When Miss Poppy Garrison accepts her grandmother's offer of financial help for her family in exchange for Poppy joining the New York social season, she quickly realizes she is far less equipped to mingle with the New York Four Hundred than even she knew. As she becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, becoming the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs her to be looks more impossible by the day.
Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, is in New York to help his cousin find an American heiress who can help save his family's estate. But when his very proper British manners lead Poppy's grandmother to request he teach etiquette to Poppy, he quickly finds himself in for much more than he bargained for.
And while they couldn't be more opposite, Reginald and Poppy just might find they have more to teach each other than they ever could have expected.
Tarah's Review:
This Jen Turano book had a slightly different feel than her other ones. To me, it seemed like it wasn't as over the top as her other novels have been. That doesn't mean it wasn't a fun read, but it did seem a little more believable. There were no over the top animals (there were quite a few animals, but they all behaved like real animals) and the leading male, Reginald, was actually pretty normal too. Not too clueless, not too set in his ways, just a normal British Aristocrat (because I know so many of those). The situations that Poppy found herself in, while crazy, weren't over the top.
Andrea's Review
I went into this book thinking it was going to be like the many Regency novels I've read, and though it has some similarities with the upper class of society it was much more modern. And it should be, as the Regency era only lasted from 1811-1820 (thank you Wikipedia) and this takes place in 1885. So, while I have probably miscategorized many books as being Regency novels when they are, in fact, Victorian, one need not get hung up on the details of what to call what era. The point is that the social setting is among the wealthiest and "important" people in New York, and the main character, Poppy, is forced to socialize among them in order to save her family financially.
There is a bit of a My Fair Lady feel to Poppy being taught etiquette by Reginald Blackburn. The story was pretty lighthearted even throughout the crazy circumstances that came about. I didn't develop deep connections to the characters, but they were likable, and it was an entertaining read.
Title: Diamond in the RoughAuthor: Jen Turano
Publisher: Bethany House
Published: September 2019
ISBN: 0764231685
Source: eCopies from NetGalley. All opinions express are our own.
Purchase: Amazon
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