I’m so glad we get to start the year talking about Freddy and Grace!
These two are hilarious, as they try to figure out life together as newlyweds, while finding themselves at the heart of one mystery after another. Often life-threatening, and always interesting.
This is the third book, but can stand alone just fine.
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About the Book
Book: The Juliet Code
Author: Pepper Basham
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction
Release Date: December, 2023
Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley Finally Reach Their Honeymoon Destination Only to Encounter a New Mystery in Need of Solving
Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington. Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings, (Renaissance paintings feature Shakespeare’s tragic heroine) rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries. As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it’s too late.
The Juliet Code is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to The Mistletoe Countess and The Cairo Curse.
My Review:
This book was such good medicine to the soul. Normally I would have read it in a day and a half. But because of life circumstances being really messy, It took me almost a month, reading one chapter a day, most days.
It was a bright spot in each day, as Grace is so entertaining, and her simple, logical faith is very encouraging and inspiring.
The Juliet Code continues the series so very well, with a new setting, new characters and mystery, but the same humor and innocence, faith and curiosity. It was fun to explore a bit of Italy with Grace as tour guide.
Grace’s determination to solve mysteries, not just to solve them, but because she genuinely cares about the hurting people they affect, and the fact that she’s so logical, to the point of disregarding proper sensibilities expected of the wife of an earl, is wonderful.
Freddie is no longer as resistant to the fact that Grace’s curiosity and unusual upbringing put her in unexpected situations pretty regularly. And is even starting to want to join her.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Celebrate Lit, and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.
About the Author
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
More from Pepper
The Ever After
I’ve always loved fairytales.
Especially the romanticized version (#romancewriter).
The wonderful sense of a two people meeting, overcoming obstacles to be together, and then the happily-ever-after?
Well, those are some of my favorite reasons to read and write fiction. However, I didn’t realize the challenge I took on when I agreed to write a second and third book with the main characters staying the same!
You know what I mean?
In most series, the main characters from book one become secondary characters in consecutive books so that the secondary characters in book one can become the main characters in book 2 (everybody still following along?)
One of my favorite book series that do this so well is the Amelia Peabody series. I fell in LOVE with Amelia and Emerson in book one, but just loved watching their continued dynamic as a couple grow with each new book. I felt as if I got to know them so much better in their “ever after” while they engaged in all sorts of adventures together.
So…that’s what I hoped to accomplish with Freddie and Grace.
Where The Mistletoe Countess ends with a happily-ever-after, The Cairo Curse and The Juliet Code take over to show us more of the…ever after – my attempt at showing how two main characters continue to grow beyond the end of book one.
I didn’t realize what a daunting feat it would be. Watching two characters meet, fall in love, and show some growth in book 1 was what I was used to doing. But how was I supposed to continue that character growth in consecutive books?
Well, I had to grow myself as a writer to understand how small changes can make lasting differences especially when writing about a beloved couple.
I think The Juliet Code shows a little of that growth – of our Freddie and Grace have not only matured spiritually and, in Grace’s case, experientially, but also as a couple.
Do you have a series that you love where the main characters stay the same?
