The Innkeeper's Daughter

I can count on one hand the number of Christian Historical fiction authors who can capture me completely, take me to another place and time, and not let go until the end. Michelle Griep is one of these authors as I always see a little of Charles Dickens, my favorite childhood author, in her storytelling. This time Michelle not only gave us a romance between Johanna Langley (the Innkeeper’s daughter) and Alexander Moore a.k.a. Alexander Morton (? You will have to read the story to know more) but also a peek at another between Eliza (Johanna’s mom) and Sir Richard Ford, plus lots of intrigue and mystery throughout.

Michelle’s characters of which there are many are all well developed each with very distinct personalities. I would show more have to say my two favorites were Thomas (Johanna’s little brother) and Mr. Nutbrown (a patron of the inn) as both made me smile. My least favorite character was Mr. Spurge not because of Michelle’s writing but because of the person he was. Shall we just say he took after Mr. Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

I did not realize when I chose to read this book that it was a sequel to Brentwood's Ward, however it can be read as a stand-alone. Overall I enjoyed reading The Innkeeper’s Daughter and would recommend this faithful, and at times sit-on-the-edge of your seat story of the impoverished devout working class of the regency period in England.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. show less

What a unique work of Christian historical fiction! With “The Innkeeper’s Daughter”, Michelle Griep crafts a fascinating story that combines romance, suspense, and hardship against the backdrop of Dover in 1808. The dialect immerses the reader in this Regency world, and the realistic challenges and situations which the characters face reinforce this connection. Moral quandaries and tests of faith feature prominently and demonstrate that despite the passage of time, some things do not change. Be it two hundred years in the past or contemporary society, faith and trust in God are essential, especially in trying circumstances.

“The Innkeeper’s Daughter” beautifully illustrates this through the story’s main conflict. Intrigue show more and adventure flow as a steady undercurrent that swells toward the end of the narrative, with no predictable ending to spoil the ride. The hero, Alexander Moore, accepts a covert assignment to get to the bottom of a deadly conspiracy and lands at the Blue Hedge Inn, which is run by the comely Johanna Langley and her aging mother. Plagued by financial difficulties and concerns for her mother and young brother, Johanna tries to take the world upon her shoulders, trusting in herself above all, as do so many of us today.

Part of what makes this novel so captivating is the quirky and unusual characters. They are unlike any I have come across in other Christian fiction, especially the peripheral characters. Not only do they add depth to the story, but they also offer a perspective on physical disability and mental illness. The villains, who are not always easy to pick out here, are handled cleanly in spite of their actions. Overall, this story reminded me in certain ways of “The Scarlet Pimpernel”. Gambling played a substantial role in the narrative, and this is another example of how Griep’s book proves its distinctiveness. Rather than portraying betting as inherently evil, “The Innkeeper’s Daughter” demonstrates that it can be done honestly as long as you never gamble what you can’t afford to lose. The question becomes how far the characters are willing to go to uphold their convictions and their loyalties.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. show less

The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep is set in Dover, England in 1808. Johanna Langley helps her mother care for the Blue Hedge Inn in Dover, England as well as her mischievous younger brother. The rent payment as well as the loan payment for repairing the hearth are coming due. If Johanna cannot come up with the money in time, they will be bound for the workhouse. She is hoping the upcoming Oak Apple Day will bring in some much needed guests. Officer Alex Moore is given a special assignment by Magistrate Ford. Alex is to pose as a gambling rogue to unmask a traitor in Dover. Someone has been leaking military intelligence to the French. While staying in Dover, Magistrate Ford has arranged for Alex to lodge at the Blue Hedge Inn. show more When Alex meets Johanna, he feels an immediate attraction. But Alex is not free to pursue the comely Johanna while he is on assignment. Alex’s mission becomes complicated and he must enlist Johanna’s assistance if they are to bring a collaborator to justice. Come along for the adventure in The Innkeeper’s Daughter.

The Innkeeper’s Daughter has an intriguing premise. The blurb for the book captured my attention and had me wanting to find out what happened to the Johanna and Alex. Michelle Griep did capture the time period with the descriptions of the buildings, clothing, people’s attitudes and behavior, the jobs available, and options for those without funds (there was a lack of historical accuracy). The Innkeeper’s Daughter had a good start, but then the plot dragged for me. There were some interesting sections, but not enough to hold my attention. I was happy to see the action pick up near the end of the book. Johanna is a hard character to like. She seemed to take the joy out of any room she entered. Johanna had a very depressing attitude. She did not like to take advice, let someone else be in charge (like Alex) and Johanna felt like a failure (which readers are reminded of often). I am surprised the inn was still open with the way it was run. The little brother is allowed to run around wild (instead of helping at the inn) and then brings in customers that end up costing them money (the mother never took charge). Overall, Johanna was a frustrating character. She never seemed to let go and trust God to provide (like Alex). There was a man with a puppet that was silly and was not needed in the story (I have a feeling he would have gotten beat up regularly). I felt the ending was a letdown and some of the subplots were confusing. I give The Innkeeper’s Daughter 3 out of 5 stars. While I did not feel Michelle Griep hit this one out of the park, I have enjoyed her other novels, and I will continue to read her works in the future. show less

How long can you hold your breath?
Breath taking, tense mystery and drama. Set in England in 1808 at a little run-down Inn, Johanna and her mother (with some help from her little brother) are trying to keep the business afloat and keep up with the payments. Little do they know the danger about to surround them. Alex is a Runner who is undercover, and more or less living a lie as far as Johanna is concerned. But he can’t reveal himself until his job is done. Neither is expecting to fall in love, but each supports the other and they are strengthened in their faith – which is what sees them through. This one is nearly impossible to set down, and I held my breath entirely too much! Although there was more Dickens style darkness to this show more than I had expected the story was VERY good.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” show less

Where do I begin?? I loved this book! From the first page it had me hooked. I was already telling my family to read this book while I was still in the second chapter! Michelle Griep has a way with words. I really enjoyed how all her characters were different, and they stayed different throughout the whole book instead of blending together towards the end like some stories do. And then, you think you've figured it all out, but nope! Miss Michelle throws another curve! It was awesome! This story was filled with lots spiritual content, intrigue, suspense and plenty of laugh out loud moments! I really didn't want this book to end!

Note: There were a few fighting scenes that could be a little much for some people and some comments hinted at show more things I wasn't comfortable with. But I still loved this story! Miss Michelle is an author I definitely want on my shelf! show less

Michelle Griep writes exquisite historical fiction, and I absolutely loved the adventure and romance of The Innkeeper’s Daughter. With transporting atmosphere, the story comes to life from the very first page, and as I delved into the world of Regency-era spies, smugglers, traitors, and a very stubborn innkeeper, I couldn’t stop reading. It’s intriguing and suspenseful and an utter delight to read. I can’t recommend this book enough to readers of historical fiction and look forward to reading much more from Griep in the future. (Next up, The Captured Bride.)

Thanks to Celebrate Lit, I received a complimentary copy of The Innkeeper’s Daughter and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a show more positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. show less

Why You Should Read The InnKeeper's Daughter

First, Michelle Griep is the author. She can be a very versatile voice, writing colonial fiction, cozies, Dickens-type mysteries, or in this case, Regency Romance. Whatever she puts her writing pen to, she's good at producing.

Secondly, this novel has at least one swoon-worthy hero and the accompanying entourage of characters, yet it is a clean, inspirational read. Gamblers, pretty maidens, traveling musicians, high stakes players in a dangerous race to sell or secure a nation's safety: all combine at full throttle back and forth searching for the one ultimate traitor. Meanwhile, the romantic tension between Johanna and Alexander is sweet, taut, and ready to spring like a bungee cord.

Thirdly, show more one singularly simple but outstanding character is quite notable. I loved the portrayal of Mr. Lucius Nutbrown, a man of slower mental abilities who talks only through his hand puppet.

Quotable:
"Everyone has faith, Miss Coburn. The question is, faith in what?"
Many people today don't get this truth. They claim no faith but have faith in themselves, humankind, science, etc, while refusing faith in God.

While Brentwood, a friend from Brentwood's Ward, is mentioned, the connection is loose. This is easily a standalone novel.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. I also purchased my own copy. This book is just that good. All opinions in this review are my own, and no positive review was required. show less