The Silent Governess

I received The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen, published by BethanyHouse, in order to review. I must tell you that when this book arrived, I put it aside. It has 443 pages from start to finish and it seemed too bulky to even begin reading. How I wish I had picked it up weeks ago! This book is absolutely wonderful. I hated to put it down once I started reading. The chapters are short and they pull you in. The characters are interesting. The twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end. I thought I had everything figured out midway through the book, but I was sooo wrong. The author did a fantastic job with this book. The discussion questions that are included are a plus! Now, I will tell you a little about the book. Miss Olivia Keene finds herself running from her home, having to keep a horrible secret, and ends up overhearing a conversation that could ruin the reputation of Lord Edward Bradley, not to mention his future, his inheritance and his home. Lord Bradley decides to keep Olivia in his employ so he can keep an eye on her. She becomes an under nurse then a governess to Lord Bradley's two young relatives. Due to Olivia being strangled, she lost her ability to talk for quite a while, giving the book the title "Silent Governess." This book is filled with twists and turns, secrets, romance, and excitement. It is worth your time to read! I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Olivia Keene, at a early age, has the ability to cipher sums. Her father, being proud of her ability, often took her to the local pub and racetrack, placing wagers on her ability to give the correct answers. Around the age of twelve, something happened and her father lost interest in her, drinking to excess, becoming very quarrelsome, and making Olivia's life miserable. Coming home late one night she surprises a man trying to strangle her mother. She grabs a fire iron, striking him on the head and he falls to the floor. Thinking she has murdered the man, her mother encourages her to flee from the home and go to St. Aldwyns, a girl's school where she might obtain a position. On the way, Olivia overhears a conversation revealing a secret she should not have heard. Lord Bradley, occupant of the Manor, and whose secret she had overheard, forces her to take a position in the nursery, caring for his two young cousins. This way he could assure himself of her silence. Keeping her own secret, Lord Bradley's secret, and his contempt for her makes for a very stressful life. The story is moving, mysterious, and romantic as the writer keeps you focused on the life of a Governess in an English Manor where nothing is as it appears to be. Mrs. Klassen did a excellent job of holding my interest to the final conclusion. I strongly recommend you read the book to see if Olivia's and Lord Bradley's secrets are exposed, what impact the secrets have on the lives of those living at the Manor. A must read for those who enjoy historical fiction, you will become a fan of Mrs. Klassen and look forward to reading all of her books. This book was supplied by the publisher as a review copy.

Olivia Keene believes she is guilty of a crime and flees her home. In the process she stumbles onto Lord Bradley's property and overhears a conversation that makes her a threat to the Lord. She is caught trespassing and sent to prison before the Lord brings her to his estate and makes her a servant. So begins this story set in regency England. Usually, I am not a reader of regency tales. I know, I know. Many people love them, but they aren't really my cup of tea. However Ms. Klassen's style is riveting. Her characters are caught in tangled webs that intersect and overlap and twist and turn with hopes and fears. And because the characters are so richly drawn, I can't keep myself from turning the pages when I should be doing other things. But I think what I love most about her style is that I am transported back in time, to a period I don't know well, but feel completely dropped into while I'm reading. I can hear the accents, see the streets, and watch the people. It makes for a compelling book that I couldn't put down. So if you like historical novels, I suggest you try this one -- even if regency is not your usually choice. I think you will quickly learn why Ms. Klassen is a best-selling author of Christian fiction.

I have read every book Julie Klassen has written and this one absolutely did not disappoint. I thought it wasn't out until January 2010 and was so surprised to see it at my local book store. I snatched it right up. She gets better with each book she writes. Her books are so well written, it's amazing. I buy them wanting to delve right in but at the same time, try to read slowly so I can make the enjoyment last longer. Klassen's characters are people you wish you knew yourself, she makes them so very real. You feel their pain, know their joy and take them as your own friends. I will not give away anything of the plot, but suffice it to say this is a magnificent book. There is mystery, romance, intrigue and faith all wrapped together in a delightfully longer book than the others. Don't hesitate to buy this book. I'm hard to please and this is an excellent choice and not one bit of a waste of your book money. It's one for your collection.