Two wrongs don’t make a right . . . except when they do.For con artist Chaney Rose, life hasn’t been easy. In desperate need of cash, she readily agrees to find Mischief, a stolen racehorse. Hunting for clues, she breaks into the suspected horse thief’s home only to be caught—with a few pilfered items in her pockets—by the police detective who’s tailing her. By-the-book Adam Thorne was fired from … was fired from his church because of his father’s involvement with the valuable thoroughbred. In a burst of Les Miserables-inspired grace, Adam tells the detective that he gave Chaney the stolen items.
Adam wants Chaney to find his missing father. When Chaney learns that Mischief’s owner intends to kill the racehorse, she needs Adam’s help expose the cruel plan before it’s too late.
Will a con artist with a conscience and a minister without a ministry risk imprisonment to do the wrong thing for the right reason?
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I loved this story. The characters and story were so unique and unpredictable. I plan to look for more books by Johnnie Alexander.
This was an interesting story! I didn’t know quite what to expect since I haven’t read this author before, and I was pleasantly surprised. The character development was great, and the plot was exciting. The only thing I missed was a romantic thread and a spiritual thread. Adam sees Chaney as a younger sister, but because she’s portrayed as only a few years younger than him, I was waiting for a romance to develop, which never did. They had a genuine friendship though, and Adam feels protective of street-smart Chaney who allows her vulnerability to peek through. Adam shows her how compassionate and kindness are not weaknesses but admirable qualities. She feels guilty for her deception as they work together to solve the mystery of the missing horse, but is motivated by more than meets the eye. While about one half to two-thirds of the book is focused on discovering the hiding place of the horse and Adam’s father, a big chunk is also about what happens after, with plenty of twists and turns. I was engaged the whole time I read and was satisfied with the ending… even though there was no kissing 😉
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Can can artist Chaney help her cousin Marshall out of jail? She will try to do her best even if it implies for her to face her fears. Can Adam, a minister without work and with a broken heart help Chaney and help himself in the process? A good story about friendship and faith.
I read a LOT of Christian suspense books…and while I would say this one certainly fits the genre, it certainly is unlike others I have read. Rather than a murder mystery, this one draws us into the world of horse thievery and general grifting… and where the bad guys are typically very clear, this one blurs the lines a little bit more. Oh sure, there’s definitely an obvious bad guys… but then the good guys might be a little questionable in their techniques as well. Though I cannot give too much away, that certainly does read to a rather unique and intriguing story!
At first I admit that it took me some time to get into this story. There were several characters introduced from the start and it took me a bit to sort out who was who and how they all fit together into the story… though the story was intriguing even from the start, it took me about halfway through the book to really get into it… though admittedly, that could have just been the busy-ness of life right now getting in the way as well. Once I really sat down and dug in, I really enjoyed getting to know this unique cast of characters. As I said, sometimes the lines seemed a bit blurred, so it was interesting trying to figure out who could be trusted. This is fitting considering trust is a big theme throughout this story. Another big theme was grace. Grace is easy to talk about, but harder to give. When they meet Adam offers grace to Chaney without knowing her story… and oh what a difference that can make in a person’s life. I think oftentimes when we know someone’s story, it is easier to give grace… and I do believe the story showed this well.
This is the first book in the author’s Rose & Thorne series. Despite my initial hesitations, I do find myself looking forward to reading more from the series. It is also part of the Mosaic Collection and a great addition at that. I enjoyed it, and think fans of Christian suspense will as well… I think those who are interested in horses will appreciate this story even more!
**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
The Mischief Thief
A very cute story of trying to save a horse name named Mischief. I love Chaney and Adam and how they get together to find who stole Mischief. Adam is a minister and Chaney is a con artist. I enjoyed their story and loved how they were protecting the horse from the bad guys. I definitely recommend reading this book, such a fun book.
Full of suspense and surprises
Chaney Rose never expected to shake the world. Yet she did just that. Shook the world of a calloused police detective. Of an out-of-work minister. Of a wannabe mobster. She was an enigma, with street smarts and compassion. With a moral compass slightly skewed and yet was there. Her grandfather had a tremendous influence on her motivations and actions.
Adam’s life over the past few weeks had been one disappointing shock after another. Despite the tumult, he still found it in his heart to respond to the call of God to forgive. To show grace and mercy to the young woman caught red-handed with the contents of his safe. Chaney continued to confound him. As he entered her world, he saw not only a girl who had lived on the streets and could pick the pockets of a pickpocket but also the girl who would do anything to rescue her cousin.
I loved the insight into Chaney’s thoughts and motivations. Despite the things she did, I could see how she thought they were the right things to do. It is strange to think of someone who grew up in a family where everyone was a grifter!
Full of suspense and surprises, this first book in the Rose & Thorne series was wonderful! While Mischief’s situation was resolved, plenty of loose ends await resolution in future stories of the series. I can’t wait to read more!
Read my review of The Mischief Thief by Johnnie Alexander at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
The Mischief Thief is a Christian mystery/suspense novel by author Johnnie Alexander. I read an ARC for my review, ebook available now.
Dr. Thorne has disappeared and so have all his belongings. Dr. Thorne’s son, Adam, protects Chaney Rose, but why?
I liked this story for the most part, although it did seem to drag on in some places. The chapters were short, and I wanted to know more about Chaney Rose. The ending leaves the reader prepared to read book 2. The most engaging parts were the beginning and the ending. I would recommend this book to fans of horses. And, I love the cover!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
This is the first book by this author that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t put it down. As this story shows, sometimes we are a product of our upbringing. But sometimes God brings people into our lives to change our future. You will love this story! I was given an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my personal review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It totally went in an unpredictable way for me. I thought the characters were believable and well developed. I was thoroughly entertained while reading this book and cheering for Chaney and Adam throughout the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a light hearted mystery that also will get the person thinking about God and His working in people’s lives. I received a complimentary copy of this book, but have freely chosen to share my own thoughts and opinions.
Johnnie Alexander is an accomplished writer with a distinctive voice that delivers a delightful story to her readership. In The Mischief Thief, she introduced me to the world of the con artist (well, truth be told, I’ve met a few in real life, which made it all the more fun to enter a story world with a lovable grifter). Alexander is great at creating unique characters, with bad guys and a preacher whose “own hands weren’t entirely clean,” with a broken engagement that left the fiancé feeling that “he wanted her to move away. He wanted her to never leave him.” I adore Chaney Rose, whose “heart cried for God’s help,” and am so glad I will see more of her in the future. I was also fascinated with Alexander’s behind-the-scenes peek at horse racing. And her complex plot introducing problems of morality and ethics had me guessing to the end.
Oh man. This book was awesome!! The characters were amazing. A thief and a pastor? The interactions were golden. An, yeah, add a little Les Mis in there to sweeten the deal? I fell Lin love with these characters and I’m pretty sure we see more of them – I’m going to be crushed if we don’t!
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book grabs you from the beginning and holds you throughout. Chaney is not your typical leading-lady but she’s fascinating. Adam is good too! There are many twists and turns throughout the book. It’s not predictable. I’m looking forward to Book #2!
This was a “fun” book to read. I enjoyed the plot, the characters and especially that I was unable to predict all the events and outcomes. I never really considered that con artists have a “code of
conduct.” The characters of Chaney and Marshall gave me pause to consider yet again how important childhood events are in shaping our decisions and opinions about ourselves, and that grace is a gift that all of us welcome, but none of us has earned. Recommended.
The Mischief Thief by Johnnie Alexander is a thrilling contemporary Christian suspense that will have your heart racing as you read. It is the first book in the Rose And Thorne series and part of the Mosaic Collection.
The story shows that even when life throws you curve balls and spins out of control, there is One who is greater, One who is always in control. Nothing surprises Him, even when it surprises us.
God gives us grace. We, in turn, need to extend grace to others.
There is the theme of trust. People are not always quite as they seem. God can always be trusted. When we do not know what to do, we can turn to Him. He will give us a peace that passes understanding in spite of our circumstances. We can experience the fragrance of God in our lives if we just turn to Him and trust Him.
Johnnie Alexander has created an intricate and cleverly constructed plotline. I must admit, at times my head was spinning as it twisted this way and that. I was glued and guessing throughout. Her characters were well drawn and likable. The bond between the leading two was palpable, their friendship radiated from the pages.
Our past is just that, past. We cannot change it but we can learn lessons from it. No one is too far from God because of His love and grace. We just need to call out to Him. “Her heart cried for God’s help.” When we cannot find the words, God hears our heart’s cry.
I really enjoyed The Mischief Thief. It was my first book by Johnnie Alexander but I shall be hunting out more.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Characters in The Mischief Thief figure “Two wrongs don’t make a right . . . except when they do.” I’m looking forward to future books in the Rose & Thorne series.
Even among grifters, the family loyalty and bond between Chaney and her cousin Marshall made them appealing folks for me. Marshall is in deep trouble because he took a bigger chance to protect Chaney from bigger trouble. They’ve stuck together through thick and thin. Marshall is one of few who know some of the foibles and fears that haunt Chaney.
Adam Thorne has a struggle to keep his faith strong when he’s taken a serious personal ‘hit’ almost every day for the past few weeks. Nothing dangerous except for his self-balance. He and Dad manage to get their relationship back in line with their convictions through their ‘Chaney experiences.’
The writing reveals the bad guys without making them caricatures. Yet, manages to keep a fast moving suspense story free of profanity, vulgarity and smut!
This book is so good! It hooks you on the first page and doesn’t let go, I read it in one sitting. It has just the right amount of drama to keep you turning the pages. I loved how the author wove God’s grace and forgiveness into the story. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
It was hard not to get captivated by this book. I read it in one sitting. The story gripped me, the characters stellar even the not so nice ones.
I loved how the author wove the concept of grace into the story and how family is not just people related by blood but people who stick by and extend love and protection even when it is undeserved.
I enjoyed Chaney and Adam’s story. Really did!
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
I thought this was a good book. A great book about forgiveness and second chances. I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining story involving the disappearance of a race horse, a veterinarian, and a mobster’s wife (an unlikely combination). The well-crafted plot moves at a steady pace with twists and turns that heighten the suspense and hold your interest. The characters are well-developed and believable. The faith element is skillfully infused into the narrative. Detailed descriptions and anecdotes on Florida history add to the enjoyment of the adventure. I recommend this first book in Ms. Alexander’s Rose and Thorne series and look forward to the second book in the series.
I was given an advanced copy of this book with no obligation to post a positive review. All thoughts and comments are my own.
This is the first full-length Johnnie Alexander book I have read and I am so glad that I finally got the opportunity to read one of her books. Set in contemporary Florida among the world of thieves, scammers, and horse racing, the plot is unique and unforgettable with fun and lively characters. The writing is smooth and well-paced and every chapter had me wanting to get to know Chaney Rose and Adam Throne better. The setting is definitely contemporary but the author’s voice had an old-world charm that was quite irresistible. If you enjoy fun uplifting contemporary fiction, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.
Chaney is a small time thief whose only blood relative is incarcerated because of her foolishness. Though raised in a family on the wrong side of the law, Chaney is driven by a sense of right and wrong and she’s quite likable. Adam is a pastor whose life is turned upside down by a broken engagement, a pink slip from his church, and his missing father. Interesting circumstances bring them together as they try to find Adam’s father who may be connected to a missing thoroughbred racehorse. There are quite a few others who have voices in this story besides Chaney and Adam which makes it somewhat confusing at first but are necessary to bring all the pieces of the story together. Adam’s faith is genuine and real, even when faced with trials and uncertainties. I’m hoping to read more about Chaney and Adam since the series is entitled ‘Rose & Thorne’. Though this book had no romantic thread, perhaps next installment(s) will bring some?
I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.