To Steal a Heart (Bleeker St. Inquiry Agency #1) by Jen Turano. Gilded Age.

I think that's a pretty accurate summation of this authors style. Although it's been a few years since I read her books none I would ever describe as having a realistic feel to them. For a clean read with some some light hearted fun they are  fine for when you need that sillier read to escape the real world.

Gosh, she really seems to like this trope, seem to recall all the ones I read (circa 2015) the heroine was always off investigating some sort of mystery using bizarre disguises, I think a couple as a male

Checked my records, it looks like those I read I rated reasonably highly, I still have a couple unread. Might be time to revisit and see if I would still think the same now about her style (pretty sure the answer will be no   my tastes have changed)

Nick in this story was eventually mentored by Professor Cameron. But it felt conditional to me. The Prof. wanted Nick 
to accept and not question any aspect of official society life. He told Nick he'd be better off w/o his friend Gabbie
who'd reduce Nick's standing. I became suspicious of the Prof. who felt like he had deeper 'skin in the game.' 

I prefer a subtle spiritual message. I hope the author was not implying: be a believer and get what you want. 
Because we as humans make choices & then must live w/ choices or make corrections or amends. Or try a new
path. A few folks living the high-life in the story were liars or fast becoming rotters. So not happy, not genuine. 

Janie---

A good spiritual story- blanking on title. A woman fled her abusive spouse in late 1880s? 
Went to Michigan? The owner of timber co. wanted her to cook for his loggers.
He had to taste her apple (?) pie first. He hired her. His reg cook was jealous. One 
logger was a former preacher. Her spouse tracked her down and then....



Correction: 
Found it! 
The title was The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena B. Miller. But it was Civil War era.