Lady of Milkweed Manor

Julie Klassen's debut novel, Lady of Milkweed Manor, was a delight to read. The beautiful cover art first caught my eye, and the blurb on the back cover sounded intriguing enough, but one is often wary of debut novelists. I am happy to report that Klassen's work falls prey to none of the usual problems of first-time authors. The story revolves around a young woman, Miss Charlotte Lamb, a young lady of high-society who finds herself pregnant and unwed in 19th century England. She is banished to a manor for women in her predicament - nicknamed Milkweed Manor due to the milkweeds that grow in abundance all around the place. Charlotte's story is one of heartache and growth, loss and life, and most importantly, love. The love between a mother and child, and the Father and his children is poignantly and thoughtfully portrayed. She approaches her story with the grace and ease of a seasoned writer. The plot moves smoothly and elegantly, and though predictable at times, will still keep you glued to the page. Klassen's debut is truly a breath of fresh air in a genre that is sorely lacking in skillful writers and researchers. Which brings me to my second point: Klassen is clearly a careful and deliberate researcher, which is just as important to a period-piece as her polished prose. The author is able to effortlessly weave in fascinating and sometimes disturbing facts from the time period. Lady of Milkweed Manor is definitely worth reading and I look forward to Klassen's future novels with great anticipation.

This is a terrific work of historical fiction. I am not generally a reader of faith fiction specifically, but the religious aspect of this book was a perfectly natural complement to the story and anyone who loves historical fiction would probably enjoy it. I was drawn in from the very first page to the wonderfully satisfying finish. I cared deeply about the characters and I couldn't put the book down. For a first novel, this is an amazing accomplishment, and I can't wait to read more of Klassen's work.

Lady of Milkweed Manor, a novel by Julie Klassen was surprisingly fresh and new, although Charlotte is a little too perfect at times. But all together, Klassen weaves pictures of history into a timeless story of love, sacrifice and redemption. Being the silly romantic I am, I did love the way Klassen taps into the all too real feeling of most of us--yearning for a long lost innocent time before our mistakes changed our lives forever. Warning: Slight spoiler. In the prologue we see a picture of the almost too perfect Charlotte Lamb. And quickly find that she is "with child" in what I assume is 19th century England, and see a slight picture of what life would be like for a single mother at that time. We are left wanting to know who the father is through the first half of the book as Charlotte is at a lying-in hospital, trying to hide her identity. We rejoice with her as her son is born and quickly morn with her as he is "lost to her." We struggle with her as she tries to "go on with her life" and wonder why she refuses a marriage proposal. Near the conclusion, Klassen masterfully leaves us wondering who Charlotte will choose. Throughout the entire book, Klassen invites us to share in Charlotte's loss and confusion, as well as her times of peace. I agree that the ending is a little farfetched, but somehow satisfying as well. All in all, I loved this book and look forward to Julie Klassen's next venture.

Charlotte Lamb, a fallen vicar's daughter, hopes to secret herself away in London's Milkweed Manor. But once there, she is mortified to find herself in the care of a former suitor, a physician whom her father long ago rejected as unsuitable--a man who now hides secrets of his own. Both are determined, with God's help, to protect those they love. But neither could guess the depth of sacrifice that will be required of them. Drawn from fascinating research about the secret lives of women in the nineteenth century, Lady of Milkweed Manor is a moving romantic drama about the redemption of past failings and the beauty of sacrificial love. It's a rare book that forces me to press the pause button on my life and simply devour the story--this is one such book. Well-written, emotionally charged, unexpected plot twists, and an amazing balance of foreshadowing with backstory all lend to a remarkable debut novel by author Julie Klassen. The tension builds throughout and keeps the reader guessing until the last page. Klassen has captured the best of Austen and Brontë. There are complex relationships and plenty of snooty nobility. The ambiance is generally foreboding and ominous which sets quite a gothic stage. This mixture combines into a haunting quality, leaving the characters on the mind of the reader days after the story has been finished. The only thing I thought was a bit overdone were the references to milkweeds. Interesting, yes. Educational, admitted. But I found myself skipping over the quotes at the beginning of each chapter since the story engrossed me so much more. A small quarrel to be sure, but thought it should be mentioned. Overall this is a fantastic narrative that will draw you into the era and wreak havoc with your emotions. Kudos to Bethany House for taking on this new author. I'll be sure to look for future titles by Julie Klassen. Once you've read Lady of Milkweed Manor, I've no doubt you'll be anxious for more as well. Review by: Michelle Griep

This book was one of the best I have read in some time! I read mostly christian fiction and find that debut books by new authors are some of the best, this one included. The 2 previous reviews somewhat tell the story line so I won't add more. I really liked the main character Charlotte, she was real. I would highly recommend this book. It will be interesting to see if this new author keeps up the good work!