Love in Disguise

Back Cover

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.

Review

This was a very delightful read!  Combining the world of theatre, old western towns, hint of romance, and a Murder, She Wrote-type mystery, and you come up with Love in Disguise.

Ellie is desperate for a job, nearly any job, and she jumps at the chance to work for the Pinkerton Detective Agency.  To her, it sounds like a thrilling adventure one reads about in dime novels, and it finally provides her with a stage to use her acting skills. 

For Steven, all he ever wanted was a chance to redeem himself to his father.  When his grand dream is failing due to nefarious deeds, he becomes desperate to have the wrong-doer caught.  He first meets Ellie as elderly Lavinia Stewart, tripping over a broken board in the mercantile and falling into his arms.  He immediately has a soft-spot for the sweet Mrs. Stewart, who has promises of investing into his mine.  When Mrs. Stewart’s niece, Jessie Munroe, arrives, he is blown away by her vivacious personality, looks, and charm.

Ellie now not only has to determine who is stealing the silver, but balance both of her characters (and keep those wigs in place!), and stop her heart for falling for Steven.  Because it’s Jessie he’s falling in love with…right?  When the stakes are raised by suspicious “accidents”, Ellie realizes that she must find out who the thief is, or else she may pay with her very life.

Full of charming characters, delicious dialogue, and mysterious twists and turns, Love in Disguise is one novel you shouldn’t miss!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.