Blue Jeans And Teacups: Kathleen Y'Barbo

Barbour Publishing 03/15/2020

- 4 stars – recommended

•°o•:*:•.Very Enjoyable Book.•:*:• o°•

The synopsis of this book is very inaccurate. Despite that, I really enjoyed the story. Wyatt Creed is not a Pinkerton man. He is 14 and on a cattle drive with his friend, 12-year-old Eliza Jane Gentry and her father (the boss) and a brat of a boy named Benjamin Barnhart. Things with Wyatt’s angry drunk of a father get out of hand, and the 2 boys end up in an altercation that changes their lives forever. Eliza grows up thinking that Wyatt was killed that night on the cattle drive and years later thinks she is falling for Ben whose political ambitions have him doing whatever it takes to succeed. Eliza is stubborn, just like her dad and they butt heads often. Eventually, she learns a whole lot of truth, but not before getting into a whole lot of trouble. Wyatt has made a new life for himself as a well-respected detective with his own agency, but he’s never forgotten the little girl who was his dear friend.

“Hurrying inside, she took a seat in the back pew and listened to a sermon based on 1 John 3 about living as God’s children. She left feeling not only uplifted, but also secure in the knowledge that her current troubles had not escaped the Lord’s notice.”

“Tea would be lovely. Earl Grey if you have it.”

I received an eCopy from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review with no further compensation or expectation.

So far in this series, twelve books have been written by varied authors so they loosely reference each other’s characters in the family tree, and therefore need not be read together or in order. You can read about them at DaughtersOfTheMayflowerDotCom.

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS – HOWEVER, WHOEVER WROTE IT CLEARLY DID NOT READ THE BOOK:

Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive
Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Furious at his daughter’s choices, her father sends her off with the cattle drive heading toward Fort Worth and the Barnhart ranch, but under the watchful eye of Wyatt Creed, a Pinkerton man he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn—not the least of which to his heart—can Wyatt Creed keep his focus with Eliza Gentry around? Is the Chisholm Trail a place for falling in love or a place to die at the hands of cattle thieves?

•°• 3 in 1 •°• Book Review •°•

Kathleen Y’Barbo

The Secret Lives of Will Tucker

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FLORA’S WISH – The Secret Lives of Will Tucker #1 of 3

•°•Very Enjoyable: Mystery, Faith, Drama, Romance, Historical Setting•°•

This book has a little bit of everything, which is exactly what I hope for. All though I would up the danger a little more (but, that’s just me).

Opening scripture: “Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Col. 3:14

1887 Natchez, Mississippi

Flora Brimm – aka Fatal Flora has had and lost 5 fiancés to death! She is attempting to marry a 6^th, Will Tucker, before the terms of her grandfather’s will expire and she loses her family home to her cousin.

However, Lucas McMinn, a handsome Irish Pinkerton agent, is hunting Will Tucker for nefarious activities, which throws a huge wrench in Flora’s plans. He is also an inventor, and his inventions are used to aid his detective skills. That was a fun addition to the story! Lucas takes Flora into custody and a whirlwind adventure ensues. These two have wonderful chemistry and depth and I greatly enjoyed them. There is plenty of humor and faith/praying as well. There are several typos in the book, which I needed to overlook, since the story is quite good.

Favorite Quote: pg. 20 – “It’s not done. At least not by a Brimm, of course.” Grandmama looked as if she had given the ultimate answer to all responses. Of course, in her circle, it was the ultimate response. Some things just weren’t done. Flora made a note to dance in the rain at her earliest opportunity. Not to show Grandmama, but to take one item off the list of things that just weren’t done by Brimms.”

I purchased this copy. My opinion is my own and without compensation. I will rate it 5 stars for the story, but would drop a 1/2 star for editing if that were allowed.

362 pages + discussion questions (which I never read)

Read: 2/26-28/2015 / Reviewed: 3/3/2015

MILLIE’S TREASURE – The Secret Lives of Will Tucker #2 of 3

•°•Kyle Russell is a dream•°•

This book has a little bit of everything; entertainment, intrigue, mystery, romance, historical setting (old world Memphis and New Orleans), and of course, faith.

Opening scripture: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

1888

Kyle Russell, a Pinkerton agent, was well introduced in Book one and I knew I liked him. Smart, funny, kind and a man of God. He is also an inventor along with his best friend Lucas McMinn. Lucas returns in several small scenes, which I enjoyed. Kyle is on 2 cases really, or about to be. Looking for lost Confederate gold, buried long ago, and following up on the missing escape convict, Will Tucker. Preparing to start the new case, his boss, Henry (who is a wonderful, jolly older fellow with much wisdom), has sent him to Memphis. However, he has given him a few days to test a new invention on the rooftop of an empty building New Year’s Eve.

Mildred Cope is the remaining of 3 daughters after the older two tragically died along with their mother during a yellow fever epidemic several years ago. She is wealthy, elegant, and beautiful, but so much more! Millie’s father is mean and does not understand her highly intelligent mind. He has pushed her towards and English gentleman, Sir William Truek hoping for a beneficial business arrangement for himself, as well as someone who can tame his daughter into the sort of quite wife he believes women are meant to be. Millie has agreed to the marriage in hopes of escaping to England to be free to pursue her love of science, and simply be considered an odd American that nobody will care to much about to interfere with.

New Year’s Eve marks the evening her engagement is to be announced at the Peabody Hotel gala, but she finds herself feeling stifled and recalling a recent trip to her father’s business where she explored a rooftop to sketch the stars and found some interesting items that appeared to be some sort of experiment. She ducks out of the party to return to the rooftop where she meets Kyle Russell. The results are wonderful and the beginning of an amazing relationship orchestrated by God.

I definitely enjoyed the charming characters found in Kyle’s parents, and the scenery, particularly in New Orleans. It made me want to visit there some day. I did find the capture anticlimactic. There was a lot of build up towards it, and then a simple change of plans from Millie resolved it and it was over. She was well prepared for danger, after practicing. Like book one, the danger aspect fell short for me. I like a bit more danger, nothing crazy, but still, more.

As with book one, there are several typos in this book, which I needed to overlook, since the story is quite good. In fact, the beginning of Ch. 23 has two paragraphs that are nearly identical, but with two completely different scenarios. I personally preferred the first one, but what a huge editing mistake.

I purchased this copy. My opinion is my own and without compensation. I will rate it 5 stars for the story, but would drop a 1/2 star for editing if that were allowed.

323 pages + discussion questions (which I never read)

Read: 3/21-22/2015 / Reviewed: 3/23/2015

SADIE’S SECRET – The Secret Lives of Will Tucker #3 of 3

•°• Great Adventure & Redemption •°•

I thoroughly enjoyed the final installment in this series, filled with: mystery, romance, faith, historical settings including Key West, and a bit of danger.

Opening scripture: “The LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper.” Genesis 4:9

1889

British detective William “Jefferson” Tucker is off to visit his twin brother William “John” Tucker in the Louisiana State Penn, where his brother promptly switches places with him and he loses a year of his life!

1890

Sarah Lousie “Sadie” Callum, a well-trained Pinkerton agent (unbeknownst to her family), is assigned to review the case, and if possible, right the wrong done to Jefferson.

The premise of the twins was a grand one, and there is wonderful, twisting adventure in this story, as the two characters work closely on the same side of the law – making them highly compatible with one another. I loved learning about the mangrove trees in Key West, where the crabs crawl. I felt like I was in the little row-boat. There is wonderful redemption at the end of the story that brought me to tears, and book three finally had a bit more danger, which was lacking in the first two books (in my opinion).

I purchased this copy. My opinion is my own and without compensation. I give it a 5 star rating.

340 pages + discussion questions (which I never read)

Read: 3/23-26/2015 / Reviewed: 3/29/2015