Courting Misfortune - (The Joplin Chronicles) by Regina Jennings (Paperback)

This is a very entertaining book about a female detective trying to secure her position in the Pinkerton Detective agency. I loved the mystery, danger, and adventure in the plot of Courting Misfortune and the addition of a possible romance certainly added to its delight. Author Regina Jennings has filled her story with twists and turns, as Calista York finds herself dealing with shady characters, corruption, and a baby raffle that awards her a baby she doesn't want. She also finds herself being protected by a wanna-be missionary and there are many laugh-out moments between her and Matthew Cook, after he sees her entering a brothel and assumes that she needs to hear God's Word. She, of course, must keep her identity a secret while dealing with his persistent efforts to save her and this is where the fun begins! I especially loved Matthew, his attempts to keep Calista safe, and his desire to share the Gospel with her and the other people of Joplin, Missouri. Jennings gives Matthew some wonderful dialogue and uses his character to remind us that God puts us where He wants us to be and He often chooses a different path for us to take, if we trust Him and allow him to work in our lives. I am labeling this book a keeper! It kept my interest, it kept me wanting more, and it kept me laughing! Courting Misfortune is an enjoyable historical Christian romance and I highly recommend it! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. There was no obligation for a favorable review and these are my own thoughts.

Wow! This book was AMAZING! I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved it! It had me laughing out loud, nail-bitingly anxious and my heart beating in all the right places. Once again, Author Regina Jennings has created an incredible world to open your book and get lost in (no pun intended, lol) and I’m reminded why I need to make sure to keep up with her books! She is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to authors (especially if I’m in need of a few good laughs mixed in with my reading!) Courting Misfortune is a beautiful blend of mystery, romance, comedy and a lesson in learning to follow God’s direction for your life, even when it seems it’s in the opposite direction of what it ought to be! If you’re a fan of Ms. Jennings’ previous works, you’re sure to be thrilled with this latest addition to her collection! I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting the next installation in her Joplin Chronicles series and snatching up a copy as soon as humanly possible to continue this adventure!

Always a fan of mysteries, the idea of a female Pinkerton detective, even one on probation, was very intriguing. Calista York grew up in a well-to-do family, but after an adventure where she met a true female Pinkerton, becoming one herself to help people find justice was her life’s dream. Finding a missing girl in Joplin, MO was her first assignment to prove her worth as a Pinkerton. The problem was that Joplin was where Calista’s family lived...a very well-known family. Could she disguise herself well enough to scour the sordid parts of town without her family discovering she was there? Then she had the problem of a young new pastor trying to save her soul... While I truly enjoyed Calista’s (& Matthew’s) story, somewhere in the back of my mind I felt like I already knew her family, especially her eccentric mother and grandmother. Have they already been in Jennings’ novels before? They seem so familiar! Whether I know them from previous stories or they just seem like old friends because Regina Jennings creates amazing characters in all of her novels, I am really looking forward to the rest of this series. P.S. That Maisie is a HOOT!! *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

It is 1898, and Calista lives and breathes to be a Pinkerton agent. But she is still under probation for the job, and must prove herself to become a full-fledged operative. She goes to Joplin, Missouri, undercover, to see if she can find a woman whose last known location was there. The area is notorious for the large number of women working in the world's oldest profession. Is the missing woman part of that, and how can Calista safely infiltrate the operation? While trying to figure that out, she is sidetracked by her many relatives that live in the area. Will they blow her cover? Can she convince them she is there for something else so she doesn’t have to reveal her true reason for coming? Calista has many mishaps with her family, along with the new preacher, Matthew, who has set his sights on saving Calista from the bad lifestyle he believes her to be living. Serious and dangerous situations are paired with some funny episodes that make this an exciting story. Can Calista keep her job as a Pinkerton agent, and at the same time, have a relationship with Matthew? Will she be able to keep her true identity from him until she solves this case? The reader will find themselves on the edge of their seat from the tale’s action and thrills, but also laughing at hilarious antics Calista finds herself a part of. Christian faith also plays a part in this book. Fans of well written, fast-paced stories with a sprinkling of humor, will love this five-star story. Bethany House Publishers, through NetGalley, has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, Courting Misfortune, for the purpose of review.

I was so excited to find out that Regina Jennings has a new series coming out at the end of this year. I was even more so when I had the opportunity to read the first book from The Joplin Chronicles series, Courting Misfortune. I was not disappointed. What a fun read! I was entertained by the history and mystery, as well as, the laughs. I could not put it down. It is so very good. I am giving Courting Misfortune a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy clean historical romance. I look forward to the next installment from The Joplin Chronicles series. I received Courting Misfortune from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Another solid read from Ms.Jennings that lets you solve part of the mystery but not all which makes it more interesting. A lady Pinkerton Agent pique my interest from the beginning as it was nice to see such a strong female character in this time period. I especially loved the character of Matthew and his heart for people and their circumstances. Calista’s family can be a hoot and provide laughs and entertainment within the story. I so enjoy how this author weaves laughter amidst the serious and does it so well that it seems like you are walking a tightrope to see what happens next. One of my go to authors to make me smile and feel like I have just watched a movie because I am so drawn in. Recommended reading for relaxing in a chair with your blanket. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

This book was so fun to read! I enjoyed watching Calista try to find a balance between being herself and being a Pinkerton. The best operatives seem to have a little bit of themselves mixed in to their disguises, but when Calista is surrounded by her big and boisterous family the lines tend to get even more blurred. I loved hanging out with her unique family. Far from being a society lady like her, they tended to be blunt and truthful to a fault. I just couldn’t get enough of them. Calista and Matthew shared a great connection, and I enjoyed watching their chemistry. Seeing a seedier side of town was a unique adventure, and I could easily imagine a woman getting herself in way over her head. I loved seeing Matthew as a pastor and his heart to help those around him. I could picture his outrage about the “baby raffle” and couldn’t imagine someone actually doing that! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the first book in the Joplin Chronicles Series set in the very late 1800’s, and it sure promises to be an amazing, fun, laugh out loud and charming Series! Calista York is a Kansas City girl and an undercover Pinkerton agent in training, and this new assignment she’s been given may be the perfect opportunity to secure her job. A little unexpected, though, as she is sent to Joplin, Missouri, where she has an extended family that may get in the way of her keeping a low profile in order to succeed in her task, which is to rescue Lila Seaton, the kidnapped daughter of a Chicago well known mobster boss. Matthew Cook is a former farmer turned into a missionary preacher and sent to Joplin, known as a sin city full of many lost souls: gamblers, drunks, women of ill repute, and the miners that still have many things to learn about living a godly life. He sure is having a hard time at it, but things get even more complicated when reckless and captivating Miss York arrives to town and seems to be getting in one scrape after another, always putting herself in danger. But Calista doesn’t want a man -or anyone else- interfering in her investigation. But it seems that instead of keeping her identity undercover, she is attracting more attention than she ought to… That is, if she wants to find the mobster’s daughter and finally get the recognition she craves. Things get more complicated as the local people organize a raffle for the orphanage, where the prize is a baby, and Calista’s name is entered in the drawing. Can you see the trouble brewing? And will Calista ever find Lila, before she ends up kidnapped herself or worse? Will she and Matthew, opposites as they are, ever have a chance of acknowledging their growing feelings? I won’t spoil the story, you’ll have to read it for yourself to find out. I’ll just say it was a delightful journey, full of everything I love in my novels: sweet romance, humor and laugh out loud moments, mixed with intrigue and danger. The plot kept me engaged the whole time. There are unexpected twists and lots of action and funny moments. The romance is sweet and clean, a bit hard for them to let down their walls, but so endearing. Most of all, I loved the characters: Calista’s spunky, naïve and straightforward nature had me smiling a lot. And Matthew was funny and too, especially because he took everything so seriously, and how he sees Calista as a lost sheep at first. His feeling of helplessness is deep, and he will have to learn and mature in regard as what is most important in his mission. Calista will be a help in that. They both have heart of gold and are selfless and interested in. helping others. The book has an inspiring message that wasn’t preachy at all. The secondary characters, especially Calista’s cousins, were a wonderful addition and made the story more fun and enjoyable. I can see some characters in this book getting their long story later in this Series. The book is well written, the descriptions enough detailed for me to transport myself to Joplin and the characteristics of the place and people in that era. I definitely recommend this book to anyone! It was delighful and endearing! A great escape for these days! I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Calista York is a probationary Pinkerton agent searching for the kidnapped daughter of a Chicago mobster somewhere in the rowdy city of Joplin, Missouri. She must work undercover to save the missing girl from harm, and nothing can stop her-- not her nosy extended family in the area, the seedy crowd of miners and fallen women of Joplin, and especially not the handsome missionary determined to keep her safe. Matthew Cook is a missionary trying to reach out to the fallen community known as “wicked Joplin.” When he learns that the local children’s home is raffling off a baby to raise money, he is determined to stop the spectacle while continuing his Christian outreach to the unruly miners he befriends. The only thing that could possibly distract him is the confounding and beautiful Calista York, who always seems to be hiding something and getting herself into trouble. Can these two find a way to face their feelings for each other with such important missions on their hearts? And will they be able to intervene and help those who need it the most? Regina Jennings delivers a spunky and exciting tale full of adventure and romance that keeps you intrigued until the very last page. This was an extremely enjoyable and upbeat read with just enough danger and mystery to make it exciting. A cast of colorful, offbeat, and sometimes exasperating characters like Calista’s cousins bring humor to adventurous plot, but did try my patience at times. This may very well be the intention because they annoy our hero and heroine to no end! Calista’s recklessness and Matthew’s overrighteous attitude at the beginning were not quite to my liking, but their character arcs show growth and maturity in the end, which makes the book less predictable and therefore much more entertaining. The romance between the two was both sweet and swoon-worthy! There were some great scenes between the two that made this such a well-written love story. Both the romance between the two charcters and the overall plot had twists and surprises that made this book impossible to put down. I loved this tale of adventure, mystery, and romance from Regina Jennings, and I cannot wait for the next books in the series! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher to review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Thanks for making me do what I didn't want to do. Thanks for making me be a better person than I want to be today." Regina Jennings once again delivers a historical romance with wit, charm, funny laugh-out-loud scenes, and wonderful characters with a subtle undercurrent of intrigue and mystery. This novel kicks off her new Joplin Chronicles series set in late 1890s and it promises to be an exciting and adventurous series. Calista is an undercover Pinkerton agent in training who has been sent to Joplin, MO to find a kidnapped daughter of a Chicago mobster. Her enthusiastic devotion to her calling as an investigator, ingenuity, and cleverness are unparalleled though she does constantly get into one scrape or another while on the job. Her physical proximity to her large, influential extended family in Joplin hinders her work but provides for much amusement. Matthew is a farm boy who's followed God's calling to Joplin to preach and minister. His naive, good-hearted, compassionate nature is refreshing and lovely though he needs to learn humility in the hardened mining town. There are plenty of memorable scenes like playing charades, foray into seedy bars, volunteering at an orphanage, Bible studies in Matthew's little cottage, and a baby raffle in the midst of Calista and Matthew each finding the right path that God is calling them to. If you enjoy well-written, fun historical romance, you will definitely enjoy this book. I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

"Callista had been warned that Saturday night in Joplin was unlike anywhere else in the world." Travelling back to her hometown of Joplin, Missouri put Pinkerton operative Callista York in a precarious position. People would most certainly recognize her, but unfortunately not version of "her" that she was pretending to be. Callista's mission was crystal clear; find the missing mob boss' daughter as quickly as possible, safely extract the subject, thus securing her job with the famed detective agency. Wouldn't you know it? In a comedic twist of fate, she runs straight into a preacher man trying to save her soul from perdition, on her very first foray into Joplin's dens of iniquity. "Matthew had been warned about Saturday night." Fortunately or unfortunately, Matthew hadn't been warned about beautiful women pretending to be "professional decorators" in one place and "nurses" in another. Callista York was up to her pretty little neck in tall tales, but why? Being a missionary in a place like Joplin was already more that Matthew Cook had bargained for, now he was worrying and wondering about dark curls and lovely eyes and . . . . . just who is she anyway? Callista is related to half the town. Enjoy this delightfully entertaining story of "handsome-wholesome" meeting "spunky-sparky", for when matters of the heart rise to the surface, and unforeseen danger rounds the corner, Callista and Matthew succumb to a partnership which they sadly realize can't possibly end in a happily ever after scenario. For "the same God who compels you to declare freedom to the captives has given me the task of freeing a very specific captive. There's no difference." . . . . or so she thinks.