"Caught by Surprise" by Jen Turano

When a kidnapping and case of mistaken identity lands her in Chicago, Temperance Flowerdew is rather flustered and annoyed--especially when she finds out the reason for the kidnapping. Her dear friend Gilbert Cavendish rides to the rescue (though expecting someone else to need rescuing), and when they're spotted together in a compromising position by a society matron, Gilbert feels obliged to propose marriage. However, now that Temperance finally has the gumption to go for what she wants--no more sitting at the sidelines for this society wallflower--she turns him down and refuses to listen to reason. And that is only the beginning of their troubles: between murder attempts, a possible missing inheritance, and matchmaking old ladies (and gentlemen), there's barely time to fall in love.

It was sweet to see Temperance and Gilbert go from friends to falling in love, even if Temperance is a bit stubborn about it (though it must be said, Gilbert's proposals--if such they could be called--rival Mr Darcy's first proposal for romanticism and endearment. Which is to say, exhibits neither at all.). They really do feel like good friends, with their ability to read each other and anticipate each others' moods, and the definite feeling of history between their two families. Though the Grand Gestures of Romance are not quite so crazy in this book as the previous, they are pretty adorable nonetheless.

As always, the characters are fun and crazy; I especially liked what happened with our erstwhile kidnappers. There were a lot of surprises in this book; even with being able to guess a few bits of the mystery, I was still constantly surprised by twists in the plot (but had no trouble following it).

While it is sad to see this hilarious series come to close, it does mean one good thing: another (no doubt just as hilarious) is right around the corner.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Apart from the Crowd
0.5: "At Your Request" (free prequel novella)
1. Behind the Scenes
2. Out of the Ordinary
3. Caught by Surprise

Splickety: Outdoor Misadventure

Splickety magazine--a flash fiction publication--presents:

OUTDOOR MISADVENTURE (June 2016)

The great outdoors—where misadventure awaits! Our “ Outdoor Misadventures” issue is full of uh-ohs and should-haves that will make you laugh and shudder, from wild animals to crazy camping and barely boating.

Be sure to catch the feature story by Mark Hancock (author and CEO of Trail Life USA) with his hilarious go-around involving Pop-Tarts and marshmallows.

Whether you’re headed to the beach, the mountains, or planning a staycation, you’ll want this issue on your summer reading list.

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This edition includes my second--and shortest--story published with Splickety, coming in at a mere 100 words, and set at the Devil's Kettle on the Brule River north of Grand Marais, MN (though the reality of the Kettle is slightly less dramatic, at least in non-flood stage). Since rights have reverted back to me, I can even share the story, "Promontory," here:

The current pitches me against the rocks, and I scramble up the outcropping. At the sight, my spirit sinks. I am not on shore; I’m at the division of the river, far beyond the landing. To my left, the Brule plummets fifty feet before racing to Superior’s icy depths. To my right, it plunges my kayak into the Devil’s Kettle, a massive pothole with no known outlet. I cannot go back, yet either way forward spells my doom. Will I die—starving, lonely, afraid—on this desolate promontory awaiting rescue? Or choose between the devil and the deep blue sea?

"A Rumored Fortune" by Joanna Davidson Politano

At news of her father's death, Tressa Harlowe becomes the poorest heiress in England--mainly because her father didn't see fit to trust anyone with the location of his amassed and well-hidden fortune, and their laborers and creditors are waiting eagerly for long-awaited funds. As friends, family, and fortune hunters, under the pretense of offering condolences, descend on the estate to try to find the treasure for themselves, Tressa finds herself leaning on the new manager of the vineyard, Donegan Vance. But can they find the hidden fortune before they lose the estate?

There's a lovely Gothic flavor to this story, with an old castle, rumors of hidden treasure, and a possible saboteur. Tressa is a sweet, creative heroine, but no doormat. And while Donegan is a little rough around the edges and apt to jump to wrong conclusions where she is concerned, he's also a wonderfully wise and thoughtful hero.

There is a lot of food for thought--and biblical teaching--in this story, the most obvious being the metaphor of the vine and the branches. But there's also God's role as Father--the perfect Father our human father can never be. I appreciated that though Tressa often turns to God, it takes a long time to learn that God is the only one she can lean on, trust implicitly, and be loved by unconditionally--one of those simple things that we ourselves should know, yet it can be just as difficult for us to learn as for Tressa.

I thought it interesting how money proved to be an idol in so many different ways in the story--in the traditional sense for Tressa's mother; as something hated by Tressa's father yet given the power to consume his thoughts and cloud his dealings with everyone, including his daughter; in Donegan's case, not as something to be loved or hated, but rather the key to righting his mistakes; as a (deceptive) form of security for Tressa's cousins. How easy is it for us to fall into the same traps?

It's a lovely story, with beautiful, lyrical writing. I look forward to more from the author!

Thank you Revell for the complimentary book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.