Middy Brown's Journal I: An Appointed Time

by M. Louise Smith

Praise for the first printing of Middy Brown's Journal I--An Appointed Time: "I couldn't put it down; I hope the next book comes out soon " Pat McCord, Anchorage, AK

"Inspirational mysteries like An Appointed Time are uplifting and emotionally charged novels. By the end, the audience feels good and hopeful about themselves and their reading experience. This particular book is loaded with subplots that not only enhance the story line,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595337449
• ISBN13: 9780595337446
• Release Date: December 2004
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A real page turner...

This is a fun book to read and a real page turner. M. Louise Smith has a gift when it comes to writing fiction, and her book drew me in from the first page. I actually loved the first part of the book, when poor Madge was describing her ho-hum life...fired from a volunteer job...a family who doesn't appreciate her...boring clothes and out-of-date looks. I found this part hilarious, and any woman over 40 will relate to Madge/Middy. I don't normally read mysteries, but this book is very readable and has a fun plot with lots of twists and surprises to the various investigations Middy gets involved in. I appreciate the Christian beliefs of the writer and how she weaves those into the book through a character that actually prays, as many of us do in real life. Thank you! I would highly recommend this book and hope to see more Middy Brown journals. The only downside to the book is poor print quality and the need for a good copy editor/proofreader. But don't let that stop you from discovering this fun character created by a talented writer.

Rib-Rickling Funny

There is an appointed time for everything; And in due season, all things pass under heaven. Ecclesiastics: 3There is a rhyme and reason to God's universe; a time fore everything. That is the underlying theme in M. Louise Smith's debut inspirational mystery, An Appointed Time. But don't let the inspirational part dissuade you from reading this delightful new novel.At almost fifty, Madge Brown is beginning to experience empty-nest syndrome. Her oldest son, Geo, is away at college; 16-year-old Pam is heavily into her own life; new Chat Room friends consume her husband, George. She feels lonely, dumpy, and just plain bored. She can't remember the last time she wore makeup, had her hair fixed, or wore anything other than jeans and sneakers.To help get her out of her doldrums, she answers an ad for a local StarWay Beauty Products representative (a.k.a. Avon, Tupperware, or Amway), much to George's chagrin. A complete makeover gives her the confidence she needs to try and find herself---a term I personally despise. She even gives herself a nickname: Middy. With the help of rather aggressive StarWay district managers, she lands a lucrative route in the wealthy area of Denver, and the money begins pouring in. Not that she needs it. George has always taken excellent care of her and the children, even giving her an allowance. As she works her route, she rums into some interesting characters. Sam, the newly-arrived housewife and mother and her very sexy father; Alice and her alcoholic husband; Josie and her party-loving friends, and Boley Ryan, a non-heterosexual who deals drugs on the side.Middy develops a high-school crush on Sam's father, Cal, a private investigator who is relocating to Denver to be near his only child and grandchild. The two begin meeting for lunch and before long, Middy is working as his office assistance and carrying a gun. Now she not only has two jobs that keep her extremely busy. Her family begins to notice and feel abandoned. She adores playing Della Street to Cal's Perry Mason and refuses to give it, and her StarWay route, up. She works with Cal trying to locate the long-lost daughter of a deceased princess and in the process gets beaten up, shoots several people, and has a rollicking good time.An Appointed Time gets off to a slow start. M. Louise Smith spends too much time telling us how awful Madge/Middy feels in the novel's beginning. But don't give up on this debut book. Once she becomes entangled with Cal and begins the hunt for the long-lost princess, the good times start to roll This work is rib-tickling funny!