Courting Misfortune was a fun historical romance! Stories about Pinkerton Detectives are always intriguing to me, so I was eager to pick up this one.

The characters were great and I was curious to see how the mystery would play out. There was a twist that I didn't see coming.

All in all, Courting Misfortune was enjoyable to read and held my attention. I recommend it to fans of the genre. Looking forward to continuing the series.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

To be honest, the book starts out at a slower pace, and I did have a harder time connecting to the characters in the first half. Calista comes off as too flighty because of her history as a socialite and her often senseless attempts at disguise, making it clear that she isn't the most talented Pinkerton ever hired.

I did like Matthew from the beginning. He's trying to figure out what missionary work actually looks like when he realizes that God called him to the US instead of a foreign country. He isn't sure what his ministry is going to look like, but he doesn't let that hold him back.

Something happens about midway, though, and Calista realizes quite suddenly that she is running out of time to rescue the woman she has come to find. At the same time, the very real-life problems she is running up against makes her suddenly begin to mature and to view life differently. It's when she is on a tight deadline, keeping up with an unexpected baby, and trying to rescue her cousin at the same time, that I loved her the most. Her actions after that show that she has had to re-evaluate what she deems important and what really won me over into liking her so much and what made me hang five stars on this book...really good example of how to improve a character during a book. I literally couldn't put it down while she was dealing with everything and then facing a sudden twist ending to her quest!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

What a fun book! I really enjoyed all the things Calista got herself into! Her cousins are a hoot! Maisie and Amos are cousins I’d love to have in my life! If you need a book to distract you and make you laugh and smile then this is one of those books! I’m reading Proposing Mischief next! Can’t wait to dive in!!!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

Regina Jenning's Courting Misfortune is a fun book about a female Pinkerton agent. CalistaYork accepts a case in her hometown with family all over the place. She is trying to earn a spot with the famous Pinkerton detectives. Unfortunately, not only her family but Missionary minded Matthew Cook shows up and wants to reform the wayward Miss york.
I love the humor that shines throughout this book along with faith and family. The plot is engaging and the characters are delightful. So if you want a fun read on a chilly day grab a pot of tea and settle in for an enjoyable day.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Matthew & Calista have just met their match...

Oh, boy...It's books like Courting Misfortune that make me such a fan of Regina Jennings. It's a flat-out fun read filled with quirky characters, hilarious mishaps and misapprehensions, and enough suspense to keep it far from being a typical historical romance. Seriously, though, who knew Joplin was so dangerous over a century ago?

I'm going to make a confession. Right off the bat Matthew annoyed me to no end, he was just so sanctimonious and thought he knew better than everyone how they should live their lives. But as he evolved, as he started to get a clue, he really grew on me and by the last few chapters I downright liked him. Calista, well, Calista was just...Calista. Even when she's bitten off more than she can chew she stubbornly charges on ahead in the name of justice.

I was caught by the title, Courting Misfortune, when I first saw it, and, now that I've read it I can tell you that it is the perfect title for it! Even if I hadn't already intended on reading this book based on Regina Jennings's name on the cover I would have wanted to read it because of that title.

This book kicks of The Joplin Chronicles series which I know will be a real hoot and well worth reading. This first book is already a winner in my opinion and I can't wait to return to Joplin and that crazy family! Whether you are a longtime fan of the author or brand new you won't want to pass this book by...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Calista York is a probationary Pinkerton Agent with everything to prove. When her boss sends her after a kidnapped woman, she must go undercover. But working so close to her grandmother’s ranch puts in her hot water with the family, and the handsome preacher living next door to her hotel.

I love Calista. The push-pull of her situation keeps her, and readers, off kilter the whole story. Every time she thinks she has a step forward, her family or preacher Matthew Cook throw a wrench in her plans. Her bravery and desire to do whatever necessary to find the kidnapped girl is incredibly commendable. If only she could tell Matthew and her family so they wouldn’t think her wayward ways were real.

Matthew is a bit more challenging to get to know. On one hand he is an over-zealous missionary and yet in someways naive. Attempting to help Calista complicates things in a good way and I like how his determination to do to good is at the root of all his actions. It makes him the perfect hero opposite Calista.

Courting Misfortune is a fun historical romance set in the troubled city of Joplin, Missouri. Nothing in that town is as black and white as it seems.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Christian Historical
It took me a little bit to get into the story, but it picked up momentum and then was hard to put down. I had to know what happened. Calista is on a kidnapping case, undercover, but in a town where much of her family lives. So much had been fabricated for her in order to do the research she needed. Matthew is a preacher who felt called to the same town. He couldn't figure Calista out, but realized she was putting herself in danger. Subtle humor inserts when her cousins come into the scenes. God's plans orchestrate each of their paths, leading to an interesting and unexpected conclusion .
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#CourtingMisfortune #NetGalley

What a fun historical mystery! I've always had a fascination with reading books about the Pinkerton so this book was perfect for me. I absolutely loved following along with the mystery and romance. It was such an interesting story that I will definitely be rereading again in the future!

Regina Jennings is a great author and I really enjoyed this book! After being introduced to the main character in a previous novella, I knew I wanted to read more about her.
While Calista was great, I loved Matthew! Her character grew on me, just as she grew in the story, but Matthew was strength and integrity from the beginning.
I’m so glad there will be more books in this series!

This was a fun beginning to a new series! I enjoyed learning about female Pinkerton agents and the city of Joplin, MO. Calista is trying to become an agent and is in training. Matthew wants to be a preacher/missionary in Joplin. Their paths continue to cross with her investigations. It was an enjoyable read. I received a copy from the publisher. All views stated are my own.

Regina Jennings books do not disappoint. This is another great story filled with Pinkertons, mystery and a dash of romance.

Calista is in training as a Pinkerton agent. She was sent on a mission to find a kidnapped young lady she is sent into a rowdy town full of miners and questionable characters. A young preacher decides she is a young lady headed for trouble and their paths are destined to cross frequently. This is full of mishaps, troubles, secrets and a little romance. Serious happenings but some oh so fun mishaps that kept me reading and wondering just what Calista would get into next. I requested a copy through NetGalley , no review was required. My review is voluntary.

It’s always a pleasure to read one of Regina Jennings’ books. This author knows how to tell a fun, compelling story with wonderful characters, and this book is one of her best. Calista York is a wonderful main character who is spunky, intelligent, and caring. Matthew Cook was the perfect counterpoint to Calista, and their story is an interesting one. There are twists in this storyline that kept me eagerly turning pages to see what Calista was going to do next. I admired her steadfastness to do what she felt was right, and how she was willing to do that even at a high personal cost. This book is an excellent example of Christian historical fiction that is well-written and inspiring.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Calista works for the Pinkerton agency and her task is to find a missing girl from Chicago. tTe fear is she's entrapped in one of the many saloons and brothels in Joplin. He mission is interrupted by her meddling family who lives just outside the city, as well as a handsome missionary from Pine Gap, out to save the souls of the miners. Calista is a magnet for trouble and if she doesn't find the girl, she will loose her job. Perhaps even the love of her life.

In the past I've had several hit or miss with Ms Jennings's book and this was definitely a hit! The beginning was a bit slow for my taste but once I got in past the first few chapters it took off. Calista is a headstrong character with strong morals, and a goal in life. I enjoyed watching her grow and search and help those in need.

Matthew was a bit slower, it took a little longer for me to warm up to him but once I did I was all in. I enjoyed Calista's and Matthew's romance, they balanced each other very well, her impulsiveness with his more levelheadedness-- but her quick thinking tames his temper and hotblood. They both have virtues and vices.

I will say I was a bit surprised at the end. It did not end how I was expecting. I didn't guess the mystery at all, didn't really have a clue until all was revealed. I will say that the foreshadowing was a tiny bit lacking, it wasn't a dramatic plot twist nor was it an expected surprise. The reveal lacked an oomph.

The surprise I did enjoy was Howie and where he ended up. His is a minor subplot that was really endearing. I don't love the 'heroine ends up with an orphan infant to care for with her love interest' trope, but the resolution was well done.

All in all a good read. I really recommend reading Intrigue a la Mode first. I also love the call out to Pine Gap and a specific character from the Ozark Mnt series.

4.2 Stars for the slow start and the humdrum plot twist.

Regina Jennings has quickly became a favorite of mine after reading her novella in The Kissing Tree collection. When I saw she had a new book coming out, I excitedly jumped on it, and was not disappointed!

The banter in Courting Misfortune is well done - I’ve gotten to where I love banter in a book as long as it isn’t forced, and Jennings let’s the conversations flow naturally between her characters.

The plot moves along wonderfully, and the character development leaves nothing to be desired.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Courting Misfortune is only the second book I have had the chance to read by Regina Phillips, but it certainly won't be the last. This was a great way to kick off a series and I for one cannot wait to read more.

In Courting Misfortune, we travel back to the late 1890s where we meet Calista- a probationary Pinkerton agent seeking the missing daughter of a mob boss and Matthew- a missionary taking on the rather chaotic city of Joplin, Missouri. I have found that when it comes to historical fiction, I so enjoy female characters who are independent and full of sass, and that was certainly the case for Calista. Not always likeable, but certainly entertaining. I enjoyed the humor within the story. History fans will enjoy getting to know some of the rather unique history of Joplin as well. Overall, I found it to be a good blend of romance, history, humor and adventure. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is certainly one worth checking out.

**Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Calista York is a probationary Pinkerton detective who needs one more good case solving to earn her permanent position. Her case sends her to rough-and-tumble Joplin, Missouri in search of kidnapped Lila Seaton, the daughter of a mob boss and suspected of being forced into prostitution. As Calista begins her search in unsavory places, she keeps running into Matthew, a young missionary determined to rescue those in Joplin heading down the wrong path. Matthew isn’t sure what to make of Calista. Her actions and her words don’t always add up, and he’s pretty sure she’s spouting all kinds of lies, but he can’t figure out her motives. She’s also putting herself in all kinds of danger, and despite himself, Matthew grows a little more attached to her every day. Calista is juggling a lot... her search, remembering who she told what story, her meddlesome cousins and grandmother, and the far-too-handsome pastor. But secrecy is key, and she is determined to earn her job as a Pinkerton and to save Lila, no matter the cost. But is the cost too great?

Courting Misfortune is the first book in Regina Jennings’ Joplin series. I always enjoy Regina’s books, though they never quite rush to the top of my TBR for some reason. I got a copy of this one from Netgalley and I moved it up on the stack, and here we are! I usually blow through books, but for some reason this one took me awhile to get through. I think it might have been Calista, though I liked her spirit and her desire to do the right thing, she far too often “courted misfortune” and took unnecessary risks with her safety and reputation. I definitely found myself siding with Matthew often! I feel like she could have used her family connections, used her connection with Matthew and his friends to have gone about her investigation in a far less deceptive and risky manner. That’s definitely it, my struggles with the book I think boil down to this point. All the deception in the book seemed so unnecessary. I understand the secrecy of the Pinkertons, but surely Calista could have let a few trustworthy people in on it far sooner (because eventually she did anyway). She would have had so much less danger and insult and far greater success in her important mission. She spent far too long getting nowhere in her search pretending to be all different types of characters.

The story definitely did pick up as you got in deeper, and I did read the climax all at once. It was the getting there that took awhile, but I am glad I stuck with it. I did really like Matthew, though like Calista, there are choices I wish he would have made along the way that would have made more sense and would have made things easier for everyone. I loved his heart for the people and his style of friendship evangelism that brought about slow and steady, but truly effective, ministry.

In conclusion, I enjoyed the story and look forward to the rest of the series, but I don’t know that I would re-read it as I would some of Regina’s other stories I have enjoyed more.

I received a copy of this story from the publisher and Netgalley for the purpose of review. My thoughts are my own.

A sweet read with great characters and twists. Regina Jennings is a favorite author -- a launch to the top of my to be read pile with each new release. Courting Misfotune shifts to Joplin in its heyday of crime and chaos. This romp will keep your attention as Calista tries to prove herself -- that she has indepedent value. Matthew wants to improve the lives of those around him as a missionary. There's such a sweet intensity to him. I really enjoyed their story.

Calista York is determined to complete her mission and secure her job as a Pinkerton operative, she is clever and has admirable intentions, she doggedly pursues her target.

Matthew Cook is a missionary who is determined to turn the town of Joplin around, he was hard to like with his high horsed opinions that he knew what was best for others, and while he wasn't entirely wrong, sometimes he could have gone about things more tactfully.

This was a hard book for me to get into, there is definitely a lot going on and a fun plot, but I found the main characters hard to like, and felt that at times that it reached too hard to find the humor. I very much enjoy the supporting characters like, Granny, Maisie, and baby Howie who was adorable.

Overall, this was my second time reading a book by this author and while I enjoyed many parts of the book, there were also parts that I found not to my personal taste, though I can see why many of my friends really enjoyed it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jennings has written a historical romance that has humor and wonderful characters with an undercurrent of intrigue and mystery. This novel is set in the 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 only drawback is her large, influential family that lives in Joplin, threatens to hinder her work as she is working undercover. Matthew is a farm boy who’s followed God’s calling to Joplin to preach and minister. He is instantly attracted to Calista and she to him, but she cannot get too close because she is not who she says she is. There is much within the pages to keep you interested, scenes like pretending to be looking for work as into seedy bars, volunteering at an orphanage, Bible studies in Matthew’s little cottage and of all things,a baby raffle. …. If you enjoy well-written, fun historical romance, you will definitely enjoy this book……I received an ecopy of the book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

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