”The Tutor’s Daughter” by Julie Klassen! Enter to win a “Downton Abbey” Kindle Prize Pack

Julie is celebrating by giving away one of the new Paperwhite Kindles, Downton Abbey (season 3) and hosting a fun Author Chat Party on Facebook. (January 31st)

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Paperwhite
• Downton Abbey, Season 3
• A Julie Klassen library (The Tutor’s Daughter, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 30th. Winner will be announced at "The Tutor's Daughter Author Chat Party on January 31st. Connect with Julie, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be great giveaways - gift certificates, books and season 3 of Downton Abbey!

So grab your copy of The Tutor's Daughter and join Julie on the evening of the January 31st for a chance to connect with Julie and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

Tour Schedule

http://litfusegroup.com/author/JKlassen 

 

1/14/2013

Michelle | Our Little Corner of the World

Erin | Reviews By Erin

Sarah | Growing for Christ

Jodie | Digging For Pearls

Heather | Purple Frog Designs

Cristi | Cristi's Reviews

1/15/2013

Carrie | Our Blessed Chaos

Melissa | Bibliophile's Retreat

Marcy | Ben and Me

Nicole | Gidget Goes Home

Kay | Kaisy Daisy's Corner

Joy | Splashes of Joy

1/16/2013

Chelsey | Charming Chelsey's

Lydia Harris | Squidmom

Paula | The Phantom Paragrapher

Athena | Our Crazy Life

Rachel | a fair substitute for heaven

LaTawnia | LaTawnia Kintz Reviews

Danielle | The Happy Wife

1/17/2013

Jill | I am believing God

Karen | Karen's Korner

Megan | Inspired by Fiction

Karla | Quiet Quilter

Caroline | Happy Four

Dawn | A Passion For Pages

1/18/2013

Tammi | Our Homeschooling Pilgrimage

Leila | All Meant To Shine

Jenny | Book Reviews By Jenny

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Lauri | Knits, Reads and Reviews

Amber | Seasons of Humility

1/19/2013

Lydia | The Overweight Bookshelf

Megan | Hardcover Feedback

Lisa | Seeking with all Yur Heart

Heidi | Buzz4Mommies

Lori | Morning Glories and Moonflowers

Julie | More of Him

1/21/2013

Alicia | Surrendering All OF Me

Sara | Embracing Destiny

Kathleen E. | Lane Hill House

Shonda | The Knowlton Nest

Krista | Welcome to Married Life

Kari | Alas 3 Lads

1/22/2013

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Faye | Labor Not in Vain

Lindsey | Babies, Books, and Beyond

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1/23/2013

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Beckie | By The Book

Laura | Harvest Lane Cottage

Mindy | A Room Without Books is Empty Book Review blog

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Paula | thriftymommasbrainfood

1/24/2013

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Brooke | i blog 4 books

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1/25/2013

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1/26/2013

Hannah | Hannah E. Trotter

Patty | Broken Teepee

Ruth | My Devotional Thoughrs

Katie | Legacy of a Writer

Amanda | Books By Amanda

Patricia | It's Time To Read Mamaw

Melanie | Jubilee Reviews

Vera | LuxuryReading.com

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1/28/2013

TAMMY | THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK

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Marie | Burton Book Review

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Marissa | The Review Stew

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1/29/2013

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Kathleen | Reviews From The Heart

Renae | Reviews by Renae

Amy | A Nest in the Rocks

1/30/2013

Diane | That's What I'm Here For....

Charity | Hosanna's Journey

Amanda | Short and Sweet Reviews

Melanie | Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Nise' | Under the Boardwalk

Laura | Lighthouse Academy

Nancy | Bookfoolery & Babble

Margay | Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem

1/31/2013

Linda | One Desert Rose

Holly | 2 Kids and Tired Books

Megan | When life gets you down...read a book

Donna | Books and Such

Suzanne | Clicking Her Heels

Renee | Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot

Nancy | sunny island breezes

Ladette | The Life and Times of a Pwnmom...

Lena | A Christian Writer's World

Sharon | Faith Hope & Cherrytea

Anna | A Thrifty Geek 

Vida | Sunflower Faith 

ROAD TO the Christys - The Maid of Fairborne Hall by Julie Klassen

2012 Blog Tour Travel the virtual "Road to the Christys" blog tour from Mon., July 9 to Tue., July 20th, 2012. Blog tour participants will be celebrating the 2012 Christy Award nominees leading up to the Christy Awards banquet in Orlando, July 16, and the winners after they are presented. Follow @ChristyAwardd, or like www.facebook.com/ChristyAward for a link to the first stop on the "Road to the Christys" blog tour.

  HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. 

For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com

About Book

To escape a scheme to marry her off to a dishonorable man, Margaret Macy flees London disguised as a housemaid. If she can remain unwed until her next birthday, she will receive an inheritance, and with it, sweet independence. But she never planned on actually working as a servant. And certainly not in the home of Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch--both former suitors.


As she fumbles through the first real work of her life, Margaret struggles to keep her identity secret when suspicions arise and prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall. Can she avoid a trap meant to force her from hiding?


Published January 1st 2012 by Bethany House Publishers


My Thoughts


Let's start with a little information about the characters...

• Margaret Elinor Macy - hieress to a fortune and main character in this book
• Sterling Benton - Margaret's step father and vilian/manipulator after her fortune
• Marcus Benton - Sterling's puppet of a nephew out to marry Margaret and her fortune
• Lewis Upchurch - aka Don Juan had courted Margaret at one time. He is all play no work
• Nathaniel Upchurch - younger brother of Lewis.  He is all work no play. Also courted and proposed to Margaret, she turned him down leaving him bitter.
• The Poet Pirate - anonymous
• Helen Upchurch - sister of Lewis and Nathaniel.  She has become a spinster due to lost love. 
• Joan - Margaret's maid whom helped her to escape the villianous stepfather and nephew.
• Nora Garret - Margarets new name while in disguise.
• Fairbourne Hall - resident of the Upchurch family and Margaret's new place of employment as servant
• Mr. Hudson - house steward at Fairbourne Hall. Hired Margaret as servant at Fairbourne Hall

These are just the main characters there are many more that make up this story.


Margaret Elinor Macy was determined to come up with a plan to flee her step father's iron rule.  Sterling Benton had not only taken over the financial responsibilities of his new family he also chose to lock away all the families jewels. He also has plans to marry off Margaret to his puppet of a nephew, Marcus Benton, in order go get control of a very large fortune Margaret is soon to inherit. She overheard Sterling and Marcus scheming to go as far as compromising her virtue forcing her to marry Marcus. This she would not allow to happen she had to find a way to escape. She was  determined to seek out an old friend Lewis Upchurch to get his help to her hide away from Sterling. When she was home alone she took money from her step father's room which resulted in her maid, Joan, being accused of the theft and was fired. Margaret convinced the maid to help her escape and give her safe haven. She decides to disguise herself by wearing a wig and coloring her eyebrows darker along with wearing a pair of her father's old eyeglasses. Margaret no longer went by her real name. She is now to be known as Nora Garret and plans to hire out as a servant to support herself until she comes into her inheritance. She had no clue as how to be a servant. But she had no other recourse.

Nora is hired as a house maid by Mr. Hudson, a house steward. When she nears her new place of employment she is shocked to see it is none other that Fairbourne Hall home of the man she spurned, Nathaniel Upchurch and his brother Lewis. Along with their sister, Helen, mistress of the Fairbourne Hall. She fears she will be recognized and sent back to face whatever her step father has in store for her. But to her amazement she is able to keep secret from everyone. Are does she?

It was really diffucult for me to know just how much of the story I should share in this review. There is so much secrecy among all of the characters, along with manipulation and intrigue. Of course there is a chance for some romance in the story also. It is said that the author's writing is comparable to that of Jane Austen's and I whole heartily agree.

There are many interesting quotes in the book. This is one of many...

Housemaids were meant to be invisible, 

and all cleaning had to be performed either before 

the family to up or while they were absent. 

 As one housemaid later wrote. 

"It was assumed, I suppose, 

that the fairies had been at the rooms." 

Trevor May, The Victorian Domestic Servant

I highly recommend this book.


I rated this book a 5 out of 5.


Disclosure 
I was given a free copy of this book for review by Bethany House Publisher/Litfuse. I was in no way compensated for this review, it is my own opinion.


If you liked this review please vote here

Litfuse Tour: The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

About Julie:

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com

About the book:

To escape a scheme to marry her off to a dishonorable man, Margaret Macy flees London disguised as a housemaid. If she can remain unwed until her next birthday, she will receive an inheritance, and with it, sweet independence. But she never planned on actually working as a servant. And certainly not in the home of Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch--both former suitors.

As she fumbles through the first real work of her life, Margaret struggles to keep her identity secret when suspicions arise and prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall. Can she avoid a trap meant to force her from hiding?

Link to buy the book:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0764207091/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=sprightly-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0764207091&adid=1TCYV1DRSTV23NKEQ170

Paperback, 410 pages

Published January 1st 2012 by Bethany House Publishers

ISBN 0764207091 (ISBN13: 9780764207099)

url http://www.bethanyhouse.com/Book.asp?isbn=978-0-7642-0709-9



Win a Kindle Fire and RSVP for FB party 3/15!
Enter Today and Save the Date-3/15!

About the contest:

Don't miss the perfect blend of Regency-era romance and mystery in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall! Grab a copy and then be sure to enter Julie's Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVP for her Author Chat party on Facebook! Swoon.

One fortunate winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire

A Julie Klassen Library (The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/14. Winner will be announced at Julie's "Fairbourne Hall" Facebook Party on 3/15 . Julie will be hosting an evening of chat, trivia and a sneak peek at her next book - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a Downton Abbey Prize Pack!

So grab your copy of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and join Julie and friends on the evening of March 15th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 15th!

Blog Tour Schedule: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13456522/julieklassen


My Thoughts:
Let's start with a little information about the characters...

• Margaret Elinor Macy - hieress to a fortune and main character in this book
• Sterling Benton - Margaret's step father and vilian/manipulator after her fortune
• Marcus Benton - Sterling's puppet of a nephew out to marry Margaret and her fortune
• Lewis Upchurch - aka Don Juan had courted Margaret at one time. He is all play no work
• Nathaniel Upchurch - younger brother of Lewis.  He is all work no play. Also courted and proposed to Margaret, she turned him down leaving him bitter.
• The Poet Pirate - anonymous
• Helen Upchurch - sister of Lewis and Nathaniel.  She has become a spinster due to lost love. 
• Joan - Margaret's maid whom helped her to escape the villianous stepfather and nephew.
• Nora Garret - Margarets new name while in disguise.
• Fairbourne Hall - resident of the Upchurch family and Margaret's new place of employment as servant
• Mr. Hudson - house steward at Fairbourne Hall. Hired Margaret as servant at Fairbourne Hall

These are just the main characters there are many more that make up this story.

Margaret Elinor Macy was determined to come up with a plan to flee her step father's iron rule.  Sterling Benton not only taken over the financial responsibilties of his new family he also chose to lock away all the families jewels.  He also has plans to marry off Margaret to his puppet of a nephew, Marcus Benton, in order go get control of a very large fortune Margaret is soon to inherit.  She overheard Sterling and Marcus scheming to go as far as comprimising her virtue forcing her to marry Marcus.  This she would not allow to happen she had to find a way to escape.  She seeked out an old friend Lewis Upchurch to help her hide away from Sterling but to no avail.  When she was home alone she took money from her step father's room which resulted in her maid, Joan, being accused of the theft and was fired.  Margaret convinced the maid to help her escape and give her safe haven.  She decides to disguise herself by wearing a wig and coloring her eyebrows darker along with wearing a pair of her father's old glasses.  Margaret no longer goes by her real name she is now to be known as Nora Garret and plans to hire out as a servant to support herself until she comes into her inheritance.  She had no clue as how to be a servant.  But she had no other recourse.

Nora is hired as a house maid by Mr. Hudson, a house steward.  When she nears her new place of employment she is shocked to see it is none other that Fairbourne Hall home of the man she spurned, Nathaniel Upchurch and his brother Lewis. Along with their sister, Helen, mistress of the Fairbourne Hall.
She fears she will be recognized and sent back to face whatever her step father has in store for her.  But to her amazement she is able to keep secret from everyone.  Are does she?

It was really diffucult for me to know just how much of the story I should share in this review.  There is so much secrecy among all of the characters, along with manipulation and intrigue.  Of course there is a chance for some romance in the story also.  It is said that the author's writing is comparable to that of Jane Austen's and I whole heartily agree. 

There are many interesting quotes in the book.  This is one of many...

Housemaids were meant to be invisible, and all cleaning had to be performed either before the family to up or while they were absent.  As one housemaid later wrote. "It was assumed, I suppose, that the fairies had been at the rooms."  Trevor May, The Victorian Domestic Servant


I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:
I was given a free copy of this book for review by Bethany House Publisher/Litfuse.  I was in no way compensated for this review, it is my own opinion.


If you liked this review please vote here