Start of a Delightful New Series from Historical Romance Author Jen TuranoMiss 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 … 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. . . .
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Always love Jen Turano’s novels! Great story!
The Gilded Age!
A titter here, a grin there, and several outright guffaws later I found myself absolutely delighted not only with the narrative but the narration (by Lauren Ezzo). Barons of Industry provide the wealth but the Knickerbocker Set wields as much power in New York as ever did the ton in London. No titles, but prominent hostesses hold sway and the fit and style of a gown and the bloodlines of its owner remain fodder for gossip. Our heroine Permilia is a confirmed Wall Flower who would rather be helping her father manage his mines than finding a spouse. A suffragist and strong supporter of women’s equality, she nonetheless becomes tongue-tied in the presence of society gentlemen. Spicing the action is a murder plot, tours of the Vanderbilt mansion, and a mad-cap ride in a dumb waiter. In fact the whole story is a delightful mad-cap ride with a sweet Christian twist!
This book was amazing. The plot had so many twists and turns it had me on my toes the whole time.
The characters were fun and the dialogue was so witty. This author is so talented I can’t wait to read more from her.
I was able to listen to the audio version of this book and it was lovely. The narrator was fantastic!
When Miss Permilia Griswold’s father decides that his daughter needs a society debut, he does the unthinkable and marries again. While the woman he marries is impoverished, she is well-versed in the “rules of society”, and one of those rules means Permilia must learn to use the “right” eating utensil, how to dance, and how to converse with a proper gentleman. However, since she has her own daughter to present to society, she is half-hearted in her efforts to train Permilia, making every lesson seem more like a punishment than a treat.
When Permilia’s first season passes with not one offer for her, she finds herself firmly “on the shelf”, a place she actually prefers. Unless the men talk mining, she is tongue-tied. Her attempts at dancing have been known to cause grave injury to her partners, and her lack of knowledge of the numerous eating utensils used at grand banquets, has caused her to be ridiculed. As a Wallflower, she has no need to converse with men or dance with them. Offered a job by one of the biggest newspapers in New York as an incognito gossip columnist, Permilia takes her job as “Miss Quill” very seriously. When she overhears a plot to murder Mr. Asher Rutherford, a man who had been at least friendly in the past, she does her best to rescue him. What happens when her rescue attempts ensnare both of them in the propriety of society?
Asher Rutherford has spent years rebuilding his family’s fortunes. Most of society believes that he’s living on his family’s old money, but in truth, his father squandered that long ago. He built and runs one of the most affluent department stores in the city, and he has angered other merchants by stealing their best workers by paying a fair wage. When he keeps running into Miss Permilia Griswold at society events, he is intrigued by her outspoken manner, and the fact that she doesn’t consider herself worthy of a man’s attentions. Then, at the Vanderbilt Ball, she comes up with the outlandish idea that someone is going to kill him. Is she off her rocker, or the most sane person he knows?
Oh, my word! This book tickled me endlessly. Ms. Turano’s description of Permilia attempting to dance the “Go As You Please Quadrille” was hysterical, as was her description of Permilia finding the light-fingered Mrs. Davenport in the Vanderbilts’ personal living quarters with a filled satchel. Then, to top it off, she rescues Asher from someone shooting arrows at him by driving up in a filled milk wagon. Again, too funny. This woman careens from one mishap to another, completely clueless as to what is wrong with everyone else. She believes her actions are completely logical, never once considering that she actually appears to be defying every convention of society.
If you like your romance with a side of giggles, you definitely need to pick this one up! This is a historical romance set in New York in the 1800s. I listened to the audio version, and can absolutely recommend that as a way to enjoy this book.
This story was an absolute delight. Asher and Permilia were great characters. I loved the storyline and introduction of other characters. Turano knows how to write her characters into realistic, ridiculous situations that have me laughing out loud multiple times through the story (and almost every other story I’ve read by her!).
What a great story. As always it was such a pleasure to read. Jen Turano’s writing is full of wit and keeps me hooked. Of course I’m always a sucker for a story that involves someone not quite measuring up to societies standards and still coming up in top with not only love but in life as well. Permilla is such a fun character to read about growing up in the mining industry without any knowledge of what it’s like to be a “proper lady” of society and Asher trying to figure out how to toughen up his image after bringing a puff ball to a ambush. This story kept me interested and I can’t wait to read Gertrude’s story next.
A lovely story about a society misfit and a gentleman of high standing who always seems to find her in embarrassing situations. He is engaged to a society princess, but things change after our heroine warns him of a plot against him. There is clean romance, humor and a little suspense in this well written novel.
Ms. Turano brings her characters to life in 1880s New York high society. From wallflowers to marriage, the book does not disappoint.
This is definitely one of my favorite, if not my favorite, Jen Turano books. Permilia is a well dressed, talented, and witty young woman who has the tendency towards unusual things happening to her, (like getting stuck in a chair), which marks her as a society wallflower. Asher Rutherford has no idea his world is about to be turned upside down when he meets the unusual Permilia. She charms him as much as she baffles him, and Asher finds that life is quite the adventure when Permilia is around. Add in a handful of other colorful characters and a couple of bumbling assassins and you have a story that will bring on the laughs and giggles until your sides hurt.
Great chemistry and laugh out loud situations fill the pages of this story. If you have known quirky people in life, you will love these fictional ones. Permilia and Asher first meet in the novella At Your Request and sparks fly. What fun it was to watch that continue in their story here. Full review is at my website.
I’m a huge fan of Jen Turano’s work. She brings the nineteenth century to life for my imagination. She creates rich characters who go against the norm and conventions for women. While I adore the cover for her newest release Behind the Scenes, I couldn’t wait to dive in and read Permilia’s story. With an introduction to the high society of New York City in 1883, I was drawn into the story right away.
The writing is clear and concise. I had no problem imaging the Vanderbilt’s estate with all of high society dressed up in their costumes as they partied the night away. Turano does a great job at researching what these people wore. What is acceptable behavior, dances, and clothes. The story flowed well from her research, inviting me to wander along with Permilia and Asher.
The pace of the story took a while to capture my attention. The story starts out with Permilia headed to the Vanderbilt costume party with her step-sister and step-mother. For a long time, it was just the details of the party and the wall flowers, so I kept praying the entire novel was not this dull. I understand this laid the ground work for the story, but the party took up the first thirty percent of the novel. That is one long party. But after leaving the party, the rest of the novel picks up pace and ends in a unpredictable mystery that I didn’t see coming. The mystery ending did write very well, and Turano did include moments where Asher and Permilia were shot at and running from the bad guys, so this was definitely written a lot better than most historical mysteries I have read.
The characters of Permilia and Asher were different because of their ability to stand on what they believed. Permilia is a Daddy’s girl who worked with her father in the mines until her remarried to Ida, her step-mother, than her father wanted her to understand the rules of high society and join them. Permilia felt out of place. Something I can totally relate to. Since she is a member of the wallflowers and hides out the outskirts at these social engagements, she can observe and take notes for the world to read. I enjoy her strong behavior and knowing what she wants. Permilia doesn’t let the opinions of others affect how she runs her life. As for Asher, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but as I learned later on, his family lost their fortune, so Asher used his business sense to open a successful mercenary in town. The only one in town that employed woman. He saw woman as important to the success of the business world, not as a hindrance.
Romance between Asher and Permilia was not the main focus of the story but of course, it did develop through the story. I enjoyed how Turano didn’t have all these unrealistic feelings internally struggling between Asher and Permilia. I’m glad she allowed their relationship to grow and blossom just like the characters did.
Behind the Scenes is an original story with richly developed characters who are trying to mingle along the wealthy and avoid death at the hands of some crazy people. Fans of Jen Turano’s other two series should pick up this exciting introduction to her new series and be prepared for a well-written story worth savoring.
I received a complimentary copy of Jen Turano’s Behind the Scenes from Bethany House Publishers and the opinions stated are all my own.
I received this copy from Jen Turano. I was not required to give a favorable review. All thoughts are my own. I have read other books from Jen and she is a wonderful author. This book showed what it was like being a wallflower in New York Society before the turn of the century. She was raised by her father after he became a widow and knew more about shooting a gun, fencing, horse riding than she did about being a lady in society when her father remarried he thought he was helping her But between her step mother and step sister that was not very helpful. She work under Miss Quill when she went to society functions to write her column. But she did to tell people about the clothes worn, the food ate and the houses. After hearing of a death threat to Mr. Rutherford, she made her mission to help him. But then her life was threaten. Can the work together and find love also.
It was really funny and the plot was good but at times it seemed to go on forever.
This was funny, romantic and an absolute pleasure to read!
I keep thinking I don’t like historical fiction. But with each one I read I’m more enamored with them. This book is delightful in its detail. Miss Permilia Griswold is a “wallflower” in New York Society. I thought “wallflower” was just a figure of speech. But evidently, in high society, wallflowers had “their place” and it was not to be breached. Miss Permilia is a spunky character who delights in “spying” on the upper crust at the season’s balls. She then writes a column for The New York Sun newspaper, under the pseudonym “Miss Quill.” Adventures start to happen when she over hears a plot to kill one of the town’s most prestigious men. She takes it upon herself to “guard and protect” this man. You find that Miss Permilia is not to be messed with.
The humor in this book keeps you wanting more. It’s amazing how Miss Permilia gets herself into and out of different and dangerous situations. She is defiantly not your regular “socialite”. Fun times, although maybe frustrating, are always had if you spend time with Miss Permilia.
Among all the silly, vapid, social-climbing set she’s forced to live among, one lady sticks to her guns, literally and figuratively. This story, and its characters’ antics, was a great distraction while my husband was in surgery. Get through the first half of the book, which sets the stage, and the second half is hilariously interesting. Jen Turano has a terrific imagination.
Just a delightful read… a little wordy in the beginning but a fun and surprising read. A little mystery, a little romance.
Jen Turano is a witty writer and sometimes I outright laugh. Sometimes there felt there were too many words . The words were attempts at humor wit, but I just felt I had to skim a few times. It’s an easy read, relatable.
Funny and entertaining
Easy reading