Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be caring for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.
Pastor Christine Hobbs has been in the pulpit business for over five years. She never imagined herself caring for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.
Detective Cole Stephens doesn't want the pretty pastor to get away with murdering the church music director. His investigative methods infuriate Christine as much as his deep brown eyes attract her.
Can they find the real killer and build a loving relationship based on trust?
Excerpt
On the way back to her home with Bitsy in the car, Christine spotted a police car and ambulance in the church parking lot. She yanked the vehicle’s steering wheel, making a sharp turn into the lot across the street from her home in the church parsonage. Her mind raced. What could be the emergency? She dashed from her car and sprinted up the steps of the old brown brick church two at a time.
“Oh, Christine, I was just trying to call you again,” her secretary, Ella, said.
“I’m glad to see you’re okay. What’s happened?”
Ella replaced the receiver on the hook. “Dutch found William in the basement. He must have fallen down the steps. We called 9-1-1.”
Christine breathed a quick prayer as she rushed down the hallway. Ella followed, but it was impossible for her secretary to keep up with her fast strides. As she approached the doorway leading to the church basement, a police officer held his palm out to prevent Christine from going downstairs.
“Stop there, ma’am.”
“I’m the pastor of this church. I need to see William, our music director. I understand he fell down these stairs.” Standing taller, she glared at the officer challenging him to let her pass.
“I’m sorry, Pastor. No one is allowed down there.”
She tried to discover a way past the officer when he blocked the doorway with his round body.
She heard Ella and a few church members who had gathered in the hallway loudly insist the officer allow the pastor to be with William.
“What’s going on up there, Mike?” A gruff voice from the basement yelled up the stairs.
“The pastor wants to come down there, Sir. She is adamant she needs to be with the fallen man.”
“Send her down.”
Christine bounded down the wooden stairs, made the turn on the platform, then gasped as she glimpsed the contorted body of the music director at the bottom of the steps. Her stomach lurched when she saw dried blood from a head wound caked on the floor. She grabbed the railing to steady herself noticing two EMTs standing by doing nothing. She felt her face flush with anger.
The medical examiner investigator motioned to her to stop on the flight of stairs. “Sorry, ma’am. Don’t come any farther. This is a crime scene. This man is dead.”
Professional Reviews
Inspirational with murder and humour
5.0 out of 5 Stars Inspirational with murder and humour March 16, 2013
By Sue Pernz
Format:Kindle Edition
At first this seems like an ordinary murder with romance, but J.Q. Rose has brought in her usual (or should I say unusual) sense of humor. A cat, pig and kangaroo also take major parts in the story. Christine gets into all sorts of situations, both dangerous and funny, when she tries to solve the murder mystery.
I have read J.Q. Rose's books before and this is another good one. The author has that uncanny knack of putting together a serious situation with a touch of humor. Not too much, just enough to lighten the thread, without being insulting to the deceased. J.Q. Rose managed to make romance and murder a believable possibility and for this I commend her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which says a lot as I don't usually read inspirational books, but this is a definite "can't put it down" book. Well done Ms Rose, can't wait for the next book from your writing desk.
Great menagerie giving unique clues
Great menagerie giving unique clues March 5, 2013
By W.S. Gager
Format:Kindle Edition
Most ministers are not embroiled in a murder and certainly not female ones. This face-paced read has unique characters and a riveting plot. It was laugh-out-loud funny with the menagerie of the cast who run through the pages and their unique input into solving the case of who killed the music director. Highly-recommended for a light-hearted read.
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