Her book, The Silent Governess, won a 2010 Christy Award and was also a finalist in the Minnesota Book Awards, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards, and Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards.

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane–Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. It was the first I read by Julie Klassen and by far my favorite of her works. I honestly can’t think of a single thing to write about that I didn’t like in The Silent Governess. The breathtaking mystery that had me anxious about how it would all turn out was wrapped up so beautifully that I literally sat back and thought, “I did NOT see that coming!” It’s so nice when an author defies the cliche and brings about a resolution that I couldn’t foresee. The dazzling descriptions and the subtle way Olivia and Edward fall in love is totally swoon-worthy and made me wish the story (already a good 400 pages long) could continue. She has honed a delectable blend of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte to bring this English era to life in a way that will captivate lovers of historicals and reel in those who love adventure. This story literally dropped me in the middle of a chase scene that I couldn’t get enough of. Julie Klassen’s writing style fascinates me. From the expertly-done prologue (the perfect example of a prologue that enhances the story) to the mysterious plot, this book kept me turning pages! Klassen devotees will be pleased by The Silent Governess, and readers new to Klassen will dash to the shelves to discover her other romances.The Silent Governess does not disappoint. The central love affair is surprisingly suspenseful, as the familial relationship between the lovers is enigmatic the romance is chaste, this being a Christian novel, but the story’s religious elements are subtle and natural. Every character seems to have a secret, and their pasts are displayed and unwoven in a sophisticated and satisfying manner. Klassen weaves a complicated tapestry of love and suspense that is not easily unfurled. This is a simple summary of a complex story.

A recent accident has made Olivia temporarily mute, and so she cannot betray his secret which would ruin his place in society. When Lord Bradley learns that Olivia has heard his secret, he hires her into his household to keep an eye on her.

On her way to a girls’ school, Olivia overhears a conversation between Lord Brightwell and his son Lord Bradley, in which the father admits that the son is adopted. In mid-19th century Britain, an imminent threat causes Olivia Keene to flee her home, separating her from the mother she loves and the father she fears.

The silent governess by julie klassen