Engaging Deception (The Joplin Chronicles #3) Last in an intriguing series, by Regina Jennings-Review

About the Book

A lively competition draws her into her rival’s blueprints–and maybe even his heart.

Olive Kentworth has spent her life hiding her interest in architecture, even though she pores over architectural books and sketches buildings. When she accepts a job on a home expansion, it’s only because her cousin Amos agrees to pose as the builder. To further hide her involvement, Olive takes a position as a nanny–not knowing that she’ll be working for her idol, Joplin’s leading architect, widower Maxfield Scott.

Maxfield is intrigued by his new nanny–she makes his home and his life bearable again. His work, on the other hand, is a disaster. An untrained builder is remodeling a completed project of his. What’s worse, Maxfield’s current client wants changes to his plans because of that builder’s work.

As the architectural one-upmanship heats up, Olive’s involvement becomes harder to hide. Will the relationship between her and Maxfield survive, or will they both miss out on building something for their future?

The series here

Calista York needs one more successful case as a Pinkerton operative to secure her job. When she’s assigned to find the kidnapped daughter of a mob boss, she’s sent to the rowdy mining town of Joplin, Missouri, despite having extended family in the area. Will their meddling expose her mission and keep Lila Seaton from being recovered?

When Matthew Cook decided to be a missionary, he never expected to be sent only a short train ride away. While fighting against corruption of all sorts, Matthew hears of a baby raffle being held to raise funds for a children’s home. He’ll do what he can to stop it, but he also wants to stop the reckless Miss York, whose bad judgment consistently seems to be putting her in harm’s way.

Calista doesn’t need the handsome pastor interfering with her investigation, and she can’t let her disguise slip. Her job and the life of a young lady depend on keeping Matthew in the dark.  

My Thoughts

Oh, how I have loved this series and how well researched it is.
I enjoyed reading the author’s notes at the end of the book, she lets us know that some of the characters are based off of actual Joplinites of an earlier time, including their name. She does this as a way to honor these individuals and because she finds some of these people fascinating.
I enjoyed our character Olive, a woman architect who has hidden her interest and talent because this is not an occupation woman are “supposed” to have during this historical time period.
Her reading choices are not the lady’s society page but rather architectural books and building blueprints. Now that’s one smart cookie.
Agreeing to help with a home expansion, only because her cousin Amos, “is the builder”.
Max, or Maxfield as he is sometimes called is so grateful for his new Nanny, she gives his life a little breathing room as she cares for his children and his home. On the other hand, his working environment is a mess with an incompetent builder who very possibly may make him lose an important work contract he has.
The competition between builders was interesting to read about as you wondered what is going to happen. Will Olive be able to keep her work skills a secret from Max, and should she? I can understand her wanting to keep it a secret in this time period but as their relationship ramps up, she should be more open. I think women should have been more valued for their smarts back then instead of having to hide it so much.
I will admit I love the humor the author inserts into her books; it always brightens my day when reading it. I enjoyed reading more about the early 20th-century mining town of Joplin, MO, and its people, the author tells it in such an interesting way. Though this is the end of our journey in this series, which I have enjoyed immensely by the way, I look forward to many more books by this author.

Pub Date 13 Dec 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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About The Author

Regina Jennings is the winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award and a finalist for the Christy Award, the Golden Quill and the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. A graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history, Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children when not traveling the world.

Visit Regina’s website at http://www.reginajennings.com.

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