A Lesson In Proprietary by Jen Turano (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is the last comedy you’ve read or watched and enjoyed? 

Drusilla Merriweather has had a terrible time.  Her father has died, and his business partner stole his fortune.  Her fiancé dumps her, and she and her family are now cut direct by the four hundred.  Her eccentric aunt left her and her sister a castle in Chicago.  Drusilla decides to use her strengths and make it a school to teach propriety.  When she, her mother, and her sister arrive, they find a castle full of goats with an eccentric guard.  Will she be able to turn the castle around in time to keep her family afloat?  Will they find the man who stole their family fortunate?  Where is their aunt?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a funny and fun novel that reminded me of a madcap rom com from the 1930s.

·       Drusilla is an independent young woman who is determined to make her dream of a school become reality and to save her family.  I enjoyed her as a character.

·       The criminal underworld is trying to get the prime property that is on Lake Michigan.

·       I thought Rhenick Wittenbecker was a great romantic lead.  He is the only brother in a family of girls and seems a lot more understanding of ladies than other men of the time period.  Although he comes off the wrong way to Drusilla at their first meeting and must work to understand her.  I loved his mother and family.

·       Annalise, Drusilla’s sister, is also eccentric and loves animals.  She has three attack ferrets who also wan to help rid the castle of rats and snakes.  I laughed out loud at parts of this novel.

·       I really enjoyed the haunted castle.  Who is haunting it and why?  It reminded me a Scooby Door mystery.

·       This is the first book in a new series.  I’m interested to see where it goes next.

A Lesson In Proprietary by Jen Turano is a fun, lighthearted, historical romance with Gothic elements.  I really enjoyed this novel. 

Book Source: Thank-you to @jenturanoauthor @bethanyhousefiction @austenprosefor a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.

Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is blooming in your neighborhood?  My hydrangeas and lilies look lovely in my yard. My purple clematis is growing on my house right now too.  We’ve had such a rainy summer that some plants are not doing as well as others.  These three flowers are doing fine with the rain.

Camilla Pierpoint and her paid companion Lottie are nearly kidnapped by highwaymen and mistake a man who tried to save them as one of the highwaymen.  When the dust settles Camilla discovers that Mr. Owen Chesterfield has traveled to seek her help as a matchmaker for his beloved sister, Luella.  Luella is a “ragamuffin” who has found herself a social outcast and shunned by the man she loves.  Camilla is a member of the elite New York City “400,” and Owen hopes that she will help Luella to rehabilitate her social standing.  Camilla decides to help as she loves a challenge and wants a change of scenery to thwart would be kidnappers.  Will Luella be rehabilitated?  Will Camilla discover who is trying to kidnap her?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I love the cover of this novel.  I really like when covers show an entire person including their face.  Her purple gown is striking and beautiful. It really made me want to pick this book up!

·       This is Book 3 in The Matchmakers series.  I’ve read Book 2, but not Book 1.  They work well as standalone novels, although I do still want to read the first book. There is a good excerpt of Book 1 at the end of this novel.  Characters such as Camilla appear in the other books.

·       I love the Gilded Age setting of this novel.  It helped to fill my void waiting for another season of the show, The Gilded Age.

·       The West Virginia setting for part of the novel was unique and fun.

·       Speaking of fun, this novel was a lot of fun.  It had me laughing out loud at several points.  The story drew me in immediately with the action-packed kidnapping in the first chapter.  The action soon turned into humor as Camilla and Owen have their misunderstanding.  The madcap comedy reminded me of some of my favorite screwball comedies from the 1930s or favorite romcoms from the last thirty years.  The banter between the characters was great.

·       The characters were three dimensional and interesting including both the leads and the secondary characters.  I enjoyed all of them, especially the leads Camilla and Owen, but also Meemaw and Luella as well.

·       Even the animals were great characters and hilarious.  Esmeralda the pig has a grand entrance to the story, and I also enjoyed El Cid the cat squaring off against the pig.

·       This novel is a clean read with romantic kissing only.

·       Owen went to school for engineering!  I always love finding engineers in fiction.

·       I just love stories with matchmakers in them.  I am not sure why, but I think it’s fun when a matchmaker is trying to bring a couple together, and inadvertently finds love for herself.  Maybe it all goes back to my love of Emma by Jane Austen.

·       This book had a lot of fun tropes including a fake engagement, forced proximity, and enemies to lovers.

·       Great first line, “Being chased by highwaymen was certainly cause for concern, as was the idea she was in imminent danger of losing her seat because riding sidesaddle, and while dressed in the most fashionable of riding habits, was not exactly conducive to escaping from a most dire situation.

·       Life is still super busy and stressful for me lately and reading this novel was a great escape.  It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed spending time with these characters.

Overall, Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano was a fun historical romantic comedy that I greatly enjoyed reading.  It has wonderful characters, banter, and a fun story line.  I highly recommend this novel.

This book is coming out today!!

Book Source:  Review copy from Bethany House and NetGalley as part of the AustenprosePR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman who challenges her in a manner she wasn't expecting.

After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation.

Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen's proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows, disrupting what she knows would be the most spectacular match she's ever made--her own.

AUTHOR BIO

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 RT Book Reviews, 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 X, and at JenTurano.com.

To Spark a Match by Jen Turano (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Are you smooth in a social situation, or do you tend to get into mishaps?  The heroine of this story, Miss Adelaide Duveen tends to get into mishaps.  She starts the story by causing a scandal when she shows up with her dress accidentally tucked up showing her undergarments which are embroidered with her favorite animal, cats.  Adelaide has had five unsuccessful seasons, and it appears that she will remain a spinster with her cats and books.  One evening, she stumbles upon Gideon Abbott in the library at a party and realizes that there is something more afoot than just a regular party. Gideon is a former intelligence officer and is on a case.  Adelaide causes a distraction for him to be able to make his escape, but it further ruins her reputation.  Gideon uses his matchmaking friend Camilla to help Adelaide become fashionable again after this incident.  Will Adelaide’s become a diamond of the first water? 

To Spark a Match is Book 2 in the matchmakers series after A Beautiful Disguise.  A Beautiful Disguise is also a great book and I highly recommend it.  You first meet these characters in book one, but you can definitely also read To Spark a Match as a standalone novel.

I loved the humor in this novel.  It was fun to read the hijinks and witty banter throughout the novel.  There was also mystery and romance.  I really enjoyed the Adelaide and Gideon as characters and I loved their development as the story progressed. They had great chemistry and their personalities really complimented each other.   I loved Gideon’s job and Adelaide’s involvement in it.  It made for fun adventure and intrigue.  I mostly really loved that as the novel progressed, Adelaide learned to love herself just as she is.

The setting is Gilded Age New York.  I am watching the new season of The Gilded Age and loved the reference to Ward McAllister in the book (he’s a real life person who is a character on The Gilded age).

Favorite Quote:  “I believe my propensity for mishaps, my love of books, my lack of proficiency with most feminine arts, my enormous collection of cats, and my questionable fashion sense already sets me worlds apart from the crowd – and not in a favorable manor.”

Overall, To Spark a Match is a delightful novel with humor, mystery, and romance.  It’s a great read!

Book Source:  Review copy from Bethany House Publishing as a part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: To Spark a Match

·       Series: The Matchmakers (Book 2)

·       Author: Jen Turano

·       Genre: Historical Romance, Gilded Age Fiction, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 14, 2023)

·       Length: (368) pages

·       Format: Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 

·       ISBN: 978-0764240218‎

·       Tour Dates: November 13 – 21, 2023

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

After five unsuccessful Seasons on the marriage mart, Miss Adelaide Duveen has resigned herself to the notion that she's destined to remain a spinster forever--a rather dismal prospect, but one that will allow her to concentrate on her darling cats and books. However, when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue that resembles the plots in the spy novels she devours.

Former intelligence agent Gideon Abbott feels responsible for Adelaide after society threatens to banish her because of the distraction she caused to save his investigation. Hoping to return the favor, he turns to a good friend--and one of high society's leaders--to take Adelaide in hand and turn her fashionable. When danger surrounds them and Adelaide finds herself a target of the criminals in Gideon's case, the spark of love between them threatens to be quenched for good--along with their lives.

PRAISE FOR TO SPARK A MATCH

• “Turano charms with her offbeat characters, and she has a knack for funny, flirty dialogue…fans will find this irresistible.”— Publisher’s Weekly
• “Turano delivers a rousing second installment in her the Matchmakers historical inspirational romance series set in New York's Gilded Age. This is a delightful novel about individuality and unexpected love that balances humorous hijinks and the intrigue of criminal activity within the rare book world. It shimmers with spunk and stars a most admirable leading lady whose unapologetic acceptance of herself is what refreshingly captivates her hero's heart."— Booklist
• “This book is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, hilarious encounters, slow burn romance, bookish characters, cats and a dash of mystery! I highly recommend it, friends!”— Tasha, Clean Read Book Club

 

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB |    GOODREADS

 

AUTHOR BIO

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 RT Book Reviews, 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.

 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X (FORMERLY TWITTER) | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

 

Winner of Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

The lucky winner of Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano is Alicia Haney who left a comment on the blog on September 25th.  She has been notified via email and has a week to respond before another winner will be chosen.  Alicia was chosen using random.org. 

Thank-you to everyone who entered the giveway, TLC book tours for allowing me to be on the tour, and Jen Turano for writing such a delightful book.  If you would like to read more about this book, check out my review at this link.

I'm sorry I've been missing from the blog this month thus far.  I'm still reading, but switched jobs at the start of the month.  To add onto that each weekend has been booked and we've had kid sporting events most evenings after work.  That is what happens when it rains all September and everything is rescheduled to October!

A Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano (TLC Book Tours Review and GIVEAWAY!)

Looking for a fix for your Downtown Abbey withdrawal?  A Diamond in the Rough is the story of a spirited heiress who makes a splash in New York City as she has her first social season in town amongst the elite 400.  Poppy Garrison has been raised on a horse farm in Pennsylvania.  Her parents have fallen on hard financial times and her grandmother, Violet, will only help them out if they agree to send Poppy to town for a social season.  Violet is determined to turn Poppy into a “diamond of the first water” although Poppy seems to be a magnet for trouble. 

Violet hires Reginald Blackburn to help Poppy on etiquette and turn her into a diamond of the first water.  Reginald has traveled to America to help his cousin Charles, who also happens to be an Earl, to find an heiress. Reginald agrees to help, but finds himself entranced by the impossible women.  Will Poppy be able to make a success of her social season?  Will the two find love?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.  It is the second in a series, but I didn’t realize it until after I had finished the novel.  It serves well as a standalone novel.  It is a Christian fiction novel and had a great part of the novel about forgiveness as Poppy’s family works through past wrongs.  I loved Poppy’s independence, but even more so, I loved how Violet discovered herself in the novel.  The romance, humor, and adventure were very entertaining.  This was exactly the book I needed right now.

Favorite Quotes:

“I’m not really a gentleman who is comfortable discussing feelings.  If you’ve forgotten, I’m British.  We don’t discuss our feelings.”

Overall, A Diamond in the Rough is a great historical Christian romance with humor, adventure, and love in high society.

Book Source:  Digital Review Copy as a part of the TLC Book Tour!  For more stops on this tour, check out this link.

GIVEAWAY

As a part of the TLC Book Tour, I am giving away one copy of this novel. If you would like to win this book, please leave a comment on what interests you about this book.  

 

As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner.

For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.

I will be using random.org (or a Monte Carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to addresses in the United States.

The deadline for entry is midnight on Friday September 27th!

Please make sure to check the week of September 30th to see if you are a winner. I send emails to the winner, but lately I've been put in their "junk mail" folder instead of their inbox.

Good luck!