ISBN-10: 9781414313139

ISBN-13: 978-1414313139

Tyndale House Publishers

From Booklist:

PJ Sugar has decided to become a licensed PI. In her first adventure (Nothing but Trouble, 2009), PJ returned home to Minnesota for the wedding of her sister. She had been traveling the country for 10 years, getting into and out of trouble and working a series of dead-end jobs. In the process she also found religion and is honestly attempting to turn her life around.

In this adventure, PJ is assigned to house-sit for a witness in protective custody. Her boss, Jeremy Kane, assures her that there is no real danger in the assignment, but as we get to know PJ, we discover that trouble seems to find her even in seemingly benign circumstances.

To complicate matters, PJ’s former (and perhaps future) boyfriend Boone Buckam does not approve. PJ’s adventures, and her juggling of relationships with Jeremy and Boone, are hilarious and the resolution of the fast-paced mystery is thoroughly satisfying as well. Think of this series as a more wholesome version of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels. An entertaining comic mystery for readers who prefer to avoid raunchy language and bed-hopping heroines.

My Favorite Review:

I am in love with this series! With 5 children, one with a newly diagnosed special need, I am hard pressed to focus on anything. Suffice it to say, I am a hard critic. I will not even consider books I know I may not "get" into easily. I am normally a book lover, but with so much going on, I am viewing my reading pile warily--

However, I was hopeful about this book. "I need a break," my spirit was practically begging.

Anyway...at first glance, I loved the colorful and youthful cover of Double Trouble. And, I have to admit, I was drawn to the title...even as I walk with God, I still tend to find trouble myself. With two hot guys, plenty of drama and a funny, loveable protagonist and heroine, I have to say, the book was exactly what I needed to drag myself out of the doldrums of winter!

I grew up in the South myself and have a fondness for all things warm, polite and hmmm...complicated!

Within the pages of this book, you can follow PJ as she tries to figure out how to solve crimes and protect witnesses. Ironically, as PJ solves the puzzles other people throw at her, she also figures out who she is...and who she wants to be.

The book is a mixture of Mystery and Chick Literature. The Christian message permeates the story and really speaks of God's love, which suits the characters very nicely (enough said...no spoilers, here). I give this one a high 5.

After reading Double Trouble, I really wanted to read Nothing but Trouble. I really find the whole series endearing. PJ has so much personality and goes through so many struggles, as we all do, to find out who she really is. And, we get to see God walking with her every step of the way. It becomes obvious to the reader, that PJ's heart is just so in the right place. How Warren also manages such a cast of characters and a mystery at the same time is beyond me.

Behind the Pages:

A few years ago, I brought the wrong child to camp.  It wouldn’t have been a big deal except camp is six hours from my house, (one way) and I’d made a big production of packing and making sure my son was all ready for camp.  Instead, my daughter should have been the one with the clean sleeping  bag and the fresh socks.  Somehow (through the graciousness of a good friend), she made it to camp,, but the story lives in infamy in our family as an example of mom’s tendency to over commit.  And it wouldn’t be as funny if it didn’t happen all the time.  Yes, in my head I think I CAN write four books a year, redecorate my house, run the children’s church program, write and produce a children’s musical, run a story crafting service, teach at conferences, speak at women’s retreats, help my hubby with his business, and be the kind of mom who throws huge prom parties.   It’s just that they ALL sound like great ideas!  And I like being at the center of the fun! 

However, it doesn’t get pretty when I miss events, or perhaps lose my temper, or wind up in bed with a migraine/cold.   Worse, I’m my own accuser – why can’t I get it right?  I hate my own mistakes, my own tendencies to get in over my head.  I hate looking backwards with a wince…

I brought this frustration to the page in double trouble – in PJ’s desire to be the Greatest PI on Earth, and her tendency to both over commit and to see trouble wherever she turns. I wanted her to fall, to scrub her chin on the ground and to taste failure.  Because only then could I tell her what I long to hear myself – that God doesn’t expect us to be perfect or not make mistakes.  He longs to forgive us – and then to empower us.  Draw with confidence to the throne of grace, because I promise you’ll find mercy.  I love that verse, because it’s when I am most distraught I must remember that God is the best friend I can have.  He’s not going to love me less after he saved me than before! He longs to reach out and pull me close, despite my perceived ugliness, because he is crazy about me, as hard as that is sometimes for me to believe.  Draw with confidence…

The PJ Sugar series is all about discovering that God has great plans for even messy girls – like PJ, like me.  He likes them!  He made them this way, and he doesn’t except them to be perfect.  I hope you’ll continue PJ’s journey with me in the next book, tentatively entitled, “Licensed for Trouble,” due out in 2010.  Thank you for reading.  Draw with confidence, friend!

In His Grace,
Susan May Warren