Trouble in Store

by Carol Cox

Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross must embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he's not about to let some obstinate woman with newfangled ideas mess up all he's worked for. He's determined to get Melanie married off as soon as possible, and luckily there are plenty of single men in town quite interested in taking her off his hands.
The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn't want her to marry up with any of them. He's drawn to Melanie more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store unexpectedly offer positive results.

But someone doesn't want the store to succeed, and what used to be just threatening words has escalated into deliberate destruction and lurkers in the night. When a body shows up on the mercantile steps--and the man obviously didn't die from natural causes--things really get dangerous. Can Melanie and Caleb's business--and romance--survive the trouble that's about to come their way?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical Romance, Mystery, Fiction

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Carol Cox has an abiding love for history and romance, especially when it’s set in her native Southwest. As a third-generation Arizonan, she takes a keen interest in the Old West and hopes to make it live again in the hearts of her readers. A pastor’s wife, Carol lives with her husband and daughter in northern Arizona, where the deer and the antelope really do play—within view of the family’s front porch.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross must embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he's not about to let some obstinate woman with newfangled ideas mess up all he's worked for. He's determined to get Melanie married off as soon as possible, and luckily there are plenty of single men in town quite interested in taking her off his hands.
The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn't want her to marry up with any of them. He's drawn to Melanie more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store unexpectedly offer positive results.
But someone doesn't want the store to succeed, and what used to be just threatening words has escalated into deliberate destruction and lurkers in the night. When a body shows up on the mercantile steps--and the man obviously didn't die from natural causes--things really get dangerous. Can Melanie and Caleb's business--and romance--survive the trouble that's about to come their way?”


Series: As of now, no.


Spiritual Content- Proverbs 3:5-6 at the beginning; Scriptures are quoted, read, & remembered; Bible reading; Prayers & Thanking God; Church going & sermons; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & answered prayers; Mentions of Bibles, those & events in the Bible; Mentions of a pastor, services, sermons, hymns, & church going.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’, an ‘idiot’, and a ‘stupid’; Some eye rolling; Fighting, Being attacked, & Almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Fires & being trapped in smoke (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of murders, how they happened, dead body, wounds, & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of possibly other murders; Mentions of fighting, hitting someone, injuries, & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of criminals & a murderer; Mentions of poison; Mentions of fires & smoke; Mentions of threats; Mentions of jail; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & saloons; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a possible lynching mob & mobs; A few mentions of tobacco; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of spankings; A couple mentions of a battle & death; A couple mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of cigars & smoking; A mention of a possible hanging.


Sexual Content- a barely-above-not-detailed kiss and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Tingles/Warmth, & Nearness (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Remembering touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of reputations & chaperones; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of a wife and baby who died in childbirth; A few mentions of a woman’s bosom; A mention of butting heads.

-Melanie Ross
-Caleb Nelson
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1885
346 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This was my second time reading this historical with mystery elements and I still enjoyed it! Melanie is a name I feel that we don’t see often in historical fiction and since it matched the character well, it was a breath of fresh air. The only thing I would have liked in addition to this novel was a epilogue, but other than that, it was a great read. :)


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trouble in Store is a light read with a mystery and a mild romance at its center. I thought the setting was very well done; I really got a feeling for the town of Cedar Ridge and the landscape of Arizona. The story felt firmly set in its place in history. I really enjoyed the mercantile setting as well. I loved reading about the now historical items that customers bought then, particularly the tonics and remedies that they put such trust in. At times, the interactions in the store were quite comical, particularly during the scene where a little boy sets up his toy soldiers on customers, ahem, bustle!

The lead characters were not as compelling as I felt that they could have been, particularly the main character, Melanie. In the beginning, I felt very connected to her and empathized with her plight as a single woman without the protection of family or a guardian. I also admired her gumption to move away from everything familiar and start a new life as a partial store owner, halving ownership with Caleb, whose uncle owned half of the store before him. At times I had trouble believing that she would be as stubborn as she acted, especially when Caleb had obviously been running it longer.

Personally, I felt that Caleb was the more intriguing character, being a single father to a rather rambunctious little boy. I wanted the characters to communicate; that kind of conflict just doesn’t do it for me when it could be as easily resolved as having a simple conversation.

The mystery was light & well-done. I was trying to figure out the culprit then was pleasantly surprised when it turned out that I was wrong. There is quite a colorful cast of characters going around, and I accused the wrong person for nearly the entire story.

I recommend this for readers looking for a light, historical mystery with just pinch of romance thrown in. I have Love in Disguise on my Kindle and am looking forward to reading it in the future.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble in Store was an entertaining read. As I expected going in, I found the story fun and enjoyable. I didn't expect the thread of suspense in the story, but I absolutely loved it (even if I did kind of suspect who was behind the murders).

I liked the characters and I also liked the whole setting of the store. It was fun to see them clash over things regarding the store and yet he's realize sometimes that her ideas made sense. I also thought the romance was sweet.

All in all, Trouble in Store was a great historical romance. I recommend it!

*I received this book for free for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Shash · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine ruined this book for me. I couldn't stand the way she treated the hero in the first half of the book, and it only got slightly better in the second half. She pushes her way into supposedly helping him with the store, then takes over. She doesn't listen to him and implements her ideas without talking to him. She acts like he has no idea what he's doing, when he has successfully run the store for quite awhile. It really annoyed me.

I didn't finish the book when I first started it. The only reason I finished now was because of a challenge. I previously read Love in Disguise by the author and loved it!! So, I will read another one by the author. I'm guessing that I'll like the next one better.

[Shannah Mauney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was fantastic. I was excited to receive this book for free from Bethany House Publishers. The description sounded very intriguing! Mystery, danger, intrigue, romance, and all in a good, clean Christian book... it was right up my alley! I was not disappointed. Trouble in Store by Carol Cox is a fantastic book with in-depth characters and a great plot.

Melanie Ross feels like her world is breaking around her. After being abruptly fired from her position as a governess, she doesn't know what she is going to do. Then she remembers that when her only remaining relative passed away, she was offered a place to stay AND a job! So she heads out west determined to make this work. If not, what will she do??

Caleb Nelson does not need a woman telling him what to do. On top of everything else going on in his life, he just wants to focus on running HIS store, raising his son, and figuring out who keeps leaving these threatening notes for him to find. So when Melanie shows up claiming that half of the store belongs to her, Caleb is furious! He plots a way to get rid of her by marrying her off, which he reasons shouldn't be hard to do. It's the west after all, there are way more available men than there are women!

But when notes turn to break-ins and other dangers, things change. In this sweet story of healing and God's grace, we meet two characters whose lives have been beaten and broken. Reading about these two characters emotions, we can feel the despair they sometimes feel and we can rejoice with them when they finally figure out God's plan. Carol brings the characters to life by giving them real emotions. I can relate to Melanie because I know what it's like to smile when inside you're crying. I can relate to Caleb because I know what it's like to just want some consistency and normalcy after tragedy strikes.She does an excellent job of creating a message of faith and God's unfailing love, all while not being too preachy.

The message is this: God creates beauty from the ashes of your despair. Don't give up! You're sorrow will turn to joy and your heartache will turn to rejoicing in HIS time. It's a lesson we all need to learn, and reading this book might just help you do that!

http://faithlovebooks.blogspot.com/20...

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

A light, engaging mystery set in historical Arizona. Melanie Ross goes to northern Arizona after losing her job, to the mercantile her cousin and his longtime friend and partner owned. Only, to her surprise, the partner has also died, and the partner's nephew thinks he owns the place outright. Melanie has nowhere else to go and thus hangs on tenaciously to her claim as half-owner, since she is her cousin's heir.

And then strange things start happening, followed by a murder literally on their back step. And the cozy historical turns quite suddenly into a murder-mystery.

This is classic mystery writing—no gore, no deep creepiness, but plenty of danger for the favorite main characters—that reminded me of some older-style books I've enjoyed. It's also got a nice, squeaky-clean romance that leaves you feeling happy yet is suitable for all ages. I'll be reading more by this author.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trouble in Store is a cute romance/mystery. l thought the characters could have caught onto a few things long before they did. It bothers me when characters are dumbed down to keep the mystery going. More character development of some of the characters would have been nice too. It was a fun read though.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble in Store is the story of Melanie who is an Ohio governess with a very tricky child under her care. After an accident which she is blamed for, she is fired from her job with seemingly no where to go. She then remembers a letter from her deceased cousin which compels her to move to Arizona with the intent of claiming her cousin's belongings and hopefully being invited to live and work at the store he co-owned. Once she arrives there she finds her cousin's partner's nephew is actually in charge of the store now and he's not very willing to share the store with her, nor is he very inviting of her presence at all- but thankfully he tolerates her. During her time at the store she and the nephew, Caleb, get involved in a murder mystery which separates them from the rest of the town and bring them both closer together.

I didn't really know what I would think of this story. Before reading it, I didn't even realize that it was part mystery. I love mysteries, even though the mystery in this book was more of a side-story at first, by the end it does become the main focus of the storyline. I found the mystery intriguing enough and I suspected almost everyone in the small town of Cedar Ridge at one point or the other. The book also proved to have some tense action-packed moments as well.

The romance flowed nicely. I made a comment on my Goodreads profile that I wasn't sure how the author would steer the reader into Caleb's favor as the romantic interest. He was not very likable for the first half of the book. The romance flowed so slowly that it made it more believable when they did eventually fall in love. It never felt cheesy or forced. Don't be afraid that the book might be boring because I said the romance flows slowly- because it's not boring. There's another very likable love interest, Will. At times, I really thought the author might go with Will as Melanie's main man even though it would go against tradition. What I mean by that is, Caleb was a main character and in romances the two main characters always overcome their differences and come together. Will was just a side character. He was so likable though, I almost wish Melanie would have chosen him. I also liked how even though there were two good possibilities for Melanie's romantic interest it never came to a love triangle or anything like that. Love triangles are so cliche and I'm glad the author was unique enough not to let it come to that.

I also enjoyed the humor in this book. The story could have gotten quite tense and stressful but humor really kept this story in a lighter ambiance. I also really enjoyed the setting of Arizona and sort of getting a sneak peek into its history. I haven't done very much traveling, but I have been to Arizona a few times and it's a state I absolutely adore. I've traveled to nearly all ends of the state and northern Arizona is a setting I haven't found in many books.

All in all, I am giving Trouble in Store 4 out of 5 stars and I can say I am very glad that I read it. I enjoyed how it encompassed a few different genres without getting confusing or messy. I would describe this book as a historical fiction set in the wild west with a dash of romance and mystery and a morsel of action.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) courtesy of Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Book review originally posted HERE.

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she loses her job as a governess, Melanie Ross heads to Cedar Ridge in the Arizona Territory to claim half of her cousin’s store, as promised by his partner, Alvin Nelson. But when she arrives, Alvin is dead and his nephew, Caleb, has no desire for a business partner, especially not one of the female variety. When Melanie discovers a dead body on the back step, and they begin to suspect there might be more trouble in store… (sorry, but I couldn’t resist the pun). The murder then forms the foundation of the plot, as it becomes apparent that there is a mystery that must be solved.

As well as the murder there have been some mysterious notes, suggesting someone doesn’t want Caleb in town. Trouble in Store is a good mix of mystery, humour and romance. The characters were likeable, and while the story focused more on Melanie and Caleb’s disagreements about the store and the mystery, there was still a nice romantic sub-plot. The story is clearly Christian, but not preachy.

I really enjoy historicals like Trouble in Store. There’s nothing especially deep or challenging, but they are fun, easy to read, perfect for a snuggling down with in winter, or reading in the sun in summer. Lighthearted with good morals, and something I’m happy to pass on to my daughter. Recommended.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Melanie Ross is fired from her position as a governess, she cuts her losses in the city and heads to Arizona, where she hopes to find the mercantile she inherited from her cousin. Yet, things aren't as she expected once she arrives. Caleb Nelson is positive that he inherited the mercantile from his uncle, and he's not to thrilled to find this beauty insisting she should run the store. Caleb comes up with a fool-proof plan - get Melanie married off! As more and more would be suitors walk through their doors, Caleb grows more unhappy with each one. Could it be that he has fallen for Melanie? Plus there's the danger that seems to targeted at the two of them. Will they work together?

As I got into the story, I found that I really liked Melanie's character. Her ideas for the store brought in more business, but it took her being patient with Caleb to really see the results. The bit of mystery in the story as well, kept me entertained. True, the story dragged at times, but overall, it was a very good book.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free in exchange for a review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Lori Copeland, Karen Witemeyer, Elizabeth Camden

Rating - 4 stars

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing story from Carol Cox!

Carol did a great job pulling me right into the story with the first chapter. Melanie is such an easy character to like despite her stubbornness and slight impulsive behavior. Even though I knew misfortune would befall her early on, I still hurt right alongside her. I loved her desire to improve the mercantile; however, I'm not sure her methods were the proper way to get what she wanted. Ha! Ha!

Caleb is a fabulous hero! He's such a great father to his son, Levi, and does the best he can to also run a store single-handedly. I thought the transition from disliking Melanie to falling in love with her was well paced and realistic. I loved how protective he is. He and Melanie make a great couple.

I just studied this time period for my studies and I'm pleased to find little details in the story that I know I would have missed had I not studied this era. I also must admit I'm very impressed with how vivid the Arizona territory appeared in my mind's eye. Very beautiful, very rustic, very western. I truly enjoyed the mystery Carol implemented and I wish the book could have spanned longer. I hated seeing it come to an end!

I received this book from Bethany House in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then, I feel in the mood for a clean historical-romance that is filled with action, a highly suspenseful plot, a hero and heroine who don't necessarily get along right away which makes for amazing sexual tension that's fun to read (aka no instalove), and just an overall feel-good read. And this novel was exactly that.

I had high hopes for this novel after reading the synopsis--it didn't seem like any historical-romance I had previously read--and it definitely did not disappoint. The main characters were so much fun to get to know, and their obvious dislike for one another made for some seriously witty banter. Melanie was a great, rough-and-tumble heroine who refused to take Caleb's crap lying down, while Caleb wasn't afraid to hold back because she was a "weak and fragile female". Levi was also too adorable and curious for words. Absolutely lovely to read.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much. The suspense and following the whodunnit aspect of the book was great and even had me fooled until the murderer was finally revealed, making for an edge-of-your-seat ending. The "why" aspect was also believable and therefore only added to my giddiness surrounding the plot. Simply a great must-read from this author!

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like historical fiction that takes place in the old west with romance, mystery and good characters thrown in, Trouble in Store will definitely fit the bill. This was a quick read that I finished in one day. Loved the sparks between Melissa and Caleb and the additional town characters rounded out the story nicely. This is my first read by Carol Cox and I will look forward to reading more of her works.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I thought both Melanie and Caleb were believable characters: flawed enough to be human, but also characters you wanted to cheer for. I thought Levi was adorable, and loved how Melanie decided to use her previous experience as a governess to help steer him in the right direction.
The mystery of this book was perhaps my favourite part . . . there were little hints here and there, and I had my suspicions about several of the characters, but the reveal? Whoa . . . it went far deeper than I had suspected at all!
My first novel by Carol Cox, but most definitely not my last!

[Amanda Tero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a nice, Western flavor with a mystery brewing.

I’m not sure if it was my reading mood, but parts of it felt a little forced to me. It probably didn’t help that I really disliked how they treated Levi harshly or ignored him and pushed him away all the time. I was really hoping to see Melanie good with kids, but she honestly wasn’t.

Will was a great character. He was just your overall good guy, even though he was a rival admirer. Maybe that’s what made me like him more.

If you like civilized Westerns and a slow burn romance, this book will be right up your alley.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It had a bit of almost everything that appeals to me in a book - a murder mystery, romance, action and adventure, a bit of humor.

I liked Melanie as a heroine. She was rather feisty and I liked that she stood up for herself. I didn't like Caleb as much but the interplay between the two of them was pretty good.

I thought Levi was a cute little kid and I liked all the trouble he got into.

It wasn't the best murder mystery I've ever read but it was still good and I liked the story a lot.

I'll be interested to read more by this author.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melanie Ross, a family-less young woman living in 1885, is forced to pull up her roots and move across the country to Arizona. Hoping to find grace in the eyes of her dead uncle's business partner, she is shocked to find that he, too, has passed on and in his place stands his nephew...who is also quite ready to stand in the way of Melanie's success in her new home. Thrown together through their work at the mercantile and surrounded by a string of suspicious situations, they must forge together to find the answers and perhaps, their future.

Pros: Inside of the gorgeous cover is found a pretty average serving of the usual "old west" fair - dusty streets, skeptical towns folk and a young woman who turns the eye of every ranch hand in town. There's nothing here that stands out to me as especially unique or the kind of material that make Carol Cox an overnight success. Nothing was especially amiss, nothing especially stood out, which is not surprising, in a genre that has been thoroughly canvassed by nearly every Christian female author since Christian fiction became so popular. Having a mystery take a leading role in the story was a pleasant, although far from new, approach to a period romance.

Cons: it's only true flaw will perhaps be a matter of personal opinion and preference, and in so explaining, I shall endeavor to keep this as spoiler free as I can. Melanie Ross comes to Cedar Ridge, having traveled alone from Ohio, a penniless and semi-desperate woman, hoping that her dead uncle's mercantile partner will give her a job and a home. Finding that he is also dead and his nephew has now inherited the business, Melanie tries to find a home by claiming half-ownership of the store, on the grounds that she was her uncle's only remaining relative. She goes as far as to threaten Caleb (the nephew) that she will call in the marshal if he doesn't let her stay and through other means, uses a mild form of threat and blackmail to gain her place. He begrudgingly allows her to begin to work there, but Melanie, despite the fact that she KNOWS she has no actual claim (a fact she admits to herself freely) marches into the store and pretty much walks all over Caleb, imposing her will and ideas all over the store, going so far as to do things behind his back and without his consent. I personally found this to be not only an annoying character flaw in a heroine, but also not the kind of conduct that is right in the eyes of the Lord. It was, after all, blatent deceit and never once does she feel any real regret, repentance or even come to a spiritual realization that she's been wrong. I feel that the author gave a poor representation of how a Christian should act and I wasn't okay with that.

Also, the transition from enemy to star-struck lover was very, very, very abrupt. Like, no transition at all. On one page their angry and fighting, the next page she's acting like a silly school girl and daydreaming about him. Oh please.

In summary, in was a mild, average story that many will still find an enjoyable read on a slow summer's afternoon.

I give it a 3 out of 5.

[Paula-O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble in Store a novel by Carol Cox

Melanie Ross is a governess because she likes small children and it is a good way to support herself. In earlier days there were not too many ways for a young woman to do that. Being a governess was short-lived when she was fired abruptly and told to leave...NOW

Melanie sifted through the few items she had from her family as she packed with tears rolling down her cheeks..."Where will I go"? Her hands picked up a forgotten letter and as she reread the old words she remembered a cousin who had always said if she needed help come to him, then another letter from his partner told her of his death but that he had his things and would keep all for her if she should ever be able to come to Arizona. smiling through the tears she thought " I have somewhere to go", with her last pay she travels to the man who just might give her a job in his store...

unbeknownst to her the partner had died also and his nephew had inherited the store, Caleb had a small son and had settled in running the store when all of a sudden Melanie arrives saying her cousin owned part of the store and she had inherited his share.

Life soon becames all topsy-turvy for Caleb and he wants things to stay the same. The customers come to like this spirited young woman and as she settles in she finds she likes Arizona just fine.

The town becomes unsettled when there is a death on the back step of the store and soon they have put two and two together and decided there have been too many deaths in a short period of time and the sheriff has hard time keeping them from forming a group that will take the law into their hands before they know all the facts.

Reading this book gives us so much to think on, a young woman needing help..so helpless. a young man raising his son needing help but not wanting to accept it... can these two see through all there troubles and find a way to help one another.

Are the deaths murder? accidental? what is happening in this little peaceful town, come read and enjoy the story of Caleb and Melanie as it all gets straightened out...

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what made me pick up a second book by this author. A sense of the ridiculous, I think. I finished Love in Disguise because I told myself it couldn't get any more absurd. But it did! Picking up Trouble In Store was a continuation of that. A sense of...it can't get any more silly, can it?
But I think it did.
Positives....this book was clean, lighthearted, and there was no giant Come To Jesus Moment where everything Suddenly Works Out. The characters' moral character stayed consistent throughout and made it more believable. I actually felt like the real couple understood each other, and not some "other perfect person" they had created in their own minds.

Howevvverrrrrrr....
There was this one scene that just threw me from mildly amused to incredulous. Spoiler.
bad guy (he doesn't deserve the title of Bad Guy because he's a minor threat no matter what the plot says to the contrary) and lynch mop storm into the store to presumably bring mob justice on our two innocent main characters. It goes like this...
bad guy: 'You benefit from all the deaths!'
mob: 'yeah!'
main character: 'Well, you'd benefit from our deaths! So you must have done it!'
mob: 'That makes sense! lets lynch our leader!'
.
..
...
....
.....
If that isn't enough, bad guy later represents and apologizes for jumping to conclusions. Like, what?

So....not a bad read but kind of a silly one.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first of Carol Cox's books that I've read and I have to say, It was a fun read.

I loved her characters. They were each well balanced and lovable. This book was a quick read but I really enjoyed it. There was mystery and romance and a bit of comedy thrown in there to balance everything out.

The only thing that I didn't like was that it didn't have enough of a faith message. By the end of it, I found myself almost trying to read between the lines and find a take away message that I could say was a learning or growing faith moment. I didn't really feel like there was anything. there were some hints of it and there were a few, small moments where the author wrote a few sentences about different things the characters were learning or what their beliefs were but there wasn't anything major. On the whole, the faith message was there, but it was very light.

There's nothing wrong with that, I just prefer to have a bit more faith building in the books I read. I like not only being able to read a great book but also feel that I've come away from it as a better person. That didn't happen in this book for me but I still enjoyed it outside of that point.

I give this book four stars just because I thought the author could have done more to enhance the faith aspect. Other than that, it was a very enjoyable read.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read! A cute little love story mixed with enough mystery that is was hard to put down! Melanie is all on her own and considers the store an answered prayer. Caleb is raising his son alone and also considers the store an answered prayer, but doesn't believe Melanie is included in the answer. Caleb is determined to prove that he can do it alone, but Melanie is just as determined to prove that he needs her help. As they learn to work with each other, they begin to see how much they both are needed to make the store a success. As their lives, and livelihood, are threatened by menacing notes and vicious rumors, they begin to work together to solve the mystery. In the end, their faith in God and trust in each other is what will save them.

[Rebecca "Rebaka" Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie and Caleb is part owner of a store. Can the closeness that they are finding with each other survive? Check the rest of my review this week at http://rebakaspot.blogspot.com/.

Trouble in Store has romance, humor, mystery and suspense all rolled up into one fantastic book.

Carol’s characters have depth to them that makes them seem real and connects with the reader.

Trouble in Store was given to me by NetGalley and Bethany House for a honest review

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to give this 5 stars. The author did a fantastic job at setting up the mystery aspect of this story and the life lesson was one I needed to hear right now. Along with that, the characters were lovable, the descriptions humorous, and the bit of romance sweet. I look forward to more from Carol Cox.

[Aerykah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow at the start, but once I got into it (which didn't take too long) I really enjoyed it.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

An orphan who barely knew her parents, Melanie Ross has worked as a governess following the death of the grandparents who raised her. Although she doesn’t love her position, she’s devastated when she’s fired. Who else can she turn to? Her last living relative, a cousin residing in Arizona, had always told her she had a place in his mercantile—but now that he’s dead, Melanie isn’t sure where to go. Hoping that her cousin’s business partner will take her on as an employee, Melanie spends her last paycheque on a train ticket to Arizona.

But when she arrives, Melanie is stunned to discover that her cousin’s business partner has also passed away, leaving the shop in the hands of his nephew, Caleb Nelson, and his young son, Levi. Caleb has his hands full running the mercantile and raising his son, and he isn’t keen for Melanie’s interfering suggestions on how he can improve the store. But he can’t turn away a young woman who has no place to go—not to mention a reasonable claim to her cousin’s share of the store—so he allows her to stay, secretly hoping that she’d marry one of the local ranchers and be out of his hair quickly.

Melanie has no intention to marry any of the many wife-hunting ranchers who keep popping into the store to stare at her. All she wants is a place to live and work, and put her skills to good use. Although Caleb is initially resilient to her suggestions, he begins to see the value in having a woman’s touch in the mercantile. But just as they’re starting to appreciate each other’s company, tragedy strikes their small town with the death of a traveller—and the blame seems to be pointed at Caleb and Melanie. They need to get to the bottom of this mystery, and fast. And perhaps their hunt for the killer will bring them closer to one than another than they ever expected...

Having loved Carol Cox’s previous novel, Love in Disguise, I looked forward to delving into her newest romantic mystery. I was a little worried that I was setting myself up for disappointment as not a lot seemed to happen at the start of this book. A lot of time was spent introducing the town and characters, and setting up for the mystery around which the plot was to centre. It wasn’t until halfway through the story that the plot really seemed to get started, and it finally grabbed my attention. If you’re usually put off by slow stars, do stick in there with this novel—the second half of the book is well worth waiting for!

Despite his initially cold demeanour, I really liked Caleb. He might seem a bit off-putting when he’s first introduced, but he has plenty of flaws and insecurities about raising his son and pleasing his customers that make it hard not to care about him. His son, Levi, made for several amusing moments, including one involving toy soldiers and the mayor’s wife’s bustle that made me nearly laugh out loud. Unfortunately, I never felt like I got to know Melanie as well as I did with Caleb. The main things we discover about Melanie are that she’s an orphan, an ex-governess and very stubborn about doing things her own way. Other than these initial facts—most of which the reader learns in the first few chapters of the novel—I didn’t feel like Melanie really learnt anything or had to overcome any flaws or fears in order to achieve her happy ending. Since I never really got handle on her motivations (besides needing a job and somewhere to live) it was difficult to relate to her and root for her to get the guy.

A lot of time was putting into developing the backdrop of Arizona, the town of Cedar Ridge and the secondary characters, all of which were easily to visualise. The descriptions of Arizona were fascinating and made me wish that I could see the landscape up close. I found myself hoping that Carol decided to return to Cedar Ridge in her next book so that we could revisit some of the more colourful characters (like Mrs Pike and the Professor) Will Blake can get his own happy ending.

The mystery aspect was what I loved so much about Carol's first book, so I was pleased to discover a good helping of suspense and intrigue in Trouble in Store. As the mystery progressed, I developed two theories about who the killer was, and I was pleasantly surprised when one of them turned out to be true (even if it was my more predictable theory). My one complaint about the mystery is that the section at the end of the novel when the killer is monologuing about why he killed the victims and what he plans to do next felt rather cheesy and unrealistic. I do like to find out the killer's motivation in a mystery novel, but I'm not a big fan of monologuing. Does anyone actually do that in real life?

The romance in Trouble in Store was sweet and pretty slow moving, but the ending was satisfying. I was worried that the romance would get pushed to the side by the mystery, but it actually meant that Melanie and Caleb had something that forced them to unite and work together, despite their differences. This made for a more believable progression of their relationship, given how stubbornly opposed to each other they had been in the first half of the book. Although there is plenty of chemistry evident throughout the novel—despite Melanie’s efforts to ignore her attraction for Caleb—I don't think that they actually kissed until the final chapters of the book, so this is definitely one of the lighter romances I've read lately.

Trouble in Store didn't quite live up to my first Carol Cox novel, but it's definitely going to please a lot of fans of western romance, especially those who enjoy a good mystery.

Review title provided by Bethany House.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melanie was to undertake the control of seven young children at a party that was geared to a political nomination from the guests. To play outside, only gave fuel to the mayhem, as only children know when outdoor. Being her employees didn’t get results they wanted, the children were suppose to be prime and proper, she got fired, Going to an uncle to help in the mercantile store,to find he is deceased. The two that started the place, left it to cousin’s. With her changing things in the store, can she change him. With his children and the mischief they enjoy. A mystery and Melanie is in danger, adds to this story, enjoyable to read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a little bit of a mystery involved in this romance. A bit of the usual with a twist. Melanie moves west and when she gets to town and tries to stake her claim in the general store Caleb tries to drive her away with a few schemes. But then things start to get a bit crazy with a few break ins and a dead body. Who is behind the problems? Instead of driving Caleb and Melanie apart it pushes them closer together as they try to solve the trouble and keep the town from mobbing their store.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was overall a good book. The characters were all realistic and easy to attach to. Melanie was a very strong and surprising character, and Caleb was sweet. I couldnt get totally wrapped up in the storyline and the suspense parts werent exceptionally suspenseful. But, the proposal at the end was very sweet and the final villain's identity was a little surprising. There was a little bit too much of the religious aspect for my liking, but overall it was a relatively enjoyable book.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t read very many western period books, I usually like regency and English romances. There’s something about cowboys that doesn’t draw me. This one was fine. I was more interested in the mystery unraveling than the romance, which was incredibly boring. I was actually rooting for the other guy but I knew the inevitable. The mystery did surprise me and I did not guess the culprit, so that was nice.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It finished more strongly than it began, but since I actively disliked the main female character for more than half the book I’m knocking it down to a 2.

The storytelling felt flat until the last bit of action.

I remain unconvinced that the main character would be a kind, loving mother (or a kind, loving governess, for that matter...). A bit of humility could have gone a long way.