and lives a quiet life. Dooley has been going to college and then on to Veterinary school. Lace has finished up her studies and is waiting for Dooley to finish his.

This story will take us to the next level. Dooley and Lace will become man and wife. Dooley will also graduate Veterinary school and start up his own practice at Doc’s old place and live at the Farm.

Our cast of characters that we have come to love will all make their appearances in this novel as they come together for the celebration of the marriage of Dooley and Lace. We will also meet a couple of new people. The most important new face is Jack Tyler who is a little boy that Dooley and Lace want to adopt. He will come to the farm just a short time before the wedding and have to learn that there is more love in this place than he has ever experienced, and that love will last ‘forever.’

The story is not complex, it is not deep, it is not trying to make a statement of any kind. It is just the story of two young adopted children who have grown up and are now on the doorstep of marriage to each other. The people that they have come to love and care for are there to encourage them and celebrate with them.

Reading this book is like slipping on a pair of old slippers that you have grown comfortable with. It just feels right.

If you are a Jan Karon fan and a lover of the Mitford series then this is the must read novel for you this fall.

Enjoy!