The Tutor's Daughter

Each book Julie writes gets better and better! Her love of Austen and Bronte shine brightly and makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the family secrets, ghostly happenings in the middle of the night, the wondering who the culprit could be as well as the setting of Cornwall, the mystery and intrigue it added to the story. The rich cast of characters are easy to like and it was exciting to see many of them change and grow. The storyline with Adam is very touching.

Emma Smallwood is a good daughter and an excellent tutorial assistant. As her father's teaching academy winds down, she seeks gainful employment for him with the father of former students. Emma has mixed feelings about traveling to Cornwall and the home of the Westons as Philip was a dear friend but his older brother, Henry, was a constant source of torment. Unfortunately the Smallwoods arrival at Ebbington Manor isn't all they had hoped. Although arrangements are quickly made for them, Emma and Mr. Smallwood are quickly put in their place by Lady Weston, who insists that they dine with the family steward. If that isn’t bad enough, the youngest Weston brothers seem to mirror the elder brothers with one being kind, Rowan, and one being show more more cold and taunting, Julian.

Emma seems to be the victim of multiple pranks during her stay at Ebbington Manor, including hearing music in the night, having her personal journal/diary stolen, and seeing mysterious hand prints in her room. Rowan and Julian want her to believe that there is a ghost in the manor, but Emma's common sense prevails and she investigates. She quickly learns that the music is being played by a lost brother, Adam. She also learns that all is not what it appears at Ebbington Manor. Her friendship with Philip seems to wan as she gets to know him better as an adult and she is pleasantly surprised by the faith and friendship afforded her by her childhood nemesis, Henry.

Ms. Klassen has provided a wonderful gothic romance with The Tutor's Daughter. Emma is an educated young woman in an age where excess education of gentle women is frowned upon by society. She is constantly mocked for being a "bluestocking" because of her desire to read and learn. In many ways The Tutor's Daughter is a coming-of-age story where Emma learns that you can't judge based on appearances (shades of Pride & Prejudice). Although Emma, and indeed all of the Westons and Smallwoods, attends church on a regular basis, Emma appears to do so out of societal custom rather than true belief. Her faith is greatly enhanced after a conversation with Henry Weston and a near-death experience. The Tutor's Daughter is a well-crafted historical fiction read but one that didn't keep my attention until the latter portion of the book. I ascribe this more to migrainus-interruptus than anything else. If you enjoy gothic romances, clean historical romances or a combination of both, then I highly recommend The Tutor's Daughter. show less

Emma Smallwood assists her father in his preparatory school for boys. As she's going through the accounts and trying to find ways to bring more students to the school, she notices that the younger brothers of Phillip and Henry Weston have not come as she had expected. When she writes on her father's behalf to inquire if they might be interested in attending, her father receives an invitation to come to Cornwall as their private tutor. Emma is surprised by her father's acceptance, and as soon as their home is rented, they travel to Cornwall only to be to not be met at the station and greeted by a bit of surprise on the wife's part although the letter of acceptance and information about their time of arrival was sent in advance. Emma show more finds Henry and Phillip away upon arrival although Henry soon returns from his trip on behalf of their estate and Phillip takes a break from his studies at Oxford to come home. Things are disappearing, music is playing, and some try to blame it on a ghost. Emma doesn't believe in ghosts and sets out to prove that wrong. She receives a little help from one of the brothers. As one might expect, there comes a point of danger for Emma and that brother. This novel reminds me so much of the Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt novels that I enjoyed in junior high and high school. Many of today's romantic suspense novels add an occultic element to the novel that, as a Christian, I'm uncomfortable reading. Klassen's work gave me the enjoyment of those novels without that uncomfortable feeling. Although this is produced by a Christian publisher, it is not really evangelistic in nature, relying upon prayer in the face of danger and difficulty instead to communicate the faith of the characters. I look forward to going back and reading other books by Klassen now that I've discovered her work. Thanks to the publisher for providing the advanced e-galley of this book through NetGalley. show less

This is my second book by Ms. Klassen - I reviewed The Maid of Fairbourne Hall previously and found it a light and enjoyable read. I therefore accepted The Tutor's Daughter with anticipation of another good tale.

In this story we meet young Emma Smallwood who is caring for her widowed father and teaching with him in their academy for young boys; only there are no more boys to teach. This turn of events does not seem to bother her father but it concerns Emma mightily because she doesn't know how she will pay their bills without students. She comes up with a plan to invite the younger sons of previous students but instead receives an offer to come to the manor house instead to teach them there. At first insulted for her father she soon show more learns he feels that the change of scenery is just what he wants to help forget the wife he so loved.

Off they trek with Emma feeling some trepidation as she has very fond feelings for one of these former students and less than fond feelings for the other. She meets the rest of the family including a ward, Lizzie who is far too outspoken and invasive for Emma's comfort. Soon strange manifestations start to occur in and around Emma and she starts to worry that she is being haunted by a ghost.

But it is nothing so spectral that haunts her; it is most definitely something earthbound and something evil. She works towards figuring out the secrets of the manor while sorting out her feelings for the older sons of the house.

I was intrigued with the synopsis of this book but the story didn't live up to its teaser. I think what left me most dissatisfied was the lack of any real justice or comeuppance for the bad guys at the end. I obviously don't want to give too much away but what good is revealing the evil doer for lack of a better phrase and then just letting him/her off? It was an emotional let down. The romantic aspects ended up quite nicely though and Ms. Klassen does have a way with descriptions - I really felt as if I was there. I felt Emma's fear and confusion and she was being stalked. It just felt like a rushed ending with, as mentioned an unsatisfactory wrap up for the bad guys.

It was, though an enjoyable read and I will read the next book from Ms. Klassen when it comes out. show less

This book is an epic page-turner! I literally could not put it down until I was done. It's a bit of a tome at 400+ pages, but worth every minute. Kept me guessing till the end, and I've read a lot of books. Neat to see how the author tied up the loose ends.

Christian fiction at its best. Good, clean mystery - a perfect read any time of year. (Be prepared to want to visit Cornwall by the end!)

I have previously read the Maid of Fairbourne Hall by this author. Klassen specializes in fluffy historical romances with a Christian slant. Nothing too heavy handed, just a nice God loves you kind of thing.

In this novel plucky Emma Smallwood assists her father who is a tutor and who is suffering from depression due to the death of his wife. When their pool of students dry up they elect to go to a wealthy manor to tutor the siblings of their previous students. The welcome at the manor is not a pleasant one as the Lady Weston is a cold fish and to compound matters Emma has to deal with Henry Weston, heir to the manor who did quiet a bit of teasing of Emma when he was her father's pupil. While at the manor mysterious things begin to show more happen to Emma. At first it is just the theft of personal items but soon things turn more sinister. Who is responsible? Is it Lizzie, Mrs. Weston's ward and frenemy to Emma, Philip, Henry Weston's younger biological brother or Henry's half siblings, the twins, Julian or Rowan? Or is it someone else, such as a mysterious relative kept hidden in the house? Klassen borrows liberally from Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte to tell her tale.

In a Klassen novel the romance is chaste and the mystery uncomplicated. If you are looking for mind bending intrigue grab an Agatha Christie novel. Still this had a sort of pleasant Downtown Abbey-esque vibe to it. Grab it if you are in the mood for a frothy historical romance light. show less

Not my typical choice, but I enjoyed the mystery interwoven with the historical fiction. A bit preachy, but what else can you expect from something labeled Christian Regency romance?
I did enjoy the characters for the most part and there isn't anything too objectionable here, although the plot does drag a bit in places, the historical setting and details made up for it.