After a Fashion

Title:                    After a Fashion

Author:                Jen Turano

Publisher:            Bethany House Publishers

Market:                Christian

Genre:                  Historical Romance

Series:                 A Class of Their own (Book 1)

Length:               353 pages

Pub. Date:           February 14, 2015

Description (from Amazon):

Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.

Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.

Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll never truly fit into Oliver's world, but just as she's ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.

My Review:

I am a fan of Jen Turano, and this book did not let down my high expectations.  Jen generally has a fun, feisty female character, and Miss Harriet Peabody fits that description.  If you have never read a book by Turano, you’re missing out.  She is a fabulous writer, and her stories are all page turners.

The writing in this book is so good that it invites the reader to stay up past your bedtime to read just one more chapter.  The characters are described well by both the dialogue and the narration.  Each character’s true colors were clear, and some stereotypes regarding professions were challenged.  I love the surprising plot twist that takes place near the end of the book.  It caught me unaware.

I love Miss Harriet Peabody’s character.  Although she is not as funny (maybe quirky is a better word) as Turano’s previous female main characters, she is quick witted and emotionally strong.  Her high morals and love of people regardless of social class make her a fantastic main character, and she is super likeable!  As an independent woman, she doesn’t seem to notice how beautiful she is on the inside as well as the outside.  Social status may have a role in that, too.

Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is an admirable character, too.  He is an honest businessman who also cares about people, but he has been too wrapped up in making money to see that he hasn’t always made the wisest choices in business partners.  Not everyone has his standards.  Sadly, this has not changed in today’s society.  Snake-like people still try to use others for their own personal gain without regard for the welfare of others.

There is a good amount of conflict and tension in this story.  Conflict or tension arises between Harriet and her employer, Harriet and Mr. Addleshaw’s “fiancé,” Harriet and Mr. Addleshaw, and Harriet and her aunt Jane.  Each situation is different, and each shows Harriet’s strengths and vulnerabilities.  They keep the story moving along at a fast pace, but not to worry, there isn’t an overload of conflict.  The romantic tension is like a flower opening in the spring.  The characters grow and change, and eventually they become aware of those changes, so they acknowledge their budding romance.

Throughout the story, Harriet never lost her faith in God.  Even the pastor was a father figure to her, looking after her, making sure she was okay.  The theme of this story could be that all things work together for the good for those who love God (Romans 8:28).  I love this genre because the lady always gets the right man, and there is always a happy ending.  This story didn’t deviate from that path.  However, the method of arriving to that end was not predictable, and it made the story interesting.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves the historical fiction, Christian romance, and clean romance genres.  If you love Jen Turano’s books, this novel is for you.  She is in my favorite authors group, and you will definitely enjoy her writing!

Thanks to Net Galley and Bethany House Publishers for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Pros:      Vivid characters, exciting plot twist, great read

Cons:     None

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (Nearly perfect)