To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano

About the Book

When a man arrives at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire them to find a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her . . . and that she may no longer be able to hide under the disguise that has kept her safe for so long.

Arthur Livingston's goal in life is to make his mark on the world as a mining industrialist, but after the man who could help him achieve his goal is murdered, Arthur feels compelled to seek justice for the family--but he's left with more questions than answers after the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency refuses to take on his case.

Desperate to conceal her real identity and avoid the irritatingly handsome Arthur, Eunice takes on a different case that requires her to go deep undercover and entangles her in one troublesome situation after another. When other secrets come to light, Eunice has no choice but to confront her past, hopeful that it will set her free but knowing it could very well place her life--and the lives of those she loves--in jeopardy.

My Thoughts

Nobody does eccentric historical humor like Jen Turano! Going in you know exactly what you are going to get except you have no idea just how it will play out!

Eunice has been quite the mysterious character in the first books of this series so it was fun to get to finally know her backstory and get a better look at who she was. She was definitely independent and tenacious but she also had a softer side that had been mostly hidden as she kept a low profile.

I wasn’t sure what to make of Arthur at first but he quickly grew on me and I liked the way he was determined to see to Eunice’s safety and best interests.

They made a strong couple and I liked them together!

There were some parts of the story that confused me as to why they were included since they didn’t seem necessary and were overly detailed. And things definitely got a little chaotic at the end but that’s par for the course with a Turano novel!

Overall this was a fun read and a satisfying conclusion to the series!

Meet the Author

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers 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. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com

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

To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano

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 prefers working behind the scenes for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, staying well away from danger. However, Daphne soon finds herself in the thick of an attempted murder case she's determined to solve.

Mr. Herman Henderson is also a mystery writer, but unlike the dashing heroes he pens, he lives a quiet life, determined to avoid the fate of his adventurous parents, who perished on an expedition when he was a child. But when he experiences numerous attempts on his life, he seeks out the services of the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency to uncover the culprit. All too soon, Herman finds himself stepping out of the safe haven of his world and into an adventure he never imagined.

As the list of suspects grows and sinister plots are directed Daphne's way as well, Herman and Daphne must determine who they can trust and if they can risk the greatest adventure of all: love.

My Thoughts

Opening a Turano book is always a mix of knowing what to expect and also having no idea what is coming! You know there will be humor, hijinks, and a special brand of charming ridiculousness that only Jen Turano can pull off, but there’s just no way to guess how it will play out!

This particular book took a little bit of time to pick up speed at least for me. I felt that not a lot was happening in the first half but the pace definitely sped up some for the second half and finished well!

The main characters were both writers and bookish types which is always fun as a reader to have something major in common with the heroine and/or hero! Daphne and Herman intrigued each other from the start and it was fun to watch their relationship play out!

There was a full cast of supporting characters and lots of amusing, what I call “Turano quirks”, sprinkled amongst them to make for lots of entertaining moments!

So all in all, despite the slow start, this was another Turano win!

Meet the Author

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers 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. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.

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

To Steal A Heart by Jen Turano

About the Book

After a 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. In the middle of breaking into a safe that holds the proof to prove her friend's innocence, Gabriella is interrupted by 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 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 Thoughts

This harkened back to the early Jen Turano and I absolutely loved it! I have been a fan of her’s since she debuted but for me the last couple series have been heading a little bit too far down the over the top side of things. They’ve still been fun reads but I wasn’t loving them as much. So I was so excited to start this one and see that it was a lot more like her first books! I loved that Gabriella and Nicholas were both intelligent types and were both pretty straightforward. They didn’t have a lot of blundering about with each other and I loved seeing that their connection stayed strong despite the many years they were separated. They may have just been children when last they saw each other but they had a tight bond and it allowed them to pick right back up (after clearing a few things up) where they’d left off. Their romance wasn’t all that prominent, it was more of a friendship that suddenly realized they wanted more and I actually liked it and thought it worked well for these characters.

There was a large cast of supporting characters that I enjoyed (a certain one annoyed me a little at the start but I got over it) and I liked seeing all the different personalities come together.

The mysteries were fun to follow along with and there were definitely some twists.

This book was everything that caused me to fall in love with Turano’s writing in the first place and I hope she keeps it up!

Meet the Author

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers 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. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.

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

Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

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 Thoughts
Get ready for another Turano adventure full of mishaps, miscommunications, misunderstandings, all sprinkled with Turano’s trademark outlandish humor! We’re thrown right into the thick of things as the book starts off and follow the characters from one topsy-turvy situation to the next!
The characters all had their unique eccentricities and had to learn how to embrace who they were while also being considerate of others and what was expected of them.
In addition to the main characters there were a couple other side romances and it was lovely to see everyone find their happily ever after! It was also nice to get glimpses of the characters from the first two books of this series.

If you’re looking for a light-read to entertain you this might be the one for you!

Meet the Author
Jen Turano, a USA Today bestselling author, has written four historical romance series. She is a member of ACFW and RWA and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.

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

Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

About the Book
To save her family from financial ruin, Miss Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season in exchange for her grandmother settling a family loan that has unexpectedly come due. Ill-equipped to handle the intricacies of mingling within the New York Four Hundred, Poppy becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, doomed to suffer a grand societal failure instead of being deemed the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs for her to become.
Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, has been forced to travel to America to help his cousin, Charles Wynn, Earl of Lonsdale, find an American heiress to wed in order to shore up his family estate that is in desperate need of funds. Reginald himself has no interest in finding an heiress to marry, but when Poppy's grandmother asks him to give etiquette lessons to Poppy, he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for.

My Thoughts
I’ve been a Jen Turano fan since day one, but after her last novel fell just a little short I will admit that I was a smidge nervous about this one. Thankfully my worry was for naught because this book was classic Jen and I loved it!
From the very first page the whirlwind of hilarity began and Poppy’s constant missteps and wit had me laughing frequently! Reginald was a fun hero, a complete gentleman and quite good at coming to Poppy’s rescue. On the outset they seemed like a very mismatched pair but soon you saw how well they balanced each other out. Poppy breaking Reginald out of his brooding and staunch rule-following. And Reginald helping to ground Poppy while also supporting her. In the end they were a wonderfully matched couple.
The best thing about a Turano book is the fact that it is just pure fun! So if you’re looking for a fast-paced book to lighten your mood definitely grab this one! And even though it’s book two, it can totally be read as a stand-alone!

Meet the Author
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. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/ or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency.

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

Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano

About the Book
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.

My Thoughts
Get ready for some trademark Turano humor and hijinks!
Sadly this wasn’t my favorite of Jen Turano’s novels but it still had all of the things that make her writing so unique! From the creative cast of characters with all their varying eccentricities, to animals that seem to have their own personalities, to a mystery needing to be solved, and a cute love story!
I enjoyed seeing Isadora and Ian come to realize that money and social standing really don’t matter. That it’s the people we have in our lives that make us rich. They were a well matched pair and it was fun to watch as they fell in love even though neither of them were looking for romance.
So, yes this book took me a little longer to get through, but there was still a lot to enjoy and if you love this author’s whimsical writing style be sure to check this one out!

Meet the Author
Jen Turano is the USA Today bestselling author of eleven novels and two novellas. She is a member of ACFW and RWA and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.

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

Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano

About the Book
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.

My Thoughts
A wonderful conclusion to a great series! Full of Turano's trademark humor and quirky characters this book had me laughing out loud several times. Gilbert and Temperance were fun together and I enjoyed watching their story play out! The banter was entertaining and the antics of the characters were just the sort of hi-jinks you would expect from Turano! I was sad to see the series end but ready for what the author has next!

Meet the Author
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. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/ or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency.


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

Top Ten Tuesday: Short Stories/Novellas

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I didn't realize how many novellas I love until I tried to make this list-lol! So I decided to do ten contemporary and ten historical!

CONTEMPORARY NOVELLAS

#1. Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg

#2. Enchanted novellas by Melissa Tagg

#3. As Easy As Riding a Bike by Bell Renshaw

#4. One Christmas in Winter by Bell Renshaw

#5. Love in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan

#6. Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful by Susan May Warren

#7. Second Impressions by Pepper Basham

#8. A Place to Belong by Melissa Tagg

#9. Crossfire by Susan May Warren

#10. Titanis & Lygos by Ronie Kendig


HISTORICAL NOVELLAS

#1. This Quiet Sky by Joanne Bischof

#2. A Lady of Esteem by Kristi Ann Hunter

#3. For Love of Liberty by Julie Lessman

#4. Facade by Pepper Basham

#5. Out of the Storm by Jody Hedlund

#6. Love by the Letter by Melissa Jagears

#7. Worth the Wait by Karen Witemeyer

#8. Gentleman of Her Dreams by Jen Turano

#9. A Search for Refuge by Kristi Ann Hunter

#10. Bourne & Tributary by Lisa T. Bergren

Top Ten Books I'd Slay A Lion to Get Early

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I absolutely cannot wait to read all of these books! I wish their release dates were today and I could just read non-stop. But, alas, I must wait.

Wait for Me by Susan May Warren

I need Pete and Jess's story like yesterday! It's been coming for so long I just have to see how it all works out!

An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

I've been adoring this series and it will be awesome to see Barclay get his story!

Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey

Luke!! I need to know what happened and what all is going on with him!

Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh

I basically binged this author's books in the last few months and I can't wait for my next Courtney Walsh fix!

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

Absolutely love Kristi's books and after reading the prequel novella I'm even more excited for this new series!

More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

Karen's books are always amazing and I'm really looking forward to this one!

Thirst of Steel by Ronie Kendig

More Tox! Need I say more?!

Hidden Peril by Irene Hannon

Irene's books are always a thrilling adventure and this one looks so good!

The Lieutenant's Bargain by Regina Jennings

I loved Jack's character in book one of this series and I'm really looking forward to this story!

Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano

Jen Turano's books never fail to make me smile!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #274

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished the past few weeks:

I've gotten some great reading in lately! Loving getting all these Christmas stories read as Christmas rapidly approaches!

What I am currently reading:

Loving this (After glancing back through the series to remember what exactly happened with Azzan since it's been years since I read them)!

What I hope to read this week:

Pretty sure these are the last Christmas stories on my docket!

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!

Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

Top Ten Authors I Discovered My First Year of Blogging

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

My first full year of blogging was 2012 and I read 232 books that year! It was a year of discovery for me. Finding new authors, figuring out exactly what kinds of books I loved, what kinds I liked, and which kinds weren't for me. These ten authors are ones that I first read that year and to this day they are still favorites of mine! I'll also show which book was my first of each author!

Dani Pettrey

Becky Wade

Katie Ganshert

Elizabeth Camden

Jen Turano

Laura Frantz

Jody Hedlund

Denise Hunter

Julie Klassen

Jocelyn Green 

At Your Request by Jen Turano

About the Book
After her father lost the family's fortune, Wilhelmina was cast out of the fashionable set and banished to the wallflower section. Taking a position as a social secretary to help support her family, she's mostly come to terms with her new status. But when her old friend Edgar returns to New York society for the first time since she rejected his marriage proposal, she's newly ashamed at how far she's fallen--and how hastily she dismissed him years ago. Her strategy is to avoid a face-to-face encounter at all costs, but he seems to have other plans. Will Edgar take advantage of their now reversed positions and make her regret her refusal, or is there still hope for a friendship between them--or something more?

At Your Request is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Jen Turano's new Gilded Age historical romance series, Apart From the Crowd! Includes an extended excerpt of the first full-length novel in the series, Behind the Scenes.

My Thoughts
As is typically the case with this author, this little novella brought a smile to my face. Wilhelmina and Edgar had a lot of history with each other and it provided a solid background to this quick little love story. I really liked both of their characters and it was fun to watch them get reacquainted and realize their feelings for each other that had been there all along.

It was nice to get a glimpse at the characters that will be center stage in the full length novels of this series. I’m excited to see what crazy adventures they will all get into!

Meet the Author

Jen Turano is a USA Today Bestselling author, known for her quirky characters and amusing story lines. Her novel, After a Fashion, was a Reviewer's Choice finalist with RT, as well as being named a top ten romance of 2015 from Booklist. Her book, A Most Peculiar Circumstance, was chosen as a top ten romance by Booklist in 2013, and Booklist has called her "One of the funniest voices in the inspirational genre." When she’s not writing, Jen spends her time outside of Denver, CO. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/ or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency.

Top Ten Novellas

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic was all about one-sitting reads so I decided to feature some of my favorite novellas! All of these are either prequels to or continuations of one of the author's series but they can be read on their own. Though reading any of these will probably make you want to read the rest of the series!

Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg

Grace Like Rain by Julie Lessman

I Really Do Miss Your Smile by Susan May Warren

A Lady of Esteem by Kristi Ann Hunter

Gentleman of Her Dreams by Jen Turano

Out of the Storm by Jody Hedlund

Sophie's Other Daughter by Mary Connealy

The Husband Maneuver by Karen Witemeyer

Fairchild's Lady by Roseanna M. White

Love by the Letter by Melissa Jagears