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09 January 2013

Diana Flowers Reviews The Tutor's Daughter By Julie Klassen







 ~5 stars*****

Reviewed by Diana Flowers


        Riveting Historical Fiction!

In The Tutor's Daughter, Julie Klassen takes the reader away to the beautifully haunting and mysterious Ebbington Manor, set high upon the cliffs overlooking the windswept coast of Cornwall -- a house of secrets, deceit, and lies.


Emma Smallwood and her father had tutored the baronet's eldest sons, Henry and Phillip Weston, several years before and are now being asked by the new Mrs.Weston to move to Ebbington Manor to tutor the younger Weston brothers. Memories of Phillip bring nostalgic, pleasant thoughts to Emma's mind -- of kindnesses shared and the youthful blush of a first crush. Henry morever, strikes fear into Emma's heart as she recalls the hateful barbs and terrifying pranks she received at his hands. But hoping to help relieve her father's melancholy after the death of her mother, Emma agrees to accompany him to the sprawling stone manor nestled high above the sea.

Almost immediately upon their arrival, mysterious happenings begin to occur in the manor. Emma hears someone playing the pianoforte and when she investigates no one is there, finds threatening notes under her door, and smells the odor of perfume lingering in her room. Is it the ghost of the former Mrs. Weston?...or is Henry up to his old tricks again? And who is occupying the secluded room where no one is ever permitted to go? Which Weston brother shares an undeniable attraction with Emma?...although she is aware that Mrs. Weston would never allow a lowly tutor's daughter to wed one of the heirs of Ebbington Manor.

As always, Julie Klassen knows how to capture the readers' attention and leave them spellbound until the very last page is turned. This is a finely written story, reminiscent of Charlotte Bronte's, Jane Eyre, and I simply loved it. With its many plot twists and turns, and plenty of excitement throughout, this one is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your chair. I have always prided myself on guessing "who is doing it" in whodunits, but I was totally wrong this time. Julie almost had me believing in ghosts -- almost. :) I loved how the characters evolve throughout the book, the strong salvation message throughout, and oh, the breathtaking romance! My fav to date of all Ms. Klassen's books - very nicely done!

A copy of this book was given to me from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book may be purchased through Amazon, CBD, and your local bookstores.



GIVEAWAY: A book by Julie Klassen of your choice. Leave a comment, your email, and answer the question to be entered in the contest. 

QUESTION: Have you ever stayed in an old, large, beautiful manor overnight and if so, was it rather creepy?

103 comments:

  1. Thanks for that wonderfully mysterious and intriguing review DIANA!! Now that I've begun reading this beautiful, yet fascinating story, reading your review and watching that short video has me longing to get back to the story!!

    I've never stayed in an old and beautiful manor although it sure does sound tempting. And I'm sure no matter how creepy it may be, it wouldn't surpass the extremely creepy and strange 'Hobbit House' we stayed in while on a driving holiday through NSW! There were plenty of strange noises during the night in that place, let me tell you!! :)

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    1. Thank you, NOELA! You are sure to enjoy this one by JULIE! I don't think I would have stayed anywhere having the name Hobbit House, but maybe you didn't have a choice. :) Paul and I stayed at a creepy motel one night that would remind you of Norman Bate's Motel on the movie, Psycho! We left and went elsewhere! LOL

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    2. Thanks, Diana, for this excellent review! As to the question, I live in an old Victorian house built in 1899. So, yes, I've stayed many overnights in my big old house, and at times.....yep, it can be creepy. My aunt owned the house for 40 years before I moved in, but before that, many people had lived and died here. Joy Ross Davis

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  2. Diana, thanks for this wonderful review! It was a pleasure to read.

    I have never stayed in a manor, but I'd really like to do so...someday!

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    1. Thanks, MARIAN! You are braver than I...I would like to visit one, but me no stay! haha

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  3. Thank you for the review, Diana.
    At this very moment I have almost finished reading this book and it is exactly how you describe it: the story keeps you on the edge of your chair untill the end! I’m enjoying ever moment of reading it. And again... I dread the moment that I will have to turn the last page. I hope Julie Klassen will gladden us with another book real soon.
    I love all Julie's books and this one is another jewel in my constantly expanding book collection. Julie Klassen's books have a prominent place there!

    With this story Julie follows in the footsteps of Charlotte Brontë and Jane Austen in her own unique and refreshing way. And again, as in one of her other books, I detect a touch of Dickens in The Tutor’s Daughter.

    She is one of today’s writers who is very able to capture the fascinating ethos of England’s Regency period with all its typical traditions, manners and mysteries. One can never get enough of reading about life there and then. So thank you for again a wonderful book, Julie!

    As for your question...
    (I think I'll need another post for that... coming up!)

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    1. ILSE, thank you for your wonderful, kind words about JULIE'S books! And I agree with every word! What a wonderful review you just wrote! If you don't do reviews...you should! :)

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  4. I grew up in an old mansion. Not as large as the great English manors, but nevertheless quite large, old and very beautiful. The house had round arch windows and high ceilings decorated with flowers and garlands in bas-relief. There were many rooms, upstairs and downstairs. There were also several rooms at the sides of the house, used for storage, cooking, washing and other household chores. There was even a remarkable small room that had a glass ceiling. I thing it used to be a kind of little ‘in between’ garden or something.
    Behind the house were stables and a vast garden. Behind that garden was an orchard. I spend countless hours in those stables and in the garden. There was one particular fruit tree which I favored. I was allowed to climb in it once a year to pick the fruits. Heaven! For although I am a real ‘girl’girl, there is also a little bit of a tomboy in me...

    We had indoor plumbing by the time my parents came to live there. But no indoor toilet nor bathroom. So yes... we bathed in a tub and used the toilet outside (which wasn't a water closet) during daytime and a chamber pot at night.

    My bedroom was at the front of the house. It had two round arch windows and was so large, I could practise my ballet dances without moving the furniture. It was surrounded by other rooms in a typical illogical arrangement. There were two doors in my bedroom. One led to my parents’ bedroom, so that felt quite safe. The other led to one of the unoccupied rooms which used to belong to my deceased grandmother. I always looked at that doors with a certain suspicion... It was by then filled with old trunks, chests and antique cabinets. I used to spend a lot of my time there searching for ‘treasures’. Of which I found lots! Antiques and all kinds of things that related to our family history. A superb place for treasure hunting it was for sure. This, by the way, is how I discovered my parents’ loveletters... which I illuminated with my own drawings!

    (more to come...)

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  5. There were several unoccupied rooms in our house, some of which had a sealed door. One room we were forbidden to enter. Because of the dilapidated state of the floor, my parents said. It was directly above our daily drawing room and so they did not want any damage to the ceiling there. I understand that very well now, but you can imagine that, as a child, this room was always very intriguing for a imaginative mind like mine...

    There were three stairways. My sister slept in a room with no door and an open stair leading to it from the room below. I always found that a eerie idea. You could sneak up to her room and just enter it unseen and unheard!

    There was a enormous attic and an equally big cellar. This was the place in the house that always scared me. Unfortunetaly I had to go there a lot. My mother stored all her preserves there, as well as a lot of other food and drinks. Whenever our gardiner had killed a rabbit, my mother hung it up at the cellar’s low ceiling untill she was going to prepare it. A perfectly common thing to do, for the cellar was cool, dark and clean. We lived mostly of our own garden and the food we shared with family and friends. But as you can imagine... not a pleasant sight for a sensitive youngster like me, with a fond weakness for animals. And since I was ‘the one with the youngest legs’, as my mother always said, I was the one supposed to descend the creaky, open wooden stair descending in that cellar to fetch whatever was needed. I remember I seldom climbed the stairs in a peaceful manner. I used to race up to the door at the top, hit the light switch and close the door behind me in relief.

    This old house was the perfect place to play hide and seek and scare eachother something awful.

    Mansions like these have their own specific sounds. For the ear, there is never a dull moment. Always something is creaking, sighing, stirring. And it’s hard to define from behind which door the sound comes. And for the eye? How can one describe all the little ornamental details that enrich such an old house?

    Do I have good memories? Yes! Definitely. I wish we had never moved away from there. Living for 18 years in a mansion like this is something you never forget. The house and all its rooms and details are still imprinted in my memories. And it will stir up fantasies in my mind forever...

    “ I’m sure you were just dreaming, miss Smallwood. These old manors, they're always creaking. The corridors are so drafty with wind of the cliffs. (-) Come now, miss Smallwood, you’ve been reading to many novels. (-) I know I am not imagining it, every night I hear things... ”

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    1. Wow Ilse, I think you wrote the longest comment EVAH!! ;)
      Very nice to read about your childhood home!

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    2. WOW, Ilse, that is so cool!!! What happened to your family estate and where was it at? What is the history on it. What an amazing place to grow up in!!!

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    3. ILSE, how exciting is that! It sounds fascinating and beautiful -- every child's dream. You should write a book using it for a setting. I know you can write! :) Yes, where was it at?

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    4. Why, MARIAN, I do believe you are aquiring a southern accent! ;)

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    5. LOL - Your grandson taught me that word, Diana. :)

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    6. He says it really evil, too! LOL Or rather tries to make it sound evil. ;) NEVAH!!!

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    7. Yes, Ilse, I agree with Diana. Sounds like a wonderful setting for a book!

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    8. Thanks Julie. Writing a book is one of my childhood dreams... Writing this little something about my youth and the environment I lived in made me realize it would be a great setting for a story.
      Who knows... one day? For now, I'm going to enjoy the fruits of your wonderful writing talent. And I'm really hoping another book from your hand will come out soon. Can't wait...

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  6. Julie Klassen may have the flu so please pray for her. Thanks so much for this review, Diana. I am still sneaking peeks at it as I await the eventual audiobook. Love her audiobooks!!!

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    1. It's so good, CARRIE! Poor JULIE...oh I hope it's just a mild cold. That flu is terrible...haven't had anything like it in years if ever!

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  7. I love her books and no I haven't stay in a mansion

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    1. JULIE'S books are the bomb, DEBBIE! Thanks for coming by!

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  8. Diana loved the review! I can only remember as a wee girl staying in my grandmothers old house and me and my sister shared a bed. I heard a noise and looked at the window, which our bed was up against and a mans face was pressed up against the window. O my I had nightmares forever.
    I would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance Diana.
    Blessings
    joeym11@frontier.com

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    1. ACK, DIANA! I'll just bet you didn't stay overnight at Grandma's house too much after that! haha Here's hoping you get a chance to read this one asap!

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  9. Now y'all have REALLY peaked my interest even more! You know how I love a good mystery :) I have never stayed at a creepy old manor house but it would be a blast! Count me in for this book because I LOVE Julie's stories :)

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    1. ANNE, you will love this one! And just when you think you know who's doing it, another suspect comes along. Could it be a ghost?? ;) I don't think it would be a blast, ANNE! You are far more adventurous than me!

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  10. My daughter would love this, it's right up her alley, lol. It would be nice to win it for her, thank your for the chance to do that.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. WENDY this is a great book and I know your daughter will love it, she might even persuade you to read it too! :)

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    2. WENDY, how very unselfish of you b/c I would HAVE to read this one first...then my daughter could have it! LOL

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  11. Say girls,
    Sounds to me we should organize a holiday together in an old English manor. Maybe we can ask Julie if she'd be so kind to write a short story for us to play there... 'A Night in the Manor'.
    There could be involved a nightly 'adventure' trip through the manor in search of 'the secret'... The following day we could share a classical English high tea while sharing a lot of laughter about our eerie night.
    Oh! And of course we should conclude the event with a evening of dance. We'd need a small chamber orchestra of course...

    My fantasy is getter the better of me now. Oh well! We need to keep dreaming, don't we? :)

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    1. ILSE what delightful thought and I love your story of your childhood Mansion. I will have to confess I might be a little "frightened" to stay in an old Manor but if I have you, Marian, Diana and Carrie to hold my hand I might make it through! ;)

      Then again I can be pretty brave if the needs arises. I remember one time when my sister and I had taken a trip together and we were staying in a hotel. About 3am I awoke to a man trying to open our door. I screamed at him and he left, I saw that he was the night clerk. When I called the front desk he said "he was checking to see if the room was occupied?????" How dumb did he think I was? Needless to say I stayed awake all night watching over my sister while she slept, she had taken a sleeping pill and almost slept through the whole thing!! LOL So I guess maybe I could stay the night in a drafty, creaky old English Manor afterall! :)

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    2. TERESA, I'm having great fun imagining us there! I can see us creeping down the long corridors hand in hand, up and down the stairs, casting anxious glances in every room, yelling at unexpected sounds and then shushing eachother... We might actually have great fun. Like a bunch of kids! :)
      From what I read in your scary story, you're definitely brave enough! And apparently your scream is strong enough to scare away any intruders. I'm going to practise my scream... ;)

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    3. ILSE, totally delightful, TERESA, totally creepy! Thank you my lovely cohort for covering for me! I just had to get out finally after being sick for so long, and now after getting my hair done I feel so much better!

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  12. Carrie, Diana,
    My childhood home was in Belgium. Not so far from the frontier with France. My parents did not own the place, unfortunately. They rented it. They had their business there and after my father died, my mother had to stop the business and could not afford the costs of such a house anymore. By then it was just my mom and me living there, so another reason for moving was that the place was much to big for just the two of us. Although I would not have minded that!
    I've always wanted to know the whole history of the house. Who build it, who all lived there, what happened there. I know some things, but not enough to my taste. The mansion was build during the second part of the 18th century. Many people have lived there since. During the ages the house had to endure the alterations brought on by owners who wanted to adjust the building to the style of their time. A sad example of that was the ceiling in one of the drawing rooms. All the bas-relief, those marvellous rococo flowers and garlands that embellished the ceilings in the rooms on the ground floor, were 'just' chopped away by the family that rented the house just before my parents came to live there. They did not like the ornamented ceiling. My parents didn't agree with that, but the damage was done. Fortunately they only damaged that one room...
    I know that at a certain point in time 3 families shared the house. Later it was divided in two parts. Now it is classified as 'protected monument' (I don't now how you call monuments like that in The States). Unfortunately its exterior (and I fear also its interior) has been recently modernized by the house owner. And... the house lost its charm. I really don't understand how people can renovate with so less taste and feeling for the authenticity of a historic monument.
    Only the windows and frontdoor in the right wing still show the original rococo style.
    My parents have lived there for many many years. Long before I was born (they were 45 years old when I was born...).
    Sometimes I wish I had the funds to buy it and restore it to its original state. But... alas!

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    1. Oh, ILSE, that would be wonderful if you could! Thank you for sharing all of this interesting stuff with us, and also for sharing your scream! I think I heard it all the way here in the woods behind my house. LOL

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  13. Hi friends, I LOVE Julie's books, and I am excited to read this, especially after this great review.

    I have never stayed overnight in a manor house like this one, but I do remember visiting a very large histoic home in Oregon when I was a child. It was in a small coastal town and across the street from my grandmother's house. I remember the old woman showing dolls she'd made with faces carved from apples which dried into great wrinkled faces over time. She also shared stories abou the sea captains who had lived in the house and told us about the widows walk up on the roof. It's like a very high balcony on top of the roof where the sea captain's wife would stand to look out to sea and watch for the return of her husband's ship. That's a little spooky!
    Blessings,
    Carrie

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    1. WOW CARRIE

      Diana did a wonderful job on the review. Julie's books are always so good it's never hard them or do a review unless you're like me and think you can't do them justice. :)

      That sounds a cool place to visit as a child. Don't think I would like the Widow's Walk either, I don't care for high places! Did you like the dolls wrinkled faces? I think I have seen some like that when I have visited in the mountains of NC and Tn.

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    2. Thank you so much for coming by and sharing that with us, CARRIE! I have seen many attempted murders in movies at the Widow's Walk! Creepy is right!

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  14. No, I haven't stayed in a manor house; I have visited them as a museum and they are tremendous! Noticed the beds were shorter than ones we sleep in now. We know a couple who own an older country house with tall ceilings, a back stairway off the kitchen, and a dumbwaiter in the wall. I would like either the first or second book of Julie's! I checked them out from a library and would love a copy of my own. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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    1. KATHLEEN

      I have also visited old houses and the Charleston Plantations and it's always cool to see how people lived in the past.

      We'll keep in mind your choices if you are our winner! :)

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    2. KATHLEEN, curious as to why the beds were shorter. We have a king size and my hubby's feet still go over the bottom if he stretches out. He must not sleep all the way at the top of the bed. LOL

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  15. No, I never have stayed in an old manor house but have wondered how it would be. There once was a huge plantation house near the beach around Biloxi, MS. It was empty and I always wondered about its history. It is gone now, taken out by a hurricane many years ago. Please enter my name in the drawing. Blessings! Darlene
    spangldlady[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. DARLENE I would have wanted to explore that house,or maybe just a little peek inside. :)

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    2. DARLENE, if only the walls of that plantation could talk what tales it would tell, I'm sure! Thanks for dropping by!

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  16. I loved your review! I went to a private High School and our history teacher actually lived in a castle...one that was in their family for years. Their family was Scotish. It was so awesome to see all of the historical things they filled their castle with. Their family crest, A knight in armor, swords, bagpipes.... even a garden turned into a maze...was fun getting lost! I loved the large rooms, long tables and ornate furniture. One room had a large round bed in it...I am not sure that was historical though. A friend and I house sat for him once...lol...notice the "once". It was way up on a hill/cliff looking over the ocean. He needed us to feed his animals and also he had a racoon that would bang his head on a door to let you know he was hungry...lol. Well...that night there was a severe storm...and oh the sights we saw...even though we both had a lavish room with our own beds, fireplaces etc....we both huddled in a room together....our minds played lots of games...the shadows and things we saw..lol. We tried to take our minds off of it..and be the grown ups we thought we were...singing songs loudly etc. Never were there 2 teenager girls more excited to see the sun come out bright and early and to go home...lol. I sure would love to go to England, Scotland and Ireland and stay in a manor house now though...hopefully I would do much better!
    My e-mail is : sunydey26@aol.com

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    1. JOHNETTE what a story, I am sure I would have been unnerved too. Where was the castle at? I would love to visit one someday. My husband's family is from Scotland so I guess that would be a good place to start.

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    2. JOHNETTE, thank you for sharing that intriguing story with us! Our minds do run rampant on us when we are kids...mine still does...especially if I was in a creepy manor! ;)

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    3. I would be nervous to. I'm glad you had a friend with you.

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  17. I have never been in an old manor before. But would LOVE to stay in one overnight. That would be SO much fun for me.
    Thanks for the fabulous review, Diana!
    Amy C
    Campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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    1. AMY Diana is a talented writer. Just waiting for the day when she decides to write a book.

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    2. HA, TERESA! You are funny today! God will have to give me a more vivid imagination to think of a WONDERFUL storyline. I'm lacking in the creativity department. :(

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  18. OH MAN I wish! I'm not sure if it would be creepy or not, but I would love to find out! LOL! Hopefully it wouldn't be and I could just enjoy taking in the whole thing!

    Amada(pronounced: a.m.a.th.a) Chavez

    amada_chavez{AT}yahoo{DOT}com

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    1. Fun to visit, AMADA, but creepy to spend the night IMO! Thanks for coming by and good luck in the giveaway!

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  19. I've never personally stayed in an old manor house. I don't think I'd want to stay in a big creepy house. At least not at night LOL. I guess I am just a big ol' chicken. Bock! Bock! :P LOL

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    1. LOUISE, I'm working my way up from the bottom of the comments since I had to step out for awhile and didn't realize I said the same thing below! So we are both chickens! Bock Bock!!

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  20. I have never stayed in an old manor house but I think it would be fun. Thank you for the chance to win this book.

    griperang at embarqmail dot com

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    1. Maybe with a group, ANGELA! I'm a chicken. LOL Thanks for coming by!

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  21. I haven't stayed in an old manor house but did spend several days in a castle in Austria. It wasn't particularly creepy but was quite cold, which took much of the charm away for me. I haven't read any of Julie's books yet but I think I'd better start. The Tutor's Daughter sounds really good. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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    1. A castle in Austria, PAM! How intriguing! Oh, you will love JULIE'S books -- perhaps you will win your first one here!

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  22. I stayed over night in a wonderful large and old guest house for a university. It was charming, no ghosts, no dark shadows. In the morning, the sunlight and birds woke us up!

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  23. Wonderful review, Diana.
    Sorry I haven't stopped by before. As Carrie mentioned, I was sick yesterday and am just starting to feel a little better today. Thanks so much!

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    1. JULIE, I'm so glad you are feeling better! We've been having a great time talking about your awesome books!

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  24. No I have never stayed in a manor but would be lovely to have the experience some day.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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    1. Hey, APPLEBLOSSOM! I would like to visit one as well but even if I never get the chance, I sure do love to visit them in great books such as this one!

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  25. Sadly, the answer to your question is no, but I've toured several of the old plantation homes in Natchez, MS, among others.

    The Tutor's Daughter sounds wonderful, and that cover if beautiful, so I'll throw my email in the hat to win a copy! :)

    phillman64[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. PAM, it's so wonderful to see you here! This is such a beautiful cover, I agree, and the story is just as much so. Got your name in my cyber hat here. :)

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  26. I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised at the mystery and suspense in a Regency Romance story. I LIKED how she wove it all together and how the spiritual thread was very natural. This book reminded me of the fact I would not want to live in a huge house with people that I didn't know. You never know what could go on at night in a huge house like that. The main character hears footsteps at her door, music playing in the night and notes are slipped under her door!! One scene where Miss Smallwood goes out to investigate one of the first noises with a candle stick. It reminded me of the scene in Beauty and the beast where Belle is told not go to into the west wing (or east whatever Grin) and she does anyway only to find something she shouldn't have seen.

    In this case Miss Smallwood hears all these noises and doesn't find anything. I tell you I'd never sleep hearing all those noises. Grin! Julie had me at the edge of my chair wondering how all this would work out and what was behind all those strange noises and events!! I highly recommend this read for sure!!

    Nora St.Laurent
    TBCN Where Book Fun Begins

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    1. I would never want to stay in an house where I don't know anyone either, NORA! Especially a big, drafty, creaky house like Ebbington Manor! Thank you showing your support of JULIE'S books!

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  27. Great review, Diana, you have me even more intrigued over this wonderful book! I have never stayed in a beautiful manor, but I'm with Marian wanting to try it someday :) Can I bring a night light with me? Do they give tours in these large estates? Sounds like an adventure :)
    Hugs and blessings, Diana!
    PS this is not an entry, just wanted to say hi. Praying Julie feels better quickly, can't wait to read her book :)

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    1. Yes, KARA, you may have a night light! lol I'm sure they do have tours and I would love that, but am not spending the night. Oh no! Hope you get a chance to read this one ASAP!

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  28. Thank you for the review! Julie is my favorite authoress. :)
    When my husband and I were on our honeymoon, we stayed in a lovely old manor in Hannover, PA that had been converted into a charming bed and breakfast.
    But the neatest place I have ever slept was in an old castle in Tóalmás, Hungary! My family and I first moved to Hungary when I was six years old, and we ended up staying in the castle for several weeks before moving into a house. It was always cold in the castle, and I remember it being somewhat scary to me as a young girl! It was such a neat adventure, just like going back in time perhaps two hundred years. I shall always remember that experience fondly!

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    1. CANDACE, the bed and breakfast manor sounds awesome! I'm thinking that staying in a castle for 2 weeks would be somewhat intimidating for a child, but exciting as well! Thank you for sharing that with us!

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    2. CANDACE, please return and leave your email addy in case your name is drawn. Thanks! :):)

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  29. Sad for me I have never had the privilege of staying in a n old, large, beautiful manor overnight. I've only been in one in OK. and it was just for a tour through it. And, still had the original furniture. The rooms were roped off so you couldn't touch anything. It was interesting and pretty, but they were still refixing some parts so that wasn't open to the public and I never got to go back. But, I think it would be interesting. Tho, most stories I've read they were usually haunted. This book of Julie's sounds very good and I'd love to win it. Maxie ( mac262@me.com )

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    1. I got tickled by your comment, MAXIE, about the manors usually being haunted in stories. Perfect setting for an author, isn't it? :) That is awesome that you got to go on a tour of a manor...sounds really neat!

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  30. DIANA, you heard a scream in the woods behind your house?... I don't want to alarm you, but... you should know... my scream is about hard enough to wake the people next door, but not much further away, I'm afraid... So I don't know about that scream coming from the woods behind your house! ;) I wouldn't trust that if I were you. You'd better carry out a firm investigation... You know: put on your battle dress, take up your sword and put on your fiercest look! If you need reinforcement, we're always willing to come over and help ;)

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    1. ILSE, there's is no telling what is in the woods behind my house! LOL I live in a subdivision with 52 houses but since we are the last street in it here, there are woods that go for a few miles behind my house. And I am not investigating those woods, thank you very much! :):) I'm not fond of alligators or in the summertime...SNAKES! UGH!

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  31. I've never stayed in a manor before.

    Love to win this book!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. That's ok, MARISSA, me neither. :( Perhaps you can visit Ebbington Manor in this awesome book by Julie Klassen!

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  33. Well, I'm guessing the comment above will be removed...

    I seriously want this book and It's in my cart at Amazon and yet... I keep waiting because I hope I can win it somewhere.

    Cheap! I know it!

    Loving all the comments and both reviews. Thank you ladies!

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    1. You guessed right, DEBRA! Some people try to spoil things for everyone, but we aren't going to let them ruin our fun! Must be sad to live life that way.

      No, you aren't cheap...who doesn't want to save money in today's economy? AND it is SOOO fun to win something -- great or small!

      Thanks for coming by to see us, DEB!

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  34. I haven't stayed in an old manor, but I did stay in an old victorian house I swear was haunted! It was delicious! :)

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    1. LOL, JAIME! You are one brave girl, b/c haunted and delicious don't go together in my vocabulary! That was too cute! :)

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    2. OOPS, JAIME...please come back and leave your email addy for the drawing. :):)

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  35. That would so creep me out to hear all that in a huge house and not be able to grab a flashlight or just turn on the lights. To have to light a candle so you could see and hoping it doesn't get blown out. What a good blanket and hot chocolate read! Praying Julia gets better!
    jennydtipton[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. JENNIFER, I so agree! Only since I was so sick while reading this one it was a blankie and hot lemonade for me. I like your idea better, though. :) Lots of luck in the drawing!!

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  36. I have stayed in an Old Plantation Manor. The sounds of crackling when you walk, how the doors always make that weird sound and the wind sounds different. I loved it there. The trees with Spanish moss hanging from them and porch and just knowing it had history, made it well worth the stay. I would love to have an old plantation home.

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    1. LEANN, that sounds really beautiful and not at all creepy. :)

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  37. I like to visit/tour old homes, but I have never stayed in one!

    Love all of Julie's books, I'm sure this one will be no different.

    Patty
    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. PATTY, I love them all, too! But it seems her last two have simply been my favorites for the apparent reason she just gets better and better. As my Weight Watcher leader always says, "More better." lol

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  38. I have never stayed in an old mansion but I just might give it a try one day! ;)

    samanthaakuiper(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. We'll take a group, SAMANTHA! lol Thanks for stopping by.

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  39. We have stayed in a few old B&Bs here in the states, and a few far older country homes and inns in England.(Though nothing as sprawling as the manor in The Tutor's Daughter!)The oldest is probably the castle (turned hotel) we stayed in for a few nights in Germany. Low ceilings, winding stairwells...very cool. (Great question, by the way, Diana!)

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    1. Thanks, JULIE! I was certain everyone would say "certainly not" but I have been pleasantly surprised by all the interesting comments of places people have visited!

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  40. No I've never stayed in an old manor, but it sure sounds interesting. Would love to win this book. Becky

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    1. BECKY, I would love for you to win as well! I wish we had a book for everyone...it is sooo good!

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  41. Just like all her other ones!!! I've read them all and they are wonderful books telling great stories and in each one lessons we can learn. Thanks again Julie for another great story and Diana for you blog - love to come here. Becky

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    1. You're so welcome, BECKY! We love having you here as well! Please come back and leave an email addy, ok?...so we can locate you should your name be drawn!! :)

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  42. I have never stayed in an old manor house, but I remember staying at other people's houses as a kid and hearing all the strange noises! shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I can remember that, too, VERONICA! LOL Thanks for stopping by!

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  43. no, I haven't stayed in a mansion but would love to...especially a bed-and-breakfast one. THanks! Rhonda
    rhonda_nash_hall@comcast.net

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    1. I have never stayed in neither, RHONDA -- a mansion or a bed-and-breakfast. Would love to stay in a bed-and-breakfast in the heart of Amish country...who knows? Maybe someday! :)

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  44. Congrats, PAM K! I know you will enjoy your book!

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