I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano Series: Apart from the Crowd #1
Published by Baker Publishing Group on April 18th 2017
Genres: Christian, Fiction, General, Historical, Romance
Pages: 352
Source: NetGalley
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Start of a Delightful New Series from Historical Romance Author Jen TuranoMiss Permilia Griswold may have been given the opportunity of a debut into New York high society, but no one warned her she wasn't guaranteed to "take." After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, she's finally putting her status on the fringes of society to good use by penning anonymous society gossip columns under the pseudonym "Miss Quill."
Mr. Asher Rutherford has managed to maintain his status as a reputable gentleman of society despite opening his own department store. While pretending it's simply a lark to fill his time, he has quite legitimate reasons for needing to make his store the most successful in the country.When Permilia overhears a threat against the estimable Mr. Rutherford, she's determined to find and warn the man. Disgruntled at a first meeting that goes quite poorly and results in Asher not believing her, she decides to take matters into her own hands, never realizing she'll end up at risk as well.
As Asher and Permilia are forced to work together and spend time away from the spotlight of society, perhaps there's more going on behind the scenes than they ever could have anticipated. . . .
There were a few things with this book that didn’t quite appeal to me. I felt like so many of the situations were contrived and didn’t feel natural or even really accurate to the time period. They weren’t inaccurate but just lacked authenticity. Permilia seemed to find herself in such awkward situations that felt too outlandish which left me lacking substance with the story. Even the mystery, blown up and then left to someone else to deal with, until it was time to reveal the truth. Though the truth did take me by surprise so the book actually gained about half a star for that. This is a Christian novel but for me the faith felt like a toss-aside. Like oh wait, um yeah here’s a good place to throw a touch of God in but lets make it sorta random OK? I didn’t feel like the introduction of faith and the conversations about faith truly fit into the overall scheme where they were used. The faith wasn’t subtle but it wasn’t consistent either. It felt like an afterthought. The last thing I want to touch on is the dialogue. Oh my gravy, it felt as though the book was all talk and now show. And the dialogue was so convoluted at times and the back and forth between speakers was easy lost on who was speaking now. I’m convinced that Permilia and Asher both speak in near run-on sentences that twist and turn instead of just sharing a conversation.
That being said, it was a good book with a great story…even with the neat little bow at the end (you know how I feel about that by now I hope!). Permilia had a good heart, a good mind, and a solid sense of self. That last one is hard to find in the average person, much less someone thrown into a situation they didn’t want, don’t care for, and aren’t accepted in. Asher is a self-possessed gentleman that has managed to take life circumstances and do something most people wouldn’t entertain. And he did it with style and heart. Though the Huxley sisters are my absolute favorite characters and add so much flavor to the story. I’d have loved to see more of Mrs. Davenport as well and hope she features more in future books in the series. I would also like to see what becomes of Permilia’s dad and stepmother since their secrets came out as well and then has them trotting off to Paris with her step-sister and potential suitor. Yes, there’s a neat little bow but the strings are still hanging to hopefully be addressed in future books.
About Jen Turano
Jen Turano is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in Clothing and Textiles. She pursued a career in management for nine years before switching to full-time motherhood after the birth of her son. When she’s not writing, Jen can be found watching her teenage son participate in various activities, taking long walks with her husband and dog, socializing with friends, or delving into a good book. She lives in suburban Denver, Colorado
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