'Double Trouble' by Susan May Warren - Book Review and Giveaway

Susan May Warren is a prolific and talented writer.  Her latest book, ‘Double Trouble,’ is the second novel chronicling the life of PJ Sugar.

PJ Sugar is a late-twenty-something lady who finds herself in the middle of all sorts of escapades.  In this novel, she has just returned to her hometown of Kellogg, Minnesota, and is trying her hand at being a private investigator.  She is working under the tutelage of Jeremy Kane, PI.  Jeremy is charmed and fascinated by PJ – as are most people with whom she comes into contact. 

As explained by Susan May Warren in the Author’s Note:

“The PJ Sugar series is all about discovering that God has great plans for even messy girls – like PJ, like me.  He likes them! He made them that way, and He doesn’t expect them to be perfect.” (p. 334)

Other characters in the novel are Detective Boone Buckam, her high school sweetheart, and PJ’s sister Connie, with whom she is living temporarily.  Their mother, Elizabeth, also lives there, along with Connie’s four year old son Davy, her new Russian husband, Sergei, and his parents Boris and Vera.     

PJ left her hometown about ten years prior to the events of this novel – shortly after her high school graduation.  Some events transpired that caused her to want to leave town.  It is not exactly clear what happened (as I interpret events). 

One of PJ’s first cases as a junior PI is to impersonate Dallas (aka Dally) Morrison, a young lady who will be testifying in a big trial in Chicago.  Jeremy is in charge of keeping her in hiding; PJ is to pretend to be Dally.  She lives in Dally’s home (and becomes good friends with Dally’s eighty-plus year old neighbor, Gabby), she works Dally’s job and she even plays catcher on Dally’s softball team. 

Gabby is a very Godly woman who gives PJ, who has her doubts about her place in this world and in God’s love for her, a lot of good advice:

“Sweetie, of course you’re going to make mistakes.  But don’t you know that God has a plan for each of them?  The truth is, every time you fail, it’s an opportunity for God to show you how much He loves you.  You go read Psalm 18, verse 19.  It says, ‘He rescued me because he delighted in me.’  Delighted.  That means He likes you.  He takes pleasure in you…. And every time you do something that just makes you want to scream in frustration, you have two options: to curl into a ball and hide or let God pick you up and dust you off and nudge you forward.  Let go of your fear of being judged, and draw with confidence to the throne of grace, because I promise you’ll find mercy.”  (pp. 248-249)

Despite missing a few details on what happened to PJ prior to the events of this novel, I still think 'Double Trouble' is a standalone novel; I had not read the first PJ Sugar novel, ‘Nothing but Trouble.’  However, this one was so much fun that I think I’d like to double back!  The third PJ Sugar novel, tentatively titled ‘Licensed for Trouble,’ will be out later this year.  It will be fun to follow the adventures of Miss Sugar – and see which gentleman she may end up with!

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I would love to pass this book along to one of you!  It is gently read, and covered with clear contact paper – a great way to keep a paperback in brand-new condition!

There are several ways to gain entry:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, telling me how much you’d love to read this fun tome!  Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com.

2) Follow me on Twitter; I will more than likely follow you back!  If you are already a Twitter follower, that counts, too!  Please leave an additional comment to that effect.

3) Follow me as a Google Friend on this blog; if you are already a Friend, that counts, too!  Please leave an additional comment to that effect.

4) Become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a comment to that effect.

5) Follow this blog as a NetWorked Blog Follower after you’ve become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a comment to that effect.

So there are five chances to enter!  Please limit one entry per option.

This give away is for U.S. residents only.  The deadline for entry is Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Sunday, March 7, 2010 and will be contacted via email.  The best to all of you!

This book was provided to me by Tyndale House Publishers in association with the LitFuse Publicity firm.  I am proud to be participating in the Double Trouble Blog Tour.