Grayson Sumner has a past that he’s not too proud of and a little Chinese daughter that is a little hard to explain. He decides to settle in New York to try to find some semblance of normalcy for both himself and his child. But when he meets Miss Murdock he realizes that his life will never be normal again! He quickly realizes that she has a talent for something that no woman he has ever met has had a talent for. Trouble!
First of all, what a delightful cover! Pure eye candy! I’m certain it works to help the reader want to read if even more for I knew it did me! I am quite familiar with Jen Turano’s work and got exactly what I expected when I read this novel. Nothing more and nothing less. It was cute, fluffy, frothy fun just like all of her books.
Felicia was a sweet character with excellent development—as was Grayson. However, the book only focuses on those two characters giving little chance for other characters to become more developed. I felt as though the only other character that was somewhat developed besides the obvious main two was Felicia’s mother, Ruth. I believe this gave a stifled aspect to the book, not allowing the reader to get to know any of the minor characters. I got to know Felicia and Grayson so well that I could almost predict what they were going to do next! I also felt somewhat annoyed sometimes because it seemed as though Grayson and Felicia were somehow always at odds with one another and when they weren't they were being interrupted by something or someone, giving them almost no time alone. Also, one thing I thought was odd was that Felicia's father was completely left out of the book even though he was alive and well. I kept on wanting to meet him but he was mentioned very rarely and only said one thing near the end of the book.
Jen Turano’s books are never very deep spiritually or mentally. It is pretty much you get what you see—or read in this case. I know this sounds strange—but reading her books is always like eating cotton candy to me. Sweet and sugary for a moment and then gone the next instant. Nothing of substance. But her work is always very entertaining and comical. If you are looking for a read that will make you smile A Talent for Trouble will definitely be a good choice for you.
A Talent for Trouble could have delved even deeper into God and His truth. The potential was there. But—like always—it didn’t. Grayson did ask forgiveness from God in the end but no scene was actually portrayed of him doing so—which I was a little disappointed in. Also, now that I think about it, I don’t think any scripture was actually used in this book. That kind of reveals how shallow it is right there.
I will give credit to Grayson to being a little deeper than the rest not because of him but because of the mistakes of his past. I was very interested in that.
Also, while reading this book, I kept on feeling a sense of déjà vu. I read Jen Turano’s novella Gentleman of Her Dreams before I read A Talent for Trouble and found remarkable similarities between them. In fact, if the two were combined it would have made for a better book!
All in A Talent for Trouble is frothy fun that is good for a laugh. But it will not challenge the reader in any way spiritually or mentally. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley for the purpose of this review