"Playing the Part" by Jen Turano

Playing the Part (Mar. 1, 2016) by Jen Turano.*

Being an actress in 1882 does not have the coveted reputation it does in 2016, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t sought-after actresses. Indeed, Lucetta Plum is one of the most sought-after actresses in New York City. Unfortunately, the attention of a certain individual is not only unwanted but threatening enough where she leaves the city for Ravenwood. Ravenwood is “a castle, located in Tarrytown, along the Hudson River.” It comes complete with a moat and the owner of said castle is Abigail Hart’s grandson, Bram Haverstein. Naturally, Abigail accompanies Lucetta to Ravenwood as her chaperone. Others pop up as well, including Mr. Skukman (Lucetta’s bodyguard), Mr. Kenton (Abigail’s loyal butler), Mr. Archibald Addleshaw (a good friend of Abigail’s) and a bevy of neighborhood women.

            It turns out that Bram is secretly fascinated by Lucetta, though the picture of Lucetta-the-actress that he’s painted in his mind turns out to be very different than Lucetta-the-person. The more he learns about Lucetta, the more he wants to know her, but he’s got a secret that no one but him and his staff – all with very interesting backgrounds – know about. And while Lucetta thinks that butterflies in the stomach and hearts all a-flutter are ridiculous, she’s experiencing just that around Bram. Does Bram care for the person Lucetta is and not the demure, weepy characters she plays onstage? What is Bram’s big secret? Can Lucetta be saved from the obsessive fan who wants her merely as a possession, a plaything? And why is the gatehouse a mausoleum?

            For anyone who thinks Christian historical fiction is meek or uninteresting needs to pick up a book by Jen Turano. Faith in her story is never overwhelming; therefore, it reinforces the tale instead of deters from it. Turano shows no qualms about creating Lucetta as a character whose faith has been floundering, and I love that. We’ve all had those moments where we lacked faith, so why not a main character as well? It makes Lucetta more relatable, despite her beauty, intelligence, independence and upbringing. Likewise, Bram is a character of note, and I appreciated watching him transition from a man with a “traditional” view of women of the time to a man with a progressive purview and admiration for a woman of great mind. This is another terrific novel from Turano with a good plot and splendid characters. Subtle romance is there, and humor is in tasteful supply. Super highly recommend!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”