Hidden fortune. Hidden danger. Come out, come out, wherever you are. Madison Reynolds deCordova is about to uncover a dangerous secret…literally.During In a Pinch Professional Services’ latest gig at an upholstery shop, Madison finds a chair that’s perfect for her husband’s birthday gift. At least it will be, once she removes the worn velvet. Hiding the chair at Granny Bert’s, Madison tackles her … chair at Granny Bert’s, Madison tackles her first solo upholstery project, but soon discovers more than she bargained for! A hidden treasure beneath the cushion lands her in the middle of a new mystery and new danger.
The treasure isn’t her only problem. While helping a young boy find his lost dog, Madison lands on the wrong side of surly businessman Lamont Andrews. Meanwhile, best friend Genny is worried about one of her café patrons. Mr. Pruett’s wild stories are getting wilder each day, and now he’s missing. Plus, there’s the matter of a troublesome new habit Maddy seems to have acquired: breaking and entering. It’s a harsh term for simply trying to rescue a dog and save an old man.
Somehow, she knows it all fits together. But what does a lost dog, a cluttered old barn, Mr. Pruett’s disappearance, and a hidden treasure have to do with her chair? Now someone is stalking her and her grandmother, and Madison knows that danger is on its way.
As always, The Sisters are full of fun, excitement, family antics, and more danger than the law allows! Book Nine of the best-selling and award-winning The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series.
These stand-alone mysteries are enjoyed best as a full-series experience.
Reading order:
Chicken Scratch
When the Stars Fall
Stipulations and Complications
Home Again: Starting Over
Genny’s Ballad
Christmas in The Sisters
The Lilac Code
Wildflower Wedding: With a Killer Reception
Sitting on a Fortune
Rose by Any Other Name
more
I fell in love with the series from the beginning and continue to love my time with Maddy, her family and her friends. Maddie does frustrate me when she lets others talk her into doing things she knows she should not do, especially when those things include keep information from Brash. Other than that it was a fun read. Maddie discovers a treasure. Now she has to find out whether or not she can keep it. Frequently intense, often funny, always great.
Sitting on a Fortune #9 – I always enjoy returning to this series. Due to the length of my review, anything written below applies to this interesting addition to the series. After reading eight of these books, it is too easy to write a book report. 4*
The Sisters, Texas Mysteries Series:
Chicken Scratch #1 – This is my first book by this author and I was greatly surprised at how well written, well thought out and laced with humor and intrigue; this little gem is packed. The area is near and dear to my heart since I was born in the area. The people, while not as easily identifiable as in a Jeff Abbott novel, are locals I know. The Texas speak is just as if Ms. Willis and I were at the Creamery (TAMU) sharing milk shakes and local gossip. The kinks and knots in the plot made it hard to put down the book, even to get a tea refill. You can’t help but like the characters and root for them. The story, filled with life stories, is actually pretty substantial, not fluff, and Ms. W is an entertaining storyteller. 5*
When The Stars Fall #2 – This book is better than Chicken Scratch (#1), which is a good book, too. A lot of suspense, along with developing romances amongst several characters, keeps the reader immersed in this substantial story. Like the first book, the baddie is easily figured out, but the story is well worth reading. There are too many of the well rounded, well developed characters to shout out separately, but they’re all interesting, funny, sincere and just plain folk. The Big House becomes a prominent character and helps the family with a huge change to their lives, maybe. Not a cliffhanger, but there’s a tease about the future of Big and Madison. 5*
Stipulations and Complications #3 – This is a heavy, suspense filled book full of dark secrets and mysteries with the past and the present colliding and the darkness is felt by all involved. Yet, there’s plenty of good and love along with the humor. This intriguing, substantial read is hard to put down with its interesting storylines and well thought out characters. This book is on the level with DeMille, Follette, Grisham and Ludlum. 5*
Home Again: Starting Over #4 – Amen Sister to that comment about Texans and wannabes! This series must be read in order; they keep getting better and better. I love the fact that what happens in the earlier books are just slightly mentioned, instead of being retold. All the characters keep growing and their past and secrets coming to light as the books go on. Multiple storylines in this book and the twists and surprises just keep the reader glued to the pages. I’ve chain read the first four books and don’t have the next two available to me. But I’m diving into book seven, the newly released The Lilac Code. 5*
Genny’s Ballad #5 – This story concentrates on Genny and Cutter. The past and the present mix and it’s not an all good combination. Well written, intriguing and substantial, this story keeps the reader immersed in the pages. The pace is fast, the action intense and the characters don’t disappoint the reader; a well thought out plot. No cliffhanger, but there’s another book hinted. 5*
The Lilac Code #7 – Trouble even finds them outside of Texas! I missed the two books before this one, but it was still an interesting read. I was disappointed with the ending – the gun in her hand was forgotten. But the pages were full of intrigue and suspense, and the characters were intense. Again, there were multiple stories occurring, along with the main story. Current events were featured, which isn’t surprising with all that’s happened in Texas and other U.S. locations in the past year alone. While not a cliffhanger, there’s definitely more books in the future. I chain read five books in three days and never once was bored with this series. 5*
Wildflower Wedding with a Killer Reception #8 – Another good addition to the series. The multiple storylines continue at a good pace keeping the reader immersed in the interesting and intriguing, well thought out story. The characters are well developed, interesting and realistic. I always look forward to read one of Ms. Willis books and this series has been interesting since the first story. I do love that Texas is a main character too. It is so hard to review a good series without it becoming a book report. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
The Sisters, Texas Mysteries Series end.
After having had a chance last year to delve into this series with the previous book, WILDFLOWER WEDDING, I was so excited to have an opportunity to once again catch up with Maddy and the residents of these dueling towns known as The Sisters.
Picking up not long after the events of book eight, readers will once again find themselves caught up in the fun and thrilling danger of Maddy’s antics and adventures as she desperately tries to help those she loves. Her heart is always in the right place even if her mind is running faster than her feet can carry her! A few new and quirkier sets of neighbors find themselves cast in this story, sharing the stage with the familiar charm of Granny Bert, Genny, and Maddy’s hunk of a husband and police chief, Brash deCordova. I continue to be such a fan of how the author’s effortless writing style develops each character with a lifelike personality that welcomes you into the story as an old friend. Whether you choose to start with this book or from the very beginning, you will always feel right at home in this delightful little community.
Unlike the last installment, I enjoyed that the pacing slowed down, allowing the mystery to unfold in its own time. Much like moments spent with a loved one on the back porch with a nice glass of sweet tea. The tension is very well done, but it seemed that because Maddy is helping a young boy find his lost pup, and then, an older man facing dementia, there was such dignity and respect expressed in the treatment of their cases. Maddy’s energy seemed less frenetic and much more calculating, as though perhaps her amateur sleuthing skills are now primed for a professional performance in private investigation services.
As I mentioned in my review of the previous book, I love moving through the story in Maddy’s company because she is so tenacious, spunky, and likeable; however, it was an absolute treat to spend some time with Genny and get to know her a little better, especially in regards to her relationship with Cutter. The author nails the double edge sword of small town life, opening up wonderful conversations in regards to privacy, public persona, and how to navigate in-between.
“[L]ocals weren’t so much nosy as they were bored. Even when their own lives lacked excitement, they could live vicariously through their friends and neighbors. And when their friends’ and neighbors’ lives were just as boring…well, they could always embellish.”
While distinctly upbeat and lighthearted in nature, this cozy focuses on all facets of family dynamics to craft a multilayered and well plotted mystery that definitely stands out against its counterparts. A few well placed red herrings and lots of dramatic twists and turns made the ending distinct and hard to see coming. This is a series that should not be missed, and I can’t wait to read what happens next!
With Sitting on a Fortune, Becki Willis has managed to do it again! Book 9 of The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series was more enjoyable to me than any of its predecessors (that I’ve read). And I greatly enjoyed each one of them. If this isn’t the best ever mystery series to come out of Texas, then I don’t know what is.
This story is quickly engaging. By using most of the same characters in this series, Willis is really able to dive deep into their personalities and quirks. But more than that, Becki Willis truly makes this book (as with the others I’ve read) a stand alone story. Yes, she hints at the outcomes of some of the previous stories, but she leaves enough out to make the other stories just as enjoyable.
**The Enjoyment of Sitting on a Fortune**
This storyline is very original. It really takes a capable writer like Becki Willis to make a “hidden treasure” story as original and entertaining as this one is. I love Becki’s stories, and I love how she tells them!
In this story, our protagonist – Madison Reynolds deCordova – finds some hidden treasure completely by accident. However, with the likely sizable worth of the find, she makes it her business to find out where it came from. Surely, someone else must be looking for it. (And surely, there is!)
A new character is introduced early in the story. I really liked him. He told tall tales (Texas-sized tall tales, mind you), and he utterly loved talking about himself and his adventures to anyone who would listen. I won’t tell you his purpose in the story, except to say that he fits right in.
Another thing Becki Willis does better than most authors is keep the identity of the true villain a secret until very near the end. Sure, she puts some likely suspects in front of us, hoping we’ll bite. I really thought I knew whodunit – but I was wrong.
After the climax, Willis provides a few paragraphs to tell us the aftermath of the action. I love when an author does this. First, it really helps to make the story stand on its own, but it also gives the reader a sense of closure on the story.
**Technically Speaking**
The edition I read was an advance reader copy, so I won’t provide any SPAG comments.
The pacing was right where it needed to be. The build to the climax started slowly, but before you know it, you’re flipping through the pages as fast as your eyes can keep up.
Here is another technical thing I enjoy about this series. Even though many of the same characters are used, Becki still manages to get fresh characters arcs in each story.
I’ll stop here. I think I’ve sufficiently described whether I liked this story. Besides, I want to go check out when book 10 will be coming out!
There is much to like about this book. The wonderful cast of characters, the youngest of whom, Monte at age 11, won me over from the start. He hires Madison to find his lost dog. Then there’s the funny elderly man, Mr. Pruitt, who appears to be telling a lot of tall tales at the diner, owned by Madison’s friend Genny. And we can’t overlook Granny Bert, a delightful woman with a wonderful relationshio with Madison.
Throw some hidden treasure into the mix, and you have a first-rate cozy mystery that was quite fun to read.
Something so simple as buying her husband a birthday gift turns into so much more than Maddie bargained for. First Granny Bert is in on the secret then her BFF Genny. Hubby is kept in the dark for quite a while and he’s not too happy when he finds out. So many side stories of treasure, a missing pup, then a missing person keep you guessing until the end. Maddie and Genny have their hands full. Its nice to read a mystery that I don’t have figured out in the first chapter. It actually took several chapters to uncover all the mysteries and it wasn’t until the end that I knew “who-done-it”. I’ve only read two other books in the series so there were a few things that I had to catch up on, but easy to figure out. Probably best to read the series in order, but I was ok skipping some. Becki has so many wonderful series, so no matter which one you read, it will be a winner.
Sitting on a Fortune was awesome. I just love the residents of The Sisters. They are funny, loveable, and believable. I want to move there and have Granny Bert for my BFF (well, my THIRD BFF as my other 2 are the bestest!), eat at Genny’s, and tour The Big House.
Thanks for another great book, Becki!
Madison feels like she has found the perfect bithday present for her husband, Brash. Unfortunately, it is going to require a little work to replace the red velvet fabric and replace the uncomfortable cushion. To keep the chair as a surprise, she has it stored at Granny Bert’s house. The treasure that Granny and Madison find in the cushion can fulfill their wildest dreams or become the start of their worst nightmare.
Meanwhile, Monte Applegate has hired Madison to find his missing dog, Pup. He says that Lamont Andrews hates his dog and Monte is afraid of what he will do. To make matters worse, Mr. Pruett, the man with the wild stories, seems to be missing. He normally visits Genny’s New Beginnings every Monday, but he missed his latest Monday visit. When Genny and Madison go to his home, his car is there but nobody answers the door.
What is the treasure in the chair? Will Madison get to keep it? Where is Pup? What happened to Mr. Pruett? Can Madison solve the mysteries?
Becki Willis has a wonderful cast of characters who feel like real friends. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep a reader guessing clear to the end. The books can also be read in any order, as each is a complete mystery within itself.
this is another wonderful story, this time Maddy is working part time in an upholstery shop and is also looking for a gift for Brash. it was wonderful to see what everyone is up to . if you like suspense and romance you will want to read the story very good