The Tutor's Daughter

By: Julie Klassen

Narrated by: Elizabeth Jasicki

Length: 16 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

RITA finalist and Christy Award winner Julie Klassen draws high marks from fans for her meticulous attention to detail in her inspirational historical romances. With The Tutor’s Daughter, Klassen sweeps listeners away to the blustery Cornwall coast, where Emma Smallwood and her widowed father take up residence with a baronet and his four sons. As Emma begins teaching the two youngest boys, she becomes plagued by mysterious events. Vowing to solve this mystery, she also finds her heart stirring with feelings for one of the elder brothers.

©2012 Julie Klassen (P)2013 Recorded Books

I don't care for mysteries, however...

I didn't realize this was a mystery-I bought it because I enjoyed "The Apothecary's Daughter" written by the same author and narrated by the same person. I'm picky about narrators and this is the first one who sounds American but does English accents really well. Maybe she is British; either way she has a good mix of characters and I really appreciate her interpretation and is the only reason I stuck with it. I think Emma is a little naïve considering her age and everything is wrapped up in a pretty little bow towards the end-I would have liked more story about the family and how they resolved their issues.
If you have read and liked this duo before, you will probably love this book, if you like mysteries, you probably
will too. I don't know if I'll listen to it again, but it helped pass the time while I cleaned my house and ran errands.

Fabulous!!!

Emma Smallwood helps her father run his school for boys called The Smallwood Academy. Emma lost her mother two years prior to the start of this story and as a result finds her father unmotivated and melancholy. Since they have no more students, Emma, worried not only about their financial situation but also her father's depressed state of mind, comes up with the idea of sending a letter to Mr. Weston who had his oldest two sons attend their academy in the past. The letter invited him to consider their academy for his younger twin boys as well. Mr Weston responds by inviting Emma and her father to go to their home Cornwall to privately tutor the two youngest sons. Emma is surprised to find her father not only receptive to the idea but also looking forward to taking up that offer. Emma herself is not too excited about meeting the older son Henry again since he played a lot of pranks on her when he lived with them. Once they arrive at the manor, they find their welcome less than warm and completely unexpected by all except Lord Weston who had forgotten about their arrival and had not informed anyone else of it either. The strange screams in the night and the sense of having someone in her room in the middle of the night in addition to the residents of the manor's strange behavior and start of unpleasant pranks again has Emma puzzled. Everyone keeps telling her that there is a resident ghost in the manor but she realizes that nothing in that house is as it seems. Most seem to be hiding something.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. I personally am not a religious person and was surprised by the turn of the story into one that was much more strongly religious. I respect those that do believe in God and am sure that most if not all of you believers will enjoy that part and find it most gratifying.

It was extremely difficult for me to guess who was behind all the pranks but the love story which blossomed was easy to see from the start. I loved Henry's character and his solid personality and the strength and kindness of Emma. All characters were very well developed and the story had well developed facets. A very well done book.

Fabulous narration for Jane Austenesque story

I started reading this as a Net Galley advance copy but I had listened to all of Julie's other books on audible.com downloads. So, frankly, I had been spoiled. As soon as I discovered the download was available I purchased it and began listening. The narrator couldn't be any more perfect for this book, which really enhanced my reading pleasure. Julie and Jane lovers will not be disappointed!!! Worth the wait!

Wonderful!

This is the third book by Julie Klassen that I have read--one right after another! I understand that her books are classified under the genre of Christian Romance, but I don't believe that phrase does her work justice. There certainly is romance in Klassen's novels, as well as a heroine who strives to emulate Christ's love and compassion for others in the choices she makes.

Klassen's books, however, are so much more than that. The characters, including the heroine, are complex, fully drawn people who struggle with difficult situations--and who, as all of us do, make mistakes and often need to grapple with difficult decisions that are rarely black-and-white in nature.

Her books could easily be included under the genres of Historical or Literary Fiction, given the beauty of Klassen's writing and the historically accurate settings in early 19th century England (or at least the three novels I've read were).

In any case, if this sounds at all appealing to you, I recommend you give Klassen a try if you haven't already. You could probably begin with any of her novels. I greatly enjoyed this one, which (unlike the other two) had a mystery strongly woven into the plot. I also read The Apothecary's Daugter and The Painter's Daughter, similar titles but very different settings and plots and equally wonderful.

I must not forget to mention the wonderful narration by Elizabeth Jasicki. It was a pleasure to listen to her reading of The Tudor's Daughter!

Very enjoyable read without vulgarity.

Pleasantly read with an interesting, but not always predictable storyliine. Would definitely recommend to a friend!

Excellent! Another fabulous book by Klassen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, well written and performed.

Any additional comments?

Another excellent rendering by Julie Klassen and Elizabeth Jasicki! This is my third one so far and I have really enjoyed them and am so glad I discovered them! Just enough mystery to be exciting! And I'm thinking it's such a shame that today's society is in such a hurry - so much of a rush for everything from conversation to love that all is lost in text messages, faxes, speed dating, internet dating, sex before marriage, "trial" marriages, etc. If one always chooses to put the cart in front of the horse, which direction will you go? Backward is my observation.

We live in a "progressive" society?!

Thoroughly enjoying these adventures in past days and times. :-)

Please label religious books as such!

I was halfway through this novel before the religiosity was apparent. I strongly feel that if a novel has a religious theme that it needs to be stated. I am very disappointed.

A Heroine I Disliked

The overall story was okay - a sort of "wicked step-mother/Secret garden" rip off, in that there was a "hidden brother with problems" down the hall, and a Cinderella-type wicked step-mother who preferred her own children to her husband's. But this story dragged on far too long, when it could have come to an end much sooner! This story was FILLED with the two main characters (man & woman) continuously questioning themselves & others IN THEIR HEADS!! "Did she really feel that way? How could they do that? What he seriously saying that? What should she do? ", etc, etc. ad nauseum. The young woman in this story was particularly irritating. She was closed minded & untrusting - I really got disgusted with her. She showed herself to be this way so often that I really began to dislike her. I feel like the author, Julie Klassen, dragged this story out just so her book would be longer! The narrator was pretty good, but the woman main character really needed re-writing!

Not enough romance

I tried to like this book, and I didn't dislike it, but there was too much preaching and not enough romance.

Tedious

Drove from FL halfway up the Atlantic coast and am still waiting for the plot to develop enough to become interesting. Perhaps it would be better to read visually. At 1.2x speed, it’s still slow and plodding.