Book Friends #3

Marianne's Choice:

Emma Smallwood from The Tutor's Daughter

By Julie Klassen

   I would have loved to be friends with Miss Smallwood because she and I are so much alike! We are both sweet young women, but we are very... practical. Neither of us spend much time on our appearance (like doing hair and make-up) and we both love to have things under control. There are times, however, when things are completely out of my control and I must learn to put my faith in God and trust that He will take care of everything. Miss Smallwood faces these same challenges.

   I know that I would have LOVED being friends with Emma! She is the kind of person that would always be there for you!  I loved reading about Emma's struggles and victories. I laughed and cried for her, and just enjoyed getting to know her! If you have not yet read her story, you really MUST do so. It is certainly an incredible one that is so worth reading! You can get more details on it by reading my review for The Tutor's Daughter HERE!

Elinor's Choice:
Rudy Steiner from The Book Thief
By Markus Zusak

   Rudy. Where do I even begin? Well, I will start out by saying that I think that he is my favorite book character of all time (and that is saying a lot). Have you ever begun to miss a character after you've finished reading their story? It happens to me all the time! But you know what? I don't think I've ever missed a character as much as I missed Rudy. I grew so close to him when reading The Book Thief, that I felt like he really was my friend. He is just one of those characters that I will never forget.

   Rudy is the friend that you just can't get rid of, no matter how hard you try. He's the friend that you can't remember when exactly you stopped being annoyed by him, and started loving him. He's the friend that can make you laugh more than anyone else, and who always has your back. He is by far, your best friend. 

  Before I met Rudy, I don't think I had ever "fallen in love" with a book character before... he changed that.

  You can read my review for The Book Thief here.

Book Review: The Tutor's Daughter

Title: The Tutor's Daughter

Author: Julie Klassen

Our Rating: 5/5

Plot: Emma Smallwood and her father have recently arrived in Cornwall to tutor the youngest sons of Sir Giles, the father of two previous pupils, Henry and Phillip Weston. But something feels wrong. Sir Giles seemed very flustered when they arrived, and his wife all but told them to go back home. It was Emma and her father's understanding that they were expected, and to be welcomed, but the opposite is true. Soon after, strange things begin to happen. Emma hears wailing one night, and then someone playing the pianoforte the next. The two boys her father is tutoring say that Ebbington Manor has a ghost. Emma is completely confused, and when one of the older Weston brothers begins to develop unexpected feelings for her, and she him, things only become more confusing.

We absolutely LOVED this book! It is a definite favorite, and we expect it to be for quite some time! There was never a dull moment in this book, but there wasn't too much romance either. The excitement was perfect, yet the major plot points didn't just come out of nowhere. This book was woven together in just the right way to keep you reading! We would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery, romance, excitement, or Regency books!

Book Trailer

Characters: The Characters in this book were very well developed and easily connected to, but the author didn't spend entire chapters describing someone's personality; you just kind of got to know them based on their thoughts and actions. We would tell you our favorite character (as we normally do) but unfortunately, that would spoil the story (no spoilers here)!

Emotion: This book was very exciting, but touching as well. As we said before, there wasn't a single dull part, and it kept us coming back for more.

Elinor's Thoughts: This book was simply amazing! Even though I don't read lots of historical fiction, I loved this one! It will be a definite re-read (and I don't do that often either)! I think one of my favorite things about the book was the hero's seemingly rock-solid emotion, but deeper into the book seeing his sweet, soft side. It actually had me tearing up at one point (and that is really rare, you can tell this book was special right?)! Ok, no joke here, you really need to read this book!

Favorite Quote:
"He did admire you, you know. He just didn't know how to show it."
She gave him an incredulous look. "Mr. Pugsworth?"
"Yes," he said, then walked away, thinking, Him too.

Marianne's Thoughts: This book is a FAVORITE! Ever single thing about it was absolutely perfect! I loved seeing Emma's faith in God strengthen. I also loved the romance. It was definitely not over the top! It was so sweet, and beautiful, while still seeming realistic. Here, let me sum it up for you: Julie Klassen knows how to write romance! Like my sister said, the hero was a bit rock-solid and stubborn on the outside, but the sweetest most caring guy on the inside! I also really liked that Emma's personality was a lot like mine. She was sweet and considerate... but a bit up-tight every now and then... and a control freak. All of these qualities are ones that I can relate to. ;) The excitement was also amazing! It was just enough to make you shiver every now and then, giving you a very thrilling experience without being too frightening. I'm sure I will re-read this book soon, and will definitely recommend it to many!

Favorite Quote:

"I don't presume to know what you believe, Emma. But I do know that God loves you and forgives you. And if you acknowledge Him as the only one who can truly save you, save anyone, He will."