Engaging Deception - (The Joplin Chronicles) by Regina Jennings

Excellent read. Keeps you hooked. Interesting to the very end. Love the characters. Sweet and caring, down to earth. Olive has always wanted to be architect, something women just didn't do at that time, so she keeps it a secret. Max is a successful architect who hires Olive to watch his children. Each has emotional scars that they need support and understanding to get through. Great sense of humor. Tough to put down but you want it to go on. Sweet romance with great depth. I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. #NetGalley #EngagingDeception #ReginaJennings #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #BethanyHouse

This is my favorite book of The Joplin Chronicles series. Olive and Maxfield’s story is so sweet. They are rival architects and he doesn’t even know it. Olive hides behind her male cousin so that no one knows that the person designing all of the amazing new buildings in Joplin is a woman. Then she lucks into a job as a nanny for the amazing architect Maxfield Scott. She will do anything to be able to get back into his extensive library of architectural books to further develop her skills. She never planned on falling for him along the way. When her secret finally comes out, she is terrified that she could lose everything, including the one thing she doesn’t have, Maxfield. I would definitely recommend this series. The Kentworth family is big, boisterous, fun, and most of all they will do anything for each other. I was provided a copy of the book from the author/publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

I absolutely love this series by Regina Jennings! These books have the most unique set of characters and love matches I’ve seen in a while. Engaging in Deception is the third book in the Joplin Chronicles series and I enjoyed every moment of it. If you haven’t read the other two books in this series you can easily read this as a stand alone, but just a heads up, you will be missing out on a lot of fun. These books follow a group of cousins that aren’t what anyone would call “high class”. You never know what any of them will do next, and I couldn’t wait to see. This novel follows Olive as she navigates life with out her mother, whom she took care of for years. Olive doesn’t want to be the center of attention, but somehow her cousins decided she is next on their list of people to help. Heaven knows what they might come up with and decide she needs in her life. Some of them finding their true love, got it in their head, that marriage is the best thing for every one. Olive prefers drawing in her room and pretending that her cousin Amos is the one who drew up the amazing architecture designs that are popping up here and there in Joplin. Being a woman she knows that she wouldn’t be taken seriously in such a man dominated field. Maxfield Scott is known for his masterpiece homes, and it doesn’t seem like he will run out of work any time soon. Little does he know, he has some serious competition, and it seems to be in the form of a backwoods country boy named Amos. His life seems to be quickly turned upside down, and there is nothing Maxfield can do about it. Luckily he has his children and their unique and intriguing Nanny Olive. This book is full of fun twists and turns and I loved every second of it. Jennings makes me laugh out loud, and stay up way later than I should. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a wonderful conclusion to The Joplin Chronicles Series! This is definitely my favorite book from the series! Regina Jennings delivers a great story full of loveable characters, adventure, intrigue, fun and witty moments and a sweet enemies-to-lovers romance! Olive Kentworth has a deep passion for architecture, but she has hidden it as much as she can because a woman architect is unthinkable in society. She has spent the last eight years caring for her ill mother until she passed away. She doesn’t have much of a social life, so she pores her life into sketching and designing buildings and reading every single book about architecture that she can get her hands on. Still grieving the loss of her mother, Olivia accepts the job of expanding a home designed by Maxfield Scott, a prestigious architect she idolizes, but only because her cousin Amos poses as the builder. On the other side, her cousin Calista sets her up to work as a Nanny to Maxfield’s children and her dreams come true as she explores the architect’s well stocked library. But Maxfield ignores she’s the one behind remodeling one of his greatest projects. Maxfield is a grieving widower who is learning how to cope with being a single father. He loves his kids, and his work is the outlet he needs to stop dwelling over his pain and loss. But Olive proves to be a wonderful Nanny and soon he finds himself intrigued by her and wanting to be more at home to spend time with her. But as time passes by, Olive’s involvement in the architectural project becomes harder to hide, and Maxfield is frustrated with what the unknown architect is doing to one of his creations. When Olive’s scheme comes out to light, will it tear her friendship with Maxfield or will it bring them closer to build a future together? Engaging Deception is now my favorite novel of Regina Jennings! I have to say I’m an architect, so this may have influenced a bit, but seriously, I loved everything about this story: the plot, the characters, the writing style! Even if this is the third book in the series, it can be perfectly read as a standalone. Although the first few books are great too, and it introduces you into Joplin and some of the characters we get to revisit here. I loved Olive and Maxfield. I felt completely related to Olive, and not only because of her passion for architecture. She’s flawed, more on the shy side, but she has a big heart and I admired her for how she left so many things while selflessly caring for her mother. Maxfield is a wonderful hero too, and with a kind heart as well. It was endearing to see his love for his children. They both have two things in common: their love for architecture and their grief over losing a loved one. I also love the Joplin community and the Kentworth’s and how they help Olive see her worth and talent. I highly recommend this story: it’s the perfect ending to The Joplin Chronicles. I’m so sad to say goodbye to them. They feel like family already! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I loved Olive’s story! As an introvert myself, I could identify with her personality and habits. I also love that she made birdhouses. What a creative way to use architectural talents without dealing with stereotypes. Both Olive and Maxfield are dealing with the grief of losing a loved one in their own way. Through twists and turns (and a little Kentworth shenanigans), they realize what they need is each other. I have loved this Joplin Chronicles and feel like the Kentworths were modeled after my own cousins. Reading each book has been a visit with family with a satisfied sigh at the end. Can’t wait for more from Regina Jennings! I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Engaging Deception is the third installment from Regina Jennings’ delightful series, The Joplin Chronicles. Even though this is part of a series, it can still be read as a stand alone. I loved the first two books from the series, Courting Misfortune and Proposing Mischief, and was far from being disappointed reading this one. It was such an amusing tale that had my giggling throughout and my heart warmed with Olive and Maxfield’s story. Such a wonderfully written book that is amusing and inspiring. Loved it. I am giving Engaging Deception a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean and fun historical romance. As always, I am eagerly awaiting to find out what else Regina Jennings has in store for her readers and characters in her upcoming releases. I received a paperback copy of Engaging Deception from the publisher, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive one. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Ms. Jennings has, once again, woven an incredible story which refused to be put down! Olive Kentworth is a heroine that I was able to really relate to. I love it when I find that in a book! I was so caught up in enjoying the story that unfolded with her and Maxfield that I found myself approaching the end of the book long before I was ready to have arrived there. The Kentworth cousins were as meddlesome and outrageous as ever and I just wish that this series could go on forever! Author Regina Jennings has become one of my favorite authors to read and I look forward to each new book I read by her with incredibly high anticipation! This is a series not to be missed! Highly Recommended!!!