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momwithareadingproblem 's review for:
Engagement and Espionage
by Penny Reid
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Oh my chickens! Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid is the first book in her new spin-off series Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries. To all the fans out there that wanted more of Cletus and Jenn, this is it! Taking place after the events of [b:Beard Science|23337872|Beard Science (Winston Brothers, #3)|Penny Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412692519l/23337872._SY75_.jpg|42897371], the book follows Jenn and Cletus as they navigate their relationship and Jenn’s work with her mother. Engagement and Espionage is full of suspense as the two work together to find the chicken murderer (yes, you read that right).
Cletus is my favorite Winston brother, though if he was a real person that I had to interact with, we’d have issues. He plays mind games with everyone he encounters, purposefully makes himself look stupid so no one knows how intelligent he really is, and loves his family with a scary devotion. It’s that last one that makes me love him. He truly puts them first. Every maneuver and deal he makes is for his family. It’s kind of endearing. In this new book, we see a different side of the cunning Cletus. He’s insecure in his relationship with Jenn, not knowing where they stand after his impromptu proposal. He meant it, but did she?
Jenn is the complete opposite of Cletus, or at least that is what I thought. She was living in an abusive household before he helped her stand up for herself. He gave her the confidence to live her own life. However after her mother leaves her father and begs Jenn to return to the bakery, she falls back into her old routine: working long hours, doing all the chores, and breaking promises to Cletus. She hates herself for it because Cletus is the best thing to ever happen to her and she’s hurting him. Jenn wants to be there for her mother, but she needs Cletus more. How will she juggle her time and find a new balance before she loses the man she loves?
With all the problems in their relationship brewing under the surface, something is amiss. All of Jenn’s suppliers are no longer able to supply: chickens murdered, a dairy farm auctioned off, bees burned alive. Who is behind it? Cletus and Jenn hatch a plan to find the culprit, but it will test their relationship to the core. I love how Reid combines the mystery with the romance here. Suspense drives the plot, and I couldn’t be happier!
Overall I really enjoyed Engagement and Espionage. It was refreshing to return to Green Valley, see the family and friends, and fall in love with Jenn and Cletus again. While this could be read as a standalone series, I do not recommend it. I recommend at least reading the Winston Brothers series through [b:Beard Science|23337872|Beard Science (Winston Brothers, #3)|Penny Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412692519l/23337872._SY75_.jpg|42897371]. I would’ve been lost if I hadn’t with the names and places mentioned in the story. If you enjoy cozy mystery with some steamy romance, you are in for a treat with this book. Can’t wait to read more of the series!
Oh my chickens! Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid is the first book in her new spin-off series Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries. To all the fans out there that wanted more of Cletus and Jenn, this is it! Taking place after the events of [b:Beard Science|23337872|Beard Science (Winston Brothers, #3)|Penny Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412692519l/23337872._SY75_.jpg|42897371], the book follows Jenn and Cletus as they navigate their relationship and Jenn’s work with her mother. Engagement and Espionage is full of suspense as the two work together to find the chicken murderer (yes, you read that right).
Cletus is my favorite Winston brother, though if he was a real person that I had to interact with, we’d have issues. He plays mind games with everyone he encounters, purposefully makes himself look stupid so no one knows how intelligent he really is, and loves his family with a scary devotion. It’s that last one that makes me love him. He truly puts them first. Every maneuver and deal he makes is for his family. It’s kind of endearing. In this new book, we see a different side of the cunning Cletus. He’s insecure in his relationship with Jenn, not knowing where they stand after his impromptu proposal. He meant it, but did she?
Jenn is the complete opposite of Cletus, or at least that is what I thought. She was living in an abusive household before he helped her stand up for herself. He gave her the confidence to live her own life. However after her mother leaves her father and begs Jenn to return to the bakery, she falls back into her old routine: working long hours, doing all the chores, and breaking promises to Cletus. She hates herself for it because Cletus is the best thing to ever happen to her and she’s hurting him. Jenn wants to be there for her mother, but she needs Cletus more. How will she juggle her time and find a new balance before she loses the man she loves?
With all the problems in their relationship brewing under the surface, something is amiss. All of Jenn’s suppliers are no longer able to supply: chickens murdered, a dairy farm auctioned off, bees burned alive. Who is behind it? Cletus and Jenn hatch a plan to find the culprit, but it will test their relationship to the core. I love how Reid combines the mystery with the romance here. Suspense drives the plot, and I couldn’t be happier!
Overall I really enjoyed Engagement and Espionage. It was refreshing to return to Green Valley, see the family and friends, and fall in love with Jenn and Cletus again. While this could be read as a standalone series, I do not recommend it. I recommend at least reading the Winston Brothers series through [b:Beard Science|23337872|Beard Science (Winston Brothers, #3)|Penny Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412692519l/23337872._SY75_.jpg|42897371]. I would’ve been lost if I hadn’t with the names and places mentioned in the story. If you enjoy cozy mystery with some steamy romance, you are in for a treat with this book. Can’t wait to read more of the series!