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.
Caught by Surprise (Apart From the Crowd Book #3) by Jen Turano Series: Apart from the Crowd #3
Published by Baker Books on July 31, 2018
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Historical, Fiction / Christian / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Historical / General
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
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Miss Temperance Flowerdew is on her way to work when a stranger suddenly grabs her off the street and sends her on a Chicago-bound train before she can figure out what happened.
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 the abduction, they're seen alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.
Gilbert is willing to propose marriage--except Temperance will have none of it. She's finally stepped out of the shadow of her relations and won't give up her independence. But when it becomes clear the misunderstanding in Chicago has escalated into a threat on her life and followed her to New York, accepting Gilbert's help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.
While I read the prequel for this series recently with At Your Request, I also went back and reread Behind the Scenes and Out of the Ordinary, as it’s been a hot minute. A few things I need to tell you. First, I listened to this while also trying to start another Regency book, Brittan instead of New York, but you know, same era, both romance; I made some mistakes. Additionally, in the mistakes category was choosing audio. I had listened to the prequel and was not a fan of the narrator. I could have read this one instead of listening, but I misunderstood the assignment, thought it was a different narrator, and welp, I can absolutely say that I really don’t love this particular narrator. I don’t know if she just tried too hard to match what she assumes the voice of the time was, or that’s just her but not working for me at all.
Finishing this series almost a decade later was interesting. In some ways, I’ve changed as a reader, and in others, not so much. Across all the stories, I enjoyed the lighthearted personalities and banter. For a time period known for being pretentious, these ladies and gentlemen were refreshing. But . . . Everything just felt contrived. The situations they found themselves in, how easy everything came together with just the neatest of neat bows; I expected happily ever after, but it was just too much with all the intervening drama that was over the top and too easy. I came into this final book knowing that while I didn’t love the series and really wanted to like it, I was feeling meh. I had the same issues with the way the girls were portrayed; I had the same issues with the inconceivable drama, and I had the same issues with just too tidy while still being over the top. But I also enjoyed this book and looking back the others. So while I never fell in love I can appreciate that they did.
I don’t know why I’m holding back on spoilers, as this is a backlist title, but it just feels right. I’m purposely being vague. I think, in the right hands, this will be a much-loved book. It’s set in an interesting time period, the characters have some quirky personalities, and because I live on repeat, they find themselves in some seriously bizarre situations. I loved the quirky but I need a little bit more grounding in my fiction. I need to truly believe what I’m reading, knowing that it’s all made up. And while I had fun wrapping this series up all these years later, and I’m glad I did, my vibe still lands on, like. Obviously, my brain is in random mode today, but one last thought. I felt like the weaving of faith was the strongest in this story. It felt natural and cohesive. The end.
About Jen Turano
About Jen
Named 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.
Jen is represented by Sarah Younger, senior literary agent, Nancy Yost Literary Agency, New York.
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