The Silent Governess

By: Julie Klassen

Narrated by: Elizabeth Jasicki

Length: 15 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

With the stunning prose and engaging characters of The Silent Governess, Christy Award finalist Julie Klassen whisks listeners away to Regency England for a compelling tale of romance and intrigue. Thinking she’s guilty of a crime, Olivia Keene flees her home and stumbles upon a grand estate—and a damaging secret. To ensure her silence, Lord Bradley insists she serve in his opulent manor.

©2009 Julie Klassen (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Klassen expertly infuses her … inspirational tale with a gothic atmosphere, resulting in a sweetly intriguing romance worthy of Victoria Holt.” ( Booklist)

I am glad I finally found Julie Klassen

I enjoy her Characters. They are all ages not just love torn twenty year old.

Author Julie Klassen is highly recommended.

I would gladly recommend this and any other books by Julie Klasssen. Now on to the next book.

Gently Comforting

Speaker’s voice of characters calmed & relaxed me. Not too complex in story line so a good listen for diversion.

Governess

I like the plots the author uses bit get a little lost with so many characters.

Lovely Clean 19th Century English Romance

Although the main characters are predictably matched from the beginning, there are a few twists and unexpected turns in the storyline that keep the listener engaged and predicting. There are no gratuitous scenes that detract from the overall feel-good mood of this story. Moreover, the language is clean and wholesome. References to God and Christian principles are easily interwoven and nicely correspond to the moments in which they are found. The narrator has a lovely voice and portrays the characters with inflection and distinction. Well done.

Enjoyable

Such an enjoyable read. Not fast moving, getting a little slower toward the end however I really enjoyed the characters and simplicity. I love the lack or eroticism and focus on real romance. Probably won’t repeat but worth the time. Love the HEA and celebration of all that is meant to be good in life. God is good and involved in this book (not in copious amounts, just referenced unless the parson is speaking) which adds to the story.

A Menagerie of Plot Twist

Another excellent read from Julie Klassen with believable Christian characters facing real issues in another place and another time. The love story of Olivia and Edward, their mothers and fathers, and their other mothers and other fathers twist in and out in this fast pace plot. The writing is excellent and the narrator does an excellent job, even though there are so many characters involved in this who-beget-who mystery. Rated pg13.

Toward the end of the book, Klassen twirled my mind to the point I felt the various twist might boarder on unbelievable. But I enjoyed this book and this author is growing on me.

Nice to have an author who writes joyful books.

As an avid reader, it’s wonderful to have an author write books that make you fall in love with the characters, include a bit of mystery, and leave you smiling.

Redemption and love

What a beautiful story filled with the twists and turns of life seen through understanding, forgiveness and love. I throughly enjoyed this book. I so do get lost in these tales and try to image myself through the character’s eyes. How I delight at the notion of stumbling across my own love story one day. I dare to say it be as romantic as these incredible books! Onto the next book…can’t wait!

Mystery, Suspicious Relatives, & more…

“The Silent Governess” is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and Regency-era romance.

Our protagonist heroine, Olivia, runs away from everything she has ever known following a terrible crime. She leaves behind her parents, who also face an uncertain fate as a result of the crime.

Seeking a teaching position at a well-known girls’ school m, she flees on foot about 16 miles, but due to several mishaps and scrapes with some dangerous people, she is forced to divert from her plans. She ends up as governess to three small children at a beautiful estate along the way. There she meets the Earl, his handsome son and heir presumptive, Lord Bradley, and several relatives with mysterious — and perhaps sinister — plans for the future of the Earldom.

In addition to the questionable motives of relatives, nosy and interfering distant family, servants with sketchy backgrounds, and the sinister notes that regularly arrive at the estate, another mystery evolves. Both Olivia and Lord Bradley begin to question their respective biological parentage., for very different reasons. As both of them learn more and more details about their parents and theirs births, everything they know about themselves comes into question, especially as romantic feelings develop between the two.

Resolving the crime in Olivia’s hometown, the status of her endangered parents, the truth of our heroine’s and hero’s births, the identity of the person or persons threatening the Earldom, and the motives of several relatives makes this a compelling book with several interesting threads interwoven into a complex mystery. With a bit of romance added in, this is one fun book that pulls the reader into the era and the lives of these interesting characters.