Enter Today and Save the Date-3/15!
Don't miss the perfect blend of Regency-era romance and mystery in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall! Grab a copy and then be sure to enter Julie's Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVP for her Author Chat party on Facebook! Swoon.
- A brand new Kindle Fire
- A Julie Klassen Library (The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)
So grab your copy of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and join Julie and friends on the evening of March 15th for a book chat party.
About the book:
To escape a scheme to marry her off to a dishonorable man, Margaret Macy flees London disguised as a housemaid. If she can remain unwed until her next birthday, she will receive an inheritance, and with it, sweet independence. But she never planned on actually working as a servant. And certainly not in the home of Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch--both former suitors.
As she fumbles through the first real work of her life, Margaret struggles to keep her identity secret when suspicions arise and prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall. Can she avoid a trap meant to force her from hiding?
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Historical fiction, regency romance, and a Christian book to boot. Who could ask for anything more? This book fast became one of my favorite reads, and I would highly recommend it. It represents the best that romance can offer.
My favorite thing about the book was the historical look at servants in 1800's England. I was pleased to see the author's note at the end of the book that explained her extensive research on the topic. While she admits to some liberties, it was nice to see that much of what I had been reading about maids in her book was accurately described. Perhaps I enjoyed this look at servants because so few romance novels delve into that topic. So often, it is all about lords and ladies and the rich. We see the servants in passing, but we have no idea what they were expected to do each day. And I will tell you that I definitely would not want to do any of the things detailed in the book--especially empty the chamber pots! I had never considered how sullen and busy the life of maids were.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the well-written story and characterizations. It was neat to see the author put in a few twists and turns that the reader may not have expected. And the characters seemed to be very realistic--not perfect, but people with foibles and problems just like all of us. And as for the Christian message, it was wonderful to see it expertly woven into the story line. I can't stand it when authors force the Christian message into the book just for the sake of it being a "Christian" book. The spiritual focus in the book was quite nice and refreshing.
I absolutely loved this book, and I have given it a definite 5-star rating. This book was incredibly well-written, and the story line never lagged. I have never read anything by Julie Klassen, but I am definitely placing her on my list of favorite authors.
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
My favorite thing about the book was the historical look at servants in 1800's England. I was pleased to see the author's note at the end of the book that explained her extensive research on the topic. While she admits to some liberties, it was nice to see that much of what I had been reading about maids in her book was accurately described. Perhaps I enjoyed this look at servants because so few romance novels delve into that topic. So often, it is all about lords and ladies and the rich. We see the servants in passing, but we have no idea what they were expected to do each day. And I will tell you that I definitely would not want to do any of the things detailed in the book--especially empty the chamber pots! I had never considered how sullen and busy the life of maids were.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the well-written story and characterizations. It was neat to see the author put in a few twists and turns that the reader may not have expected. And the characters seemed to be very realistic--not perfect, but people with foibles and problems just like all of us. And as for the Christian message, it was wonderful to see it expertly woven into the story line. I can't stand it when authors force the Christian message into the book just for the sake of it being a "Christian" book. The spiritual focus in the book was quite nice and refreshing.
I absolutely loved this book, and I have given it a definite 5-star rating. This book was incredibly well-written, and the story line never lagged. I have never read anything by Julie Klassen, but I am definitely placing her on my list of favorite authors.
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
About Julie:
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.
For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com
What a great review! Thanks so much, Ruth. I hope you will enjoy my other books as well.
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