Isaiah 6:8

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Monday, March 5, 2012

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

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?  Brimming with romance and danger, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall takes readers inside the fascinating belowstairs world of a 19th-century English manor, where appearances can be deceiving. To celebrate Julie has teamed up with her publisher, Bethany House, for a fun Kindle Fire giveaway, Facebook Party (where you could win a Downton Abbey prize pack) and blog tour. Details below.
The critics agree, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall is a superb read:
"Christy winner Klassen mines another gem of a story from the rich Regency vein. In a tale of disguise and transformation with echoes of The Prince and the Pauper...Margaret's character and judgment are enriched as she works for a living. The upstairs-downstairs dynamic of the upper and serving classes puts meat on the story's bones. The reliable Klassen has produced a well-realized genre winner in which Christian elements are subtle and historically appropriate." --Publishers Weekly, about The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
"Romance, mystery and secrets.... Klassen always brings freshness to her stories. Some Regency-era novels have stuffy, hands-off characters, but her characters are warm, witty and have style..." --Romantic Times,
About the Author:  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.  Want to know more?  Visit her website at http://www.julieklassen.com.


The Extras:
Read what others are saying about The Maid of Fairbourne Hall on the blog tour.

Don't forget to RSVP for Julie Klassen's Facebook party and register for your chance to win prizes (including a Downton Abbey prize pack)!

If you are as obsessed with British things, as I am, don't miss Julie's research page, complete with pictures!
Don't forget the giveaway. ...one lucky person will win a Kindle Fire AND a Julie Klassen Library (The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess).  I promise you that you will love it!

My Thoughts:  This was my first time to read anything by Julie Klassen and it will not be my last.  I am huge fan of British, Irish, and Scottish literature and cannot wait to get my hands on another one of her books.  Her characters are so believable.  I would definitely give this book a 4.5.
*Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by Litfuse Publicity Group for review purposes. The opinions expressed are 100% mine and I was not required to give a positive review.

1 comment:

Julie Klassen said...

So glad to know you enjoyed the book, Karen. Thanks for the review!