Sweet on You

Title: Sweet on You
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Meddlin’ Madeline, book 1
Major Themes: Mysteries, Christian Fiction, Detectives
Synopsis: When Madeline notices something odd about her best friend’s beau, she becomes a sleuth, trying to track down the truth.

Esther’s review:

About a week ago, I was privileged to join the launch team for Sweet on You, the first book in the Meddlin’ Madeline series. I also got to pre-read the story, which of course is the reason why I signed up in the first place. I’ve read a number of Chautona Havig’s stories before, and this story was not a disappointment! Most of the characters (except the villain) were very likeable, and I saw myself in Madeline’s character perhaps more than I’d like to admit.

Madeline’s life seems to consist of one meaningless social engagement after another, with little to do and even fewer profitable things to think about. So when she notices an unusual stain on a new acquaintance’s cuff, her interest is piqued. The stain is more than just cordial—and yet very few of her friends wear lip color. After spotting Vernon Smythe in the more disreputable area of Rockland, Madeline’s suspicions about the man grow. Vernon begins courting Edith, one of Madeline’s close friends, and she decides to play detective and discover if he really is as honest as he says. How can she verify her suspicions about his character? And even if she is correct, how can she prove her findings to Edith—before she marries him, and it’s too late? Will anyone believe a nineteen-year-old woman detective?

Set in the early 1900s, Sweet on You is a fun, imaginative story. Madeline was a very realistic character, and I really enjoyed her perspective on the social aspect of the higher classes of that time.

As a mystery book, there were definitely some clues and a problem to solve, and I felt like the author did a great job writing it in an interesting way. I imagine it would be particularly hard to write a proper mystery novel without a murder or otherwise shocking event, but by playing off the curiosity of a bored nineteen-year-old, she turned an average story into something gripping. So gripping, in fact, that I lost a good 3-4 hours one day finishing the book when I should have been working! If you like mysteries, or simply like Christian fiction (the Christian aspect didn’t come out quite so strongly in this book as it has in others by Mrs. Havig, but it definitely was there), this would be a great book for you.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Emma’s review:

I discovered one of Chautona Havig’s books a couple of years ago, and loved it, but didn’t read any of her others till about a year ago. Once I got started, however, I was hooked. I love her books! Most of them are fairly light, easy reads, but they all make you think. She has a knack for showing how Christians should live in the form of a gripping story. Her books are not preachy, but very definitely portray people living out their faith in Jesus.

Sweet on You is a little different from a lot of this author’s books. The main character is Madeline Brown, a young lady in a midwestern city sometime around 1901. She knows what society demands of young ladies, and what her aunt’s expectations are. She also knows that if she oversteps conventions she’ll harm her father’s political career. Therefore, she will not join the suffragettes or the temperance movement. However, she can’t stand to just sit at home and do nothing!

One evening, when Madeline is at a party at her friend’s house, she notices that Edith is receiving special attention from a man new to the city. Then, she notices something strange. She starts wondering about Vernon—and ends up finding herself becoming a detective!

I loved reading Sweet on You and watching Madeline investigate clues around the city while trying not to shock her aunt too much. Of course, I was fairly sure what the outcome of the investigation would be long before Madeline arrived at a conclusion, but it was quite intriguing to watch her using the resources at her disposal to learn the truth. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing Madeline’s growth, not only as a sleuth, but also as a Christian. Her faith seems to be very shallow in this book, not at all like most of the author’s characters. There are a couple of friends of Madeline’s who seem to have a very strong faith in God, and Madeline considers them to be fanatics—I will be very interested to see what Havig does with her in the sequel! I can’t wait to read the next book, especially with the cliff-hanger with which this one ended. There are supposed to be six books in the series eventually.

I enjoyed the vocabulary used in this story as well. Havig did a lot of research into the way people talked and wrote around 1900, and her characters consistently use appropriate language. Another thing I found interesting was the way people thought about new inventions that were just coming into use—their reactions seemed quite natural. I highly recommend Sweet On You if you are looking for light, inspiring reading.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

WARNING: A few mentions of brothels, never described.

——————
Related posts:

Such a Tease Fine Print The Last Gasp Wonderland Creek