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PJ Sugar #1
Nothing but Trouble
It's not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her home town, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend's husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder―who also happens to be PJ's former flame―is convinced it's an open-and-shut case, PJ's not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend’s husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
114 people are currently reading
1043 people want to read
About the author
Susan May Warren
212 books3,623 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 139 reviews
March 26, 2019
This was a fun cozy mystery, but quite different story to Susan's romantic suspense which I prefer. However, if you are a cozy mystery fan, you should definitely read this. True to Susan's signature stories, she delivered a very intriguing main character who had to find who she is while facing a past she ran away from. I loved how Susan again intertwined scripture, through 1 Peter and Peter's story, to teach the reader about forgiveness and finding your purpose.
PJ Sugar was quite the interesting character, and the things she got herself into offered a lot of laughs. I liked Jeremy's character a lot and like him would like to find out what PJ stands for, which will probably be revealed later in the series. It was fun to search along with PJ for the clues and there was one or two twists I did not see coming.
Her easy going manner with Davy (nephew) was so sweet and loved the relationship between these two.
The author did a great job of setting up certain aspects which I expect to develop through the series: the love triangle, the reconciliation between PJ and her mom and PJ's relationship with God.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
PJ Sugar was quite the interesting character, and the things she got herself into offered a lot of laughs. I liked Jeremy's character a lot and like him would like to find out what PJ stands for, which will probably be revealed later in the series. It was fun to search along with PJ for the clues and there was one or two twists I did not see coming.
Her easy going manner with Davy (nephew) was so sweet and loved the relationship between these two.
The author did a great job of setting up certain aspects which I expect to develop through the series: the love triangle, the reconciliation between PJ and her mom and PJ's relationship with God.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
January 26, 2019
I am not a huge mystery fan, so a 4* rating from me with this genre is high praise indeed!
I really connected with the heroine and loved how 1 Peter 1:1-3 was woven in.
I found this story very hard to put down! I had a lot of waiting to do, first in an appointment, then in car waiting for someone else, but that was okay because I was engrossed in this story.
Favourite Quotes:
Someday her heart and her head were just going to have to learn to communicate.
She’d learned plenty in the three years since becoming a Christian. Enough to dispel the common myth that Christians always made the right decisions, that they threw off the shame or guilt of bygone mistakes without a backward glance, and most of all, that they didn’t, at times, long to fold into the temptations that blinded them before.
It seemed pretty easy to forgive, or at least think she’d forgiven, when sitting in a pew surrounded by praise music. But in the real world, that’s when forgiveness got gritty.
Absolutely! Sometimes forgiveness is easy, and sometimes it something you have to work on day by day, particularly when the betrayal is deep and it's someone close to you that you see on a regular basis. And then of course forgiving yourself can be harder than forgiving someone else. I really appreciated how Susan May Warren used the aspect of forgiveness in this story
PJ sat up, turned on one of the bedside lamps, and stared at herself in the mirror across from the bed (which, by the way, was a horrible place for a mirror).
I totally agree! Had to smile when read this comment, because I've had that same experience when away.
“I liked the sermon. I can relate to Peter. He was a mess, had more passion than brains, and still managed to become something with God.” ~ PJ Sugar
I can relate to him too!
“He had brains, just needed direction. I think that’s one reason Christ gave him a different name.” ~ Maxine Hudson
“Being a good parent—or aunt—isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making him know you love him, protecting him, and seeing in him more than what he sees.” ~ Maxine Hudson
“That God would do great things through him, if he was obedient. All Peter had to do was surrender. He gave everything completely to God—his future and his reputation and his dreams. And that’s when God took over and did amazing things in Peter’s life. And He’ll do that in your life.” ~ Pastor
“That we’re not the same people we were. We’re completely new. But so many of us walk around with the same perspective as we did when we were lost. Wondering where we fit in. What a new creation looks like.” ~ Jeremy Kane
“...only God knows who you really are and who you’re becoming in Him. Maybe you just need to live on the outside who you are on the inside.” ~ Jeremy Kane
“He might have denied Christ, but that day when Jesus offered him forgiveness, he finally heard the truth—that Jesus loved him despite his flaws.” ~ Pastor
“Sometimes, someone just needs a champion.” ~ Elizabeth Sugar
Like PJ I wasn't expecting that type of comment from Elizabeth, but it's so true and really resonated with me.
She’d been living with the belief that she wasn’t what God wanted. But the very fact that Christ died for her said that God liked her.
He liked her before and after she’d become a Christian. With or without flaws. God believed in her.
I really connected with the heroine and loved how 1 Peter 1:1-3 was woven in.
I found this story very hard to put down! I had a lot of waiting to do, first in an appointment, then in car waiting for someone else, but that was okay because I was engrossed in this story.
Favourite Quotes:
Someday her heart and her head were just going to have to learn to communicate.
She’d learned plenty in the three years since becoming a Christian. Enough to dispel the common myth that Christians always made the right decisions, that they threw off the shame or guilt of bygone mistakes without a backward glance, and most of all, that they didn’t, at times, long to fold into the temptations that blinded them before.
It seemed pretty easy to forgive, or at least think she’d forgiven, when sitting in a pew surrounded by praise music. But in the real world, that’s when forgiveness got gritty.
Absolutely! Sometimes forgiveness is easy, and sometimes it something you have to work on day by day, particularly when the betrayal is deep and it's someone close to you that you see on a regular basis. And then of course forgiving yourself can be harder than forgiving someone else. I really appreciated how Susan May Warren used the aspect of forgiveness in this story
PJ sat up, turned on one of the bedside lamps, and stared at herself in the mirror across from the bed (which, by the way, was a horrible place for a mirror).
I totally agree! Had to smile when read this comment, because I've had that same experience when away.
“I liked the sermon. I can relate to Peter. He was a mess, had more passion than brains, and still managed to become something with God.” ~ PJ Sugar
I can relate to him too!
“He had brains, just needed direction. I think that’s one reason Christ gave him a different name.” ~ Maxine Hudson
“Being a good parent—or aunt—isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making him know you love him, protecting him, and seeing in him more than what he sees.” ~ Maxine Hudson
“That God would do great things through him, if he was obedient. All Peter had to do was surrender. He gave everything completely to God—his future and his reputation and his dreams. And that’s when God took over and did amazing things in Peter’s life. And He’ll do that in your life.” ~ Pastor
“That we’re not the same people we were. We’re completely new. But so many of us walk around with the same perspective as we did when we were lost. Wondering where we fit in. What a new creation looks like.” ~ Jeremy Kane
“...only God knows who you really are and who you’re becoming in Him. Maybe you just need to live on the outside who you are on the inside.” ~ Jeremy Kane
“He might have denied Christ, but that day when Jesus offered him forgiveness, he finally heard the truth—that Jesus loved him despite his flaws.” ~ Pastor
“Sometimes, someone just needs a champion.” ~ Elizabeth Sugar
Like PJ I wasn't expecting that type of comment from Elizabeth, but it's so true and really resonated with me.
She’d been living with the belief that she wasn’t what God wanted. But the very fact that Christ died for her said that God liked her.
He liked her before and after she’d become a Christian. With or without flaws. God believed in her.
April 28, 2019
I really liked this story, but, there were a few things that I thought were strange:
#1: It's ridiculous that PJ's sister, Connie, planned her wedding & honeymoon to coincide with Davy's 1st day of school. What parent does that? Especially when she's been waiting 3 yrs to get him into an exclusive pre-school. She leaves these responsibilities to a sister who's never raised a child, who has lived out of town for 10 years, and who is not an organized person.
#2: PJ had no right or business to remove Davy from the school his mother enrolled him in.
#3: When PJ spoke with the school director on the phone about an overdue library book, why didn't PJ tell the school director she was not David's mother; that his mother would have to take care of the overdue library book when she returned from her honeymoon?
#4: And finally, how on earth could 4-year-old Davy have an overdue library book from school, when he has only been in school for 3 or 4 days? Most schools check out library books for one week. Incidentally, the fact that the school director told PJ that library records were confidential and she could not tell PJ the name of the book--that did ring true. As a retired librarian in Texas, I know that library records are confidential by law in Texas. I'm not sure about Minnesota, but it makes sense that Minnesota would have similar laws.
I am pretty sure the author wrote it this way for the humor factor, but it just did not seem realistic to me. However, this was just a small part of the plot, and otherwise, I really enjoyed the rest of the plot line and characters overall. I also enjoyed the way the author worked PJ's Christianity into the story.
#1: It's ridiculous that PJ's sister, Connie, planned her wedding & honeymoon to coincide with Davy's 1st day of school. What parent does that? Especially when she's been waiting 3 yrs to get him into an exclusive pre-school. She leaves these responsibilities to a sister who's never raised a child, who has lived out of town for 10 years, and who is not an organized person.
#2: PJ had no right or business to remove Davy from the school his mother enrolled him in.
#3: When PJ spoke with the school director on the phone about an overdue library book, why didn't PJ tell the school director she was not David's mother; that his mother would have to take care of the overdue library book when she returned from her honeymoon?
#4: And finally, how on earth could 4-year-old Davy have an overdue library book from school, when he has only been in school for 3 or 4 days? Most schools check out library books for one week. Incidentally, the fact that the school director told PJ that library records were confidential and she could not tell PJ the name of the book--that did ring true. As a retired librarian in Texas, I know that library records are confidential by law in Texas. I'm not sure about Minnesota, but it makes sense that Minnesota would have similar laws.
I am pretty sure the author wrote it this way for the humor factor, but it just did not seem realistic to me. However, this was just a small part of the plot, and otherwise, I really enjoyed the rest of the plot line and characters overall. I also enjoyed the way the author worked PJ's Christianity into the story.
January 20, 2023
3.5 stars
It’s safe to say that I only added this to my TBR because it’s Susan May Warren. She is my new favorite author. But it is also safe to say that after I read the blurb when I started to read it, I was skeptical about if I was going to like this story.
This turned out better than I thought. Even with the love triangle which wasn’t a full focus. Though if I had to choose, I say I’m team Jeremy. PJ is just returning to town after ten years of being gone. After reconnecting, her best friend’s husband is wanted for murder.
PJ has to figure out who the real killer is while dodging her ex and the new guy who seems to be getting under her skin. I absolutely loved both men but am a complete Jeremy fan. This was one of those books that I didn’t have to worry about law enforcement because it was a main aspect and there was only one thing I had a critical comment about. Other than that I have the second book and will pick that up soon.
It’s safe to say that I only added this to my TBR because it’s Susan May Warren. She is my new favorite author. But it is also safe to say that after I read the blurb when I started to read it, I was skeptical about if I was going to like this story.
This turned out better than I thought. Even with the love triangle which wasn’t a full focus. Though if I had to choose, I say I’m team Jeremy. PJ is just returning to town after ten years of being gone. After reconnecting, her best friend’s husband is wanted for murder.
PJ has to figure out who the real killer is while dodging her ex and the new guy who seems to be getting under her skin. I absolutely loved both men but am a complete Jeremy fan. This was one of those books that I didn’t have to worry about law enforcement because it was a main aspect and there was only one thing I had a critical comment about. Other than that I have the second book and will pick that up soon.
December 30, 2019
2.5 stars. I went into this book pretty blind and I was surprised to find that it is a Christian cozy mystery. I think if I went in expecting that, I may have enjoyed it more, but as it was I found our main character a little annoying, the situations pretty unrealistic, and the mystery uninteresting. I know I'm the unpopular opinion, so check this one out if you're a fan of Christian cozies!
SPOILERS AHEAD:
In this book, a girl named PJ Sugar comes back to her hometown to babysit her nephew while her sister was on her honeymoon. Her mom would've watched the kid, but she fell and had surgery on her leg so she couldn't take care of the 4 year old. The new in laws are also living in the house, but they're Russian and don't speak english so PJ is all thats left. He's starting a super prestigious new preschool while his mom's gone (yeah right, she never would've left on the first day of school if she's the kind of person/mom she's described as). Of course, PJ takes him late, in her PJs and immediately they're the social outcasts. Eventually she pulls him out of the school (she would never have the right to do that) and thats the end of that.
She's confronted with her high school love when she goes back home. His name is Boone and now he's the town cop. He's dangerously attractive and they got in a lot of trouble together as kids, but she's still so drawn to him. She has become a Christian in the past 3 years, so she's got her head on straighter but still doesn't trust herself with Boone.
There's a murder in the town of one of the old high school teachers. The main suspect is her old best friend, Trudi's, husband, Tom. The teacher had been doing some investing in ancient coins and he had some of Tom's money so there's the motive. PJ is convinced that's not the case so she tries to find other suspects. We briefly suspect one of the teacher's friends and the teacher's son, but those end up as dead ends. In the end, we find out it was the mailman. Dumb.
She got to know Jeremy, Tom's cousin. The way they meet is kind of weird and like he's stalking her, but in the end we find out he's a PI and hes actually investigating her because theres never been a murder until she came into town. Many years ago, Boone let her take the fall for a fire at the country club that was actually his fault and the teacher was one of the ones who thought she was guilty, so that would be her motive.
In the end, Jeremy offers her a job as assistant PI and we also are led to believe they start a relationship. Cute story, but too far fetched and uninteresting for me.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
In this book, a girl named PJ Sugar comes back to her hometown to babysit her nephew while her sister was on her honeymoon. Her mom would've watched the kid, but she fell and had surgery on her leg so she couldn't take care of the 4 year old. The new in laws are also living in the house, but they're Russian and don't speak english so PJ is all thats left. He's starting a super prestigious new preschool while his mom's gone (yeah right, she never would've left on the first day of school if she's the kind of person/mom she's described as). Of course, PJ takes him late, in her PJs and immediately they're the social outcasts. Eventually she pulls him out of the school (she would never have the right to do that) and thats the end of that.
She's confronted with her high school love when she goes back home. His name is Boone and now he's the town cop. He's dangerously attractive and they got in a lot of trouble together as kids, but she's still so drawn to him. She has become a Christian in the past 3 years, so she's got her head on straighter but still doesn't trust herself with Boone.
There's a murder in the town of one of the old high school teachers. The main suspect is her old best friend, Trudi's, husband, Tom. The teacher had been doing some investing in ancient coins and he had some of Tom's money so there's the motive. PJ is convinced that's not the case so she tries to find other suspects. We briefly suspect one of the teacher's friends and the teacher's son, but those end up as dead ends. In the end, we find out it was the mailman. Dumb.
She got to know Jeremy, Tom's cousin. The way they meet is kind of weird and like he's stalking her, but in the end we find out he's a PI and hes actually investigating her because theres never been a murder until she came into town. Many years ago, Boone let her take the fall for a fire at the country club that was actually his fault and the teacher was one of the ones who thought she was guilty, so that would be her motive.
In the end, Jeremy offers her a job as assistant PI and we also are led to believe they start a relationship. Cute story, but too far fetched and uninteresting for me.
May 18, 2009
In Nothing But Trouble we are introduced to PJ Sugar, as delightful a character as you'll ever meet (think Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, only all grown up and modernized--yeah, she's that much fun)!
Some people have one of those days, but PJ Sugar has one of those lives. You know, the kind of person that trouble seems to follow like a little black raincloud.
The story opens with PJ headed back to her hometown of Kellogg, Minnesota, to confront her checkered past. Can she prove to her mother and the rest of the town that she's a changed person, or will her hometown visit result in "nothing but trouble?"
Here are just a few of the things, I loved about this book:
Humor
This book has more LOL moments than I've had in a long time from a book. It will leave a smile on your face for weeks. Here's one from the first chapter when the guy she's expecting to propose instead tells her she's not wife material: "She stared at the place between his eyes, pretty sure she still had her shortstop aim."
When he continues to be obtuse: "Okay. That. Was. It." :D (And it gets even better!)
Character
I've already mentioned how delightful PJ Sugar is, but it bears repeating in this case. You gotta love her! Susan May Warren immediately makes us sympathize with PJ (I mean, c'mon, we've all felt the sting of being jilted), but the reader also has to respect this lovable character. She doesn't sit around and lick her wounds, nor sob for what might have been--she's up and at 'em--and headed straight for...yeah, you guessed it...more trouble! I love PJ so much, I wanna be BFF...scratch that...I wanna BE PJ!!
A Way With Words
Susan May Warren is a word-master. From a setting that makes you feel like you're in PJ's world, to a unique way of covering backstory (between the beeps of the answering machine), to poignant internalizations ("...it still wasn't so easy to share the limelight with the sister that was wanted"), to fresh rhetorical devices ("PJ sat there tasting yesterday like tar in her mouth"), to witty and sparkling dialogue--this author knows how to do it all!
I could go on and on about this book. I LOVED it! It's wacky and entertaining--any story that involves a pizza guy, a Russian babushka and a goat has to be interesting! I can't wait for the next book in the series to see what kind of trouble PJ lands herself in next.
(Read more at http://wordvessel.blogspot.com)
Some people have one of those days, but PJ Sugar has one of those lives. You know, the kind of person that trouble seems to follow like a little black raincloud.
The story opens with PJ headed back to her hometown of Kellogg, Minnesota, to confront her checkered past. Can she prove to her mother and the rest of the town that she's a changed person, or will her hometown visit result in "nothing but trouble?"
Here are just a few of the things, I loved about this book:
Humor
This book has more LOL moments than I've had in a long time from a book. It will leave a smile on your face for weeks. Here's one from the first chapter when the guy she's expecting to propose instead tells her she's not wife material: "She stared at the place between his eyes, pretty sure she still had her shortstop aim."
When he continues to be obtuse: "Okay. That. Was. It." :D (And it gets even better!)
Character
I've already mentioned how delightful PJ Sugar is, but it bears repeating in this case. You gotta love her! Susan May Warren immediately makes us sympathize with PJ (I mean, c'mon, we've all felt the sting of being jilted), but the reader also has to respect this lovable character. She doesn't sit around and lick her wounds, nor sob for what might have been--she's up and at 'em--and headed straight for...yeah, you guessed it...more trouble! I love PJ so much, I wanna be BFF...scratch that...I wanna BE PJ!!
A Way With Words
Susan May Warren is a word-master. From a setting that makes you feel like you're in PJ's world, to a unique way of covering backstory (between the beeps of the answering machine), to poignant internalizations ("...it still wasn't so easy to share the limelight with the sister that was wanted"), to fresh rhetorical devices ("PJ sat there tasting yesterday like tar in her mouth"), to witty and sparkling dialogue--this author knows how to do it all!
I could go on and on about this book. I LOVED it! It's wacky and entertaining--any story that involves a pizza guy, a Russian babushka and a goat has to be interesting! I can't wait for the next book in the series to see what kind of trouble PJ lands herself in next.
(Read more at http://wordvessel.blogspot.com)
August 14, 2010
This was the first book in the PJ Sugar series by Susan May Warren and I really cannot wait to read more from her! The story involved a jack-of-all-trades girl, PJ, who left her small-town when she was 18 after she was accused of setting the kitchen of the country club on fire and her boyfriend, Boone, doing nothing to absolve her. She spent the next 10 years doing everything and anything - stunt girl, manicurist, clown - she could get her hands on, never fully finding her place anywhere.
She returns to Kellogg when her sister needs her to babysit her son, 4-year-old Davy, while she goes off on her honeymoon. Her mom had just been in an accident and was on crutches so she couldn't watch him. A few days after her sister and new husband leave, there's a murder in the town and PJ's old best friend's husband is accused of murdering him.
From then on, PJ sets out to prove his innocence, taking on the role of PI with Nancy Drew-style. Her old boyfriend, Boone, is the lead investigator on the case but he seems certain about her friend's husband's guilt. Through her investigating, she meets Jeremy, who is the husband's cousin and also a former Navy SEAL now doing PI work.
PJ easily became someone I identified with immediately. She tries hard but makes mistakes. She wants to live a full life, but finds it hard to meet everyone's expectations. One thing I liked about her is that while she did get into troubling situations a lot, they weren't goofy and silly like many protaganists get into. They seemed REAL and something I could imagine happening to me!
This was such a great read and I would recommend it to anyone!
She returns to Kellogg when her sister needs her to babysit her son, 4-year-old Davy, while she goes off on her honeymoon. Her mom had just been in an accident and was on crutches so she couldn't watch him. A few days after her sister and new husband leave, there's a murder in the town and PJ's old best friend's husband is accused of murdering him.
From then on, PJ sets out to prove his innocence, taking on the role of PI with Nancy Drew-style. Her old boyfriend, Boone, is the lead investigator on the case but he seems certain about her friend's husband's guilt. Through her investigating, she meets Jeremy, who is the husband's cousin and also a former Navy SEAL now doing PI work.
PJ easily became someone I identified with immediately. She tries hard but makes mistakes. She wants to live a full life, but finds it hard to meet everyone's expectations. One thing I liked about her is that while she did get into troubling situations a lot, they weren't goofy and silly like many protaganists get into. They seemed REAL and something I could imagine happening to me!
This was such a great read and I would recommend it to anyone!
May 2, 2009
Nothing But Trouble is one of those books that makes you want to find a stack of novels and read for a week straight.
PJ Sugar is a lovable heroine who’s funny and hurting. She’s got a messy past she’d love to erase and an overwhelming desire to do things right. But it just doesn’t seem to be in her DNA.
Lucky for us. :)
What I like about the book is that PJ isn’t perfect at all. She seems like someone we’ve met before, and because of that we can relate to her. Except for the Russians in the book. She’s one up on me there.
If you like romance, mystery, comedy, or adventure, you'll enjoy Nothing But Trouble.
PJ Sugar is a lovable heroine who’s funny and hurting. She’s got a messy past she’d love to erase and an overwhelming desire to do things right. But it just doesn’t seem to be in her DNA.
Lucky for us. :)
What I like about the book is that PJ isn’t perfect at all. She seems like someone we’ve met before, and because of that we can relate to her. Except for the Russians in the book. She’s one up on me there.
If you like romance, mystery, comedy, or adventure, you'll enjoy Nothing But Trouble.
June 20, 2019
Funny romantic suspense, good mystery and spiritual content. PJ Sugar returns home after many years away.
May 29, 2018
Cute. Fun. Exactly what I needed after several heavier books.
August 25, 2021
Having just finished reading a classic, I needed a light, easy read to give my brain a break. And, I've been holding onto the whole PJ Sugar collection for a while now so I can binge read the entire series.
PJ left town the night of her high school graduation after being accused of a crime she did not commit. For ten years she's been trying to outrun her past, but she can't quite convince herself that she isn't the mess-up that everyone thinks she is.
She comes back home again to go to her sister's wedding and take care of her nephew while his mom and her new husband go on a honeymoon.
I wasn't sure I was going to like "Nothing But Trouble" because, in the first few chapters, I felt like there were a whole bunch of people making stupid decisions. But, Susan May Warren has never let me down before, so I kept going. I'm glad I did.
PJ left town the night of her high school graduation after being accused of a crime she did not commit. For ten years she's been trying to outrun her past, but she can't quite convince herself that she isn't the mess-up that everyone thinks she is.
She comes back home again to go to her sister's wedding and take care of her nephew while his mom and her new husband go on a honeymoon.
I wasn't sure I was going to like "Nothing But Trouble" because, in the first few chapters, I felt like there were a whole bunch of people making stupid decisions. But, Susan May Warren has never let me down before, so I kept going. I'm glad I did.
July 18, 2021
Okay, I have to admit, I went into this book with a little bit of a grudge against it. I didn't think I was going to like it and I was only reading it to check it off my list. And for the first quarter of the book, I was right. It felt really slow to start and I was sure I was going to be muddling my way through the rest of the story...
But when the story finally picked up...man, I was hooked!
I should know by now never to doubt Susan May Warren's ability to suck me in with a really good mystery. And she did not disappoint with this novel! I have a feeling I'm going to get a little annoyed with PJ's love life, but that remains to be seen. Guess I'm just going to have to read the other two books now!
But when the story finally picked up...man, I was hooked!
I should know by now never to doubt Susan May Warren's ability to suck me in with a really good mystery. And she did not disappoint with this novel! I have a feeling I'm going to get a little annoyed with PJ's love life, but that remains to be seen. Guess I'm just going to have to read the other two books now!
July 25, 2022
What I Loved
-Even though I'm a decade younger than PJ Sugar, she is so relatable, personality-wise.
-The last half of the book left me cracking up more than a few times.
-The whole incident with the goat. I have so many highlights from this chapter.
-PJ's friend Maxine. I always thought she reminded me of Tim Allen's neighbor Wilson from Home Improvement .
The One Thing I Hated
-When PJ hit rock bottom around 75% through the book, there was one character that just irritated the heck out of me. I understand why said character was acting like they did, but my heart still broke for PJ.
-Even though I'm a decade younger than PJ Sugar, she is so relatable, personality-wise.
-The last half of the book left me cracking up more than a few times.
-The whole incident with the goat. I have so many highlights from this chapter.
-PJ's friend Maxine. I always thought she reminded me of Tim Allen's neighbor Wilson from Home Improvement .
The One Thing I Hated
-When PJ hit rock bottom around 75% through the book, there was one character that just irritated the heck out of me. I understand why said character was acting like they did, but my heart still broke for PJ.
June 7, 2017
I borrowed this book from OverDrive after finishing that huge book because I needed something much lighter in tone and in subject matter. The book had some first-book syndrome going on in the beginning; lots of backstory and info-dumping. However, the first scene in the book hooked me and I settled into the story and in PJ's head fairly quickly. Once she was back in her hometown and the murder took place, then things got interesting - more than enough to have me borrowing the second book in the series. There is a hints at a love triangle, but at the end PJ decides on neither of the men and wants to work on herself. PJ is lovable, good-hearted without being overly weird like most cozy mystery amateur sleuths, but damn is she impulsive at times. She also had a lot of character development going on in this book; it is almost like it is part mystery, part chick lit. There is a lot of Christianity in this book, but it is authentic to PJ's character and never feels preachy - it is PJ who kept reminding herself of biblical verses to help her think through and calm down in some low points while investigating the murder. I even like the recurring side characters and they helped in world building as well as added to the plotline.
April 4, 2018
It took me a little bit to get into this book. The problem is not the story or characters, but my expectations going in. Had I read another reviewers comment that PJ Sugar is a Christian version of Stephanie Plum before starting, I think I would have gotten into the tone of the book faster. Once I understood the tone of the book, I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading other books in this series!
October 23, 2019
5 things from Nothing but Trouble:
1)Lots of crazy scrapes and close calls; Trouble follows PJ around like a hungry dog
2) Can forgiveness heal 10 year old hurts?
3)A sugar infused nephew who PJ might or might not have gotten kicked out of fancy pants preschool
3)A friend framed for murdering the high school history teacher
4) a goat... or two
5) can PJ’s many jobs (locksmith, stunt woman, work at a spa etc) help her solve the murder ?
1)Lots of crazy scrapes and close calls; Trouble follows PJ around like a hungry dog
2) Can forgiveness heal 10 year old hurts?
3)A sugar infused nephew who PJ might or might not have gotten kicked out of fancy pants preschool
3)A friend framed for murdering the high school history teacher
4) a goat... or two
5) can PJ’s many jobs (locksmith, stunt woman, work at a spa etc) help her solve the murder ?
January 12, 2022
still surprising me
Susan May Warren has a way of writing unique characters that continues to amaze me! They have depth and personality and their journeys are complicated yet real. And never a typical, predictable love story. Just when I think I have the answers all figured out the story goes in a direction I never saw coming! This book is no exception! Gotta read the next one now…
Susan May Warren has a way of writing unique characters that continues to amaze me! They have depth and personality and their journeys are complicated yet real. And never a typical, predictable love story. Just when I think I have the answers all figured out the story goes in a direction I never saw coming! This book is no exception! Gotta read the next one now…
March 24, 2022
I usually have Susan May Warren books read in a week or less, not able to put them down. But this was a rough go for me.
Unlike Warren’s typical style, the whole book is written from the perspective of one character. I felt like I was missing pieces, and the beginning was incredibly slow. It did pick up, when the book was about 75% done. I’m hoping that this book provided all the necessary background for the series and the other two books will draw me in more.
Unlike Warren’s typical style, the whole book is written from the perspective of one character. I felt like I was missing pieces, and the beginning was incredibly slow. It did pick up, when the book was about 75% done. I’m hoping that this book provided all the necessary background for the series and the other two books will draw me in more.
August 28, 2020
Funny, and light, but , oh, it did make me cry. If you like kooky heroines, this book is for you. Her faith struggles and life struggles all go to create a character that we can all identify with. A mixed up, bumbling, querky heroine, chasing the bad guy, and chasing faith. Theres a little of PJ in all of us.
February 27, 2024
This was a fun cozy mystery involving PJ Sugar who had to find herself after leaving home many years ago. I enjoyed PJ getting to know her nephew Davey, the love triangle, the hilarious moments that PJ finds herself in, how the author wove spiritual truths from 1 Peter 1:1-3 into the story, and Jeremy's character. The mystery was well-done with twists and turns.
July 2, 2024
I clearly disagree with most reviewers about this book. I read this book because the setting is Kellogg MN. My mother grew up in rural Kellogg, so it peaked my interest. I can say that this is the a very ridiculous story about laughable characters doing incredible things. It is a circus and NOT the good kind.
January 23, 2019
Cute, fun read. While I like this author's work, I missed having more POV's. I will probably read the rest of the series though. Not a huge fan of triangles, but still a good read if you are into a light-hearted mystery/romance.
September 22, 2019
This is a fun book that also touches on our insecurities and need to trust God. It will have you looking inward at one moment and then laughing out loud another. This story is well written and keeps you guessing about the mystery.
August 15, 2020
Ooof. This one was hard for me to get through. Nothing against Warren, just not my genre. I'm a suspense/thriller or historical romance person, and this was light mystery/comedy.
If you like light mystery or comedy, give it a shot!
If you like light mystery or comedy, give it a shot!
October 20, 2020
This was a fun read about a small-town girl who goes home "after all those years." There's a mystery plot woven into the story, plenty of comedy, and some good thoughts about relationships. I'm looking forward to more in the series.
August 28, 2022
The plot was good and a fun story line. I did get a bit frustrated with the way PJ viewed the world and how the world viewed PJ. But I guess that’s part of the whole story. Won’t be jumping right into the second book of the series. But maybe when I’m in a slump to find something.
May 3, 2024
This is a romance-whodunit that ends with the setting up of a love triangle, which I really don't care for. I skimmed the reviews of the next two books and got the gist of what happens. Meh. Not how I wanted it to go. I don't plan on continuing.
June 12, 2025
This is my second reading of this book. I think I resonated with the main character more when I was in my 30s, but I still enjoyed the story. It has some really funny moments, which is always a win for me! I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.
October 5, 2017
It has been a while since I read it but remember that I enjoyed it.
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