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Controlling Interest
THERE'S TROUBLE IN RIVER CITY Matt Hogan's Memphis detective agency has been on the skids since a recent attack of conscience cost him an important case. When a wealthy investor steps in and saves River City Investigations, Matt thinks all his prayers have been answered---until he finds out that with the investor comes a new partner. Fresh out of criminal justice school and a two-year stint in the Tunica County Sheriff's Department, Natalie Tubberville is out to prove she can cut it in the world of private investigations. But her reluctant partner is just as determined to have nothing to do with her---until Natalie makes him an offer he can't refuse! If Matt solves the next case before she does, she will return her share of the company. And the race is on. As two strong personalities compete, mutual attraction grows...while a simple case of a runaway bride threatens to become an international incident. Will Matt and Natalie call off the competition---or discover an entirely new arrangement?
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2008
9 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth White
16 books39 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Also publishes under the name Beth White
Also publishes under the name Beth White
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 1, 2025
Thought I wrote a review ! Where did it go ?!
Maddening.
Amusing romcom. New author 2 me. I want to read more !
Southern US, Christian, imaginative, recommended.
Terri Blackstock did good highlighting this author.
Maddening.
Amusing romcom. New author 2 me. I want to read more !
Southern US, Christian, imaginative, recommended.
Terri Blackstock did good highlighting this author.
May 8, 2015
Matt Hogan is a changed man; his conversion experience has motivated him to "clean up his act"; however, first on his list; saving his fledgling detective agency from bankruptcy. When Eddie Tubberville decides to invest in River City Investigations, Matt is optimistic that his monetary troubles are over; that is, until he learns that Eddie's want-to-be-sleuth daughter has gotten herself in on the offer. And what a package deal! Natalie Tubberville is annoyingly clever, a non-stop conversationalist and just pretty enough to make Matt's insides stay in a tangled mess!
Natalie Tubberville cannot believe that her father has hog-tied her future to Matt Hogan; putting them in competition for the controlling interest in his detective agency based on who can locate a missing Pakistani heiress first. Never mind that it is kind of her fault that the young woman is missing in the first place. Matt and Natalie reluctantly join forces to find the beautiful Jasmine, who clearly does not want to be a participant in an arranged marriage. Within a few short days, it becomes perfectly clear that Matt and Natalie are in a little over their heads, in more ways than one.
This delightful story is a page turner with its clever, romantic jest and an underlying story line seeped in international terrorism and heroism.
Natalie Tubberville cannot believe that her father has hog-tied her future to Matt Hogan; putting them in competition for the controlling interest in his detective agency based on who can locate a missing Pakistani heiress first. Never mind that it is kind of her fault that the young woman is missing in the first place. Matt and Natalie reluctantly join forces to find the beautiful Jasmine, who clearly does not want to be a participant in an arranged marriage. Within a few short days, it becomes perfectly clear that Matt and Natalie are in a little over their heads, in more ways than one.
This delightful story is a page turner with its clever, romantic jest and an underlying story line seeped in international terrorism and heroism.
October 25, 2013
3.5 stars. I really liked it. It was very Christian and had lots of food for thought. Good clean fun, humorous, an adventure packed, an unpredictable plot and a light g-rated romance. Glad I read this one.
August 13, 2025
I don't know quite how to write a book review for this one. I loved the faith forward content, and thought the story was well written. It had adventure, comedy, and some insight on the Pakistani culture. A runaway woman, with private investigators hot in the trail. Very intriguing!
However, what I didn't like as much was the sensual innuendos throughout... It dealt with the subject of the guy struggling through lustful thoughts, and the girl sharing some of those feelings too. Even though these thoughts for the most part were not written as being a good thing,
I just wish that the characters could have had conversations about it (like it was in the book) without it being descriptively mentioned in a few different parts.
However, what I didn't like as much was the sensual innuendos throughout... It dealt with the subject of the guy struggling through lustful thoughts, and the girl sharing some of those feelings too. Even though these thoughts for the most part were not written as being a good thing,
I just wish that the characters could have had conversations about it (like it was in the book) without it being descriptively mentioned in a few different parts.
January 28, 2026
I’ve read this book several times, and it manages to hit the same every single time
Such a wonderful read
The slow burn, the tension, and the bickering were funny and endearing all at once. I loved how it realistically explored the slow nature of romance how feelings unfold quietly, without rushing into excessive spice.
It’s truly one of a kind, and I’ve never read a book quite like it.
Such a wonderful read
The slow burn, the tension, and the bickering were funny and endearing all at once. I loved how it realistically explored the slow nature of romance how feelings unfold quietly, without rushing into excessive spice.
It’s truly one of a kind, and I’ve never read a book quite like it.
May 24, 2018
Christians are good. Muslims are all evil. Pakistan is in the middle east. Women should always put men first. Bars are dens of sin. Drinking amd swearing are the devils. Women need protecting. That about sums things up. Terrible: F.
January 31, 2022
The one thing I'm going to give the book great credits for is being a very clean romance, lots of funny sayings, and a very happy ending.
I do think the book droned on with unnecessary scenes, however for a christian fiction romance it was good.
I do think the book droned on with unnecessary scenes, however for a christian fiction romance it was good.
October 8, 2015
The character "Natalie" is a selfish little daddy's girl. I have found so many problems and inaccuracies while only reading the first few pages of this book.
For example, Natalie doesn't know the difference between a burka and a hookah. Another instance is that the girl's father didn't even have a word to describe the Punjabi dress or (salwar) except for, and I quote "how can you possibly lose a woman in a lime-green Harem costume?". Why is another culture's modest dress being sexualized?
Oh not to mention that Pakistan is somehow considered as a Middle Eastern country in this book *Clap clap*
The storyline without the religious discussion/condemnation was actually ok. But what really frustrated me is that the writer was trying so hard to make Islam sound so bad and horrible by associating the bad characters as Muslims. I know it is a Christian novel, but you don't have to trash other people's religion just so your religion sound so nice. Also, according to your novel, I have found that there are some similarities between how a Muslim should act and how a Christian should act .. Examples include not cursing, not lying, not drinking, not sleeping around with others outside of marriage.
In the end, I would like to say that people should not always associate religion with culture because these are two different things. For example, a man beating his wife could happen anywhere in the world, and this is not something which is exclusive to a certain religion.
For example, Natalie doesn't know the difference between a burka and a hookah. Another instance is that the girl's father didn't even have a word to describe the Punjabi dress or (salwar) except for, and I quote "how can you possibly lose a woman in a lime-green Harem costume?". Why is another culture's modest dress being sexualized?
Oh not to mention that Pakistan is somehow considered as a Middle Eastern country in this book *Clap clap*
The storyline without the religious discussion/condemnation was actually ok. But what really frustrated me is that the writer was trying so hard to make Islam sound so bad and horrible by associating the bad characters as Muslims. I know it is a Christian novel, but you don't have to trash other people's religion just so your religion sound so nice. Also, according to your novel, I have found that there are some similarities between how a Muslim should act and how a Christian should act .. Examples include not cursing, not lying, not drinking, not sleeping around with others outside of marriage.
In the end, I would like to say that people should not always associate religion with culture because these are two different things. For example, a man beating his wife could happen anywhere in the world, and this is not something which is exclusive to a certain religion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2024
Matt Hogan doesn't want to work with Natalie Tuberville any more than she does with him; to find the missing Pakistani heiress, they will have to put their differences and dislike for each other aside. I wasn't extremely intrigued by Yaseem's disappearance, yet Matt and Natalie's enemies-to-friends-to-potential-relationship made me keep listening to the audiobook; Laurel and Cole from Off the Record made a great supporting appearance as semi-mentors to Matt and Natalie as they begin to navigate their burgeoning relationship. Throughout their discussions regarding the case they are trying to solve, Matt and Natalie reveal to each other flawed, human emotions and attitudes about attempting to life a Christian lifestyle, having come to the faith in their late adulthood, amid various mistakes. For me, I enjoyed some of Elizabeth White's other books better than this one, especially Tour de Force, which I may have to reread soon.
January 11, 2016
It was a cute read. Has a lot of stuff about bars being the end of the world and drinking being evil. Being a christian myself I've learned to think for myself as well... there are wonderful nice people in bars and churches alike and very evil people in bars and churches alike. The book sounded like it was written by my grandmother. Like I said cute read, took it to the beach. If I were to write a christen themed book I would write about fortitude and courage. I wouldn't need to preach about the places you should or should not go and use judgement of other people constantly to make a point. I put this in my could not finish pile because I skip around in the book so much.
January 13, 2010
This was a very cute book! After reading Off the Record, I was excited to hear that Matt got his own story. Elizabeth White's characters are always flawed Christians, which I find rather refreshing because I'm certainly not perfect. Matt and Natalie are very comical together and I found myself laughing throughout this book. Also, I enjoyed how Cole and Laurel were in this book. Elizabeth White seems to have a thing about bringing prior characters into her stories.
November 5, 2008
This was a cute christian love story. Matt and Natalie are competing private investigators both investigating the disappearance of Yasmine Patel, a young Pakistani woman who comes to the US for an arranged marriage. Whoever finds her first gets full ownership of the investigation firm.
This is a fun read that has a some chuckle moments. The christian theme was nice, not over whelming.
Fun
This is a fun read that has a some chuckle moments. The christian theme was nice, not over whelming.
Fun
May 4, 2009
I bought this awhile back..and then kind of lost track of it....But now since I found it again, I read it right away (before I lost it again! :-)). I liked it just about as much as I have liked her other books. I really like Elizabeth White's writing--her characters and storylines are always very interesting.
November 13, 2013
Tough to rate. Some parts were good, other parts not so good. It was somewhat disjointed and the characters were not endearing. I never felt like I was rooting for them or on a journey with them like a great book will do. So that was disappointing. But for a light, easy read it was fun. Just don't be expecting Terri Blackstock and you'll be fine! ;-)
August 6, 2008
Pretty good, but it was annoyingly predictable.
May 30, 2009
This was the first book that I read by her... it was good, but I didn't think that it flowed very well.
August 29, 2014
It's an interesting read.
January 17, 2014
cutesy story
February 7, 2015
3 1/2. Cute
August 30, 2017
I just couldn't put it down. I read the whole thing in a couple of hours. (2010)
July 29, 2016
Ok, lots of times the two detectives find themselves stuck together on assignment.
June 2, 2013
romantic suspense -- well-written -- would make a good movie!
April 10, 2017
Very cute, a bit unrealistic, but a cute fictional read.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews