Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Bethany House Publishers (2011), Edition: 37023rd, 400 pages
Description
Fiction. Christian Fiction. Historical Fiction. In this Jane Austen-era romance, when a handsome new estate owner discovers a mysterious woman living on his property, he's determined to uncover her secrets.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ReviewsbyMolly
Regency. Austen-y. Inspirational. Awesomeness. Those are just some of the many ways that I can describe Julie Klassen and her books. Having only read one other book by this terrific author, The Silent Governess, I knew I would be happily ready for this book. Once again, Julie Klassen used her
The Girl In the Gatehouse is a novel of twists and turns, secrets and forgiveness, hope and longing. Not only are we taken back into history, we are introduced to a beautiful young woman, Mariah Aubrey, who's character is full of depth and hope. She's turned out by her family and forced to live in a gatehouse on her aunt's property. There, her secrets are safe....or are they? Her hope starts to waver. I found myself wanting to hug Mariah and comfort her like she was my child. Her character was so dear!
And I dare not forget to mention the wonderfully chiseled, handsome young Captain Matthew Bryant. Julie Klassen really filled him with charm and longing, and I wished more than once that it was I who was the girl in the gatehouse! He is certainly a character that any woman could fall for!
If you love Historical novels, or novels with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader thirsting for more, than this is a 5 star, Austen like novel that you won't want to miss! Perfect for regency era lovers and book a holics alike! I can't wait for another gorgeous novel by this fantabulously skilled author!
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beautifully talented skills to capture her readers and surround them with words and descriptions that make them feel an absolute part of the novel.The Girl In the Gatehouse is a novel of twists and turns, secrets and forgiveness, hope and longing. Not only are we taken back into history, we are introduced to a beautiful young woman, Mariah Aubrey, who's character is full of depth and hope. She's turned out by her family and forced to live in a gatehouse on her aunt's property. There, her secrets are safe....or are they? Her hope starts to waver. I found myself wanting to hug Mariah and comfort her like she was my child. Her character was so dear!
And I dare not forget to mention the wonderfully chiseled, handsome young Captain Matthew Bryant. Julie Klassen really filled him with charm and longing, and I wished more than once that it was I who was the girl in the gatehouse! He is certainly a character that any woman could fall for!
If you love Historical novels, or novels with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader thirsting for more, than this is a 5 star, Austen like novel that you won't want to miss! Perfect for regency era lovers and book a holics alike! I can't wait for another gorgeous novel by this fantabulously skilled author!
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LibraryThing member Tinasbookreviews
Mariah Aubrey, is a young girl who has plenty of time to think upon her mistakes. turned away from her family and sentenced by society, she lives secluded with her handmaid Dixon in a gatehouse on her aunts property. Mariah’s secrets though may not be so secret, while she tries to pick up the
OH…the drama!! I really enjoyed this novel and was suprised how much I liked it. While the romance was very subtle for my usual taste and defiantly fit in with the time era, I couldn’t help but be charmed with the characters, the dialog and historical setting. Mariah is living a private life due to a scandal that is skirted around until almost the end of the book….at first glance, I was thinking the scandal to be an chaperoned stroll gone amiss or a stolen kiss after dark, but surprisingly the mystery and scandal were really ...scandalous…not only that but Mariah is a secret author who writes anonymously. The money she’s been left with leaves her with little choice but to continue writing and taking on other writing works, even at the risk of being discovered. With a publisher aggressive to print the novels under her real name, the mystery surrounding her aunts death, a handsome Captain coming to call and a loony man dancing on rooftops……things are about to get heated in Mariah’s life.
Exquisitely written with a flair of Jane Austin, The Girl in the Gatehouse reads like a modern day period piece, full of fun and easy to love characters, romance and suspense.
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pieces of her broken heart, shame and guilt begin to hinder her from her dreams and cloud her visions of ever finding true love again.OH…the drama!! I really enjoyed this novel and was suprised how much I liked it. While the romance was very subtle for my usual taste and defiantly fit in with the time era, I couldn’t help but be charmed with the characters, the dialog and historical setting. Mariah is living a private life due to a scandal that is skirted around until almost the end of the book….at first glance, I was thinking the scandal to be an chaperoned stroll gone amiss or a stolen kiss after dark, but surprisingly the mystery and scandal were really ...scandalous…not only that but Mariah is a secret author who writes anonymously. The money she’s been left with leaves her with little choice but to continue writing and taking on other writing works, even at the risk of being discovered. With a publisher aggressive to print the novels under her real name, the mystery surrounding her aunts death, a handsome Captain coming to call and a loony man dancing on rooftops……things are about to get heated in Mariah’s life.
Exquisitely written with a flair of Jane Austin, The Girl in the Gatehouse reads like a modern day period piece, full of fun and easy to love characters, romance and suspense.
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LibraryThing member drteacherlady
I’ve read two of Julie’s other books and enjoyed them. So when I saw this new release, I added it to my book club order list. It came last week, but with my schedule I wasn’t sure when I was going to get a chance to start reading. My chance came when we were hit with an unexpected snowstorm
What struck you the best about the book?
Julie’s style of writing is relaxing and sophisticated. Her descriptions of setting, character, or clothing is just enough to paint a mental picture without boring the reader with incessant details. For example: “Mariah descended in her aunt’s old riding habit of voluminous skirt, trim-fitting jacket with velvet collar, plumed hat, and short leather gloves.” The reader receives the necessary information without needing to know how many buttons are on the jacket, the kind of stitching on the hem of the skirt, or the texture of the hat.
What struck you the worst about the book?
I’m being picky about this, because I couldn’t find anything that struck me as bad. So I’ll go with something that is mildly annoying. In addition to the main plot, there are several subplots which necessitate secondary characters. Although I enjoyed the subplots, I found it confusing at times to keep all the minor characters straight. By the end of the book all the subplots are neatly woven into the main plot, so this is just a minor ripple.
How did the story make you feel?
From the very beginning, Mariah’s plight pulled on the heartstrings. Since I am a writer struggling to break into the world of novel writing, I easily relate to Mariah’s struggles with her writing. I sympathized with Captain Bryant as he struggles with plans to win back the woman he desires. Overall, the story comes to a very satisfying conclusion, leaving the reader content to know all the subplots have been satisfied.
What one biggest lesson, discovery, or new idea did you take away from the book?
Everyone needs to learn that God forgives and puts it behind Him. We are the ones who hang onto the guilt. God never intended us to cling to the past once we have made it right with Him. In the case of each of the major characters, they learned to forgive themselves and others.
This is an enjoyable read, woven together into a wonderful tapestry of life-lessons hidden in fiction.
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and received the day off from school. Although a to-do list a mile long screamed for attention, I decided to take some time off to read just for fun. And it was fun!What struck you the best about the book?
Julie’s style of writing is relaxing and sophisticated. Her descriptions of setting, character, or clothing is just enough to paint a mental picture without boring the reader with incessant details. For example: “Mariah descended in her aunt’s old riding habit of voluminous skirt, trim-fitting jacket with velvet collar, plumed hat, and short leather gloves.” The reader receives the necessary information without needing to know how many buttons are on the jacket, the kind of stitching on the hem of the skirt, or the texture of the hat.
What struck you the worst about the book?
I’m being picky about this, because I couldn’t find anything that struck me as bad. So I’ll go with something that is mildly annoying. In addition to the main plot, there are several subplots which necessitate secondary characters. Although I enjoyed the subplots, I found it confusing at times to keep all the minor characters straight. By the end of the book all the subplots are neatly woven into the main plot, so this is just a minor ripple.
How did the story make you feel?
From the very beginning, Mariah’s plight pulled on the heartstrings. Since I am a writer struggling to break into the world of novel writing, I easily relate to Mariah’s struggles with her writing. I sympathized with Captain Bryant as he struggles with plans to win back the woman he desires. Overall, the story comes to a very satisfying conclusion, leaving the reader content to know all the subplots have been satisfied.
What one biggest lesson, discovery, or new idea did you take away from the book?
Everyone needs to learn that God forgives and puts it behind Him. We are the ones who hang onto the guilt. God never intended us to cling to the past once we have made it right with Him. In the case of each of the major characters, they learned to forgive themselves and others.
This is an enjoyable read, woven together into a wonderful tapestry of life-lessons hidden in fiction.
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LibraryThing member mt256
I was very excited to read The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen. I'm a huge fan of Regency era novels. I could not wait to dive into this one. The book begins with the main character, Mariah being sent away. There is a lot of mystery and suspense surrounding the reason behind this exile.
I really liked Mariah's character. She is a strong, resourceful, witty, and gentle character. She is thrown into a tough situation and is determined to make the best out of it. She is also remorseful of what she's done even to the extreme that she feels undeserving of even God's love. She is also going against society and trying to become a published author. Captain Bryant is a great character too, although he spends much of his time wanting all the wrong things. He's good at heart even thought he's a bit misguided. My favorite character is Ms. Dixon. She is a kind, loyal, no-nonsense kind of girl.
There are many themes woven throughout this novel such as forgiveness, finding hope, and love. There are several love stories strewn throughout this book. I loved them all. I could tell from reading this book that Julie Klassen was inspired by Jane Austen when she wrote this book. I especially loved the quotes that were above each chapter. Many from Jane Austen or her novels. Many of the characters had certain qualities that I've found in Austen. In fact I think Mariah herself was modeled a little after Jane. This is an absolutely charming novel that I couldn't put down. I will definitely re-read this book again.
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Julie Klassen did a great job giving you just a lit bit of information here and there. Mariah is taken in by an aunt whom she's not had contact with in a long while. The aunt sets her up at the gatehouse. The gatehouse has been abandoned for many years. Together with her childhood governess, Ms. Dixon, they begin to turn the gatehouse into a home. During their stay at the gatehouse, they encounter many interesting people, mainly from the poorhouse just outside the gate. There is also a mysterious man that walks the roof of the poorhouse that nobody wants to acknowledge. This is an intriguing addition to the story line. The story heats up when the estate is leased by the dashing Captain Mathew Bryant. His sole mission in life is to win back the love he lost by flaunting his new wealth in front of his ex. Captain Mathew Bryant and Mariah form a heart warming friendship. However Captain Bryant is suspicious of Mariah's reputation. Mariah has to hold many secrets to protect herself. I really liked Mariah's character. She is a strong, resourceful, witty, and gentle character. She is thrown into a tough situation and is determined to make the best out of it. She is also remorseful of what she's done even to the extreme that she feels undeserving of even God's love. She is also going against society and trying to become a published author. Captain Bryant is a great character too, although he spends much of his time wanting all the wrong things. He's good at heart even thought he's a bit misguided. My favorite character is Ms. Dixon. She is a kind, loyal, no-nonsense kind of girl.
There are many themes woven throughout this novel such as forgiveness, finding hope, and love. There are several love stories strewn throughout this book. I loved them all. I could tell from reading this book that Julie Klassen was inspired by Jane Austen when she wrote this book. I especially loved the quotes that were above each chapter. Many from Jane Austen or her novels. Many of the characters had certain qualities that I've found in Austen. In fact I think Mariah herself was modeled a little after Jane. This is an absolutely charming novel that I couldn't put down. I will definitely re-read this book again.
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LibraryThing member love2readnovels
Mariah Aubrey is sent away by her father to her aunts estate to live. She takes with her a tainted reputation and a secret. She sets up residents in the gatehouse and is supporting herself and her companion, Dixon, by secretly writing novels using a pen name instead of her real name. Captain
This was very good tale from Julie Klassen. The way this author writes made everything come to life in my minds-eye so it was much like watching a movie. There is lots of characters to get to know and several sub-plots but it was well done so as not to feel overwhelming. I will admit that there were parts that were a little slow for my taste but the last third of the book kept me turning pages. Lots of twists and turns throughout and a totally satisfying ending. I enjoyed learning that lots of writers published anonymously in that era and most especially women. I also liked the way the author sprinkled little bits of the mystery surrounding the Prin-Hallsey family. It was fun trying to put all the pieces together. There was an underlying theme of faith and forgiveness that seemed natural to the story. When you read the book be sure to catch the authors note. She had some interesting things to say. A thank you goes to Bethany House for providing this complementary copy for my review.
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Matthew Bryant has never had the approval of his father or the father of Isabella, the woman he loves. He leases Windrush hoping to not only impress his father but also Isabella. But he is drawn to the lovely girl in the gatehouse. There is much he doesn't know about Mariah. When he finds out the truth will he turn away from her or will love conquer all?This was very good tale from Julie Klassen. The way this author writes made everything come to life in my minds-eye so it was much like watching a movie. There is lots of characters to get to know and several sub-plots but it was well done so as not to feel overwhelming. I will admit that there were parts that were a little slow for my taste but the last third of the book kept me turning pages. Lots of twists and turns throughout and a totally satisfying ending. I enjoyed learning that lots of writers published anonymously in that era and most especially women. I also liked the way the author sprinkled little bits of the mystery surrounding the Prin-Hallsey family. It was fun trying to put all the pieces together. There was an underlying theme of faith and forgiveness that seemed natural to the story. When you read the book be sure to catch the authors note. She had some interesting things to say. A thank you goes to Bethany House for providing this complementary copy for my review.
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LibraryThing member MRShemery
*Book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review*
Cover
Victorian-esque and whimsical ... a perfect cover for this wonderful captivating story.
Plot
Set in a time when the touch of a hand implied a couple had feelings for each other, this story stirs a desire inside
A young lady shunned by "polite" society due to being found in a compromising situation, a greedy nephew searching for any way possible to make a guinea, a Captain who has come into money and is now striving to prove himself worthy to a certain young lady ... there are many plots within this one novel, but not once does it get confusing. The author does a remarkable job of intertwining all of the characters' pasts and presents keeping the reader interested until the very end.
Main Characters
Mariah - Beautiful, young and, sometimes to her detriment, too trusting. She lives in the gatehouse on an estate owned by her aunt's second husband's family. She earns wages through a way of living that is deemed improper for a lady of her time. She is a romantic at heart and strives to help as many people as she can.
Dixon - Mariah's former nanny-turned-companion. Dixon has never been pursued by a male in her life, but suddenly finds herself the interest of two men's attentions. She sometimes places her loyalty to Mariah above her longing for a life of her own. Will she accept one of her pursuers' love and lead a life away from Mariah?
Matthew - Captain of the Navy and new leasee of Windrush Court. He is striving, in every way possible, to make himself presentable to polite society in the hopes of winning one young lady's affections and the approval of her father. What he does not anticipate are his growing feelings for another young lady of a questionable reputation.
Overall
I absolutely loved this book ... from the cover, to the plot, to the complexity of the characters and the intermingling of them all. If you love a romantic story reminiscent of a Jane Austen novel, then you will love The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen.
Cover
Victorian-esque and whimsical ... a perfect cover for this wonderful captivating story.
Plot
Set in a time when the touch of a hand implied a couple had feelings for each other, this story stirs a desire inside
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the reader for a more romantic and simpler time. I have always loved the language and personalities surrounding the Victorian era and this novel exemplifies everything I love about this period.A young lady shunned by "polite" society due to being found in a compromising situation, a greedy nephew searching for any way possible to make a guinea, a Captain who has come into money and is now striving to prove himself worthy to a certain young lady ... there are many plots within this one novel, but not once does it get confusing. The author does a remarkable job of intertwining all of the characters' pasts and presents keeping the reader interested until the very end.
Main Characters
Mariah - Beautiful, young and, sometimes to her detriment, too trusting. She lives in the gatehouse on an estate owned by her aunt's second husband's family. She earns wages through a way of living that is deemed improper for a lady of her time. She is a romantic at heart and strives to help as many people as she can.
Dixon - Mariah's former nanny-turned-companion. Dixon has never been pursued by a male in her life, but suddenly finds herself the interest of two men's attentions. She sometimes places her loyalty to Mariah above her longing for a life of her own. Will she accept one of her pursuers' love and lead a life away from Mariah?
Matthew - Captain of the Navy and new leasee of Windrush Court. He is striving, in every way possible, to make himself presentable to polite society in the hopes of winning one young lady's affections and the approval of her father. What he does not anticipate are his growing feelings for another young lady of a questionable reputation.
Overall
I absolutely loved this book ... from the cover, to the plot, to the complexity of the characters and the intermingling of them all. If you love a romantic story reminiscent of a Jane Austen novel, then you will love The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen.
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LibraryThing member jemgirl202
The Girl in the Gatehouse is written by Julia Klassen. It takes place in 19th century England. A young woman named Mariah Aubrey is exiled to her Aunts' estate after a scandel. She takes with her, her governess Miss Dixon and they live in the gatehouse on the property. Her Aunt falls ill and urges
Hugh who has no interest in staying at the estate, so he leases it to a young naval Captain named Matthew Bryant. Hugh, however, is very slow to leave the estate. He keeps searching through the house and turns his accusing eye to Mariah. Mariah soon finds out he is after his Aunt's diaries and book ideas and sells them for his own profit under a different name.
Matthew Bryant also has plans for the house as well. He has a plan to win over his former love who is engaged to another man. She denied him a year earlier because he was not from a family that would look well with her family. Her name is Isabella.
Anyway, Mariah and Matthew cross paths since they both lived at the same estate. Matthew is interested in the mysterious gatehouse woman and wonders about her past. Tides will change when Matthew throws a house party and Mariah happens to be known by all at the party. She was seduced by Isabella's fiance one year earlier. He led her on and made her believe they would marry, only to discover he was betrothed to someone else.
After seeing Isabella's true colors and realizing his love for Mariah, he turns his back on Isabella and takes Mariah for his wife. Her reunites her with her family and everyone is forgiven.
It was a wonderful tale about a woman betrayed, who uses her education for her own survival. I loved the character, Mariah. She was educated and did whatever she could to survive.
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Mariah to take a trunk of her things and hide it in the gatehouse so her stepson Hugh cannot find it. Hugh takes over the property after she dies and allows Mariah to stay there but for a price. In order to pay rent, Mariah must sell her books to a publisher under a secret name in order to make money. Hugh who has no interest in staying at the estate, so he leases it to a young naval Captain named Matthew Bryant. Hugh, however, is very slow to leave the estate. He keeps searching through the house and turns his accusing eye to Mariah. Mariah soon finds out he is after his Aunt's diaries and book ideas and sells them for his own profit under a different name.
Matthew Bryant also has plans for the house as well. He has a plan to win over his former love who is engaged to another man. She denied him a year earlier because he was not from a family that would look well with her family. Her name is Isabella.
Anyway, Mariah and Matthew cross paths since they both lived at the same estate. Matthew is interested in the mysterious gatehouse woman and wonders about her past. Tides will change when Matthew throws a house party and Mariah happens to be known by all at the party. She was seduced by Isabella's fiance one year earlier. He led her on and made her believe they would marry, only to discover he was betrothed to someone else.
After seeing Isabella's true colors and realizing his love for Mariah, he turns his back on Isabella and takes Mariah for his wife. Her reunites her with her family and everyone is forgiven.
It was a wonderful tale about a woman betrayed, who uses her education for her own survival. I loved the character, Mariah. She was educated and did whatever she could to survive.
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LibraryThing member theadawn
I definitely enjoyed this book a lot. I have always loved the Jane Austen movies but have struggled to really attach to her books. I felt as if this book was written in the same style but with a modern language that I was able to comprehend without over stressing what I am reading. The story line
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was fairly good as well. There were lots of different things going on as well as the main love story. There was a small amount of extra fluff in my opinion, but overall a very good book, and one I would recommend for any Jane Austen wannabe admirer to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Maggie21
Where to begin... I was expecting a wonderful whirlwind regency romance. I really do like Jane Austen but Klassen did not know how to write a regency romance. It took too long to become even the least bit interesting. Mariah has too much self pity. Throughout the whole book she complains about her
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sadness. I really wanted to yell, "Get over yourself!" And the cute little story Matthew writes to Mariah was a little too "cute". One thing I did not like at all were Klassen's "jump cuts". I took me forever to get used to it. I mean you would be reading a chapter that had a conversation or a meeting at the end of it but it would cut off right in the middle of either. It was ridiculous. She would just drop it. Some chapters were weeks apart. It was just too cutesy. And i love a good romance but I mean you put Matthew up to Jane Eyre's Mr. Rochester and Mr. Rochester becomes a real romantic. Show Less
LibraryThing member judyg54
If you like Jane Austin and her writings, you will probably fall in love with this story. It was very well done, but for me it was not one of those "can't put down until I finish the book" type story. I enjoyed myself while I was reading it, but wasn't a book I thought about or wondered what would
Mariah Aubrey has been banished from her home because of a mistake she made and now must live with in secret. A distant relative lets her come and stay in an old gatehouse in need of repair and a good cleaning. Mariah arrives with her traveling companion, Miss Dixon and the two of them begin their life in the gatehouse.
Captain Matthew Bryant arrives on the scene when Mariah's distant relative dies and he rents out the estate house with the hope of one day owning it. He meets Mariah and a friendship slowly takes place. But Mariah has secrets she is not sharing with anyone. And there are more secrets and mysteries as you get to know all the characters in this story.
A story with mystery and intrigue and a sweet romance that slowly develops over time. The characters in this story were all interesting to get to know and it was set in the early 1800's at a time when many things were handled differently back then. I could easily see this made into a movie, which I would very much enjoy watching.
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happen next as I closed the book and did something else. I thought the cover of the book was an excellent picture of the the gatehouse and the girl who lived there.Mariah Aubrey has been banished from her home because of a mistake she made and now must live with in secret. A distant relative lets her come and stay in an old gatehouse in need of repair and a good cleaning. Mariah arrives with her traveling companion, Miss Dixon and the two of them begin their life in the gatehouse.
Captain Matthew Bryant arrives on the scene when Mariah's distant relative dies and he rents out the estate house with the hope of one day owning it. He meets Mariah and a friendship slowly takes place. But Mariah has secrets she is not sharing with anyone. And there are more secrets and mysteries as you get to know all the characters in this story.
A story with mystery and intrigue and a sweet romance that slowly develops over time. The characters in this story were all interesting to get to know and it was set in the early 1800's at a time when many things were handled differently back then. I could easily see this made into a movie, which I would very much enjoy watching.
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LibraryThing member lostinavalonOR
I enjoyed this one---not as much as some of her others, but more than a couple of her earlier ones that I've read. I'm a little annoyed at the cover art as her dress is not period authentic...well, her underpinnings obviously aren't...but I'm not sure that actually counts as being applicable to
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this review. Ha! Show Less
LibraryThing member laverack
Good story telling, but incredibly predictable.
LibraryThing member MaryJeanAdams
I picked up The Girl in the Gatehouse because I was looking for a clean historical romance. I thought it looked interesting, though, for the record, I'm not a fan of "all things Jane" as is Julie Klassen. Sure, I've watched Pride and Prejudice a few times, but that's more because I'm a fan of
I soon realized this was not the first novel I had read by Ms. Klassen. I also read The Painter's Daughter several months ago. There was something about the style and cadence that felt familiar.
Both books are exceptionally well written and very enjoyable. Both also start with a heroine who is a "fallen woman," not because of extreme moral failings on her part, but because of her willingness to believe the promises of others. However, the novels do not follow the same script, so it was not like reading the same book over again in a different setting. (Don't you just hate that?)
In a time when the consequences of such an indiscretion fall almost completely on the woman, Mariah has had to come to grips with a new reality quickly. She's a very mature heroine, something I really like. But, while she's wary, she doesn't close herself off from all relationships with the world.
Her kind-heartedness draws a wonderful secondary cast of characters about her, and they are one of the true delights of the story. I found myself rooting for her companion's blossoming romance(s), and felt Miss Dixon's pain when she had to choose between two worthy men. The other characters who fill her life feel as though they were placed there by a divine hand to provide her just the right insight and guidance. I loved them all. (OK, with the exception of Hugh, who was pretty much a villain.)
The hero, Captain Matthew Bryant, is almost the perfect hero. The reason I say almost is because I never quite understood his desire to impress the woman who threw him over. He seems too level-headed to have been attracted to someone so shallow, but who can fathom the ways of men, eh? His interactions with Mariah are every bit as sweet as one would expect from this type of romance.
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(almost) all things Colin Firth, if you know what I mean. I've never even read Jane Eyre. (Sacrilege for a romance writer to admit, right?) I soon realized this was not the first novel I had read by Ms. Klassen. I also read The Painter's Daughter several months ago. There was something about the style and cadence that felt familiar.
Both books are exceptionally well written and very enjoyable. Both also start with a heroine who is a "fallen woman," not because of extreme moral failings on her part, but because of her willingness to believe the promises of others. However, the novels do not follow the same script, so it was not like reading the same book over again in a different setting. (Don't you just hate that?)
In a time when the consequences of such an indiscretion fall almost completely on the woman, Mariah has had to come to grips with a new reality quickly. She's a very mature heroine, something I really like. But, while she's wary, she doesn't close herself off from all relationships with the world.
Her kind-heartedness draws a wonderful secondary cast of characters about her, and they are one of the true delights of the story. I found myself rooting for her companion's blossoming romance(s), and felt Miss Dixon's pain when she had to choose between two worthy men. The other characters who fill her life feel as though they were placed there by a divine hand to provide her just the right insight and guidance. I loved them all. (OK, with the exception of Hugh, who was pretty much a villain.)
The hero, Captain Matthew Bryant, is almost the perfect hero. The reason I say almost is because I never quite understood his desire to impress the woman who threw him over. He seems too level-headed to have been attracted to someone so shallow, but who can fathom the ways of men, eh? His interactions with Mariah are every bit as sweet as one would expect from this type of romance.
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LibraryThing member wrightja2000
A fun story and up until the end I would have given it 4 stars. I was bothered by Captain Bryant revealing some things to his friend but he doesn't share those things with Mariah, though he previously becomes angry with Mariah for keeping things from her past hidden from him. I wished that had been
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resolved in a different way. Show Less
LibraryThing member debs4jc
Mariah Aubrey has fallen upon hard times. Since she has few prospects she is sent away to live in the unused gatehouse at her Aunt's estate. Mariah has a few mysterious encounters with her aunt, but then her aunt passes away. Mariah also busies herself with her writing - a secret pastime that she
I greatly enjoyed this regency era romance, as I listened to it transported me to a gentler time and place. Mariah was a plucky character and she stood her own despite all of the conventions of the time. All turned out well in the end of course - but the mishaps along the way were great fun. I definitely recommend this book and other Julie Klassen novels to fans of regency romances, especially if they would enjoy references to the characters faith along with an enjoyable story.
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hopes can become a source of financial support. When a new tenant for the estate arrives, Mariah's life becomes decidedly more complicated - and lively. I greatly enjoyed this regency era romance, as I listened to it transported me to a gentler time and place. Mariah was a plucky character and she stood her own despite all of the conventions of the time. All turned out well in the end of course - but the mishaps along the way were great fun. I definitely recommend this book and other Julie Klassen novels to fans of regency romances, especially if they would enjoy references to the characters faith along with an enjoyable story.
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Awards
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (Winner — Inspirational Romance — 2011)
Christy Awards (Nominee — Historical Romance — 2011)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010
Physical description
8.4 inches
ISBN
0764207083 / 9780764207082