Sweet Deceit by Sally Jo Pitts is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line: “Could things finally be looking up for Annie McAfee?”
But first the photo and verse. The photo was taken the night we left the Hospice Center in Chattanooga after my mother went to be with Jesus. I walked out the door and looked to my right. The three crosses stood in the distance, a message from God. I love using that photo for Good Friday and Easter memes! And there is no more perfect verse than Matthew 26:6. Praying everyone will have a blessed Easter!
Now for Sweet Deceit, Sweet County Secrets, Book 1 by Sally Jo Pitts. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Someone will stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Sweet County hidden.
Public Relations consultant Annie McAfee hopes to spend a quiet summer in Sugarville waitressing, housesitting, and job hunting. But her plans are upended after she’s run off the road and narrowly escapes with her life.
Rookie state investigator Will Brice is looking forward to a bright future with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement until the governor removes the Sweet County Sheriff and appoints Will to take his place.
Propelled into the middle of Sweet County’s dark secrets, Will and Annie find that deceit hides beneath its sugar-coated façade, and the townspeople prefer to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing.
Confronted with a web of mysterious threats, life-threatening crises, and the death of a teenager, the two must work together with the help of an unusual sidekick to expose the corruption.
Can this unlikely crime-fighting trio crack the town’s sweet cover?
My take:
I loved this mystery/romantic suspense. Every time I thought I had it figured out, Sally Jo Pitts twisted the story, and I was wrong! Annie and Will were great characters who were full of surprises. Annie McAfee really drew me in and surprised me. And Will was smokin’ hot! Both had obstacles to overcome, not just with the story, but with each other. And the supporting characters are great.
Sweet County has a lot of secrets and they’ve hidden them pretty well. There was a great faith element to the story and the romance didn’t get in the way of the mystery. It’s a great read for mystery and romantic suspense readers! Since it’s Book 1, I hope Book 2 will be out soon!
Sweet Deceit is on Amazon and available in Kindle Unlimited!
Okay Readers, what’s the first line of the book you’re reading this week? Or do you have a comment on Sweet Deceit to make? Leave either in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
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Comments 32
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful Easter!
Author
Thanks, Diana! Sally Jo writes a great book!
I started it last night. It looks like a great read, thank you.
Author
It is, Delores!
Pat, thank you for this photo and verse! Because He lives we have hope and joy!
Sweet Deceit sounds like a good read and I’ll be downloading it shortly.
Pat, a couple of weeks ago you reviewed “Take My Hand” by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell and this past week I read this as well as the sequel, “Hold Your Breath”. Both are great reads and are on KU! Thank you for introducing me to this author! Next up is Every Star in the Sky” by Sara Davison.
Wishing each of you a blessed Easter!
Author
Miss Mary, I’m so glad you enjoyed Take My Hand!! and you read her other book. 🙂 And I love Sara’s books, too!
I love the picture and verse. They both were and are a gift to you after your mother’s passing.
I scored an ARC of Sarah Hanks’ upcoming Christian time-slip novel, Braving Strange Waters. The first line: “Stella started at the text, her thumbs hovering over the screen in indecision.”
Author
Thank you, Priscilla! And I really enjoy reading time slips…I’ll have to check this one out!
What a nice reminder of your mother and her faith, Pat. Happy Easter, all. He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Congratulations, Sally Jo! I’m finishing Laura Scott’s “Baby Protection Mission”, 1st of the Mountain County K-9 series today. That means I have a cleared deck to enjoy “Sweet Deceit”
Laura Scott’s book starts with, “Something was wrong. Tugging his brown cowboy hat low on his forehead, rancher Cade McNeal cradled his one-month-old nephew, Danny, to his chest as he scanned the area around him.” I’m a sucker for K-9 suspense.
P.S., Sally Jo. I love the highway poem at the end of Pat’s review. I was half expecting to see a “Burma Shave” at the end!
You got it, Tim! I was thinking of doing a sequential type campaign like the old Burma-shave roadside ads and one of my Street Team came up with this rhyme.
Author
Thank you, Tim! I must get Laura’s book! I’m a sucker for K-9 books too. Right now I’m reading one by a K-9 trainer…hopefully I’ll review it soon!
I haven’t read anything by Sally Jo Pitts, but will be looking for it!
Author
Mary, Sally Jo writes great books!
He has risen is the important message coming out of Good Friday! Thank you for the review on Sweet Deceit!
Author
Thanks, Sally Jo. And I loved the book! Can’t wait for the next one…
What a precious gift from God to see the three crosses after leaving the Hospice Center. I know you must treasure this photo and the memories of your sweet Mama.
Sweet Deceit sounds like another good one. I love twists and turns! Your delightful reviews make my TBR pile bigger and bigger, but that’s a good thing! Ahhh
Finished several good books this book. Starting book #2, Death of an Imposter, in the Trouble in Pleasant Valley series by Deborah Sprinkle. “If I weren’t such a crusty old bird, I’d have my feelings. Hurt.” I finished the first book in the series, Deadly Guardian, last night at 1 am and couldn’t wait to start book two.
Happy and blessed Easter everyone. He is Risen!
Author
Barbara, I love Deborah’s books! And yes, the three crosses were a precious gift from God. Blessings for a Happy Easter!
That was a wonderful message to you and reassurance leaving the hospice center, Pat. Sweet Deceit sounds like a great book. On my Amazon list. I will be starting this book soon:
Prologue
Josh Yoder raced after his older brothers, but his nine-yea-old legs coundn’t keepp up with their teenaged strides.
Dating an Amish Flirt by Rachel J. Good
Happy Easter to all!
Author
It was a wonderful message, Gloria. 🙂 Dating an Amish Flirt sounds like a great book!
Happy Resurrection Sunday to you!
Author
Happy Resurrection Sunday to you as well, Megan! He is Risen!
I loved the photo and verse. You always make me pause and be grateful.
Author
I’m so glad, Judy. I love putting verses to my photos. 🙂
Wow! What a confirmation at such a sad time, than to see Three crosses lit up like that, and for you to take a picture of it to have always. That’s our God, giving you comfort at the right time!
I’m currently reading Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble, first line of chapter one is “The scent of South Carolina salt water and marsh blew in from the water, and the breeze caressed Carly Harris’s face.
Happy Easter and He Is Risen!!
Author
It was, Ms. Dottie. I will be reading Colleen Coble’s book soon. And I will be joining Colleen on a book tour later this summer. 🙂
Sounds like a great book!
Author
I think you’d enjoy it, Shelia!
Hallelujah! Sunday is Coming. Have a wonderful & blessed Resurrection Day. Sounds like a good book. Thank you for sharing.
Author
Yes, Sunday is coming, Lucy. Happy Easter!!
I read this much earlier today and thought I had responded. I guess I got sidetracked. The picture with the three crosses and the scripture are so fitting.
I’ve had too much going on this week, so I’m still reading the book I shared from last week. The book you reviewed sounds quite interesting. I don’t think I have read any of her books, but I’ll be looking for them.
Author
Sally Jo Pitts writes a great mystery book, Edward! I’m really glad I had the presence of mind to snap the photo of the three crosses.