The Painter's Daughter

Another beautiful Klassen book. Clearly the author does her research: the time period, the painting world, the war. I don't have much to add, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable story. I look forward to each Klassen book as they come out, and I'm never disappointed.

Was delighted with Julie Klassen's latest novel filled with themes of love, mistakes, commitment, and forgivenesses/redemption!! Would definitely recommend to those readers who appreciate a heroine/hero that has flaws yet strives for honor.

Wonderful!! A story containing depth and twists, with a romance that slowly develops into love almost before you even realize it! By far one of my favourite books that left me wanting to read more about these characters and this world. Superbly done Julie Klassen, please never stop writing these wonderful stories!

Julie Klassen is one of my all time favorite authors and I eagerly await each new addition. However, this one in my opinion, didn't quite measure up to all her previous ones. The story line just didn't hold my interest like the others and I found myself skipping over parts to get to the end. I will still eagerly await her next one though!

Julie Klassen is an author whose work I always like to read – not that I love all her books, but it’s certainly worth exploring her newest writing to discover if it will be one of my favorites or not. The Painter’s Daughter certainly is!

Soon I fell in love with Captain Stephen Overtree and Miss Sophie Dupont, especially with Stephen’s good and gentle heart; willing to save unmarried and pregnant Sophie by marrying her and giving her and the child she carries a name—the child that his brother fathered. Sophie, as the painter’s daughter, is not the woman Stephen’s parents had wished him to marry. Neither did they (nor Sophie) know that their eldest son and heir of the Overtree Estate had wished to marry Sophie himself.

When Sophie agrees to marry Stephen, she doesn’t know him, but since the father of her child has left her, he seems to be her only hope to give her child a name and family and save her from scandal. A few short weeks are spent together at Overtree Hall before Stephen must return to his regiment to fight against the French. There’s a big chance that he will not return and leave Sophie a widow, but he knows his family will look after her and the child. But then his brother comes home . . . the father of Sophie’s child. How will he react to the news that Sophie married his brother and is pregnant? Will he guess that the child is his? What will he do?

Lots of tension and twists and turns makes this book an I-can’t-put-it-down story! Besides the drama of Sophie and the Overtree brothers there are also great secondary characters and an old big mansion with secret passages.
A lovely read that I couldn’t put down, I highly recommend The Painter’s Daughter!

Julie Klassen’s newest release The Painter’s Daughter is a love triangle to the max. I have enjoyed The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Klassen and hoped for a mystery this time around. Even though there was no typical mystery, I did wonder the whole time which brother Sophie would actually choose to spend the rest of her life with. The story centers around Sophie and her new husband Stephen Overtree, but the plot has the third aspect of Stephen’s older brother Wesley Overtree. With the attention to detail, relatable characters, and a lively setting, The Painter’s Daughter is a joy to read.

Attention to detail is important to a historical writer, and Klassen just does that. I enjoyed walking through the Overtree elaborate home with Sophie as she discovered the family portraits on the wall, went to the attic to ask the old teacher certain things, or hiding in the old servants’ quarter to listen to secrets in the house. Klassen researches her time period and the houses she wants her characters to roam around in, and then she invites her readers to come sit down alongside the characters and take this journey with them.

Klassen’s greatest strength, in my humble opinion, is her ability to create characters that I like instantly and can’t wait to spend more time with. Sophie is a strong woman who has a strong desire to be loved and paint, but with the death of her mother when she was little, she has been starving for affection. On the other hand, Stephen Overtree joins the military to make his grandfather, who was also in the army, happy. Finally, Wesley is the only character who actually follows his heart by painting for a living.

When I started to read the story, I thought I would be reading the same type of story that I have always read when certain circumstances come to pass, but Klassen threw me for a loop. There is a long battle scene which takes place during the Napoleon Wars where Stephen is injured. This type of scene is not popular in Regency novels, but I actually enjoyed reading it.

Fans of Julie Klassen and Regency novels will enjoy losing themselves in The Painter’s Daughter for a while. The attention to the historical and setting detail are great just as the characters of Sophie, Stephen, and Wesley will keep readers imagination blooming.

I received a complimentary copy of The Painter's Daughter from Bethany House Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.

What lies between the pages of The Painter's Daughter is even more stunning than the artist gracing its cover. No doubt about it: Julie Klassen is a master, and The Painter's Daughter, a masterpiece.

When it comes to inspirational historical fiction, Klassen is in a league all her own. By the end of the first chapter, she has established a mood and setting, introduced major characters, and revealed the conflict that will propel the plot. She's done this so well that you'll be able to smell the sea air from the Devon cliffside coast where she introduces you to Sophie Dupont, a portrait painter's daughter and assistant.

You'll feel like you're eavesdropping when Captain Stephen Overtree, gone to find his brother Wesley, discovers young Sophie. Not only is he surprised by his instant recognition of Sophie's face (she is the subject of a small portrait, painted by Wesley, which the Captain has been secretly carrying), he soon realizes that his impetuous brother has set sail for Italy and left young Sophie in a delicate situation. Accustomed to assuming Wesley's responsibilities and spurred on by his nurse maid's prophecy of his impending death, he offers Sophie his hand in marriage, making it clear that the marriage will be one in name only. He assures her she'll soon be a widow, reputation intact, in the care of his family.

What follows is a tale of love, secrets, sacrifice, and redemption. Klassen's writing is so historically accurate that you'll feel you have discovered a contemporary of Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë. In fact, you'll find not only references to both ladies' works, but tangible evidence of the influential fingerprint of Brontë's Jane Eyre: There is the dark, rough-edged man with scars, both literal and figurative; the sweet, yet fiercely headstrong young woman; and even the eccentric, maybe even mad, lady in the attic!

Klassen's cast of characters is extensive, and you'll eventually come to know and love -- or loathe -- them all. Some of my favorite secondary characters are Colonel Overtree, Stephen's grandfather, Mr. Keith his seafaring friend, and Winnie, the lady in the attic.

Though the novel is thoroughly regency, its mood, mystery, and secret hidden passages lend hints of the gothic. Klassen doesn't shy away from a challenge. More than just a romance, this is an intense love triangle that becomes a comparative character study. Furthermore, she goes where few have gone before -- a rarity in a romance, Klassen tackles Napoleonic battle at sea with aplomb!

In summary, Julie Klassen adeptly handles sensitive situations and themes, all while keeping her reader thoroughly and happily entertained. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll worry and groan, but in the end you'll smile, finding peace in knowing that there is no misstep, mistake, or fault that God cannot redeem.

Verdict: 5 of 5 Hearts. With Her Latest Work, Julie Klassen Paints A Masterpiece!

With her latest work of historical fiction, award-winning Julie Klassen outdoes even herself! Complete with humor, pathos, mystery, romance, and adventure, The Painter's Daughter is a gem of gems. Long after you've finished turning its pages, this story of love, sacrifice, and redemption will live in your memory and your heart.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this title. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

While I normally LOVE Julie Klassen's books, this one I had a couple of problems with. It didn't grab my attention right away, but I did get into it soon enough and finished it rather quickly. I felt like the scenes of sexual tension between characters were too detailed and too often. It was an unnecessary addition to the story line. She could have conveyed the same feelings with much less detail. I would think twice before allowing a teen to read this book, probably best for a mature audience, though even with a mature Christian audience I felt the scenes were a bit much. All that being said, I did enjoy the story overall. As usual, her characters were well-developed and the story had enough tension/unanswered questions to keep me interested and reading. Klassen is still one of my favorite authors, I am just hoping she tones the romance down some in her next book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.