Lady of Milkweed Manor [Paperback]

Julie Klassen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

The engaging and moving story of a once proper lady who finds herself in a most unexpected situation; a romance set in Regency England.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this inspirational historical romance debut novel set in 19th-century England, a young pregnant woman is forced to make difficult choices. Twenty-year-old Charlotte Lamb is the daughter of a heartless English vicar, as we discover when she becomes pregnant and he throws her out of her childhood home. Vulnerable and unprotected, she is forced to a lodging place for unwed mothers. Soon, Lamb must make decisions involving true love and sacrifice, providing many powerful turning points throughout the story. Although Klassen occasionally lapses into back-to-back dialogue, her prose is generally smooth, and Charlotte has the reader's sympathy from the earliest pages. The amount of information about wet nurses, lactation and breastfeeding can become weighty, although often intriguing (such as the practice of using goats to directly feed foundling infants to avoid the spread of syphilis). Faith themes are subtly woven throughout. The reader will need to suspend disbelief to enjoy some of the plot twists, especially the happily-ever-after ending, which provides the redemptive conclusion common to Christian fiction. A bonus is the milkweed poetry, lore and symbolism knitted into the narrative. Both readers of faith fiction and general readers of historical romance should enjoy this lovely first offering from Klassen. (Jan.)Cut to the Quick (reviewed Oct. 29) will be published in July 2008.
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Review

"... not only a beautiful tale but a fascinating study of women's roles in a time not so terribly distant." -- Violet Nesdoly, Blogcritics.org

"Overall this is a fantastic narrative that will draw you into the era and wreak havoc with your emotions." -- Michelle Griep, novelreviews.blogspot.com

"The characters are strong - the writing excellent ... will leave you immensely and blissfully happy...." -- Amy Lignor, OnceUponaRomance.com

"This is truly one of the most emotionally gripping novels I've ever read...." -- Michelle Sutton, edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com

"This was an excellent first novel and one of the best historical novels I've read this year. I am looking forward to Julie Klassen's next book. HIGHLY recommended." -- Deborah Khuanghlawn, books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 411 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; Reprinted edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764204793
• ISBN-13: 978-0764204791
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (128 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Her book, The Silent Governess, was also a finalist in the Minnesota Book Awards, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards, and Romance Writers of America's RITA Awards. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit www.julieklassen.com for more information.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing historical with endearing characters January 2, 2008

By C. Widman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I didn't want to include any plot spoilers. Read on here with an open mind.

The Lady of Milkweed Manor is a sweet historical romance. For Ms. Klassen's debut work, the story is impressive. She uses a writing style that seems almost effortless. And she definitely knows how to keep you interested! In the beginning all we know is that Charlotte Lamb is leaving her home to settle somewhere new, away from her family. Her goodbye with her father is the only hint that things may be not all good for Charlotte. That she is not leaving for any happy reason, like getting married, a new position, visiting family or friends. You only have an inkling of what is going on. Her situation is not fully explained until a few chapters in.

The story seems very historically based and well-researched. The manor home is based on a real home that existed in London at that time. Each chapter begins with a quote from a historical figure or article- most being about milkweeds. Milkweeds are not the most attractive plants but we learn that they have medicinal and herbal properties that make them more useful than one would assume for a weed-looking plant. These quotes and the repeated presence of the milkweed carries out the theme that things are not always as they appear.

There are many interesting supporting characters. There is drama, intrigue, medical drama/action, history, and romance. Overall, Lady of Milkweed Manor is a great find. The plot may be a bit predictable at times but it's not overly so that it's annoying. It's a light read but with enough background and depth to make it riveting and intriguing. (The reason I hesitate to give it 5 stars is that I don't feel like it is a book so entertaining that I would be drawn to re-read.) I hope there is more to come from this very capable author! If you enjoyed this story, be sure to check out Silent Governess- I found it to be an equally riveting read- fans of Regency romances should gobble it up!!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for women October 11, 2010

By Karl Bielefeldt VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

As a father, I'm not exactly in the target demographic for "Lady of Milkweed Manor." However, my wife recommended it as a way to help understand her feelings surrounding the recent birth of our third child, and I found I enjoyed it much more than I anticipated.

First, the suspense is done very well. Charlotte piles lie upon lie in an attempt to maintain a semblance of control in a life that feels buffetted by circumstance. I enjoyed keeping track of who knows what, and guessing if and how it will all come crashing down. It was a welcome contrast to other women's literature, that all too often seems designed merely to evoke a certain emotion for 100 pages without advancing a plot. In this book the emotion is all there, but not at the expense of a solid story.

The characters were also done very well. From lords and ladies, to the lowliest of servants, to Charlotte who straddled both worlds, the characters were believable and all had something I could identify with.

My favorite part of the book is probably the least expected one: its sub-theme on what it means to "be a man." Many men have a place in Charlotte's life, with varying degrees of honor and loyalty, and varying ideas of how a woman in Charlotte's position should be treated. I can't say more without giving too much away, but suffice it to say I would like my daughters to read this book when deciding what kind of man they would like to marry (and what kind they don't), and I would like my son to read it when deciding what kind of man he would like to become.

The only thing keeping the book from full marks is the use of more modern english, even occasionally American english, in the narration. My wife found that made it easier to read, but for me it just broke the fourth wall somewhat. Overall, though, an excellent read.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly wonderful novel January 17, 2008

By Maiya J. Willits

Format:Paperback

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.