Friday, October 18, 2013

Review of Vanishing Act by Jennifer AlLee and Lisa Karon Richardson


    I haven't had much opportunity to read for pleasure lately, so I was delighted to have an excuse to "have" to read Jennifer AlLee and Lisa Karon Richardson's Vanishing Act.
    Vanishing Act is Book Two in the writing duo's Charm and Deceit series with Whitaker House.  This book fits nicely under the series name, because its lead character, Juliet Button, is charming and deceitful.  It's uncommon for the heroine of a Christian novel to be a fake medium whose goal is to cheat her "sitters" out of their money, but AlLee and Richardson do a great job in making her a sympathetic character.  She truly seeks to comfort those who have lost their loved ones, and she has to support her "family," a small group of people who have no one but each other.  And, even with that reasoning, she realizes what she is doing is deceptive.  It gives her character depth.
    When the book's hero, Pinkerton Agent Carter Forbes, asks her help to expose a rival medium preying on Carter's sister, she does so only in exchange for his promise to leave her and her family alone.  But when President Lincoln's youngest son, Tad, is kidnapped, Juliet and Carter join forces to find the boy before it's too late.
    I really enjoyed this story.  It was a nice combination of suspense, mystery and historical romance with a little humor sprinkled in.  The politically motivated kidnapping, the heroine's unusual family and her even more unusual occupation made Vanishing Act a welcome change of pace from more formulaic stories.  I liked the relationship between Juliet and Carter as they worked together to solve the mystery of the abduction along with the puzzle of their growing feelings towards one another.
    I'm eager to read Book One in the series, Diamond in the Rough.  It would be nice to see more of Carter and Juliet's adventures, too.  They make a great team.

Have you  read Vanishing Act?  How about Diamond in the Rough?  What did you think?


DeAnna Julie Dodson has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. She is the author of In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered, a trilogy of medieval romances, as well as Letters in the Attic, The Key in the Attic, The Diary in the Attic and The Legacy in the Attic, contemporary mysteries. Her new series of Drew Farthering Mysteries debuted in the Summer of 2013 with  Rules of Murder,  to be followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado in 2014 from Bethany House.  A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats. 

12 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for the kind words, DeAnna! I'm really glad you enjoyed Vanishing Act. It's exciting to know it's actually out now. I really love this story, and I hope readers enjoy it too.

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  2. No, I haven't read it yet, but I'm intrigued by the heroine's occupation and will read it as soon as I can.

    From all accounts, great job Jen and Lisa! Woohoo!!!

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  3. I'm going to read them both back to back this winter. It's hard to keep up with Inky releases these days! (oh, and the unpubbed ms as well!)

    I have no doubts as to the quality of this series. Lisa and Jen are an amazing duo.

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  4. I loved Diamond in the Rough and I'm SO glad Carter is getting his own story. :)

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    1. Carter absolutely needed his own story! He's such a dashing fellow. So glad you enjoyed DITR!

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  5. I liked it very much, Lisa! I forgot to say that I thought the Lincolns were well done. Very human, especially the President. Can't wait to read more. :D

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  6. Thanks so much DeAnna! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. These books have been so much fun to write... well, usually. There have been times when I couldn't do anything but scratch my head and think "what happens now?" But mostly, it's fun!

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  7. Interesting premise. As an IL historian and student of Mary Todd Lincoln for more than twenty-five years, this is a topic that is often discussed in relation to her. I will put this one on my TBR list.

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    1. I just saw your name over on Seekerville, Lyndee (grabbed a prize!). I think this cover is going to be very popular because it just says 'intrigue' to me.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. Hi Lyndee! I loved seeing you in your gorgeous Civil War-era gown at ACFW. I'd love to learn more about your knowledge of Mary Todd Lincoln one of these days!

    This book series is lots of fun. When is the third book out? (not to jump the gun or anything...)

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  9. Hey Ladies, I'm pretty sure that book three comes out February 2014, since they're spaced about 6 months apart. Lisa and I turned it in and we got our first peek at the cover. We'll be sharing that as soon as it's finalized. Very exciting!

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  10. I loved Diamond in the Rough, so was already looking forward to this book. Now I really can't wait to read it! Congratulations, Lisa and Jen!

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