Helpful Score: 1
The Girl in the Gatehouse has a definite Jane Austen "feel" to it. Each chapter begins with a quote, and some of Jane's are included. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, eagerly going back to it each evening and staying up into the wee hours of the morning, to find out what happened next. I found myself daydreaming about the secrets a gatehouse can hide, and what life in a gatehouse might have been like. Mariah found herself, despite the secluded life that she might be living, surrounded by wonderful friends and loyal allies. Though the end was wrapped up a bit too neatly for my liking, this was another engrossing story from Julie Klassen.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book a lot. I found it well written and believable. If you like Jane Austen you will most likely enjoy this author.
Helpful Score: 1
Every book Klassen writes gets better and better! Her writing style is very much along the lines of Jane Austen. In this particular book she combines Jane Austens Persuasion with a touch Mansfield Park. The main character Mariah has been sent to live with her companion in an old abandoned Gatehouse on her aunts estate. There she meets many unique and interesting people including the gallant Captain Matthew Bryant who is renting out her recently deceased Aunts estate. The Captain is drawn to her but does not know why. Why does the "lady" in the gatehouse hide away from society? What is her secret?
This book is worth reading!
This book is worth reading!
Helpful Score: 1
I am a huge fan of Julie Klassen and she sure didn't disappoint in her newest novel! Miss Aubrey has been a disgrace to her family and even thought it's not appropriate for a young woman to be on her own, Mariah is sent to live with her Aunt Francesca Prin-Hallsley. She is only allowed to take her companion, Ms. Dixon with her.
Upon her arrival, Miss Aubrey and Ms. Dixon are assigned to live in the Gatehouse. It's not quite what they had intended on but it would make do! Shortly after getting settled in, Mariah is summoned to the "big house" where her Aunt resides. Her Aunt gives her a precious gift. One in which Hugh Prin-Hallsley (step-son of Aunt Francesca) wants...desperately.
This book is full of mystery, suspense, love, redemption, and comedic acting! We learn of Miss Aubrey's love for the theater and writing and of Captain Prince's adventures at sea. It's difficult for me to focus on a favorite part of this book because there were just so many!
I did learn a couple of things that I was not aware of from this time period: I did not know it was considered "inappropriate" to be a single woman beyond the teen years. I was also not aware that Jane Austen was not revealed as the author of her works until after her death since it was inappropriate for a woman to author books. The Author Note at the end of the book was very helpful to me in understanding this novel better.
Upon her arrival, Miss Aubrey and Ms. Dixon are assigned to live in the Gatehouse. It's not quite what they had intended on but it would make do! Shortly after getting settled in, Mariah is summoned to the "big house" where her Aunt resides. Her Aunt gives her a precious gift. One in which Hugh Prin-Hallsley (step-son of Aunt Francesca) wants...desperately.
This book is full of mystery, suspense, love, redemption, and comedic acting! We learn of Miss Aubrey's love for the theater and writing and of Captain Prince's adventures at sea. It's difficult for me to focus on a favorite part of this book because there were just so many!
I did learn a couple of things that I was not aware of from this time period: I did not know it was considered "inappropriate" to be a single woman beyond the teen years. I was also not aware that Jane Austen was not revealed as the author of her works until after her death since it was inappropriate for a woman to author books. The Author Note at the end of the book was very helpful to me in understanding this novel better.
The Girl In The Gatehouse is the third book I have read by author Julie Klassen. She is an excellent and award winning writer. This novel is about Miss Mariah Aubrey, a young woman who has been banished by her father to a distant relative's estate. She has been given an abandoned gatehouse to live in. To make a living, she is writing novels under the pen name of Lady A. She meets many interesting people, including Naval Officer Captain Matthew Bryant who has plans of his own that don't include a social outcast. However, he is drawn to her...
I have read all of this author's previous works and my enjoyment always grew with each new book. Unfortunately, that did not happen with "The Girl in the Gatehouse", which I had been so looking forward to. I found the plotting transparent and the characterizations unoriginal. If this wasn't a Julie Klassen book, I wouldn't have even finished it, but being a fan in the past made me want to give the author the benefit of a doubt. The author herself declares this book to be heavily influenced by Jane Austen and I think the constraints that placed on the author did her no favors. Weak and uninvolving for this reader.
This was very good tale from Julie Klassen. The way this author writes made everything come to life in my minds-eye so it was much like watching a movie. There is lots of characters to get to know and several sub-plots but it was well done so as not to feel overwhelming. I will admit that there were parts that were a little slow for my taste but the last third of the book kept me turning pages. Lots of twists and turns throughout and a totally satisfying ending. I enjoyed learning that lots of writers published anonymously in that era and most especially women. I also liked the way the author sprinkled little bits of the mystery surrounding the Prin-Hallsey family. It was fun trying to put all the pieces together. There was an underlying theme of faith and forgiveness that seemed natural to the story. When you read the book be sure to catch the authors note. She had some interesting things to say. A thank you goes to Bethany House for providing this complementary copy for my review.
Mariah is banished from her family for allowing herself to become fooled by a man who had promised to marry her. Taking her loyal servant with her they are placed in a aunts gatehouse. There they set up housekeeping and Mariah supports themselves by writing novels in secret. A captain Matthew Bryant leases the estate and becomes friends with Mariah and do many other people who work the grounds of the estate. Intriguing, mysterious and romantic. Why are the gates locked and the entrance to the estate by the gate house not used? Who is the man on the roof of the poor house next door?
I found it ended a little to neatly for me. The development of the relationships seemed rushed and somewhat unbelievable sometimes and despite a nice happy ending it didn't seem realistic.
