Book Review - The Secret of Pembrooke Park

Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

When Abigail Foster’s father’s business fails, the family must sell their home in London and take advantage of a distant relative’s offer to rent Pembrooke Park, an abandoned country estate. The offer is an answer to the Foster’s prayers, though rumors say that the estate is haunted and fraught with dangerous secrets.

William Chapman, the young parson of the church at Pembrooke Park, is the son of the estate’s former steward, so William is privy to certain Pembrooke family secrets. As William and Abigail get acquainted, they discover a shared curiosity about the estate’s “secret room”, rumored to contain treasure. The mystery deepens through anonymous letters Abigail receives that contain journal entries from a previous  manor resident.

William’s attraction to Abigail increases, but as humble parish pastor, he has nothing to offer her in marriage. Abigail’s childhood friend Gilbert returns from his studies in Italy, and her younger sister Louisa arrives on the scene as well, just in time to complicate things.

This book has a little bit of everything - budding friendships and romance, intrigue and distrust, and secrets galore. Just about the time I thought I had some of the puzzle pieced together, the action ramped up and headed in another direction. Plenty of surprises, I like that.

Julie Klassen guides the reader through a delightful maze of mystery, adventure, redemption, and restoration as her characters uncover the long kept secrets of Pembrooke Park. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy the rich, authentic details that envelop the story from start to finish. I must admit, I was sorry to see it end.  The Secret of Pembrooke Park is another lovely and engaging story to Ms. Klassen’s credit.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Secret of Pembrooke Park from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

I am still officially on blog break; will return on Monday, January 5. See you then!  :)

What are you reading this weekend?

Happy New Year,

Karen

Book Review - The Dancing Master

The Dancing Master 

By Julie Klassen

Unfortunate circumstances prompt dancing master Alex Valcourt to move from London to Beaworthy in the fall of 1816. After moving, Alex learns there is a ban on dancing in the small village. To support his mother and sister, he reluctantly secures a position as clerk for Lady Amelia Midwinter.

Julia Midwinter is restless. She prefers horseback riding and flirting with young men to fitting into polite society. Lady Amelia has high expectations for her, as Julia is the sole heir to the Midwinter estate.

Alex’s and Julia’s paths intersect more than Lady Amelia would like.  As they both wrestle with new discoveries, Alex learns his past may affect his future. Julia finds her heritage contains unexpected fragments.

The Dancing Master is a tale of friendships and secrets that held my attention from the start. I found myself nestled within the story, enjoying the characters while trying to solve the mysteries within. 

This story is a masterful example, in my opinion, of what good historical fiction should be. From a reader’s standpoint, I enjoyed it tremendously. From a writer’s perspective, I learned from and appreciated the depth of characters and the flow and layers of the plot.

Klassen’s flair for realistic characters, engaging storyline, and rich detail rests on every page. The Dancing Master is a dance, an exquisite, perfectly timed tale of mystery, love, redemption, and forgiveness. It is one of the few books that I’d consider reading again someday.

For more info on The Dancing Master, click here.

Disclaimer: I received this review copy free from Bethany House. The opinions expressed are my honest assessment.

What are you reading this weekend?

Karen

Book Review - The Tutor's Daughter

The Tutor's Daughter

By Julie Klassen                                       

Bethany House Publishers 

Emma Smallwood assists her father with Smallwood Academy, the boarding school in their Devonshire home. Enrollment is down, and her father hasn’t been himself since her mother’s death. Mr. Smallwood accepts an invitation from Sir Giles Weston to tutor his teenage sons at his home in Cornwall. Although hesitant to leave Devonshire, Emma accompanies her father to Ebbington Manor, hoping a change of scenery will lift her father’s spirits.   

Philip and Henry, the older Weston sons, studied at the Smallwood Academy years before. Emma got on well with Phillip, the more personable of the two brothers. Henry was another story. He seemed to enjoy making Emma’s life miserable. Imagine her delight at the prospect of seeing Phillip again, and her trepidation over bumping into Henry. 

The Tutor’s Daughter contains mysteries large and small. Unfortunately, the Smallwoods arrive at the Manor at a bad time. The Westons are in a bit of an uproar over something, but Emma cannot place her finger on what is happening behind the scenes. Unexplained events pop up at the most unusual times, and about the time one mystery appears solved, another surfaces. 

More questions than answers find Emma puzzled and a little nervous. Does Emma’s friendship with Phillip fare well despite the mysterious happenings? Is Henry cold and uncaring, or has time and maturity mellowed his personality? Is Emma drawn to either brother, or one of them to her? If you like historical fiction with a dash of intrigue and a hint of romance, I suggest you pick up a copy and find out.

This book is a wonderful read. I liked Emma immediately; she is complex yet relatable, as are the other key players. The plot twists and turns had me guessing and always on my toes.  Klassen’s classic, consistent style of well-developed characters and rich, appealing storylines is evident once again. Her vivid tales engage the senses, and direct readers to look beyond the surface and examine where their faith lies.

Blogoversary!
 
Don't forget to join me this Monday when we kick off my Fourth Blogoversary celebration. There will be giveaways and special guests throughout the month of March. I hope you can join me!

What are you reading this weekend?

Happy reading and writing, 
Karen

 
Please note:  I received this book free of charge from Bethany House for review purposes. No compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

Book Review - The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

By Julie Klassen

Bethany House

What’s it like to suddenly find yourself in an unfamiliar place in society? Margaret Macy must make this adjustment when she flees a marriage forced upon her by her stepfather. Her narrow escape is made with the aid of her former lady’s maid, Joan. They make their way to a small town outside of London, sufficiently far from her stepfather’s reach. 

Margaret dons a wig and spectacles to conceal her identity and begins life at Fairbourne Hall as a housemaid whose name is “Nora”. Her plan is to bide her time until her upcoming 25^th birthday in the fall of 1815, when she will inherit a large sum from her late aunt.

Lewis and Nathaniel Upchurch are the masters at Fairbourne Hall, a small detail that Margaret was unaware of when she was hired. This is a problem; the brothers traveled in the same social circle as Margaret, and she fears her identity is at risk even with her disguise. Much to her dismay, Margaret must attend to the needs of not only Lewis and Nathaniel, but their sister Helen as well. Helen seems to be testing Margaret – but why? Does she suspect that “Nora” is not who she seems? Will flirtatious Lewis or the serious and practical Nathaniel suspect as well?

Margaret soon learns that there is much more to servanthood than she realized. Seeing to someone’s every need and whim shows her just how shallow her life as a genteel young woman had become. Does she use this experience to grow, or does she become bitter and vengeful, particularly to her stepfather, who drove her here in the first place? 

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall has something for nearly everyone – action, adventure, romance, sibling rivalry, fencing, and yes, even a pirate! I love Ms. Klassen’s style; she always has the right blend with her characters, plot, and setting. They combine for a rich and enjoyable story. Some say that she writes in similar fashion to Jane Austen; I’m inclined to agree. If you are a fan of this era’s historical fiction, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this book. I know I did.

 

I obtained this book at no charge from Bethany House for review purposes. No compensation was received for my review.

What are you reading these days?

Have a great weekend,

Karen

Comment Policy & 100 Follower Giveaway

 To Comment or Not to Comment...

What's your commenting policy? Do you make a comment each time you visit a blog? Or do you read the post and move on? Do you comment only if you feel like you have something interesting to say or if the post was especially thought provoking?


My thinking is this (you knew it was coming, right?) -  I comment on every post I visit, even if I don't have anything unique or eloquent to say. One exception to this is when I disagree with the topic on the post and cannot think of anything nice to say - you know, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." The other exception is if I am super busy and want to take a peek at the topic and plan to visit later. I don't always make it back, but I try.

I've always viewed comments as a means to tell the blog author that I was there. I know, there are hit counters and all that good stuff, but they aren't as personal as a comment. There are plenty of times that I've not known what to say, been tired, etc., but I figure that even a brief comment saying hello or that the post made me think helps the author to know I visited and valued their thoughts. I also make it a point to be diplomatic, kind, and tactful with my comments. I'd never make a comment that I wouldn't want to see on my blog.

How About Prioritizing?

How do you manage to get around to all the blogs that you follow? This is a daunting task if you follow a lot of blogs. It can also be a deterrent from making a comment. So many blogs, so little time! I've learned to order my visits, particularly when pressed for time, starting with blogs of specific interest and of those who've commented on my recent posts.

The next stops include the blogs of those who may not come around for all my posts, but visit frequently. Finally, as time allows, I visit new blogs, and of course, the blogs of followers who don't comment. Why? Because I value all my followers and understand that not everyone can get to every blog that they follow. I sometimes feel bad that I've had to set this blog hopping policy. I'd love to stop and visit as many blogs as possible, but in order to stay on task with my writing schedule, I have to set guidelines. Otherwise, I might not be able to call myself a writer. And we can't have that, for then I'd be downright grouchy.

So...

Tell us, what is your commenting policy? Have I missed something important? It's entirely possible. Please share your thoughts. If you have any pointers on how to balance blog visiting, writing, and staying sane, please share them as well!

One Hundred Followers Giveaway!

Here it is, a bit of a giveaway to celebrate my recent milestone of 100 Followers. Thank you all for coming along on this blog adventure with me. I appreciate your support, comments, and faithfulness.

This giveaway includes two books, which will be given to two winners.





Book #1 is Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller.

To read my recent review of this book, click here.

Book #2 is The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen. 


Click on the title for my review.

The first name drawn will receive first choice of titles.



To Enter:

• Leave a comment to this post, include your email address like so: karenelange(at)gmail(dot)com. Entries without email address are not eligible.
• Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you already follow.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your Facebook page. Please leave a comment telling me so.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a comment with the link.
• This is only open to US residents. For those of you who follow outside the US, I apologize!
• Deadline to enter is noon eastern standard time, Tuesday June 8, 2010. Winner will be announced here, and notified via email, and have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Don't forget to leave your thoughts about commenting. I am open to your thoughts and appreciate your input.

Thanks and blessings to each of you! Have a wonderful weekend:)
 

Karen

The Silent Governess

The Silent Governess
by Julie Klassen
Bethany House

The year is 1815 and Olivia Keene is running. Running from her past? Perhaps. Running from her future? Possibly. What IS she running from? You simply must pick up a copy and see, for not even Olivia knows the full story that initiates her harrowing journey.

Life was relatively quiet for Olivia, teaching at Miss Cresswell's school for girls in the English countryside. Quiet that is, until a series of events tossed her on an unexpected adventure that catapults her headlong into Lord Edward Bradley's world. His is a world laden with secrets. Now Olivia knows one of them, and she is bound to the handsome Bradley by fear and consequences. Can things get any more tangled? Just about the time I thought they couldn't, they do!

Julie Klassen is one of my new favorite authors. She's woven a web that intertwines Olivia and Edward's lives beyond anything they could have imagined. Their relationship moves from strained and cautious to nearly friendly - but does it stay that way? Will Olivia ever see her mother Dorothea again? And what of Edward's cousin Felix, the family rogue who has designs on Olivia? If you love historical fiction, this is one that's just too good to miss.

Happy reading! :)