Have You Read GUNPOWDER TEA by Margaret Brownley?

/ Dora Hiers
Gunpowder Tea
by Margaret Brownley

About the book~
In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life.

When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom – an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch.

But she isn’t the only one there with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggert is working the scene undercover as well. And although their true identities are a secret, it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the spark that flares between them.

But neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn’t removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they come to uncovering the identity of the Phantom, the more dangerous he gets – and no one on the ranch is safe.

But neither are their hearts – the longer Miranda and Jeremy spends working together, the harder it becomes to keep their feelings in check. Their careers – and their lives – depend on solving this case. Love will have to wait.

My summary… 

After growing up in a household of brothers and feeling responsible for her mother’s untimely death, undercover operative Miranda Hunt tries to please her father and follows in his footsteps, determined to be the best operative Pinkerton employs. So when her boss assigns her to track down the Phantom, she’s thrilled about the “assignment of a lifetime.” Not so thrilled that she’s attracted to her prime suspect, David Branch, really Jeremy Taggert, an undercover Wells Fargo detective who infiltrated the Phantom’s robbery gang. 

“There should be a law against handsome thieves.”

My thoughts…

Wow! If you thought Waiting for Morning was fabulous (and I did!), wait until you read Gunpowder Tea! I can’t think of one element that could be improved. Not one. And don’t you just love the cover? It perfectly incorporates the tone of the book. Playful, yet suspenseful, combined with daily afternoon teas featuring a certain grumpy Miss Walker, the owner of the Last Chance Ranch, who says, 


“…of course I have enemies. Making enemies is so much easier than making friends, and they’re far less trouble to maintain.” ha!

Margaret Brownley hooked me with the opening chapter, laugh out loud funny, and kept me glued to the pages with a compelling, fast moving plot. When I closed the book, I was wearing a goofy grin. That’s just the kind of book I love to read! What about you?

And I always love a book more when it addresses certain sensitive topics, and this one did. Miranda came from a mixed heritage, an Indian mother and white father. 

“Her Indian heritage was first thing people saw. Many didn’t bother looking for anything else.” 
So many years later, are we really any better at 
appreciating and valuing every human being?

No worries about picking up Gunpowder Tea before the first two books in the series. Each book is fine to read as a stand alone. But now that I’ve been introduced to Margaret Brownley’s books, I can’t wait to scoop up the first book in the series, Dawn Comes Early. What are you waiting for -> Purchase Link

Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Margaret Brownley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me with an advance review copy of Gunpowder Tea. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read Gunpowder Tea? 
Do you agree with my review? 
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E is for Envy…

/ Dora Hiers / 19 Comments
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. 
Prov 14:30 NIV

What does that person do for a living to afford that?
Wow! Would you look at that house! Wouldn’t you love to live there?
Why did my co-worker snag the promotion? I was more qualified.

Do you fall into the “envy” trap? 
Confession time! I admit that sometimes I do. Maybe I haven’t said those particular words. Mine would sound more like…
What? That writer can crank out 5,000 words in a day? How is that possible? I’m not sure I can think that fast, let alone type! or
You sold 100 books at a booksigning? or
She snagged a multi-book contract on her first try?
Insert heavy sigh here. When I hear about these tremendous accomplishments, I cringe and immediately wonder what’s wrong with me. Why can’t I write that fast? When it comes to speed, I’m definitely not going to break any records. I count it a good day if I manage to eek out over 1,000 words. To sell 100 books at one time? That number hasn’t even filtered into my dreams yet. I was thrilled to snag a contract for one book, and I lost track of the years and how many rejections it took to get that. 

If I dwell on those things, I become cranky, ungrateful, and dissatisfied with the journey I’m on.
Envy rots the bones.

Oh Lord, I so don’t want to go down that road.

“My precious daughter, don’t you know by now that I love you just the way you are?” A tiny voice whispers in my heart, convicting me that envy is not from God. “You are fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14 NIV) 


Fearfully and wonderfully made? Yowzers! 

No, God didn’t equip me to crank out 5k in a day, but He created me, shaped me into the person I am, unique and one-of-a-kind, precious in His sight. How my complaining and comparing must hurt Him! 

Ouch!

I’m so sorry, precious Lord. Please forgive me. Guard my heart from envy. Don’t allow it to seep into my life and settle into my bones. I will praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

What about you? Do you fall into the “envy” trap?

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Have you read STRANDED by Dani Pettrey?

/ Dora Hiers / 4 Comments

About the book~
When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn’t satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn’t lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby’s position. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn’t the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.

Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He’s surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report. Something sinister is going on and the deeper they dig the more Gage fears they’ve only discovered the tip of the iceberg.


My summary~
Darcy St. James gave up investigative reporting years ago, but she still loves the thrill of tracking down leads. So when her friend, Abby, terribly frightened and distraught about her current story, contacts her, Darcy determines to help her friend uncover the truth. When Darcy arrives on the cruise ship, Abby has vanished. Restless and hoping to squash five month old memories of Darcy, Gage McKenna accepts the excursions gig on the cruise ship. The last person he expects to run into on the cruise ship is Darcy St. James.

What I liked…


I really liked that the author had set up Gage and Darcy’s story at the end of her last book, Shattered. Even so, while it’s not necessary to read Shattered before Stranded, you probably should because once you read this one, you’ll want to go back and read the first two. Trust me.

Loved the characters. I’ve gotten to know Gage over the last two books, and he’s definitely a favorite of mine. Masculine and manly, yet wounded and vulnerable. How could Darcy not fall for him? Especially when she sees the two little feet tucked close to his heart. But then, he’d stolen her heart long before then. 

Darcy’s not a wimpy heroine. Sure, she’s frightened once she learns what they’re facing, but she’s not willing to give up on finding her friend, especially since Abby doesn’t know the Lord. This book made me think about my loved ones who don’t know the Lord. Would I be as willing to face the same frightening situations for my loved ones? The faith element is woven into the plot, so beautifully and intrinsically, and it doesn’t come off forced or trite.

and not so much…

I can’t think of one element I didn’t like about this book, except that it had to end. 

Overall…


Stranded is worthy of highest praise. It’s a book that’ll make you forget about everything except flipping the page. Definitely a keeper, and Pettrey is now on my “must read” list!

Purchase Link

Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of Stranded. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read Stranded? 
Do you agree with my review?
What about you? Would you face frightening situations to track down a friend in danger? 
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