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. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com

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My Review:

I first read a book from Julie when The Apothecary’s Daughter was free at Barnes and Noble for Nook readers. I immediately fell in love with Julie Klassen’s writing and felt she captured Jane Austen’s essence of writing, as she introduced her readers to great characters and took me back in time as I snuggled up to one of her books.  I was one of the readers that pre-ordered this book, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, and was so excited to not only receive an autograph, tea, and some tea cookies, but receive the book automatically on my Nook the day of it’s release.

I absolutely loved this book and felt the storyline was so unique and the storyline moved along at a very good pace. I was quite sad when I finished the book as I fell in love with the characters and was left wanting more.  There are so many twists in the plot, which kept me guessing until the very end.

Margaret is the main character, who is faced with the very difficult task of leaving the comfort of her home to being on the streets of London.  She eventually is given a job as a housemaid, where she learns rather quickly the hard work that it entrails and the challenges each house servant is faced with.  It helps not only to give her a greater appreciation of those who work for her, but also gives her a chance to know the men of Fairbourne Hall, in a way she would not have otherwise.

There are quite a lot of valuable lessons throughout, excitement, and overall a story that will not only have you fall in love with Margaret, Helen, and Nathaniel, but Julie Klassen, too.  My suggestion to you: read this book and then read all her other books!  She has quickly become one of my favorite authors of all time and is my Jane Austen of today !:)