Happy Birthday?

Harriet Peabody has made it a practice to say a special prayer to God on her birthday.  This year, instead of asking for something specific, she left the choice completely up to the Almighty.  She just asks Him to give her something she would find wonderful.

At first, it seems God has done the opposite, because her life starts to fall apart–and it all begins on her birthday.  She is assaulted by a bratty member of high society, and then loses her job because of it.  Even though it wasn’t a very good job, it provided enough money to pay her portion of the rent for the shabby apartment she shares with her two friends, Lucetta and Millie .

An offer you can’t refuse.

Next, she becomes acquainted with the rich, handsome and completely frustrating Oliver Addleshaw.  He wants to hire her to pretend, for a short time, to be his fiancée.  Her job would be to help him host business dinners along with society functions.  He offers her more money than she could make in years.  She thinks he must be quite mad.

Of course, an offer like this opens up all types of ways for things to go wrong–along with a lot of ways for things to go right, too.  We are introduced to Oliver’s charming grandfather, Archibald; her gentle and caring Pastor, Reverend Gilmore; along with the snobby high society of New York City in 1882.   Also revealed is Harriet’s dream of designing a new type of dress bustle, as well as, opening a dress shop where she creates fashionable, affordable gowns for women of modest means.

After the “engagement” takes place, strong-willed Mrs. Abigail Hart, a rich widow, declares herself Harriet’s chaperone.  She demands that Harriet, along with her friends Lucetta and Millie, move in with her immediately.  Harriet’s estranged Aunt Jane, who is constantly running confidence schemes, also makes an appearance.  She attempts to blackmail Harriet into introducing her into high society so she can pull off a really big caper.

Now for something you’ll really like….

What can be the result when all these diverse characters and their stories are mixed
together?  An absolutely great tale!  I haven’t read a book I liked this much in a long time, and give this story six stars instead of the normal limit of five.

This is a well written work with lots of interesting characters and a great story-line.  Actually, it is a screwball comedy in book form, with a completely satisfying and happy ending.  I highly recommend it to anyone who would like an escape, at least for a while,  to a world made up of fascinating people living out a great story–with some laughs thrown in along the way.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Bethany House Publishing for the purpose of review.  All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment.

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