“Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” ― G.K. Chesterton

Monday, October 7, 2019

A Quirky and Fun Read!--"Diamond in the Rough" by Jen Turano--Review & GIVEAWAY!

About Diamond in the Rough

Hardcover: 352 Pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 3, 2019)
To save her family from financial ruin, Miss Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season in exchange for her grandmother settling a family loan that has unexpectedly come due. Ill-equipped to handle the intricacies of mingling within the New York Four Hundred, Poppy becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, doomed to suffer a grand societal failure instead of being deemed the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs for her to become.
Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, has been forced to travel to America to help his cousin, Charles Wynn, Earl of Lonsdale, find an American heiress to wed in order to shore up his family estate that is in desperate need of funds. Reginald himself has no interest in finding an heiress to marry, but when Poppy’s grandmother asks him to give etiquette lessons to Poppy, he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble


My Review

You don’t find many historical fiction novels that also can be humorous and light hearted.  But "Diamond in the Rough" by Jen Turano is certainly just that among the many historical fiction novels published today.  I might even go so far as to say it’s a “Diamond of the First Water,” just as our main character Poppy strives to be!

Poppy Garrison is a unique, klutzy, and completely genuine and loveable character (and what a name).  I loved watching her as she tries to navigate the rules and etiquette of the New York Four Hundred social season (think of Poppy adjusting a broken bustle in public–the horror).  But this book isn’t just light and fluffy; there is also a lot of character growth and development and themes of family and identity. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my romp through the social season, but I am very glad Poppy was the one to do it and not myself, thank you very much! 

Content: This is a clean read.

Rating: I give this book 4 stars.


I want to thank TLC Book Tours, Jen Turano and Bethany House for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.



About Jen Turano

Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.

Connect with Jen

Website | Facebook | Twitter



Instagram tour:

Monday, September 9th: @girlandherbooks
Tuesday, September 10th: @theshybooks
Wednesday, September 11th: @southernbellereading
Thursday, September 12th: @all.the.lovely.pages
Friday, September 13th: @thereadingchemist
Saturday, September 14th: @thecaffeinated_bibliophile
Sunday, September 15th: @LisaBReads

Review tour:

Monday, September 16th: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, September 17th: What is That Book About – excerpt
Thursday, September 19th: Broken Teepee
Thursday, September 19th: Lori’s Reading Corner – excerpt
Friday, September 20th: The Lit Bitch
Monday, September 23rd: Write Read Life
Wednesday, September 25th: Laura’s Reviews
Friday, September 27th: View from the Birdhouse
Monday, September 30th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts
Wednesday, October 2nd: Empowermoms
Friday, October 4th: Blooming with Books
Monday, October 7th: Faery Tales are Real
Wednesday, October 9th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

GIVEAWAY!!!
Open to US only.  One lucky winner will get a copy of the book!
1.  Leave a comment below and tell me what you would find hard in the High Society of the time?  The clothes, etiquette, etc.  
2.  Follow me on any of my social media accounts and comment where you followed and under what username.

10 comments:

  1. I wouldn't survive as I am a jeans and t-shirt person. Facebook Kim Hansen and Pinterest khansen50

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kim!

      Yeah, it would be hard to get used to the elaborate outfits for sure! Thanks so much for stopping by and following me!

      Delete
  2. I think the hairstyles would be so difficult for me, my head hurts just thinking about them.

    Following you on IG @pennymcintoshauthor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Penny!!!

      Yes, I used to love up-dos, but I am the same way now. I feel bad for the women who suffered from migraines. Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  3. High society in the past was a class system where the servants did't mingle with the upper class. i am glad that God is no respector of persons. Vivian Furbay jtandviv (at) q (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Vivian! That is so true about High society. I love that about God not being a respecter of persons. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  4. This story sounds interesting. I would live the dancing and the clothes. I am fascinated by this era. Thanks for a chance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a fascinating and fun story! I know, I would love wearing beautiful dresses and going to balls too! Thanks for stopping by Rory!

      Delete
  5. I'm not even a big fan of historical fiction but I want to read this one because anything with humor in it is a good read for me. Thank you for being on this tour! Sara @ TLC Book Tours

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, if you love humor, I think you'd really enjoy this book. Thanks so much for having me on the tour!

      Delete