Scan barcode
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
3.0
Toby’s Troubles by Carole Brown is the fourth book in An Appleton, WV Romantic Mystery series. Toby Gibson co-owns Undiscovered Treasures with his sister, Caroline in Appleton, West Virginia. Caroline recently marked Toby’s best friend, Andy Carrington and they are enjoying a European honeymoon. Toby has enjoyed having the apartment over the shop to himself until someone started breaking into the shop. He has not been successful in catching the fleetfooted thief. Meanwhile, Toby is keeping himself busy with plans for the building next door which has recently come on the market, running the shop, purchasing new inventory and directing the current play for the town. Amy Sanderson owns Bloomin’ Life and has been in love with Toby since she was a teenager. She has not been able to capture his attention, but she has a new plan. Toby is dismayed when he finds out that Amy has put in a competing bid against the building. Amy has never expressed interest in the place and then she outbids him on the bedroom suite he wanted. The thief returns, but this time he breaks into Amy’s shop and tears through her greenhouse leaving destruction in his wake. Toby and Amy decide to team up to catch the intruder. Will they succeed?
Toby’s Troubles is a cute romance with a light mystery. I found it easy to read with a conversational writing style and steady pacing. I do want to recommend reading the other novels in the series prior to picking up Toby’s Troubles. I started reading and it seemed like I was plopped into the middle of a novel. I felt that I was missing the backstory on the town and the characters. It would have been helpful if background information had been provided on Toby and Amy. Appleton, West Virginia sounds like a charming small town. A great place to make lifelong friends and raise a family. Toby may be savvy when it comes to running his shop and obtaining merchandise, but he is clueless regarding women. Amy is a smart woman who knows what she wants and lays out a plan to obtain her goal. She was quite clever in how she went about gaining Toby’s attention. The mystery is straightforward with a limited number of suspects. The who is easy to figure out, but it takes longer to find out the why. I felt that the same details were rehashed multiple times and I wanted a more thorough resolution. Toby’s Troubles is a clean, wholesome story. Toby’s Troubles combines romance, mystery, humor, appealing characters and a cozy small town in one inviting book.
Toby’s Troubles is a cute romance with a light mystery. I found it easy to read with a conversational writing style and steady pacing. I do want to recommend reading the other novels in the series prior to picking up Toby’s Troubles. I started reading and it seemed like I was plopped into the middle of a novel. I felt that I was missing the backstory on the town and the characters. It would have been helpful if background information had been provided on Toby and Amy. Appleton, West Virginia sounds like a charming small town. A great place to make lifelong friends and raise a family. Toby may be savvy when it comes to running his shop and obtaining merchandise, but he is clueless regarding women. Amy is a smart woman who knows what she wants and lays out a plan to obtain her goal. She was quite clever in how she went about gaining Toby’s attention. The mystery is straightforward with a limited number of suspects. The who is easy to figure out, but it takes longer to find out the why. I felt that the same details were rehashed multiple times and I wanted a more thorough resolution. Toby’s Troubles is a clean, wholesome story. Toby’s Troubles combines romance, mystery, humor, appealing characters and a cozy small town in one inviting book.
abigailkayharris's review
5.0
My Review
My Rating: 5 Stars.
Recommendation: 14 up because of Romance for a romance it would be ok for a younger audience.
My favorite character/s: I like both Amy and Toby, as well as Ryle and the other characters, they were developed nicely though they aren't the most memorable characters. I liked how Toby changed even though it was only a little bit. He was kind of dense when it came to Amy which made him more likable since he didn’t see what was in front of him at first.
My Verse for Toby is Proverbs 18:22
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord. King James Version.
My thoughts: This was a pretty nice book, and I enjoyed it but it was somewhat predictable I enjoyed how the book was set in the middle of a community that sticks together and supports each other. In all, I liked this book and will probably reread it!
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. (And I am truly happy to provide it! :-) )
My Rating: 5 Stars.
Recommendation: 14 up because of Romance for a romance it would be ok for a younger audience.
My favorite character/s: I like both Amy and Toby, as well as Ryle and the other characters, they were developed nicely though they aren't the most memorable characters. I liked how Toby changed even though it was only a little bit. He was kind of dense when it came to Amy which made him more likable since he didn’t see what was in front of him at first.
My Verse for Toby is Proverbs 18:22
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord. King James Version.
My thoughts: This was a pretty nice book, and I enjoyed it but it was somewhat predictable I enjoyed how the book was set in the middle of a community that sticks together and supports each other. In all, I liked this book and will probably reread it!
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. (And I am truly happy to provide it! :-) )
longtimereader's review
4.0
What an enjoyable series! I'm only missing one book in it so far, which I plan to rectify as soon as possible. In this book we have Toby. Trouble? It's at every turn it seems. How much of Toby's troubles are things he has inadvertently caused, and how much has just befallen him?
This book stands on its own, even as a 4th in the series, this cozy mystery is a cute, light read. Funny, sweet, and a reminder that even in the troubles, God has a plan.
My copy is an ARC from Celebrate Lit. My review, thoughts, and opinions are my own, left of my own free will.
This book stands on its own, even as a 4th in the series, this cozy mystery is a cute, light read. Funny, sweet, and a reminder that even in the troubles, God has a plan.
My copy is an ARC from Celebrate Lit. My review, thoughts, and opinions are my own, left of my own free will.
More...