Book Review: After a Fashion

My Review:
Before I get into the entirety of this charming novel, can we just take a moment and swoon over the cover artwork for After A Fashion?  *sigh*

Have you ever been pouring through a book, turning the pages and then having that moment of clarity that you actually feel like you are watching it as a movie instead of reading it in a book?  Turano descriptive cast of characters is so incredibly well that this fast flowing, seamlessly easy read projects more like a movie!   Each scene, from flying hat boxes to the playful dog, Buford,  gave such life to this book.  Refreshing, hilarious, unwaveringly descriptive, After a Fashion sews it up in as one fashionable tale!

Set in the 1880's, this light-hearted read begins with Harriet Peabody, who works in a New York City hat shop.  Customers are rich and obnoxious, and she dreams of the moment when one day she can open her own dress shop where she can take gowns and refurbish them for the every day women.  When a moment of misfortune lands her way, she loses her job and has a huge sum of money to unfairly repay.

Enter Mr. Oliver Addleshaw, wealthy businessman and witness to the unfortunate circumstances that Ms. Peabody loses her employment, swiftly offers her a job.  That job?  To offer her a position to pose as his betrothed!
As a most sought-after, eligible bachelor, he needs someone to accompany him as his companion on one of his business deals.  He sees something unique and different in Ms. Peabody, unlike the usual cast of snobby, rich girls, who pine their days away planning weddings and being in society.   She takes the job, until something from her past threatens everything she is carefully hoping for - paying her dues, taking care of loved ones and special people, and all while showing compassion and hope for a future.  

This christian romance book is typical in the sense that most christian historical novels are - backdrops are sweeping and descriptive, a sign of the times so clear.  Love felt but not displayed until exaggeratingly sweeping declarations of love while falling into each others arms ..... however, if you are a reader of christian romances, it will be all too familiar.

Disclaimer:  I received this book for an honest review from Bethany House,

a division of the Baker Publishing Group and was not required to write a positive review.  

Any reflection of such is my own and this review is an honest reflection of such.