A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano, ©2013 Ladies of Distinction, book 2

   Knowing far too well that the rights of women were cast aside on the whims of gentlemen on a daily basis, Arabella felt her jaw clench. The reality was that, yes, she might be held behind bars for a very long time.
   She should have been more diligent in her attempts at getting the laws changed.
   It certainly lent a different perspective to the inequalities facing women when she was the one behind bars, yet now was hardly the time to think about that.
   --A Most Peculiar Circumstance, 10

I have been looking forward to continuing Jen Turano's book 2 in the series! First to be recognized is that Mr. Beckett and Mr. Beckett [A Change of Fortune (2012)] have a sister ~ Miss Arabella Beckett ~ and... she and Eliza are going to be best of friends, if she ever gets home to New York, that is. She certainly has a lot of detours on the way. She finishes one adventure and gets into another one. All unintentional, of course. All she did was offer to check on the daughter of a woman she met at the train station ~ just a short stop off, not realizing it would take the way-of-escape being needed by her! She comes upon tied up Miss James and in the process of freeing her, she is happened upon by a dishonorable fellow whom she has to wing in the process, and then run for it when the sheriff comes. She leads them through a pig wallow along with them getting a little smelly, too, on the way. So... you guessed it. She ends up entombed ~ well that may be a slight exaggeration. But it is a moldy ceilinged cellar jail, indeed! As I said, she and Eliza are going to become fast friends. She was just trying to help.

Who comes to the rescue, but a very celebrated government private eye, Mr. Theodore Wilder. After all, the family owns a railroad, and that speaks for something. He and Miss Beckett do not see eye-to-eye, exactly, until he realizes the true fix she is in, and he rescues her against Sheriff Dawson and his deputies.

~*continued beneath overview below*~

Photo Credit: Sara Karam Photography

Jen Turano is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in Clothing and Textiles. When she's not writing, Jen can be found watching her teenage son participate in various activities, taking long walks with her husband and dog, socializing with friends, or delving into a good book. She lives in suburban Denver, Colorado. Learn more at jenturano.com.

There are four books in this series, not counting the companion novella of A Change of Fortune (2012), which by the way, is still being freely offered [Gentleman of Her Dreams ~*A Ladies of Distinction novella]  for e-Reader in the Kindle store, NOOK Book, and from Kobo and ChristianBook by the publisher, Bethany House! So you are without excuse. Quickly download that sweet beginning and get started.

Ladies of Distinction, book 2

Miss Arabella Beckett, defender of the down-trodden women of America, is returning from her travels in support of the women’s suffrage movement when she makes a simple offer of assistance to a young woman in need. But things go sadly awry, and both ladies soon find themselves in dire need of rescue. Arabella, always loath to admit she needs help, is particularly reluctant to receive assistance from the arrogant, narrow-minded knight in shining armor who shows up just in time.
   Private investigator extraordinaire Mr. Theodore Wilder is on an assignment that began as a favor to his good friend Zayne Beckett, but swiftly evolved into a merry chase across the country. He is already in a less than pleasant mood, and when Hamilton’s sister turns out to have radical ideas and a fiercely independent streak, he’s at his wit’s end.
   Much to their chagrin, Theodore and Arabella’s paths continue to cross when they return home to New York, but the most unusual feelings beginning to grow between them certainly can’t be anything serious. When the trouble Arabella accidentally stirred up in her travels follows her home and threatens her very life, the unlikely couple must face the possibility that they might have landed in the most peculiar circumstance of all: love.

~*review continued*~

Theodore Wilder, PI, doing a favor for his good friend, Zayne Beckett, is releasing sister Arabella into their hands, or so he thinks. But in love and war, perhaps he is not contemplating the outcome, when it is the beginning. Upon seeking his help, Arabella's mother has forgotten to mention to him, in her duress, the true free-spirited nature of her daughter. She is missing and needed at home to be part of a family event. Oops, too late, with all of her adventures.

NEWS FLASH * NEWS FLASH * NEWS FLASH

"Private Investigator Theodore Wilder is on a mission to find Arabella Beckett. But this feisty suffragette may be more trouble than he bargained for!"―Provided by publisher.
Well, at least someone is letting it be known!

                    Grand Central Railway Depot, ©1872

November, 1880, arriving at New York's Grand Central Railway Depot; can you imagine trying to manage getting around in this large depot! But then, not forgotten, she started out from Chicago on her own, and got off at Gilman to assist Miss James. And, before that, she chose to travel from California without her paid companion.

Her mother and brothers meet her at the station, as she leaves Theodore to fend for himself to find where she has gone through the crowd. She is on home-turf now, and continues on in her comfort.

   A stab of remorse ran through her. "I am sorry, Mother, for being so negligent. I'm afraid I sometimes get so consumed with my cause that I occasionally forget to keep you and Father abreast of my whereabouts. I didn't realize I would be so late in returning to New York, but I kept getting requests to speak at rallies, and I just couldn't seem to pass up each wonderful opportunities."
   --Ibid., 61

I like the descriptiveness of Jen Turano's writing, with the humor and energy between the characters. Continuing along with Arabella, you may forget you are not there with them.

***On behalf of the author and Bethany House Publishers I was provided this complimentary book. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***

Watch for book 3 releasing in October 2013.


First three chapters!

A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Bethany House Publishers