Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano

Miss Gertrude Cadwalader hoped her position as the paid companion to Mrs. Davenport would be easy. But as she becomes acquainted with her employer, she realizes the wealthy Mrs. Davenport has a strange tendency to be a bit light-fingered with other people's trinkets. Gertrude is relieved when Mrs. Davenport decides to have a quiet summer away from the social scene--until the woman changes her mind in order to help a young socialite launch into society. 

When Gertrude is caught in the act of trying to return one of the trinkets by Mrs. Sinclair, the mother of shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair, the woman jumps to an unfortunate conclusion. Harrison is determined to mend fences with Miss Cadwalader, but he's unprepared for the escapades a friendship with her will entail.

Heidi here. Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano is fabulous! I've read all her books and I don't know how she does it, but her characters are so incredibly different from one another. These engaging characters make for a fresh and fun read, Out of the Ordinary is no exception.

The romance of Gertrude and Harrison started in a prior book. Out of the Ordinary begins at a ball where the two are in attendance and the romance continues, simmering under the surface. Everyone can tell the two care deeply for one another, except Gertrude is convinced Harrison only likes her as a friend and Harrison doesn't think he wants a romance with anyone, which makes for great romantic tension.

I highly recommend picking up your copy of Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano today!

Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano

Behind the Scenes: Miss Permilia Griswold may have been given the opportunity of a debut into New York high society, but no one warned her she wasn't guaranteed to "take." After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, she's finally putting her status on the fringes of society to good use by penning anonymous society gossip columns under the pseudonym "Miss Quill."

Mr. Asher Rutherford has managed to maintain his status as a reputable gentleman of society despite opening his own department store. While pretending it's simply a lark to fill his time, he has quite legitimate reasons for needing to make his store the most successful in the country.
When Permilia overhears a threat against the estimable Mr. Rutherford, she's determined to find and warn the man. Disgruntled at a first meeting that goes quite poorly and results in Asher not believing her, she decides to take matters into her own hands, never realizing she'll end up at risk as well.

As Asher and Permilia are forced to work together and spend time away from the spotlight of society, perhaps there's more going on behind the scenes than they ever could have anticipated. . . .

Heidi here. The premise of this book was amazing, Jen Turano always seems to find unique interests or jobs for her characters. I love that we encounter Permilia Griswold, who is a high society woman, as she is attempting to take notes for her anonymous gossip column at a fancy ball. Of course, when Asher Rutherford is kind to her, I kind of fell a little in love with the man myself!

I enjoyed how Permilia constantly got herself into trouble and Asher helped her out. Though, one time the tables were turned and she helped him. This was an enjoyable book and I'd highly recommend it!

Interview with Jen Turano

Heidi here. Today we are welcoming Jen Turano to our blog.

A USA Today Best-Selling Author, Jen Turano has written the critically acclaimed Ladies of Distinction series, and A Class of Their Own series, published through Bethany House Publishers.  Her novel, Playing the Part, was nominated as a 2016  RT Reviewers’ Choice Award Finalist, while her novel,  After aFashion, was nominated as a 2015 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award Finalist and named a 2015 top ten romance from Booklist.  Her book, AMost Peculiar Circumstance, was chosen as a top ten romance by Booklist in 2013.  Her next series, “Apart from the Crowd” releases with a free e-novella, “At Your Request” in January, 2017, followed by the first full-length novel, “Behind the Scenes,” in April, 2017.   When she’s not writing, Jen spends her time outside of Denver. She can be found on Facebook, or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency.

Playing the Part: Lucetta Plum is an actress on the rise in New York City, but is forced to abandon her starring role when a fan's interest turns threatening. Lucetta's widowed friend, Abigail Hart, is delighted at the opportunity to meddle in Lucetta's life and promptly whisks her away to her grandson's estate to hide out. 

Bram Haverstein may appear to simply be a somewhat eccentric gentleman of means, but a mysterious career and a secret fascination with a certain actress mean there's much more to him than society knows. 

Lucetta, who has no interest in Abigail's matchmaking machinations, has the best intentions of remaining cordial but coolly distant to Bram. But when she can't ignore the strange and mysterious things going on in his house, it'll take more than good intentions to keep her from trying to discover who Bram is behind the part he plays.

 Jen, welcome to our blog and congratulations on your latest novel, Playing the Part. I’ve read the other two in this series, A Class of Their Own—Aftera Fashion and In Good Company—they are fabulous. How do you come up with such great conflict that extends the entire book?

Years ago, I was in this creative writing workshop, and the instructor said something that always stuck with me.  “To keep the reader turning the page, write a wonderful conflict, but then, when it seems as if that conflict is about to be resolved, blow up a building, have someone fall off a boat, or add a catastrophe no one sees coming.” 

While it’s unlikely I’ll write a catastrophe that turns fatal, I have been known to blow things up between the pages of my books, and because that always sends my brain scrambling for a way to top the blowing up, before you know it, my stories are filled with unexpected escapades, one more unusual than the next.   

I like that advice: “To keep the reader turning the page, write a wonderful conflict, but then, when it seems as if that conflict is about to be resolved, blow up a building, have someone fall off a boat, or add a catastrophe no one sees coming.”. I'll have to remember and implement that! Who/What spurs you to write?

I’ve always lived in my imaginations from the time I was a child.  Back in the day, I would ride my bike around the neighborhood for hours, thinking up one story after another, and oddly enough, those stories always seemed to have a romantic bent. Since I can’t stop story from taking over my thoughts, I’ve given in and accepted the idea I’ll just have to keep writing.  That way, no one finds me strange as I mosey on down the bike trails, talking to myself as I stop for no apparent reason, figure out a scene, then continue walking, chatting up a storm to my imaginary friends.     

I'm glad to hear you'll never give up writing, your talent is absolutely amazing and your voice is superb! Where do your story and character ideas come from?

I get a lot of my ideas from the research books I use.  The novella I just released, “At YourRequest” came from a single paragraph I read about a woman who’d been wealthy, lost all her money, and then set herself up as the social secretary of the day.  She worked for the likes of Mrs. Astor and other New York Knickerbockers, and because of that paragraph, the beginning of the wallflower idea began to fester.  From that story, I moved on to “Behind theScenes” which was inspired by “The Glitter and the Gold,” a book penned by Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan about her life as Alva Vanderbilt’s daughter.  It was in this book I became fascinated with the extravagant costume ball Alva Vanderbilt held in March, 1883, and after becoming introduced to that ball, I knew I had to write a book where the setting would begin in the Vanderbilt’s house on 660 Fifth Avenue.  A lot of my contemporary author friends use the headlines for ideas, so I’ve had a research librarian find me newspapers from the 1880, but I haven’t had time to peruse those papers.  Who knows what I’ll find?     

Fascinating, sounds like you do a bunch of research before pen hits the paper. What do you think makes your style of storytelling unique?

I’m not sure about this, but I think readers may find me a little different because my storylines can be completely out there and my characters have somewhat odd senses of humor.  Add in the idea I’ve been known to include unusual side-characters – like a little pig by the name of Matilda, and…yep, that might make me a bit unique, some may even say…peculiar. 

I also love how strong your female leads are. And when I think of the time period you write in, I feel like women were more weak and needy. So, I find the strength of your characters refreshing. Onto another question, I love plotting and am always looking for tips. How do you plot a novel? How close to the final version does the first draft read?

My plotting changes with every series.  I submit a synopsis to my editor for an entire series, but in all honesty, I’m not an author who follows that synopsis often.  I might stick to the premise of what I proposed, but once I get into the chapters, my characters tend to become a little…confrontational with my ideas.  By the time I finish a first draft, then edit it seven times before I send it off to my editor (where she and another editor comb through it, send me suggestions, and I normally rewrite it again) it barely resembles my original idea.  But I know authors who do a chapter by chapter outline and stick to that as they write their stories.  I think it’s an individual preference. Because I write humor, I need to be able to change mid-chapter if a different amusing scene hits me.  Otherwise, my stories would come across as forced, which isn’t amusing in the least.    

Wow, I would never have guessed that. When I read your writing, it sounds so effortless. It's amazing the number of edits you do. Given all we've talked about, what advice can you give to aspiring novelists to produce a sound novel that’ll sell?

I would suggest learning everything you can about the publishing marketplace.  A writer needs to produce a book that appeals to an audience.  Publishing is a business, so know what readers in your genre are reading.  Don’t write to trends (think dystopian, vampires) because publishing house buy two years out, and read all the time. This will allow you to understand a target audience, and publishers should be able to know exactly what target audience you have in mind when you pitch your story to them.   

Great advice! How about a fun question. You are headed to a deserted Island and can bring only two things with you, what do you bring?

My husband, and I would say my son, but since he’s now twenty-one, and he’s never been the type of guy to enjoy hanging out with his parents, I think I’ll leave him behind.  Instead, I’ll bring my e-reader, stocked with thousands of books. 

Yes, the e-reader is a must. Your next novel, Behind the Scenes, is releasing in April, can’t wait. Jen, thank you for your time today, it was fun! And congratulations again on your newest novel, Playing the Part.

Thank you for having me, Heidi.

It was a thrill Jen! Let's keep the conversation rolling. Does anyone have a question for Jen? By the way, she is giving away a signed copy of Playing the Part to one of  you (US only) ~ so comment away and don't forget to leave your email address too 😀

In Good Company by Jen Turano

Heidi here. I have a confession to make: I am a Jen Turano fan! Yup, I've read most of her novels and they are simply wonderful. Her voice is so unique and comical, yet deep and bold at the same time. This review is for In Good Company, a 2015 release....Working my way through my kindle backlog.....Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position. 

Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he's desperate for competent childcare.

At wit's end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance--with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children's parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?

Millie Longfellow is such a bumbling and genuine character. The opposite of Everett Mulberry, who is responsible and stodgy. His new charges: Elizabeth, Thaddeus, and Rosetta are quite a handful, but the way Millie, as their new nanny, handles them and cares for them turns the children into loving and responsible children is amazing. The plot moves the story forward as the mystery surrounding the children's parents death unfolds. A true page-turner😀 Pick up your copy today!

Drop by our blog tomorrow as I'll be interviewing the delightful Jen Turano!