Review: The Mischief Thief by Johnnie Alexander

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

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 accepts a gig from an unethical attorney to recover Mischief, a stolen racehorse. Hunting for clues, she breaks into the suspected 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 his church ministry because of his father’s involvement with the valuable racehorse. He arrives home to find a detective arresting the young woman who broke into his house. In a burst of Les Miserables-inspired charity, he claims he gave Chaney the stolen items.

Adam needs Chaney’s help to find his father who has disappeared along with Mischief. But when Chaney learns that Mischief’s owner intends to kill the horse, she needs Adam’s help to expose the cruel plan before it’s too late.

Can a con artist with a conscience and a minister without a ministry team up to do the wrong thing for the right reason?

My Review

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)