Proposing Mischief By Regina Jennings

PROPOSING MISCHIEF

by Regina Jennings

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: The Joplin Chronicles

ISBN: 9780764235351

I was super excited to join Regina Jennings' launch team for book 2 in her The Joplin Chronicles. I enjoyed book 1, and seeing this cover when it was revealed put a smile on my face. How can one not want to read a book that looks like adorable? She sent me the book for review

Summary:

Only one person can give her the freedom she seeks--but is it worth the risk?

Maisie Kentworth is being forced to stay on her parents' ranch. After a short-lived relationship with the wrong man, she's worried about inflaming things further between her former beau and her protective family. Left to rue her mistakes, she keeps busy exploring the idle mine at the edge of their property, where she discovers a great treasure.

Boone Bragg is also stuck. With his parents on vacation, the management of Bragg Mining falls on him, and one of his advisors wants him as a son-in-law. One wrong move, and Boone will end up either offending an associate or marrying a woman he can't endure.

While closing up a spent mine, Boone gets two surprises. One is a spitfire farm girl who's trespassing with a pickax, and the other is the amazing crystal cavern that she's discovered. Suddenly Boone sees a way to overhaul the family business. With part of the cavern on Kentworth land, Boone makes Maisie a proposal that he hopes will solve all of their problems. Instead it throws Joplin into chaos, and it will take all of Maisie's gumption to set things right.

My Review:

Wow! What a fun stinking story! I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I REALLY enjoyed the second installment!

We meet Maise again, who was getting into mischief in book one with Silas, who turned out to be a snake. But oh my gosh, her story was a hoot! I found myself laughing out loud numerous times in the story. Regina really pulls out all of the stops with Maise and Boone's dialogue. Even with Maise's way of thinking you'll get a chuckle.

Maise meets Boone in a way that only she could conjure up. I have to admit, I'm prone to really enjoying the female protagonists when they're a bit out of the ordinary. If they're quirky, rough around the edges, and a bit rugged, I tend to lean towards liking them. Well, Maise had all of that, and more, in spades. She's absolutely a force to be reckoned with.

Then there's Boone. He's avoiding all of the women (and their mothers) who have set their sights on him for matrimony. Maise, yea, she does NOT look at Boone that way. She just wants freedom and the chance to explore. Boone is a bit quirky himself. That being said, he's a smart business man with a good head on his shoulders. He's not so great at relationships.

Together they come up with an ingenious plan, but nothing ever seems to come easy for poor Maise. I thoroughly enjoyed how Boone stood up for Maise and they tried to talk things out when there was a misunderstanding. Sometimes it took a while, but I truly appreciate it when characters aren't acting ridiculous. lol Of course, there are highfalutin characters who not only tried my patience, but Maise and Boone's as well. There was also a bit of mystery around who might be trying to stop the wonderful "find" from being seen by the world. 

I have to also say that I absolutely loved the way the author incorporated God into the story and his majesty being seen through the treasure Maise finds. It's clear Maise and Boone know the Lord and His word. They want their treasure to proclaim His wonder! Don't you just love that?

About the Author:

Regina Jennings (www.reginajennings.com) is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history. She's the winner of the National Readers' Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at the Mustang Newsand at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.