Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

Storing Up Trouble (American Heiresses, #3)

by Jen Turano

When Miss Beatrix Waterbury's Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.

Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract.

But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix's safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos.

Reviewed by phyllish on

4 of 5 stars

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A humorous historical

Norman was adorably naive and nerdy! He had a propensity to do math in his head - not only when necessary to calculate something but to calm himself. He didn't understand social niceties and couldn't ride a horse - he was indeed terrified of them. This poor man still believed the tales his older sisters had told him to scare him when they were children.

In addition to this, Norman was a bit oblivious to his family and friends. He was so caught up in his "work" and attempting to do something marvelous with the tremendous intellect God had given him the rest of the world just didn't matter that much. As Beatrix's influence and rebukes had him acutely aware of this and as he began to change, the reactions of his family were hysterical!

I was laughing when Beatrix and he were trying to escape after what happened on the train and their only option was on horseback so he just flopped himself over the saddle! Can you even imagine that?!

Beatrix was a spinster and determined to remain one. Her focus in life was on rights for women and she ended up banished from New York because of it. Well, because of being thrown in jail twice because of it! She was not afraid to speak her mind! Her eccentric Aunt Gladys came up with the notion that Beatrix should experience firsthand the plight of the working woman and thus required her to take a job at Marshall & Fields department store, the results of which were often humorous.

Once Norman realized his infatuation with Beatrix, his attempts to woo her were such great fun!

I was glad for the insights into the conditions and plight of the women in the Gilded Age that led to the Suffrage movement. I have a much better appreciation for the concerns that led those brave women to work to change the world for the better.

Combining mystery with humor and romance, Storing Up Trouble is a fun historical romantic romp with an element of faith.

Read my full review at Among the Reads


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 25 May, 2020: Finished reading
  • 25 May, 2020: Reviewed