"Behind the Scenes" by Jen Turano

About this book:

  “After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, Miss Permilia Griswold has finally figured out a way to pass the time at all the New York high-society events she attends. Under the pseudonym "Miss Quill," she is the author of society gossip columns filled with tidbits only an insider in society--albeit one on the fringes--would know.
  When she overhears a threat against Mr. Asher Rutherford, the owner of one of the most up-and-coming department stores in the city, she's determined to warn him. But the irritatingly handsome man doesn't believe her, leaving her no choice but to take matters into her own hands. What she doesn't anticipate is that she'll end up putting herself at risk in the process--or that she and Mr. Rutherford, a man with secrets of his own, just might end up joining forces after all.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Apart From the Crowd” series. Review of #.5 here!  


Spiritual Content- A Scripture is remembered & mentioned; Prayers; Church going; Talks about God, paths, divine intervention, & prayers; ‘H’ are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God, paths, & divine intervention; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of talks about God with a reverend; Mentions of churches, church going, sermons, buying pews, & reverends; Mentions of being blessed & blessings; A couple mentions of thanking the Lord; A couple mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of religion.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘dumb’, six ‘idiot’s; Eye rolling; Being shot at, being held hostage, fighting, pain, & blood (up to semi-detailed); A bit of social drinking; Many mentions of hiring someone to cause a murder, threats, an assassin, the thought of being murdered, & criminal activity; Many mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of almost dying, pain, blood/bleeding & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of being shot at, bleeding, & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of murders & having someone killed; Mentions of poisons & poisoning someone; Mentions of a woman wearing dead cat tails on her gown along with what looks like a cat head; Mentions of breakable things being thrown at people in temper tantrums; Mentions of champagne, wine, brandy, social drinking, & drinking; Mentions of blackmail; Mentions of debts; A few mentions of an attempted murder; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of hunting & shooting foxes; A few mentions of a dead mouse & dead bird; A couple mentions of a fever & death; A couple mentions of slaves; A couple mentions of wondering if someone is abused; A couple mentions of jail; A couple mentions of divorces; A couple mentions of a bear rug with the head still attached; A mention of a tobacco shop; A mention of stuffed birds.

Sexual Content- three hand kisses, three border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses; Wanting to be kissed; Touches, Warmth, Nearness, Smelling, & Blushes (up to semi-detailed); Noticing; Mentions of a philanderer who kept a few wives (polygamy, no true details); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of reputations, compromising situations, scandals, & chaperones; Mentions of flirting, blushes, & winks; Mentions of (greeting) hand kisses; A few mentions of noticing; A couple mentions of jealousy; Love, falling in love & the emotions;

             *Note: Mentions of miscarriages & stillborns; Mentions of feminine wiles; A few mentions of large bustles on women’s behinds; A couple mentions of lady’s a low-cut gown & showing off her charms.

-Permilia Griswold, age 25

-Asher Rutherford
                                P.O.V. switches between them (Epilogue in someone else’s)

                                              Set in 1883
                                                        343 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Just like the novella in this series…this is was cute! I did, of course, enjoy this novel more than the novella, but both were such fun reads. Oh, my goodness. I absolutely enjoyed the writing style and the normal wit for a Jen Turano book, I was giggling/giggly quite often when reading.

I got a slight Cinderella vibe from this historical novel, but what I also really enjoyed was the mysteries. It didn’t feel heavy or completely focused on the budding romance, but it really was centered around a few mysteries. It was a truly nice change of pace.

I’ve been so excited to “meet” these new characters and am so looking forward to getting to know Gertrude & Mrs. Davenport next! :)

{Also side note: Permilia? That’s a really fun name!}

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House) for this honest review.