By Jen Turano
Published by Bethany House
Publication Date: May 1, 2025
Description from the publisher:
With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fiancé casting her aside, Miss Drusilla Merriweather's privileged life has been upended. She is left with only one option: to provide for her family by opening a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle she's inherited from her eccentric aunt. However, her plan is immediately threatened by unscrupulous developers keen on claiming the coveted estate for themselves, by any means necessary.
Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences--walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors--arise within castle grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family's safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart.
In this entrancing series starter, Turano presents a tale of laugh-out-loud adventure, swoon-worthy romance, and delightful mischief in the Gilded Age.
My Review:
Jen Turano is known for her humorous historical fiction, and this book definitely kept me laughing, but what I loved what most about the book was Rhenick and his complete support for women in general and Drusilla in particular. I also liked seeing the women support each other, without a bunch of cattiness and competition like is common in a lot of books.
The plot was a lot of fun--with antics from people and animals alike--and I enjoyed the mystery element. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing what happens once Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies actually opens!
I've read and enjoyed all of Turano's books, so when I say this is my favorite of all of her books, that's high praise. Not only is this my favorite book of hers, but I'm naming it as one of my picks for the best books of 2025.
5 stars.
I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
