Silent Governess, The [Paperback]

Julie Klassen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

Believing herself guilty of a crime, Olivia Keene flees her home, eventually stumbling upon a grand estate where an elaborate celebration is in progress. But all is not as joyous as it seems.

Lord Bradley has just learned a terrible secret, which, if exposed, will change his life forever. When he glimpses a figure on the grounds, he fears a spy or thief has overheard his devastating news. He is stunned to discover the intruder is a scrap of a woman with her throat badly injured. Fearing she will spread his secret, he gives the girl a post and confines her to his estate. As Olivia and Lord Bradley's secrets catch up with them, will their hidden pasts ruin their hope of finding love?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When Olivia Keene arrives home to find her father strangling her mother, she picks up the nearest blunt object and bashes him on the head. Fearing that she will be charged with murder, Olivia, with her mother’s help, flees. While en route to a potential position with an old friend of her mother’s, Olivia finds herself caught up in a series of dangerous adventures culminating in her arrival at Brightwell Court, where she accidentally eavesdrops on a conversation between Lord Edward Stanton Bradley and his father, the Earl. Realizing that the information the now speechless Olivia unknowingly possesses could ruin him, Edward insists that she accept a position in his family’s nursery, never expecting that the silent new governess might be his one hope of salvation. Klassen expertly infuses her Regency-set inspirational tale with a gothic atmosphere, resulting in a sweetly intriguing romance worthy of Victoria Holt. --John Charles

Review

"The Silent Governess is a tale filled with secrets and a story that demonstrates that we can never leave our past completely behind. I lost myself in the pages and could easily picture myself walking the hallways of Brightwell Court with the characters. The Silent Governess is a delightful page-turner, and although I figured out some aspects of the story on my own, Julie Klassen saved some surprising twists and turns for the end! .... Whether you enjoy Jane Austen's England, or you just like a good suspenseful, romantic story, The Silent Governess is a great addition to any reading list." -- 5 Minutes for Books (5minutesforbooks.com)

"The Silent Governess is an interesting and satisfying sojourn in 19th century England. Fans of the Janes (Austen and Eyre) won't want to miss it. The paperback edition includes discussion questions, making this a good choice for book clubs and reading groups." -- Violet Nesdoly, BlogCritics.org

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; Reprinted edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764207075
• ISBN-13: 978-0764207075
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (115 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She is a fiction editor and novelist. Her book, The Silent Governess, won a 2010 Christy Award and 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ready to Escape to Regency England?, January 10, 2010

By 

Cara Putman (Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Silent Governess, The (Paperback)

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.

47 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully written, December 20, 2009

By 

Susan Snodgrass "Book Lover" (SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Silent Governess, The (Paperback)

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.

39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another one for fans of the regency genre, January 30, 2010

By 

Cafe Lily (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silent Governess, The (Paperback)

I'm not a huge fan of the regency genre, so this book was a bit hard for me to get into. However, for those who ARE into "lords, ladies and manors" - this book will most likely be enjoyable.

As the story begins, Olivia Keene is fleeing from a terrible situation at home. When she ventures into the woods and ends up stepping on private property, she finds herself headed to the "lock up" accused of trespassing. Lord Bradley, owner of Brightwell Court comes to her "rescue" but only because he's terrified at the "secret" she might have overheard, while eavesdropping. Afraid that his past will catch up to him, Lord Bradley sentences Olivia to the position of under nurse at Brightwell Court, where she must live and work for the next three months. Keeping her under close scrutiny, Lord Bradley determines to find out just how much she knows about him personally, and whether or not she plans to expose him. However, as typical love stories go, they fight their growing attraction to one another while the plot thickens and they both desperately try to keep secrets from each other.

For fans of Jane Eyre and Jane Austen, this book will probably be a good read.