The Painter's Daughter - A Review

Published - December 2015, Bethany House Publishers
Author - Julie Klassen
Title - The Painter's Daughter
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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Captain Stephen Overtree is used to cleaning up his brother's messes. When he arrives in the Devonshire village where his brother had said he'd be painting, he finds his brother disappeared and the painter's daughter, Sophie Dupont, left pregnant and alone. To rescue the young lady and keep a scandal from smearing her reputation, Stephen proposes a marriage in name only. Her child will have a name and should he be killed, Sophie would be a respectable widow. Sophie agrees knowing that it is the best decision. Yet why does her heart feel torn between her husband and the man who fathered her child? When Wesley arrives home, will Sophie seek a future with the father of her child or will she have discovered that she's fallen in love with her husband?

Once again, Julie Klassen has written a beautiful gothic tale of romance, betrayal, and mystery. While I found found the book to be really good, it didn't enthrall me like The Secret of Pembrooke Park did.

I loved the way that Stephen treated Sophie. I loved that he went out of his way to ensure that she was going to be provided for. I especially loved that he set up a studio for her to paint and to be creative. I loved that he wasn't willing to let her go.

Sophie, on the other hand, was hard for me to really like. I did come to like her. But for much of the story, I thought that she needed to stand up for herself. And Wesley needed to grow up.

Still, the book was beautifully written and like her others, makes me want to visit England.

I received the book for free from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Jane Eyre, Jane Austen, Julie Klassen, Regency fiction, Sarah Ladd

Rating - 4 stars

The Secret of Pembrooke Park - A Review

Published - December 2014, Bethany House Publishers
Author - Julie Klassen
Title - The Secret of Pembrooke Park
Format - ebook, paper
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Practical Abigail Foster fears she will end up a spinster especially since she has little dowry and the one man she thought she might marry appears to have fallen for her younger, prettier sister. On the brink of financial ruin, the family must try to find housing that is functional, yet affordable. Not having any success, they are startled when a strange solicitor arrives with an offer that appears to be too good to be true - the use of a manor house abandoned for eighteen years. When Abigail and her father arrive at Pembrooke Park they are startled to find everything in it left as if the occupants had suddenly vanished - tea cups and tea service waiting to be poured, a doll's house abandoned in mid-play, wardrobes full of clothes. The young, handsome local curate and his family make the Fosters feel welcome, and while it is obvious that they know more about the manor's past, they only offer a warning: Beware of strangers drawn by rumors of a secret treasure room at Pembrooke Park. Abigail is intrigued and wonders if there is some truth to those rumors especially once she begins receiving letters that hint at the treasure along with pieces of the manor's past. But with each letter Abigail receives, danger grows. What will be the cost of having the lost secrets come to light? Will it cost Abigail a chance at love?

After being very disappointed by this author's prior release, The Dancing Master, last year, I was wary to delve into this one. I didn't want this one to disappoint me like the prior one did.

I was so glad to discover that I'd had nothing to really worry about with this book. It pulled me in from the beginning and held me through the ending. The element of mystery and suspense surrounding the house and the past made this a very enjoyable read for me. I also loved the romance between Abigail and the man who steals her heart.

While there were characters I didn't care for, Abigail's sister, one of the servants, and a couple of others, the fact that they were truly minor characters made them easier to bear. I loved how the pieces of the past came to light and I loved how the true owner's identity remained hidden until the end of the novel.

Sure there were parts that were predictable. But I still enjoyed the book. Overall, this may be my favorite one by this author.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of regency England, Jane Austen, Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, Carrie Turansky, historical fiction

Rating - 5 stars

Heart's Rebellion - A Review

Published - March, 2014, Revell Books

Series - London Encounters Book 2

Author - Ruth Axtell

Title - A Heart's Rebellion

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Jessamine Barry is still reeling from the hurt she feels from the betrayal of the man she thought she'd marry. She loved him and he didn't feel that way towards her. To help ease her hurt, she goes to London for a Season. Attractive Lancelot Marfleet, the second son of an aristocrat, takes an interest in her, but she doesn't see him as a potential suitor. She wants instead to take the fashionable society by storm, and a young rake is more than willing to help her. Yet, when things go too far, Jessamine must learn some hard lessons. When a tragedy strikes Lancelot's family and he becomes the heir, can she convince him that she doesn't just want him for his title?

So to be perfectly honest, I was not enthralled with this book. I easily put it down and didn't want to come back to it.

 I found Jessamine to be a shallow, spoiled, brat. I couldn't get over how she felt that she was betrayed simply because the man she loved married someone else, when she KNEW that he didn't love her.  Still, watching what she goes through in the book, did tug sympathy from my heart to her. She is redeemable. I just didn't like her much.

I adored Lancelot from the moment that he stepped into the pages. I loved how he kept riding to her rescue. I also loved how he loved her even though she was ruined. I thought that he was a very strong male lead in and I felt that he drove the story.

I still loved some of the secondary characters - Meg in particular. I'd love to see a book about Meg.

I received this book for free from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book or to give a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Regency fiction, Downtown Abbey

Rating - 3 stars - Only because I adored Lancelot and Jessamine became redeemable

The Dancing Master - A Review

Published - January 7, 2014, Bethany House Publishers

Author - Julie Klassen

Format - paper, ebook

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Alec Valcourt moves with his mother and sister to the small country town of Beaworthy to escape a scandal in London. He doesn't know when he moves to the town that dancing is strictly forbidden. As a dancing master, that puts a damper on his chances of employment. When he is offered a job as a clerk for Lady Amelia Midwinter, Alec accepts, even though his heart longs to be teaching dance. He soon finds himself drawn to the young, beautiful Julia Midwinter, daughter of his boss. Julia longs to escape the small town/country life she lives and seek adventure in the world outside of Beaworthy. She doesn't understand why dancing has been forbidden. As she seeks out Alec's company more and more, she discovers a need to find out the truth behind the reasons dancing is forbidden as well as her own past. When the scandal that caused Alec to leave London follows him to the town, will he admit the truth or will he continue to protect his family.

I've several of Julie Klassen's books before. When I kept hearing about how slow this one was, I found myself hoping I'd be able to get into it and enjoy it. I also found myself browsing the reviews, something I never do until I write my own, and was a little surprised at the lower than usual ratings for this book. While, I'll admit that this book is not my favorite one by this author. Truthfully, I don't feel it's one of her better written ones either. But I was still able to enjoy this book.

I found Julia to be, for about half of the book, very immature and more of a flirt than what I really cared for. The other half of the book, I saw her grow up and I actually liked her then. Alec was a bit too stuck on his appearance and not getting his hands dirty, but I truly liked him. I liked how he realized he had to make a living to support his mother and sister, and while the clerk position may not have been his dream job, it was a job that he could do. I loved the way he cared for his mother and sister. In fact, I found his caring for them to be sweet.

I absolutely ADORED the secondary characters. Specifically John Drummond and Walter Allen. I loved how they made a scene more interesting whenever they were in one. I also found the way that Alec helped Walter to overcome his problem with dancing to be very ingenious.

There was a bit of mystery surrounding the scandal that caused Alec and his family to flee London and around the Midwinters. Yet when the truth was actually revealed, I felt it was a bit of a letdown. Even the reasons behind dancing being forbidden was more anti-climatic than I'd expected.

Still, I can recommend this book. But I'd recommend, if you've never read anything by this author, in starting with either The Lady of Milkweed Manor or the Tutor's Daughter.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Regency England, Julie Klassen, historical fiction

Rating - 3.5 stars, though for purposes on Amazon and Goodreads, it'll be 3.

Tutor's Daughter - A Review

Emma Smallwood accompanies her father to Cornwall as a private tutor for a baron's two youngest sons. Yet once they get there, they find  that not only were they not expected, but that the household is in turmoil. Settling in, Emma and her father decide to try to make the best of their year there. Soon after their arrival mysterious things start happening. The piano being played beautifully in the music room yet no one is there. Objects of Emma's going missing only to turn up days or weeks later with a threatening message. Add into all of this the eldest two sons, Henry and Phillip Weston, each with his own secrets. Someone wants the Smallwoods to leave the cliff side manor. Will the secrets of the household come to light before someone gets hurt? And what of the growing attraction between Emma and one of the sons? Will something ever come of it?

It has been a while since I read a Julie Klassen book. I'd forgotten how she weaves mystery and suspense into her Regency tales. I enjoyed this book. I found myself transported to the cliffs of Cornwall and the plights of the characters. I was reminded, as I read, of both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights as well as Jane Austen's books. There was one character I disliked at the beginning of the book, but by the end, I'd fallen for him. The romance played a minor part in the story. The main part of the story was getting to the truth of happenings at the manor.

I received this book for free from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Downtown Abbey, Jane Austen, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Regency Romance, Laura Frantz

Rating - 4 stars

Heiress of Winterwood - A Review

Amelia Barrett promised her dying friend that she'd raise her newborn daughter as as her own child. With the child safely in her care, Amelia takes on a new role as mother and care-taker/guardian to the baby especially since the child's father is away at sea. When he returns, Captain Graham Sterling learns that his daughter is being raised and cared for by Amelia. When the two first meet, Amelia proposes a way that the Captain can have the best of both worlds, that is someone to care for the baby and still have his life at sea. And that way is that she and the Captain marry. For her, her motives are selfish. She would get out of an engagement where her fiancee doesn't want the baby on the property and she gets to keep Lucy. The Captain would benefit as well by becoming the Master of Winterwood, the family home that Amelia will inherit upon her marriage. Agreeing the her proposal, Graham doesn't realize that the consequences will be dire for them until Lucy is kidnapped and both Graham and Amelia must learn to trust each other and let go of whatever pride and self-reliance that they have and learn to trust that God has everything in control and will see Lucy delivered back to them.

I'd been seeing this book everywhere and being recommended by other bloggers as well as authors whose opinion I trust. I missed the opportunity to request it via Booksneeze, but was able to obtain a copy from NetGalley.

I fell in love with the cover of the book when I first saw it in a Booksneeze newsletter as an upcoming book to review. I typically don't love reading the Regency period, though I seem to read a lot of it. This book captured my attention immediately and didn't let me go. There were several nights over the past few days that I'd be up until the early hours, knowing I had to be at work the next day, because I wanted to know what was going to happen next! As far as I know, this is Sarah Ladd's debut book. But you couldn't tell it by reading it! There is enough mystery surrounding the outcome of Amelia's decisions that kept me wanting to know more. And Graham reminded me of a classic tragic hero in that he had made mistakes and was determined to overcome them and move on. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.


I received the Kindle version of the book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Jane Austen, Downtown Abbey, Julie Klassen, Lisa Tawn Bergren, Regency Romance

Rating - 4 stars

Share your thoughts with me in the comment section. Did you like it, love it, hate it, or just want to tell me Hi? I love to hear from my readers and will respond to comments as I am able.

Moonlight Masquerade - A Review

Lady Celine Wexham was born French but married a wealthy English earl. Now a widow, the French beauty is hiding something. Something that the British government is determined to find out. Rees Phillips is given the assignment to pose as her butler and determine if she is a spy for France. As he spends more and more time in the lovely widow's company, he's convinced that she is in fact a French spy. As his heart becomes entangled, he finds he must choose between his country and the woman he's fallen in love with. Does their love have a chance? Or will it all be part of the old saying "all's fair in love and war?"

This is the first book I've read by Ruth Axtell, and while it started off terribly slow, it did pick up and I was able to enjoy it. It's set in the years of Napoleon, 1813-1814, which is basically between the French Revolutions. I have to say that I loved the kindness Lady Wexham showed to her servants. She treated them more as equals than master to servant. I also loved how Rees thought he was such a great spy only to have been found out early into his game and did not have his cover blown. Yes the book moved slow. Rather tediously slow in spots. But I found that when I put it down and came back to it several hours (or days) later, I was soon lost in the story's intrigue.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Jane Austen, Downtown Abbey, Julie Klassen, Regency Romance

Available March 2013 at your local bookstore from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Rating - 4 stars