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emmasbookdiary's review
medium-paced
4.0
This was so much fun! It was super lighthearted and enjoyable to read. I really enjoyed the light mystery and the humor. Permilia and Asher were fun characters and their banter was definitely entertaining. I found the Huxley sisters hilarious.😂
Overall, a light read with a fun plot and characters!🥰 I’m really looking forward to reading. Gertrude and Harrison’s story!
Overall, a light read with a fun plot and characters!🥰 I’m really looking forward to reading. Gertrude and Harrison’s story!
ladygenevieve's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
flowersofquiethappiness's review
4.0
After getting a small introduction to Permilia and Asher in Ms Turano’s novella At Your Request, I knew I wanted more of those two! So how happy was I that I could download it immediately and begin reading. They are hilariously perfect for each other! And now I’m a new fan of Ms Turano’s. Happy day! :) Permilia is quite the extraordinary young woman and her chemistry with Asher is, shall we say...electric! Watching these two cause consternation and confusion and all manner of emotions in the other was hilarious at times and awfully swoony at others. They are entirely perfect for each other. Add the adorable romance, a mystery or two, and a lot of laughs, and you end up with a load of happy in story form! Now where's book two?
farmfreshlisa's review
4.0
I will be sharing my full review once it is written--but I assure you. It's a good read!
what_ella_reads's review
5.0
It's been ages since I last read a Jen Turano book. After reading "Behind the Scenes," I remembered why I loved Jen Turano's books so much.
This was such a fun read! It had delightful humor, sweet romantic moments, and enough action to keep things interesting.
My favorite thing about this book, though, are the characters. I especially liked the main character Permelia. She is a wonderful example of of Proverbs 31 woman. She is a smart woman who uses her skills to help others. Though she is not a perfect heroine (she has a temper and can be judgmental), she does apologize for her mistakes and truly learns from them.
I also really liked Asher as well. He is a witty and smart gentleman. Though he was a bit sexist at the beginning of the story, his attitude quickly changes and he becomes extremely supportive of Permelia's goals.
"Behind the Scenes," also has great supporting characters. Gertrude and Harrison are my two favorite side characters. They both so witty and seemed to come from interesting backgrounds. I hope that they will show up again in the "Apart from the Crowd," series!
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a Christian fiction book with good character and good humor, I highly suggest you check this one out!
I hope it won't be too long before I read another Jen Turano book.
This was such a fun read! It had delightful humor, sweet romantic moments, and enough action to keep things interesting.
My favorite thing about this book, though, are the characters. I especially liked the main character Permelia. She is a wonderful example of of Proverbs 31 woman. She is a smart woman who uses her skills to help others. Though she is not a perfect heroine (she has a temper and can be judgmental), she does apologize for her mistakes and truly learns from them.
I also really liked Asher as well. He is a witty and smart gentleman. Though he was a bit sexist at the beginning of the story, his attitude quickly changes and he becomes extremely supportive of Permelia's goals.
"Behind the Scenes," also has great supporting characters. Gertrude and Harrison are my two favorite side characters. They both so witty and seemed to come from interesting backgrounds. I hope that they will show up again in the "Apart from the Crowd," series!
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a Christian fiction book with good character and good humor, I highly suggest you check this one out!
I hope it won't be too long before I read another Jen Turano book.
rusticreadingal's review
4.0
Behind the Scenes was another hilarious, laugh-out-loud delight from Jen Turano. I know when I start a Turano book that I'm in for a fun time. Her books always leave me with a big smile on my face.
Permilia is an endearingly unique character, odd by society's standards, but genuine, helpful and kind to those who truly know her. Some of the situations she found herself in...oh my...so outrageous, but so hilarious!
If you're a fan of comedic historical fiction, don't hesitate to pick up a Jen Turano book. You're in for a load of laughs!
Permilia is an endearingly unique character, odd by society's standards, but genuine, helpful and kind to those who truly know her. Some of the situations she found herself in...oh my...so outrageous, but so hilarious!
If you're a fan of comedic historical fiction, don't hesitate to pick up a Jen Turano book. You're in for a load of laughs!
melissasbookshelf's review
4.0
Another fabulous beginning of a new series by Jen Turano! This book has all the fun, humor, inspiration, mystery, and dashing gentleman that accompany Ms. Turano's books. I loved the glimpse into high society late 1800's New York. The characters were endearing and made me want to read more about them. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
rosannelortz's review
4.0
All Permilia Griswold wants is to help manage her father's mining business. Unfortunately, he is convinced that she would be happier learning to become a lady and has provided her with a stepmother to achieve just that experience. Permilia's performance in society is a sore disappointment to her stepmother, however. Her awkward ways and complete lack of ability to converse with suitable gentlemen have made her a confirmed wallflower at the age of twenty-something. But Permilia is far from discouraged and has turned her talents to secretly writing a society column for the New York Sun under the pseudonym Miss Quill.
When Permilia attends the ball at the Vanderbilts' new home, her antics catch the attention of Mr. Asher Rutherford. The proprietor of a burgeoning department store, Asher is from one of the oldest and most respectable families in New York. He is fascinated by a woman willing to haggle with him over the price of ice skates, debate the roles of women in the workforce, and warn him about a plot against his life. He finds himself defending her against the censures of society matrons, rescuing her from traps laid by too-friendly gentlemen, and desiring to better his acquaintance with this diamond in the rough.
After the first chapter, I was convinced that I wasn't going to like Permilia. Her support for her pet feminist projects was introduced rather ham-handedly and she seemed like a flat caricature of a person. I reversed my opinion of her at the Vanderbilt ball, however, finding her behavior eccentric enough to be humorous and enjoying who she was as a character. Asher Rutherford was a delight throughout--he reminded me a little of Freddy, from Georgette Heyer's Cotillion, needing to shepherd a clueless heroine through the hoops of society with his solid good sense.
Most of the book was entirely told through dialogue. Some of it was written quite wittily, but other pieces, particularly in the first half of the book, were more about story exposition than believability. One example of ham-handed exposition was in the first chapter, where Permilia says to her stepsister, "My father, your step-father..." as if the stepsister (instead of the reader) needs to be informed of the relationship?
The Cinderella motif in the story was a clever one, both with Permilia's relationship to her stepmother and stepsister and the loss of her glass-beaded shoe at the ball. The story itself is more of a reverse-Cinderella tale, however, with Permilia playing her own fairy godmother and being the one to save her Prince Charming. The plot was more in line with an Oscar Wilde play than a dramatic historical novel, and I found this book a pleasant diversion from a somewhat dismal Saturday.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
When Permilia attends the ball at the Vanderbilts' new home, her antics catch the attention of Mr. Asher Rutherford. The proprietor of a burgeoning department store, Asher is from one of the oldest and most respectable families in New York. He is fascinated by a woman willing to haggle with him over the price of ice skates, debate the roles of women in the workforce, and warn him about a plot against his life. He finds himself defending her against the censures of society matrons, rescuing her from traps laid by too-friendly gentlemen, and desiring to better his acquaintance with this diamond in the rough.
After the first chapter, I was convinced that I wasn't going to like Permilia. Her support for her pet feminist projects was introduced rather ham-handedly and she seemed like a flat caricature of a person. I reversed my opinion of her at the Vanderbilt ball, however, finding her behavior eccentric enough to be humorous and enjoying who she was as a character. Asher Rutherford was a delight throughout--he reminded me a little of Freddy, from Georgette Heyer's Cotillion, needing to shepherd a clueless heroine through the hoops of society with his solid good sense.
Most of the book was entirely told through dialogue. Some of it was written quite wittily, but other pieces, particularly in the first half of the book, were more about story exposition than believability. One example of ham-handed exposition was in the first chapter, where Permilia says to her stepsister, "My father, your step-father..." as if the stepsister (instead of the reader) needs to be informed of the relationship?
The Cinderella motif in the story was a clever one, both with Permilia's relationship to her stepmother and stepsister and the loss of her glass-beaded shoe at the ball. The story itself is more of a reverse-Cinderella tale, however, with Permilia playing her own fairy godmother and being the one to save her Prince Charming. The plot was more in line with an Oscar Wilde play than a dramatic historical novel, and I found this book a pleasant diversion from a somewhat dismal Saturday.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.