Challenging The Conventions
Behind The Scenes by Jen Turano is a delightfully amusing Christian historical romantic mystery and I really enjoyed it. It is the first book in the Apart From The crowd series and I cannot wait for the subsequent books.
Jen Turano’s books are always entertaining and amusing. Her heroine in Behind The Scenes is a very modern and unconventional lady for her time. She gets in to some amusing scrapes. With her attitude of “I do prefer using a pistol to my fists,” she is indeed an unusual woman in the nineteenth century.
There is a social conscience running throughout. “Simply because one comes from wealth does not mean one should abandon their thrifty principles.” Wealth is not to be squandered but used to do good.
The attitudes of the day towards class are challenged within the story. Class boundaries are blurred by some characters who realise that good people come from all walks of life.
Likewise the traditional conventions of the male and female interactions are broken down by some individuals, much to the horror of others! This does create some wonderful light hearted moments.
There is the Cinderella theme running throughout – even down to the loss of a shoe.
The gossip columnists of the day are challenged as one character refuses to lower their principles. “I will not set aside my principles simply to sell more papers.”
Philanthropy is alive and well within the novel as the education and prospects for the less well off are helped.
And there is a mystery. Which try as I might, I could not predict the outcome.
The characters were delightfully drawn. The interactions of the leading man and lady were wonderful to view as their dialogue bounced off each other.
A perfectly delightful and amusing read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Behind the Scenes blog tour on Celebrate Lit