After a Fashion ~ Review

After a Fashion
A Class of Their Own 1
By Jen Turano

Harriet Peabody dreams of redesigning old discarded gowns for women who are independent and hard working but not able to afford this quality new. While waiting to make her dream a reality Harriet works as a milliner.  But a difficult customer by the name of Miss Birmingham, who is both spoiled and demanding, costs Harriet her job.

Miss Birmingham is convinced that she is destined to marry Mr. Addleshaw. Oliver Addleshaw, who observes the incident between Miss Birmingham and Harriet, feels obligated to offer Harriet a temporary job and inform his not fiancee that an engagement with her is not even a possibility that has entered his mind.

But is Harriet willing to present herself as the companion, the fiancee, of the highly eligible Oliver Addleshaw?  All too soon Harriet's life is out of control as she learns the do's and don't's of high society and becomes the topic of society gossip.

And there is a secret in Harriet's past that could destroy everything if the truth comes out.  Oliver's future business prospects could dry up and worse Harriet might be forever ruined.

After a Fashion is a thoroughly delightful story that is splendid mix of humor, drama, and romance lovingly presented between the covers of this historical fiction book.  Though it is not like the works of Jane Austen something about this book puts me in mind of her Emma.  I enjoyed the interactions between the various characters - especially Harriet and her roommates - Lucetta and Millie.  And I truly loved Abigail Hart and her taking these young ladies under her wings, so to speak.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book: 

Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income. 

Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiancee cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.

Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll never truly fit into Oliver's world, but just as she's ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.