Book Review: A Quarter for a Kiss

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

[5 stars]

A Quarter for a Kiss Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Mindy Starns Clark
Class/Genre: Mystery Romance Private Investigator Religious Fiction Cozy Woman Main Character
Series: Callie Webber - Million Dollar Mysteries # 4
Harvest House, Jan 2004, 333 pp.

In the North Carolina Mountains, Callie and Tom spend three weeks together becoming acquainted in person with one another after only meeting over the telephone due to work. Tom is the philanthropist behind the J.O.S.H.U.A. Project while Callie investigates non-profit groups for grant suitability. Tom introduces Callie to his favorite hobby, mountain climbing while Callie does likewise with canoeing. Both feel something special connects them.

As their time together draws to a close, Stella Gold calls to tell them that her spouse, Eli the man who brought Callie and Tom together has been shot. They rush to Cape Canaveral to visit Eli in the hospital. The ailing Eli asks Callie and Tom to find out who shot him. The duo would refuse nothing if Eli asked so they begin investigating and soon find themselves in danger in the Virgin Islands from someone who wants certain truths to remain hidden.

The fourth Million Dollar Mystery’ is a fantastic story that moves the series forward on a personal level as well as providing the audience with a delightful who-done-it. The relationship between Tom and Callie evolves beautifully as each finds they are falling in love with the other, but has baggage holding them back. The amateur sleuth inquiries is cleverly handled because of Callie, who though she is not a detective, her work makes her something more than an amateur. Mindy Starns Clark keeps the suspense going from the moment the dynamic pair reach Florida until the final confrontation in St. Johns and the romance blossoming from the first wall climb to the closing discussion making the upcoming half dollar tale something to look forward to reading.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner