Daphne Ballinger is living the big life in New York City. She works at the New York Times, lives downtown and is young and single…not! Daphne is in a rut, but it takes the death of her aunt to make her realize how stuck she is. She is still recovering from a broken heart from a relationship that occurred almost 10 years ago. She hasn’t dated anyone since. She does not socialize with anyone, except a former colleague occasionally. Upon her aunt’s death, she travels back to her hometown to attend the funeral. She hasn’t seen her father in two years. She has rarely returned home. Her mother died when Daphne was five and her aunt Dee became her surrogate mother. Aunt Dee taught her how to cook, clean and instilled in her a love of books and writing.
At the reading of her aunt’s will, Daphne is flabbergasted at the outcome. She learns that the aunt she was named after kept many secrets. Now, Daphne must decide whether or not to keep the secrets as well. Daphne wants to find true love, but doesn’t want the pressure her aunt’s will has imposed on her. Before she realizes it, Daphne has met several single men that might or might not be interested in her. After a month though, no one has asked her out on a date. Will she be able to meet her aunt’s requirements to keep the house? Daphne decides to quit her job, move back home to Appleton and write a book. She wakes up to the fact that she hasn’t really been enjoying life. She now is willing to take some risks. Is she ready to risk her heart again? Can an old flame be reignited?
I loved the description of the town of Appleton; it made me want to move there! I also liked reading out how Daphne decorated the house, making it her own. It was also good to see her reconnect with her best friend from home. I would have liked more action and tension as the story seemed to drag in parts, but maybe with the next installment that will happen. The second book in the series, Dating, Dining, and Desperation is due to be released in March 2014. I will also be reviewing that book on this site. ( )

Lock, Stock And over A Barrel is the first book in the Dear Daphne series by Melody Carlson. Daphne Ballinger is stuck — in her career and her personal life. When her dear Aunt Dee dies, Daphne’s life takes a turn, and she finds herself leaving the big city behind for a quieter, but not surprise-free life. Dee has left Daphne her home, her money and a new career opportunity, but with some major strings attached — like finding true love and marriage in 12 months! If you like a slow-paced read with a charming small town feel, this book is for you. I liked that Carlson has Daphne (and the reader) examining just what cautious living gets you. A good start for this series, I look forward to more from Daphne, her friends and the many single men that come her way.
(I received this book from the publisher in return for a review.) ( )

Daphne Ballinger's left her small town life in Appleton with high hopes of having a writing career in the Big Apple. Thing is it's thirteen years later, and she is finds herself stuck in a job that is far from what she hoped for, sharing the same apartment, and still heartsore from a relationship from ten years ago when a boyfriend burned her bad. When she gets a call from her father that her rather eccentric ninety-one year old aunt Dee passed away she goes home. She is soon surprised that her aunt left her sole beneficiary of everything that she owned, including a beautiful old Victorian, a vintage Corvette and plenty of money, there is just a couple of snafu's her aunt left some pretty specific requirements and Daphne has a year to fulfill her aunt's wishes. If she doesn't the house will be given to the "Cat House" the shelter where she adopted her beloved kitties Lucy and Ethel. As several secrets come to light about Aunt Dee Daphne learns things that she would have never guessed. Will Daphne leave New York behind and move back to Appleton, and if she does will she be able to meet the requirements of Dee's will?

Melody Carlson is one of my all time favorite writers, her versatile writing skills, has taken me on several adventures and "Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel" allows me to watch Daphne Ballinger go from someone who seemed unhappily stuck in her life to someone with choices if only she can embrace them. Daphne is a character that is so easy to relate to, she was someone that had hopes and dreams, but after years of the same old same old her life was in a rut! I enjoyed seeing the changes that precipitated in her life once she returned to Appleton. Plenty of secondary characters really stood out for me including Daphne's dad, his life was in transition as well, and the secrets that he learned about Aunt Dee was something that he took in stride.Even though Aunt Dee has passed away, her character played such an integral role in the plot, she seemed like a fun loving someone, who did have a few regrets and hoped to keep Daphne from making some of the same mistakes. Ms. Carlson's descriptions easily allowed me to feel the small town setting of the story, and the advice column reminded me of Dear Abby! While there is an inspirational bent to the story, it isn't overwhelming, and seemed perfectly plausible I will say the author certainly left me hanging with the ending, and I know I will keep wondering until the next installment how things will work out for Daphne! If you have never read anything by Ms. Carlson this book is the perfect time to start, or if you're like me and are a long time fan, you're not going to want to miss this one. I only hope readers don't have to wait long for the next installment in the Dear Daphne series! ( )

Title: Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel (A Dear Daphne Novel)
Author: Melody Carlson www.melodycarlson.com
Pages: 320
Year: 2013
Publisher: B & H Publishing
After writing so many reviews and reading many books, both great as well as not so great, sometimes it is hard to write another review or read another fiction. Sometimes it seems as if I might be saying the same thing, but publications aren’t all the same neither are those who write them. I guess that is why I continue to read and write; the joy is in discovering another story between the pages. There are authors who write a standalone novel, others write series and some who entertain by doing both. I have read works that are complete when the last page is turned and others that leave the ending up in the air, whether there is a sequel planned or not.
Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel turns out to be a first in Dear Daphne Series, and what a great way to begin the journey! When you read this, you will discover it is more than it appears to be, that of a romantic work. However, the more the plot develops as well as the characters, the farther the reader is sucked into the pages, wondering what the ending will look like. Daphne is writing wedding announcements for the New York Times when she receives a call to return home due to a death in the family. What looks like a possible sad story actually ends up opening up a Pandora’s Box for Daphne. She flies back for the funeral of her dear Aunt Dee only to find out the little town she once called home holds more changes and challenges for her than the last twelve years of working and living in New York.
Daphne’s Aunt Dee writes a will that is going to change more than just Daphne’s life; those close to her are going find out there was more to this spinster aunt than anyone ever knew. What Aunt Dee does will bring a host of emotions and shock to the family, town and neighbors even though Daphne can never reveal everything to anyone. Ryan was Daphne’s past love interest that has unexpectedly shown up after ten years and has proposed! The tumult within Daphne only heightens as her friends from childhood offer their advice and her Dad is making lifestyle changes that cause Daphne to wonder what else may occur once she remains in town.
I really became a captive audience of one as pages were turning and twists in the plot kept coming up. I wondered how it was going to end. However, just like real life where some situations aren’t wrapped up in a certain amount of time, Daphne’s story continues on without a neat ending. I am glad the author chose to do that as her fictional work would have been ruined if she had. Melody has crafted a heart stirring novel that I look forward to continuing in the next installment. Great job Melody! I can’t wait to see what occurs next in Daphne’s fictional world!
My rating is 5 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )