The Tutor's Daughter

by Julie Klassen

Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

The baronet’s older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems–and secrets–of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father’s academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor’s daughter figure out which brother to blame…and which brother to trust with her heart?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Christian, Regency, Historical

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her books, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Midwest Book Award, the Minnesota Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award, and been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards and ACFW’s Carol Awards. She blogs at http://www.inspiredbylifeandfiction.com.
Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Klassen is one of those authors I knew I would love even before reading her. I was agreeably surprised to discover that her style is a pleasant mix of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. This novel combines to excellence well-drawn and fascinating characters, mysterious settings, family secrets and gothic atmosphere. I was swept away in the story within the first few pages and had a really hard time putting it down, because I simply had to know what would happen next.

Emma Smallwood and her father arrive in Cornwall where Mr. Smallwood has accepted a position as tutor to the two youngest sons of the Weston family of Ebbington Manor. Strangely, although Sir Giles Weston has invited them, there is no one to welcome them upon their arrival, and they are made to feel unwelcome at Ebbington by Lady Weston's chilly reception. Already, the reader is aware of a tensed atmosphere of mystery and intrigue, and that atmosphere only gets better and heavier as the story goes on.



Soon, Emma is aware that someone is entering her room at night; she finds a toy soldier on the ground, receives strange love notes and her diary goes missing! Who could be entering her room and why? And why does it seem as though everyone had a secret at Ebbington Manor?

Sir Giles seemed to have forgotten that he'd invited the Smallwoods to his estate and Lady Weston is obviously displeased to have them there. Emma also meets Lizzie Henshaw, Lady Weston's ward, and though the girl seems friendly enough, she is clearly hiding something. Then, there are the four Weston brothers; Julian and Rowan, who will be tutored by Mr. Smallwood, and Phillip and Henry, whom Emma already knows, having met them while they attended her father's academy in Longstaple. Phillip had been a kind friend to her in the old days, always attentive and smiling, while Henry had teased her mercilessly and had shown himself arrogant and overbearing. She hesitates in blaming him for the pranks however, as she can see that he is a boy no longer and surely has enough maturity by now to forgo such silly teasing. She remains on her guard, but will soon learn that there is more to him that meets the eye...

Emma was a truly wonderful heroine, and I could relate to her in many ways; her love of books and order, having a designated spot for everything, writing in a journal, having a special teacup, making lists of all kind, calm and tranquil demeanour and secret romantic aspirations. Emma is clever, courageous and noble, and she was the perfect heroine for such a complicated tale of dark secrets, love tangles, forbidden north wing, strange whisperings, romantic tension and dangerous Church tower.



The hero of this novel was a true swoony knight in shining armour and I loved him from the beginning. Also clever, courageous and noble, he was the perfect match for Emma, and also the perfect man to set everything to rights at Ebbington manor. There were many touching and heart-warming moments throughout the story, which offered a nice contrast to the otherwise tensed and dark atmosphere.

Filled with suspense, romance, adventure and danger, The Tutor's Daughter was an amazing read, perfect for reading on a dark rainy afternoon, wrapped in a warm blanket and drinking tea from a special teacup. Strongly recommend to anyone who is looking for an engaging tale of romantic suspense in a light Gothic Regency atmosphere.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

After looking through the content again, lowering it to a 2 star rating, personally. Some heavy kisses that will lower the ratings for BFCG's age groups.

Full Content Review to come.

[Loretta · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I were rating this book solely on the first half of the book I probably would give it 3. To a certain point I really like Klassen's writing. That point would be when about half way through the book it begins to draaaaaaag on. And on. And I start holding it up and comparing pages to see how much longer it is going to last and think 'SURELY I have to be further than this'. Because although Klassen is an interesting, perhaps even entertaining, author, she just doesn't have the chops to sustain interest for 400 pages, particularly not when one can easily figure out within the first 50 just where the story is going and who, in the end, 'gets the girl'.

If you like Christian fluff fiction with an historical bent, you'll probably enjoy this. She's decent at the genre. Don't look for depth of writing or really anything remarkably interesting to happen with the plot. Definitely no plot twists, not if you've read anything else by her, or in this genre. And the one remotely unpredictable mystery...just who that girl is whose name I've already forgotten? Yeah, that's going to be dispensed with in about 2 sentences. Maybe a full paragraph. Sigh. We COULD have had some intrigue there.

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ended up loving this!!! Oh what can I say? The mystery, the humor, the romance, the setting - all so well written!
I really related to the main character of Emma. She is a book worm and a rule follower (as am I). I totally saw the love interest coming but it turned into the sweetest thing in the end!
The faith was not too much but just right.
Despite not loving historical stories very much, I loved this to pieces!

[lydia ‧ ia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

"God is speaking to you every day. You might return the favor."

This was really good! I love books about bookworms, although I feel there are hardly enough. And when it's about bookworms in this certain time period, it reminds me that I should be glad I was born into a generation where book loving females are not considered 'bluestockings' and die old maids.

Because heheehehe um I would be one of them.

I really liked the protagonist, Emma, who was labeled a 'bluestocking' yet said "pffft" and still pursued reading and smarts. Goals! Something I've noticed repeatedly in Julie Klassen's novels is that her characters always have amazing development. It's very well done. Although I feel like Emma's trope, girl wants to be in control of everything in her life yet learns she can trust God and doesn't have to do everything on her own is overused in Christian fiction, it was at least well executed.

Also, the romance dynamic. They were cute but why does eVeRy Christian fiction have the guy be strong in his faith and the girl be resistant to surrendering her life to God? I don't think I've read a single book that switches it around. I really want to read a book where the girl helps the guy.

The romance was still good though. He was totally obsessed with her hahahahaheheheheh

Adam was a really sweet character but it kind of mad me sad what happened to children like him. Julie Klassen portrayed it well but I'm glad our world has improved in that regard.

I liked the plot and mystery and the overall vibe of the book. I love creepy mysteries, except they scare the crap out of me. This was pretty tame, though, nothing like a real mystery thriller.

It's also just the kind of book where you wanna give all the characters a big soft hug! I'd recommend it if you'd like a good Christian romance 🤍🤍

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delicious. Reminded me of the movie Sabrina in some ways. 💗

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounding up. This is a pretty good historical romance, with a little bit of semi-gothic mystery and suspense mixed in, sort of like a Christian version of an old Victoria Holt novel. Emma, the daughter of a widower, accompanies her father to Cornwall, where he will be the in-house tutor for the younger half-brothers of Henry and Phillip Weston, whom she knew as younger boys when they used to attend her father's academy for boys. Phillip was the outgoing, friendly one who flirted with her; his older brother Henry was the one who was awkward and standoffish ... except when he teased her. They're wealthy gentry while Emma just helps her father teach school, so of course there will be no romancing going on. Of course.

The plot is thickened with some run-ins with local villagers, who rely on shipwrecks (which often happened in the dangerous Cornwall coastal area) for salvaged goods that they can keep or resell, vs. Henry, who's trying to rescue shipwrecked seamen and help them protect their cargoes. There are also mysterious noises in the house, a secret the family is obviously trying to keep from Emma and her father, and someone sneaking into Emma's room at night and stealing things from her room. There are also some friendly, semi-love letters left under her door from some unnamed admirer -- which actually struck me as rather out of place and out of character at the time for the person doing this, but whatever.

There are expressly stated Christian themes in this book: the hero is encouraging the heroine to find God again. It's not too overwhelming and doesn't overpower the plot, and it's nice that the hero is such an honorable guy, not a jerk in the least (just trying to make up for a few jerk moments from when he was a teenager, hah). The heroine is one of the quiet, practical sort, not gorgeous but quietly attractive. She thinks she's tall and gawky, but the guys seem to like the way she looks.

I'm not a huge Julie Klassen fan, but every once in a while I pick up one of her books. I have to say that this is one of the better Klassen books I've read. It's not terribly deep, and it gets a little slow in spots (I succumbed to the temptation to peek ahead), but it's a satisfying historical romance if you like -- or at least don't mind -- some religious content. So far this one and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall have been the Klassen books I've liked best of the five I've read, with Fairborne Hall having the edge as the slightly better book.

[Cassandra Dexter Colby · Rating 4 out of 5]

He leído esta novela en nada (teniendo en cuenta que no he podido dedicar todas las horas que hubiera querido) porque tiene mucha intriga. Aunque en los comentarios que aparecen en el propio libro sobre si es parecida a Jane Austen, las Brontë, Jane Eyre o Downton Abbey (WTF) a mí me parece que no, que de quien bebe más directamente es de Victoria Holt, pero de la que no le da por poner a violadores como protagonistas. Tiene un planteamiento muy parecido a las dos que he leído este año de esa autora y eso no es para nada algo malo. Lo único es que me hace plantearme, como en el caso de las obras de Victoria Holt, si esto es romántica o más bien novela gótica o de intriga con historia de amor de por medio. Se nota mucho que a la autora le gustan esas escritoras clásicas y las obras que crearon, eso es así, pero sus personajes no tienen tanta profundidad, aunque tampoco son planos. Por otra parte, la novela es de un blanco que ni con Ariel, una historia sin una pizca de sexo y ni falta que le hace. A veces me parecen más creíbles esas relaciones sin apenas un roce que las novelas en donde se dedican al fornicio una vez descubierto el refocile bajeril. Otra cosa que me ha llamado la atención es la importancia de la religión y las creencias, ahí sí veo yo una inspiración en las escritoras decimonónicas.
En resumen: si buscáis guarreridas y romance 100%, Julie Klassen no es vuestra autora. Si por el contrario os va el suspense y los sentimientos reprimidos sin llegar a más, no dejéis de leerla.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

UPDATE

I just realized that I somehow forgot to add this book to my read shelf. Concerning the book, all I can say is that it I actually liked it which is an absolute shock for me since I had already determined that I would dislike it, but I really enjoyed the story. In fact, this is the only Julie Klassen book that I like. Every other one I've read was boring or the characters seemed plain to me. With this book however, I was totally invested in the plot and needed to know what was going to happen. Plus the romance was really sweet and I enjoyed seeing flashbacks of the main characters as children. They were adorable. In addition, the mystery in the novel actually kept me guessing, and was written skillfully so I was hooked. However the best thing about the story was that there was no love triangle. What a relief.

4 surprising stars for me.




2016

I really wanna read this, but I smell a love triangle, and I can't stand those. I always find myself rolling my eyes at them. Maybe I'll try it, but if the love-triangle is a big part of the book, I'll put it down.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The ending surprised me, which was great.

[Cintia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie Klassen does it again, delivering a deep, engaging novel you just can’t stop reading. Once again, I found myself staying up late at night, in need of answers, turning page after page, sinking in the mystery and romance, dashed with gothic suspense, this book has to offer. This author is definitely one of the best I’ve ever read, and her passion and commitment for storytelling are visible in the pages of each of her books.

The Tutor’s Daughter is a wonderful gothic romance set in the coast of Cornwall, that starts when Emma Smallwood and her father leave their academy for boys and go to live and teach the younger children of Ebbington Manor, home of the Weston family, whose older sons, Henry and Phillip, both studied with Mr. Smallwood as kids. Emma remembers both from the past, as they played lots of pranks on her as children, and is more eager to see Phillip than Henry, since she recalls him being the kindest, most attentive from the two brothers. But trouble starts head on. From the moment they arrive at Cornwall, things start going oddly wrong. No one shows up when they were supposed to be picked up by a carriage, their rooms aren’t ready when they get to the Manor, the masters of the house have completely forgotten they would arrive that day… And from there, things start to go wrong.

I confess that a part of the mystery didn’t engaged me, simply because I could predict what was going on. The mysterious nocturnal visits to Emma’s room, the handprint on her mirror, the piano playing on its own in the empty music room… That was no ghost. From the moment I read Lady Weston forbidding them to visit the house’s north wing, I knew that the mad man/woman locked up and isolated plot was coming. It isn’t badly written, but it can be seen coming from miles away, and instantly reminded me of another, classic novel with a mad woman locked up in a mysterious, dark, echoing attic (you all know which I’m talking about). It’s not a wrong decision from authors to choose this path, but the thing is that, in my opinion, that other book I mentioned is the first thing that pops into our heads upon reading it. Again, it’s well put, but it’s been read a lot of times before, it’s an overused plot point. Although, as we get to know, this particular madman isn’t exactly crazy; I guessed he was another Weston brother after the brief conversation between Henry and Lady Weston that Emma manages to overhear, but the surprise part for me was to read that Adam wasn’t aggressive, and never meant any harm; he was just curious, as a child, and although the book doesn’t say so, his case sounds more like a case of autism than insanity. It is horrible that having such a child was considered shameful for these grand families, that decided to give them away to be elsewhere, but I loved how Henry still remembered he was his brother, wanted him to have a loving, comfortable home, and loved him for who he was, in despite of everything.

As usual, this book is full of deep constructed characters, and there’s some you love, and some you hate. Emma Smallwood is utterly adorable, and I loved her. She’s smart and organized, and isn’t afraid of anything, she’s bold enough to do whatever is needed, no matter what. I loved the fact that nothing could stop her once her mind was made, and didn’t need anyone’s approval to go ahead with her plans and ideas (when she slapped Lizzie, she did something I had been longing to do myself). Somehow, I felt I could be friends with Emma. Julie Klassen’s characters are always deep and passionate, with both virtues and flaws, and I could truly see some of me in Emma, in her doubts and fears, especially as a Christian, and in that feeling of not-belonging, of not being there, but neither here. As tutors at Ebbington Manor, Emma and her father aren’t servants, but neither part of the family. They are somewhere in the middle, and for the well-organized, always-in-control Emma, that’s a difficult position in which, I believe, most of us have been, are, or will be. And creating a relatable character is key in any piece of fiction, because it can make the reader connect with the character on a deeper level. And Henry! I loved him from page one. He acknowledges he did wrong in the past, and wants to become a better person and Christian. He has to keep his head cool and think as his family’s heir, and that means watching for the state and its grounds, managing finances, and of course, marrying the right woman, which his stepmother already chose to bear the Weston last name (she doesn’t care which brother marries her, as long as one of them does). He is a hero for me, in the way that he doesn’t care what happens to him if that means he can avoid a greater evil. He’s seen enough of men drowning in the sea during storms in the coast, and when his time comes, he does his best to save as many lives as he can. It was very impressive, and mostly because the rescue is based on a real rescue occurred in the area, when a man on horseback was able to rescue sailors from the sea after a shipwreck. Again, Julie Klassen proves how well she knows how to use her research, and how much she cares for historical accuracy.

Even when I was afraid, for a moment, that this book would contain a love triangle (I hate them), I was relieved to find out that it didn’t. I never thought, not even for a moment, that Emma would end up with Phillip. She had fond memories of him, but clearly, she wasn’t going to fall in love with him. She was too smart for someone like Phillip, who always felt like some foolish, soft guy, not at all at the level of what Henry could be. Unlike his brother, Phillip is guided by his feelings and acts upon them, he leaves Oxford at midterm to see some girl of humble origins he’s in love with… I mean, it’s not like there’s too much space for doubting and guessing. Phillip is clearly depicted as somewhat inferior to Henry, and there was no reason for Emma to fall for him, and I’m glad she didn’t, for her relationship with Henry had me rooting for them the entire book, eagerly waiting for them to kiss, and when they did…! *sigh* I read that kiss over and over again, it was beautiful, emotionally open, and raw honest, they stopped thinking and for once listened to their hearts. It’s not like I feared for their lives, but I imagined myself in the whole situation, and it gave me goosebumps (for the record, the flooding chapel, not kissing Henry, but it could be applied to both). Although Emma doesn’t acknowledge her feelings for a big part of the book, she sees Henry’s superiority of character and personality, and how he struggles to improve every day, but knows, the whole time, that he can’t marry her, given her station as the tutor’s daughter. I’ve read many other books in which the characters want to be together, but they struggle to hide their feelings and remain apart from one another simply because they shouldn’t, whatever the reason for that (mostly social standing, but also money conditions, stubbornness, reluctance to accept feelings… you know, the usual), and I liked very much the fact that Emma and Henry know the barriers between them, but they avoid this endless rambling that normally takes lots of pages about all the reasons why the shouldn’t be together. And that’s great, because it speaks of an author behind the book that cares about not exhausting her readers with repeated information, assuming they are smart and don’t need a constant repetition of the same thing over and over again, which happens a lot with other authors.

After the disaster in the Chapel, I was engrossed with the whole explanations around the mysteries build as the novel moved forward. The plot around Lady Weston was engrossing and I felt outraged, because it was justified. Many times, villains don’t have a believable goal, they exist for the sole purpose of opposing the hero, but you can’t figure out why exactly… But in this case, it has a purpose, and I even understand it. I know why she acted that way, thinking as a mother, going beyond the law for her sons to have something for their future lives. I loved that Rowan decided, in the end, to do the honorable thing, proudly calling Henry his brother and apologizing to Emma for all those pranks, bordering cruelty. But Julian! That prepotency! Upon the ending of the book, seeing him talking to his father and brothers like that, I was thinking “please, sir Giles, slap him as the disrespectful brat he is, he deserves it!”. But he didn’t, instead sending him to the navy. Not everyone gets a happy ending in this book.

There’s something I would like to mention, that doesn’t get completely clarified. Was Phillip in love with Lizzie? That’s probably the only loose end, because everything is an assumption, there’s no clear affirmation that they actually wanted to get married (and they don’t). On the other hand, Aunt Jane’s happy ending left a big smile plastered on my face, because even when she had little part on the story, she was an adorable character and I was very happy that she got to make her delayed dreams come true.

Not much else to add, except that I loved this book, and I wish to do justice to all the awesome little details it has. All authors need the passion Julie Klassen expresses with each page, and of course, I’ll eagerly grab any book with her name on it, because it’s guaranteed to be excellent!


*If you like what you read, you can find me in my blog for more reviews and other articles: http://abookandateacup.blogspot.com.ar/*

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Klassen's latest addition did not disappoint! I loved the combination of romance, intrigue and mystery--it was perfect.

Just when I thought I knew what was coming, there would be a plot twist that totally took me by surprise. Klassen definitely excels at giving the reader just what they need to know but not too much. The supporting characters were delightfully complex and perplexing. They are all hiding secrets, both malicious and benign, and figuring out who is hiding what kept me turning the pages until the very end. For me, this plot had better pacing than some of her other novels. I never felt like the story line slacked off or that the tension lessened. I didn't care for the prevalence of flashbacks that she used, but they were never very long, so it wasn't too much of a bother.

Cornwall was the perfect setting for the story. It seemed to be such a brooding, slightly wild place, and it made for a lovely backdrop. I also must say that Klassen excels at endings. My biggest complaint about endings is when they are too abrupt and don't answer all of the questions. I like how this one came full circle without dragging on with unnecessary details.

I liked this nearly as much as The Lady of Milkweed Manor, which is my favorite Klassen novel. This is definitely my favorite since reading that one. Just an all-around fun, romantic historical. Fans of this period and type of setting will not be disappointed.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Publication date 1 Jan 2013, 28 Feb in the UK according to Amazon UK

The Tutor’s Daughter is an well-written and engaging romantic mystery set in Cornwall in the early years of the 19th Century, at a time when the Cornish coast was a haven for smugglers and “wreckers” (locals who would plunder the goods of foundering and wrecked ships, often ignoring the plight of the crew in favour of saving the cargo).

Emma Smallwood lives with her widowed father at his small boys’ school in Devonshire, but since the death of her mother two years previously, Mr Smallwood has not taken a great deal of interest in his school which has led to a decline in the number of pupils attending. Following the departure of their most recent pupil, Emma decides to try to drum up some business – this is their livelihood, after all – and to that end writes to Sir Giles Weston, father of Henry and Philip Weston, who attended the school some years ago, to ascertain if he has any interest in sending his two younger sons (twins Julian and Rowan) to be educated at the school.
Surprisingly, his response is to invite Mr Smallwood and Emma to his home, to tutor the boys there, a proposal which Mr Smallwood is keen to accept.

Emma has fond memories of Philip Weston, but not so of his older brother who used to tease her unkindly and continually subject her to pranks; so while she is keen to see Philip and even harbours some romantic feelings for him, she is more apprehensive about meeting Henry again.

I really enjoyed the story. There is a Jane Eyre-ish quality to the early part of the book in that there appears to be a mysterious stranger in the house who is prone to wandering around late at night. That part of the mystery is, however, solved about half-way through the book (and the attentive reader will probably have made a reasonable guess as to the solution by then anyway!) , but there are many more sinister goings-on at Ebbington Manor which kept me anxiously turning the pages.

The Weston family is clearly hiding more than just a “madwoman in the attic”, however. The second Lady Weston rules the roost; Sir Giles is often apathetic and usually goes along with his wife’s wishes in order to have a quiet life. Their teenaged sons Rowan and Julian are surly and rude, and her ladyship’s ward, Lizzie Henshaw is at one moment a vapid girl desirous of nothing more than pretty dresses and town gossip, and the next is spiteful and catty, a mass of contradiction. Emma hasn’t had a lot of female companionship in her life and initially hopes that they can be friends, but it soon becomes apparent that Lizzie is rather unstable and only interested in herself.

I don’t like to say too much about the plots of the books I review so as not to spoil them for potential readers, and I think it’s even more imperative that I don’t give too much away when reviewing a mystery story. Suffice to say that I found the mysteries and their resolutions to be satisfying and that although I had my suspicions as to how certain characters were tied together, there were still some surprises along the way.

Running alongside the mystery is the story of the deepening friendship between Emma and Henry. Initially, she distrusts him intensely, believing him to be the same boy who tormented her at the school. This may seem very naïve – and in fact there was the odd time I rolled my eyes and thought that she needed to realise that Henry has grown up in more ways than one; but it’s very clear that Henry’s pranks and teasing cut her quite deeply and so I suppose it’s natural for her to retain her suspicions of him until he begins to prove to her that he can be trusted.

But prove it he does. Henry and Emma strike up a tentative friendship which quickly turns into mutual affection and understanding. Emma is surprised to find herself attracted to him and the romance between them develops at a good pace – it doesn’t feel rushed, although I did think that the reasons that (briefly) separated them towards the end of the book were somewhat flimsy.

If I have one quibble about the book, it is with Henry’s questioning of Emma’s faith – or lack of it. Clearly, this is a book with a Christian message, and I have no problem with that, provided that message is handled subtly - which for the most part it is. I just felt that the passages in which Henry tried to restore Emma’s faith in prayer were somewhat jarring when set alongside the presentation of the rest of the story. I would almost say that those sections felt like conscious “insertions” rather than an organic part of the novel as a whole. That said, however, I thought that the part where Henry tried to talk to his brother about God and his concept of Him worked much better contextually.

Taken as a whole, I found this to be a very enjoyable read. The characterisation is consistent, the various plot threads are skilfully woven together and the romance is charmingly done.

Recommended.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

[Library Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent! I first read this the year it came out, and the reread didn't disappoint. It is still my favorite of Julie Klassen's books. 4.5 rounded up to 5, because some of the 'twists' were very easy to guess.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Smallwood’s life suddenly changes when she decides to move to Cornwall to help her widowed father teach two sons of Sir Giles Weston and cheer his low spirits up. But after they arrive strange things begin to happen and Emma starts thinking she may be in danger. Someone sneaks in her room at night, steals her journal and leaves strange handprints on her mirror and wall. The only member of the family she is happy to see again is Phillip, the second son of the baronet who attended her father’s Academy years before as the elder son Henry did. Phillip was always very nice to her and very friendly. On the other hand, Henry was a mischievous boy who was always ready to tease her and argue with her. When things get more dangerous and someone tries to send her back home, will Emma learn who is worthy her trust? Will she be able to understand what and most of all who her heart truly wants?

I do not know if I can perfectly explain how much I loved this novel. I loved everything. I was completely enchanted and hooked by Emma’s adventures and the people she dealt with, especially one of the Weston brothers (but I will not tell which one because I do not want to spoil anything). I wanted to finish it soon to see how it ended but I did not want to finish it because I was very sorry I could not read it anymore. I know, I am a little crazy!

Anyway, I enjoyed reading about the places Emma visited and the descriptions of the landscapes she explored. I was thrilled about all the mysteries, secrets, misunderstandings she experienced with some people in the mansion. Every time I imagined what would happen there was an unexpected twist that pleased me! I felt close to Emma because she is a passionate, clever girl and book lover like me, also she prefers a good book over a long afternoon spent shopping. I liked the strength of the words used to speak about God and religion and I was pleasantly surprised to read about first impressions that were totally wrong, about different characters. Truly, there is nothing I did not love. I even liked Lizzie Henshaw’s (Lady Weston’s ward) lack of privacy and Lady Weston’s pride. Everything was perfect.

For those who love Historical Fiction, this is the book for you. Those who do not like this kind of stories... well, you must read it! It is well worth reading.

[Tandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 4-2020. Held up to a reread; in fact, I think I enjoyed it even more the second time. Very sweet. Emma is very practical and levelheaded, and that saves her from becoming a Mary Sue. A very slow burn romance with likable characters. Elements of Christian faith are mentioned a few times, but not in a preachy way. Appropriate for the time period, so not a heavily Christian romance. The happy ever after ending made me sigh.
————————————————————-

This was an enjoyable gothic romance, excellent narrator.

Definitely Christian fiction, but neither preachy or over the top. Very good MCs & supporting cast. Warm & fuzzy.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every book Julie Klassen has written. This one was full of mystery and suspense. Thank you for this wonderful story, again!

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this story. My first read says it was in 2012, but I don't ever recall reading this! We read it for book club. I actually listened to it on audiobook this time.

I loved Emma. She tags along with her father to tutor some boys and comes face to face with Henry, who had been a student at her father's academy. He tried to make life miserable for Emma, so she's not thrilled to be in his presence. Phillip, Henry's full brother, lands on the scene as well and boy is he quite the fellow.

There is definitely a nod to Jane Eyre in this story, which you catch glimpses of as you read. Being a Jane Eyre fan I was thrilled with it! Needless to say, Emma has some creepy experiences being at Ebbington Manor.

Henry is a fantastic character. You can tell he has a protective side to him for his family and for others. I appreciate that Julie Klassen covers the topic of disability, which back then was such a "disgrace" to a family.

I do want to mention that Lady Weston and their "ward", Lizzie, are two people I wanted to regularly put over my knee. Oooo they riled me up! The younger brothers, follow after their mother, Lady Weston, and are real pieces of work. Whew... I would've never survived having to teach them. lol In all honesty, this family is rather wretched! How Lord Weston ever ended up marrying Lady Weston is beyond me.

Once again I've found a story that I adore from Julie!

[Srta Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5 🌟 no ha sido el mejor libro que he leído por el momento de la autora...me ha faltado más misterio, más trama, más todo.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen, I expected to read about interesting, memorable characters living in the Regency Era. What I didn't expect to find was a brilliant mixture of mystery and innocent romance that kept me turning the book's pages . . . unable to stop reading until I had unearthed each secret right along with Miss Emma Smallwood. A nice surprise The Tutor's Daughter was, and a book I would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of Jane Austen (books or films). You won't be disappointed.



Accompanying her father to Ebbington Manor to tutor the youngest two Weston sons sparks hope and wariness within Miss Emma Smallwood -- hope, to see Phillip again, the Weston she was quite fond of as a young girl; wariness, at being trapped under the same roof as Henry, the oldest Weston who pulled plenty of pranks on her as a child. As Emma settles into her new routine at Ebbington, mysterious things begin happening around her. Who plays the pianoforte so beautifully in the dark of night? Will Emma discover who leaves love letters under her door? Secrets abound as every person living in Ebbington Manor seems to hold fast to at least one hidden truth, including Emma herself. Will a tempest rise when all the secrets come to light? Find out in Julie Klassen's latest novel, The Tutor's Daughter.



Aunt Jane tells Emma (on page 23), "But that does not mean I don't sometimes wonder what I might have missed. What my life might have been like, had I said yes to a little adventure of my own." This message of encouragement to Emma is quite easily applied to many a person's life. How many of us have wondered what life would have been like, had we chosen a different course in life? Said yes instead of no to a risky venture? I don't know about you, but my mind has wandered into 'What-If-Land' a few times. Guess what I've discovered: I wouldn't change anything. The choices I've made throughout my 25 years have been used by God to form me into the God-fearing woman I am today. Without those decisions and a few misadventures along the way, I wouldn't be as creative, strong, intelligent, caring, loving, trustworthy, etc. my family and friends tell me I am. No, I would not change one choice I've made. Would you?

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age Appropriate For: Ages 12 + (for reading level, romance, and some mild scary scenes)

Best for Ages: Ages 18 and up

I had heard mixed reviews about Julie Klassen’s books. Although every one of my friends said they were well written, one of my friends had told me that she often throws one or two scenes in that diminished the enjoyment of the book. When I was offered a copy of The Tutor’s Daughter to review, I decided to check her out for myself.

It didn’t take me long to realize that my friends were right; this woman knows how to write. Her style is excellent and she know how to weave historical details seamlessly into her stories. She also is just a solid story teller. I was captivated.

Klassen also is very good at making you feel the mood. She made me feel listless, happiness, joy, sorrow, and uncomfortable. She had several points in the book where she gave it just the right creep factor; enough to make you feel uncomfortable, without making you scared to go to sleep.

The characters themselves were well developed and very believable. I don’t think there was one flat character in the whole bunch. That is saying a lot about her talent. Not many authors, no matter how good, can pull that off.

There was only one point where she really disappointed me, and that was her faith message. I felt like she built up to a great spiritual moment in her book but that moment never happened. It made me feel as if I was missing a page or two from the book

I highly recommend this to those who like period dramas, Jane Austen, historical fiction, or even just incredibly well written stories.

I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good, one of the best Julie Klassen books I’ve read so far! I think it will end up being one of my top favorites of her books, if not my favorite!

I loved the main characters!
Emma was a great heroine! She was smart, kind, sensible, and relatable. I really liked her! Also, she’s a bookworm and keeps a journal so she was definitely a kindred spirit!
And I loved the hero so much! While at the beginning I was as skeptical about him as Emma was, I loved his character so much! I won’t say his name because I don’t want to spoil it but he was wonderful.🥰
I also loved a character who I can’t name because of spoilers. But I really loved that aspect to the story!

I loved the childhood friends-to-lovers love story! I love stories where the couple knew each other when they were younger and this one was so sweet.
I also really liked that the romance was slow-burn and the characters got the chance to truly get to know each other after years apart before they fell in love with each other. They formed a friendship first which I loved! Also their relationship seemed less based on physical appearance and more on each other’s heart/ character which I loved too.

Also, I must say, the love triangle was really well done and didn’t have me wanting to pull my hair out which was really nice. 👏🏼

The mystery was super intriguing as well. The mysterious vibe was perfect. It was definitely a page turner and I flew through it!
Also, loved the Cornwall setting!😍

Julie writes such atmospheric books and I love it. I feel like I’m really there. It was just a really good historical mystery!


2024 reread-
Still my favorite of her books. It was just as good the second time and I really enjoyed rereading it!💗

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad that the first book I read in 2013 was a Julie Klassen book. Her books are always so well written with intriguing settings and characters reminiscent of the classic romances. As was the case with her previous novels this starts out slowly but continually builds so much so that you can't put it down! At first I was bit worried that this was going to be too much of a Jane Eyre copycat with a mysterious "ghost" at Weston manor causing all sorts of mischief but I was genuinely surprised by just who that said ghost really was. The Tutor's Daughter not only is a romance but a unique look at what life was like for those who were considered to be "different" in the 19th century. It's what touched me the most in this book and I couldn't help but fall in love with such endearing characters like the elder Weston brothers, both the hero and his brother. All aspects of this story were perfection and The Tutor's Daughter has earned it's spot as my new favorite Julie Klassen read and quite possibly a favorite book of 2013!


*I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

[Skrivena stranica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was full of cliches, I could guess everything from the very beginning, ending was too pathetic for my taste (all those old people suddenly finding love... sounds more like modern look on things than anything, and I don't really care if Emma's father is getting married again). But still, I liked it. Love between heroine and hero was nice, I felt it, I enjoyed it. It's not logical, like love (as I hear).
Emma wasn't that clever, many things were so evident and her sight was often better than her mind.
There was once again: "Maybe it doesn't mean anything to him", which was seen for like 100000000 times.
But still, in the end, I liked it, it was a nice read and I don't care.

[Olde American Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Klassen is my current queen of Regency Christian fiction right now, so I will admit to the bias from the start. It's her incredible research, accuracy, depth of characters, immersion, just to name a few.

This is an older publication, but I was completely "in Cornwall" with this daughter/dad tutor duo as they deal with their own grief while working for a mysterious family.

I love stories where almost the entire cast are staying within an enormous estate. The forced proximity causes realistic situations you don't get elsewhere.

This novel is atmospheric, spooky, immersive, full of faith (some Christian motivation MY HEART needed to hear), and gentle themes of love and forgiveness. Wow!

***PERFECT for the upcoming cozy season. I included more details about this book and 18 other ideas for clean cozy reads for Autumn in today's YouTube video. :)

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all six of Julie Klassen's books, I've read four, and by far, The Tutor's Daughter was for SURE my very favorite and the most clean of the ones I've read. I was very impressed with it and thoroughly enjoyed every page! Some of Julie's other books were for older girls as they had some mature content that I really didn't care for, but this book pleasantly surprised me in the fact that it was very clean. I especially appreciated how the romance level was very low, and how the author chose to save the romance for the end, so that you can enjoy the story without it being overly romantic the whole time. I've recently come to have a great appreciation for books that have a balanced amount of romance, as so often this is the main focus of a book and kind of drowns out the actual story, not to mention put wrong thoughts in your mind from time-to-time, but this one had the perfect amount and was well-balanced.

Another thing I enjoyed was the suspense! It was such a page-turning book, and very exciting! I really liked how Julie accomplished getting a very healthy dose of suspense in the story without involving any deaths, murder, crimes, etc, that are so often found in suspense novels. Their were also many twists and turns that I never saw coming, and kept the story from getting dull. Right when I thought all the questions were answered, there would be something else that would come up that I never saw coming!

As for the characters, I loved them all from the start, well... maybe not all of them....Henry for one, wasn't exactly my favorite male character to begin with.... *Shows knowing grin to those who had read The Tutor's Daughter and remember Henry's famous speech concerning a dance he would perform at Emma's wedding.....* The main character, Emma, however I did love from the beginning. She is a very likable character and I loved how she kept a journal and was very orderly, oh and she LOVES books - that we have in common. ;) After reading that part, I was like, okay, I really like this character now. New best friend. She's my favorite. :)

But anyways, this book had a very wonderful moral speaking against judging "a book by it's cover" so to speak, as we see clearly how someone can change drastically for the better; as well as the other side of someone's character getting worse with age. I'd say which of the two brother's was my favorite, but that would basically give the book away so I won't tell you, but if you've read the book, I assure you that you will know, as we will most probably agree.

Another thing I was very enthused about was all the history packed into this book! In the author's note in the back after the story, I was surprised to learn that some of the characters, as well as the places, were all true and actual people and places-most of them so accurate down even to the names! I love books with a well-written story, but to get history in there as well...I'm all for it, and wasn't disappointed with this one!

Another favorite thing in this book was the level on Christian values involved. At the beginning of the story, Emma wasn't on speaking terms with God after her mother's death. However in the story a certain male character gets to share Christ with her and she renews her faith and lives her life more profitably in the end. I loved the scene were this took place, it's one of my favorite parts in the whole book!

The only thing I didn't really like in this story was their were a few little scenes that got, well, to be a bit more than I'd have written. But it really depends on what you are used to. Their is one scene where Henry makes a certain comment sarcastically early on in the book, as well as a few other little things such as two of the main characters unexpectedly being in each others presence at night in their nightclothes due to an "emergency" involving blood. As well as a disturbing image that was painted on one of Emma's missing journal pages that was stolen. They weren't at all a deal breaker or anything so bad that you'd not to read the book because of them, but I didn't really care for them. Romance-wise this book was very clean, and the farthest it ever went was some kissing. Total I think their were three kisses towards the end. While they were a bit descriptive, they weren't at all inappropriate, but again, it all depends on what you are used to. Girls who would most enjoy this book the most would be those who love Christian historical fiction, with a bit of romance mixed in, with a regency era style.

[Marta Fernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para dejar las cosas claras desde el principio os adelanto que «La hija del tutor» es mi mejor lectura de este año, me ha gustado tanto que pronto volveré a releerla. Ya conocía a la autora gracias a Libros de Seda con «La institutriz silenciosa», novela que me encantó aunque creo que «La hija del tutor» la supera, siendo una historia más completa.

Emma es una joven que siempre ha vivido rodeada de niños en un internado, a medida que pasan los años ayuda a su padre en su ardua tarea como tutor, adquiriendo grandes responsabilidades a una tierna edad. Se acuerda de todos los muchachos que han pasado por la escuela, sintiendo lástima cuando abandonan las aulas para seguir con sus vidas, las despedidas más difíciles para Emma fueron las de Phillip y Henry Weston -hermanos-.
Mientras que Phillip siempre fue un incordio para la muchachita, siempre se sintió atraída por su difícil carácter; Henry siempre fue su gran apoyo dentro del internado, su único y verdadero amigo. Cuando los dos parten hacia un nuevo futuro, Emma se siente sola, de forma inconsciente siempre se acuerda de ellos.

Con el paso del tiempo, el internado que un día fue uno de los más conocidos y afamados va perdiendo prestigio, quedando cada vez más sillas vacías en las aulas y más números rojos en las cuentas de los Smallwood.

Nuestra protagonista decide ponerse manos a la obra, buscando alumnos, sabe que los Weston tienen dos hermanos gemelos pequeños, candidatos ideales para la escuela, así que decide contactar con el barón.

La respuesta no se hace tardar y Emma se ve envuelta en un largo viaje hasta Cornualles junto a su padre. Allí vivirá durante una temporada, reencontrándose con sus antiguos compañeros-.

La llegada no puede ser más incómoda, el recibimiento es frío y rápido, Emma se ve relegada a una antigua y misteriosa habitación que le provoca escalofríos. A pesar de no creer en los fenómenos paranormales, cada noche sus convicciones se resquebrajan un poquito, siente una presencia y parece que no es de este mundo.

La madrastra de Phillip y Henry tiene cierta manía a la pobre Emma, cuestionándola en todo momento e incluso avergonzándola, pero el carácter de la muchacha es envidiable, no se amilana ante nada ni ante nadie. Además de ayudar a su padre con la enseñanza de los gemelos, intentará descifrar el extraño comportamiento de los Weston.

Phillip siempre actuó con la pobre Emma de forma rara, molestando a la pobre chica y asustándola en cuanto tenía ocasión. Ella no guarda buen recuerdo de él, aunque en el fondo... siente cierta atracción. Su reencuentro con Henry es más fluido, en él encuentra un gran apoyo y amigo. Unas extrañas cartas bastante cariñosas confunden a Emma ¿quién será el responsable?, la pobre muchacha tiene a todos encandilados con su encanto, desatando también envidias y odios. ¿Sobrevivirá la pobre chica en una guarida llena de leones?

La autora sumerge de lleno al lector en la intrigante mansión de los Weston, llena de misterio, historia, romance y traición. En las quinientas -y pico páginas- que tiene el libro encontraréis una pluma elegante -y envidiable-, una historia de amor muy tierna -y blanca- junto con unos personajes con garra.

Me ha encantado la novela, creo que Julie Klassen -junto con Julianne Donaldson- son las nuevas Austen del siglo XXI. El único pero que le puedo poner a esta historia es que haya terminado, estaría leyendo sobre los entresijos de la familia Weston durante décadas ¡y no me aburriría!

La gran tragedia es que una vez que terminas la nota de la autora piensas «¿qué demonios leo ahora?».

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is absolutely darling. I loved it.

this is a relatively relaxed book, with no major plot twists or turns and with a decent measure of predictability. however, the characters are really what sold this for me. every character served a purpose, whether big or small, and there was not one that felt like a fluff character to me. if you prefer more character driven books like I do, this is one I highly recommend.

Emma and the hero (I won't say who for sake of spoilers) were so sweet. I really enjoyed reading about them. the predictability, in my opinion, played to the plot's advantage because by the time you figure out who ends up with who, there still is not a real connection yet so you want to read more to see how the relationship develops. there is a charming innocence to their romance - it's not excessively sexual at all, which I so appreciate. the hero is very much a gentleman and his protection of Emma felt very genuine because he was respectful towards her, unlike other books where every moment spent in the guy's head he's driven to distraction because of her figure.

I loved the setting, which is in Cornwall. one of my favorite British dramas is Poldark so I really liked that I had a little bit of background on the mining industry and the areas surrounding the coastal county.

all in all, I loved this very much. this book has become the new blueprint for other regency novels I get my hands on.🤗

[Tammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Smallwood agrees to travel with her father to the distant Cornwall coast when his academy fails. A baronet whose two older sons attended the academy has hired Emma's father to tutor his two younger sons at their manor there. But after they arrive at the manor some mysterious things begin to happen.

The baronet's two older sons, Phillip and Henry, who used to attend her father's academy, both remembered Emma as an awkward young girl, but she is very different now that she's all grown up and one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

The Tutor's Daughter is a Christian Regency romance with a bit of Jane Eyre (the large mysterious house with a family secret and odd noises in the middle of the night), a little of Jamaica Inn (the wreckers who profit off of ships sinking off the coast) and a dash of Sabrina (The 1954 Audry Hepburn movie) thrown in. I liked this combination a lot. I also really enjoyed the slow build of the romance.

I did feel like the book was kind of long and I usually prefer the religious aspects of these type books to be more subtly woven into the story. Unfortunately in this one it got a little heavy handed for me near the end, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Review also posted at Writings of a Reader

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a taste of Jane Austen and Daphne DuMaurier, The Tutor's Daughter is filled with intriguing characters, snippets of danger and romance. This is my second book by Julie Klassen and I look forward to reading more.