A Lesson in Propriety

By Jen Turano

Book Overview

LESSON ONE: Stand in the way of the Windy City's criminal world and expect a most improper proposal from an eligible gentleman in return.

With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fianc 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 the castle's 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.

Laugh-out-loud witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and delightful mischief in the Gilded Age string together this entrancing series starter. Fans of clean romance, Christian fiction, and strong female characters will enjoy this read.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764243853
• ISBN13: 9780764243851
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Witty and Romantic

Jen Turano delights with a charming Gilded‑Age romance as Drusilla Merriweather, newly penniless and jilted, transforms her late aunt’s supposedly haunted Chicago castle into a finishing school—only to find herself juggling ghostly shenanigans, unscrupulous developers, and a fiercely honorable architect, Rhenick Wittenbecker, whose admiration for her tenacity is genuinely refreshing. Their banter is sharp, their trust-building sincere, and their chemistry utterly enjoyable. One line that really hit me was: “I won’t let fear keep me from fighting—for this school, this castle…or for you.” It’s a beautifully bold promise that speaks to courage, devotion, and the heart of their relationship. Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to post a favorable review.