Ever since I saw the title of Julie Klassen's Regency novel, The Painter's Daughter, I've been anxiously waiting for its release! I am The Artist Librarian, after all ...  

Title: The Painter's Daughter
Author: Julie Klassen
Published: 2015 by Bethany House Publishers

About the Book:

Sophie Dupont assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. In private, she paints the picturesque north Devon coast, popular with artists--including handsome Wesley Overtree, who seems more interested in Sophie than the landscape.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother Wesley's responsibilities. Near the end of his leave, he is sent to find his brother and bring him home. Upon reaching Devonshire, however, Stephen is stunned to learn Wesley has sailed for Italy and left his host's daughter in serious trouble.

Stephen feels duty-bound to act, and strangely protective of the young lady, who somehow seems familiar. Wanting to make some recompense for his own past failings as well as his brother's, Stephen proposes to Miss Dupont. He does not offer love, but marriage "in name only" to save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he fears, she will at least be a respectable widow.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie finds herself torn between her first love and this brooding man she barely knows. Dare she wait for Wesley to return? Or should she elope with the captain and pray she doesn't come to regret it?

The Artist Librarian Review:
Julie Klassen is one of my favorite authors writing Regency fiction today.  Klassen's latest novel, The Painter's Daughter, is a story of the two very different Overstreet brothers and the young woman torn between them.  A marriage of convenience, and a love triangle of sorts, tinged with sibling rivalry, sets this story (Klassen's 10th published novel) apart from her previous work.

One of the most enjoyable parts for me was the art aspect.  Having an art background myself, I loved seeing little details I recall learning from my art history courses and studio classes come to life on the pages of Klassen's novels.  From the role of women in the art world to the reputation of art models or the creation of paint or stretching canvas, I don't recall anything off or out of place.  Klassen gives enough details that you can get a picture of the scenes without getting mired with minutiae.  Sophie, the protagonist and titular painter's daughter, has a believable, historically accurate role as a background painter and assistant to her father.

This novel felt like it was a bit higher on the drama than some of Klassen's previous works --there are a couple of climaxes and plot twists that almost felt like they were from a Julie Lessman novel.  I still haven't decided how I feel about those, but they did keep me turning pages late into the night, so I guess that's a good thing!  I didn't feel like the romance was any more intense than her previous books, but maybe a couple more innuendos if anything (it is a marriage of convenience story).  I think Klassen fans and Regency romance lovers will definitely want to give this uniquely set story a look.

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]

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. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for genre fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's BEST Award, and has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America's RITA Awards and ACFW's Carol Awards. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com.

Do you know of any art-themed or "art in fiction" titles you'd suggest?  Do you enjoy Regency novels?  Let's talk!

“I suppose I do enjoy it, Mr. Trimble. Upon reflection, I have just discovered that most of  the time, I only listen.” 

“That, my dear Miss Withersby, is a very great shame, for I have found that most of the time, quiet people have more to offer.” ~ Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell 

"He Stole the Work She Loved.

Will She Let Him Steal Her Heart as Well?

It's all her uncle's fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that she's reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte's future--the only proper future for a woman--is to be a wife and mother, not a scholar.

Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society--a world that baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and confounding fashion.

Things aren't perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a last gasp plan. She'll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry, and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the person she's most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind?"

 

“It was just a joke, I assure you.”

“Yes. Exactly. That’s exactly how I feel. As if all that I’ve done and all that I’ve accomplished are to be set aside for some more suitable assistant simply because I’ve got pistils!”

“Pistils …?”

“As if they’re somehow considered less worthy than stamens!”

“Stamens …?”

“Can you see how this is quite vexing?”

“I can see that you’re highly incensed.”

“Extremely.”

He stood once more and then bowed. “Extremely incensed. I think, it more accurate, perhaps, to say that it is you whom I am ultimately assisting.”

If he hadn’t usurped my position then I might have appreciated the sentiment. “Thank you, Mr. Trimble.”

"Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area." Learn more at her website. 

(c.) 2011 by Zondervan

                *Disclosure:  I received an advanced reader's copy of this book through Zondervan's Z-Street Team program.  No compensation was received and the opinions expressed are my own.*