Customer Reviews

Double Trouble (PJ Sugar)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
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"Double Trouble" is the sequel to "Nothing But Trouble" by Susan May Warren, and continues the story of PJ Sugar. PJ returns to her hometown of Kellogg, Minnesota and right into the arms of her high school sweetheart, Boone Buckam. I have not read "Nothing But Trouble" and although I did feel lost when it came to certain details of PJ's life, "Double Trouble" does stand on its own for the most part.

Broke and barely employed, PJ shacks up with her sister, her brand new Russian brother-in-law and non-English speaking in-laws. PJ is convinced that her stellar instincts will serve her well in the private investigation world and is desperate to prove herself to her boss and head PI, Jeremy Kane. While Boone waits for an answer to his marriage proposal and voices concern over PJ's job at every opportunity, PJ spends nights on stakeouts - often with Jeremy by her side.

When Jeremy assigns PJ the job of impersonating Dally Morrison, he promises that there will be no danger involved and that it will earn PJ "bonus points" towards an investigation of her own. Dally Morrison is under police protective custody and is set to testify against the drug lord Billy Finch. Suspecting that Billy has sent a hit man to get rid of her, Dally hires Jeremy to whisk her away to a new hiding place while PJ steps in to take her place. PJ figures that the time away from Kellogg will at least give her time to consider Boone's proposal. Loading up on fake tattoos and donning a black wig, she manages to pass for Dally - or so she thinks. Before long, things begin spiraling out of control, leaving PJ to wonder how much they really know about a woman they are protecting.

Starting "Double Trouble", I was initially put off by cutesy names - PJ Sugar, Rudy Bagwell, Boone Buckam. Getting further into the story, "Double Trouble" did grow on me and I found it to be quite entertaining and fun. Despite the seemingly dark subject matter, the novel managed to be lighthearted and the characters' witty banter kept me glued to the pages. PJ Sugar's instincts pulled her in all the wrong directions and I was taken along for the ride, not even suspecting who the actual culprit might be.

Double Trouble by Susan May Warren is the second title in the PJ Sugar series. PJ has embraced her new role as private detective, even if her boss Jeremy isn't trusting her the way she'd like and her ex-boyfriend and police officer Boone doesn't think she's up to the challenge. They both have to change their tune when PJ undertakes a case that forces her to impersonate a woman in the Witness Protection Program and is sure that her life in is danger. PJ embraces the challenge, despite the threat of exposure. Warren has created a humorous and smart heroine in PJ who constantly seems to be tripping over her own feet and making promises that she can't keep. The sparks between PJ and Jeremy fly right off the page and will have readers just as torn between Boone and Jeremy as PJ is. Warren's writing is never cliched and she delights in upending readers' expectations. This is one series that I hope lasts for twenty or more books!

This is the second book in a series and I really recommend you read the first book before reading this one. I had a hard time trying to figure things out, even though near the end of the book, it explains it all. It could possibly be read alone, but not without some confusion at first.

Once you get into the book though, the characters humor and the way she is always causing trouble for herself will keep you hooked. PJ is in training to be a private investigator, but she seems to make more work and trouble for herself than learning! It is comical to see what happens to her and what she will do next. The character is likeable and she draws you into her world just to find out what is coming next. Some of the stuff is so out there, but you can't help but laugh at her.

Not only does the book have great mystery, but the author throws in a love triangle that leaves you rooting for all the people involved. It makes it hard for you to decide which one you want to prevail.

A great book for all. The humor, witty writing and chick lit feel was enough to keep me interested for the whole book.

[...]

PJ Sugar roamed the world for ten years, getting in and out of trouble while having fun adventures until she realized that chapter of her life was closed; it was time to go home. She lives in her sister's house in Kellogg, Minnesota with her brother-in-law, his parents and their child; and works as an apprentice to private detective Jeremy Kane. Detective Daniel "Boone" Buck wants to marry her seeing that the girl he loved a decade ago is the woman he loves now though she has doubts as she has come a long way since then.

Jeremy sees Sugar as she is today with no romantic lens filtering their relationship; though he deems her unready for dangerous work. Instead he assigns her to impersonate free spirited Dally Morrison, who is to testify against gang leader and drug lord Billy Finch. Fearing Finch has sent a hit man to kill her, Dally needs a new hiding place. PJ's impersonation works too well as she is kidnapped and Dally's house is broken into. The easy assignment has turned dangerous but PJ feels ready for prime time. She likes Dally's neighbor and the group who plays on Dally's softball team and considers deeply how she feels about the two men already in her life.

Susan May Warren has written an intriguing mystery filled with humor and excitement. The heroine is trying to learn just who she is and who she wants without hurting Boone or Jeremy, which makes all three in diverse ways endearing to the audience although Double Trouble for PJ. The whodunit is intricately designed to insure the reader has Nothing But Trouble discerning who abducted Sugar acting as Dally.

Harriet Klausner

I think I read this out of order, but it didn't make any difference. I will read the first book next.

This was a cute story about PJ Sugar. A young woman who is studying to be a private eye. She has recently returned home to Kellogg, Minnesota. She lives with her sister who seems to be very stable. Her sister is married to a Russian and her in-laws live in the house. None of them speak very good English. They bought a goat and plant potatoes in the upscale neighborhood.

PJ has a relationship still with her high school boyfriend, Boone, a cop. He has recently proposed and PJ is thinking it over. PJ lands a big case working with Jeremy, her boss. She has lots of zany adventures before solving it all in the end.

I enjoyed this book very much. This Christian author makes the characters and scenes come alive. Her writing is enjoyable and holds your interest. I highly recommend Susan May Warren.

What is love? One thing PJ does discover is that love is more than a feeling! Susan May Warren has created a honest, humorous and smart heroine in PJ, who constantly seems to be tripping over her own feet and making promises that she can't keep. The sparks between PJ and Jeremy fly right off the page and will have readers just as torn between Boone and Jeremy as PJ is.

PJ is out to prove she has what she can to become a real investigator. She's determined to do whatever it takes to get the job done. I also enjoyed the fact that PJ really does want to do what God has asked her to do; she just isn't quite sure what that is. She seeks His help but can't seem to see herself or her situation the way God does. I can relate to PJ and enjoyed her. I found myself in stitches several times throughout this story.

I really liked this novel, it was entertaining, but thought provoking, tender, but mysteriously deep. I like the spiritual thread and the struggle PJ encountered throughout the course of this book - to find out just what God had in store for her life. It's a struggle that most of us face and could relate to. I also enjoyed the fun cast-off zany characters and the mystery PJ tries to get to the bottom of. I'm very thankful that I received a review copy of this book and I have to say, I totally recommend both books in this series. I'm looking forward to reading Licensed for Trouble, in stores soon.


The Book Club Network
[...]

This has to be one of the best books I have read this year. And PJ Sugar is the perfect heroine!
I just loved this novel, it was funny, charming, a neat love story and characters that quickly infuse themselves into your day.
PJ Sugar wants to be a PI, but everywhere she turns trouble abounds, screaming chinchillas, a Russian in law involved in a car theft ring, and an attempted kidnapping involving...smelly gym socks??
The dialogue in this book really keeps the reader riveted, it's snazzy and to the point and occasionally laugh out loud funny! All of the scenes in the book are visual and gripping. I was brought right into the moment and never released for even a second. This book was very hard to put down!
The love triangle between Boone, PJ and Jeremy is sizzling with unexpected turns and I seriously cannot wait for book three to find out how PJ makes her mind up. I hope we figure out her name too!
All in all a stand up great book. With action, romance, laughter, the perfect heroine and a two heart stopping heros, this book is one of my all time favorites and I am looking forward to reading more about PJ in book three! Highly recommended!

A good mystery always draws me in. It doesn't matter if I don't like the characters, setting or the writer's style, I have to see how it turns out. It was the mystery in Double Trouble that kept me reading, and I'm glad I did, because I grew to like PJ Sugar. At first PJ and the men who fought over her seemed so "high school," even though those days were ten years behind them. PJ is impulsive, persistent, and badly wants to be a PI. Her boss and her boyfriend want to protect her from herself. She weakly lets them tell her what to do, but she refuses to give up her PI dreams.

At the beginning, her dreams get her into trouble with her family and boyfriend, and when she's given an assignment to house sit for a client, her problems escalate. Jeremy, her boss, doesn't seem to be there for her and Boone, her boyfriend, just wants her to leave it all and be a nice little girl. But she meets some new - and quirky - friends who stand behind her and she begins to discover who she really is and what she really wants. The real mystery is how PJ is going to find herself.

PJ's faith was a bit of a surprise to me because it appeared fairly deep into the book. Several times she wrestled with God over her problems and called on Him for help, but the rest of the time she seemed to be managing on her own. Even when she finally discovered herself, her awareness of God's role in it felt like an add on.

One reason for you to read this book is that it has one of the best closing lines I've read in a long time. But don't skip to the end or you'll spoil the best part of the book.

Pros: Lighthearted mystery with a creative plot and distinctive characters. The action keeps the story moving and there are lots of surprises.

Cons: The characters act younger than their ages.

The original review can be read on Pix-N-Pens at [...]

I've long been a fan of Susan May Warren's writing and I think I can safely say that this PJ Sugar series has risen to the top becoming my favorite of all her book series. (Though the Josey books are a close second, but I digress).

The thing I love most about PJ is that she's a girl who just can't seem to see herself as God does. Still, she is growing and understanding a little more all the time that the fun, crazy, good intentioned, but fully human girl that she is, is all part of who God designed her to be. Maybe I love the saga so much, because I see that girl in the mirror. Wanting to be so much more and struggling to believe that God's love isn't conditional, it's complete.

Beyond the beauty of the overreaching theme, the humor had me laughing out loud. I can't wait for the next PJ installment later this year!

I needed something lighter to read, then Susan May Warren's Double Trouble came in the mail. The blurb on the back quotes another author (Lori Copeland) saying the "dead-on characterization always makes me laugh." It sounded good to me, and was good too. Just what I needed in fact.

PJ Sugar is reinventing herself as a private detective--well, private detective's assistant to be precise. She has a history that makes living back home a little difficult, and romantic ties to the local policeman. I'd know more about it if I wasn't joining the series halfway through, but I never felt like I was missing any necessary information, or that the author was dumping details on me to catch me up. The characters quickly became real and their relationships and backgrounds all fell into place.

Detective Boone Buckam: Overly protective--possibly controlling--maybe it's inherent in being a guy--I just don't know if he's the guy for her... PJ Sugar: Overly quick to jump to conclusions--possibly low self-esteem--maybe just inherent in being a woman...But none of it was really a simple as that. The characters built up then overcame their stereotypes. The delightful Russians were just fun to hang around with. The elderly neighbor could be more, or less, batty than she seems. And the little boy was cute. The danger in PJ's adventure is cleverly low-key, and the intrigue definitely fishy but the red herrings still smell okay.

I really enjoyed the book, and when, halfway through, I found that characters weren't just "going to church" on occasion, but might even talk about God, that was fine because I already felt like I knew them. It was also fine because the lessons the protagonist learns are ones applicable to many of us, and most certainly to me.

So, light but not fluffy, entertaining but though-provoking too, gentle and oddly deep. Some more of this series may turn out to be just what I need on future occasions so I'll make sure to remember the author--Susan May Warren.