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.
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.
Here's all you need to know to participate in this grand tour's fabulous giveaways!
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)
Now, you might notice that there is a "review" next to Booktalk & More in the above list...and now I must admit, much to my chagrin and with my most heartfelt apologies, that I've not yet finished the book! However, I checked with the tour organizer (thanks Laurel Ann!) and this spotlight will serve as my tour entry post for today, with a review to come before the tour's end on March 2nd!
To help whet your appetite, here's more information about The Secret of Pembrooke Park, including the gorgeous trailer. In my view, this is easily Klassen's most ambitious novel to date! (I'd love to hear your favorite Klassen novel in the comments!)
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?
EARLY PRAISE:
“Jane Austen
meets Victoria Holt in Christy Award–winning Klassen’s latest deliciously
spooky and sweetly romantic historical.” — Booklist
“Regency
romance with awesome castles, secrets, hidden rooms and, of course, romance . .
. . Julie Klassen has hit this one out of the ballpark.” — Romantic Times Book Reviews Top Pick
“If you are
looking for a book which combines the enticing elements of a Gothic with the
mannerly charm of a Regency, look no further, because this lovely Inspirational
is just your cup of tea.” — Heroes and
Heartbreakers
“While there
are plenty of Regency authors out there, the lovely Julie Klassen is by far one
of the top and a must read for fans of Austen/Brontë style and prose. Klassen’s
latest, The Secret of Pembrooke Park
has a touch of both – the mystery of Brontë and the fun of Austen.”— Books and Beverages
“The Secret of Pembrooke Park is perfectly packaged with several threads of the gothic
suspense, Regency romance and inspirational themes while presenting a well
plotted story with intriguing characters in an amazing setting.” — Burton Book Review
See you soon with my full review!