Book Review: Sitting on a Fortune by Becki Willis

SITTING ON A FORTUNE
The Sisters, Texas Book 9 
by BECKI WILLIS

Genre: Cozy Mystery / Romance / Women Sleuths
Publisher: Clear Creek Publishing
Date of Publication: February 11, 2020
Number of Pages: 228

Scroll down for giveaway of SITTING ON A FORTUNE!

Hidden fortune. Hidden danger. 

Madison Reynolds deCordova is about to uncover a dangerous secret…literally.

During In a Pinch Professional Services’s latest gig at an upholstery shop, Madison finds a chair that’s perfect for her husband’s birthday gift. At least it will be, once she removes the worn velvet. Hiding the chair at Granny Bert’s, Madison tackles her first solo upholstery project but soon discovers more than she bargained for! A hidden treasure beneath the cushion puts her in the middle of a new mystery and new danger.

The treasure isn’t her only problem. While helping a young boy find his lost dog, Madison lands on the wrong side of surly businessman Lamont Andrews. Meanwhile, best friend Genny is worried about one of her café patrons. Mr. Pruett’s wild stories are getting wilder each day, and now he’s missing. Plus, there’s the matter of a troublesome new habit Maddy seems to have acquired: breaking and entering. It’s a harsh term for simply trying to rescue a dog and save an old man. 

Somehow, she knows it all fits together. But what does a lost dog, a cluttered old barn, Mr. Pruett’s disappearance, and a hidden treasure have to do with her chair? Now someone is stalking her and her grandmother, and Madison knows that danger is on its way.

As always, The Sisters are full of fun, excitement, family antics, and more danger than the law allows! 

SITTING ON A FORTUNE!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In as much as Becki Willis seems to be a reviewer favorite amongst the Lone Star Lit book bloggers, I confess that Sitting on a Fortune is the first I’ve read by this author! I don’t know how this is, given how much I love a good cozy mystery.

It definitely won’t be my last, however. While the story is part of a series, it’s meant to work as a stand-alone. Willis does an excellent job of scattering details to provide enough backstory to bring a new reader up to speed. Be warned: she does it in a way that will have you itching to pick up the first book and read the whole series.

This is an engaging, funny, quick-paced, and easy read! The story leans harder into the cozy mystery than romance, although the loving relationship between Madison (Maddy) and her husband is sweetly expressed. The clues dropped are quite subtle in some areas, so while I thought I knew what was going on (and nearly patting myself on the back because I thought I had things figured out), alas, I had not.

Growing up in a small town myself, I appreciate the details of small-town life. On the one hand, everyone is up in your business. On the other hand, those same people notice when you’re not yourself, or out sick. The neighborhood always has eyes, for better or worse, and Willis depicts this well in Genny’s information-finding ploy with her cookies! I also enjoyed the begrudging “fine, I’ll get in to trouble with you” relationship that Genny and Madison have.

Small towns also hold their share of grudges, and this one has one that goes back a long time. The grudge itself could be considered a character, it plays such a strong part in the story! Of course, like any good cozy, Sitting on a Fortune has its share of fun and quirky characters: Granny Bert seems like she is a hoot, Mr. Pruett fills the role of the quirky townsperson, and Madison’s job running In A Pinch Professional Services is the perfect job for a wannabe sleuth. She’s also kind-hearted, a bit stubborn, maybe a bit too curious for her own good, and loyal – all the parts needed for a cozy mystery amateur sleuth who tends to get herself into predicaments. (Being married to the police chief doesn’t hurt, either.)

There were a few elements introduced into the plot that were (in my opinions) left unanswered for me (but no spoilers). Also, while the plot sped along, the ending seemed to wrap up rather quickly. And while I wanted to know MORE about some of the characters, I had to remind myself that this is the ninth book in the series – the author has had plenty of time for the backstory on everyone in the first eight books.

I guess I’d better get reading!

Becki Willis, best known for her popular The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series and Forgotten Boxes, always dreamed of being an author. In November of ’13, that dream became a reality. Since that time, she has published numerous books, won first place honors for Best Mystery Series, Best Suspense Fiction, Best Women’s Detective Fiction and Best Audio Book, won the 2018 RONE Award for Paranormal Fiction, and has introduced her imaginary friends to readers around the world. 

An avid history buff, Becki likes to poke around in old places and learn about the past. Other addictions include reading, writing, junking, unraveling a good mystery, and coffee. She loves to travel, but believes coming home to her family and her Texas ranch is the best part of any trip. Becki is a member of the Association of Texas Authors, Writer’s League of Texas, Sisters in Crime, the National Association of Professional Women, and the Brazos Writers organization. She attended Texas A&M University and majored in Journalism.

Connect with Becki below. She loves to hear from readers and encourages feedback!

Website ║ Twitter ║ Goodreads  ║ Email
Facebook ║ Instagram║ Pinterest  ║  YouTube
LinkedIn ║ BookBub║ Amazon Author Page

GIVEAWAY!

GRAND PRIZE: Kendra Scott necklace + eBook of Sitting on a Fortune
2nd Prize: Audio Codes for the first four The Sisters, Texas books
3rd Prize: Autographed paperback copy of Sitting on a Fortune
February 20-March 1, 2020
(U.S. Only)

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