A Light, Fun Read -- Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel

This is the fourth book I've read by Melody Carlson, and all have been fairly light, quick-to-read stories that provide a good amount of entertainment in return for the time invested in reading them.  

In Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel, Daphne and her friends are fun characters, each with their own little quirks that add flavor to the story.  The deceased Aunt Dee sounds like someone it would have been really fun to get to know in real life!

While the author fleshes out a good story, she also leaves you wanting more.  The story ends without tying up all the loose ends, leaving room for lots of guessing until the next book in the series comes out.  I look forward to seeing where Daphne and company go next!

This book was provided free of charge by Shelton Interactive in exchange for my honest review.


A Giveaway:  I have a second copy of this book that I will be happy to share with a lucky reader.  If you're interested, post a comment below by midnight, Sunday, July 28, and I'll randomly choose a winner.
 

About the Book

With high hopes, Daphne Ballinger lands her dream job at The New York Times. But it's not long until writing about weddings becomes a painful reminder of her own failed romance, and her love of the city slowly sours as well. Is it time to give up the Big Apple for her small hometown of Appleton?

When her eccentric Aunt Dee passes away and leaves a sizeable estate to Daphne, going back home is an easy choice. What isn’t easy is coming to terms with the downright odd clauses written into the will.

Daphne only stands to inherit the estate if she agrees to her aunt's very specific posthumous terms -- personal and professional. And if she fails to comply, the sprawling old Victorian house shall be bequeathed to . . . Aunt Dee’s cats.

And if Daphne thinks that’s odd, wait until she finds out an array of secrets about Aunt Dee's life, and how imperfect circumstances can sometimes lead to God's perfect timing.

 About the Author

Melody Carlson has sold more than five million books. A professional writer for twenty years, she recently received the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Melody has two grown sons and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.

For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.