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In Another Girl's Shoes
Rose Whitelands, on her way to become a nursery governess in Wales, has another fate thrust upon her. She is tricked into swopping places with Vera Vayne, the Cockney actress Rose meets on the train who is the widow of a war hero. Vera wants Rose to go to her husband’s home and meet his parents in her stead so that Vera will be spared an acting job that is too much even for Pretending deep sorrow for the loss of a husband she'd only known for two weeks.But after Rose visits the war hero’s home and meets his family she finds herself wishing she really could swop places with Vera Vayne, instead of just walking…In another girl’s shoes.Praise for Berta "One can always depend on finding an interesting plot, strongly tinged with originality, in any novel by this author." – The New York Times, April 23, 1922
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 1916
About the author
Berta Ruck
121 books15 followersAmy Roberta Ruck was born on 2 August 1878 in Murree, Punjab, India, one of eight children by Eleanor D'Arcy and Colonel Arthur Ashley Ruck, a British army officer. Her family moved to Wales, where she went to school in Bangor. On 1909, she married novelist (George) Oliver Onions (1873-1961), and they had two sons: Arthur (b. 1912) and William (b. 1913). Berta died only nine days after her 100th birthday.
From 1905, she began to contribute short stories and serials to magazines, and on 1914, her first novel "His Official Fiancée" was published. She wrote over eighty romance novels. She also wrote an autobiography and two memoir-style works.
From 1905, she began to contribute short stories and serials to magazines, and on 1914, her first novel "His Official Fiancée" was published. She wrote over eighty romance novels. She also wrote an autobiography and two memoir-style works.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 24, 2022
2021 Review
This is my favorite Berta Ruck novel and if I didn't have a reason for it in 2019, well, I have less of a reason now. It isn't the most empowering of her stories. This isn't my favorite couple. And far from making me feel understood, it contains plenty of lines and attitudes that ought to make a modern woman flinch.
But I feel most satisfied finishing it. It isn't an academic satisfied, like with The Boy with Wings where I recognize the literary merits of the book even if it isn't my favorite. And it isn't 'of historical interest' in the same way The Subconscious Courtship is.
It is just a sweet romance set at an interesting point in history and containing striking attitudes that mirror its era.
I'll keep coming back.
2019 Review
I think this is my favorite Berta Ruck. Maybe not my favorite heroine or romance by her, but the overall vibe. "Our boys in khaki..."
It is moving.
2018 Review
4.5 Stars
It is official: I am obsessed with Berta Ruck's novels.
This is the third night in a row that I have stayed up past 1 am reading one of her books. But they just keep getting better and better! (Or maybe my expectations drop to meet them and the result is some happy mesh in the middle.)
I really, truly did love this one. It lacks the feminist undertones that attracted me to His Official Fiancee (characters say things like, "Who wants a woman to be clever, good god?") and the plot certainly feels like a more developed The Wrong Mr. Right, but you see, it was just that. More developed.
For all the foreseeable plot twists, miscommunications, and inevitable WW1 sap ('our boys in khaki!'), Berta Ruck still manages to smuggle in some really deep thoughts about marriage and 'settling.' I love how she describes the girl who marries the boy who 'happens to be near.' I also love the ending, which wasn't a 'we confess our love and fade to black!' but a more nuanced look at what it means to be happy and love someone. For all its fluff, this book held depth. THAT is how chick-flicks should be!
It also holds historical interest. Since it was written smack in the middle of WW1, it truly captures the sense of 'we have to live in the present.' I don't know quite how to describe it except that when you place it in its historical setting...a lot can be forgiven.
Unlike His Official Fiancee, which does everything but mention current events, this one squarely embraces the turmoil of the times. Yet it doesn't do so through military campaigns or famous generals. It comes through the eyes of a young woman struggling to find work because her 'people' are dead, of mothers who have lost their sons but carry on anyway, of battalions of young men dead before their time.
A book that combines romance and depth with the turmoil of an era.
This is my favorite Berta Ruck novel and if I didn't have a reason for it in 2019, well, I have less of a reason now. It isn't the most empowering of her stories. This isn't my favorite couple. And far from making me feel understood, it contains plenty of lines and attitudes that ought to make a modern woman flinch.
But I feel most satisfied finishing it. It isn't an academic satisfied, like with The Boy with Wings where I recognize the literary merits of the book even if it isn't my favorite. And it isn't 'of historical interest' in the same way The Subconscious Courtship is.
It is just a sweet romance set at an interesting point in history and containing striking attitudes that mirror its era.
I'll keep coming back.
2019 Review
I think this is my favorite Berta Ruck. Maybe not my favorite heroine or romance by her, but the overall vibe. "Our boys in khaki..."
It is moving.
2018 Review
4.5 Stars
It is official: I am obsessed with Berta Ruck's novels.
This is the third night in a row that I have stayed up past 1 am reading one of her books. But they just keep getting better and better! (Or maybe my expectations drop to meet them and the result is some happy mesh in the middle.)
I really, truly did love this one. It lacks the feminist undertones that attracted me to His Official Fiancee (characters say things like, "Who wants a woman to be clever, good god?") and the plot certainly feels like a more developed The Wrong Mr. Right, but you see, it was just that. More developed.
For all the foreseeable plot twists, miscommunications, and inevitable WW1 sap ('our boys in khaki!'), Berta Ruck still manages to smuggle in some really deep thoughts about marriage and 'settling.' I love how she describes the girl who marries the boy who 'happens to be near.' I also love the ending, which wasn't a 'we confess our love and fade to black!' but a more nuanced look at what it means to be happy and love someone. For all its fluff, this book held depth. THAT is how chick-flicks should be!
It also holds historical interest. Since it was written smack in the middle of WW1, it truly captures the sense of 'we have to live in the present.' I don't know quite how to describe it except that when you place it in its historical setting...a lot can be forgiven.
Unlike His Official Fiancee, which does everything but mention current events, this one squarely embraces the turmoil of the times. Yet it doesn't do so through military campaigns or famous generals. It comes through the eyes of a young woman struggling to find work because her 'people' are dead, of mothers who have lost their sons but carry on anyway, of battalions of young men dead before their time.
A book that combines romance and depth with the turmoil of an era.
April 6, 2021
This story is basically the inspiration for the movie While You Were Sleeping. I love the movie, so I suppose it’s not a surprise I enjoyed this book as well! There were elements of comedy, romance, and delightful descriptions of Paris. It’s set during World War I so it definitely feels similar to Downton Abbey in some ways, however it has a much lighter tone. I love historical fiction because you can be immersed not only in a different place, but a different time as well. This book does not disappoint in that respect. It’s definitely a very romanticized version of Paris during wartime, I’m sure. However it was enjoyable to read. I feel like I got to visit all the restaurants and shops and walk down the streets of Paris in 1918 after reading this book.
Summary
Rose Whitelands is on her way to become a governess when she meets an outspoken cockney actress who announces she’s a war widow. One thing leads to another, and the cockney actress finagles things so that Rose is forced to pretend to be her, and visit her dead husbands’ parents in her place Another thing leads to another, and Rose finds herself unwilling to own up to the truth after meeting the war hero’s family. Then more things lead to yet more things and they end up in France, where Rose may or may not finally own up to the truth.
Pros
The setting and descriptions were pretty magical, and so charming. If you don’t like flowery descriptions this book probably isn’t for you. Like I said earlier, you basically get to visit Paris and see it through the eyes of a rich young tourist during the wartime in France.
Despite being happy and relatively light, it’s still set during the war and that tragedy and sadness seeps through in places as it should.
I liked the heroine, she was very gentle and quiet yet she also has a bit of a sarcastic inner monologue which is fun to read. Also her character has depth, as the story progresses you find out she lost her family which definitely adds more context to the choices she’s made and why she’s so reluctant to give up her fake husband’s family.
Cons
The male characters are condescending, and the tone overall can be a bit sexist. There were a couple places especially towards the end that made me grit my teeth a bit and feel like banging my head against a door. For instance, the main guy explains that he doesn’t like clever girls. Rather his “ideal woman” is someone docile and meek who would stay at home yada yada yada. Ugh, it’s hard because I feel like despite these spots and moments Berta Ruck is pretty forward thinking for her time, and the female characters are quite strong and independent in many ways. However this was very much a present part of the book.
Although Rose works, she very much views it as drudgery and a trap to get it out of, preferring to do nothing and get married I suppose. Although there’s more to it than that, she always wants a family and community. Still that bothered me a bit, work can be fulfilling and interesting given you’re in the right type of work.
Books (and movies) it’s similar to:
Agatha Christie’s books, not for the plot but for the general tone and characters. Both are very light and “fluffy” in a way, and have that old-fashioned charm to them.
While You Were Sleeping, because it’s basically the same plot in many ways!
I review more books like this at my blog, the honestavocado.wordpress.com.
Summary
Rose Whitelands is on her way to become a governess when she meets an outspoken cockney actress who announces she’s a war widow. One thing leads to another, and the cockney actress finagles things so that Rose is forced to pretend to be her, and visit her dead husbands’ parents in her place Another thing leads to another, and Rose finds herself unwilling to own up to the truth after meeting the war hero’s family. Then more things lead to yet more things and they end up in France, where Rose may or may not finally own up to the truth.
Pros
The setting and descriptions were pretty magical, and so charming. If you don’t like flowery descriptions this book probably isn’t for you. Like I said earlier, you basically get to visit Paris and see it through the eyes of a rich young tourist during the wartime in France.
Despite being happy and relatively light, it’s still set during the war and that tragedy and sadness seeps through in places as it should.
I liked the heroine, she was very gentle and quiet yet she also has a bit of a sarcastic inner monologue which is fun to read. Also her character has depth, as the story progresses you find out she lost her family which definitely adds more context to the choices she’s made and why she’s so reluctant to give up her fake husband’s family.
Cons
The male characters are condescending, and the tone overall can be a bit sexist. There were a couple places especially towards the end that made me grit my teeth a bit and feel like banging my head against a door. For instance, the main guy explains that he doesn’t like clever girls. Rather his “ideal woman” is someone docile and meek who would stay at home yada yada yada. Ugh, it’s hard because I feel like despite these spots and moments Berta Ruck is pretty forward thinking for her time, and the female characters are quite strong and independent in many ways. However this was very much a present part of the book.
Although Rose works, she very much views it as drudgery and a trap to get it out of, preferring to do nothing and get married I suppose. Although there’s more to it than that, she always wants a family and community. Still that bothered me a bit, work can be fulfilling and interesting given you’re in the right type of work.
Books (and movies) it’s similar to:
Agatha Christie’s books, not for the plot but for the general tone and characters. Both are very light and “fluffy” in a way, and have that old-fashioned charm to them.
While You Were Sleeping, because it’s basically the same plot in many ways!
I review more books like this at my blog, the honestavocado.wordpress.com.
June 14, 2010
I really loved this book. It was fast paced and funny. The main character was sweet, and very likable. I enjoyed the time period (1916 England/France at war), and appreciated how realistic the author made the background. Rose never started sounding like a person from the 21st century when thinking about the war they were fighting. For example, it would have been easy for the author to make a trip past a German prisoner of war camp a chance to preach the "they were just like us!" message. Not Berta Ruck. Rose was realistically frightened. She had been convinced by the very busy propaganda machine of the time, that the Germans were horrible monsters. When Rose saw a captured German soldier she reacted as she was expected to react, with fear. The other details like this about the war, were quite well done.
The story itself could have been very frustrating. So often author's fall into a trap thinking that constant angst because of stupidity on the part of the characters is highly entertaining. Why would I want to read about someone being stupid? Don't I have to watch myself make stupid mistakes often enough? The angst in this story was all a result of twists of fate and misunderstandings on the part of the secondary characters. Rose was a victim of her surroundings. In the end the plot was sweet and fun. I think part of the reason I liked this book so much is that it was just what I needed at the time.
The last thing I really like about this book is a little bit of emotional depth thrown in at the end. I won't spoil anything, so I can't say much more. Let's just say I finished this book with a better understanding of the trials people during World War I faced. I also finished with friendly feelings for our main characters. So to sound sort of cliche, I laughed and I cried (only a teensy weensy bit really) and came away with a smile. I'm glad I used my birthday money to add this to my personal library.
The story itself could have been very frustrating. So often author's fall into a trap thinking that constant angst because of stupidity on the part of the characters is highly entertaining. Why would I want to read about someone being stupid? Don't I have to watch myself make stupid mistakes often enough? The angst in this story was all a result of twists of fate and misunderstandings on the part of the secondary characters. Rose was a victim of her surroundings. In the end the plot was sweet and fun. I think part of the reason I liked this book so much is that it was just what I needed at the time.
The last thing I really like about this book is a little bit of emotional depth thrown in at the end. I won't spoil anything, so I can't say much more. Let's just say I finished this book with a better understanding of the trials people during World War I faced. I also finished with friendly feelings for our main characters. So to sound sort of cliche, I laughed and I cried (only a teensy weensy bit really) and came away with a smile. I'm glad I used my birthday money to add this to my personal library.
July 12, 2010
It was fast paced and funny . The main character was sweet and like able. I really liked the time period ww1. It was wonderfully romantic not your typical prince/ pauper switch. I would recommend this book to all who love a good romance story.
January 23, 2024
This has all the plot hallmarks of a 1930's screwball comedy of mistaken identity (Midnight, maybe?) + Cinderella but it's less of a comedy and more of a vehicle for some deepish, not always true, observations and, perhaps for the author, nostalgia and literary therapy. It's part romance, part drama, part Parisian travelogue. The ending doesn't quite succeed in proving George's point... it seems like a deus ex machina moment because the author couldn't figure out any other way to get out of it.
The classism doesn't hold up well but it is, thankfully, missing the racism noted in the other book I've read by her.
3.5 stars? I really wanted George to get a lecture on the differences between Rose's prior life and his. Rounded up because my copy had delightfully period illustrations.
The classism doesn't hold up well but it is, thankfully, missing the racism noted in the other book I've read by her.
3.5 stars? I really wanted George to get a lecture on the differences between Rose's prior life and his. Rounded up because my copy had delightfully period illustrations.
June 17, 2015
It's midway through WW1 and Rose Whitelands accidentally finds herself impersonating a dead soldier's wife to his bereaved parents. As you can expect this tangled web takes pages and pages to be undone.
Sadly though I was disappointed in this 1918 novel. After loving Berta Ruck's first book, His Official Fiancee, I was hoping this one would be as strong. Unfortunately it used the same plot point of a woman having to be a 'fake' wife/fiancee to a man's family. It worked the first time, but this time was far more heavy handed and it was obvious that the earlier novel was being used as a template.
Also I think the fact that this book was written during the middle of the World War One really affected Ruck's writing style - gender stereotypes were reinforced over and over again. At one point the lead male character says, "Who wants a woman to be clever, good god?". Also if I have to read him saying "BY JOVE" or "MY PEOPLE" one more time it will be too much to bear...
Sadly though I was disappointed in this 1918 novel. After loving Berta Ruck's first book, His Official Fiancee, I was hoping this one would be as strong. Unfortunately it used the same plot point of a woman having to be a 'fake' wife/fiancee to a man's family. It worked the first time, but this time was far more heavy handed and it was obvious that the earlier novel was being used as a template.
Also I think the fact that this book was written during the middle of the World War One really affected Ruck's writing style - gender stereotypes were reinforced over and over again. At one point the lead male character says, "Who wants a woman to be clever, good god?". Also if I have to read him saying "BY JOVE" or "MY PEOPLE" one more time it will be too much to bear...
August 10, 2016
Something between 3.5 and 4 stars. This was a cute and pretty well-written story, if ever-so-slightly predictable at times. (One thing that happened shortly before the ending was throughly unexpected, though.) At one or two points I was rather exasperated with the heroine for not being able to guess at an impending plot twist that was so plainly indicated! The narrative style is curious in that it seems to start out with Rose telling the story of something that happened to her in the past and then switching to a journal style as if the adventure is ongoing, without ever exactly saying so. I enjoyed the portrayal of WWI-era Paris, and the occasional passages relating to the war itself are touching and revealing of the feelings of the time.
July 24, 2011
Although it took awhile for me to figure out where this plot was going, and even then there were still some surprises in store. This was a delightful book, not your typical "prince/pauper" switch. It was a wonderfully romantic book, and I whole-heartedly recommend it! However, if you can read the e-book, which is from the original printing, it might be easier to read. The typos in this version were a little distracting at times. But other than that, I would read another of her books in a heart-beat. :)
May 24, 2010
Sometimes in romance novels the plot pivots around a lack of communication for rather stupid reasons. However, Berta Ruck makes this happen in quite a plausible fashion, albeit through some events that lean a bit to the fantastic. It all comes together in a cute charming romance involving a mix-up of identities during WWI.
June 23, 2019
I enjoyed the story but the ending felt rushed. I appreciated the sense of tragedy in the WWI -era novel, but I could have read more before it ended. I don't know. I'd read it again but I felt disappointed at the end.
January 14, 2013
Mis-understandings as major plot lines tend to frustrate me, I guess. I enjoyed the character development, description of daily life in a privileged family, and Rose's realistic, persistent desire to let the truth be known.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews