Book Review: The Silent Governess

While I wasn't seeking Christian historical fiction, I somehow happened upon Julie Klassen's fine novel, The Silent Governess. With an intriguing title and a captivating cover, this novel sucks the reader into a story of Regency England. Questions arise from the very cover and pull the reader in. How can a silent person effectively teach children? Why is she silent? Will there be romance for this attractive young woman?

After hitting a would-be-attacker over the head, Olivia Keene has taken flight. When she stumbles upon an elegant manor house and overhears a dangerous secret, the lord of the manor can do little else but offer her a job as governess in order to keep tabs on this woman who holds the dynamite of truth in her hands. Secrets abound and threaten to undo several individuals.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The characters were interesting and varied. The plot moved at an adequate pace. It didn't come off as preachy, yet demonstrated the consequences of sinful choices and human frailty. I would say that it seemed like every time you turned around a young man was behaving with indiscretion, but I can overlook that. I appreciated the inclusion of snippets from various books about the role of the governess (at the outset of each chapter). Indeed, life as a governess, presented plenty of challenges. I would happily read another book, set in this time period, by this author.