The Tutor's Daughter.

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? {Description provided by publisher}

A couple of years ago, I read Julie Klassen's The Silent Governess and loved it. So when I saw that she was releasing a new book in January, I was really hoping it would be available to review...I knew I would read it either way.

The Tutor's Daughter feels like a mix of Jane Eyre and several of Jane Austen's novels. That's not to say it's not original...the author just borrows some of the best aspects of those stories. There's everything you need in a good Regency era novel: family secrets and drama, creepy nighttime happenings in an old house, prejudices, romance, snobbish rich people, wards, etc. And it all takes place in a wonderful setting.

The setting...oh my goodness. Between the gorgeous cover and the author's descriptions, I couldn't believe how clearly I was able to picture everything. And how could you not love a setting like this? The windy English coast full of rocks and cliffs and shipwrecks? It definitely added to the mysteriousness and danger of everything else that was happening in the story. Besides the setting, I can't remember the last time I felt like I could actually see scenes happening in a book I read (especially here with the two suspenseful scenes that happened in the harbor).

Because of some persistent hints toward the beginning of the book, I had correctly guessed about two of the major plot points. But it was still fascinating to get to the place where those things were revealed (because I wasn't absolutely sure that I was right :).

The characters were all interesting, especially as you're kept on your toes guessing who's bad and good and who's responsible for doing what. I could definitely relate to Emma, being somewhat of a type A/bookworm/control freak myself. :) I don't want to say too much about the other characters because I don't want to give anything away. But I will say that the romance was very swoon-worthy...a little bit of a reversed Persuasion going on with a hint of Pride and Prejudice.

Basically, I loved this book. Maybe even as much as The Silent Governess, though I would really need a reread to judge that. :) It took a couple of chapters to really get into it, but after that I couldn't put it down. And now I think I need to read all of Julie Klassen's other books as soon as possible. I already own The Girl in the Gatehouse, so maybe that one next?

Until next time,

 

*I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.*