Ain't Misbehavin' (Roaring Twenties Series)

I loved the entire book! The way the plot continually thickened made me never want to stop. I really liked how historical facts were integrated throughout.

Cozy book set in the 1920s. Charlie wants to be his "own man" instead of working in his family store. Dot loves singing and was a speakeasy singer. Dot's father is a preacher and calls his daughter shameful and disowns her. When these two meet, there is a connection there, but the wall each has put around their heart that they feel "not good enough" for the other. Will they ever get together? Will Dot ever see there is a loving God, not the stern power that her father preached? When Charlie presents his idea of expanding the store to his father, the reaction is not a good one at first.
Will his father ever agree? The most touching scene in the book was Dot's visit with her father while he was in prison. What happened? You'll have to read the book to find out and to see if they get together. Awesome read, true to attitudes and life in the 20s

This is a great book. There is a lot of action and interesting historical information about the 20s, but even at the height of the flapper era, the book has a message of faith that is consistent, believable and focused. I really enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it.

This novel has a nice take-off point, following the novel before it, You're the Cream in My Coffee. Given all that's evident or revealed about that previous story in this book, I'd highly recommend reading that novel before this one.

The covers and Roaring Twenties settings of both these novels just get me. Jazzy tunes, women's bobbed hair, "the cat's meow," and newfangled gizmos like heaters and radios built into automobiles, no less. Yowza! Besides that, some of my favorite moments in the story are away from the city's "roar," in a cozy farmhouse setting. Call me sentimental.

I came to like Dot more than I thought I would. She's flawed and makes mistakes, and she doubts herself, but she's also competent and capable when she puts her mind to things, and she's a real sweetheart without being too syrupy.

I did, however, find it hard to follow the course of her thoughts and feelings sometimes, as well as Charlie's. The two of them can go up and down pretty fast, or they jump to conclusions. While Charlie expresses some early concern for Dot's spiritual state, his actions don't really show that he considers it to be a priority. And his behavior toward the end of the book left me feeling iffy about him for other reasons, which is an unfortunate feeling at the end of a romance novel.

There's also a thread of suspense that seems to be left open-ended...

Anyhow, I could say more about what I liked in the novel, so if the Roaring Twenties series continues, or if a spin-off carries into the thirties or something, I plan to be there.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book, for which I've given an honest review.

Dot was kicked out of home by a hypocritical, so-called religious father at the age of 18 for going in a school play, and has since sung in a speakeasy that was run by a man who is now in prison. The former fact colours her views of religion, and the latter her views of herself, as unworthy of a decent man's love. Charlie is such a decent man, and though they had become engaged, she soon realises that she isn't worthy of him and ends things between them. Various factors gradually bring them together again, and setting up a new branch of his father's store near where Dot lives leads to them spending time together. But when things go wrong, will they be able to keep their faith in themselves, each other and God?

I haven't read the previous book in the series, but that didn't stop me enjoying this one.

I don't know a lot about the time period, but this was an interesting look at one man's experience of the stock market crash of 1929, and the lives and attitudes of city versus country folks at the time. In addition, of course, there is clean romance, and a touch of faith. Well written and clean, this is a book I would happily recommend.

Note that I received a free copy of the book from the publisher and am providing an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Every bit as delightful as You're the Cream In My Coffee! Highly recommended for readers of Christian Historical Fiction.

Lots of twists and turns, misunderstandings, interference, romance, confusion, great characters, and excellent historical background. Could not stop reading. Hope she writes another in this series.