Tag Archives: Jen Turano

Book Review: Behind the Scenes

12 Wednesday Apr 2017

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Behind the Scenes

 

Jen Turano has created her own genre of fiction by writing humorous historical romances. Behind the Scenes is the perfect example of historical fiction meets romantic comedy. I have read many titles by Turano, and this by far is the quirkiest. While I enjoyed it, there were a few times I felt like parts of the story were a bit over the top.

In Behind the Scenes, a wallflower, Permilia Griswold discovers a murder plot while attending the Vanderbilt ball. It involves the handsome Asher Rutherford…one of the few gentlemen who found his way onto her dance card. Permilia knows she must protect Asher and find out who wants him dead, and why. From here, the story takes a number of crazy turns. Near the end, I found myself laughing at the unexpected conclusion. It was almost if Permilia had wondered on to the set of Days of Our Lives.  I should also add that Turano tells her stories through dialogue. There isn’t a tremendous about of scene description or pages of inner thought. Behind the Scenes is eighty percent conversation.

All things considered, Behind the Scenes is a decent read that I enjoyed. It isn’t a book I would consider a favorite, but not every book can be. This book is the start to a news series and I am hopeful I will enjoy the subsequent books even more.  Turano’s After a Fashion, is without a doubt one of her most memorable novels. If you enjoy humor and historical fiction, this book is for you! Jen Turano writes like no other author in the Christian Historical Fiction genre. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Netgalley and Bethanyhouse. I was not required to give a positive review and I have not been compensated in any way.

Book Review: Playing the Part

04 Monday Apr 2016

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I feel lucky to have read all three books in Jen Turano’s Class of Their Own series! The series follows a group of friends, Harriet, Millie, and Lucetta who are more like a close knit family. For their time, they are strong, self-reliant, and lovely in their uniqueness. Playing the Part follows Lucetta, a famous actress with an knack for details. She is on the run from a crazed admirer and finds herself in the thick of a mystery and…for the first time ever…the possibility of an unscripted romance.

Jen Turano is really in a category of her own because she writes romantic historical fiction with side splitting comedy. It is more like Jane Austen meets a modern day romantic comedy. These books are such a refreshing change from books I typically read. One of my favorite characters in Playing the Part is Bram. He is so different from the typical historical fiction love interest. Turano writes outside of the box for sure.

Of the three books, After a Fashion was definitely my favorite. However, I did greatly enjoy Playing the Part and whole heartedly recommend the entire series. You will not be disappointed. My list of authors who write a guaranteed good read is very short, and Jen Turano makes the cut! I was given a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley and the books publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated in any way.

Book Review: In Good Company

27 Saturday Jun 2015

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In Good Company

Jen Turano won me over long ago with her ability to write humor into a historical fiction novel. She is now on my short list of favorites…one of my go to guaranteed good reads. This particular title was so good!!! In Good Company is Mansfield Park, meets Jane Austen all wrapped up in a romantic comedy of sorts. This is summer reading perfection!

In Good Company is the second book in Jen Turano’s A Class of Their Own series. I did read the first book, which I loved equally, but you definitely don’t have to in order to enjoy this book. I loved Turano’s character Millie Longfellow who is wonderfully flawed, spunky, and is absolutely self-aware. Her position as a nanny lands her in the household of Everett Mulberry (Mr.Darcy if you know what I mean) as part of the help. Everett is desperate for Millie’s assistance as he has become the guardian of three rather difficult children who may very well ruin his relationship with a lady of high society. His future is set…until his heartstrings pull him a different direction.

In Good Company will make my list of favorites this year. As soon as I finished it, I download yet another book by Turano. Five stars from this book blogger! I received a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Book Review: After a Fashion

12 Thursday Mar 2015

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After A Fashion

 

Please someone tell me how I read as much as I do, and until this week had never read any titles by Jen Turano?? I 100%, positively, absolutely loved this book. After a Fashion is a romantic comedy that comes with a beautiful lady who hasn’t had an easy life, and a wealthy, handsome man of society who could use a little help. I could not help but think Pretty Woman (minus the career path of Julia Roberts character Vivian) mixed with a dash of The Princess Diaries. Everything I love about a great read you will find here in After a Fashion. 

From The Back Cover:

Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself without income.

Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witness his ex not-quite-finance causing the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to makes it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.

Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can’t maker her fashionable. She’ll never truly fit into Oliver’s world, with its fancy dinners and elegant balls, but just as she is ready to call off the fake relationship a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.

I adore the way Jen Turano has written Harriet’s character. She is intelligent, strong, and spunky. Harriet is not afraid to voice her opinion and she has a heart of gold. I also enjoyed the humorous situations Harriet found herself in so many times. My favorite humorous moment was early in the story when Harriet delivers hats to Miss Birmingham. I knew while reading the pages in which the chaos ensued, I was holding a book I would want to read again.

I know a book is five stars when I carry it around with me in case I have a few minutes here or there to read a few more pages. After a Fashion was my constant companion for the two days it took me to consume it. I am excited to read more books by Jen Turano! I am especially elated to read the second book in this A Class of Their Own series.

Read more about Jen Turano and other books she has written here.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. I have not been compensated in any way and all options are my own.