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The Girl in the Gatehouse: (A Forced Proximity Historical Regency Romance Novel) Kindle Edition
Captain Matthew Bryant, returning to England successful and wealthy after the Napoleonic wars, leases an impressive estate from a cash-poor nobleman, determined to show the society beauty who once rejected him what a colossal mistake she made. When he discovers an old gatehouse on the property, he is immediately intrigued by its striking young inhabitant and sets out to uncover her identity, and her past. But the more he learns about her, the more he realizes he must distance himself. Falling in love with an outcast would ruin his well-laid plans.
The old gatehouse holds secrets of its own. Can Mariah and Captain Bryant uncover them before the cunning heir to the estate buries them forever?
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBethany House Publishers
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2011
- File size2.4 MB
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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The Girl in the Gatehouse
By Julie KlassenBethany House Publishers
Copyright © 2010 Julie KlassenAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0708-2
Chapter One
September 1813The end of the only life I've known, thought Mariah Aubrey, looking back through the carriage window at the shrinking figures of her mother and sister. Nineteen-year-old Julia stood in the foreground, shoulders heaving as she wept. The sight seared Mariah's heart. Their mother stood behind, hand on Julia's arm, in consolation, in empathy—perhaps even in restraint. And there came their father, down the steps of Attwood Park. He had not come out to bid her farewell. He would not, he insisted, "sanction vice, nor seek to lessen its disgrace." But now he draped one arm around his wife and the other around his younger daughter, turning and shepherding them back inside, back into the only home Mariah had ever known. And might never see again.
Mariah turned back around. Miss Dixon, on the opposite bench, quickly averted her gaze, feigning interest in the fringes of her reticule, as if she had not noticed any tears.
Mariah bit the inside of her lip to control its trembling. She stared out the side window, despite knowing it would make her ill. She barely saw the passing countryside as events of the last month whirled through her mind. She winced, but the life-rending scenes neither altered nor disappeared.
"Long journey ahead, Miss Mariah," Dixon said. "Why not try to sleep? The miles shall pass more quickly."
Mariah forced a smile, nodded, and obediently closed her eyes. She doubted she would sleep, but at least with her eyes closed she would not see the pity on the face of her last ally in the world.
* * *
They traveled for two days, stopping at various coaching inns to change horses, stretch limbs, and take hurried meals. Late in the second day, Mariah fell into exhausted sleep at last, only to be jostled awake when the hired post-chaise careened, sending her slamming into its side.
"What happened?" she asked, righting herself.
Dixon straightened her hat atop blond hair threaded with silver. "I believe the driver swerved to avoid a lamb." She surveyed the pasture beyond the window. "We are definitely in sheep country."
Mariah rubbed her offended shoulder and looked out the windows on either side of the post-chaise. They were following a gentle, sparkling river on one side, and on the other, a rolling meadow dotted with white-faced sheep and nearly grown lambs. The river curved before them, and they crossed it on a stone bridge, passing a pair of red-brick mills on its bank. They entered a village of blond-stone cottages, with an inn, apothecary shop, stonemason's, and steepled parish church clustered around a triangular green.
"Is this Whitmore?" Mariah asked.
"I hope so." Dixon sighed. "My bones have had more than enough of these poorly sprung seats." Her former nanny was barely fifty, but she complained like a much older woman.
They left the small village behind, and only a few minutes later, the carriage made a sharp turn. Mariah looked up in time to see the imposing entrance to an estate—its high wall broken by an open columned gate.
Dixon leaned toward the window, like a potted plant seeking light. "Where is the gatehouse?"
"This must be the main entrance," Mariah said, explaining what she recalled from her aunt's letter. "The gatehouse is at a second entrance no longer in use."
Mariah could still barely grasp that she was now expected to live on her own, with only Miss Dixon as companion. Her father had insisted that even had there been no other young lady in his house to be endangered by Mariah's character, still he would not so insult the neighborhood by continuing to harbor her. How his words had cut, and cut still.
The carriage passed through the gate and followed a drive encircling acres of landscaped grounds—shaped hedges and a rose garden around a reflecting pond. At the apex of the curved drive stood impressive seventeenth-century Windrush Court. The manor house of golden blond stone stood two-and-a-half-stories high with dormer windows jutting from its slate roof. Banks of tall mullioned windows winked from both ground and first floors.
The carriage halted before the manor and lurched as the groom hopped down to lower the step. The front door of the house opened, and from between the columned archway stepped not her aunt but rather an odd figure. A man in his late fifties, in a plain dark suit of clothes, without the livery or regal bearing of either footman or butler. There was something unnatural about the way he held himself, as if one shoulder hitched slightly higher than the other.
The groom opened the carriage door, but the approaching man held up his palm to halt his progress. "Hold, there. One moment." He gave Mariah a stiff bow. "Jeremiah Martin." He lifted his balding head, wreathed in silvery grey hair. "Are you Miss Aubrey?"
"Yes. Is my aunt not expecting me?"
"She is. But I am to direct you to the gatehouse."
"Thank you." Mariah hesitated. "May I quickly greet Mrs. Prin-Hallsey first?"
"No, madam. I am to take you to the gatehouse straightaway."
Her aunt had offered her a place to live but refused to receive her in person? Mariah glanced at Dixon to see how the opinionated woman would react, but Dixon was not looking at her. She was staring at the man, or rather at the hook that protruded where his left hand should be.
"I see." Mariah hoped her disappointment and embarrassment were concealed behind a stiff smile.
The man's blue eyes held hers a moment before flitting away. "I shall climb up and direct the coachman. Big place, Windrush Court."
A moment later, the carriage again lurched to life and rounded the other side of the curved drive.
Mariah glanced back at the house. The curtains on one of the first-floor windows parted and then closed. Then the carriage turned right, away from the manor house, and entered a copse of redwood and horse chestnut trees.
As they bounced along, Mariah swallowed back the hurt that her aunt had not at least greeted her. When the woman had been married to Mariah's uncle, "Aunt Fran" had shown an interest in her, even invited her to visit on several occasions. Though never an overly warm person, her aunt had been kind to Mariah in her youth, which only made this rejection more painful.
Impulsively, Mariah reached over and squeezed her companion's hand. "Thank you for coming with me."
Dixon pressed her hand in return, her blue eyes bright with unshed tears. "And what else would I have done?"
The carriage passed a gardener's cottage, with a wheelbarrow of potted autumn mums before it and a glass hothouse beside it. Then a carpenter's workshop, evidenced by long planks suspended between sawhorses. Over these hunched a thin middle-aged man who paused to tip his hat as they passed.
The trees thickened and the lane narrowed where grass and weeds had been allowed to breach a formerly well-maintained drive. Mariah craned her neck, looking through the trees for a glimpse of the gatehouse.
There it was.
Tall and narrow, built of caramel-colored Cotswold stone. Not so bad, Mariah thought. The gatehouse looked like a miniature two-story castle attached to an arched gate, with a turreted tower on either side of the gate, a story taller than the house itself. From the far turret and the opposite side of the gatehouse, the high wall that enclosed the entire estate curved away and disappeared within the wood.
The carriage halted, and the groom again hopped down and opened the door. This time, Mr. Martin did not protest their exit. In fact, descending from the equipage seemed to consume his full attention.
Mariah stepped down and regarded the large gate with ornamental filigrees atop sturdy iron bars. It had clearly been a major thoroughfare in and out of the estate at some point. Now it wore a thick chain and rusted padlock.
At closer inspection, the gatehouse itself appeared forlorn. The stone walls were cankered, the window glass cloudy, and several panes cracked. The small garden was overgrown and leggy. The adjacent pair of outbuildings—a small stable and woodshed—in a slumping state of disrepair. A rope swing hung from a tree, its wooden seat broken in two.
Mariah glanced at Dixon, but she was once again staring at Mr. Martin. The man paused near them to fish jingling keys from his pocket, and Dixon lifted a scented handkerchief to her nose without subtlety. The man did have a pungent odor. Not of uncleanliness, Mariah surmised, but something else. Whatever it was, Dixon clearly disapproved.
He glanced over at Mariah and said sternly, "That gate is to remain locked, unless in case of fire or other dire emergency."
Curiosity pricked Mariah. "May I ask why?"
He lifted his normal right shoulder so that both were raised in a shrug. "Hasn't been used in years. Not since the road outside the main gate was widened into a turnpike."
His answer did not fully explain the locked gate, but Mariah did not press him.
Mr. Martin unlocked and pushed open the gatehouse door. He handed her the keys, and Mariah eagerly entered her new home.
The cloying odor of musty dampness and stale air met them inside a small kitchen. Dust covered the table and work counter. Dixon lifted an old basket upturned on the sideboard, only to discover a scattering of fennel-seed mouse droppings beneath. Her small nose wrinkled.
Mariah stepped from the kitchen into the drawing room at the front of the gatehouse. Something scurried out of sight as she entered. Dust-cloths shrouded a saggy settee and a wing chair. Water stains marked the wall beneath the front bow window, but at least the roof seemed sound. The moth-eaten draperies deserved to be burned and replaced, but perhaps they could wash and mend them instead. Mariah sighed. So very much to do, and such limited funds with which to do it.
Mr. Martin bade the coachman and groom to haul down their trunks and valises from the carriage boot and roof and carry them inside, but he departed without offering to help. Perhaps he could not, with a hook for a hand. Or perhaps he did not think this strange young woman, this distant relation of his mistress, worth the effort.
Dixon directed the transfer of two crates of foodstuffs and utensils into the dim kitchen, a crate of books and linens into the drawing room, and the trunks abovestairs.
Following the men, Dixon and Mariah climbed the narrow staircase to the first floor up, the banister shaking in their hands. There, they found one bedchamber on either end of a narrow passageway, with a small sitting room between them.
"Which would you like, Dixon?" Mariah asked, relieved to find the rooms habitable.
"You should have the larger, of course." Dixon hesitated at the window of the larger bedchamber, which overlooked the road and wood beyond. Above the treetops appeared the roof of a stark, boxlike building. Three black chimneys jutted from its ramparts, loosing coal smoke in triune columns of sooty grey.
"Not much of a view, I am afraid. If you'd prefer the other room, I don't mind."
"This is fine, Dixon. Thank you. What do you suppose that building is?"
"Don't know. But one strong wind and we'll be sweeping its soot from our floors." She turned. "Well, we had best get busy. This place won't scrub itself."
* * *
For several days, Mariah and Dixon undertook the cleaning and airing of the gatehouse from ceiling to floorboard, from attic to cellar. They had to evict several creatures that had taken up residence in the chimneys and sweep up heaps of droppings. This was the only reason Dixon did not object when Mariah suggested adopting the cat that began shadowing their every move as they went in and out carrying filthy draperies to scald and refuse to burn.
On their fourth day there, Dixon called, "Miss Mariah! There's a carriage coming up the lane."
Mariah's heart lurched. A carriage from within the gated estate. Who could it be? She raced to the kitchen window and looked out at a grand coach pulled by a pair of matched bays. A liveried footman stepped down, opened its door, and offered his hand to the occupant.
There she was. Her aunt, the former Francesca Norris, now Mrs. Prin-Hallsey.
Her hair was different than Mariah remembered—rabbit-fur grey, curled and piled high in an elegant coif, with long corkscrew curls cascading over one shoulder. A wig, certainly. Aunt Norris had never had such thick hair, and what she'd had was reddish brown. Her aunt's face was powdered very light, but her brows and lashes were dark, making her brown eyes large and doelike. She wore a burgundy day dress with threads of silver and a high-necked lace collar. She held her head erect and walked regally toward the door. Mariah hurried to open it, but Dixon stayed her with a firm hand.
"Allow me, miss," she said in her most respectful voice, whipping the cap from Mariah's head. Mariah quickly untied her apron.
Dixon opened the door before Mariah could retreat into the drawing room. She was left standing there as her aunt strode into the humble kitchen as though she owned the place. And, in a sense, Mariah supposed she did.
"Aunt ... That is, Mrs. Prin-Hallsey. How good to see you again." Mariah tossed the apron onto the table and curtsied.
"Is it?"
"Of course. Perhaps not ... under such circumstances, but yes, I am happy to see you."
A smile compressed the woman's small, thin mouth. She dipped her head in graceful acknowledgement and followed Mariah into the drawing room.
She ignored Mariah's offer of a chair. "I shan't stay." Her large eyes studied her face. "How old are you now, Mariah? One and twenty?"
"Four and twenty."
The dark brows rose. "Really. Well. I shan't go on about how much older you are since last we met, for I don't wish you to return the favor. I will own you look well."
"Thank you. As do you."
Her aunt nodded. "And how are you settling in?"
"Very well, I think," Mariah said. "I appreciate your offer of lodgings."
Mrs. Prin-Hallsey waved her thanks away. "I am sorry I could not greet you upon your arrival. Hugh ... That is, I was indisposed." She gestured through the open kitchen door to two footmen waiting outside. "I have brought a few things."
The liveried young men stepped inside, the first hefting an ornate square chest.
"This is a chest I brought with me to Windrush Court. It contains only a few personal belongings. I would feel more at ease if it were under your roof for now. My relationship with my late husband's son, Hugh, is difficult at best. You understand."
Mariah didn't understand but simply nodded.
With a delicate gloved hand, Mrs. Prin-Hallsey gestured the second footman forward.
"And here are a few things for you." Her aunt began lifting items from the basket the young man held. "This candle lamp was my grandmother's." She held up a twine-wrapped bundle of candles. "And a dozen tapers to go with it. And here is a tin of coffee and another of tea. Cook sent along a variety of baked goods as well." With a wave of her hand, she directed the footman to hand the basket to Mariah.
"I shall have the chest put in the attic, shall I?" Mrs. Prin-Hallsey said. "The turret has attic space as I remember?"
"Yes," Mariah answered, though the question had clearly been rhetorical. She wondered how her aunt knew about the attic, and couldn't imagine what might have possessed her to venture inside this long-abandoned gatehouse before now.
The young footman bearing the chest started for the stairs.
"Have you anything else you would like my men to carry up to the attic while we are here?"
Mariah thought quickly. "We have two trunks, now all but empty, in the first-floor passage."
"Very well." Mrs. Prin-Hallsey nodded toward the second footman, and he followed the first.
Mariah felt discomfited at strangers making free with what had so quickly become her home. Still, she smiled at Mrs. Prin-Hallsey. "Thank you, Aunt Fran." The old name slipped out before Mariah could think the better of it.
The woman's eyes widened. "That is an address I have not heard in years, nor missed either. You may call me—" she considered—"Aunt Francesca. Or Mrs. Prin-Hallsey, if you prefer."
"Of course. Forgive me." Mariah felt chastised, yet her aunt had not minded the name before. "And thank you again for the gifts."
Once more, the elegant nod of acknowledgement. "Think nothing of it."
A few minutes later, her aunt was gone, her entourage with her.
Mariah took herself back upstairs, glad to see how much space had been freed by the removal of the trunks. She found herself standing at the window, staring at the roof and chimneys visible above the autumn-gold trees.
The floorboard squeaked behind her, announcing Dixon's presence. "I asked one of those footmen about the building across the road."
"Oh?" Mariah glanced at Dixon over her shoulder. "And what did you find out?"
Gaze fixed on the window, her companion said quietly, "That's the parish poorhouse."
Mariah stared at the dark roof once more and shuddered. Poorhouse ... Suddenly the gatehouse did not seem like such a bad fate.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen Copyright © 2010 by Julie Klassen. Excerpted by permission of Bethany House Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- ASIN : B004EPYYDG
- Publisher : Bethany House Publishers
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : January 1, 2011
- Language : English
- File size : 2.4 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 402 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-1441214119
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Best Sellers Rank: #347,663 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #902 in Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance (Books)
- #1,166 in Christian Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #1,197 in Christian Mystery & Suspense
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Minnesota Book Award, the Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit www.julieklassen.com and talesfromivyhill.com for more information.
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Customers find this historical romance novel highly readable with a well-woven story that combines mystery and romance. They appreciate the character development, with one review noting how moral characters struggle with worldly issues, and the writing style receives positive feedback for its detailed approach. Customers value the historical accuracy, with one review highlighting how the author effortlessly wove historical information into the narrative, and they appreciate the faith element, noting it's not at all preachy. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it fast-paced while others describe it as slow-going.
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Customers find the book highly readable and thoroughly enjoyable, with one customer noting it's a well-woven story.
"...I loved this book just as much the second time around! It's really excellent, and it's pretty telling that out of all the books she has written,..." Read more
"...this story to those who enjoy historical settings, but this charming book will appeal to all types of readers no matter what genre they prefer." Read more
"...being an avid reader, knew I had just come across a very new and exciting author. I couldn't wait for her second book to come out...." Read more
"...mystery about the gatehouse, poorhouse, and trunk, really kept my interest level high and kept me reading to figure out what was going on!..." Read more
Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one customer noting its combination of mystery and romance, while another mentions its many unexpected twists.
"...The bottom line: This was an ideal Christian Regency romance...." Read more
"...were given their dues in the story, there were enough antagonists to keep the story realistic and the pace wasn't rushed but it wasn't dull either...." Read more
"...time and energy in her research that not only was I reading a really good story but I was learning some history also...." Read more
"...Ms. Klassen does a great job of weaving multiple elements...mystery, romance, adventure, along with themes of worth, acceptance, and forgiveness......" Read more
Customers love the characters in the book, though some mention there are too many of them. One customer notes how the separate character stories flow harmoniously together.
"...A very fun read with lots of fabulous characters. Updated review: The Girl in the Gatehouse &..." Read more
"...I fell in love with the main character immediately, feeling her heartache from the first line of the book which read, "The end of the only life I..." Read more
"...The characters are well-developed and believable...I feel like I know them now!..." Read more
"...Thankfully there are some sweet, charismatic moments for those romantics at heart. What historical romance would be complete without them?..." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it well detailed and easy to read, with one customer noting the excellent narration by Elizabeth Jasicki.
"...A manor house, a gatehouse, and a poorhouse! These were so very well drawn, and I loved it all! *..." Read more
"...I also loved how the author includes quotes from past writers in the beginning of each chapter...." Read more
"...I was hooked! Her being a new author, I fell in love with her writing style immediately...." Read more
"...The characters are well-developed and believable...I feel like I know them now!..." Read more
Customers appreciate the historical elements in the book, with one noting how the author seamlessly integrates historical information throughout the narrative.
"...Historical details are always fun, especially when they're lesser-known ones...." Read more
"...I loved learning all the history and research that Julie put into this book...." Read more
"...There was a good bit of mystery and questions that needed answered to pull you along through its pages...." Read more
"...Some still stiffle us, some still haunt us. The story of Mariah Aubrey is about second chances, about horrible experiences opening new doors for a..." Read more
Customers appreciate the style of the book, with one review highlighting its beautiful story set in the Regency period, while another notes how the themes are organically portrayed.
"...Not only is it gorgeous, but it's a perfect representation of the story! *..." Read more
"...multiple elements...mystery, romance, adventure, along with themes of worth, acceptance, and forgiveness...together into a wonderful tale...." Read more
"...Well-paced and styled, The Girl in the Gatehouse introduces us to characters we care about even when our everyday tasks force us to lay the book..." Read more
"...I thought it looked interesting, though, for the record, I'm not a fan of "all things Jane" as is Julie Klassen...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's faith content, noting it is not at all preachy, and one customer mentions appreciating God's word throughout.
"...But I will mention this is a Christian book, so mention of God, faith, etc. do make some appearances for any of those wondering." Read more
"...Most of all, it shows that when there is hope and faith, nothing is impossible...." Read more
"...This is a novel of hope and redemption and a belief in God. Don't miss this wonderful book...." Read more
"...author with Christian themes of forgiveness in the book, it's not overly "preachy"...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it fast-paced while others describe it as slow-going.
"...When I did, I was met with: an unexpectedly low pace; major character inconsistencies; a really weird atmosphere that didn't match up at all with..." Read more
"...were enough antagonists to keep the story realistic and the pace wasn't rushed but it wasn't dull either. I liked the romance as well...." Read more
"...It seemed to take forever to get this story moving. I understand that the characters needed to develop but it just didn't keep me glued to each page...." Read more
"...The beginning was intriguing, but it was little bit slow for me in the middle but then as I learned more and more I became very interested again..." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2011Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseOriginal review: I have loved every Julie Klassen book, and this one is no exception. A very fun read with lots of fabulous characters.
Updated review:
The Girl in the Gatehouse
"'It is you,' he began foolishly. 'I almost did not recognize you. Without the cap, I mean, and. . . well you were dressed so. . . That is, I thought you were . . . '"
"'A maidservant?' she said easily."
"'He winced. 'Forgive me.'"
"'There is nothing to forgive. You came upon me in my jam-making attire.' She smiled. 'Yet I recognize you out of uniform, Captain Bryant.'"
"The Girl in the Gatehouse" (2010, Bethany House) is a standalone Christian Regency romance by Julie Klassen set near the village of Whitmore in Staffordshire, England in 1814. I chose to reread this book because I have enjoyed every Klassen book I've ever read. I loved this book just as much the second time around! It's really excellent, and it's pretty telling that out of all the books she has written, it is Julie Klassen's favorite book - at least as of when she answered a reader's question on Goodreads, which was between the publication of "The Secret of Pembrooke Park" and her "Ivy Hill" series.
Rating: 5 stars without question!
Narration: 5 stars
The heroine: Mariah Aubrey, 24, has been banished from her family's home and relegated to the gatehouse on the estate of a relative. She soon finds that she has need of funds and decides to turn to her talent for writing, hoping it can become a means of support.
The hero: Captain Matthew Bryant meets Mariah when he has a mishap while traveling alone on a horse. She helps him out, which was reminiscent of Jane Eyre meeting Mr. Rochester for the first time. This might be coincidental, but either way, I thought it was fun.
Christian elements:
*Before chapter one, we have, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. --Jesus Christ (NIV)"
*Late in the book: "Mariah prayed, contritely asking God to forgive not only her offenses, but for wavering in her devotion."
Is it clean/chaste? Yes! However, I'd say this book is not for middle school students.
What I liked:
*The cover of this book may possibly be my favorite cover of all time. Not only is it gorgeous, but it's a perfect representation of the story!
*I loved the number of elements from Jane Austen books, especially Mansfield Park, which were used in this story. The beginning of each chapter has a quote, and it's frequently an Austen quote.
*****SPOILER*****
According to Ms. Klassen's author's note in the back of the book - which I don't remember hearing in the audio version - Austen's Maria (pronounced Mariah) Bertram's situation partly inspired the creation of Klassen's Mariah Aubrey. (Don't worry - Klassen's very caring Mariah is unlike the very selfish Maria created by Austen!) And Captain Bryant was partly inspired by Austen's Captain Wentworth
.*****END SPOILER*****
*The secondary characters in this story were absolutely stupendous. Loved, loved, loved them all. And there's many of them!
*The setting, the setting! So rich, rich, rich! A manor house, a gatehouse, and a poorhouse! These were so very well drawn, and I loved it all!
*Historical details are always fun, especially when they're lesser-known ones. Klassen includes Kissing Friday in the story, when "boys were allowed, under a tradition of indeterminate origin, to kiss them [girls] without fear of getting a slap or being chased by an angry parent. Under the rules of Kissing Friday, falling two days after Ash Wednesday, the tradition supposedly said that no girl was allowed to say no." (Quote from BBC dot com)
*Another atypical historical detail was the inclusion of the poorhouse. It's something that is occasionally mentioned in Regency novels as something to be avoided, but I've never read another Regency that includes a poorhouse and its people as an important part of the setting.
What I didn’t like: The antagonist! But the reader isn't supposed to. And kudos to Ms. Klassen for showing a hint of redeeming qualities in the antagonist.
Audiobook: The narration by Elizabeth Jasicki was most excellent.
***********
The bottom line: This was an ideal Christian Regency romance. I recommend this book to all fans of Jane Austen or Regency romance, regardless of whether they're readers of Christian novels. I think that aspect was organically portrayed. I will be reading more by this author, whether it's a reread (via Audible) or one of the few I haven't read yet.
I'm adding Klassen to my list of top 5 authors. I have long suspected she belongs on that list, but it had been so long since I had read one of her books that I wanted to do a reread to be certain. It's going to be a top 6 list now, because I really don't feel like eliminating any of the others.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2011Okay, so I just finished The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen. I'm very happy to say it was quite an enjoyable story that ended well. The main character was someone I could relate to, the minor characters were given their dues in the story, there were enough antagonists to keep the story realistic and the pace wasn't rushed but it wasn't dull either. I liked the romance as well. Women tend to have unrealistic expectations when it comes to romance and this issue was addressed in the story. The hero in the story was flawed and faced insecurities just as the main character did. He was superior in status and money, but he lacked certain wisdom and discernment until the end. It's important to see that with heroic characters. Just because someone is rich and handsome does not mean they are thoughtful or intelligent and without those characteristics the hero falls flat both on the page and in real life.
Mariah Aubrey has been placed in hiding because of a scandal that has embarrassed her father. I assumed the scandal was sexual because in the 1800s that was the worst thing an unmarried woman could do, but the book doesn't go into those details until halfway through the story. While she is in hiding, she is filled with shame and is very discreet to everyone she comes in contact with. That was frustrating because it caused several misunderstandings throughout the book, but it kept the plot interesting. I wanted to see how every issue dealt with was resolved and I was very satisfied in how Klassen brings closure. Aubrey runs out of money quickly while in hiding so to support herself and her nanny she turns to writing under an alias to make money. She meets many interesting characters that live nearby and a new tenant moves into the property named Captain Matthew Bryant who instantly befriends Mariah. I enjoyed watching these two characters fall in love despite different obstacles they face along the way. Each of them is forced to leave their comfort zones, face their pasts, and confront their fears...all of this before getting into a serious fling. I also loved how the author includes quotes from past writers in the beginning of each chapter. The Jane Austen quotes were incredible and showed the research done to create this book.
One of my favorite lines in the story is at the end, but I felt like cheering once I read it. "I am the scoundrel. Me. Not her! But that is not how polite society works, is it? The man can do as he pleases as long as he does not commit the unpardonable sin of breaking an engagement. Dashed unfair if you ask me, but nobody has. You were all too busy condemning her." I realized that no matter what happened with Mariah Aubrey that she didn't need a man to find her happiness and redemption. She found herself while in hiding, but once she did she was finally free.
I definitely recommend this story to those who enjoy historical settings, but this charming book will appeal to all types of readers no matter what genre they prefer.
Top reviews from other countries
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AdriReviewed in Spain on July 11, 2021
1.0 out of 5 stars Portada y contraportada mal imprimidos
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseFATAL IMPRIMIDA LA PORTADA… He comprado tapa blanda y resulta que lo ha imprimido el propio Amazon en Italia… la portada y contraportada son ilegibles!!! Muy mala calidad por 15 euros….
Sin embargo la novela es muy recomendable, pero no impresa por Amazon!!
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LudoReviewed in Italy on July 10, 2012
3.0 out of 5 stars (3,5) Not quite a romance
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseInghilterra, 1813-1814
Mariah Aubrey, dopo aver commesso un'indiscrezione che le ha fatto perdere la reputazione, viene cacciata dalla casa del padre e, insieme alla vecchia balia, Miss Dixon, va ad abitare nella gatehouse di una magione di campagna appartenente a una lontana parente. Per lei è l'inizio di una nuova vita, in cui farà nuove conoscenze, dovrà imparare a far fronte da sola alle difficoltà economiche, troverà lo stimolo per pubblicare i propri romanzi (segretamente), si innamorerà e farà tutta una serie di esperienze che la renderanno più forte, matura e consapevole.
Questo libro è una christian fiction romance, tuttavia è decisamente meno moralizzatore di quanto ci si possa aspettare e, più che un rosa, è un romanzo storico a sfondo sentimentale. Ciò specificato, è vero che tra i temi ricorrenti che si trovano nell'opera ci sono quello del perdono, da concedere non solo agli altri, bensì anche a se stessi, e quello dell'importanza di concentrarsi sulla vita presente e sul futuro, piuttosto che continuare a rimanere legati alle maglie del passato. Quanto alla parte romantica, Mariah farà la conoscenza dell'ambizioso Capitano Bryant, che si sentirà quasi subito attratto dalla ragazza e, con il tempo finirà per innamorarsene, corrisposto. Purtroppo l'animo tormentato e indeciso di lui e i segreti di lei costituiranno un ostacolo difficile da superare sulla strada verso il coronamento del sentimento che li unisce.
In The girl in the gatehouse abbondano le trame e i personaggi secondari: Hugh, il cugino acquisito di Mariah, è un vero furfante che non mancherà di renderle la vita difficile; il Capitanto Prince, 'prigioniero' nell'ospizio per i poveri vicino alla tenuta, costituirà un vero e proprio enigma, su cui sarà inevitabile indagare, e non mancherà di sorprenderci; il tutto-fare Martin si rivelerà molto più di quello che sembra e gli amici del Capitano Bryant mostreranno il loro vero carattere.
In questo romanzo, dunque, si trovano un po' di romanticismo, un po' di mistero e un po' di intrigo, tutti ben dosati. La lettura risulta scorrevole e piacevole e l'elemento religioso non è pervasivo, quindi credo che possa essere apprezzato anche da chi non è solito leggere christian fiction (come me, per altro).
- Bernice LentingReviewed in Canada on November 30, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Came as described
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseProduct was in great condition for being used. No rips or tears or creases.
- SophieReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Julie Klassen has done it again!
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseA wonderful story full of intrigue and mystrey and many twits and turns in the plot which, I can assure you, you will not expect! It kept me hooked the whole time and I read far too late into the night to finish it -I just had to know what was going to happen!
It had more serious themes running through it than the Silent Governess (with talk of mistresses and the heroine herself landed in the Gatehouse due to the loss of her virtue.) However, it was a great story and still had a lot of humour. There are many points which reminded me of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen; Mariah's story herself is almost something like the Maria of Mansfield Park would face after her involvement with Henry Crawford. However, the Mariah in this story is a lot more likeable!
There were some wonderful characters, aside from the dashing hero, and many side plots, which all link together in some way or another, which you will enjoy reading about and seeing develop through the story (notably that of the heroes friend, a Mr Hart and a certain young lady as well as the heroines companion, a Miss Dixon and two gentleman both vying for her attention, a Mr Phelps and a Mr Martin.)
If you want a wonderfully intriguing mystery (which you cannot guess what is going to happen) and which is set in beautiful England during the fascinating regency era than you can never go wrong with a novel by Julie Klassen. I cannot wait to lose myself in her next novel...
- Jo WanmerReviewed in Australia on August 20, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars Second chances are often sweeter.
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseAn interesting story of grace and forgiveness, confusion and a second chance. Characters were varied interesting and unusual. This novel about writing novels is full of unusual quotes, misadventures and the unexpected. I very much enjoyed the read.