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Western Brides Undercover #3
An Agent for Jolene
(Alternate cover edition of ASIN B0837FGB8Q.)
During her upbringing at the orphanage, Jolene Lilygate made a childhood pact to come to the aid of her two best friends, no questions asked…for life. So when Lorelai Woods urgently summons her to Texas, she packs a bag and boards the next train. She soon finds herself serving as a detective in training with a seasoned Pinkerton agent requesting her hand in marriage…but only for the duration of their upcoming investigation into the hostile takeover of her friend’s ranch.
Agent Matthew Countryman jumps at the chance to sink his teeth into helping track down the Diablos Gang. He’s never been able to resist a challenge, and convincing the stunning but reserved Jolene to serve as his partner is no exception. While most men in his shoes would be sketching a game plan for the upcoming showdown with the outlaws, Matthew instead finds himself plotting a way to keep Jolene in his life — for good!
THE PINKERTON MATCHMAKER SERIES:
Lady Pinkerton detectives, their rough and ready agents, and a whole lot of excitement and romance! The Pinkerton Matchmaker series tells the stories of the women determined to bring criminals to justice, and the agents who win their hearts. Each book is a standalone story and they can be read in any order.
During her upbringing at the orphanage, Jolene Lilygate made a childhood pact to come to the aid of her two best friends, no questions asked…for life. So when Lorelai Woods urgently summons her to Texas, she packs a bag and boards the next train. She soon finds herself serving as a detective in training with a seasoned Pinkerton agent requesting her hand in marriage…but only for the duration of their upcoming investigation into the hostile takeover of her friend’s ranch.
Agent Matthew Countryman jumps at the chance to sink his teeth into helping track down the Diablos Gang. He’s never been able to resist a challenge, and convincing the stunning but reserved Jolene to serve as his partner is no exception. While most men in his shoes would be sketching a game plan for the upcoming showdown with the outlaws, Matthew instead finds himself plotting a way to keep Jolene in his life — for good!
THE PINKERTON MATCHMAKER SERIES:
Lady Pinkerton detectives, their rough and ready agents, and a whole lot of excitement and romance! The Pinkerton Matchmaker series tells the stories of the women determined to bring criminals to justice, and the agents who win their hearts. Each book is a standalone story and they can be read in any order.
125 pages, ebook
Published May 20, 2020
About the author
Jo Grafford
172 books675 followersJo is an Amazon bestselling author of heartwarming cowboy romantic suspense stories, with a few Texas-sized detours into humor.
Join Cuppa Jo Readers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Cuppa.... Join her newsletter at https://www.JoGrafford.com.
Jo also writes clean western historical romance and cozy mysteries as Jovie Grace.
Join Cuppa Jo Readers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Cuppa.... Join her newsletter at https://www.JoGrafford.com.
Jo also writes clean western historical romance and cozy mysteries as Jovie Grace.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 29, 2020
Interesting little novella about a Pinkerton program where women were used as agents, but on their first assignment they have to "marry" a male agent as a cover. At the end of their assignment they can dissolve the "marriage", and go on to another job.
Jolene was raised in an orphanage, later spending years as a laundress making end meet and fighting off employers advances. When her childhood friend from the orphanage offered her a job in Texas as a Pinkerton agent, she jumped at the chance. Although delighted at the thought of really being married, she gets a rude awakening when her partner wants nothing to do with this so-called marriage, and instead is rude, sloppy, abrasive, and does everything he can to get her to quit.
Now, the interesting thing is that the blurb about this book is all wrong. The name of Jolene's partner in the book that I read was Agent Edgar Barella. The blurb above says she went to Texas to marry Agent Matthew Countryman. Barella's goal in the book is the opposite of Countryman's who did every he could to convince Jolene to stay married to him. Same heroine (Jolene Lilygate) but the rest was changed for some reason. The blurb says Jolene is reserved. Um, the Jolene in the book I read was definitely not reserved.
Ah well, still kind of cute.
(Man, was it ever hard to type the name Jolene! For decades I've typed Joleen, so it was disconcerting for my fingers to spell it wrong).
Jolene was raised in an orphanage, later spending years as a laundress making end meet and fighting off employers advances. When her childhood friend from the orphanage offered her a job in Texas as a Pinkerton agent, she jumped at the chance. Although delighted at the thought of really being married, she gets a rude awakening when her partner wants nothing to do with this so-called marriage, and instead is rude, sloppy, abrasive, and does everything he can to get her to quit.
Now, the interesting thing is that the blurb about this book is all wrong. The name of Jolene's partner in the book that I read was Agent Edgar Barella. The blurb above says she went to Texas to marry Agent Matthew Countryman. Barella's goal in the book is the opposite of Countryman's who did every he could to convince Jolene to stay married to him. Same heroine (Jolene Lilygate) but the rest was changed for some reason. The blurb says Jolene is reserved. Um, the Jolene in the book I read was definitely not reserved.
Ah well, still kind of cute.
(Man, was it ever hard to type the name Jolene! For decades I've typed Joleen, so it was disconcerting for my fingers to spell it wrong).
June 20, 2020
Jolene made a pact with her 2 friends; if any of them were in trouble, the others would come help, no questions asked. So when Jolene receives a note from Lorelai (#70), she immediately leaves her job as a Laundress in Boston and heads to Texas.
Edgar doesn't want another female agent to marry and train. Things with his last wife didn't go well and he's determined to remain single. But...if he doesn't marry Lorelai's friend, the other available agent would be a terrible match for her. He unwillingly agrees to wed Lorelai but insists it will be annulled as soon as the case is over.
This is a clean, sweet romance. It's a Pinkerton book but there is basically no case in the story, unfortunately. The author spends pretty much the entire book dealing with their constant fighting, arguing and insulting of each other. Will this really turn into a permanent marriage? I was really disappointed that the case was pretty much non-existent and Edgar didn't even include Lorelai in what was going on, except at the very end. Plus, Lorelai came to Texas to help her friend and then they barely have any interaction in the book at all. I feel like the author is busy trying to drag out 1 case across too many books (and lead the focus into her own upcoming series that rips off the Pinkerton Matchmaker idea), rather than making multiple interesting stories that fit together. I also was disappointed with how Lorelai and Edgar were terrible together and then suddenly everything was perfect. I will still read the author's next book in the series, but I don't have high hopes for it being very enjoyable....sadly.
Edgar doesn't want another female agent to marry and train. Things with his last wife didn't go well and he's determined to remain single. But...if he doesn't marry Lorelai's friend, the other available agent would be a terrible match for her. He unwillingly agrees to wed Lorelai but insists it will be annulled as soon as the case is over.
This is a clean, sweet romance. It's a Pinkerton book but there is basically no case in the story, unfortunately. The author spends pretty much the entire book dealing with their constant fighting, arguing and insulting of each other. Will this really turn into a permanent marriage? I was really disappointed that the case was pretty much non-existent and Edgar didn't even include Lorelai in what was going on, except at the very end. Plus, Lorelai came to Texas to help her friend and then they barely have any interaction in the book at all. I feel like the author is busy trying to drag out 1 case across too many books (and lead the focus into her own upcoming series that rips off the Pinkerton Matchmaker idea), rather than making multiple interesting stories that fit together. I also was disappointed with how Lorelai and Edgar were terrible together and then suddenly everything was perfect. I will still read the author's next book in the series, but I don't have high hopes for it being very enjoyable....sadly.
May 31, 2020
An Agent for Jolene is another lighthearted historical romance by Jo Grafford. Set in the Western United States in the late 1800’s, An Agent for Jolene and the other books in the series that I have read seem to stay true to history. The books are short and easy-to-read, making them great for a lazy afternoon. There is just enough tension to keep the plot going but not so much as to keep you awake at night. Jo Grafford does a great job of weaving romance in and making it believable. In this book, the plot focuses more on the relationship between Jolene and her agent-husband Edgar than on the case they were pursuing. In other books I’ve read in the series there was more focus on and details of the case. The plot and characters are well-developed in An Agent for Jolene and it was an enjoyable read.
While the books are meant to be read as stand alones, I read An Agent for Jolene after reading Grafford’s previous book in the series An Agent for Lorelai. There is some overlap of characters and plot, while not necessary to read them “in order” you may want to. I look forward to reading more titles in The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series.
While they are written for adults, An Agent for Jolene and other titles in The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series would be fun books for middle school and high school students in a K-12 Christian School library.
I received a complimentary copy as part of the launch team for An Agent for Jolene. This is my honest review.
While the books are meant to be read as stand alones, I read An Agent for Jolene after reading Grafford’s previous book in the series An Agent for Lorelai. There is some overlap of characters and plot, while not necessary to read them “in order” you may want to. I look forward to reading more titles in The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series.
While they are written for adults, An Agent for Jolene and other titles in The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series would be fun books for middle school and high school students in a K-12 Christian School library.
I received a complimentary copy as part of the launch team for An Agent for Jolene. This is my honest review.
May 26, 2020
Who can resist these Pinkerton Matchmaker stories? Since the beginning they have been intriguing and delightful seeing the new female detectives in training being matched with their partners, who they are required to marry. Oh, there is always the option for an annulment at the end of the case, but few select that avenue. Or it might be even a worse end.
"You want me to get married.. again?" Edgar Barella shot to his feet as Jack Gaines, the lead detective let him know what he needed to do to get on the case he really wanted. Or at least to appease agent Lorelai, who he thought of as a sister.
Thus begins Edgar and Jolene's story and oh yes, it is a good one! Edgar spends too much time thinking up reason he doesn't want to have anything to do with her and cannot see what is right in front of him!
Adventure, danger, humor and two characters who will win your heart as they try to solve the case and their own happy ever after!
"You want me to get married.. again?" Edgar Barella shot to his feet as Jack Gaines, the lead detective let him know what he needed to do to get on the case he really wanted. Or at least to appease agent Lorelai, who he thought of as a sister.
Thus begins Edgar and Jolene's story and oh yes, it is a good one! Edgar spends too much time thinking up reason he doesn't want to have anything to do with her and cannot see what is right in front of him!
Adventure, danger, humor and two characters who will win your heart as they try to solve the case and their own happy ever after!
May 22, 2020
Love this series and loved Edgar and Jolene! Edgar is such a lovable man but he's been burned and he holds back his heart when he has to marry his second Pinkerton "wife" after his first "wife" didn't work out (no spoilers here!). He doesn't want to get married again at all but that's the rule of a Pinkerton detective when they begin a case with a woman partner and he doesn't like it one bit! Who cares if Jolene is beautiful and kind and all that he wants in a wife? He'll just train her and act terrible so she wont want to stay married to him and then move on! I did like how Jolene treated poor Edgar but thankfully, she wises up! The only complaint I had about this book is that it spent a little too much time on their relationship and barely any time on "the case of the cattle rustlers"! Perhaps the next book will remedy that! Fun book though!
March 23, 2021
An Agent For Jolene is a story of an orphan that was friends with Lorelei another orphan that had married and lived in Texas. Lorelei had became a Pinkerton agent and married her husband John and they worked as a couple. That is why she asked Jolene to come to Texas to be a Pinkerton agent and marry their friend Edgar. Edgar told her they were just temporary for this cattle rustling case. Jolene could be as sharp as Edgar was and she learned her training fast. The hurt that Jolene felt constantly that her husband did not care for her was too much to bear. She thought she would have an fairytale life like Lorelei and John had. But, it would take more to get Edgar to love her. Maybe, her going to confront him at the saloon and telling him that she was sorry and that she wanted more than a temporary marriage would give her hope. Or would it?
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May 21, 2020Loved Edgar and Jolene's story!! Edgar was a bit afraid of falling for his partner, after what happened to his first one. Jolene didn't know what had happened previously, and when she first finds out thinks it's different than it really was. When she learns the truth, she realizes how badly she misjudged Edgar. Ones their wires get uncrossed, things work out much better! This is a great series, and I love the series within the series with each of the authors!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
March 24, 2023
Something had happened in Edgar’s past to make him hate the idea of ladies working as Pinkerton agents. So, when he was tasked to marry, train, and work with Jolene, Edgar was so unhappy! He set about doing all that he could to make her quit. But Jolene just worked harder, until one day all of the hurts came bubbling up. After she had time to cool down and realized just how harsh she had been, Jolene was able to bounce back and work with Edgar to make their marriage, and their partnership as agents, work. Such a great story. I truly enjoyed it.
April 17, 2023
Jolene was raised in an orphanage with Madeline and Loralei. She has always said that if any of them needed help, she'd be there. When Loralei writes to say that they need help with the cattle rustlers, She travels to TX and trains with Edgar to be a pinkerton agent. Edgar resents all the pinkerton ladies because he doesn't like them working undercover. He trains Jolene hard and tries to get her to quit, but she just works that much harder. Loved this book and the banter between Jolene and Edgar.
March 23, 2023
Jolene is very upset about her new husband's horrible personal habits. He is a "pig" leaving their room in a horrible mess that Jolene has to clean up. Her best friend, Lorelai, can't believe Edgar is acting that way. So Jolene & Edgar have to work things out besides finding out more about the wrestlers. This is a good addition to the series I enjoyed. I received a copy from the author. This is my voluntary opinion.
May 23, 2020
I'm enjoying this Pinkerton series. Jolene and Edgar seemed like they would never get along. But when Jolene hits the breaking point and gives him a what for, Edgar realizes he made some terrible mistakes. When they come face to face with a ruthless rustler it will be a true test of their loyalty. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.
May 23, 2020
I love this series and Jo Grafford had written a prefect addition to it. I love her characters and I wish a little more time had been spent with them. The book is a quick read and I'll be honest I'd have liked a few more pages. Since we spent a short time with previous agents, hopefully we'll see these again too.
May 24, 2020
Not my agent bride
Not wanting to get a bride again, he does his job but does everything he can to convince her when the job is over so is she. Never having anything, this is much better even if its temporary. As the story weaves their story and finding the outlaw you realize both are changing their minds. A fresh agent story.
Not wanting to get a bride again, he does his job but does everything he can to convince her when the job is over so is she. Never having anything, this is much better even if its temporary. As the story weaves their story and finding the outlaw you realize both are changing their minds. A fresh agent story.
May 24, 2020
So good. Jolene who has no-one, is paired with Pinkerton agent Edger. I laughed and gasped with these two, as Edgar put Jolene through the ringer to become a female agent. If you like clean, fun reads, you can't go wrong with 'An Agent for Jolene'. I highly recommend this book. I received this book from the publisher. The thoughts and comments are my own.
May 25, 2020
Great characters, loved Jolene! Jolene is feisty and doesn’t put up with Edgar and his gruff. I found this to be a fun and up beat story that draws the reader in. A sweet clean romance that gives you a few chuckles at Jolene and Edgar’s relationship. Great story!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
May 22, 2020
Edgar was determined he would never marry again because his first partner/wife was killed on the case they were working on. So, when Jolene became his new partner/wife, he was determined to make sure they didn't stay together. But, love had other ideas. I loved this story
May 27, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book! It is about a young lady who becomes a Pinkerton agent and has to marry another agent during her training.I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance!
June 19, 2022
Grrr Edgar!
Edgar really pushes his luck with Jolene and I am very surprised she doesn't shoot him!
This is a torrid and bumpy addition to the series but I look forward to seeing more of Jolene and Lorelai in the final book.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
Edgar really pushes his luck with Jolene and I am very surprised she doesn't shoot him!
This is a torrid and bumpy addition to the series but I look forward to seeing more of Jolene and Lorelai in the final book.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
May 3, 2023
Great Series
I'm totally enjoying this series and getting to know all the characters. I love how characters flow into the next book. Jolene and Edgar's story grabbed me from the beginning and I read it straight through. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I'm totally enjoying this series and getting to know all the characters. I love how characters flow into the next book. Jolene and Edgar's story grabbed me from the beginning and I read it straight through. I look forward to the next book in the series.
November 21, 2023
Good story
A true Western with brave spunky ladies serving with the Pinkertons. A toughened agent who wants nothing to do with a female partner, and outlaws are tossed in the mix of characters. There is plenty of action and romance sure to entertain for an evening read.
A true Western with brave spunky ladies serving with the Pinkertons. A toughened agent who wants nothing to do with a female partner, and outlaws are tossed in the mix of characters. There is plenty of action and romance sure to entertain for an evening read.
May 23, 2020
Wonderful story.. Friends that are family coming to help each other. Caught in a marriage because they are both agents. Love builds. Great Characters. Love, Strength and Family. Great story.
May 24, 2020
Good
A really good storyline and this author has not disappointed me in any of her books I have read.so far
A really good storyline and this author has not disappointed me in any of her books I have read.so far
May 25, 2020
I liked that this is a continuation of a storyline. It was nice revisiting characters that you know. The story flows and draws you in. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
May 29, 2020
This is a great story. Full of love and mystery. A great read for adults, and not a mushy love story like you would think it is.. I really enjoyed it.
May 31, 2020
Good!
Jolene and Edgar continue the quest of stopping the cattle rustlers in Texas. I've loved how this story has connected with others by Jo
Grafford!
Jolene and Edgar continue the quest of stopping the cattle rustlers in Texas. I've loved how this story has connected with others by Jo
Grafford!
February 10, 2025
Excellent book. I really enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews