Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?
The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.
When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame... and which brother to trust with her heart?
I GIVE THIS BOOK: 5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
Julie Klassen has created a masterpiece!
I have read all of her books and while I have loved everyone of them this one is by far my favorite. For a book that is over 400 pages long it sure didn't seem like it - the pages just flew by!
I am a person who can be very picky about covers and there is one small thing that bothered me about this one. In the book it clearly says that Emma always wears a hat and gloves when she goes outdoors, yet on the cover she's wearing a hat, but no gloves. I thought "Well, maybe there will be a scene wear she forgot her gloves or something." and there was...but the problem is she wasn't wearing her hat either. Just a little something that bugged me, but not something that affects the story at all or my rating of the book.
Okay back to the story. While reading, I would have moments where this book very much reminded me of Jane Eyre and, overall, a little like Jane Austen's work. There are a lot of secrets in this story. A few that I figure out well in advance, but other that I never saw coming.
Emma was a very likeable and relatable character. The Weston brother were all so different from one another. When I started the book I had a certain opinion of each one of them, but before long I came to question my conclusions and by the end of the book my opinions were so different it was surprising.
The ending was absolutely perfect in my opinion, so sweet in an unexpected way. It wrapped everything up and then some.
The Tutor's Daughter is a must read for any fan of historical fiction and one that I highly recommend! I absolutely loved this book!
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***
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BOOK DETAILS:
- Paperback: 416 pages
- Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 1, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0764210696
- ISBN-13: 978-0764210693
- Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.3 x 8.5 inches
- Available to purchase at: Amazon | CBD | B & N
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She has been an advertising manager, fiction editor, and now works as a full-time novelist. Her 3rd book,
The Silent Governess, won the Christy Award for Historical Romance, and was also a finalist in the Minnesota Book Awards, ForeWord ReviewsBook of the Year Awards, and the RITA Awards. Her latest books,
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and
The Girl in the Gatehouse, have also won Christy Awards. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.
Julie is celebrating by giving away one of the new Paperwhite Kindles, Downton Abbey (season 3) and hosting a fun Author Chat Party on Facebook. (January 31st)
One fortunate winner will receive:
- A Kindle Paperwhite
- Downton Abbey, Season 3
- A Julie Klassen library (The Tutor’s Daughter, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 30th. Winner will be announced at
"The Tutor's Daughter Author Chat Party on January 31st. Connect with Julie, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be great giveaways - gift certificates, books and season 3 of Downton Abbey!
So grab your copy of The Tutor's Daughter and join Julie on the evening of the January 31st for a chance to connect with Julie and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!
Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of several
books, including The Discovery and The Reunion. A member of
American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He
lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and
writing his next novel. For more information
about Walsh and his books, visit his website at www.DanWalshBooks.com and
follow him on Twitter at @DanWalshAuthor.
