Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions shared are mine.

Many of the books I receive to review have a mystery laced with romance. Playing the Part by Jen Turano was similar in that regard. However, the biggest difference in this story was the tongue-in-cheek humor that swirled around each scene.  Some situations were really a hoot!

At first, I didn’t like Lucetta or her male counterpart, Bram.  They were both so eye-roll-worthy because of their big egos.  Each of them were being bombarded with suitors, and had to resort to wearing costumes (even cross-dressing) to remain incognito.  I was thinking, “Sheesh!”  After a few chapters, though, I realized that the whole setup was really more of a poking-fun style by Turano. That allowed me to enjoy the rest of the story.  I did not read the previous 2 titles in this series, and I think they would have lent a good background on these matters.

The side characters were dimensional enough to carry the tale on their own.  The disgruntled housekeeper, the wheedling grandmother, the grudge-holding mother, and all the servants in between….they all had a beauty of their own.  I even liked Geoffrey the goat, who had a strong dislike for women in dresses.   Beneath all of this lies a more meaningful message, though, and that’s what really makes Playing the Part shine.