{"id":15450,"date":"2013-08-28T21:45:29","date_gmt":"2013-08-29T02:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=15450"},"modified":"2013-08-29T22:03:48","modified_gmt":"2013-08-30T03:03:48","slug":"vanishing-act-charm-deceit-series-2-by-jennifer-allee-and-lisa-karon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=15450","title":{"rendered":"Vanishing Act (Charm & Deceit series #2) by Jennifer AlLee and Lisa Karon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/span> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Today’s Wild Card author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n

\u00a0Jennifer AlLee
\n<\/a><\/span><\/strong>and
\nLisa Karon<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

and the book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
Vanishing Act
\n(Charm & Deceit series #2) <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
Whitaker House (September 2, 2013)<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
***Special thanks to Cathy Hickling for sending me a review copy.***<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

Veteran authors Jennifer AlLee and Lisa Karon Richardson have combined their considerable skills to create the action-packed historical romance series, Charm & Deceit, for Whitaker House.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Jennifer AlLee is the bestselling author of The Love of His Brother (2007) for Five Star Publishers, and for Abington Press: The Pastor’s Wife (2010), The Mother Road (April 2012), and A Wild Goose Chase Christmas (November 2012). She\u2019s also published a number of short stories, devotions and plays. Jennifer is a passionate participant in her church\u2019s drama ministry. She lives with her family in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Lisa Karon Richardson has led a life of adventure \u2014 from serving as a missionary in the Seychelles and Gabon to returning to the U.S. to raise a family\u2014and she imparts her stories with similarly action-packed plot lines. She\u2019s the author of Impressed by Love (2012) for Barbour Publishing\u2019s Colonial Courtships anthology, The Magistrate\u2019s Folly, and Midnight Clear, part of a 2013 holiday anthology, also from Barbour. Lisa lives with her husband and children in Ohio.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>Pinkerton detective Carter Forbes returns in Book Two of the Charm & Deceit series. Set in Washington D. C. during the Civil War the action revolves around Juliet Button who does not believe in ghosts! She does believe in supporting her makeshift family of misfits. Having spent years as assistant to her illusionist uncle, Juliet possesses skills to make an audience believe the impossible and launches a career as \u201cMiss Avila,\u201d a medium. She wants nothing to do with agent Forbes who has the power to destroy the life she\u2019s built. But when President Lincoln\u2019s youngest son is kidnapped, and the first lady comes to her for help, she can\u2019t refuse, even if it means facing Forbes, who knows far too much about her already.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Product Details:<\/p>\n

List Price: $12.99<\/p>\n

Series: Charm & Deceit (Book 2)<\/p>\n

Paperback: 256 pages<\/p>\n

Publisher: Whitaker House (September 2, 2013)<\/p>\n

Language: English<\/p>\n

ISBN-10: 1603749063<\/p>\n

ISBN-13: 978-1603749060<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/span> <\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

May 6, 1862<\/i>
\n<\/i>
\nWashington, D.C.<\/i>
\n<\/i>
\nJuliet palmed the thin stack of note cards on the table and slid them up her sleeve. Her fingers trembled as they always did before a \u201cshow.\u201d No matter. They\u2019d be steady when it counted.Grandmotherly Miss Clara smoothed Juliet\u2019s pale skirts. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a new sitter. A young fellow.\u201d\u201cDo we know anything about him?\u201d\u201cArtie\u2019s checking now.\u201dJuliet pressed the heel of her hand against her stomach. The queasiness would pass, too.\u201cThis is all I found. It was in the lining of his hat.\u201d Miss Clara passed her a folded ticket stub for Ford\u2019s Athenaeum and a battered-looking letter with countless creases.Juliet accepted the offerings and opened the letter. No, not a letter. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Miss Clara. \u201cThis is a pass that allows the bearer to move through Union lines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Clara glanced up from her examination of a tiny stain on Juliet\u2019s hem and met her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, he\u2019s doing war work?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cApparently important work. It\u2019s signed by President Lincoln.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Clara took the paper from Juliet\u2019s trembling fingers.<\/p>\n

Why would anyone carry such a document in a place as obvious as a hatband? Though ostensibly he was in the heart of Union territory and it wouldn\u2019t be required, the pass granted access anywhere. That meant he\u2019d come from beyond Union lines, in rebel territory. But, in rebel territory, who would want such a pass on him? Juliet sat down at the kitchen table. Something about this man felt dangerous. The pass identified him as Carter Forbes. The name meant nothing to her, and yet something niggled at the back of her mind. She should know about him.<\/p>\n

Artie clattered down the stairs, his brown hair disheveled as usual, and leaped over the last few steps, landing with a thump. \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you try to cross-reference him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Artie tilted his head and scowled in response.<\/p>\n

Juliet held up a hand. \u201cI had to ask. It seems that I should know the name.\u201d She rubbed the furrows from between her eyebrows. She hated blind readings; they were so tricky. \u201cDid he say how he learned of my sittings?\u201d<\/p>\n

Artie shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t think so. The Professor never said anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Professor entered at that moment. \u201cThey\u2019re all ready for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know anything about this Carter Forbes fellow?\u201d<\/p>\n

The question seemed to pain the old gentleman, and Juliet winced at her own callousness. The Professor used to draw enormous crowds through the power of his observations about people; but now, his eyesight was shrouded by milky white cataracts, which meant he noticed very little.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe came to the front door and asked if he could attend today\u2019s sitting. He spoke well, and when I took his hat, I noted it was of fine felt. I asked if he had been referred by one of your clients, and he said no. He didn\u2019t seem to want to offer any further information.\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t an unusual reaction. Many new clients were hesitant and wanted her to prove her skills by astonishing them with information about themselves.<\/p>\n

Juliet inhaled and held the breath for a long moment before letting it out in a rush. She could do this. She had to do this. If she turned away clients, it wouldn\u2019t be long before she and her makeshift family were turned out of their home. She just couldn\u2019t go back to the vaudeville circuit. Not if she was to have any hope of keeping them all together. One day, she would find a better way to support them. But for now, well, she had no choice.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Carter covertly examined his companions around the smooth oak table: a half dozen well-dressed ladies, most of them older than he, all but one of whom were in mourning; and a tall, rickety man with a snowy beard that reached his waist. The individuals in the group appeared to have at least a nodding acquaintance with one another, and they sat in companionable silence as they waited for Miss Avila.<\/p>\n

The peaceful hush proved to be too much for a twittery sort of elderly lady to Carter\u2019s right. She wore a full dress of black bombazine that looked far too warm for the summer heat. Her hair was frizzled into the semblance of ringlets that wilted on either side of her cheeks. She leaned closer to him and smiled kindly. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve met you before. Is this your first visit to Miss Avila?\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the ladies sniffed at this breach of social etiquette, but the others looked interested and friendly, as if the mere fact of their gathering in this room conferred a special kind of privilege.<\/p>\n

Squelching the desire to educate them on the certainty they were being duped, Carter pasted on a smile for the lady and nodded. \u201cYes, ma\u2019am. Is she as impressive as they say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore so, I think.\u201d She beamed at him. \u201cMiss Avila has such a way about her. She\u2019s so mystical and otherworldly. I completely see why the spirits choose to seek her out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bearded gentleman cleared his throat. \u201cShe\u2019s not like some as you\u2019ll find\u2014them show-offs with their painted-up faces and tricks. She\u2019s a good little gal, the kind my Emmeline would have taken under her wing. The kind I would have wanted for my boy.\u201d His words choked off, and he blew his nose into a large handkerchief.<\/p>\n

Carter wanted to pat him on the shoulder or offer some reassurance, but he couldn\u2019t allow himself the liberty. The fellow was austere and proud in his grief. Any expression of pity would likely inflict further hurt. How could someone take advantage of these poor people?<\/p>\n

The door opened, and a slip of a young woman entered. Her dark hair was pinned up in a neat chignon. She wore a simple cotton day dress with stripes of soft white and pale purple, unadorned except for a strip of lace edging the collar and running from the bodice to the belt line. The sleeves were certainly long, and roomy enough to hide all sorts of goodies. But he didn\u2019t see any telltale bulges. He and the other gentleman stood at her entrance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to have kept you all waiting.\u201d Her voice was well-modulated and cultured. There was a whiff of foreign climes beneath the excellent English, but Carter couldn\u2019t quite place the accent.<\/p>\n

She circled around the table to the only available seat. Carter had engineered matters so that she would be seated right beside him. Miss Avila lightly touched the elderly gentleman\u2019s arm as she passed. \u201cMr. Greenfield, how are you today?\u201d<\/p>\n

If Carter didn\u2019t know better, he would think she was genuinely concerned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for asking, my dear. I am much as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou haven\u2019t had bad news from the War Office about Ben, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aha. She was fishing for information.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019ve had no word. Been at least four months since his last letter.\u201d His voice cracked.<\/p>\n

Miss Avila reached out and squeezed his hand. \u201cWe will pray for his safekeeping. But, in this case, no news is good news. Keep up your faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

She approached her seat but stopped in front of Carter. \u201cYou must be Mr. Forbes,\u201d she said pleasantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am Miss Avila.\u201d She smoothed her skirts as she lowered herself delicately into the chair. \u201cIs there someone in particular you are hoping to reach today?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you\u2019d be able to tell me that, and all the mysteries of the world besides,\u201d he shot back.<\/p>\n

A sharp gasp came from the lady on Carter\u2019s other side. The disapproval in the room radiated toward him in waves.<\/p>\n

Miss Avila, however, maintained her calm. \u201cI\u2019m afraid I cannot read your mind. I suppose there are some who may be able to do so, but my gifts do not lie in that direction. If you wish to get the attention of those on the other side, it would be best for me to know whom to ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father, Jonathan Forbes,\u201d Carter blurted out. Immediately, he regretted it. He didn\u2019t want to sully Father\u2019s memory with anything this woman might say about him. But another idea sprang to mind. \u201cAnd my sister, Emily.\u201d He smiled then, trying not to bare his teeth in the process. Just let her try to get out of this one.<\/p>\n

Miss Avila had a knack for giving a person her full attention. When she turned her lovely dark eyes to her manservant and motioned for him to close the curtains, it was as though a lighthouse beacon had moved away from his soul.<\/p>\n

As the room darkened, she leaned forward to light the single taper in the middle of the table. The manservant departed through a noticeably squeaky door. The candlelight flickered, casting grotesque shadows on the walls around them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must now join hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

It took all of Carter\u2019s self-control to keep from rolling his eyes. Of course, if they held hands, no one would be free to catch whoever might cavort about in the darkness beyond the edge of the candlelight to help the woman create her weird effects.<\/p>\n

He took the hand she offered in his and held it tightly, to be certain she could not pull away. She made no attempt to do so. Her small, soft hand rested warmly in his, neither grasping nor trying to break free of his grip. Her eyes drifted closed.<\/p>\n

Carter sat rigid, straining every sense to discover her means of trickery. Except for the occasional tiny pop from the candle, there was no sound in the room. The silence allowed the sounds outside to press inward\u2014a city symphony of rumbling carriage wheels, clip-clopping hooves, and shouting street hawkers. Somewhere across the street, a piano played a popular ditty. The world was going on all around them, but, shut away in this dark and silent room, they were set apart.<\/p>\n

At last, Miss Avila began to speak. She brought a message from the dead to each of the ladies in turn\u2014words of enduring love, whether from a parent, husband, or child, that made them dab at their eyes with lace hankies. Finally, she asked for Catherine Greenfield.<\/p>\n

The old fellow shifted, sitting taller. \u201cCatherine? Catherine, are you there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here, Harlan.\u201d Miss Avila now spoke with a slight Southern accent.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Catherine. I\u2019ve longed to hear your voice again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talked before I left. You promised you wouldn\u2019t grieve like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. But I\u2019m just not sure how to get on without you. And now, Ben\u2019s gone off, and\u2026and I\u2019m scared he won\u2019t come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must live on, Harlan. Ben\u2019s children need a man about to help keep them in hand. Look to the living, my dear. Look to the living.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter raised an eyebrow. That was not the message he\u2019d expected.<\/p>\n

Mr. Greenfield leaned toward the candle, his features taut with anxiety. \u201cAre you telling me Ben is there with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHarlan Greenfield, I think I\u2019d know my own son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears glistened on the old fellow\u2019s face. \u201cOh, thank God. Thank God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Avila spoke again. \u201cCatherine is gone. Is there an Emily Forbes there who will speak with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter searched the woman\u2019s face, but it gave away nothing. She waited patiently as the silence in the room again allowed the outside world to intrude.<\/p>\n

At last, she shook her head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mr. Forbes; the woman you seek is not on the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter clamped his lips together. She was cunning, he had to hand her that. He had counted on her revealing herself as a fraud by claiming to talk to Emily, who was very much alive and well.<\/p>\n

He forced himself to continue the charade. \u201cAnd my father?\u201d<\/p>\n

Once again, Miss Avila appeared to consult with an invisible host.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is there but unable to speak to me directly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter hid a sneer. \u201cHe suffered so much during his final illness. I want to make sure he is no longer in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no illness or suffering in the other world. He says you should not worry about him.\u201d Though she didn\u2019t open her eyes, Miss Avila\u2019s delicate brow furrowed emphatically. \u201cNor should you be concerned about your disagreement prior to his passing. It was a small matter, and you must not allow it to prey on your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter nearly let go of her hand. How could she possibly know about that?<\/p>\n

Miss Avila\u2019s frown deepened, and she shook her head a couple of times. Then her eyes popped open. \u201cThey are gone.\u201d She began to tremble from head to foot and slumped slightly, as if the contact with ghosts had sapped her strength.<\/p>\n

She clapped her hands lightly, and the door opened again with another squeal. Carter was nearly convinced that was by design, for all the other appointments in the establishment were in perfect taste. Why would she abide a squeaky door, unless it was a deliberate flaw designed to reinforce the idea that the sitters were entirely alone\u2014that no one else could have entered or exited?<\/p>\n

Miss Avila bid her guests farewell, shaking their hands and giving each one a few personal words. She asked about family members and various ills. Took notice of a new bonnet and complimented a handsome necklace. The sitters seemed to brighten under her attention, as if she\u2019d lit a lamp within them.<\/p>\n

At last, Carter alone remained with her. He realized afresh how small she was; how her eyes, though dark, were bright and\u2026kind. Once again, she surprised him, and he fumbled for words.<\/p>\n

With practiced ease, she stepped in to save him from embarrassment. \u201cThank you for coming today, Mr. Forbes. I hope you found it enlightening.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest, I had hoped for more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps you are unaware that a sitter\u2019s attitude can affect the ability of the spirits to communicate clearly. Tell me, did one of my clients refer you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a manner of speaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

She cocked her head prettily, waiting for an answer.<\/p>\n

Carter decided it wouldn\u2019t hurt to let her stew. He smiled back wolfishly but didn\u2019t elaborate further.<\/p>\n

Miss Avila stilled like a rabbit scenting a nearby predator.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Juliet didn\u2019t dare move for fear she would give away her agitation. Mr. Forbes was even more than she\u2019d bargained for. A tall man with neatly combed light brown hair and a well-groomed mustache of the same color, he was the sort who might be dismissed if one were fool enough not to notice the intelligence in his gray eyes and the muscular build beneath that stylish coat.<\/p>\n

Juliet was no fool. She would not underestimate this man. He wasn\u2019t the type to approach a medium. That meant he\u2019d had a very definite purpose in seeking her out. If that purpose had anything to do with the work that had earned him a pass signed by President Lincoln, she could find her goose cooked.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, it could very well have to do with his not-so-dearly-departed sister. As soon as he\u2019d mentioned Emily, Juliet had made the connection. No wonder the name Carter Forbes was so familiar. But did he know of her acquaintance with his sister? At that moment, Juliet remembered something else Emily Forbes had mentioned about her older brother: He was a Pinkerton agent working for the government.<\/p>\n

That certainly explained the pass. What it didn\u2019t explain was what he wanted with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always like to get to know my new clients,\u201d she finally said. \u201cWould you care to join me for tea in the sitting room?\u201d<\/p>\n

His smile was thin-lipped. \u201cI\u2019d be delighted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juliet led the way. \u201cPlease have a seat. I just need to speak to my housekeeper a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once out of sight, she all but ran for the kitchen. Miss Clara and Professor Marvolo were seated at the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll done, dear?\u201d Miss Clara slid a tray of cookies toward her.<\/p>\n

\u201cForbes is a Pinkerton and he wants something. I know it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Marvolo turned his clouded gaze toward her. \u201cDescribe him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juliet had spent years under the professor\u2019s tutelage. As quickly as she could, she described everything the Pinkerton had said and done, in addition to his appearance. \u201cI had a bad feeling about him from the beginning, so I kept the sitting very simple. No spirit writing. I didn\u2019t want to do anything that he could seize upon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery wise.\u201d The professor nodded over his fingertips, which he had pressed together as if in prayer. \u201cHe\u2019s here on a personal matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure? How can you tell?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this were an official investigation, he wouldn\u2019t still be fooling around with tea and verbal sparring. Besides, the Pinkertons are all working for the war effort, in one way or another, and we don\u2019t have a thing to do with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat should I do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to go back in there and talk to him. Find out what he wants. This could be a good thing. Having a Pinkerton on our side might be beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Clara patted her arm. \u201cI\u2019ll bring in tea directly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juliet clenched her hands into fists. She could do this. She had to do this. They were counting on her. And while she was not certain they would benefit from having a Pinkerton on their side, it would be a total disaster to have a Pinkerton as an enemy.<\/p>\n

She returned to the sitting room. Once again, Mr. Forbes stood as she entered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI apologize for the delay. Tea will be brought directly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds good.\u201d He sat as she did. \u201cI\u2019m curious, how long have you had this gift of being able to talk to spirits?\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled. \u201cAnyone can talk to spirits. They are the \u2018great cloud of witnesses\u2019 that surround us. The real trick is being able to hear them talk back.\u201d She decided to press her luck. \u201cMr. Forbes, now I must ask you a question.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you try to make me believe your sister was dead?\u201d<\/p>\n

He slid back in his chair. \u201cI think you know the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a test, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded. \u201cYou passed that one with ease.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juliet watched him warily. \u201cThat one? Was there another test?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes,\u201d he said smugly. \u201cMy father didn\u2019t die of a lingering illness. He was murdered.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now Juliet settled back in her seat. \u201cPerhaps you should think over the conversation again. I merely said that there was no illness on the other side, and that he said not to worry about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Artie entered, carrying a tray of tea things.<\/p>\n

Alarmed, Juliet sat forward again. She didn\u2019t want him anywhere near this man. \u201cArtie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Clara asked me to bring this to you.\u201d With his back to the agent, he gave her a broad wink.<\/p>\n

Juliet refrained from making a face at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd who is this strapping young lad?\u201d Mr. Forbes asked in a too jovial voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my son,\u201d Juliet said evenly. \u201cArtie, make your bows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Forbes looked from her to Artie and back again.<\/p>\n

Juliet answered the unasked question. \u201cHe is adopted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. It must be difficult, supporting such a large house, as well as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juliet felt as if a hand had tightened around her windpipe. \u201cArtie, go on back to the kitchen and help Miss Clara.\u201d Her eyes warned him not to argue.<\/p>\n

When he was gone, Mr. Forbes stood. \u201cMiss Avila, I grow tired of sparring with you. We both know you are a fraud. If I have to, I will send agents by the dozens until someone exposes you. Then I will smear your name in every salon and parlor in the capital. You will never have another client.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mouth dry as parchment, Juliet tilted her chin up a notch. \u201cMay I know what I have done to earn your enmity?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a young person I am responsible for, as well. My sister, Emily, whom you introduced to spiritualism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juliet frowned. \u201cEmily sat for me only once, and she was brought by a neighbor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce was far more than enough. She now believes that she can, in a way, resurrect our parents and keep them close at hand. She\u2019s been taken in by a spurious English nobleman who claims to have powers remarkably similar to your own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juliet knew immediately of whom he spoke. \u201cLord\u201d Shelston was gaining quite a following in the area, but he could be cruel and exceptionally greedy, as well, draining his clients of their resources and then discarding them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf your worry is with Shelston, why come after me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter shook his head. \u201cI am not a complete idiot. If I attack her pet directly, Emily will simply consider me too protective. I must tackle this problem at the root.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you believe I am the root of the problem?\u201d She laughed roughly. \u201cMr. Forbes, my influence is nowhere near as great as you take it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot at all, Miss Avila. I realize your clientele is small, by most standards. But, by shutting down your operation, and those like yours, it lights a fire under Shelston\u2019s feet. He\u2019ll soon find Washington a very inhospitable place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mind awhirl, Juliet sought a way out of this dilemma. \u201cI know Shelston, and I agree with you as to his basic character. I don\u2019t want to see your sister involved with him any more than you do. So, I have a proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter raised a questioning eyebrow, so Juliet rushed on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go with you and tell Emily all I know about him and how he achieves his illusions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what do you want in return?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour word that you will leave my family and me in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

She could imagine Forbes\u2019s thought process: weighing the pros and cons; deliberating what his sister\u2019s well-being was worth to him; contemplating whether he could live with himself if he let a small fish swim free in order to catch the larger fish he was after.<\/p>\n

Finally he held out his hand. \u201cYou have a bargain, Miss Avila.\u201d<\/p>\n

She grabbed it before he could change his mind and pumped it forcefully. The deal had been struck.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"divider2\"<\/p>\n

MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was not sure what to expect when I began reading Vanishing Act<\/a> but the unique plot and characters captured my attention immediately. I have always liked historical fiction set during the Civil War era and have recently enjoyed more than one novel featuring Pinkerton agents so I found Vanishing Act<\/a> to be exactly my cup of tea. It didn’t hurt that the plot was filled with unexpected twists and turns and plenty of adventure and suspense spiced with humor and romance. I was a tiny bit skeptical at first about a heroine who was a medium but my fears on that matter were quickly laid to rest.<\/p>\n

So what happens when a Pinkerton agent and a young medium find themselves working together to solve the kidnapping of the son of a high level government official? I’ll never tell but I would advise you to run to your nearest bookstore or favorite online store and get a copy for yourself. I liked this one immensely.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,78,34,67,145,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-civil-war","category-historical","category-mystery","category-pinkertons","category-romance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15450"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15450"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15468,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15450\/revisions\/15468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}