"Trouble in Store" by Carol Cox

About this book:

  “Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross must embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he's not about to let some obstinate woman with newfangled ideas mess up all he's worked for. He's determined to get Melanie married off as soon as possible, and luckily there are plenty of single men in town quite interested in taking her off his hands.
The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn't want her to marry up with any of them. He's drawn to Melanie more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store unexpectedly offer positive results.
  But someone doesn't want the store to succeed, and what used to be just threatening words has escalated into deliberate destruction and lurkers in the night. When a body shows up on the mercantile steps--and the man obviously didn't die from natural causes--things really get dangerous. Can Melanie and Caleb's business--and romance--survive the trouble that's about to come their way?”


Series: As of now, no.


Spiritual Content- Proverbs 3:5-6 at the beginning; Scriptures are quoted, read, & remembered; Bible reading; Prayers & Thanking God; Church going & sermons; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & answered prayers; Mentions of Bibles, those & events in the Bible; Mentions of a pastor, services, sermons, hymns, & church going.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’, an ‘idiot’, and a ‘stupid’; Some eye rolling; Fighting, Being attacked, & Almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Fires & being trapped in smoke (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of murders, how they happened, dead body, wounds, & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of possibly other murders; Mentions of fighting, hitting someone, injuries, & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of criminals & a murderer; Mentions of poison; Mentions of fires & smoke; Mentions of threats; Mentions of jail; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & saloons; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a possible lynching mob & mobs; A few mentions of tobacco; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of spankings; A couple mentions of a battle & death; A couple mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of cigars & smoking; A mention of a possible hanging.

Sexual Content- a barely-above-not-detailed kiss and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Tingles/Warmth, & Nearness (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Remembering touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of reputations & chaperones; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;

             *Note: A few mentions of a wife and baby who died in childbirth; A few mentions of a woman’s bosom; A mention of butting heads.

-Melanie Ross

-Caleb Nelson
                                P.O.V. switches between them

                                              Set in 1885
                                                        346 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This was my second time reading this historical with mystery elements and I still enjoyed it! Melanie is a name I feel that we don’t see often in historical fiction and since it matched the character well, it was a breath of fresh air. The only thing I would have liked in addition to this novel was a epilogue, but other than that, it was a great read. :)

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"Cross My Heart" by Carol Cox

About this book:

  “Violet Canfield has a tender heart. Growing up, she cared for a constant stream of orphaned animals. Now, when three orphaned children show up on her doorstep, it's second nature to protect the kids from the wild-eyed man chasing them. Raised in the shadow of strong men, Willie Bradley believes it's time to prove his own worth. But his new job - delivering three mischievous children to their guardian in Airzona Territory - may be too much for him. When the trio slip away from him and take refuge at Violet's farm, he must not only try to locate their missing guardian but persuade Violet he's trustworthy as well. Can Violet and Willie get past their first impressions and discover each other's true character? What does God have planned in their "chance meeting"?”


Series: Book #4 in the “Sagebrush Brides” series. (The other books have not been reviewed.)


Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are quoted & mentioned; Prayers; Witnessing to young children; Talks about God, Jesus, & Heaven; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of faiths & Christ-likeness; Mentions of Heaven, angels, & salvation; Mentions of blessings; Mentions of sins; A few mentions of a minister; A couple mentions of thanking God; A couple mentions of Bibles.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’ and three ‘idiot’s; A bit of sarcasm; Pain & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of pain, injuries, & bleeding; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of animal waste; A few mentions of an accident & death; A couple mentions of a gambler; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of debauchery.

Sexual Content- two border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Remembering a kiss & embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; A few mentions of a forehead kiss; A few mentions of nearness & smelling; A few mentions of chaperones & reputations; A couple mentions of blushes & staring; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.

-Violet Canfield

-Willie Bradley, age 21
                                P.O.V. switches between them

                                               Set in 1885
                                                        176 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This was a really sweet and easy read! Lots of faith content and children antics. There was a few parts or words that didn’t seem like they would be historically accurate, but it was overall a cute read.

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"Love in Disguise" by Carol Cox

About this book:

  “Can she solve the crime before they uncover her true identity?
  Jobless and down to her last dime, Ellie Moore hears about a position with the Pinkerton Detective Agency and believes it's the perfect chance to put her acting skills and costumes to use. Reluctantly, the agency agrees to give her one assignment, one chance to prove herself. Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie travels to Arizona to begin her investigation. When the need arises, she also transforms into the dazzling Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.
  Mine owner Steven Pierce is going to lose his business if he can't figure out who's stealing his silver shipments. In his wildest dreams, he never expected to receive help from a gray-haired widow...or to fall in love with her beautiful niece.
  Then the thieves come after Lavinia and Jessie. Ellie isn't safe no matter which character she plays! Should she give up and reveal her true identity? What will Steven do when he realizes the woman he's falling in love with doesn't really exist?
  Set in 1880s Arizona, Love in Disguise blends romance, humor, and mystery for a can't-put-down read.”


Series: No.

Spiritual Content- Psalm 86:11 at the beginning; Many Prayers & Thanking God; Scriptures are mentioned, read, talked about & thought over; Church going, singing & sermons; Talks about God & praying; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Ellie isn’t sure God is listening, says she believes & starts to wonder if God really does care about her; *Spoiler* 80 pages till the end, Ellie gives what she has to God. *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of church; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading & believers; Mentions of those in the Bible; Mentions of blessings; Philippians 4:4 is referenced at the author’s note;

*Note: A mention of a ghost.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddy’, a form of ‘stupid’, two ‘idiot’s, three forms of ‘dumb’; Many, many mentions of threats, thieves & robbers; Many mentions of drinking, alcohol, flasks, saloons & drunks; Mentions of blood, aiming to kill/hurt & fighting (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of fires & deaths (semi-detailed); Mentions of gamblers & gambling; Mentions of gossip; A mention of tobacco; A (non-sexual) assault.

Sexual Content- a forehead kiss, an almost kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss and a semi-detailed kiss; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed kisses); Wanting to touch, embrace & kiss; Touches, Embraces, & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing (up to semi-detailed); two ‘floozy’s; A mention of a man skirt chasing; A mention of a man looking at Jessie with hunger; A mention of having a warm body to be with at night (in the married sense); A couple mentions of honeymoons; Mentions of flirting & crushes; Mentions of reputations; Mentions of courtesans & saloon girls (“Being reduced to selling one’s body surely required circumstances of extreme desperation.” Ellie says she would rather stave first.); Mentions of kisses & kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a creeper who leers & sends intimate glances towards Jessie (and asks Jessie if she wants to sit in his lap and she shivers over his possessiveness); Love, falling in love & the emotions; 

               *Note: A mention of a buxom woman; A couple mentions of attractive women’s figures; A couple mentions of a woman swaying her hips; A few mentions of a Rubenesque painting; Mentions of Jessie trying to get male attention & it working (mostly just swaying hips, barely-above-not-detailed).

-Ellie Moore

-Steven Pierce
                                   P.O.V. switches between them, & the Villain (twice)

                                              Set in 1881-1882
                                                        350 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This is such a fun plot—just reading the back cover makes me happy and giggly! Quite a bit of Spiritual Content which is great, pretty clean Sexual Content wise and the mystery is very interesting! I very rarely read a book twice, but this was my second time reading “Love in Disguise”, so it’s definitely one I enjoy. :)

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.