Showing posts with label Jen Turano. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

To Disguise the Truth (The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency #3) by Jen Turano

Title: To Disguise the Truth (The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency #3)

Author: Jen Turano

Pages: 352

Release Date: January 18, 2022

Genre: Historical Romantic Comedy

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

When Arthur Livingston arrives out of the blue at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire the agency to seek out a missing heiress. Eunice Holbrooke realize her past has finally caught up with her.

Having fled from the scene of her grandfather’s murder seven years before, Eunice is a lady with secrets—the most important that she is the missing heiress Arthur is seeking. She has no intention of allowing him to learn she’s been disguising herself especially when she has reason to believe Arthur could hold her responsible for her grandfather’s death.

In order to avoid Arthur and conceal her real identity, Eunice takes on another case that requires to to go deep undercover. With secrets from the past—and Arthur—appearing wherever she looks, she wonders how she will ever uncover the truth behind her grandfather’s murder. Will what she discovers set Eunice free or place her in peril’s way?

My review:

This is an incredibly funny historical romantic comedy novel!

I love both of the main characters. Eunice and Arthur are extremely well developed. The way they interacted with each other at the beginning of the book completely cracked me up. Their conversation went in circles and it took definite effort to follow it.

I loved seeing the two couples from the previous books and how their lives were progressing. I was thrilled to see the expected cast of quirky characters. Jen Turano does a remarkable job of developing them for each book. It was also fun to see what animal was included in a central role.

The plot was fantastic. When all of the Mason family secrets were coming out I was amazed that there were so many within one family.

I’m giving this marvelous book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Friday, August 13, 2021

To Write a Wrong (The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency #2) by Jen Turano

Title: To Write a Wrong (The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency #2)

Author: Jen Turano

Pages: 264

Release Date: August 3, 2021

Genre: Historical Romantic Comedy

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

About the book:

Miss Daphne Beekman is a mystery writer by day, inquiry agent by night. Known for her ability to puzzle out plots, she happily works behind the scenes for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, staying well away from danger. However, when Mr. Herman Henderson arrives on the doorstep of the agency, desperate for someone to investigate numerous attempts on his life, Daphne soon finds herself in the thick of a case she’s determined to solve.

Mr. Herman Henderson is also a mystery writer, but unlike the dashing heroes he pens, he prefers living a quiet life, determined to avoid the fate of his adventurous parents, who perished while searching for the Lost City of Gold.

As the list of suspects grows and sinister plots are directed at Daphne, the situation quickly deteriorates, and a revealed secret jeopardizes their newfound affection. Only time will tell if Daphne will be able to regain Herman’s trust and save both their lives.

My review:

This is an incredibly funny historical romantic comedy!

I startled my husband a number of times while reading this book by laughing out loud. I have never been disappointed by a book written by Jen Turano. She has a remarkable talent for developing quirky characters that I fall in love with. This is very true of both of the main characters in this book. The verbal interactions between Daphne and Herman are great. For both of them to be writers it is fun to see how they confuse each other with their words.

The plot of this story is very well crafted. I was very confused a number of times by the twists and turns that the story took. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how many different red herrings popped out at me. It was fun to try and figure out which things were actually important to the case and which ones weren’t. There were plenty of humorous moments along the way.

I’m giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

To Steal a Heart (The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency #1) by Jen Turano

Title: To Steal a Heart (The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency #1)

Author: Jen Turano

Pages: 361

Release Date: November 17, 2020

Genre: Historical Romantic Comedy

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

After spending her childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she’d put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. Using her old skills to prove her friend’s innocence, Gabriella unexpectedly encounters Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend—until he abandoned her.

After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as his heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agreed to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he’d be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.

My review:

This is a delightfully funny historical romance.

I really enjoyed getting to know Gabriella Goodhue. She is a remarkably strong woman. She had a very difficult past that is presented throughout the book. I loved meeting her friends, most of whom are her fellow boarders at the boarding house on Bleeker Street.

It was fun getting to know Nicholas Quinn too. I was really amused to see the relationship between Gabriella and Nicholas as it went through many changes over the course of the story.

The cast of characters was large and the personalities were very different. There were a number of them with very different quirks that kept me entertained. The numerous antics came from the four legged characters as much as from the humans.

I’m giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it. It will be fun to see what is coming next for the ladies of Bleeker Street.

Monday, May 18, 2020

Storing Up Trouble (American Heiresses #3) by Jen Turano

Title: Storing Up Trouble (American Heiresses #3)

Author: Jen Turano

Pages: 352

Release Date: May 5, 2020

Genre: Historical Romantic Comedy

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

When Miss Beatrix Waterbury’s Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.

Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract.

But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix’s safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos.

My review:

This is an amazingly funny historical romance!

This book is filled with many quirky characters. I especially like both of the main characters, Beatrix and Norman. They definitely live up to term opposites. Yet they keep finding themselves drawn to the other. They each have a journey of self discovery and growth. It is wonderful to see how they improve individually as the story progresses.

There is also a bit of mystery that keeps them on their toes trying to figure it out. It is very nicely woven in and only seems to enhance the romance. It was a lot of fun seeing who stepped up and provided encouragement and direction along the way.

A bonus was the short appearances of the main characters from each of the previous books in this series. I always like to catch up with old friends.

I have to give this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. It was written by one of my favorite authors and she definitely didn’t disappoint. I highly recommend it.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses #2) by Jen Turano

Title: Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses #2)

Author: Jen Turano

Pages: 349

Release Date: September 3, 2019

Genre: Historical Romantic Comedy

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

When Miss Poppy Garrison accepts her grandmother’s offer of financial help for her family in exchange for Poppy joining the New York social season, she quickly realizes she is far less equipped to mingle with the New York Four Hundred than even she knew. As she becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, becoming the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs her to be looks more impossible by the day.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, is in New York to help his cousin find an American heiress who can help save his family’s estate. But when his very proper British manners lead Poppy’s grandmother to request he teach etiquette to Poppy, he quickly finds himself in for much more than he bargained for.

And while they couldn’t be more opposite, Reginald and Poppy just might find they have more to teach each other than they ever could have expected.

My review:

This is an absolutely hysterical historical romantic comedy!

This wonderful story can easily be renamed Poppy’s Madcap Adventures. It kept me laughing from start to finish.

I fell in love with Poppy and her unconventional way of moving through high society from the beginning. Reading the reactions of “proper” society people was just as amusing. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how many of the other characters developed and came into their own as the story progressed.

It wouldn’t be a Jen Turano novel if there weren’t high society ladies carrying around pistols. I love how she always manages to write such quirky characters that it fits with the story though. The other tidbit that I’ve come to expect from this author are funny animal scenes. In this story they were at least about typical household pets.

If you are in need of a good laugh you don’t need to look any further. This wonderful book is getting a rating of 5 stars from me. I am definitely highly recommending it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Monday, July 22, 2019

Caught by Surprise (Apart From the Crowd #3) by Jen Turano

Title: Caught by Surprise (Apart From the Crowd #3)

Author: Jen Turano

Pages: 359

Year: 2018

Genre: Historical Romantic Comedy

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

About the book:

After years of hiding her true nature, Miss Temperance Flowerdew is finally enjoying freedom outside of the shadow of her relations, so the last thing she expected on her way to work was to be grabbed off the street by a stranger and put on a train bound for Chicago.

When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend, Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind her abduction, they’re spotted alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.

Even though Gilbert is willing to propose marriage, Temperance is determined not to lose her newfound independence. But when the misunderstanding in Chicago escalates into a threat on her life, accepting Gilbert’s help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.

My review:

This is a wonderful historical romantic comedy!

I love the variety of quirky characters that this author has created for this series. It was so much fun looking in on them all again and catching up with the main characters from both of the earlier books. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Miss Temperance Flowerdew and Mr. Gilbert Cavendish take center stage in this final book in the series.

Temperance has come out of her shell and is letting her natural character traits shine forth for all of New York to see. She gets into the most amazingly hilarious situations that kept me laughing. At times it was laugh-out-loud funny and had people giving me very strange looks.

Gilbert has his own peculiar traits that he is working hard to tame so that he can connect with Temperance better. His efforts are just as funny as Temperance’s situations. He is steady and by her side throughout the story.

They find themselves in many dangerous situations which seems to be typical of this author’s writing style. They are surrounded by a number of staunch friends and supporters that are willing to step in and help immediately.

Jen Turano is one of my very favorite authors. I find that, as with each of her previous books, I have to give this marvelous book a rating of 5 stars. I don’t think that you can go wrong in picking this one up. I highly recommend it.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Flights of Fancy (American Heiresses #1) by Jen Turano + A GIVEAWAY

About the Book

Title: Flights of Fancy

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Gilded Age

Release date: January 1, 2019

Publisher: Bethany House

Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she’s always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.

Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora’s secret threaten those they love, they’ll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.

Click here to order your copy!

My Review

This is an absolutely hilarious historical romantic comedy!

This wonderful book is filled with laugh-out-loud moments. There were times I laughed so hard I was crying. Anytime you take a character that lives at one end of the social scale and drop them in a position near the other end there are plenty of opportunities to laugh. Then throw in an eccentric elderly person and a group of children under 10 years old and the possibilities are multiplied.

I love all of the characters, obviously except for the villains, they are so incredibly well developed. I just plain loved to hate the villains.

The plot was fantastic. I was thrilled with the journeys that both Isadora and Ian took to figure out what purpose God had for them and what was truly important to them. This is the type of journey that we all need to take so it was easy to relate to.

I was completely captivated by this wonderful book and am giving it a rating of 5 stars. I am definitely highly recommending it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the Author

One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO.

Guest post from Jen

Q & A With Jen Turano

“Flights of Fancy” is the first book in the American Heiress Series. What inspired you to write this series?

The inspiration for this entire series started off with a What If? All of my proposals for new series start off that way, and this time it was – What if Consuelo Vanderbilt had balked when her mother insisted she marry the Duke of Marlborough – and then that led to – What if she’d run away until her mother came to her senses? Just like that, an entire series was born – a bit of a different take on American heiresses because in all three books, my heiresses might decide to go a tad…rogue. We start off with Miss Isadora Delafield – who does run off to avoid marriage to a duke, then we get to meet Miss Poppy Garrison, who is an unexpected heiress but who can’t quite seem to get a handle on the expected social decorum of the day, and then the final book revolves around Miss Beatrix Waterbury – who gets banished to Chicago after she annoys her mother one too many times, and once there, well, gets up to a bit of mischief.

How do you come up with the names of your characters?

I find most of my names as I research the New York Four-Hundred, although I normally take a first name here, a last name there so I’m not stepping on any toes by writing about an actual historical figure – except for some of the main figures in New York society back then, such as Mr. Ward McAllister – who was the social arbiter of the day, or Mrs. William Astor, who was the queen of that society. What I don’t do is simply make up names, no matter how outrageous they may appear. And, no matter how I may love a certain name, if the character decides it doesn’t suit them, that’s it, it’s out and I’m back to the drawing board.

How do you picture your character? Do you use Pinterest, magazines, movies?

Odd as this may seem, I don’t use pictures for my characters. They start off in my mind as a blurry figure, and then, they develop from there – I like to keep my descriptions of them somewhat vague on the pages so that the reader can imagine them exactly the way they’d like them to be.

What are some of your favorite resources for historical research?

I’ve been building up a research library over the past few years and now have over 200 books dedicated to the Gilded Age. My favorites are – “A Season of Splendor” by Greg King, “Society as I Have Found It” by Ward McAllister, “The Gilded Age in New York – 1870-1910” by Esther Crain, and “ ‘King Lehr’ and the Gilded Age” by Elizabeth Drexel Lehr.

The setting for “Flights of Fancy” is a bit of a departure for you since it’s set in and outside of Pittsburgh. Any reason for that?

My mom was born in Pittsburgh, and unfortunately, her father, a prominent attorney back in the day, died when she was only four. I thought it would be cool to set a story in Pittsburgh, which would then allow me to really dive into some research. And get this – while I was doing that research, I found this obscure journal called “Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In that journal was a bit about my great-grandfather, Fred, his wife, Susie, my grandfather, and his brother and sister, but I’d never heard about this brother, who apparently died quite young. One of the most fabulous research tidbits I’ve uncovered to date.

What are you working on now?

I’ve just recently turned in the content edits for the second book in this series, “Diamond in the Rough,” and I’ve also turned in a novella about the Harvey Girls that will be coming out in a novella collection in Fall, 2019. With those out of the way, I’m now starting the third and final book in the American Heiress series, Miss Beatrix Waterbury’s story, but I’m having a bit of a struggle with the hero at the moment – he was supposed to be Edward, but he doesn’t want to be an Edward – I think he wants to be Norman – but, time will tell on that one – don’t hold me to the name – it’ll depend on if he changes his mind or not – pesky characters.

You seem to enjoy adding animals in many of your stories. Will we find any animals in “Flights of Fancy?”

Since Miss Isadora Delafield ends up on a farm, I do believe you will find a few animals, such as an adorable cow by the name of Buttercup, a few goats that seem to have a great liking for laundry, and…there might be some chickens.

Thanks for stopping by today, everyone! Always enjoy visiting with all of you – in fact, that’s the best part of my job!

All the best,

~ Jen ~