I’ve reviewed Nerys Leigh’s previous contributions to The Pinkerton Matchmaker series, and have enjoyed them all (An Agent for Belle, An Agent for Clara, and An Agent for Kitty). I enjoyed An Agent for Phoebe as much, if not more.
Phoebe has already survived twelve unpleasant years of marriage, and has no intention of repeating the experience. As such, she is less than impressed when she arrives at the Pinkerton Detective Agency to be trained as a detective and finds the first requirement is that she marry the male agent who will train her. Jonah Hays is equally unimpressed. He has no desire to chain himself to a female.
(As an aside, I do wonder when the owners of the Pinkerton Detective Agency are going to realise the flaws in their clever plan: should their matched agents decide to stay married, the female will need to leave when she starts the inevitable family. And what happens if they don’t remain married? Will the agency owners allow the women to investigate alone? No matter. Thinking about such questions undermines the entire premise of this excellent series.)
It was refreshing to read about an older couple—Phoebe is forty-one, and Jonah is thirty-nine. As such, they are both intelligent adults who know their own minds. I’m getting too old to be interested in characters who behave like immature teens, and that’s one thing I appreciate about Nerys Leigh’s heroes and heroines.
The story itself was excellent.
It’s set in the real-life Black Hawk, Colorado, and the book emphasised the working conditions in and around the mines, especially the smell. I’ve visited old mine sites here in New Zealand, so could well imagine the conditions, but had never thought of how noisy or smelly it would be.
The case itself ran about as smoothly as expected, and I was impressed with some of the small details in the plot (which I won’t mention, because #spoilers). But my favourite aspect was the fast-paced and witty dialogue. It was a pleasure to read, and I recommend An Agent for Phoebe.
Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.
About Nerys Leigh
Nerys Leigh writes thoroughly romantic Christian historical love stories. She loves heroes who are strong but sweet and heroines who are willing to fight for the life they want.
She’s from the UK, which you would think puts her in a unique position to not write about mail order brides in the American west, but the old adage of writing what you know has never appealed to her. She has an actual American read each book before publishing to make sure she hasn’t gone all English on it.
No One’s Bride is the first in the Escape to the West series which tells the stories of a group of women willing to travel across America to find happiness, and the men determined to win their hearts.
You can find Nerys Leigh online relaxing and generally enjoying the view at:
About An Agent for Phoebe
She’ll risk her life, but can she risk her heart?
At forty-one, Phoebe finally knows what she wants in life, and it isn’t another husband. Her first marriage was enough to convince her that she’s done with men.
Becoming a Pinkerton agent seems like the perfect way to true independence, until she discovers she must temporarily marry her training agent. Of course, some women might find Jonah Hays’ good looks and kind nature attractive.
But not Phoebe.
She’s done with men.
When the search for a missing accountant amongst the mountains and gold mines of Colorado becomes a desperate struggle for survival, she and Jonah grow closer. And the walls around her heart begin to crumble.
Although she’s still done with men.
Maybe.
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