Yes, I’m happy to say that I had this very luxury this past weekend. It was a relaxed Sunday afternoon with nothing planned, so I pulled one of my favorites by Julie Klassen off the shelf, and almost before I knew what was happening, had proceeded to read the entire afternoon and into the evening. I hadn’t specifically intended to finish it, but as the hours went by, I slow realized it might happen, so I kept breezing through till the ending reached its glorious and perfect crescendo, just like it did the last time I’d read it. :) And I finished just in time for that night’s fabulous Poldark episode, so it was a pretty great day. 

I’ve discussed Julie Klassen’s books in a previous post and could say a lot more about how wonderful they all are, but I reread The Silent Governess this last weekend, and I’ve decided that it’s in my top three of hers. It was the first book of Julie Klassen’s that I ever read, and my world certainly changed for the better afterwards. It’s intriguing, packed with mysteries, and endearingly sweet on many levels. It begins with Olivia Keene – beautiful, quick with numbers, passionate teacher… and running away from awful secrets. In her flight, she passes through the town of Brightwell, happening upon its splendid manor of Brightwell Court. Unfortunately, her chance visit burdens her with other secrets from Lord Edward Bradley of Brightwell that she never wanted to know. And he’s prepared to trust no one with it, especially not her.

So, you can probably tell that The Silent Governess is full of intrigue, which makes it interesting right away. So many mysteries unravel throughout the whole book, and every time I thought I had something figured out, a new twist threw me off again! But it’s also charming and heartwarming on many levels. Family is a central theme and observed from many angles. Olivia’s relationship with her parents, Lord Bradley’s connection with his father, and Olivia’s love for the children in her governess charge are all integral elements of the story. To an extent, we get acquainted with these two and their personalities through all the family interactions, and it’s sweet to observe as the story unfolds. And like many of Julie Klassen’s books, this one is extremely educational in certain aspects of English tradition. Since it focuses on a governess, you learn a lot about how a governess functioned within a large house, what was expected of her, and how she was viewed by the rest of society. Pretty fascinating for sure! I know it helped me to better understand old favorites like Jane Eyre as well as the place of the children and their caretakers in Downton Abbey. And without giving too much away, the romance bits of this book are superb… there are so many tension-filled moments, longing inner dialogues, and sweet looks. All the feelings are simmering just beneath the surface for almost the whole story, making the resolution that much better. ;)

Though I hadn't planned it, I wasn't surprised I got through rereading this one in a day. I'm so glad I did and so thankful to have had the time too! If you haven't read this one, definitely grab it next and curl up with a cup of hot tea. You'll be amazing at how the time flies! And check out more of Julie Klassen's fabulous work over at her website. If you like anything Jane Austen, romance, or historical fiction, I assure you that she's the author for you!

We all need good fiction. If you’ve got a good fiction book, all is right with the world for a few days because you can escape to another world without ever leaving the comfort of your bed. If you’re one of my fellow British drama fanatics, or if you like great characters, fast-paced reading, or mysteries, I might be able to help with your next fiction getaway. Let me introduce you to Julie Klassen. I knew her work was probably for me when I read the first sentence of her biography on the back of one of her books in a bookstore: “Julie Klassen loves all things Jane – Jane Austen and Jane Eyre.” You had me at Jane, sister.

Her style is readable, easy to understand, and thoroughly British. All her books are filled with witty dialogue, frilly dresses, stately mansions, and period dances to my heart’s content. I also love the thought she puts into her characters. They are very personable, and you feel thoroughly acquainted with them because you know little details about their personalities. Unlike many authors I’ve read, Klassen takes care to make her characters memorable through particular characteristics. I can think of several of her heroines right now because of their specific quirks like quickness with numbers, writing skills, or organizational habits.

The other selling point of Julie Klassen’s work for me is the mystery plots. If you like twisty-turny, intricate stories, you should definitely pick up one of her books. I remember one time that I gave up on being mentally present the next day and just stayed up till 1 or 2 AM to finish her book I’d gotten a few days before. Priorities, people. What makes them really engaging is that the plot constantly keeps you guessing till the end; every time I think I have the mystery figured out, the story takes a new turn and I’m thrown off all over again. It’s sure to make you completely useless to other people for a few days, but again, priorities.

Here are some top Julie Klassen recommendations depending on whether you lean towards the British drama aspect or mystery aspect:

-British Drama Preference:
The Girl in the Gatehouse and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. These two positively drip Jane Austen, elegant houses, and English tradition. The Girl in the Gatehouse has fairly overt nods to Austen, particularly to her novels Persuasion and Mansfield Park. The heroine also writes novels, despite the disapproval of this practice for women at the time, so she reminded me a lot of Austen herself. The setting of a sprawling English manor and extremely witty interchanges between the plucky heroine and humorous supporting characters were icing on the cake. And The Maid of Fairbourne Hall helped my Downton Abbey withdrawals between seasons 4 and 5 (Recommendations while we wait for season 6? Stay strong, friends – only 285 days…but who’s counting?). It’s about a girl who flees her stepfather’s attempt to force her into an arranged marriage to gain control of her inheritance. She runs away to a neighboring city, disguising herself as a housemaid in an aristocratic house. The details of servant life and the divide between servants and masters are emphasized artfully in it, and it naturally reminds you of the similar family-and-staff dynamic in Downton.

-Mystery Preference:
The Tutor’s Daughter and The Secret of Pembrooke Park. Though the majority of Klassen’s work contains mystery elements, these two are especially good in that arena. Both of them are set in old manor houses filled with family secrets, a sure recipe for a fascinating mystery. The Tutor’s Daughter reminded me a lot of Jane Eyre…chilling cries in the night, life-threatening messages found on the wall in the morning, not to mention the creepy employee of the estate that no one seems to question. It was intriguing from the beginning! The Secret of Pembrooke Park is one of Julie Klassen’s latest. Not only is the house big and full of secrets, but it’s also been abandoned for 18 years and has rumors of a secret room and hidden treasure. Plus, the heroine keeps seeing weird footprints and spying someone in a hooded cloak meandering about the estate at odd times. This was the one that I most recently gave up sleep to finish at some unholy hour. But really, it was important!

So what do you think? Have you read Julie Klassen before? Anyone have recommendations similar to her? I am all ears. Meanwhile, grab a cup of hot tea and curl up with any of her books that can all be found on Amazon. Be sure to check out her website and Facebook page to keep up with her news too! She has two more coming out this year that I’m so excited for!

My lovely collection of Klassen books. The only ones not pictured are Lady of Milkweed Manor and The Apothecary's Daughter, both worth looking into as well!