Book Review and Giveaway: The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen

"After a fitful sleep, Edward bid a stilted farewell to his father, and warmly embraced his mother as they prepared to depart. Once the coach disappeared up the lane, Edward went directly to the housekeeper's parlor. He was determined to discover how much the girl had heard and if she understood its import. He'd had insufficient time to grasp the potential consequences himself. He had barely slept thinking of what might happen were she to sell such news to the highest bidder, or even to let it slip in company, where it would spread like barley fire through the country, through the London ballrooms and clubs, to the Harringtons, and Bradley relatives. He would lose all -his reputation, inheritance, title, his very home.

Could one slip of a girl ruin his life as he knew it?"

The Silent Governess, pgs 51-52.

Olivia Keene finds herself in a whole load of trouble when she accidentally overhears a conversation that could ruin the life of a certain gentleman. She is thrown in the lockup, and strangled by another prisoner. The experience leaves her without a voice, but the gentleman, Lord Bradley, isn't convinced that she isn't faking her injury. Edward (Lord Bradley) wants to keep an eye on the girl, fearing that she will spill the tidings that she has heard. He employs her as the under nurse to his cousin's step-children. But there is more then just a temporary injury that keeps Olivia silent. She has her own secrets that she is running from.

Set in the year 1815 in England, this is a tale of truth, love and trust. Things are not always as they seem. Klassen brings us a wonderful story line with well fleshed characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Silent Governess. I liked the way that Klassen showed the struggle that goes along with changing the way that we have always believed something. I could identify with the characters, and was very sad to see the story come to an end.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Julie Klassen.

Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)

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I want to give a copy of The Silent Governess to one of my readers. Please leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win this book. Don't forget to leave your email address so that I can contact you, if you win. (I will be using a randomizer to choose the winner.) The winner will be announced on Monday, February 1st.