Engaging Deception (The Joplin Chronicles)
July 13, 2023
A renowned architect. A young woman with her own architectural ambitions but great anxiety. A battle to build the largest house in town. These are all the ingredients of a hilarious romance, and that’s exactly what Regina Jennings provided, to my delight.
In Engaging Deception, however, I found something more. In the midst of the humor, the antics, and the growing affection between Olive and Maxfield (and my own growing affection for them), there were surprisingly tender, quiet moments. I’ve seen this combination attempted in many romances but rarely has it been balanced so deftly as Jennings manages it. I found myself caught up not only in the fun of the book but also in the gentleness that existed in the world. Even characters who might otherwise have been written off as lost causes or outright villains by other authors were shown grace which I found genuinely charming.
I would recommend this book not only to fans of Christian romance but to fans of historical romance in general. It’s very much a Christian book, but the faith is woven in so well that it never feels preachy, only honest.