I always love Jen Turano’s books and this was no exception.  I laughed and I cried but mostly laughed.  These books are always very funny.  I also love the history and the romance.  I like that this was written about Pittsburgh.  I think this was the first book I have read that told about Pittsburgh.  I can’t wait to read the next book in the American Heiresses series.  I love all the crazy farm animals in this one also.  I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Isadora Delafield, one of the most sought-after heiresses in New York's high society, has been raised to be the perfect lady. When a disgusting and dangerous duke decides he will have Isadora as his wife at any cost, Isadora has to get away. With help from her butler, she sets out for Pennsylvania, posing as a servant looking for a position as a housekeeper. When she heads for Glory Manor, she thinks it sounds like a fancy house--and is therefore surprised to find it's a country home, complete with poison ivy, attacking chickens, and cows that try to enter the house. It doesn't take her long to realize she's not at all qualified to be the housekeeper, but she also finds herself drawn to the home and the people there. Determined to stay, she makes Ian MacKenzie a deal he can't refuse so that he'll hire her, even if it's only on a temporary basis.
Ian MacKenzie, a lawyer in high demand as he negotiates between the wealthy industrialists and their works,  is busy with his work in Pittsburg. He needs to hire someone to help his aging adopted parents with the farm and with the four orphans they've recently taken in so he can get back to Pittsburg, and while he isn't sure "Izzie Delmont" will even manage to keep the house standing, he also finds himself completely fascinated by her and gives her a chance--and in so doing finds that maybe the path he's been on--to acquire wealth and marry into high society--isn't the right one for him after all.

Jen Turano is the master at humorous Christian romances. If you need a book to make you laugh out loud, look no further. There are so many things to laugh at, and if I listed them all out, it would probably sound absurd, and yet, that's the beauty of Turano's writing--these incidents that should seem over the top actually totally fit into the story and are completely believable with the characters she has created. Wrapped up in all that humor, though, there are also spiritual messages about changing, growing, and find God's path, along with terrific chemistry between Izzie and Ian, both of whom are totally endearing characters. I loved watching them fall in love with each other as well as watching them fall in love with the four orphans, who are so completely heart-stealing that I wish they were real so I could hug them. This was just a delightful read from start to finish, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
 
I read an ARC from the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

There are so many good things to say about this book I'm not sure where to start. First I applaud the author with her delightful way to bring characters to life. She writes with a funny and subtle way that I find myself snickering at some of the characters while falling in love with them.

Let's begin with The Duke of Montrose and his uncanny ego. He is so sure of himself as a prize for any lady that he is shocked when Isadora doesn't jump into his arms and beg to be taken away to be his bride. Isadora has been brought up right and can certainly speak her mind when needed. The duke must be crazy to tell her to stop reading novels. I could hear a gasp as he says, " Novels are only suitable for the simpleminded and you would not care for anyone to believe you're simpleminded, would you?, " Now would be a good time to slap his face and walk away with grace. Isadora definitely puts him in his place with her very proper response. I love this spunky girl and know I am in for an adventure with her. Oh my the dance floor is where Isadora really shows the duke he is not in charge. Such great writing from the author I laughed so hard I cried.

The story is a grand adventure as Isadora has planned to run away and hide from the duke. There are rumors he may be desperate to do anything to have Isadora be his wife. Lets hope Isadora has thought everything out as she ventures off to become hidden from everything she knows. Is the duke dangerous? What horrible rumors of the duke would cause some to think he is capable of a crime? The story is filled with adventure and Isadora will find that " God occasionally throws obstacles our way so that we're forced to grow into the people He wants us to be." Let the journey begin.

Ian is a breath of fresh air compared to the duke. Will Isadora convince Ian to hire her so she can stay away from the dangers at home? As luck would have it, Isadora has found employment but it isn't exactly what she expected. She now has four children to look after, animals that run everywhere including inside the house and an uncle that could be a little strange.

The story is filled with laughter, characters who seek God in what he has planned for their lives, mysterious goings on at Ian's place and a blooming romance to capture the readers with a book that you will not be able to put down. Take a journey with Isadora as she seeks a new life and maybe happiness along the way.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House. The review is my own opinion.

This book was so much fun to read.  In this story there’s a dastardly duke; a run-away American heiress named Isadora (who does not know the first thing about being a housekeeper); a chicken named Elmer; four adorable children; and a cow named Buttercup.  The story is fun-filled and charming.  There’s also a touch of suspense, as Isadora is in danger from the duke.  Ian McKenzie makes the perfect hero and match for Isadora, and their story is part of the charm of this book.

Jen Turano takes all of the things I’ve listed above and turns this into a very entertaining story.  It all works together in a winsome way, and it kept me turning pages to see what happens next.  This is a sweet, clean story with a touch of faith to make it a great addition to her series of “comedic historical romances set in the Gilded Age”. I’ve enjoyed her books, but this one is a new favorite!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Like the other Jen Turano books that I have read, Flights of Fancy is a lighthearted, fun-filled story with a dash of intrigue. While there were a few details that seemed a bit unrealistic, it may be because it was difficult to imagine the extent of the fortune that a young man could amass in the late 1800s. The story was enjoyable and the theme of satisfaction found through purpose rather than self indulgence was well-illustrated. Turano's quirky characters are easy to love, and her villains easy to want brought down. Flights of Fancy is a great book to sandwich between meatier reads. 

I appreciate receiving this copy from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I looked forward to it every time I picked it up--wanting to see what would happen next with Izzie and Ian and the gang. 
This is a delightful tale filled with humor and heart, with a beautiful faith message. The overall themes of loving what is on the inside rather than the trappings of the outside shines through on the pages. 
The animals are a hoot, as are all of the supporting characters. The light-hearted novel has so much going for it, including a fast-paced plot and a bit of mystery surrounding what was going on at Glory Manor. I love Jen Turano's writing, she makes late 1800s America come to life with its sights, sounds, and even smells. 
Izzie's development as a person was absolutely captivating. Her evolution from headstrong but compliant heiress to "household manager" (with all of the corresponding foibles and catastrophes sprinkled in along the way) was enchanting to read. 
I excitedly look forward to the next installment of the series!

Flights of Fancy is yet another fun read by Jen Turano. It, also, begins a whole new series, American Heiresses. A reader is introduced to heiress Miss Isadora Delafield. Her mother wants her to marry a duke. That is, a duke, that Isadora finds disgusting and old. She runs away to a Pennsylvania farm, where she becomes a housekeeper and meets Ian Mackenzie. They are both intrigued with one another. They become a team to find out how to solve sudden mysterious events happening on the farm. 
I thoroughly enjoyed Flights of Fancy. I found Isadora and Ian's story to be a fun and delightful one with plenty of laughs. I loved the mystery, adventure and romance. This is my new favorite by Jen Turano to date. 
I am giving Flights of Fancy a well deserved five plus stars. I can not wait to see what happens in the second installment from the American Heiresses series. 
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Isadora Delafield is one of the richest heiresses in New York, but her mother will stop at nothing less than a title for her daughter. To avoid the attentions of a lecherous duke twice her age, Izzie flees to the farm country of Pennsylvania and applies for a position as housekeeper on Ian McKenzie's old farm. Little does she know that a rural housekeeper is expected to have many more skills than the ability to order servants around. What follows is a humorous farce as Izzie learns to wash laundry, cook biscuits, chase off goats, and force four orphan children to take an unwanted bath. Determined to become a competent housekeeper and abandon her entitled upbringing, Izzie finds the joys of small town life and discovers that Ian McKenzie, a rising attorney in the Pittsburgh labor scene, might be just the man for her. 

In characteristic Jen Turano fashion, this novel delights in the ridiculous--the tumble down a hill into a pile of soft green leaves that turn out to be poison ivy (twice), the tumble into the lake to save a fearless toddler and drench our main characters' clothes (thrice), the cow named Buttercup who won't stay out of the living room (too many times to count), and a young lady maintaining her disguise by concocting a false identity, wearing the ugliest spectacles imaginable, and taking obscenely large mouthfuls of cake. 

If you're in the mood for a lighthearted laugh, check out this Gilded Age novel, the first in Turano's new series, American Heiresses. 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am not a fan of historical fiction but I never miss a chance to read a novel from Turano. I love the wit and humor and the snappy dialogue. I think I have read most of her novels and this may be the best one yet. 

What might happen when Isadora, a young heiress to her family's wealth, flees New York society to escape the the advances of a truly lecherous duke from England? Helped by a butler, she manages to travel to rural Pennsylvania to secure a job as a … housekeeper.

Turano has the amazing ability to include wit, humor, and snappy dialogue in a great plot. I laughed out loud. But this is also a sort of coming of age novel. Isadora had been raised with wealth and now is faced with seeing how some people must live without such privilege. She also experiences the warmth and friendship in a small community foreign to her life in high society. 

I like that Turano has included some other issues of the time, such as the conditions mill workers endured. It was a time of wealth building for some at the expense of many others.

I highly recommend this novel. You'll get a bit of romance, a good dose of humor, and a thoughtful exploration of one young privileged woman finding out what is really important in life.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Jen Turano writes historical fiction with a healthy dose of humor.  Her heroines tend to find themselves in iffy circumstances, either by their own design or by someone else's plans for their own lives.  That's just what happened with Isadora Delafield in Flights of Fancy. 

In an effort to get away from the duke her mother wants her to marry, she runs away to Pennsylvania and ends up at Glory Manor applying for a job as a house keeper.  Ian MacKenzie decides to take her on a trial basis to help take care of his Aunt Birdie and Uncle Amos, the four foster children they have taken under their wings, and the assortment of animals still living on his farm. 

In the meantime, there are several mishaps happening on his farm and spreading to other nearby farms. Ian knows there is someone behind all the shenanigans and that someone is trying to run all the farmers off their land for the mine-able coal.

The more Ian is around Isadora, the more attached he becomes to her. The only thing is she's hiding her true identity, because she's an heiress and she wants to marry for love, not for his love of her money.  When he first finds out who she truly is, he feels duped.  As he thinks it over, he realizes she may have had her reasons, and now he has things to do.

This is a five star book with two thumbs up and a rescue from a kidnapper.

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read.

This is an entertaining story about a Miss Isadora Delafield, a New York city heiress in the 1880s. Her high society mother wants her to marry a visiting Duke from England but Izzie has heard alarming tales about the deaths of the Duke’s former wives.  She accepts help from her best friend and  a couple of others who are also alarmed at the prospect of the Duke getting his hands on Izzie and her fortune.  Izzie steals away under the guise of answering help wanted ads in Pennsylvania, a prospect of which she is woefully unprepared.  Mr. Ian MacKenzie hires her and soon realizes that she is not who her references portrayed her to be.  Much occurs after this to include 4 orphaned children, an old couple, and various cows, horses, chickens and assorted other farm animals. This was a fun read!

I have enjoyed everything of Jen Turano’s that I have read thus far and highly recommend this book if you want some lively entertainment.  

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Such a fun book with quirky characters and lots of laughter!  Jen Turano always writes books that make me smile, and Flights of Fancy is no exception to this rule.  The first in a new series called American Heiresses, Turano takes us into the heart of American life for women in late 19th century, when titles from England mattered a great deal when husband hunting and American mamas were just as desperate for a duke in the family as English mamas.  If you thought that all ended once you set sail on the Atlantic, think again!  I loved seeing another side to American history, and Jen Turano shows it so well, with a great deal of accuracy.

Miss Isadora Delafield is running from her duke-obsessed mama and the duke who has set his eyes on Izzie's childbearing hips.  Raised in the lap of luxury, she must flee to the one place her set would never look for her - a country estate in the Pennsylvania countryside.  Disguised as a housekeeper with a vague reference letter from her best friend's household, Izzie takes refuge at Glory Manor, a home that desperately needs assistance after its last housekeeper was run off by its eccentric occupants.  Unfortunately, things begin poorly and  end up worse, as Izzie realizes her ability to do basic household chores is lacking, and the man of the house, Mr. Ian MacKenzie, is fit to be tied.  He is charmed by Izzie's determined nature, but he is suspicious of her background.  When secrets are revealed, it's uncertain if their future will be together...or apart.

Izzie was a delight!  Even though she was raised with all the luxuries afforded to a woman of extraordinary means, she never complained about her temporarily reduced circumstances.  I loved that she dove right into the household chores and wouldn't give up, even though others desperately wanted her.  Her antics with the farm animals and her friendliness towards everyone she met made her a lovable and quirky character.  Ian was a great fit for as a hero, particularly as he grew to know her more and appreciate her personality.  While they got to know each other under false pretenses, and thus ensuring an awkward reveal later on in the book, I felt like they really needed that time to know each other as just Ian and Izzie.  After all, Ian needed to be taught that title wasn't everything when it comes to marriage, and Izzie needed to find out who she really was.  I was a bit disappointed in how Ian handled things when Izzie's secret was revealed, but of course, this novel has a happily ever after, so everything works out.  

I'm excited to continue reading the books in this series!  Hopefully Beatrix will get her book next!

I don't know why, but I was quite annoyed by the heroine, Miss Isadora Delafield. I don't know why, but I just couldn't get into her. I kinda like the story, but on the other hand, she just ... annoyed me. She seemed sorta snobby and unrealistic given the era, the expectations, etc.

I did like Ian. He was pretty smart. However, it did seem unreasonable that he would pay so much attention to the housekeeper. I don't care that she's really a rich gal; he doesn't know that ... so it's class-jumping.

But there was nothing else really wrong with this story - I'm probably be far too critical.

I loved this book of Jen's.  It is very different than her otheres. There is a surprise around every corner.  I will be writing a full review and putting on Goodreads, Amazon, and I will be doing an author  review on my new blog in Febuary. I will come back and add those links.

Although I have several of her other books on my TBR pile, this happens to be the first one I've actually read. I must say, it has me wanting to go jump into the others to read more! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait to see where the author goes with this series. 

First of all, I have to say how much I despised the Duke of Montrose's character. Oh boy did he make my blood boil! It's all as intended though, for an author certainly wouldn't write-in a character who says books are "only suitable for the simpleminded" (Loc 208), if they wanted the readers to like them now would they? I think not! Jen did an amazing job of creating a villain that would be unquestionably disliked.

Now, Ian MacKenzie's character? Whew! I appreciated that while he was easily likable, he was also complicated. There was depth to his character. He had faults that he was aware of and admitted to struggling with, but he also clearly had a big heart. He was grateful to the people in his life who had shown him love when he was abandoned as a child. He gave credit where credit was due. Without a doubt his character was masterfully written.

I also thought it was interesting that while Izzie is a victim of her circumstances, she doesn't exactly play that role. While finding employment was deemed the best plan to insure her safety, she appeared to embrace it rather than complain. It was as if she wanted to make the best of her circumstances she was in. Even though her time was intended to be temporary all along, she still felt a desire to succeed and seek the approval of those around her. She was another easily-liked character.

There was so much that I loved about this story, and I highly recommend it to historical fiction fans. I can't wait for the series to continue!

*I received a copy of this book from the author through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

What a fun and whimsical adventure!  Jen Turano has once again transported the reader to another time and place!  This story is non-stop humor and surprises!  The cast of characters is quirky and memorable while being absolutely lovable!  I loved the mixture of ages and personalities in this story.  This book kept me on my toes and guessing until the end!

Flights of Fancy is the latest from Jen Turano.  Miss Isadora Delafield has been dragged to Newport by her mother to meet an elderly duke who is looking for a young woman to wed.  Unfortunately, Isadora has no interest in this man.  Right for the moment they first meet, Isadora finds him uncouth; however, when she learns that his previous three wives meet with untimely deaths, Isadora knows she must flee as far from him as possible!

Isadora best friend, Beatrix and her family butler help formulate a plan for her to escape the streets of New York to the rural and less populated area of western Pennsylvania.  Isadora, a rich, spoiled heiress, must somehow pretend to be a housekeeper.  You will find this tale full of craziness, as Isadora takes a position on a farm owned by Ian Mackenzie, a young businessman who has worked his way to be part of the elite of Pittsburg!

Isadora must keep her identity a secret, especially from Ian, who has a desire to marry into money to help seal his spot in the land of the wealthy he has landed in.  As Isadora meets so many characters in this new world she has inserted herself into, she slowly discovers that she is not as drawn to the world that she grew up in.  There are many people and a different way of living in this quieter spot of the world, that seem to speak loudly to her spirit.  You will be interested to see how all the details come together in Isadora's life!

I think Jen Turano is my favorite writer.  She has a beautiful way with words and a delightful sense of humor.  In this book much of the humor comes when an American heiress needs to hideout and tries to get a job as a housekeeper, even though she has no practical skills as such.  Izzie is a wonderful, warm-hearted woman who quickly learns how much she has taken people and life for granted.  Life becomes an adventure.  She’s like a flower coming into bloom. The way she and Ian interact made me laugh many times.  It was wonderful! 
I enjoyed that Turano again includes some animals in prominent roles.  In this case, a cow named Buttercup and a chicken named Elmer add to the mishaps and humor. 
I’m very excited about this new American Heiresses series.  I would highly recommend it.  Thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book.  I was not required to leave a positive review.  All opinions are my own.

She did it again. I don’t know how she does it, but somehow Jen Turano does. She takes me to another time and place, throws me into the middle of hilarious scenes, and makes me forgot about stressful situations in my current life because I’m so focused on the humorous situations taking place in the book. In her newest book, Flights of Fancy, she took me to a rural farm along with an heiress. She introduced me to a cow named Buttercup, a chicken named Elmer and some adorable children. And while I was there, I fell in love with the characters who had peculiarities that made them captivating. There was intrigue, romance, and a lot of laughing. Dialogues and escapades created humorous moments that I absolutely enjoyed. So, if you are looking for a book to make you laugh with it’s lightheartedness, you should try Flights of Fancy.

I would recommend this book for those who enjoy comedy, romance, and a small amount of adventure.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jen Turano is one of my favorite go-to writers. With her introduction to her latest series with Flights of Fancy, Turano did not disappoint. From the first chapter, I was drawn into the world of Izzy in New York and wanted to know more about this Duke fellow. Within a couple of chapters, Turano had me laughing out loud as I pictured some of the images she created with her words. She does a wonderful job at coming up with really hilarious scenes, but she allows me to have a moment of breather too. The story moved at a nice pace, and I completely got wrapped up in Izzie and Taylor's life. True to Turano fashion, the romance had me laughing, and I loved how she has the couple connect with a piece of literature, which she has done in a couple of her other books. I love watching the characters interact during this time period. Turano included a quick moment of suspense near the end of the novel, and it didn't feel out of place for me. It seemed to fit right in with what Turano set up in the beginning chapters. Overall, Jen Turano created another hit out of the park with Flights of Fancy. I anxiously await what comes next in this series. 

I received a complimentary copy of Jen Turano's Flights of Fancy from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.