Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Blog Tour: The Secret of Pembrook Park by Julie Klassen Review and Giveaway


 
Hello lovelies! I hope you all are well. I’m so excited to rejoin the blogosphere.

 
Award winning historical romance author Julie Klassen tours the blogosphere February 16 through March 2 to share her latest release, The Secret of Pembrooke Park. Twenty five popular book bloggers specializing in historical and Austenesque fiction will feature guest blogs, interviews, book reviews and excerpts of this acclaimed gothic Regency romance novel. A fabulous giveaway contest, including copies of all of Ms. Klassen’s eight books and other Jane Austen-themed items, is open to those who join the festivities.  

 


 



In the spring of 1818, twenty-four-year-old Abigail Foster fears she is destined to become a spinster. Her family’s finances are in ruins and the one young man she truly esteems has fallen for another woman — her younger, prettier sister Louisa.
 
Forced to retrench after the bank failure of Austen, Gray & Vincent, the Foster family optimistically pool their resources for another London Season for her sister in hopes of an advantageous alliance. While searching for more affordable lodgings, a surprising offer is presented: the use of a country manor house in Berkshire abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to the imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left, the tight-lipped locals offering only rumors of a secret room, hidden treasure and a murder in its mysterious past.
 

Eager to restore her family fortune, Abigail, with the help of the handsome local curate William Chapman and his sister Leah, begins her search into the heavily veiled past aided by unsigned journal pages from a previous resident and her own spirited determination. As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks...or very real danger?  
 
Buy Links 



Book Details:
Title: The Secret of Pembrooke Park, Author: Julie Klassen, Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (December 02, 2014), Genre: Regency Romance/Gothic Romance/ Historical Fiction/Austenesque/Inspirational Fiction, Trade paperback ISBN: 978-0764210716, eBook ISBN: 9781441264824, Audio: B00QXKRDZ6: Rating:




Abigail seems to be struggling with self-worth issues. The boy she was grew up with—and thought she would marry—seems to have fallen for her younger sister. The advice she gave her father has landed them in financial ruin and now they are in need of a new place to live.
 
When a solicitor arrives offering use of Pembrooke Park, an abandon manor house—they jump at the chance and Abigail now finds herself wrapped up in Pembrooke’s history as well as the strange circumstances surrounding the family that abandoned the house.
 
Julie Klassen’s novels are always a treated and I know that I will lose sleep when a new one arrives. With that said, the start of The Secret of Pembrooke Park was a bit slow as was the mystery. While clues were scattered in early on to catch the reader’s attention, the developing relationship between Abigail and Will took center stage until the middle of the novel.
 
I liked the characters. I think that Abigail was one of my favorite Klassen heroines. It was nice seeing her character arc as the story progressed. Will was an interesting hero. He knew about the history and rumors about Pembrooke Park and I was eager to see just how much he knew.
 
What I loved about this novel—even though the plot ebbed and flowed—was the gothic feel. Although it was a lighter tone, the gothic aspect—reminiscent of Northanger Abbey—kept me reading to the very end.
 
Overall, The Secret of Pembrooke Park was an intriguing mystery with a lovely romance.  Fans of Klassen will be delighted.



 



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 have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Learn more about Julie and her books at her website, follower her on Twitter, and visit her on Facebook and Goodreads.
 
 
 
Grand Giveaway Contest
 
Win One of Four Fabulous Prizes
 

In celebration of the release of The Secret of Pembrooke Park, four chances to win copies of Julie’s books and other Jane Austen-inspired items are being offered.
 
Three lucky winners will receive one trade paperback or eBook copy of The Secret of Pembrooke Park, and one grand prize winner will receive one copy of all eight of Julie’s novels: Lady of Milkweed Manor, The Apothecary's Daughter, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Tutor’s Daughter, The Dancing Master, and The Secret of Pembrooke Park, one DVD of Northanger Abbey (2007) and a Jane Austen Action Figure.
 
To enter the giveaway contest, simply leave a comment on any or all of the blog stops on The Secret of Pembrooke Park Blog Tour starting February 16, 2015 through 11:59 pm PT, March 9, 2015. Winners will be drawn at random from all of the comments and announced on Julie Klassen’s website on March 16, 2015. Winners have until March 22, 2015 to claim their prize. The giveaway contest is open to residents of the US, UK, and Canada. Digital books will be sent through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Good luck to all!

 
THE SECRET OF PEMBROOK PARK BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

 

February 16              My Jane Austen Book Club (Guest Blog)
February 16              vvb32 Reads (Excerpt)                             
February 17              Psychotic State Book Reviews (Review)
February 17              My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice (Spotlight)    
February 18              Addicted to Jane Austen (Review)                                
February 18              Peeking Between the Pages (Review)                                     
February 19              Jane Austen in Vermont (Interview)                                          
February 19              Living Read Girl (Review)                                                
February 20              My Love for Jane Austen (Excerpt)                                           
February 20              Truth, Beauty, Freedom & Books (Review)                            
February 20              Laura's Reviews (Guest Blog)                                        
February 21              A Bookish Way of Life (Review)                                    
February 21              Romantic Historical Reviews (Excerpt)                        
February 22              Reflections of a Book Addict (Review)                                    
February 23              Austenesque Reviews (Guest Blog)                                         
February 23              Peace, Love, Books (Review)                                        
February 24              vvb32 Reads (Review)                                         
February 24              Poof Books (Excerpt)
February 25              Babblings of a Bookworm (Review)                                         
February 25              Austenesque Reviews (Review)                                    
February 25              Luxury Reading (Review)
February 26              So Little Time…So Much to Read (Review)
February 26              More Agreeably Engaged (Excerpt)
February 27              Psychotic State Book Reviews (Interview)                             
February 27              Booktalk & More (Review)
February 28              Laughing with Lizzie (Spotlight)
February 28              The Calico Critic (Review)
March 01                   Leatherbound Reviews (Excerpt)                                              
March 01                   Delighted Reader (Review)
March 02                   CozyNookBks (Review)                                       
March 02                   Laura's Reviews (Review)                                               


51 comments:

  1. Just picked up this book at the local library. Very excited for my first blog tour

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  2. Thank you for doing this wonderful giveaway! I would love to enter it!

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  3. I love that you are doing this blog!!!!! It has been awesome so far!

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  4. Thank you for hosting Julie Klassen I love her work!

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  5. So...Can we someday have a book centered around a grown up Kitty as she has her first season in London? I would LOVE that!! You could even intertwine it with a young boy from one of your books like the Weston boys?.... just a thought (: It would be so fun to see Kitty in a London Season though!

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  6. I loved the light gothic feel to it as well!

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  7. Welcome back! I just skimmed your post and review since I get to review this one for later in the tour. Glad you liked it.

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  8. Thanks for info about this book - I'm very excited to read it!

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  9. Thanks for the review, I've added it to my TBR list. It sounds like an interesting read.

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  10. Would so love to win! This book does sound intriguing!

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  11. I agree, the beginning seemed a bit slow but I found that once she arrived to Pembrooke the story also picked up. I also loved the light gothic feel the book had.

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  12. I am a huge Julie Klassen fan & have read several of her books already! She has instilled the love of everything Regency & the pursuit of other authors who write in this time period. I'd love to see all of her books on my shelf & would happily share them with my family & friends to read too. I'm having a great time on this blog tour and can't wait to see what others say about this book. It is definitely on my to-be-read-list! Thank you for the chance to win another great book by Julie :-)

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  13. Thanks for the fabulous review! Julie is a new-to-me author. I'm looking forward to reading her books.

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  14. I'm so excited about the blog tour! Julie Klassen is one of my all-time favorites!

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  15. Will be following this blog tour - thank you so much for the giveaway!

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  16. Julie Klassen is my favorite author! I love her writing style.

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  17. Beautiful book! :) AWESOME giveaway!!!!

    Hugs, Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a)

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  18. I love Julie Klassen's books. I'm excited to read this one!

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  19. If Pembrooke Park is similar to Northanger Abbey, then I need to find a copy of Northanger! I've never read it and it's been such a long time since I saw the film that I'm way fuzzy on the details. Thanks for being part of Julie's Jane Austen tour.

    Blessings,
    Andrea
    Proofreader/Editor/Writer
    andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
    writingtoinspire.blogspot.com

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  20. nice review about the characters

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  21. I absolutely LOVE Julie Klassen!!! So excited to read this book!

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  22. Read this book! It is excellent! Can't wait for the new ones to be released!

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  23. This would make an excellent addition to our church library. librarybooks at religious dot com

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  24. Excited for this book, as well as any other books written by Julie Klassen. :D

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  25. I really want to read this book. The trailer for it is so good too. I enjoy books by Julie Klassen.

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  26. this books sounds like a great read. would love to win

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  27. Oh I love all of Julie's books!! Can't wait to read this one too!!
    Dezi A
    sethdezAThotmailDOTcom

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  28. I would love the chance to discover the history/story of a long abandoned place.

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  29. This book is definitely on my to-read list - it sounds delightful!

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  30. I can't wait to read this book.... for free would be even better!

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  31. Great review! I can't wait to read more books by this wonderful author! :)

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  32. Thanks for the review Angela! I found it very informative and look forward to reading this new book by Julie Klassen.
    jennydtipton at gma dot com

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  33. a 'must-read' for me!!
    thank you for the giveaway!!

    cyn209 at juno dot com

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  34. Great post. Thanks for being part of the book tour.

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  35. Loved this book! I need to add Northanger Abbey to my reading list!

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  36. This giveaway is such an incredible idea. I'm so thrilled that so many are familiar with these novels. Northanger is a fun read also. I really want to read "pembrooke".

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  37. Julie Klassen is always fun and the light gothic feel makes this book even more intriguing.

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  38. I love Julie's books and really want to read this latest one too :)

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  39. thanks for sharing about Julie's newest book. love her books. lovely cover

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  40. Thank you for the feature and the giveaway.

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  41. I love Julie Klassen's books and look forward to reading this one! :)

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  42. Always a fan of Julie's books - can't wait to read it! truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

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  43. Great review. I have read a few of Julie's books in the past and look forward to reading this newest book.

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  44. I like your review very much, big fan of Julie. Anxious to read your new book.

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  45. Wonderful collection for a giveaway! Thank you for the creative prize pack and int'l inclusivity! Much appreciated - as is the excellent writing Julie Klassen continues to offer .

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