Review of "The Secret of Pembrooke Park"

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: Julie Klassen once again immersed me in early 1800's England.  I always welcome a chance to delve vicariously into historic England, and "The Secret of Pembrooke Park" proved to be a delightful adventure.  Fans of Jane Austen will find similarities in the plot to "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion," but "The Secret of Pembrooke Park" is its own story with plenty of mystery. The questions begin right from the start when Abigail's family is presented with the prospect of living in Pembrooke Park.  Their unidentified benefactor is soon the least of mounting mysteries when Abigail moves into the abandoned manor house.  Klassen weaves the secrets into a richly detailed plot in which the characters and the manor house play equally important roles.  As the cast of characters grows, Klassen leaves readers questioning their motives and true identities.  This is definitely a story that veils the truth of its secrets until the end, and its numerous layers kept my interest.  Even as answers are revealed, Klassen adds some twists and suspense.  

I loved the characterization of the manor house and the many tales held within the walls.  It is an integral part of the plot, which Klassen describes with exquisite details.  The first glimpse of Pembrooke Park is one that plays out as vividly as the scene of a movie. That first eerie impression of a suddenly abandoned house sets the tone of mystery which builds as more questions are introduced, such as sneaking cloaked figures and notes from an unknown sender.  

"The Secret of Pembrooke Park" is not without its share of love and romance, but it is more understated than in some novels.  I appreciate Klassen's approach to focus on the emotional connection between the characters rather than relying on physical attraction.  Although Abigail initially feels destined for spinsterhood, she soon finds herself with two potential suitors - one new and one old.  Add an attractive and outgoing younger sister to the mix, and romance becomes a bit more complicated. Like the rest of the plot, Abigail's journey to love is defined by some suspense, and the characters involved come to life on the pages, once again reminding me of some of my favorite British period movies. 

Julie Klassen once again succeeds in creating an engaging story set against the charming backdrop of England's countryside.  The journey through the pages is one that I enjoyed, and I'm sure other fans of history and all things British will find similar pleasure within the pages of "The Secret of Pembrooke Park." 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 

Summary from Bethany House:  Abigail Foster is the practical daughter. She fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry, and the one man she thought might marry her seems to have fallen for her younger, prettier sister. 

Facing financial ruin, Abigail and her father search for more affordable lodgings, until a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play...

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem acquainted with the manor's past, the only information they offer is a stern warning: Beware trespassers drawn by rumors that Pembrooke Park contains a secret room filled with treasure.

This catches Abigail's attention. Hoping to restore her family's finances--and her dowry--Abigail looks for this supposed treasure. But eerie sounds at night and footprints in the dust reveal she isn't the only one secretly searching the house.

Then Abigail begins receiving anonymous letters, containing clues about the hidden room and startling discoveries about the past. 

As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks...or very real danger?

Review of "The Dancing Master"

Rating: 4.5 Stars

~  ~  ~ 

Review:  Since the debut of her first novel, "Lady of Milkweed Manor," I eagerly await each new work by Julie Klassen.  Like the British settings and period dramas that she loves, each of her novels read like scenes from a Jane Austen movie or BBC film.  Her latest release, "The Dancing Master"  will not fail to disappoint readers.  Like the village of Candleford in the British drama "Lark Rise to Candleford," Beaworthy is a village filled with its own mixture of charms, beauty, sadness, and secrets.  Each member of the community has his or her own insecurities or prejudices that they must overcome. Lady Amelia Midwinter is the matriarch of Beaworthy and appears to be bitter and cold-hearted, while forbidding both dance lessons and public dances. The arrival of young and handsome Alec Valcourt, a dancing master from London, begins to unravel some of the fiercely held "laws" of the past twenty years.   Since dancing is not condoned within the village, Alec encounters his share of resistance and prejudice against his profession and his manhood.  The introduction of Alec Valcourt is a welcome distraction for Lady Amelia's flirtatious and reckless daughter, Julia, who feels dissatisfied and imprisoned by the limitations that her mother places upon her.  As each of their lives entwine,  it becomes evident that secrets and mysteries lurk just beneath the surface and each person cannot be defined by one's initial impressions. 

Julie Klassen has mastered the art of storytelling as she creates scenes that are rich in historical details and intriguing characters.  As a reader, I was captivated by the mysterious history of Beaworthy and the complexities of each of the main characters.  Lady Amelia, Alec, Julia, and other supporting characters each exhibit their own weaknesses and struggles.  Julia has a childlike innocence and vulnerability that mirrors her mother's, but only a buried past will allow each of them to flourish.  Alec is also haunted by his own recent past and a scandal that wishes to taint his potential happiness in Beaworthy.   The village is aptly named because worthiness, forgiveness, love, grace, and redemption are themes of the novel.   Just as one becomes frustrated and struggles to learn the steps of a minuet or English country dance,  the trials are worthwhile after each of the steps and dancers unite in perfect synchronization and harmony. Julie Klassen created a plot as graceful and as intricate as the dances she portrayed. The storyline played out with the nuances of a dance- the struggles, anticipation, mystery, climax, resolution and beauty.  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Summary from Bethany House Publishers: Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch's daughter. Though he's initially wary of Julia Midwinter's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul--and hidden sorrows of her own.

Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master--a man her mother would never approve of--but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec's help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village...and to her mother's tattered heart?

Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen hoping to make a "good match" in Regency England.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/s7Yl1

About the author: Julie Klassen loves all things Jane---Jane Eyreand Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She is a three-time Christy Award winner and a 2010 Midwest Book Award winner for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Learn more about Julie at: http://julieklassen.com

Blog Tour:  http://litfusegroup.com/author/jklassen

Review of "The Tutor's Daughter" by Julie Klassen

Rating: 5 Stars

~  ~  ~

Summary from Bethany House: Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementoes?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her....

When suspicious acts escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart?

Filled with page-turning suspense, The Tutor's Daughter takes readers to the windswept Cornwall coast--a place infamous for shipwrecks and superstitions--where danger lurks, faith is tested, and romance awaits.

Review: Julie Klassen has created a novel Reminiscent of "Northanger Abbey" and "Jane Eyre." "The Tutor's Daughter" is exciting, mysterious, and charming.  Klassen captures British dialogue to perfection, and pays homage to Jane Austen and similar authors.  With a plot and characters that could step straight out of a British movie, "The Tutor's Daughter," is intriguing and memorable.

Mystery abounds as soon as Emma Smallwood and her father arrive at Ebbington Manor.  From residents who harbor secrets to unusual nighttime noises, the mystery builds into something more menacing.  Uncovering the answers kept me glued to the novel, as did the relationship budding between Emma and a certain Weston son. The romance is one of restrain and unexpressed feelings, which adds another element of anticipation.

Book-lovers can relate to Emma's bookish ways, and I related to her character on a few levels.  She is a dreamer, who relies on novels to live out her adventures.  Over the course of the novel, Emma learns to take risks and strengthen her faith. The result for Emma and the reader is sigh-worthy.

Klassen paints a dramatic scene for "The Tutor's Daughter" on the rugged coast of Cornwall, England.  The power and danger of the rocky coast mimics the underlying, deadly currents in Ebbington Manor.  The ocean is the background for several climatic and pivotal moments, adding to their drama and suspense.

"The Tutor's Daughter" is one of my favorite Julie Klassen novels to date. It is certainly a "must-read" for fans of historical fiction and delicious British dramas.

I received a complimentary copy of  from Netgalley, courtesy of Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Read an Excerpt: 
The Tutors Daughter