Out of the Frying Pan

Turner #2.5

by Courtney Milan

Set just before Unraveled, and sets in motion one of the subplots you see in Unraveled. Definitely read Unveiled first, and probably Unclaimed.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Novella, Fiction

17 pages, ebook

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Courtney Milan writes books about carriages, corsets, and smartwatches. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. She is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller.

Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea

Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time.

Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in the days of my youth practically every magazine would run short stories or novels. I read probably ten or twelve magazines a month. Nowadays almost no magazines carry fiction, and it's been so long since I bought one that I was gobsmacked when I looked at the cover price in the grocery store the other day.

I like stories. Not every author enjoys writing at every possible length and fewer still achieve equal skill in both short and long forms, so no judgement. But for those who can and do and have a market to make it worth while, I love this business of publishing interstitial and stand alone stories. Love, love, love.

Just wanted to say that.

Free to read online

[eyes.2c · Rating 3 out of 5]

Online via URL in information.
A little more revealed about the Turners and Richard and Snite's relationship

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since finishing Birthday Gift, I knew what the big reveal was going to be but damn if Courtney Milan didn't just throw another curveball. I need to read Unraveled now!

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I JUST WANT RICHARD TO BE HAPPY

[Pauline Destinugrainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baca ini di websitenya Courtney Milan.

Isinya singkat, didominasi oleh percakapan antara Richard dan Margareth. Richard mengungkapkan rahasia dirinya, sekaligus menjelaskan kenapa dirinya dan Smite bermusuhan.

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5; 4 stars; A-

This is another free short story from the author's website. It really adds some depth to Smite's character and its worth reading before book 3.

[e☆]

we could have had richard’s book/novella ...

[Paola andFrancesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn't the easiest free book to find on Courtney Milan's web site, but if you're looking for it, it (and another free Turner short story) is available here (http://www.courtneymilan.com/turner/f...). It's the moment when Richard Dalrymple realizes that Smite Turner didn't betray him, so it fills in some of the backstory for Unraveled. There's a note at the top that it took two years longer than expected to be available because Milan lost the handwritten version of it.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The secret hinted at in Birthday Gift is revealed here, but that was no big surprise. Still, I liked the story.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Dalrymple and Smite Turner still tread very carefully around each other. So, Richard is on tenterhooks when he’s asked to the christening for Ashes and Margaret’s baby. Margaret is Richard’s sister but it’s still hard for him to enter an estate that he had been told would be his until the law was properly enforced and it went to the rightful heir.
And Smite will be there.
Richard learns something about himself here; a hard lesson. And that, maybe he should apologise.
It was sweet to see Margaret and Ashes so happy, too.
Read it here:
http://www.courtneymilan.com/turner/o...
4 stars

[viktoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh.

I had never read either Unclaimed or Unraveled (especially Unraveled), despite the fact that I love Milan's works hardcore and I'd normally be into either, because I strongly shipped Richard/Mark and Richard/Smite so much reading Unveiled that I could never touch them. Now, I randomly ran across Birthday Gift and this, and I will never, ever be able to read either (but especially Unraveled). Whhhhyyy?

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Richard. If he could only get out of his own way he'd be much happier. Surely he must see that it's actually better for him not being the Duke. No marriage forced upon him in an effort to produce heirs, no pretending to be someone he isn't. And he just doesn't have the thoughtfulness that is required to be a good leader; probably because his concern has always been to keep his shameful secret above all else.

I hope things get sorted and he can eventually find some measure of peace.

[Tracy DeNeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

More information on Richard and Smite's prickly friends to enemies story.

I loved Richard's reaction to appearing at his childhood home as a guest. The brother/sister and brother/brother relationships in this series are so fraught with history and real emotion.

I am happy that Milan has provided these transitional vignettes to provide more flavor around these relationships.

[fulano]

Rep:
Gay protagonist here, but not main in the series.

TW:
Internalized homophobia. (Challenged, I like to think. He speaks to his sister about it and it goes well. Meant to be hopeful and I believe it succeeded.)

Short and offers a perspective on Richard’s character and the purpose of the actions he takes. He’s a well-intentioned man even if he needs to work on how he goes about that.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to see this character motivation and a little more as to why Smite and Richard mostly hate each others' guts. And I really felt sorry for Richard and his guilt because of the time he lived in (and in some countries today as well). Just a lot of heartache there. And this was also nice to read after reading Smite's book.

[Nida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely recommend reading this before you read book 3 of the series (Unraveled).

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, but tied up loose ends. Assumptions can sure wreck ones life.

[Iza Soares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protect Richard at all costs!

[Cait]

courtney milan turn on your location i just want to talk about why none of the reviews of smite's book contain the words 'bi' or 'bisexual'

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without giving away spoilers (for some reason I read this before reading even book 2, but I'd just read "Birthday Gift" and the spoiler was already in my brain), I totally called this.

[fia · Rating 3 out of 5]

we deserved a richard novella if not a full length book i'm livid

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good follow up to Birthday Gift, looking forward to reading Smite’s story now but have to go back to Unclaimed (Mark’s story) first.

[HistoricalHussy · Rating 4 out of 5]

made my heart shatter.

[Agita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Due to its shortness, I simply cannot give 4 stars but damn did I actually enjoy it

[Elia · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh

[Devanshi Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smite is the bestand worst of them all

[Cruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short scene between Richard Dalrymple and Margaret, and other family members.

Author: Courtney Milan
Length: maybe 5 pages?
Setting: Parford Manor, Somerset. Late September, 1843

Three little scenes hinting at more.

Richard and Smite have a history of pain and betrayal, and each holds the others secrets.

A teaser into future books.

Nice little gift from the author, with a good expression of pain, fear and grief.
But it's not that special.

The Turners:
Book 1 Unveiled - Margaret and Ash Turner.
Book 1.5 Birthday Gift - Smite Turner and Richard Dalrymple (set before Unveiled and available on Milan's website).
Book 1.6 Unlocked - Lady Elaine Warren and Evan Carlton, Earl of Westfeld.
Book 2 Unclaimed - Sir Mark Turner and Jessica Farleigh
Book 2.5 Out of the Frying Pan - Richard Dalrymple with Margaret (set before Unraveled and available on Milan's website.)
Book 3 Unraveled - Smite Turner and Miranda Darling.

References:
Author's website: http://www.courtneymilan.com/turner/o...

-CR-

[Sheila Melo · Rating 4 out of 5]

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN is a short vignette posted on Milan's website that gives more insight into the friendship/animosity between Richard Dalrymple and Smite Turner and the secrets they share. This short vignette is not intended to be read alone but rather is an add on for those who have read the series. Much of the information is disclosed in UNRAVELED as well, but having read it first, I understood some of the mysteries that were hinted at in UNVEILED.

This is a nice addition for fans.

[Alexandria Tale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I KNEW IT! I was sure what other secret Richard had and I was right. Here, we were told that Smite didn't exposed Richard's secret. He thought Smite was so he retaliated with accusing him of homosexual so when Smite indeed told of Richard's other secret, people thought Smite only want to get even with him. Not very gentlemanly, but then I know he was.

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s enjoyable to see small slices of life for characters of her longer books. Smite has long been an interesting figure so any view into his life is interesting. Do wish this was a little more robust? Yes. Twenty pages doesn’t allow for a lot of story or plot progression, so this was more of a glimpse of familiar faces than a book with a real plot of its own.