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Customer Reviews for Bethany House The Tutor's Daughter
Bethany House The Tutor's Daughter
When her widowed father agrees to tutor a baronet's four sons, Emma finds herself living in a grand Cornwall manor---and confronting an eerie mystery. Who's sneaking into her room at night? Who tears a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration? Can she identify the culprit before it's too late? 416 pages, softcover from Bethany.
Average Customer Rating:
(62 Reviews) 62
Rating Snapshot (62 reviews)
5 stars
42
4 stars
15
3 stars
4
2 stars
1
1 star
0
60 out of 6297%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for The Tutor's Daughter
Review 1 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
BEAUTIFUL DETAIL, LOTS OF SUSPENSE!
Date:May 16, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I loved, loved, loved this book! That’s one of the things I really like about historical fiction, you always learn something new! I knew very little about English boarding schools run by families in their home during the 1800’s. The author’s wonderful detail of day to day life and what education was like during that time was fascinating.
Emma Smallwood helped her father run one such boarding school, Smallwood Academy, for young boys during this time. The death of her mother sent her father in to depression. As he lost all interest in teaching and acquiring new students, Emma became very concerned about how not only how they would support themselves but that they could also possibly lose everything. She remembered the Weston family who had five years earlier enrolled their two sons, Henry and Phillip in her father’s school. Using her father’s name, she contacts Mr. Giles Weston concerning the opportunity to teach his younger sons Rowan and Julian. Mr. Weston sends a requesting the come to his estate, Ebbington Manor, and teach they boys. She wasn’t expecting to leave their home and was even more surprised when her father is excited by the prospect and accepts the offer!
Henry and Philip Weston, their former students have grown in to handsome men. Emma is stuck in the past by still viewing them as they were when they boarded with them as young boys and she a young girl. Henry was a prankster and always tormenting her. Phillip had shown kindness and that gave her a soft spot for him. Up on arrival Emma finds the manor intimidating and isolated as sits high on a cliff overlooking the windy coast. Not long after they settle in, things that can only be described as supernatural and very disturbing begin to occur. Some speak of the Manor being haunted, something Emma definitely does not believe in, but how can these things be explained? At first she thinks Henry is up to his old tricks. When she realizes he isn’t she wonders, how then can these things be explained? Emma shows great courage in seeking answers and makes startling discoveries of family secrets, even to the point of pointing herself in danger. To complicate matters and much against her will she finds herself drawn to one of older sons.
Emma is also comes face to face with her rejection of God since her mother’s death. Many of her experiences and the straightforward faith of all people, Henry Weston, help her realize she cannot live her life apart from the Lord.
Ms. Klassen’s writing was so very descriptive that it was as if I was walking through the halls and grounds of the Manor with Emma. The anticipation at times in almost unbearable! Nothing is as it seems and the surprises are totally unexpected. That is why I kept reading and reading when I should have gone to bed!
Fiction, history, romance, mystery, and suspense, what more could you ask from a book. This one has it all. You will definitely want to read The Tutor's Daughter!
I received this book free from Bethany House Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Emma Smallwood helped her father run one such boarding school, Smallwood Academy, for young boys during this time. The death of her mother sent her father in to depression. As he lost all interest in teaching and acquiring new students, Emma became very concerned about how not only how they would support themselves but that they could also possibly lose everything. She remembered the Weston family who had five years earlier enrolled their two sons, Henry and Phillip in her father’s school. Using her father’s name, she contacts Mr. Giles Weston concerning the opportunity to teach his younger sons Rowan and Julian. Mr. Weston sends a requesting the come to his estate, Ebbington Manor, and teach they boys. She wasn’t expecting to leave their home and was even more surprised when her father is excited by the prospect and accepts the offer!
Henry and Philip Weston, their former students have grown in to handsome men. Emma is stuck in the past by still viewing them as they were when they boarded with them as young boys and she a young girl. Henry was a prankster and always tormenting her. Phillip had shown kindness and that gave her a soft spot for him. Up on arrival Emma finds the manor intimidating and isolated as sits high on a cliff overlooking the windy coast. Not long after they settle in, things that can only be described as supernatural and very disturbing begin to occur. Some speak of the Manor being haunted, something Emma definitely does not believe in, but how can these things be explained? At first she thinks Henry is up to his old tricks. When she realizes he isn’t she wonders, how then can these things be explained? Emma shows great courage in seeking answers and makes startling discoveries of family secrets, even to the point of pointing herself in danger. To complicate matters and much against her will she finds herself drawn to one of older sons.
Emma is also comes face to face with her rejection of God since her mother’s death. Many of her experiences and the straightforward faith of all people, Henry Weston, help her realize she cannot live her life apart from the Lord.
Ms. Klassen’s writing was so very descriptive that it was as if I was walking through the halls and grounds of the Manor with Emma. The anticipation at times in almost unbearable! Nothing is as it seems and the surprises are totally unexpected. That is why I kept reading and reading when I should have gone to bed!
Fiction, history, romance, mystery, and suspense, what more could you ask from a book. This one has it all. You will definitely want to read The Tutor's Daughter!
I received this book free from Bethany House Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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Review 2 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
LOVED IT!
Date:May 6, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
"The best regency book I've ever read!"
After reading this book I couldn't "get into" anything else for days! The Tutor's Daughter was just that good, it haunted me for days. I loved everything about it, there wasn't a thing that I didn't like about it! I don't read much regency era novels, but when I read this one it skyrocketed to the top of my favorites list, and I will definitely be re-reading it!
Emma and Henry's characters had such depth, and realness to them, and their relationship grew naturally and beautifully. There were mysteries and secrets, against a breath-taking setting, that Ms. Klassen brought to life magnificently, I couldn't help but fall in love with this book and it's characters!
Overall, this book had a wonderfull Jane Eyre feel to it, with mystery, romance, intrigue, and so many intricate threads that kept me guessing until the end! A new favorite for me, that I highly recommend!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!!
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Review 3 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
A Mixture of Classics
Date:April 23, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
The Tutor’s Daughter
Julie Klassen
Julie Klassen
Book Summary: Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementoes? The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.... When suspicious acts escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart?
Filled with page-turning suspense, The Tutor's Daughter takes readers to the windswept Cornwall coast--a place infamous for shipwrecks and superstitions--where danger lurks, faith is tested, and romance awaits.
Filled with page-turning suspense, The Tutor's Daughter takes readers to the windswept Cornwall coast--a place infamous for shipwrecks and superstitions--where danger lurks, faith is tested, and romance awaits.
Book Review: I really enjoyed Emma, Henry and Aunt Jane. They were great characters that you really felt like they were friends and people you could relate to. I found the mysteries to be fun. I like the one on the north wing, although it ended too quickly. I like the events that came from that but I would have liked a couple more nights of fear from it. The BIG mystery was easy to figure out. The only disappointing thing was when Emma believed the very people she knew were liars. That bothered me tremendously. Somehow they should have someone duped into lying to her, because she should have known they could not be trusted. The relationship between Emma and Henry was great. How they went from being at odds to friends was great to watch. I would recommend this story to anyone. It was full of fun memories like Jane Eyre, Mansfield Park (for me). I did not really see any Downton Abbey in it because Carson the Butler far exceeds Davies.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
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Review 4 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
the tutor's daughter review
Date:April 14, 2013
"The Tutor's Daughter" by Julie Klassen is a novel that takes place in 1812 England. In classic Klassen style, Emma is an educated woman during a time when education on women was considered a waste of time. Emma was considered a "bluestocking". She was smart as well, and assisted her father in tutoring young men in preparation for university. At the age of 21, Emma and her father close up the school for boys and move to a manor to be the private tutor to a pair of spoiled, wealthy twins, Julian and Rowen Weston. While there Emma is surrounded in mystery, challenges, discrimination, and violence.
Klassen's books usually involve the same time period and a feminine empowerment of sorts, not typical of the time. I really enjoy Klassen and this book is no different. It is not a masterpiece, but it is a well written and enjoyable book. Emma is a clear character; Lizzie is a great contrast to Emma's straight and narrow. It is a long read, but with the mystery build, the action, and then the climax, I am not sure what could be cut out. I give it a B-.
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Review 5 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Twists and Turns in the 17th Century
Date:April 7, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Julie Lassen has written another one of her delightful, historical romance novels, The Tutor’s Daughter. Sir Giles Weston has written requesting Mr. Smallwood and his daughter, Emma come to live in his castle and tutor his two youngest sons. The castle is located on a windswept coastal area of England and is, in Emma’s mind, a very beautiful, but frightening place. Their presence however, is not exactly what Lady Weston would like, so she causes trouble for Emma and her father, treating them rather poorly.
Henry and Philip Weston, Mr. Smallwood’s former students, are also both in residence at the castle. Emma often recalls the teasing and tricks that they would play on her when they attended Mr. Smallwood’s school. Philip has grown into a very attractive man, but there seems to be something very special about Henry that draws Emma’s attention. She has no business being attracted to either one, as their station is so far above hers. Then the tricks start.
A handprint on her mirror, pages missing from her journal, a toy soldier on her floor, the pitiful cry in the night.
Is there someone who is in trouble?
Who or what could be doing these things?
Harry and David can’t still be doing these harmless but frightening tricks.
Then there is the ancient Chapel on the Rocks. What is it about the chapel that seems to draw Emma to it? Along with all the shipwrecks on the rocks far below, Emma has her work cut out for her. As Emma tries to solve all these mysteries, the truth seems to be just out of her reach.
You will enjoy the twists and turns of this 17th century story, The Tutor’s Daughter, by Julie Klassen.
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Review 6 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Another Reason to Visit Corwall
Date:April 5, 2013
Laundry Lady
Location:Bethlehem, PA
Age:25-34
Gender:female
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
Emma Smallwood and her father have the opportunity to become tutors in residence for the family of two former students, the Westons. One, Philip, was a good friend of Emma’s, the other, Henry, an adversary. But when they arrive confusion arises. Not everyone seems pleased to see them and there are secrets everywhere. While Emma’s father is happy to focus on the education of the two youngest sons of the house, Emma manages to become entangled in the intrigue of family dynamics and the beauty of the surrounding countryside. She soon begins to question who is her friend after all.
I first read Julie Klassen when I picked up one of her earlier books from the library. I was looking for a new author and in the absence of a new book from my favorite author, Lawana Blackwell, I had heard that Klassen’s work was similar in some ways. It was good book. So when I was presented the opportunity to review The Tutor’s Daughter, I looked forward to it.
Perhaps the most compelling part of this book is the beautiful descriptions of Cornwall. While Ebbington Manor itself is fictional it is based on several places Klassen visited on her tours of the Cornwall coast. This isn’t the first time I have been drawn to this beautiful place by the description of a talented writer. (Rosamunde Pilcher has made me want to pack my bags on more than one occasion). The descriptions of the Chapel on the Rock were especially poignant. I found myself wishing I had a retreat like that. While I was able to predict certain parts of the story line, others were total surprises to me until near the end
I first read Julie Klassen when I picked up one of her earlier books from the library. I was looking for a new author and in the absence of a new book from my favorite author, Lawana Blackwell, I had heard that Klassen’s work was similar in some ways. It was good book. So when I was presented the opportunity to review The Tutor’s Daughter, I looked forward to it.
Perhaps the most compelling part of this book is the beautiful descriptions of Cornwall. While Ebbington Manor itself is fictional it is based on several places Klassen visited on her tours of the Cornwall coast. This isn’t the first time I have been drawn to this beautiful place by the description of a talented writer. (Rosamunde Pilcher has made me want to pack my bags on more than one occasion). The descriptions of the Chapel on the Rock were especially poignant. I found myself wishing I had a retreat like that. While I was able to predict certain parts of the story line, others were total surprises to me until near the end
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Review 7 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Intrgue and Mystery Galor...
Date:April 1, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Julie continues to speak to my soul. She provides it all: mystery, intrigue, deep characters, history, romance, twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out, you get a twist. This book really keeps you guessing. I can see why others say there is a bit of Jane Eyre and Jane Austen in this book. I love Jane Eyre and I have enjoyed a few Jane Austen stories, and this really does have a touch of both.
This book starts the action pretty quickly, with in a few chapters. I really had a hard time putting it down. I even read it on Easter Sunday while with family (who were all taking after lunch naps) because I just couldn't resist. I kept reading because I just had to know who was doing what and who was really who they said they were, or were not, and who was doing all the "mystery" things.There were love letters slid under doors, things disappearing, smell of perfume where no one was, or so you think! Music coming from the pianoforte but no one there by the time you get there. A mysterious Mr. Teague that no one really seems to know much about, but he always pops up.
My favorite characters would be Emma, the main character, Lady Weston, the evil step mother if you will, and Henry who is one of the eldest of the Weston boys. There is one character that most would probably like, but not me, and that is Lizzie. She was very annoying to me, which makes her a good character in general. She talks way too much and is hyper, at least that is how I took her, so if she was a real person, she would drive me bonkers. I could hear her all squeaky voiced like Prissy in Gone With the Wind.
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Review 8 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Another Great Regency Story
Date:March 31, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Julie Klassen did it again! Another great regency story.
I love the regency stories and no one writes them like
Julie does. Keep it up Julie! Can't wait for the next one.
I love the regency stories and no one writes them like
Julie does. Keep it up Julie! Can't wait for the next one.
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Review 9 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Mystery to the very end!
Date:March 22, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Emma Smallwood accompanies her father, former owner and headmaster of Smallwood Academy, to Ebbington Manor to privately tutor the two younger sons of Sir Giles Weston. The two elder sons, Henry and Phillip, had attended and received their tutelage from Mr Smallwood but since then the boarding school has gone asunder.
In this almost gothic-like novel, there is ample distress and mystery surrounding Ebbington Manor. The mood is weighty and dark much of the time. While the characters are likeable for the most part, it takes some adjusting to the time period to understand consequences to certain actions. The two young sons are teenagers and their behavior is quite bizarre at times. Aristocratic families certainly had a different way of dealing with their wayward young. What may seem too lenient to me today, was most likely considered appropriate action back then.
I thought Emma could have been a more dynamic character although she is the epitome of a well bred lady so perhaps she is portrayed just as she should be. From early on, though, I couldn't see what she saw in Phillip. He appeared too soft to me. I was routing for Henry the whole time. Was I disappointed? I'm not telling.
This book is teeming with intrigue and mystery. Strange cries and piano playing in the middle of the night, mysterious notes appear in Emma's room while she's sleeping, and so much more! When it seems so obvious who the villain is, the story line switches to focus on someone else and you are left hanging....and wondering....and plotting. Who is the villain?! I believe it almost drove me crazy that I couldn't be sure. I usually figure these things out by the half way point but I was absolutely in the dark until the very end and completely taken by surprise with who the villain turned out to be.
It's an enjoyable read but not my favorite of Julie's books. I was expecting more of an Austenesque type story and less Bronte. Maybe a bit more romance too. I still recommend it for fans of Historical Fiction because it kept me turning the pages to answer that one question: Who is the villain?
Bethany House provided a copy for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, just my opinion of the book, which I have done.
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Review 10 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
The Tutor's Daughter
Date:March 21, 2013
Fitzysmom
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
Do you enjoy the English classics by Jane Austin or better yet the Bronte sisters? If so you are going to be delighted by The Tutor’s Daughter. Julie Klassen’s writing style is evocative of that classic form. I love to read works by Austen and the Bronte’s but one of the drawbacks is the old English style of language of the time frame and the multiple characters with similar names. Julie’s works are written in modern language and her characters are easily identifiable from the others.
The storyline is filled with twists and turns that add depth and dimension to the plot. The characters have a quality of realness that draws you deeper into the mystery. Up until the very last page you are led on a merry chase to find out exactly who is behind all of the sinister acts that keep happening.
For a modern quality of historical fiction, pick up a copy of The Tutor’s Daughter. In fact any book you see with Julie Klassen’s name on it is worthy of purchasing and savoring.
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Review 11 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Good for Secular Market
Date:March 20, 2013
Quality:
3
out of
5
Value:
2
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
2
out of
5
John Smallwood and his daughter Emma run a boarding school for boys. The story focuses on Emma, who is a young lady. When the family has trouble getting new students to enroll, they take up an offer to go live in a wealthy household to personally tutor 2 boys. The home is a manor house in England. It is fascinating to see how the family operates in such an environment. There are plenty of servants who work very hard. The description of the different rooms and the meals is wonderful to read about.
The story has mystery, and a little bit of suspense. There were also a few references to Gothic novels, which I didn't like. The brief romantic descriptions did not interest me, but I enjoyed reading about the student's lessons. Overall, it seems like a book that would do very well in the general/secular marketplace.
*Disclosure - I received this book for review purposes.*
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Review 12 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
A Great Regency with a Gothic Romantic twist
Date:March 5, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
The Tutor’s Daughter is Julie Klassen’s latest offering in the Regency Historical Fiction genre, a genre that she simply excels at. Verging on a gothic romance with her sweeping landscapes and mysterious moments of “things that go bump in the night”, she brings home a story full of secrets, romance and some pretty suspenseful scenes as well.
We see her main character Emma Woodhouse, who is extremely prim, proper and structured, show growth in this story as her faith grows and her relationships with others as well. She truly learns to let go of the control she desperately tries to hold onto and surrender her life to God’s control. This story is reminiscent of Jane Eyre as it takes place in a grand sweeping house named Ebbington Manor in Cornwall, England. There lives the Weston family- the older sons, Henry and Phillip Weston- former pupils of Emma’s father-, their father Sir Giles, their stepmother Lady Weston and half brothers Rowan and Julian. Add in Lizzie a ward of Lady Weston’s and you have a houseful of people that add to the mystery and suspense that unfolds at Ebbington Manor. Who of these people is sneaking in to Emma’s house late at night leaving mysterious messages in her room, stealing her journal and playing music downstairs in the wee hours of the night?
We see her main character Emma Woodhouse, who is extremely prim, proper and structured, show growth in this story as her faith grows and her relationships with others as well. She truly learns to let go of the control she desperately tries to hold onto and surrender her life to God’s control. This story is reminiscent of Jane Eyre as it takes place in a grand sweeping house named Ebbington Manor in Cornwall, England. There lives the Weston family- the older sons, Henry and Phillip Weston- former pupils of Emma’s father-, their father Sir Giles, their stepmother Lady Weston and half brothers Rowan and Julian. Add in Lizzie a ward of Lady Weston’s and you have a houseful of people that add to the mystery and suspense that unfolds at Ebbington Manor. Who of these people is sneaking in to Emma’s house late at night leaving mysterious messages in her room, stealing her journal and playing music downstairs in the wee hours of the night?
Julie Klassen crafts a fun, mysterious and lovely historical fiction novel in The Tutor’s daughter. She is quoted as saying that she loves “all things Jane”- I do too! So for those that love to see the influence of Jane Austen, “Jane Eyre” and some well researched history of Cornwall thrown in , placed in a faith based novel, I am sure that you will enjoy this journey to Ebbington Manor in the form of The Tutor’s daughter.
4 stars
I was provided with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Review 13 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Heartfelt and enjoyable
Date:March 2, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I have read a few of Julie Klassen's books, and this was by far one of the better ones. This book delivered a beautiful story of love, and family. I was immediately intrigued by the characters and I wasn't disappointed as the book wore on. Although not an all time favorite book, this is a great read for all you lovers of historical romance peppered with a dash of suspense.
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Review 14 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Another Excellent Tale by Klassen
Date:February 27, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Emma Smallwood assists her father with Smallwood Academy, the boarding school in their Devonshire home. Enrollment is down, and her father hasn’t been himself since her mother’s death. Mr. Smallwood accepts an invitation from Sir Giles Weston to tutor his teenage sons at his home in Cornwall. Although hesitant to leave Devonshire, Emma accompanies her father to Ebbington Manor, hoping a change of scenery will lift her father’s spirits.
Philip and Henry, the older Weston sons, studied at the Smallwood Academy years before. Emma got on well with Phillip, the more personable of the two brothers. Henry was another story. He seemed to enjoy making Emma’s life miserable. Imagine her delight at the prospect of seeing Phillip again, and her trepidation over bumping into Henry.
The Tutor’s Daughter contains mysteries large and small. Unfortunately, the Smallwoods arrive at the Manor at a bad time. The Westons are in a bit of an uproar over something, but Emma cannot place her finger on what is happening behind the scenes. Unexplained events pop up at the most unusual times, and about the time one mystery appears solved, another surfaces.
More questions than answers find Emma puzzled and a little nervous. Does Emma’s friendship with Phillip fare well despite the mysterious happenings? Is Henry cold and uncaring, or has time and maturity mellowed his personality? Is Emma drawn to either brother, or one of them to her? If you like historical fiction with a dash of intrigue and a hint of romance, I suggest you pick up a copy and find out.
This book is a wonderful read. I liked Emma immediately; she is complex yet relatable, as are the other key players. The plot twists and turns had me guessing and always on my toes. Klassen’s classic, consistent style of well-developed characters and rich, appealing storylines is evident once again. Her vivid tales engage the senses, and direct readers to look beyond the surface and examine where their faith lies.
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Review 15 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
A Book That Has Everything
Date:February 25, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
"The Tutor’s Daughter" is a book that has everything! Shipwrecks, ghosts, historical setting, Jane Austen-type romance, family secrets, mystery, a touch of adventure and suspense. Author Julie Klassen knows how to pack it in with characters whose actions intrigue and surprise. When the main character, Emma Smallwood, chose to pack her books instead of extra clothes, I was sold.
In this story Emma’s father, a grieving widower, is invited to leave his established, but struggling, boarding school for boys in order to become a live-in tutor for the two younger sons of a man whose older sons had attended his school. Emma, who has served as his assistant for years, is invited to come along. She hesitates to do so, but realizes, with the encouragement of her aunt, that a change of scenery will be good for her father at this time.
What makes Emma most nervous is the two older sons. Henry, the eldest, had teased her mercilessly while attending her father’s school. Emma doesn’t have much use for him. Phillip, on the other hand, had been a good friend, leaning toward a romantic interest. Emma worries over where they stand.
From her very first night in the Weston home, mysterious happenings keep Emma perplexed. Is Henry up to his old tricks? Who can she trust to help her learn whatever else is going on?
This is my favorite of Julie Klassen’s novels, so far. Fans of regency fiction will enjoy it, too. I thank Bethany House Publishers for sending me a complimentary copy for this honest review.
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Review 16 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Tutor's Daughter is perfect for Jane Austen fans!
Date:February 24, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
The Tutor's Daughter
By Julie Klassen
By Julie Klassen
The Tutor's Daughter is another delightful offering from Julie Klassen.
Emma Smallwood is determined to get her father out of his depression and find new pupils for his boarding school. But a letter written to Weston family instead results in an invitation for Mr. Smallwood to come to Ebbington Manor as a private tutor for the family's two younger sons.
Emma agrees to this scheme with trepidation in part due to her past dealings with the two elder Weston brothers. Would Henry still be her tormentor and Phillip her friend?
But when the Smallwoods arrive at Ebbington they are unexpected though they had written of their plans. With a less than hospitable welcome the Smallwoods settle in. But something is wrong. Noises in the night. Letters left in Emma's room. Items missing. Someone or something is threatening her. To whom can she turn? Or are these merely youthful pranks and the work of spoiled young men?
As Emma helps her father with Julian and Rowan's lessons, she becomes aware that Ebbington is a place of secrets and she is determined to discover what they are. But some secrets are never suppose to be revealed and could cost Emma dearly!
To Emma's delight and confusion Lady Weston has a ward, Lizzie is but a few years younger than Emma and may be the friend that she had always hoped for. But Lizzie is as changeable as the wind and she is guarding a secret of the heart.
As Emma renews her acquaintance with the two brothers who used to board at her father's school might she too find a secret of the heart as well? Or will the secret that is hiding within the walls of Ebbington destroy all?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Tutor's Daughter which is definitely written in the vein of Jane Austen with a touch of Gothic novel thrown into the mix. There is a search for God and a searching for why prayers appear to be unanswered when we don't get what we want. This book made for an excellent late night reading choice.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher Bethany House for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Review 17 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Wonderful Book!
Date:February 23, 2013
Pamela
Location:Templeton, CA
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Do you like books that are full of mystery, intrigue, and romance wrapped with a deep faith in God? Then The Tutor's Daughter is a book for you. Set in the era of Jane Austen & Jane Eyre, this book held me throughout and was very hard to put down.
Emma Smallwood and her father travel some distance from their home so that Mr. Smallwood can teach the younger brothers of his former students who attended his small boarding school.
Immediately upon their arrival strange things begin to happen. As they escalate, Emma wonders which brother is causing it all... One of the two brothers who stayed with them when they were in school, or the two younger brothers she and her father are teaching. Emma decides that she'll handle this on her own as she does everything else.
Her faith is shaky and tested... and she learns that all isn't as it seems with each of the brothers. She also learns more about herself... but read the book and find out for yourself how things turn out in another great novel by Julie Klassen.
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for this review.
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Review 18 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Good Writing, Average Plot
Date:February 20, 2013
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
3
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
2
out of
5
Emma Smallwood has helped her father run his school for boys since she was but a young girl herself. Once her mother dies, she can't bear to leave him as he loses vigor for life and their enrollment dwindles. She sees a chance for change and hope when she receives a letter from Sir Giles Weston, the father of two of their former students, inviting Miss Smallwood and her father to come live on the estate and tutor the two youngest Weston men. Once there, however, the tutors find their presence is not altogether welcomed and there seem to be secrets around every corner. What is going on in the manor, and which Westons are part of it, and which Westons can be trusted?
I think that this book could have been a good suspense story. Or a good romance story. However, it tried too hard to be both, and didn't really succeed at either. The suspense aspects of the plot were so drawn out that it lost the on-edge feeling, as it tried to fit the love story in between the revelations of the family's secrets. And there were so many attempts to put the reader off track about who loved whom, that it was hard to really care about most of them getting together at all. Characters' personalities shifted so drastically throughout the story that it was hard to relate to them. There were several small things about the plot and story that bothered me as well; for instance, if Emma grew up right next door to an all-girls' school run by her aunt, why did she not attend classes there?
That said, I didn't dislike the book; I just didn't love it. The writing style was good, I just felt the plot could have been a bit tighter. I still cared about Emma and wanted to see how the book would turn out for her; I enjoyed seeing her come a bit out of her tutor shell and be willing to stand up for herself and do what she thought right.
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Review 19 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
•°o•:*¨¨*:•. SUSPENSFUL and ENJOYABLE .•:*¨¨*:• o°
Date:February 19, 2013
Heather Guerrero, Homeschool Mom to 2Blessings
Location:CORONA, CA
Age:35-44
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I very much enjoyed this read. Set in Cornwall, England, early 1800’s, it is filled with mystery, and since it has been a while since I read a Klassen novel, I had forgotten how suspenseful they can be. Unlike other novels she has written, I did not get an overwhelming sense of faith and God until much later in the book, but she does bring home the importance of both near the end.
Since the author loves Jane Austen (as do I), we are introduced to sweet Aunt Jane (smile). But, the story is mainly about Miss Emma Smallwood. She is so young, about 21. So, while she has book wisdom, not a lot of experience yet. She is highly organized and loves to make lists of all sorts. Since she has grown up in a boys boarding school, she has not had the opportunity for many social outlets. There are many supporting characters, mainly in the Ebbington Manor house, set high upon a cliff overlooking the ocea. Several of those characters are quite hard to like and/or trust. But, there are some treasures – like the mystery guest. I will not give any more away about that.
Tea was featured throughout, as was appropriate in England during that time. I loved that and enjoyed brewing a cuppa as I poured over the novel (pun intended).
Overall, I would recommend this book. I thought the ending was quite satisfactory as well. I am a huge fan of Regency Romance written by Christian authors. I can’t wait for Julie Klassen’s next novel!
Things I would appreciate: a glossary of old fashioned terms is most helpful, so that we may learn and grow our own vocabulary.
Things that ARE included:
*Discussion Questions for the reader to ponder or for a Book Club :)
*Author’s Notes regarding historical references and also that her fictional Ebbington Manor is based upon Efford Down House and nearby Ebbingford Manor (both owned by the same family). She discovered them on a recent trip to England. During that trip she was able to visit the Jane Austen Center in Bath, England. Based upon that trip, she formulated a basis for her mystery guest. I appreciate her notes on this.
*As with her other books, each chapter opens with a random quote, the author wished to share, and which somehow relates to the chapter, such as: “While she…had been planning a most eligible connection for him, was it to be supposed that he could be all the time secretly engaged to another person! Such a suspicion could never have entered her head!” – Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility.
I received this copy for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
409 Pages
*Discussion Questions for the reader to ponder or for a Book Club :)
*Author’s Notes regarding historical references and also that her fictional Ebbington Manor is based upon Efford Down House and nearby Ebbingford Manor (both owned by the same family). She discovered them on a recent trip to England. During that trip she was able to visit the Jane Austen Center in Bath, England. Based upon that trip, she formulated a basis for her mystery guest. I appreciate her notes on this.
*As with her other books, each chapter opens with a random quote, the author wished to share, and which somehow relates to the chapter, such as: “While she…had been planning a most eligible connection for him, was it to be supposed that he could be all the time secretly engaged to another person! Such a suspicion could never have entered her head!” – Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility.
I received this copy for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
409 Pages
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Review 20 for The Tutor's Daughter
Overall Rating:
Jane Austin and Jane Eyre...Can't Put It Down!
Date:February 18, 2013
Tanners Mom
Location:Indiana
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
What a book! The author, Julie Klassen, says she likes all things Jane...Jane Austen and Jane Eyre! And this book shows it! Set on the coast in Cornwall, England, Julie uses words to paint beautiful pictures of landscapes, 1800s clothing, the British aristocracy, and life for a simple, smart Tutor's daughter who thinks that love has passed her by. The four sons of Sir Giles Weston are all mysterious in their own ways. Henry and Phillip are grown and have gone through Emma's father's school as young lads. Younger sons Rowan and Julian are now in need of a formal education, and Emma and her father are invited to come to their estate to tutor the 15 year old twins for the year. Will Emma get to spend time with her old friend Phillip? Will Henry, her antagonist from earlier years, continue to tease her and play mean jokes on her, even though he is now a man? And what are those strange sounds she hears in the manor late at night? Who is coming into her room? Yes, it's a bit of Jane Eyre and Jane Austen all right! You'll hardly be able to put it down. And you'll feel like you've been on vacation to the shores of Cornwall in the process. Enjoy!
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