A Loving Heart (Dicken's Inn #3)

*Spoilers*

The third installment of the Dicken's Inn saga picks up where the second left off.  Chas is pregnant with their second child.  Jackson has been baptized and they are looking forward to the time when they can be sealed in the temple.
We immediately find out that the baby Chas is carrying has a heart defect and may die at or before birth.  Jackson's former FBI associate calls to see if he will accept a woman in protective custody (hiding from the mob) at the Dicken's Inn. Jackson's sister comes to stay with the family to help.  Her son, a soldier in the war in the Middle East is injured and ends up moving in to the inn.  And Jackson's old FBI team member finally comes for a visit to help with the woman they are harboring........he may never end up leaving.

I think this may have been the best book in this series so far.  Jackson was all manly and cop like, which is a plus.  I do appreciate the way that Stansfield's characters approach situations and handle themselves very graciously and very gospel oriented, but I don't find it at all realistic.  This time Jackson seemed more human to me......especially when he whipped out his duty weapon.  Aside from the totally obnoxious fact that the characters are usually independently wealthy and function together as a couple.........ALL day, EVERY day (Which I consider to be the biggest work of fiction in these books)...the book was much more palatable.  It didn't have the emotional turmoil that many times harrows up these books.  I am ready for this series to be over.  I love Jackson and if he actually worked full time as an agent or a police officer he would probably be a much better character........but he runs an inn.....and is a little demasculinized by it.

Rating 3.5  More action.  Jackson actually uses a weapon....which he stopped wearing when he retired......and I find absurd.  The storyline containing the new baby was good and even though it was traumatic, it wasn't so mentally emotional that I felt like a dog going in cirlces after my tail.
Rating PG  Shooting!!!!

A Far, Far Better Place

A Far, Far Better Place by Anita Stansfield

Well you already know my opinion about having a police type in the book.  Anita couldn't have chosen a better character.  She did not however take my advice and make him normal.....meaning, living on the wages the state feels inclined to drizzle his way.  Ah, but he is so manly no matter his independent wealth.

Former Agent Jackson Leeds and his wife Chas run a little B&B.  Jackson and Chas are hap, hap, happy with their little inn and their little baby Charles.  Ah, but Stansfield can't let a good thing carry on for long.  Jackson's semi estranged mother dies.  Jackson promises her as she lay dying, to forgive his abusive father (who is also dead).  The anger and hurt that Jackson has always felt for his father bubbles to the surface as his mind and heart refuse to forgive the evil doings.  His intense feelings merge with the PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) that he suffers from due to being kidnapped and tortured as an FBI agent.  Jackson must find away to forgive his father so that his humble life with Chas can continue.

Sometimes I feel like Stansfield uses the same situations with new faces.  I would have to admit that this book is a type of many of her other books.  I did enjoy that she carefully illustrated being a strong, tolerant, loving and supportive spouse.  Chas never even seemed like she wanted to bust a cap in Jackson even though I am sure he was hard to deal with.  She also does a good job of weaving in gospel principles in a way that you can see how they would work in a regular person's life (regular except for the fact that Jackson is always at home to help with the baby and dishes......er getting way from myself).  Besides PTSD, which I found interesting, Stansfield's story centered on forgiveness.  How we all like to hold those grudges close to our hearts and cling on to them by digging in our fingernails!  She was able to show more than one side of the damage, and by doing so, how forgiveness is really for the forgiver.  Letting go of that rubble we pack around can be for us, not just the one we forgive.

Rating 3.5
Rating PG.....the kissing in the night, I am sure lead to sex between a married couple...but that was only insinuated.

The Best of Times

The Best of Times by Anita Stansfield

Chas (short for Charles......but she's a girl) runs the Dickensian Inn while caring for her aged Granny.  Tragedy has left her with only that.  But you know Anita.......Chas isn't alone for long once the story opens. 
Jackson is an FBI agent (finally getting warmer Anita) taking a break from the work that has consumed his life and may now ruin it. 

Well after all of these years there is an armed man in one of these books!  If he were only a semi normal police officer........e.g. poor, then she would have finally hit the nail on the head.  But yet again, Jackson has saved all of his money and made great investments.
There was a lot of verbal banter.  I would have to say that this book was one of  those wordy books where I get tired of the characters talking to each other.  It moved up a notch once Jackson had to go back to the FBI.
I loved Jackson. He was like an M&M.....tough shell and sweet inside. Chas was a good woman with great faith.  She just did not do it for me this time.
I did like that this book had  tolerance for non LDS people........most of the characters were not Church members.  I also enjoyed that the various religious or nonreligious backgrounds were able to speak about values without wanting to kill each other (which would have made it more realistic).
It seemed like there was a lot of build up to the couple getting together and then ....meh, there they were. 

This was a fast, soothing read.  It is not one of my all time Stansfield faves. 
Rating 3
Rating G  So clean.......