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The Girl in the Gatehouse: (A Forced Proximity Historical Regency Romance Novel) Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 1,776 ratings

Miss Mariah Aubrey, banished after a scandal, hides herself away in a long-abandoned gatehouse on the far edge of a distant relative's estate. There, she supports herself and her loyal servant the only way she knows how--by writing novels in secret.

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?

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It might not be much, but the abandoned gatehouse is Mariah Aubrey’s new home. After a brush with scandal threatens to tarnish her family’s social standing, Mariah is sent away by her father. Fortunately her aunt, Mrs. Francesca Prin-Hallsey, offers the use of the old gatehouse on her late husband’s estate. But since Mariah also needs a way of supplementing the meager funds provided by her family, she begins writing novels. Inspiration for her literary efforts is the one thing not in short supply, especially once Captain Matthew Bryant arrives to lease the estate after her aunt’s death. Both kind-hearted and courageous, Matthew is the stuff from which romantic heroes are made, and he would be perfect for Mariah if only he wasn’t so determined to marry another woman! Christy and RITA nominee Klassen creates a wonderful cast of engaging characters while neatly stirring in a generous dash of mystery and danger into the plot of her latest, charmingly romantic inspirational romance. --John Charles

About the Author

Julie Klassen (www.julieklassen.com) loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's Best Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full-time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit julieklassen.com.

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
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,776 ratings

About the author

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Julie Klassen
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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.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,776 global ratings

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Customers say

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.

169 customers mention "Readability"169 positive0 negative

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

165 customers mention "Story quality"144 positive21 negative

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

88 customers mention "Character development"79 positive9 negative

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

86 customers mention "Writing style"84 positive2 negative

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

34 customers mention "Historical accuracy"34 positive0 negative

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

19 customers mention "Style"19 positive0 negative

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

11 customers mention "Faith"11 positive0 negative

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

20 customers mention "Pace"7 positive13 negative

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

The front and back of the book were poorly printed.
1 out of 5 stars
The front and back of the book were poorly printed.
I could not sit down to enjoy this book because as soon as I took it out of the packaging, I knew something looked strange. Upon closer inspection I noticed the the printing of both the front cover and the back were blurry and that there was a white line running across the upper portion of the book. The only clear part to read in the back of the book was the barcode. I just could not get past the poor quality of the printing. Sadly I will be returning it.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Original 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.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2011
    Okay, 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.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Adri
    1.0 out of 5 stars Portada y contraportada mal imprimidos
    Reviewed in Spain on July 11, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    FATAL 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!!
    Report
  • Ludo
    3.0 out of 5 stars (3,5) Not quite a romance
    Reviewed in Italy on July 10, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Inghilterra, 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 Lenting
    5.0 out of 5 stars Came as described
    Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Product was in great condition for being used. No rips or tears or creases.
  • Sophie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Julie Klassen has done it again!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A 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 Wanmer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Second chances are often sweeter.
    Reviewed in Australia on August 20, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An 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.

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