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Book Review - A Lesson In Propriety by Jen Turano

6/26/2025

LESSON ONE: Stand in the way of the Windy City's criminal world and expect a most improper proposal from an eligible gentleman in return.

With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fiancé casting her aside, Miss Drusilla Merriweather's privileged life has been upended. She is left with only one option: to provide for her family by opening a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle she's inherited from her eccentric aunt. However, her plan is immediately threatened by unscrupulous developers keen on claiming the coveted estate for themselves by any means necessary.

Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences--walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors--arise within the castle's grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family's safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart.

Laugh-out-loud witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and delightful mischief in the Gilded Age string together this entrancing series starter. Fans of clean romance, Christian fiction, and strong female characters will enjoy this read.

Publisher: ‎ Bethany House Publishers
Publication date: ‎ May 20, 2025
Print length: ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0764243851

My Review

Will her tenacity & his persistence save the day...

There is very little in the realm of historical romantic fiction as delightful as diving into a Jen Turano novel. I have been a fan for over a decade, I think the first one I read was her second novel, and I am still every bit as excited for each new release.

A Lesson In Propriety had all of the wonderful things that I've come to expect from a Jen Turano novel as well as some surprises along the way. Between some small protective pets, a kidnapping, midnight hauntings, a botched proposal, and a wild carriage ride, I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

Drusilla and Rhenick had me laughing aloud as they made their way from suspicion to a sweet and charming romance. The two characters are perfect for each other and you can't help but fall a little bit in love with them. The great news is that this is the first book in the Merriweather Academy For Young Ladies series so I didn't have to fully say goodbye when I turned that last page.

It was a lot of fun to start a new Jen Turano series and I finished A Lesson In Propriety in record time thanks to my inability to put it down. I definitely loved this first Merriweather Academy For Young Ladies novel and now I am beyond eagerly awaiting the next book in the series....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives A Lesson In Propriety by Jen Turano a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

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Book Review - Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano

8/15/2024

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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.

ISBN-13: 9780764240225

My Review

West Virginia isn't quite ready for her....

I always need to carve out a block of time whenever I read a Jen Turano book. I know that I am in for a real treat and some very delightful reading, which, in turn means that I won't be able to put it down. I've enjoyed The Matchmakers series from the start so I definitely had to block out some time for just me and Meeting Her Match...

As most eagerly anticipated, Meeting Her Match was everything that I had hoped for and everything that I've come to expect from The Matchmakers series and Jen Turano. I loved every minute of the tale and found myself by turns laughing out loud, shaking my head, and falling in love with the characters – though there were certain ones that I wished to give a well deserved sock in the nose. Once again, the four-legged and furry characters captured my heart – and my funny bone.

There is absolutely nothing that you can't love about Meeting Her Match and I highly recommend it, the rest of The Matchmakers series, and any book by Jen Turano. They always make you laugh, leave you feeling good about having read them, and knowing that you can't wait until the next one. So, dive into the best blend of historical romance and romantic comedy that you can find....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

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New Release - Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano

7/16/2024

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ISBN-13: 9780764240225

Available July 16th

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Book Review - To Spark A Match by Jen Turano

12/11/2023

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Genre:
Historical Romance / Romantic Comedy

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 case. 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.

Published: November 14, 2023 by Bethany House Publishers
ISBN-13: 9780764240218

My Review

She is one step ahead of him, right into danger...

It is always a delight to dive into a Jen Turano novel. Never have I read one that I didn't like, that didn't make me laugh out loud, and that I wasn't sorry to say goodbye to the characters when that last page was turned. To Spark A Match was no exception and I loved every minute spent reading this second The Matchmakers novel.

This book was so much fun to read as it features a spy novel reading crazy cat lady who also happens to be remarkably accident prone, not to mention the 'wink, wink' not a spy who falls in love with her in spite of himself. And then there is the completely adorable, and my favorite characters in the book, Harvey and Moe who just can't help but steal every scene they are in.

But, of course, there is more in To Spark A Match than romantic comedy, Jen Turano also weaves a pretty good mystery into this second The Matchmakers book that also keeps those pages turning quite quickly. I also found one of the best, if not THE best, quote that I've read in a book this year and it came right at the moment that I really needed to hear it. It's a line about God creating us precisely as He intended, which is something I think we really need to be reminded of sometimes.

There was absolutely nothing to dislike about Adelaide and Gideon's hilarious hijinks in To Spark A Match. It is a solid addition to The Matchmakers series and is an absolute must read for any Jen Turano fan. The most difficult thing is to now wait for the next book to come out...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives To Spark A Match by Jen Turano a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

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Book Review - A Match In The Making by Jen Turano

3/17/2023

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Genre:
Historical Romance / Romantic Comedy

A Match In The Making
The Matchmakers book 1
by Jen Turano

-From Goodreads-

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America's most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the company of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond annoying.

Walter is reluctantly in search of a wife for his unruly motherless children. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

USA Today bestselling author Jen Turano's trademark wit, sweet romance, and hilarious mischief will keep you turning the pages of this lively Gilded Age tale.

ISBN-13: ‎978-0764240201

He has met his match in his matchmaker...

If I wasn't already a diehard Jen Turano fan the title of this newest series, The Matchmakers, would have intrigued me enough to check it out and A Match In The Making would have sold me on it.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Jen Turano

Author Website

A Match In The Making has all of the charm and humor that I've come to expect from Jen Turano. Her historical romantic comedy never fails to be a cut above the rest and this start to her new The Matchmakers series is proving that to be as true as ever. Each story and its main characters are unique but the hilarious hijinks and romantic sparks are there and they are what keeps me coming back for each new story.

A Match In The Making was a completely delightful read. By turns Jen Turano had me laughing out loud and wanting to drop a frog onto the laps of those snooty society ladies. But, oh, some of the antics of the other characters more than made up for my inability to reach through a fictional book. Let's just say that you should never yell “Rat!” while everyone is dressed up in their Sunday best... At any rate I sincerely enjoyed the inaugural The Matchmakers novel and I am highly anticipating the next book in the series...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives A Match In The Making by Jen Turano a 4.5 Bark rating.

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2023 Birthday Celebration - Interview with Jen Turano (Giveaway)

2/21/2023

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Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America's most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention--and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

ASIN: ‎B0B6Q4R5Y5

This Or That Interview with Jen Turano

Pizza or Tacos?
Hmmm. This is a tough one, but I’m going to say tacos, although…well, I really love pizza as well, but only thin crust.

Library or Bookstore?
Another difficult one. I’m going to go with library because my library is only a mile away from my house, and I spend a lot more time there than in the bookstores, although I can spend hours in a bookstore as well.

Time Travel – Past or Future?
Definitely past – I would love to see some of those grand mansions that once marched down Fifth Avenue.

Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunrise – I’m a morning person and I’m on the trail right at dawn almost every morning.

Outgoing or reserved?
I don’t think I have a reserved bone in my body.

Camping or Glamping?
Camping and, I know, you were probably expecting Glamping, but I was raised in a small town and spent my childhood covered in mud and sleeping out in a tent in the forest behind my house or in my treehouse with my gaggle of girlfriends.

Pets or People?
While I love animals, I enjoy people more, probably because I can hold an actual conversation with them.

Silly hats or silly socks?
I’m going to go with neither on this one.

Fiction or Non-fiction?
Fiction, although I read a ton of non-fiction for research purposes, a great deal of it rather dry with a few fascinating tidbits thrown in every once in a while.

Thanks for hosting me, Jasmine. Always fun to come over to your blog for a visit!

All the best,
~ Jen ~

Jen Turano

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.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Jen is generously giving away a print copy of A Match In The Making

(USA ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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First Line Friday - February 18th, 2022

2/18/2022

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Book Review - To Disguise The Truth by Jen Turano

2/10/2022

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Genre:
Historical Romance / Romantic Comedy

To Disguise The Truth
The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency book 3
by Jen Turano

-From Goodreads-

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 realizes 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 her 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?

ISBN-13: 9780764235337

Neither east nor west is quite ready for them!

I have been anticipating and dreading To Disguise The Truth in equal measures for months now. Anticipating because I've been super curious about the mysterious Eunice Holbrooke and her rather murky past from her introduction in the first book. Dreading because I knew it would be the final novel in The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series and I am beyond reluctant to say goodbye this group of intrepid, resourceful, and sometimes comical group of women.

This Book received a 5 Bark rating.

Jen Turano

Author Website

Every single time I read one of Jen Turano's books I say it's my favorite and that's no less true about this one. Each of The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency books has been my favorite and each time for a different reason. Every single one has been fun, charming, witty, delightful, and captivating. To Disguise The Truth was all of that and a little bit more! Plus it had to most interesting settings, from a New York City ladies boarding house to an artist's commune to a ranch in the wild wild west. In Jen Turano's best style it's all comedy, danger, and romance from there on out!

As I think you can probably already tell from my ever so slight gushing (wink), I fell in love with Eunice...Eugenia..Sunshine...whatever her name is, and Arthur right off the bat. I laughed my way through their reluctantly flying sparks, shook my head at their antics, and gave out a sigh of satisfaction at the final happy ending.

To Disguise The Truth as a completely enjoyable and delicious read. It had everything that I've come to love in a Jen Turano book, including a few unexpected surprises, and it was the perfect conclusion to The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series. Honestly, I can't recommend it highly enough...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives To Disguise The Truth by Jen Turano a 5 Bark rating.

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2022 Birthday Celebration - 5 Things... Interview with Jen Turano (Giveaway)

2/1/2022

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ISBN-13: 9780764235337

5 Things I Never Expected About Becoming An Author
Jen Turano

1. I think the first thing I never expected when I decided to attempt to get a book published was how long it was going to take. I mean, when you write that first book, it’s almost impossible to understand the scope of the competition. I quickly realized it was going to be a rather daunting task because there are millions of writers out there. That’s when I also realized I was going to have to learn everything I could about the publishing industry. It was less than reassuring when I ran across this informative tidbit – Only 3% of authors ever receive a traditional publishing contract with a legitimate publishing house and…get this…of that 3 %, only 1 % ever experiences success in that they earn out their advances and receive additional contracts. Talk about the odds not being in your favor.

However, I decided to continue on, and I also knew I only wanted to go the traditional route, but knew I really had to up my game with my writing craft in order to attract the attention of an agent. It took me seven manuscripts and five years before I produced a work that could be considered publishing-worthy. That book landed me an agent, but she never sold it, instead selling a book I wrote after I signed with her, that being my first published work, “A Change of Fortune.” I’ve been writing for Bethany House ever since.

2. Odd questions/request from fans. The oddest request I ever received actually went to my agent first. A very wealthy, and need I add obviously eccentric woman, asked if she could buy the film rights to one of my early works because she’d always had a hankering to act, and she thought one of my side characters would be the perfect role for her – I think it may have been Abigail, who was an older, somewhat meddling kind of character. However, this woman wasn’t going to film the book set in the Gilded Age. Nope, she was going to make it contemporary. Well, I didn’t actually own the film rights to that particular book, so my agent sent her off to speak to my publishing house and I never heard from the lady again. It would have been interesting to see how one of my stories would do turned into a contemporary romp.

3. Strangest historical fact I’ve uncovered. - Since the Gilded Age was a time of unprecedented change in America, I’ve found a slew of interesting tidbits, but the strangest thing I’ve uncovered has to do with a lady by the name of Gladys Deacon. She was quite the beauty, and gentlemen chased her around the world. Gladys, however only had eyes for the 9th Duke of Marlborough, who was married to a lady known throughout the Gilded Age – Consuelo Vanderbilt. Well, Gladys didn’t seem to be bothered by the idea that her love interest was married, and she pursued him quite diligently and ended up marrying the man after Consuelo divorced the duke.

And, okay, that’s not the interesting tidbit, although it was quite the story. Here’s the strangeness involved with Gladys. She eventually decided her beauty was flawed because she had a small dent at the bridge of her nose. Because of that, off she went for an experimental treatment that, unfortunately, went horribly wrong. She actually had doctors inject paraffin wax into her nose to plump out that dent – quite like Botox today, but get this – the wax, after a very short amount of time, began to melt and it slid down the inside of her face and settled in her jaw, completely distorting her features. She was eventually forced to have surgery to remove the wax, which left a permanent scar and was why she demanded all the mirrors be removed for all of her residences. As an aside, the duke eventually divorced her and she ended up in an insane asylum for the last decade of her life.

Gladys Deacon

4. strangers say when they discover I’m an author. – This is one of those amusing things in my life because, without fail, as soon as a stranger discovers I write romance for a living, they immediately assume I write the naughty kind of romance. Case in point, I once attended a dinner at a friend’s house and met this lovely man by the name of George. Well, I told George what I did for a living, but I didn’t expand much because it’s weird to talk about my writing at a dinner party. It’s on the same lines of getting stuck next to an accountant during tax season, so I tend to merely mention what I do and change the subject. I probably should have taken the time to expand more to George because throughout dinner, the man kept staring at me, and then whispering to his wife during the courses. He then went and spoke to the host after the meal, and my friend was dying. Why, you ask? Because George had come to the conclusion that I made my living writing porn but he didn’t think I really looked the type. It was beyond amusing, and is one of those stories that’s still told at dinners to this day.

5. How my own reading habits have changed. This was an incredibly interesting discovery for me because, yes, my reading habits have changed since I began writing. I cannot read historical romance while writing a first draft because I tend to start mimicking whatever book I’m reading, which isn’t cool at all and completely messes up my writing voice. I limit my reading while doing a first draft to non-fiction or sometimes an occasional suspense or thriller, although that doesn’t always work either because once, after reading a thriller, I included a serial killer in my work in progress, something my editor made me take right out because nothing says romantic comedy quite like a serial killer.

Jen Turano

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. Readers may find her at www.jenturano.com or https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/or on Twitter at JenTurano @JenTurano.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Jen is generously giving away a print copy of To Disguise The Truth

(USA ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Review - To Write A Wrong by Jen Turano

9/23/2021

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Genre:
Historical Romance / Romantic Comedy

To Write A Wrong
The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency book 2
by Jen Turano

-From Goodreads-

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.

ISBN-13: 9780764235320

Secrets collide and romance sparks!

Well, Jen Turano has done it again. Every time I pick up one of her books it becomes my new favorite. To Write A Wrong is now my new favorite. Yes, I'm definitely waiting for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency novel that finally answers my burning questions about Eunice Holbrooke, but, this book, and Daphne and Herman quite captured my heart.

This Book received a 5 Bark rating.

Jen Turano

Website

As with all of Jen Turano's previous novels, To Write A Wrong is utter perfection. It's an exquisite blend of frothy historical romance, laugh out loud romantic comedy, and surprisingly chilling romantic suspense. I got a real kick out of the heroine and hero both being authors, as a reader it's always fun getting some insight into the life of a writer...even if it's fictional.

One of the things that I truly loved about To Write A Wrong, aside from, well, pretty much everything about the story, was that both Daphne and Herman have to learn what a hero truly is. He's not just a handsome face and a fearless risk-taker who has little regard for others' safety. He's a man who will defend a lady, even with his life, who chooses to do the right thing, and someone who treats those around him with respect. And, of course, they also learn that sometimes a hero, or heroine, is right in front of you.

Jen Turano has a true winner with her second Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency novel. It was delightful, charming, quite poignant in some places, and just so much fun to read. The only bad thing? Now I have to wait practically forever for the next book in the series.....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives To Write A Wrong by Jen Turano a 5 Bark rating

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First Line Friday - September 17th, 2021

9/17/2021

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2020 Favorite Books (Giveaway)

1/4/2021

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Please note: If you are using a mobile device this post will appear quite long and you will need to scroll down.

Favorite Books From 2020

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite books read and reviewed in 2020.
You can find all of these reviews and many more by visiting our Book Review List page

2020 Reviews

Top 20 Print Christian Fiction Books

Honorable Mention
The Raven by Mike Nappa
The Major's Daughter by Regina Jennings
One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn

Secular Fiction

May contain elements of faith but are not strictly 'Christian' fiction

Top 10 Love Inspired Books

Honorable Mention
Her Cowboy Till Christmas by Jill Kemerer
Amish Country Kidnapping by Mary Alford
Wilderness Sabotage by Heather Woodhaven

Top 10 E-Books

Dangerous Deceptions

Honorable Mention
Reviving The Commander by Nadine C. Keels

Top 10 Fiction Audiobooks

Christian & Clean Reads

Top Dramatized Audiobooks

Honorable Mention
The Sacrifice by Karin Kaufman
A Glazed Finish by Eryn Scott
Love In Lead by Kari Trumbo

Top 10 YA Books

Christian & Clean Reads

Honorable Mention
Fated by Kaylin Lee
The Secret Of The Wooden Lady by Carolyn Keene
A Curse Of Gems by Brittany Fichter

Top 5 Non-Fiction Books

Christian and Secular

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Historical Duo

Contemporary Duo

I'm giving away winner's choice of the Historical Duo or the Contemporary Duo
Both sets contain Print copies.
USA ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

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First Line Friday - December 18th, 2020

12/18/2020

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Book Review - To Steal A Heart by Jen Turano

12/17/2020

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Genre:
Historical Romance

To Steal A Heart
The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency book 1
by Jen Turano

-From Goodreads-

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.

ISBN-13: 9780764235313

Their past and present collide...

Have you ever started a book just knowing that it would be excellent and then discovered that it was even better than you had anticipated? That was To Steal A Heart for me, well, any Jen Turano book really, but this one in particular. I've been looking forward to the start of The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency for months now and it more than lived up to my expectations!

This Book received a 5 Bark rating.

Jen Turano

Author Website

As usual, I was into the story right away. How could I not when it pretty much started with a safecracking and a hysterically funny conversation meant to scare off a certain gentleman? Ahh, but then that's classic Jen Turano for you, fun and funny!

To Steal A Heart had a nice mystery thread running through it that I completely enjoyed. Can decades old secrets involve a current crime? And I also loved the way that the cases handled by the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency were interwoven within the story.

The cast of characters in To Steal A Heart are so delightful! Especially the canine characters! I had to laugh out loud many times over the antics of the boardinghouse ladies, the kids, and the two crazy dogs. I was quite tickled to find out that one of my favorite characters will be the heroine Jen Turano's next Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency novel.

If you love historical romance or romantic or just want to spend a few laugh-out-loud hours, have I got the story for you! To Steal A Heart is witty and exquisite, the perfect start to a new series from the very talented Jen Turano.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives To Steal A Heart by Jen Turano a 5 Bark rating.

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8th Blogoversary Celebration - Q&A with author Jen Turano (Giveaway)

12/7/2020

22 Comments

ISBN-13: 9780764235313

Q&A with author Jen Turano

1. Did you enjoy writing as a child or is it something that came in adulthood?
Hmm…bit of a tricky question. I would say I was more of a reader as a child, although I always loved my English and writing classes throughout school, and always took writing classes for my electives. I also always penned all the skits for my sorority, and then wrote copy for the fashion shows I coordinated once I graduated from college and entered the world of fashion. It wasn’t until I penned a middle-grade for my son as a bit of a lark, though, that I realized I really enjoyed getting the stories that were always roaming around my head onto paper, and I just sort of went from there. It took a very long time to break into the publishing business, but it’s been a wonderful second career for me.

2. Most of your books have some pretty fun(ny) animal characters. If you could be any animal, which one would you choose and why?
I’d probably enjoy being a dog, but only if I got a super cool family to live with – one who’d take me on adventures a few times a day, feed me delicious food, and then let me nap in out of the way places where I wouldn’t be disturbed.

3. Your novels are something of a blend of genres; historical romance, romantic comedy, and an element of suspense – what made you choose to take them in that direction?
I enjoy writing the unexpected because it allows me to keep my stories fresh. When you add a bit of comedy, throw in a touch of a mystery, and then set all of that in the Gilded Age, it’s easier for me to craft stories that I hope will attract, and then keep, a reader’s attention.

4. What were the last three books you read?
Because I’m writing a first draft for the third book in ‘The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency,’ I’ve mostly been reading non-fiction for research purposes. I just finished “Camp Chronicles” by Mildred Phelps Stokes Hooker that a friend sent me because he thought I might like to use the camp setting for one of my future stories. Before that, I read an early copy of Grace Hitchcock’s “My Dear Miss Dupre,” coming out this spring from Bethany House – highly recommend that one. And then I also just finished “The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus” by Jamie Jo Wright, another book I can highly recommend.

5. If you were to go back in time to the era in which your books are set, what single item would you most want to take with you?
I’d say my cellphone because I seem to be rather attached to it, but since it wouldn’t work, I believe I’d take a medicine bag with me, filled with all those antibiotics they didn’t have back then, like penicillin, and I’d definitely take a couple bottles of Advil.

6. This year has been a very difficult one for everyone, but, in the spirit of the comedic elements in your stories, what was the funniest thing that has happened to you in 2020?
Oh, which one to choose…I think I’ll go with the time this summer when I was out on the trail (I spend a lot of time on that trail because I like to get in about 10 miles a day.) This year, what with how none of us have been going anywhere, I decided that since I had nowhere to wear cute outfits, and, again, I did major in fashion back in the day, that I was going to spiff-up my workout

outfits. I’ve settled on skorts – they’re rather flirty and they’re incredibly comfortable. Anyways, on this particular day, I was wearing a new skort, and it had these shorts that were separate from the skirt part and there were these snaps. Well, I was in a hurry so didn’t bother to attach the shorts to the skort, thinking it was really no big deal. Big, big mistake. At one point, I stuck my phone into the back pocket and the next thing you know, the weight of the phone caused the skirt part to fall down – as in fall down past my knees. Hahahaha. Turns out those snaps really were there for a reason, and wasn’t it just too bad that there happened to be a ton of people on the trail that day who saw me? Thank goodness for those little shorts, although I normally wouldn’t be caught dead outside in shorts quite that short.

7. Through all of your published novels and novellas, do you have a favorite cover?
“A Change of Fortune” will always be my favorite, probably because, not only is it gorgeous, but it was my very first published book. “Storing Up Trouble” comes in a close second.

8. What do you do to recharge your creativity?
Odd as this is going to seem, I clean. For some reason, the mindlessness of cleaning clears my thoughts and allows new stories ideas to form.

9. In research for this series, or your most recent one, what were you most surprised to learn?

Another tricky question – This series revolves around women who are not of high society, and Gabriella, the heroine of “To Steal a Heart,” grew up in Five Points, which was just a horrendous place to live. In researching that area, I ran across accounts of unscrupulous landlords, and there was a time when they resorted to renting out rooms they stuck in the middle of buildings, which meant there were no windows. Disease was rampant, and it wasn’t until the late 1880’s that authorities began to step in and insist that all rooms rented had windows.

10. Choose quick! Chocolate or strawberry?
Chocolate

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Jasmine. It’s always a pleasure.
I hope everyone is able to enjoy their holiday season. Stay safe, wear a mask,
and know that there will be an end to this madness at some point. We just
need to do what we can to assure all of us make it to that end.

God bless!
Jen

Jen Turano

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. Shes 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 shes not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. Readers may find her at www.jenturano.com - https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoaut... , https://www.instagram.com/jenturanoau... or on Twitter at JenTurano@JenTurano.