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PJ Sugar #3
Licensed for Trouble
PJ Sugar receives shocking news that she’s inherited the Kellogg family mansion. Though she has no idea why, the timing is perfect—PJ has clearly worn out her welcome at her sister’s house. Unfortunately, the mansion is in shambles, and PJ is short on cash. Rescue comes in the form of Max Smith, a mysterious handyman willing to trade his services for PJ’s investigative skills. But PJ already has a full docket with cramming for her PI license and nurturing a growing romance with her boss, Jeremy Kane. Can she take on Max’s case without dropping the ball?
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2010
51 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
Susan May Warren
217 books3,639 followersI can't help be amazed at the gifts God has delighted me with - a wonderful husband, four amazing children, and the opportunity to write for Him.
I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.
Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.
Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, "Measure of a Man," in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.
Susan and husbandI grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it's where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series.based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I'm terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.
Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 -- and now we live in the beautiful town I'd always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings -- and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.
I 'm delighted you've stopped in to visit. My hope is that you'll be blessed and encouraged by soul-stirring stories of regular people interacting with a God who loves them.
I'd love to hear from you! I love getting mail, especially from readers and I welcome your questions and comments. Write to me at susan@susanmaywarren.com. And, if you're interested, sign up for my newsletter, a quarterly sneak peek into upcoming releases and projects. Thank you for your interest and support.
God Bless and Happy Reading!
In His Grip,
Susan May Warren
I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.
Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.
Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, "Measure of a Man," in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.
Susan and husbandI grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it's where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series.based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I'm terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.
Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 -- and now we live in the beautiful town I'd always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings -- and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.
I 'm delighted you've stopped in to visit. My hope is that you'll be blessed and encouraged by soul-stirring stories of regular people interacting with a God who loves them.
I'd love to hear from you! I love getting mail, especially from readers and I welcome your questions and comments. Write to me at susan@susanmaywarren.com. And, if you're interested, sign up for my newsletter, a quarterly sneak peek into upcoming releases and projects. Thank you for your interest and support.
God Bless and Happy Reading!
In His Grip,
Susan May Warren
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
July 20, 2010
There are just some stories that grab a reader’s heart, fill their head with a fantastic story and characters, while taking them on a roller coaster into the life of that character.
When I enter the world of PJ Sugar, I am no longer within mine, I become a part of the story and see the world through her eyes. I wish I had her spunk and determination!
LICENSED FOR TROUBLE is the perfect conclusion to a great series, and I am sorry to see it end. It perfectly sums up PJ’s character and leaves me with the sense that she just might be okay. Deeper issues are unearthed that have smoldered in the background of PJ’s life and within her own struggles, she brings out the best and worst of those around her. The story may be strictly in her point of view, but the other characters have plenty of room to grow too. Jeremy’s story and growth was a captivating addition to the story and I am so glad with the transformation he made.
I speak of these characters as if they were real, and they are. They have truly danced to life on the screen of my imagination and I wouldn’t be the same without knowing them. I have nothing but good things to say about this entire series!
Thanks to LitFuse publicity for my copy to review. This review is my honest opinion.
When I enter the world of PJ Sugar, I am no longer within mine, I become a part of the story and see the world through her eyes. I wish I had her spunk and determination!
LICENSED FOR TROUBLE is the perfect conclusion to a great series, and I am sorry to see it end. It perfectly sums up PJ’s character and leaves me with the sense that she just might be okay. Deeper issues are unearthed that have smoldered in the background of PJ’s life and within her own struggles, she brings out the best and worst of those around her. The story may be strictly in her point of view, but the other characters have plenty of room to grow too. Jeremy’s story and growth was a captivating addition to the story and I am so glad with the transformation he made.
I speak of these characters as if they were real, and they are. They have truly danced to life on the screen of my imagination and I wouldn’t be the same without knowing them. I have nothing but good things to say about this entire series!
Thanks to LitFuse publicity for my copy to review. This review is my honest opinion.
August 16, 2010
Having faced down the demons from her past that kept her running from her hometown of Kellogg for ten years, PJ Sugar is ready to embrace her new life as a private investigator-in-training. However, the final step – believing in and accepting herself – may be the hardest task she’s attempted yet. PJ longs to explore the chance of a future with her enigmatic boss, Jeremy Kane, but she has a more difficult time than she expected closing the door on her feelings for her old flame, Boone, and the memories of their legendary exploits that resulted in branding her with the moniker “nothing but trouble.” When PJ finds herself the beneficiary of the town’s wealthiest widow – a woman she barely knew – the unexpected legacy forces PJ to make a choice. In order to live the life she wants, she must quit running from her past and accept the divine grace that can turn her mistakes and shame into a redeemed treasure, a springboard for a future better than she ever imagined. Couple that with an unexpected mystery surrounding an amnesiac handyman, and PJ’s sleuthing and survival skills will be put to the ultimate test. If PJ can come to terms with her past, she might just have a shot at a dream-come-true future – but only if she survives the trouble her latest investigations throw her way…
Susan May Warren’s PJ Sugar series just gets better with each successive installment. PJ’s laugh-out-loud exploits remain as funny and fresh as ever, and the mysteries she stumbles into and solves with her unparalleled sleuthing instincts have gotten better and more suspenseful with each volume. And the romance – wowzers. For my money Warren pens some of the most swoon-worthy romances in the business, and Jeremy’s character is no exception. She excels at writing the male point-of-view, and I absolutely loved how she develops Jeremy and PJ’s relationship – they are a beautiful illustration of the “face of God’s grace” to each other, and I loved each twist and turn in their budding romance (even if PJ’s nose for trouble was apt to give me whiplash). Each character in this novel is incredibly well-drawn and so realistic it hurts – but that’s just one of the many things I love about Warren’s novels. The worlds she builds and the characters she creates never fail to leave an impact because like PJ, Warren’s writing is real, and her heart for authentic stories of redemption and grace drip from every page of her books.
The crowning jewel of this series is PJ, and the character growth she experiences in her quest to find redemption and that elusive “fresh start” for which her heart longs. I think any believer, if we’re being honest with ourselves, will not be able to help but relate to PJ’s penchant for living loud and messy and seemingly unable to escape the mistakes and scars our pasts have tattooed into the very fabric of our beings. Like PJ, we can spend so much time trying to remake ourselves and prove to others that we’ve changed that we forget one very important truth – namely, that God can redeem the messiest past, and use that mess as a springboard into a future more glorious than we could ever imagine. But we have to allow Him and then accept that grace – and it’s characters like the lovable, endearing PJ that bring that truth to vibrant life. PJ’s latest case leads her on a page-turning adventure to seek the truth that grace can truly redeem the past, and that one’s past, when washed with the sweet rain of God’s grace leads to a life worth savoring.
Susan May Warren’s PJ Sugar series just gets better with each successive installment. PJ’s laugh-out-loud exploits remain as funny and fresh as ever, and the mysteries she stumbles into and solves with her unparalleled sleuthing instincts have gotten better and more suspenseful with each volume. And the romance – wowzers. For my money Warren pens some of the most swoon-worthy romances in the business, and Jeremy’s character is no exception. She excels at writing the male point-of-view, and I absolutely loved how she develops Jeremy and PJ’s relationship – they are a beautiful illustration of the “face of God’s grace” to each other, and I loved each twist and turn in their budding romance (even if PJ’s nose for trouble was apt to give me whiplash). Each character in this novel is incredibly well-drawn and so realistic it hurts – but that’s just one of the many things I love about Warren’s novels. The worlds she builds and the characters she creates never fail to leave an impact because like PJ, Warren’s writing is real, and her heart for authentic stories of redemption and grace drip from every page of her books.
The crowning jewel of this series is PJ, and the character growth she experiences in her quest to find redemption and that elusive “fresh start” for which her heart longs. I think any believer, if we’re being honest with ourselves, will not be able to help but relate to PJ’s penchant for living loud and messy and seemingly unable to escape the mistakes and scars our pasts have tattooed into the very fabric of our beings. Like PJ, we can spend so much time trying to remake ourselves and prove to others that we’ve changed that we forget one very important truth – namely, that God can redeem the messiest past, and use that mess as a springboard into a future more glorious than we could ever imagine. But we have to allow Him and then accept that grace – and it’s characters like the lovable, endearing PJ that bring that truth to vibrant life. PJ’s latest case leads her on a page-turning adventure to seek the truth that grace can truly redeem the past, and that one’s past, when washed with the sweet rain of God’s grace leads to a life worth savoring.
August 26, 2013
Wow! Let me just say that I believe Susan May Warren is my new favorite Christian writer! "Licensed for Trouble," the third in the series, is the first book I have read of this author. I read a lot, many top best sellers, and seldom see a book that has it all, like this one did. Suspense, mystery, romance, danger, adventure and laugh-out-loud humor, all infused with a God depth that takes it well past the realm of simple entertainment.
PJ Sugar is a very well developed character who we get to know through her hysterical could-my-life-get-any-more-ridiculous point of view. Her witty banter, that she actually makes fun of at one point, and snarky comments are reminiscent of the Gilmore Girls, only truly funny. And the scenes, whether hilarious, or seething with danger are so vividly drawn that I would have to nominate this as the best book to be made into a movie, although it is unlikely Hollywood would do it justice; unlikely, but possible.
She is getting mixed romantic signals from the private investigator she is training under and is often at odds with him. In fact, it seems he is so protective of her that he gives her only the softest, most safe assignments and even those she can't seem to quite pull off. During one of her frustrating verbal altercations with him, she fires back at him, "You're not the boss of me!" And you can just see her roll her eyes as she remembers that he is indeed her boss, and the one she will have to deal with if she is going to fulfill her dream of becoming a full-fledged private investigator.
The series of events that unfold throughout her quest cause her to put her life on the line more than once. But, more than once, it is her sensitivity towards the deep needs of others, that eventually pulls her past her own feelings of inadequacy, showing forth her own true grit. And showing forth her great sense of instinct about people which turns out to be a real asset in crime solving.
Without trying to summarize the plot I will just say that as a writer Susan May Warren has quite a lot of talent and just the right touch to leave a lasting impression on her readers, leaving us inspired, maybe even better off than we were before she found her way into our hearts. Five stars!!!
PJ Sugar is a very well developed character who we get to know through her hysterical could-my-life-get-any-more-ridiculous point of view. Her witty banter, that she actually makes fun of at one point, and snarky comments are reminiscent of the Gilmore Girls, only truly funny. And the scenes, whether hilarious, or seething with danger are so vividly drawn that I would have to nominate this as the best book to be made into a movie, although it is unlikely Hollywood would do it justice; unlikely, but possible.
She is getting mixed romantic signals from the private investigator she is training under and is often at odds with him. In fact, it seems he is so protective of her that he gives her only the softest, most safe assignments and even those she can't seem to quite pull off. During one of her frustrating verbal altercations with him, she fires back at him, "You're not the boss of me!" And you can just see her roll her eyes as she remembers that he is indeed her boss, and the one she will have to deal with if she is going to fulfill her dream of becoming a full-fledged private investigator.
The series of events that unfold throughout her quest cause her to put her life on the line more than once. But, more than once, it is her sensitivity towards the deep needs of others, that eventually pulls her past her own feelings of inadequacy, showing forth her own true grit. And showing forth her great sense of instinct about people which turns out to be a real asset in crime solving.
Without trying to summarize the plot I will just say that as a writer Susan May Warren has quite a lot of talent and just the right touch to leave a lasting impression on her readers, leaving us inspired, maybe even better off than we were before she found her way into our hearts. Five stars!!!
June 4, 2021
P.J. Sugar wants to be a Private Investigator. Her boss is allowing her to gain experience - and also allowing her to sleep on his couch while she is between jobs. She is confused about how things stand between them - he seems to be attracted to her but does he want something more? She is not sure herself after breaking up with her boyfriend and childhood compaion since childhood. Then she received word that she has inherited a house from a woman she barely knew. But why? As P.J. digs into the secrets behind her inheritance she also becomes entrenched in another mystery when a handyman shows up on her doorstep. He has amnesia and would like her to help him figure out who he is. P.J.'s quest to uncover the truth also leads to potential dangers for her, her relationships, and even her family. How will it all end?
This is the third in a series, and I probably could have followed it better if I had read the other two books. Still, even if I had, there was a lot going on here and it was a bit hard to follow. It was also a bit over the top at times. Still I could not put it down until all was revealed in the end. For fans of Christian fiction that is lighthearted with some suspense this would be a solid pick - especially if they are fans of the author or have read the others in the series.
This is the third in a series, and I probably could have followed it better if I had read the other two books. Still, even if I had, there was a lot going on here and it was a bit hard to follow. It was also a bit over the top at times. Still I could not put it down until all was revealed in the end. For fans of Christian fiction that is lighthearted with some suspense this would be a solid pick - especially if they are fans of the author or have read the others in the series.
April 3, 2019
This was such a great conclusion to the series. Susan May Warren delivered another fun cozy mystery with a lot of antics, some suspense, conclusion to a love triangle, a mystery man with amnesia and a mystery around PJ Sugar's heritage. Then she also includes scripture which flows so beautifully and delivers such a great message through these characters.
I loved PJ and how she found herself in situations by acting without first thinking. The things she gets into delivers a few humorous events. But, just when you think she is a bit ditzy, she has this deep revealing conversation about God, which shows there is a deeper side to her.
This story felt so short even though it was not. I was never bored, always wondering what PJ will do next. There was a point where I had to wait for the characters to catch up to who the baddie was, but otherwise the twists and events kept surprising me.
If you love cozy mysteries, you should try this series. Best to read the series in order.
I loved PJ and how she found herself in situations by acting without first thinking. The things she gets into delivers a few humorous events. But, just when you think she is a bit ditzy, she has this deep revealing conversation about God, which shows there is a deeper side to her.
This story felt so short even though it was not. I was never bored, always wondering what PJ will do next. There was a point where I had to wait for the characters to catch up to who the baddie was, but otherwise the twists and events kept surprising me.
If you love cozy mysteries, you should try this series. Best to read the series in order.
February 3, 2016
I really enjoyed book 1 and 2 of this PJ Sugar's series, but book 3 is quite a let down for me. I was frustrated at the repetitive issues Jeremy (his past...) & PJ (her i-am-trouble-no-i-am-not-trouble-whines) were facing. They just kept on and on and on, I got bored of it and skimmed through the last 40% of the book.
2 mysteries were ongoing in this book, many many names were introduced that I had a hard time remembering them. Lyle Fisher, Barton, the other PJ, Flora....
Glad to be done with this series.
2 mysteries were ongoing in this book, many many names were introduced that I had a hard time remembering them. Lyle Fisher, Barton, the other PJ, Flora....
Glad to be done with this series.
August 2, 2021
I love PJ Sugar, and getting to know more about her and her story. It kinda made me sad to get to the end of it.
Romance, action, mystery, and so much more...this novel is a wonderful story.
Romance, action, mystery, and so much more...this novel is a wonderful story.
July 8, 2015
I’m so thankful to have received a review copy of Licensed for Trouble, which is the final installment of this fun, amusing series. In this last book, PJ is still working towards becoming a Private Investigator. The reader learns if PJ will finally pick between Boone, her high school sweet heart, or Jeremy, her boss in the private eye agency, as her boyfriend, or if she dumps them both. I didn’t think PJ would ever make up her mind - Susan May Warren kept us guessing throughout all three books. I appreciated the thought process the author takes PJ on while uncovering her real feelings, figuring out what God wants and what is best for her life. PJ learns how she can listen for the gentle voice of God speaking to her heart. I enjoyed the spiritual thread throughout all three books; it was real and not preachy.
P.J. uncovers some lies she believes about herself and realizes that if she holds onto these lies, she’ll never be all that God intended for her to be. Dare she believe the following things about herself? She was chosen by God. Royal. A possession of God. Heiress, Beloved. Princess. Isn’t that what Jeremy called her?
Can PJ walk out who she is in Christ? She hadn’t considered this a possibility and it’s a huge revelation for her. I appreciated how the author also let the reader think about this powerful message and hopefully learn from PJ’s journey, too. Susan May Warren’s book is entertaining, fun, thought-provoking, mysterious, laugh out-loud funny in parts, light hearted, and has a wide variety of quirky characters I enjoyed reading about.
PJ’s sister finds Max, the handyman, to help PJ fix up a house that was given to her. PJ meets Max and decides that they can help each other. She is feeling overwhelmed by the task of renovating this amazing old house and Max is a handyman who has amnesia and seeks his identity. He says to PJ, “You ever felt like you don’t know yourself? Like when you look in the mirror, you wonder how you got here, how you became the person you are?”
PJ can totally relate to Max and hasn’t lost her memory. She was trying to figure out where she fit in everyday and what God wanted her to do. PJ was adopted and never felt like she was totally a part of the Sugar family. Will she figure out who she is and where she belongs?
I really enjoyed this entertaining novel. It was better than a bubble bath. It whisked me up into PJ’s mystery, with the fun and intriguing facts she uncovered about the house and Max. I liked the spiritual thread and struggle PJ encountered throughout the course of this book. It’s a conflict most of us could relate to. I was fascinated and enjoyed the case PJ tries to get to the bottom of, in her search for Max’s past and her attempts at catching the bail jumper. I have to say, I enjoyed every minute of reading Licensed for Trouble. Susan May Warren gave a very satisfying conclusion to this really enjoyable, tender and likeable PJ Sugar series. I’ll definitely be reading more of her books in the future.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
P.J. uncovers some lies she believes about herself and realizes that if she holds onto these lies, she’ll never be all that God intended for her to be. Dare she believe the following things about herself? She was chosen by God. Royal. A possession of God. Heiress, Beloved. Princess. Isn’t that what Jeremy called her?
Can PJ walk out who she is in Christ? She hadn’t considered this a possibility and it’s a huge revelation for her. I appreciated how the author also let the reader think about this powerful message and hopefully learn from PJ’s journey, too. Susan May Warren’s book is entertaining, fun, thought-provoking, mysterious, laugh out-loud funny in parts, light hearted, and has a wide variety of quirky characters I enjoyed reading about.
PJ’s sister finds Max, the handyman, to help PJ fix up a house that was given to her. PJ meets Max and decides that they can help each other. She is feeling overwhelmed by the task of renovating this amazing old house and Max is a handyman who has amnesia and seeks his identity. He says to PJ, “You ever felt like you don’t know yourself? Like when you look in the mirror, you wonder how you got here, how you became the person you are?”
PJ can totally relate to Max and hasn’t lost her memory. She was trying to figure out where she fit in everyday and what God wanted her to do. PJ was adopted and never felt like she was totally a part of the Sugar family. Will she figure out who she is and where she belongs?
I really enjoyed this entertaining novel. It was better than a bubble bath. It whisked me up into PJ’s mystery, with the fun and intriguing facts she uncovered about the house and Max. I liked the spiritual thread and struggle PJ encountered throughout the course of this book. It’s a conflict most of us could relate to. I was fascinated and enjoyed the case PJ tries to get to the bottom of, in her search for Max’s past and her attempts at catching the bail jumper. I have to say, I enjoyed every minute of reading Licensed for Trouble. Susan May Warren gave a very satisfying conclusion to this really enjoyable, tender and likeable PJ Sugar series. I’ll definitely be reading more of her books in the future.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
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April 1, 2013I am reviewing this book for LitFUSE Publishing
Book Description:
PJ Sugar receives shocking news that she's inherited the Kellogg family mansion. Though she has no idea why, the timing is perfect-PJ has clearly worn out her welcome at her sister's house. Unfortunately, the mansion is in shambles, and PJ is short on cash. Rescue comes in the form of Max Smith, a mysterious handyman willing to trade his services for PJ's investigative skills. But PJ already has a full docket with cramming for her PI license and nurturing a growing romance with her boss, Jeremy Kane. Can she take on Max's case without dropping the ball?
Find out more about book one, Nothing But Trouble and book two, Double Trouble.
My Review:
PJ's nickname is "Nothing But Trouble" for so long that she starts believing it herself. In this book PJ discovers that she no longer has to be bound by her past. With God's Grace and mercy anyone can begin again. Susan May Warren uses the theme of mercy and new beginnings on multiple levels. We find out what happens between PJ and her long time boyfriend Boone. We also get to see PJ's investigating skills put to the test trying to find out the identity of Max Smith.This book is full of humor and surprises! This is my favorite book of the P.J. Sugar Series so far! I hope she writes many more books in the PJ Sugar series.
The Author:
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year.
Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.
Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.
And now the give away! :)
Enter PJ Sugar's "Sweet" Giveaway
Book Description:
PJ Sugar receives shocking news that she's inherited the Kellogg family mansion. Though she has no idea why, the timing is perfect-PJ has clearly worn out her welcome at her sister's house. Unfortunately, the mansion is in shambles, and PJ is short on cash. Rescue comes in the form of Max Smith, a mysterious handyman willing to trade his services for PJ's investigative skills. But PJ already has a full docket with cramming for her PI license and nurturing a growing romance with her boss, Jeremy Kane. Can she take on Max's case without dropping the ball?
Find out more about book one, Nothing But Trouble and book two, Double Trouble.
My Review:
PJ's nickname is "Nothing But Trouble" for so long that she starts believing it herself. In this book PJ discovers that she no longer has to be bound by her past. With God's Grace and mercy anyone can begin again. Susan May Warren uses the theme of mercy and new beginnings on multiple levels. We find out what happens between PJ and her long time boyfriend Boone. We also get to see PJ's investigating skills put to the test trying to find out the identity of Max Smith.This book is full of humor and surprises! This is my favorite book of the P.J. Sugar Series so far! I hope she writes many more books in the PJ Sugar series.
The Author:
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year.
Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.
Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.
And now the give away! :)
Enter PJ Sugar's "Sweet" Giveaway
February 25, 2011
Susan has a very engaging writing style that quickly draws the reader into the pages of her books. There is suspense and tension sprinkled with just the right amount of humor to let you relax and yet still keep you engrossed. The characters are well-contrived and likable. The plot is fairly basic but has enough twists and turns that you don't get from point A to point B without first following a very circuitous path.
Throughout the pages of the book, PJ, who was adopted by her family, often questions her roots and wonders about whom she is and where she came from. When she becomes the heir to the Kellogg estate, questions whose answers have remained hidden for years begin coming to light. Even though PJ is unsure of her earthly origins, she is solid in her belief in the important fact; that she is an heir of Christ, and a child of the King. This Biblical principal is displayed in the book of Romans, chapter 8, verse 17: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (KJV)
Even though this was the third book in the series and I haven't yet read the first two, I was easily able to follow along with the plot without feeling that I was missing anything. True, there were numerous references to events in the earlier books that would have perhaps given me a greater understanding of the characters and their role in PJ's life; however, the deficit was not sufficient to make me feel that I could not follow along with the story.
When I look at the impressive list of previous books by Susan, I am astounded that this is the first book of hers that I have been privileged to read. However, from my experience with Licensed for Trouble, I can promise that it will not be my last. I will be on the lookout for past and future books by Susan May Warren to add to my collection. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun, yet suspenseful, experience.
I received this book as a Goodreads First Read book. I was in no way obligated to provide a positive review and all statements contained herein are my honest opinion. I received no compensation in any form for providing my review. The book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers.
Throughout the pages of the book, PJ, who was adopted by her family, often questions her roots and wonders about whom she is and where she came from. When she becomes the heir to the Kellogg estate, questions whose answers have remained hidden for years begin coming to light. Even though PJ is unsure of her earthly origins, she is solid in her belief in the important fact; that she is an heir of Christ, and a child of the King. This Biblical principal is displayed in the book of Romans, chapter 8, verse 17: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (KJV)
Even though this was the third book in the series and I haven't yet read the first two, I was easily able to follow along with the plot without feeling that I was missing anything. True, there were numerous references to events in the earlier books that would have perhaps given me a greater understanding of the characters and their role in PJ's life; however, the deficit was not sufficient to make me feel that I could not follow along with the story.
When I look at the impressive list of previous books by Susan, I am astounded that this is the first book of hers that I have been privileged to read. However, from my experience with Licensed for Trouble, I can promise that it will not be my last. I will be on the lookout for past and future books by Susan May Warren to add to my collection. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun, yet suspenseful, experience.
I received this book as a Goodreads First Read book. I was in no way obligated to provide a positive review and all statements contained herein are my honest opinion. I received no compensation in any form for providing my review. The book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers.
January 6, 2013
My review of all three of this series was posted in one post on my blog. I'll put the link up as soon as that goes live, but for now here's my review of this novel.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: YES! I was so glad that she chose Jeremy at the end of the previous novel. I just have to get this out of the way first. It's not that I didn't like Boone. I just didn't feel like he was right for PJ. He didn't see who she really was or who she could become. Jeremy did. Jeremy just seemed like such a better guy and honestly I liked him so much better. So yeah for PJ, I'm glad she chose him.
Anyway, PJ is stunned to learn that she has inherited the Kellogg fortune. Her, PJ, nothing but trouble has inherited that fortune. She can't believe it. The house is a disaster, but she wants to keep it. Her sister sends Max a handyman her way, and he agrees to help her fix it up if she'll help him figure out who he is. He has amnesia and can't remember a thing.
PJ agrees to the deal, but as she starts digging into both Max's past and her own past, it becomes clear that somebody wants her dead if not both of them dead. PJ'S on a quest to solve both cases, keep her romance with Jermy, and keep everybody safe. It's no small feat.
I've always loved Warren's characters and this novel just solidified it. Susan May Warren masterfully blends romance, mystery, and faith into one great novel.
This novel had the most developed mystery. It read more like the more serious romantic suspense novels, but managed to keep it's light, quirky feel at the same time.
Combining humor, suspense, and romance is no easy feat, but Warren makes it look effortless. Definitely a great concluding novel and one that I recommend.
In Summary: This novel has a compelling mystery, quirky characters, and brilliant writing. This is a must-read for all fans of clean romances and mysteries. Warren is a masterful writer who I definitely will be looking into again.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: YES! I was so glad that she chose Jeremy at the end of the previous novel. I just have to get this out of the way first. It's not that I didn't like Boone. I just didn't feel like he was right for PJ. He didn't see who she really was or who she could become. Jeremy did. Jeremy just seemed like such a better guy and honestly I liked him so much better. So yeah for PJ, I'm glad she chose him.
Anyway, PJ is stunned to learn that she has inherited the Kellogg fortune. Her, PJ, nothing but trouble has inherited that fortune. She can't believe it. The house is a disaster, but she wants to keep it. Her sister sends Max a handyman her way, and he agrees to help her fix it up if she'll help him figure out who he is. He has amnesia and can't remember a thing.
PJ agrees to the deal, but as she starts digging into both Max's past and her own past, it becomes clear that somebody wants her dead if not both of them dead. PJ'S on a quest to solve both cases, keep her romance with Jermy, and keep everybody safe. It's no small feat.
I've always loved Warren's characters and this novel just solidified it. Susan May Warren masterfully blends romance, mystery, and faith into one great novel.
This novel had the most developed mystery. It read more like the more serious romantic suspense novels, but managed to keep it's light, quirky feel at the same time.
Combining humor, suspense, and romance is no easy feat, but Warren makes it look effortless. Definitely a great concluding novel and one that I recommend.
In Summary: This novel has a compelling mystery, quirky characters, and brilliant writing. This is a must-read for all fans of clean romances and mysteries. Warren is a masterful writer who I definitely will be looking into again.
August 11, 2010
Title: LICENSED FOR TROUBLE
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4143-1314-8
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary
PJ Sugar is still out to prove herself as a PI, and still trying to figure out where she fits in the world. Since her sister, Connie, kicked her out of the house, PJ has been sleeping on the couch at Jeremy’s office, but he is suggesting that it might be time for her to find someplace else to sleep. But then a lawyer shows up, sharing that PJ is the sole beneficiary of the Kellogg family fortune.
Okay, never mind that there is barely enough money to pay the real estate taxes, or that the sewage has backed up, or that there isn’t any electric, or that the mansion is virtually falling down, at least it will be a roof over her head. And a fully stocked library begging to be read. And a box full of the personal affects of one--PJ Kellogg.
Then a man who calls himself Max Smith shows up, promising to do handiwork in exchange for PJ finding him. Max has amnesia and washed up on the beach outside of the Kellogg mansion as naked as a baby, with no recollection how he even got there. What can a wannabe PI do, except take the case?
LICENSED FOR TROUBLE is the third book in the PJ Sugar series by Susan May Warren. Readers will want to read the first two books in this series before starting this book as they all tie in together.
I enjoyed reading more about PJ and her dilemma about which man is right for her—Boone, the local police officer and voice from PJ’s past, or Jeremy, her boss. Plus having not one, but two mysteries in this fun story, really helped keep the pages turning. I did figure out some of the pieces easier than others in the cases they were investigating, but some of the parts I didn’t figure out until the very end. Susan May Warren has crafted another winner. Don’t miss LICENSED FOR TROUBLE or any of Ms. Warren’s books.
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4143-1314-8
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary
PJ Sugar is still out to prove herself as a PI, and still trying to figure out where she fits in the world. Since her sister, Connie, kicked her out of the house, PJ has been sleeping on the couch at Jeremy’s office, but he is suggesting that it might be time for her to find someplace else to sleep. But then a lawyer shows up, sharing that PJ is the sole beneficiary of the Kellogg family fortune.
Okay, never mind that there is barely enough money to pay the real estate taxes, or that the sewage has backed up, or that there isn’t any electric, or that the mansion is virtually falling down, at least it will be a roof over her head. And a fully stocked library begging to be read. And a box full of the personal affects of one--PJ Kellogg.
Then a man who calls himself Max Smith shows up, promising to do handiwork in exchange for PJ finding him. Max has amnesia and washed up on the beach outside of the Kellogg mansion as naked as a baby, with no recollection how he even got there. What can a wannabe PI do, except take the case?
LICENSED FOR TROUBLE is the third book in the PJ Sugar series by Susan May Warren. Readers will want to read the first two books in this series before starting this book as they all tie in together.
I enjoyed reading more about PJ and her dilemma about which man is right for her—Boone, the local police officer and voice from PJ’s past, or Jeremy, her boss. Plus having not one, but two mysteries in this fun story, really helped keep the pages turning. I did figure out some of the pieces easier than others in the cases they were investigating, but some of the parts I didn’t figure out until the very end. Susan May Warren has crafted another winner. Don’t miss LICENSED FOR TROUBLE or any of Ms. Warren’s books.
July 8, 2025
The story was a good mystery with a lot of characters and emotions intertwined. PJ and Boone break up in the prior book after he found PJ and Jeremy in a clench while Boone was still dating PJ. PJ still wants more out of a career as a PI, and continues to work for Jeremy at his PI company. The story starts out with PJ trying to apprehend a person who broke bail. The story continues with PJ inheriting a mansion from a wealthy family in the town of Kellogg, and then to solving mysteries related to both the inheritance and the past of a contractor with amnesia, who came to repair the mansion, There was a lot of pieces to the puzzle and PJ is good at putting those pieces together. She has a gift of taking random facts and finding the connections. PJ can be humorous and endearing while also frustrating.
The storyline was good and kept my interest. PJ is a mixture of so many personality traits. She wants to be helpful and can show compassion at times. She gets focused on one thing and does not let it go. She is witty, smart, a bit ditzy at times, impulsive, insecure, and can be insensitive as to the hurt she puts on Boone. She and Jeremy slowly have more feelings for each other and a bond is created. PJ craves acceptance and accolades from others. She does not seem to understand that her value needs to come from God first.
Boone is never out of the picture in this book. Even though they stopped dating, he still shows up for
PJ. Every time she needs him he’s there because he still cares about her. He pined for her for 10 years before she came back to Kellogg. He wanted to marry her and she couldn’t give him an answer, which to me was rude and heartless. He learned the truth by accidentally catching Pj and Jeremy in an embrace in the last book. She never attempts to talk to Boone and explain what is happening or her feelings.
In the beginning of this book, they are at a harvest festival. Everyone is dressed in costume. Boone finds her and is being friendly, teasing PJ. Her callousness and insensitivity toward Boone‘s feelings come out strong when she asked him if he was dressed as a groom. He answered that no, he is not a groom and walks away. You can imagine the hurt he must have felt by the blow she dealt as he had asked her to marry him previously. She does not run after him to apologize but just moves on.
Her callousness towards Boone’s feelings in this book rubbed me the wrong way. it seemed to be all about her and her wants and needs. No wonder at times Boone seemed angry. She cares about what happens to people who are involved in the mysteries she is solving, but for someone who loved and waited for her for so long, she seems uncaring about his feelings … only her own. When he finally realizes that there is no future with her, he meets with her for dinner to tell her that he’s going to date someone else. After the way she treated him throughout the last book and the beginning of this book, I don’t think I would have given her that courtesy. But that just shows how much he still cared about her … to not want her to be hurt by seeing him with someone else in town. Not wanting her to be blindsided like she did to him. That is true love. Why she didn’t even give him a hug instead of a handshake in parting, after all they had been in the past, seemed wrong. And PJ, wanting her cake and eat it too, had her first thoughts at the news of Boone moving on to be that she wanted him to say they could go back to being what they were and her strong impulse to take his hand and run away with him. She always thought he would be there for her no matter what. She wanted to have an interest in Jeremy and also wanted Boone to just wait in the wings in case something didn’t work out. Even though Boone is trying to move on and date someone else, later in the book when there is a fire at the mansion, and she and Jeremy are passionately kissing in front of Boone. That still had to hurt, even though he was trying to move on. You don’t wait for someone for 10 years and then suddenly get past those feelings. But he always takes the high road.
This is the part of the book I could not seem to get past. I hurt for Boone, and his feelings were not explored as deeply as they could’ve been in the book. He did the right thing to move on and yet when you have such deep feelings for someone for so long, they don’t magically go away.
We never know more about Boone‘s feelings or how things worked out for him dating someone new. I wish that had been explored further given the history between Boone and PJ. Maybe I’m just a sucker for the underdog. However, PJ treated Boone so different from Jeremy. Jeremy would show up at her new house unannounced, let himself in and show up at her bedroom door and she didn’t get angry and throw him out. When Boone showed up with Max one night because she could’ve been in danger due to someone living in the carriage house, she got totally angry and yelled at him and wanted them out. She did not want to listen to what he was trying to tell her about her safety and was angry. She would get angry at Boone for telling her about not getting hurt and yet if Jeremy would do the same, she would take it. She had two different standards for the two of them.
Overall, I wish the part of the book relating to the breakup and relationship between Boone and PJ, would have been different. PJ and Jeremy find each other, but we never really concretely know where Boone‘s heart is at with all of it. We have to assume he is ok because he is dating (which didn’t convince me). Boone does tell her that, even though they broke up, it doesn’t mean he wont wake up in the middle of the night worried about her safety and what might happen to her. That is how deep his love was for her. She told him she didn’t understand why it couldn’t work out now, when it seemed to work in high school. Of course they both would have changed in those 10 years, but she didn’t try to talk any differences through with him to help him either work through it with her or jointly realize why it couldn’t work in the present. He did the right thing moving on since she left him no hope and no clear explanation. But it’s still irritates me how she treated him and how her standards for the two men in her life were different.
Overall I liked the book and the mystery but did not fully embrace the character of PJ.
The storyline was good and kept my interest. PJ is a mixture of so many personality traits. She wants to be helpful and can show compassion at times. She gets focused on one thing and does not let it go. She is witty, smart, a bit ditzy at times, impulsive, insecure, and can be insensitive as to the hurt she puts on Boone. She and Jeremy slowly have more feelings for each other and a bond is created. PJ craves acceptance and accolades from others. She does not seem to understand that her value needs to come from God first.
Boone is never out of the picture in this book. Even though they stopped dating, he still shows up for
PJ. Every time she needs him he’s there because he still cares about her. He pined for her for 10 years before she came back to Kellogg. He wanted to marry her and she couldn’t give him an answer, which to me was rude and heartless. He learned the truth by accidentally catching Pj and Jeremy in an embrace in the last book. She never attempts to talk to Boone and explain what is happening or her feelings.
In the beginning of this book, they are at a harvest festival. Everyone is dressed in costume. Boone finds her and is being friendly, teasing PJ. Her callousness and insensitivity toward Boone‘s feelings come out strong when she asked him if he was dressed as a groom. He answered that no, he is not a groom and walks away. You can imagine the hurt he must have felt by the blow she dealt as he had asked her to marry him previously. She does not run after him to apologize but just moves on.
Her callousness towards Boone’s feelings in this book rubbed me the wrong way. it seemed to be all about her and her wants and needs. No wonder at times Boone seemed angry. She cares about what happens to people who are involved in the mysteries she is solving, but for someone who loved and waited for her for so long, she seems uncaring about his feelings … only her own. When he finally realizes that there is no future with her, he meets with her for dinner to tell her that he’s going to date someone else. After the way she treated him throughout the last book and the beginning of this book, I don’t think I would have given her that courtesy. But that just shows how much he still cared about her … to not want her to be hurt by seeing him with someone else in town. Not wanting her to be blindsided like she did to him. That is true love. Why she didn’t even give him a hug instead of a handshake in parting, after all they had been in the past, seemed wrong. And PJ, wanting her cake and eat it too, had her first thoughts at the news of Boone moving on to be that she wanted him to say they could go back to being what they were and her strong impulse to take his hand and run away with him. She always thought he would be there for her no matter what. She wanted to have an interest in Jeremy and also wanted Boone to just wait in the wings in case something didn’t work out. Even though Boone is trying to move on and date someone else, later in the book when there is a fire at the mansion, and she and Jeremy are passionately kissing in front of Boone. That still had to hurt, even though he was trying to move on. You don’t wait for someone for 10 years and then suddenly get past those feelings. But he always takes the high road.
This is the part of the book I could not seem to get past. I hurt for Boone, and his feelings were not explored as deeply as they could’ve been in the book. He did the right thing to move on and yet when you have such deep feelings for someone for so long, they don’t magically go away.
We never know more about Boone‘s feelings or how things worked out for him dating someone new. I wish that had been explored further given the history between Boone and PJ. Maybe I’m just a sucker for the underdog. However, PJ treated Boone so different from Jeremy. Jeremy would show up at her new house unannounced, let himself in and show up at her bedroom door and she didn’t get angry and throw him out. When Boone showed up with Max one night because she could’ve been in danger due to someone living in the carriage house, she got totally angry and yelled at him and wanted them out. She did not want to listen to what he was trying to tell her about her safety and was angry. She would get angry at Boone for telling her about not getting hurt and yet if Jeremy would do the same, she would take it. She had two different standards for the two of them.
Overall, I wish the part of the book relating to the breakup and relationship between Boone and PJ, would have been different. PJ and Jeremy find each other, but we never really concretely know where Boone‘s heart is at with all of it. We have to assume he is ok because he is dating (which didn’t convince me). Boone does tell her that, even though they broke up, it doesn’t mean he wont wake up in the middle of the night worried about her safety and what might happen to her. That is how deep his love was for her. She told him she didn’t understand why it couldn’t work out now, when it seemed to work in high school. Of course they both would have changed in those 10 years, but she didn’t try to talk any differences through with him to help him either work through it with her or jointly realize why it couldn’t work in the present. He did the right thing moving on since she left him no hope and no clear explanation. But it’s still irritates me how she treated him and how her standards for the two men in her life were different.
Overall I liked the book and the mystery but did not fully embrace the character of PJ.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 on GR
This is the last book in the PJ Sugar mystery series and it was a great ending. The love triangle is dealt with maturity and finality - I do think PJ made the right choice for her future and Boone had such integrity in letting PJ know he wants to move on and with who so she isn't blindsided by seeing him with his new love. Jeremy was okay, I'm just not into former SEALS/DELTA FORCE/RANGER types and his back story is so typical of those former military hero characters. Also he is so wishy-washy throughout the book. I felt at times he brought the book down.
The mystery was definitely intriguing, in that it wasn't a murder but case in helping an amnesia patient find out who he is and how he got there. The second mystery was PJ's true lineage, which tied up any loose ends from the earlier books. Along the way, there is humor and house renovations and PJ doing a lot of soul searching. That epilogue was everything I wanted in an ending to this series.
Highly recommend the series!
This is the last book in the PJ Sugar mystery series and it was a great ending. The love triangle is dealt with maturity and finality - I do think PJ made the right choice for her future and Boone had such integrity in letting PJ know he wants to move on and with who so she isn't blindsided by seeing him with his new love. Jeremy was okay, I'm just not into former SEALS/DELTA FORCE/RANGER types and his back story is so typical of those former military hero characters. Also he is so wishy-washy throughout the book. I felt at times he brought the book down.
The mystery was definitely intriguing, in that it wasn't a murder but case in helping an amnesia patient find out who he is and how he got there. The second mystery was PJ's true lineage, which tied up any loose ends from the earlier books. Along the way, there is humor and house renovations and PJ doing a lot of soul searching. That epilogue was everything I wanted in an ending to this series.
Highly recommend the series!
April 30, 2019
Kinda predictable and definitely didn’t end the way I wanted it to, but still a good easy read!
August 9, 2022
I said when I reviewed Book Two, but I will say it again here: Susan May Warren has an uncanny ability to write characters that are relatable. As PJ Sugar is attempting to find her identity and shed off "the old PJ", she is constantly hounded and distracted by both external and internal issues. There's enough on her plate to weigh down an elephant, but PJ is able to handle all of it - and much more - with help from God. And pizza.
So glad there was a happy-ever-after in this bok. I was totally not expecting the twist around 70% through the book. It was jaw-dropping because I was not expecting it AT ALL. Also... I'm with PJ on her real name; her real name is an excellent nod to her family history, but I like PJ a lot better.
Congrats to Susan May Warren for writing such a fantastic series! I loved it so much!
So glad there was a happy-ever-after in this bok. I was totally not expecting the twist around 70% through the book. It was jaw-dropping because I was not expecting it AT ALL. Also... I'm with PJ on her real name; her real name is an excellent nod to her family history, but I like PJ a lot better.
Congrats to Susan May Warren for writing such a fantastic series! I loved it so much!
September 1, 2021
"Licensed for Trouble" is the last book in the PJ Sugar series. And PJ is really improving her PI skills in "Licensed for Trouble." A mysterious man hires PJ to find out who he is. He has amnesia but wants to know his real identity. The trouble is uncovering his past puts PJ in all kinds of peril. It's a fun mystery (for the reader, not for PJ).
I only gave this story four stars because I found it a little confusing at the end. I felt like I needed a cheat sheet to keep all the characters straight. I guess I'm not alone because PJ's sister also asked for a piece of paper to keep it straight while listening to PJ's description of her case.
But, it all makes sense in the end, and if you're a fan of cozy mysteries, you'll love this book.
I only gave this story four stars because I found it a little confusing at the end. I felt like I needed a cheat sheet to keep all the characters straight. I guess I'm not alone because PJ's sister also asked for a piece of paper to keep it straight while listening to PJ's description of her case.
But, it all makes sense in the end, and if you're a fan of cozy mysteries, you'll love this book.
June 14, 2022
I read this, thinking it was the first one of the series, and have not yet read the other two. It does refer back to events in the past that I assume were big parts of the story in the first two books. As such, I may not read the others. It was an interesting story, although I found the heroine a bit frustrating at times. Perhaps I would like her better if I read the other two. Overall, I think there were some good themes that explored the ideas of overcoming or not being defined by a bad/troubled past, learning to accept that others care about you even when you have messed up, and learning when to pursue something or let it go.
February 21, 2019
Love PJ Sugar! This last book in the series tied all the loose ends together quite nicely. I typically am annoyed by love triangle scenarios, but I was able to stomach this one. There was some surprising twists and it helped that the characters were human AND likable. Although this isn't a YA, it's a coming-of-age sorry that is pretty relatable. I think a lot of us reach adulthood yet still have seasons of self-discovery or spiritual-discovery, and most of us comw-of-age multiple times in our lives. PJ is a compilation of opposites that make her story both delightful and touching.
July 28, 2021
What an incredible conclusion to the PJ Sugar series. Susan May Warren, can we get a novella or something of PJ like ten years later?! I need an life update!!
This story kept me hooked from the very beginning. PJ's way of crime solving is absolutely dizzying at times and hard to keep up with. In a way, its great though because that way I can never figure out the culprit before she does!
As always, Susan May Warren is an incredible storyteller and I absolutely loved this trilogy of PI wannabe PJ who loves her mysteries, despite the trouble they bring her!
This story kept me hooked from the very beginning. PJ's way of crime solving is absolutely dizzying at times and hard to keep up with. In a way, its great though because that way I can never figure out the culprit before she does!
As always, Susan May Warren is an incredible storyteller and I absolutely loved this trilogy of PI wannabe PJ who loves her mysteries, despite the trouble they bring her!
February 28, 2024
Licensed for Trouble was a great conclusion to this series. It involves laughable moments, a mystery involving a man with amnesia, another mystery surrounding PJ's inheritance of a house and her heritage, and the conclusion of the love triangle. The author wove the faith elements and truths naturally into the story.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, check this series out.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, check this series out.
May 29, 2018
Probably a 2.5. I've found with trilogies that the quality definitely goes down as the books continue in the series. This is no exception. While I enjoyed seeing various strings in PJ's life tied up a bit and I'm definitely not bummed for having read it, I didn't think it was great.
October 18, 2019
Not what you are expecting!
This is a book about life's mistakes and accepted generalities about yourself. However, through Christ you became a new creature and old things have passed away.
This is a book about life's mistakes and accepted generalities about yourself. However, through Christ you became a new creature and old things have passed away.
November 11, 2019
I really enjoyed the book but I wanted Boone to become a believer. I wanted PJ and Boone to get together. I read the three books in order. I liked the third book the least. As other reviews have commented PJ's lamenting about herself being "trouble" got old by the third book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2020
Tempered with Grace
The PJ Sugar series is full of mystery, romance, and intrigue. Most importantly, it’s full of healing. I like the fact that PJ saw a part of herself in Boone, but hope was reflected in Jeremy. Boone saw what she was; Jeremy saw what she could be.
The PJ Sugar series is full of mystery, romance, and intrigue. Most importantly, it’s full of healing. I like the fact that PJ saw a part of herself in Boone, but hope was reflected in Jeremy. Boone saw what she was; Jeremy saw what she could be.
September 1, 2021
Just okay. I liked the way PJ gained confidence in her ability to solve a good mystery. I still felt there was a lack of chemistry between Jeremy and PJ, and their romance was contrived. Just wasn’t my thing.
April 7, 2024
PJ does it again!
PJ continues to work as an assistant PI with Jeremy Kane. The two get into numerous scrapes as they unravel crime and solve missing persons. Can they coexist as partners or will their growing attraction get one of them killed? It’s a page turner.
PJ continues to work as an assistant PI with Jeremy Kane. The two get into numerous scrapes as they unravel crime and solve missing persons. Can they coexist as partners or will their growing attraction get one of them killed? It’s a page turner.
November 27, 2018
Loved it!
October 23, 2023
4.52 stars
This book is just too fun. Comedy, mystery, a love triangle. It's so well done and charming, not overly serious or quirky. I've read it at least 3 times.
This book is just too fun. Comedy, mystery, a love triangle. It's so well done and charming, not overly serious or quirky. I've read it at least 3 times.
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