The Girl in the Gatehouse Book Review

Title: The Girl in the Gatehouse.

Author: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humorous, Regency England.

Plot: After committing a fatal mistake that shatters her reputation, Mariah Aubrey is banished from her childhood home, separated from her mother and younger sister. With only faithful Susan Dixon as her companion, Mariah travels to a distant aunt’s house and takes up residence, in secret, in the gatehouse that no one uses anymore. Slowly, she begins to make new friends in her strange new surroundings, beginning with the gardener, her aunt’s manservant Martin, the children from the nearby poorhouse, two elderly sisters who brighten Mariah’s darkest days, and the new resident of the estate, Captain Matthew Bryant.

Her aunt having suddenly passed away and her suspicious cousin in need of money, he leases the estate to the naval captain who enters the estate thinking of the girl who broke his heart so long ago. Determined to reclaim her, he is not prepared to be so intrigued by the mysterious girl living in the gatehouse. As the two become friends and Mariah’s secret novel writing begins to take off, scandal arrives on the estate’s doorstep and all secrets are blown wide open.

Likes/Dislikes: I really enjoyed this novel. With intrigue, mystery and tantalizing hints thrown about, who couldn't enjoy this wonderful novel set in Jane Austen’s enchanted era and with a heroine who supports herself by secretly writing novels. Some of the scandal hit a tad close to home in relation to my personal life, but all in all it was a wonderfully beautifully written story of second chances. I did think that Captain Bryant majorly overreacted the second time but that’s okay. Highly recommended!

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for content as it is about a scandal.

Date Report Written: April 1^st, 2013.

I received a copy of this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.