"Out of the Ordinary" by Jen Turano

Out of the Ordinary (Nov. 7, 2017) by Jen Turano.*

Working as a paid companion is nothing out of the ordinary in 1883, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s employer tends to exhibit peculiar tendencies, often making Gertrude’s job unpredictable. She does all manner of things from wearing a birdcage on her behind (in the name of “fashion” … and large bustles) to returning pilfered items (not hers, but Mrs. Davenport’s, her employer and lady of the elite set). Upon returning pilfered items to wealthy shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair’s yacht, she is caught by Harrison’s mother, the indomitable Mrs. Sinclair, who immediately thinks the worst of Gertrude.

            Harrison cannot stand for his mother to think ill of Gertrude. Not only does he consider Gertrude to be a good friend, she also has a “delightful figure,” which is alarming only in that he doesn’t tend to notice such things about women. But with other thefts, including at the Manhattan Beach Hotel (considered a swanky place amongst the elite set), things aren’t looking so positive for Gertrude or Mrs. Davenport. Before Harrison can properly court Gertrude, there’s a mystery to be solved. Is he ready for the adventures?

            Like Turano’s other stories, I found “Out of the Ordinary” to be a delightful, fizzy, light-hearted tale. Gertrude is an independent woman who does questionable things (like return pilfered items) out of a dependence on her only source of income. Harrison is confident in his shipping work, but is something of a bumble despite all of his sisters’ romance novels that he secretly reads. Both of them are imperfect, yet are just right for this story. It is bright with humor and liveliness, but there are moments, too, where you shake your head with empathy. Gertrude may think herself ordinary, but she shouldn’t, and neither should we. After all, “God doesn’t expect His children to live ordinary lives, but extraordinary ones” (p. 123).

            Apart from the Crowd: Book One: Behind the Scenes

* 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.”