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Edwardian Brides #1
The Governess of Highland Hall
Worlds lie between the marketplaces of India and the halls of a magnificent country estate like Highland Hall. Will Julia be able to find her place when a governess is neither upstairs family nor downstairs help?
Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.
Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from financial ruin. The last thing he needs is the distraction coming of a kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.
While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families--common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?
Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.
Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from financial ruin. The last thing he needs is the distraction coming of a kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.
While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families--common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
135 people are currently reading
4113 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Turansky
34 books1,565 followersBestselling Author Carrie Turansky writes inspirational historical and contemporary novels and novellas set in England and the US. She has won the ACFW Carol Award, the Holt Medallion, and the International Digital Award. Readers say her stories are: "Heartwarming and inspiring! I couldn't put it down!" . . . "A touching love story. It captured me from the first page! Rich characters, beautifully written" . . . "My new favorite author!" Visit her website and sign up for her email newsletter at Carrie Turansky.com. Follow Carrie on Facebook and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 555 reviews
September 10, 2013
I am so excited to share this novel with all my reading friends! I hope you enjoy the story!
The Governess of Highland Hall is a historical romance set in England in 1911-1912. During the Edwardian Era wealth and social standing ruled the day. But when Julia Foster, a spirited young governess and former missionary to India, arrives at Highland Hall to care for Sir William Ramsey’s two children and teenage cousins, everything changes. William has recently inherited his late cousin’s title and estate, but increasing financial pressure makes it seem as though he will lose it all. He must decide if he will follow his heart and marry for love or choose a wealthy bride whose fortune can save his family’s estate from ruin. Can Julia’s godly character and pure heart secure William’s affection, or will the pull toward wealth, power and position destroy their future happiness?
When I watched the English television series Downton Abbey I fell in love with the Edwardian time period. That inspired me to begin my research and plan a trip to England to learn more about it and see some of these beautiful places for myself. I think anyone who enjoys Downton Abbey or novels like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice will be eager to read The Governess of Highland Hall. It will appeal to readers who enjoy romantic stories that carry them away to another time and place and include fascinating characters who face dramatic, emotional choices. The spiritual themes of trusting God and following Him in spite of hardships along with a focus on abiding love for family will give the story added meaning and make a memorable impact on readers’ hearts.m
The Governess of Highland Hall is a historical romance set in England in 1911-1912. During the Edwardian Era wealth and social standing ruled the day. But when Julia Foster, a spirited young governess and former missionary to India, arrives at Highland Hall to care for Sir William Ramsey’s two children and teenage cousins, everything changes. William has recently inherited his late cousin’s title and estate, but increasing financial pressure makes it seem as though he will lose it all. He must decide if he will follow his heart and marry for love or choose a wealthy bride whose fortune can save his family’s estate from ruin. Can Julia’s godly character and pure heart secure William’s affection, or will the pull toward wealth, power and position destroy their future happiness?
When I watched the English television series Downton Abbey I fell in love with the Edwardian time period. That inspired me to begin my research and plan a trip to England to learn more about it and see some of these beautiful places for myself. I think anyone who enjoys Downton Abbey or novels like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice will be eager to read The Governess of Highland Hall. It will appeal to readers who enjoy romantic stories that carry them away to another time and place and include fascinating characters who face dramatic, emotional choices. The spiritual themes of trusting God and following Him in spite of hardships along with a focus on abiding love for family will give the story added meaning and make a memorable impact on readers’ hearts.m
February 15, 2025
4 stars, personally (again). ✨ Christian Fiction - Historical Romance
About this book:
“Worlds lie between the marketplaces of India and the halls of a magnificent country estate like Highland Hall. Will Julia be able to find her place when a governess is neither upstairs family nor downstairs help?
Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.
Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from financial ruin. The last thing he needs is the distraction coming of a kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.
While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families--common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Edwardian Brides” trilogy.
Spiritual Content- Song of Songs 8:7 & Matthew 5:8 at the beginning; Scriptures are read & remembered; Many prayers & Thanking God; Church going & a benediction; Many talks about God, His will, trusting Him, asking Him to guide you, & callings; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Julia and her parents lived in India for twelve years as missionaries; Julia tells Sarah about the time God spoke to her heart about trusting Him; William’s sister, Sarah, notices that William’s faith has suffered with events in the last few years and he struggles to believe God truly cares and would intervene on his behalf (she offers sincere prayers for him); William is intrigued and challenged by Julia bring her spirituality into her everyday life; *Spoiler* ; William thinks and comments about his cousins maybe needing to learn about piety and spiritual instruction from Julia (one of the cousins huffs at this as she doesn’t like his interference in her life); Katherine lashes out at Julia saying that she’s tired of her “self-righteous attitude” and that she is “just as human and sinful” as everyone else; Katherine says that Julia wants her and her sister to analyze Bible passages and look for modern applications, which she calls “ridiculous”; Many mentions of God, His will, & asking Him to guide you; Many mentions of missionaries (including Julia and her parents), missions, callings from God and dreams, & sharing the gospel; Many mentions of prayers, praying, answered prayers, thanking God, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles & Scripture reading; Mentions of reverends, churches, church going, services, & sermons; Mentions of blessings & being Blessed; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of the Savior’s birth during Christmas; A couple mentions of a cross necklace; A couple mentions of godly values, godly people, & godly contentment; A couple mentions of religious families (including a woman saying that Julia was raised by “radically religious parents”); A mention of Bible classes; A mention of ornaments of baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the wise men; A mention of divine providence; A mention of the good hand of providence; A mention of Heaven; A mention of hymns; A mention of biblical philosophies; A mention of the spiritual needs of a family and their staff;
*Note: Phrases like “a devil of a time” and “what the devil” are each used once; “Good heavens” is used twice & “thank heaven” and “heavens” once each; William calls affairs the “devil’s trap”; A woman calls two children the “spawn of the devil” and Julia says that they shouldn’t speak that way about children; A woman calls India a “heathen environment” & Julia responds that she was raised by parents who passed on their godly values and that her experiences in India have given her “unique opportunities to see God at work in the world and to interact with all types of people”; William thinks that Julia taking care of his children and cousins isn’t “nearly as significant” as her life in India; A few mentions of luck; A couple mentions of a heathen country; A couple mentions of Hindu and heathen temples; A mention of an “ungodly” hour; A mention of superstitions.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’ and six forms of ‘blast/blasted’; Some eye rolling & sarcasm; A mention of curses (implied, not written); A fire, an explosion, smoke, & fear (up to semi-detailed); *Spoilers* ; Julia eavesdrops and feels guilt; Mentions of deaths, the causes (including an illness and a riding accident), a possible upcoming death (Julia’s father), & grief; Mentions of a fire, smoke, injuries, & people possibly dying; Mentions of scarlet fever; Mentions of a father cutting of his daughter for marrying a certain man (his wife and other daughter secretly stayed in contact with her, however); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of lies, lying, & a liar; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & a man drinking too much; A few mentions of thieves, stealing, & stolen items; A few mentions of a former governess smacking a child (telling him that it would drive the “foolishness” from his heart) & a tutor slapping a boy’s hands; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of bullies & being bullied; A couple mentions of nightmares; A mention of a father’s drunken rages; A mention of hoping someone’s ship sinks and has a painful death by shark attack and drowning; A mention of a hunting trip; A mention of a man smoking on a pipe;
*Note: William’s sister, Sarah, has a misshapen hand and wrist and walks with a limp & she is described as “crippled” and having a “handicap” (Katherine calls is a “deformity” which hurts Sarah and makes her think that she probably never will get married or have children; *Spoiler* ; Sarah and Clark have a discussion about God allowing challenges and limitations even if they seem unfair for our good “and the good of others…if we allow Him to.”; Another man makes a rude comment about Sarah being a “cripple” and is grabbed by Clark for the comment; William thinks negatively about a man pursing his sister, believing that he’s only interested in her inheritance); One of William’s cousins, Katherine, resents him for inheriting her home and deciding things about her life, adding that she has “no intention of letting him run [her] life”; William and his brother have a strained relationship and rivalry against each other; Mentions of a young boy being subjected to thoughtless and unkind comments from adults; Mentions of books & characters (The Jungle Book, Pride & Prejudice, Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, The Prince and the Pauper, & The Life of Reason); A few mentions of the Indian caste system (which Julia’s father spoke out against as God created all people equal); A mention of a mother showing her disapproval of her daughter with critical words (Sarah).
Sexual Content- Two hand/fingers kisses, a cheek kiss, a potential almost kiss (barely-above-not-detailed), and three barely-above-not-detailed kisses (two are unwanted/forced); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Flutters, & Smelling (x2 couples, barely-above-not-detailed); Some blushes & winks; Noticing & Staring (with two and a half couples, barely-above-not-detailed); On two separate occasions, two different men try to block Julia’s path when she tries to leave a room and one gives her a “suggestive smile”; One of the men tries to say that Julia flirted with him; William catches two of his staff members in an embrace and is greatly upset; When his brother hints to affairs being acceptable for men of their social status, William says that “affairs—discreet or otherwise—are the devil’s trap. Anyone who takes that path is a fool and courts his own destruction. I want nothing to do with them, and neither should you.” (the brother calls him a “paragon of virtue” after that and says that times are changing, but William responds that “what is right will never change. Chastity before the wedding and faithfulness after, that is the only way to assure a happy and long-lasting marriage.”); *Spoiler* ; One of the maids, Ann, has a sweetheart on the staff and he tries to get her to visit him at night in the stable (it’s never said if she goes or not; Julia talks to her about the man, saying that him trying to coax her to meet him in the stables when he knows it could cost her her job makes her doubtful of his character and adds “Sweet words are no replacement for a lifelong commitment. If he truly loves you, he should do what’s best for you, not just what makes him happy” and encourages her to pray about it; *Spoilers* ); a ‘hussy’; Mentions of affairs, an unfaithful wife, a man being unfaithful, & another man not feeling like he was “not enough to satisfy his young, impetuous wife” (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of flirting, flirts, & secret relationships between staff members and catching them in private places or embraces; A few mentions of a woman threatening to run away with a man despite her family’s disapproval; A couple mentions of songs about spooning and cuddling in the moonlight (which Julia doesn’t feel that is proper to sing about); A couple mentions of chaperones; A mention of a wife meeting a man’s “needs as only a wife could” (Julia thinks this and blushes so she quickly changes her thoughts in another direction); A mention of longing; A mention of wooing someone; Love, falling in love, & the emotions (x2);
*Note: Julia and her parents ran a home for girls in India that were orphans or girls they were able to buy “out of…difficult situations” (when William asks about this, Julia delicately says that some girls are sold by their families to Hindu temples for a “very heathen practice that takes away a young girl’s innocence and purity.”; Later, Julia mentions a heartbreaking time that a young girl was taken away and returned to the temple).
-Julia Foster, age 27
-William
P.O.V. switches between them, Mrs. Emmitt (x7), Ann (x3), Sarah (x6), & Clark (x3)
Set in 1911-1912
314 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
It’s been over a decade since I first read this book and because I have such fond memories of it, I’ve been looking forward to rereading the whole trilogy at some point! It was interesting what parts I remembered and what parts felt like reading the book for the first time. One thing I recalled was the strong faith content and that definitely still shone through the plot. Julia might be what some would consider a “good-two-shoes”, but I really like her and her heart. William is a prideful grump and I didn’t like him at the beginning, but it’s understandable for what he has gone through. I think I would have liked a bit faster character development on him, but Julia brought out how he could be better with the Lord’s guidance. This book highlights the difference between classes of this time period and how pride interferes with a romance starting to bloom between such a difference in positions.
For teen girl readers, there’s a sweet romance with heavy faith content and discussions, but also the lessons that Julia shares with a maid at Highland Hall that is letting her emotions take control. Because of the mentions of affairs and an unfaithful spouse, I would suggest this for ages 15+, but it’s all kept very clean and chaste in terms of what is said. If a younger reader has read a lot of classics, this would probably be fine as well.
This book has some dramatic parts and perhaps some cliche moments as well, but I enjoyed it all. I think it would make for a great period drama or movie because of it, personally! The faith content is what makes this book so good in my opinion and I loved how sweet Julia is. I’m looking forward to continuing my reread of this trilogy soon!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (WaterBrook Multnomah) for this honest review.
About this book:
“Worlds lie between the marketplaces of India and the halls of a magnificent country estate like Highland Hall. Will Julia be able to find her place when a governess is neither upstairs family nor downstairs help?
Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.
Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from financial ruin. The last thing he needs is the distraction coming of a kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.
While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families--common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Edwardian Brides” trilogy.
Spiritual Content- Song of Songs 8:7 & Matthew 5:8 at the beginning; Scriptures are read & remembered; Many prayers & Thanking God; Church going & a benediction; Many talks about God, His will, trusting Him, asking Him to guide you, & callings; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Julia and her parents lived in India for twelve years as missionaries; Julia tells Sarah about the time God spoke to her heart about trusting Him; William’s sister, Sarah, notices that William’s faith has suffered with events in the last few years and he struggles to believe God truly cares and would intervene on his behalf (she offers sincere prayers for him); William is intrigued and challenged by Julia bring her spirituality into her everyday life; *Spoiler* ; William thinks and comments about his cousins maybe needing to learn about piety and spiritual instruction from Julia (one of the cousins huffs at this as she doesn’t like his interference in her life); Katherine lashes out at Julia saying that she’s tired of her “self-righteous attitude” and that she is “just as human and sinful” as everyone else; Katherine says that Julia wants her and her sister to analyze Bible passages and look for modern applications, which she calls “ridiculous”; Many mentions of God, His will, & asking Him to guide you; Many mentions of missionaries (including Julia and her parents), missions, callings from God and dreams, & sharing the gospel; Many mentions of prayers, praying, answered prayers, thanking God, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles & Scripture reading; Mentions of reverends, churches, church going, services, & sermons; Mentions of blessings & being Blessed; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of the Savior’s birth during Christmas; A couple mentions of a cross necklace; A couple mentions of godly values, godly people, & godly contentment; A couple mentions of religious families (including a woman saying that Julia was raised by “radically religious parents”); A mention of Bible classes; A mention of ornaments of baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the wise men; A mention of divine providence; A mention of the good hand of providence; A mention of Heaven; A mention of hymns; A mention of biblical philosophies; A mention of the spiritual needs of a family and their staff;
*Note: Phrases like “a devil of a time” and “what the devil” are each used once; “Good heavens” is used twice & “thank heaven” and “heavens” once each; William calls affairs the “devil’s trap”; A woman calls two children the “spawn of the devil” and Julia says that they shouldn’t speak that way about children; A woman calls India a “heathen environment” & Julia responds that she was raised by parents who passed on their godly values and that her experiences in India have given her “unique opportunities to see God at work in the world and to interact with all types of people”; William thinks that Julia taking care of his children and cousins isn’t “nearly as significant” as her life in India; A few mentions of luck; A couple mentions of a heathen country; A couple mentions of Hindu and heathen temples; A mention of an “ungodly” hour; A mention of superstitions.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’ and six forms of ‘blast/blasted’; Some eye rolling & sarcasm; A mention of curses (implied, not written); A fire, an explosion, smoke, & fear (up to semi-detailed); *Spoilers* ; Julia eavesdrops and feels guilt; Mentions of deaths, the causes (including an illness and a riding accident), a possible upcoming death (Julia’s father), & grief; Mentions of a fire, smoke, injuries, & people possibly dying; Mentions of scarlet fever; Mentions of a father cutting of his daughter for marrying a certain man (his wife and other daughter secretly stayed in contact with her, however); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of lies, lying, & a liar; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & a man drinking too much; A few mentions of thieves, stealing, & stolen items; A few mentions of a former governess smacking a child (telling him that it would drive the “foolishness” from his heart) & a tutor slapping a boy’s hands; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of bullies & being bullied; A couple mentions of nightmares; A mention of a father’s drunken rages; A mention of hoping someone’s ship sinks and has a painful death by shark attack and drowning; A mention of a hunting trip; A mention of a man smoking on a pipe;
*Note: William’s sister, Sarah, has a misshapen hand and wrist and walks with a limp & she is described as “crippled” and having a “handicap” (Katherine calls is a “deformity” which hurts Sarah and makes her think that she probably never will get married or have children; *Spoiler* ; Sarah and Clark have a discussion about God allowing challenges and limitations even if they seem unfair for our good “and the good of others…if we allow Him to.”; Another man makes a rude comment about Sarah being a “cripple” and is grabbed by Clark for the comment; William thinks negatively about a man pursing his sister, believing that he’s only interested in her inheritance); One of William’s cousins, Katherine, resents him for inheriting her home and deciding things about her life, adding that she has “no intention of letting him run [her] life”; William and his brother have a strained relationship and rivalry against each other; Mentions of a young boy being subjected to thoughtless and unkind comments from adults; Mentions of books & characters (The Jungle Book, Pride & Prejudice, Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, The Prince and the Pauper, & The Life of Reason); A few mentions of the Indian caste system (which Julia’s father spoke out against as God created all people equal); A mention of a mother showing her disapproval of her daughter with critical words (Sarah).
Sexual Content- Two hand/fingers kisses, a cheek kiss, a potential almost kiss (barely-above-not-detailed), and three barely-above-not-detailed kisses (two are unwanted/forced); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Flutters, & Smelling (x2 couples, barely-above-not-detailed); Some blushes & winks; Noticing & Staring (with two and a half couples, barely-above-not-detailed); On two separate occasions, two different men try to block Julia’s path when she tries to leave a room and one gives her a “suggestive smile”; One of the men tries to say that Julia flirted with him; William catches two of his staff members in an embrace and is greatly upset; When his brother hints to affairs being acceptable for men of their social status, William says that “affairs—discreet or otherwise—are the devil’s trap. Anyone who takes that path is a fool and courts his own destruction. I want nothing to do with them, and neither should you.” (the brother calls him a “paragon of virtue” after that and says that times are changing, but William responds that “what is right will never change. Chastity before the wedding and faithfulness after, that is the only way to assure a happy and long-lasting marriage.”); *Spoiler* ; One of the maids, Ann, has a sweetheart on the staff and he tries to get her to visit him at night in the stable (it’s never said if she goes or not; Julia talks to her about the man, saying that him trying to coax her to meet him in the stables when he knows it could cost her her job makes her doubtful of his character and adds “Sweet words are no replacement for a lifelong commitment. If he truly loves you, he should do what’s best for you, not just what makes him happy” and encourages her to pray about it; *Spoilers* ); a ‘hussy’; Mentions of affairs, an unfaithful wife, a man being unfaithful, & another man not feeling like he was “not enough to satisfy his young, impetuous wife” (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of flirting, flirts, & secret relationships between staff members and catching them in private places or embraces; A few mentions of a woman threatening to run away with a man despite her family’s disapproval; A couple mentions of songs about spooning and cuddling in the moonlight (which Julia doesn’t feel that is proper to sing about); A couple mentions of chaperones; A mention of a wife meeting a man’s “needs as only a wife could” (Julia thinks this and blushes so she quickly changes her thoughts in another direction); A mention of longing; A mention of wooing someone; Love, falling in love, & the emotions (x2);
*Note: Julia and her parents ran a home for girls in India that were orphans or girls they were able to buy “out of…difficult situations” (when William asks about this, Julia delicately says that some girls are sold by their families to Hindu temples for a “very heathen practice that takes away a young girl’s innocence and purity.”; Later, Julia mentions a heartbreaking time that a young girl was taken away and returned to the temple).
-Julia Foster, age 27
-William
P.O.V. switches between them, Mrs. Emmitt (x7), Ann (x3), Sarah (x6), & Clark (x3)
Set in 1911-1912
314 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
It’s been over a decade since I first read this book and because I have such fond memories of it, I’ve been looking forward to rereading the whole trilogy at some point! It was interesting what parts I remembered and what parts felt like reading the book for the first time. One thing I recalled was the strong faith content and that definitely still shone through the plot. Julia might be what some would consider a “good-two-shoes”, but I really like her and her heart. William is a prideful grump and I didn’t like him at the beginning, but it’s understandable for what he has gone through. I think I would have liked a bit faster character development on him, but Julia brought out how he could be better with the Lord’s guidance. This book highlights the difference between classes of this time period and how pride interferes with a romance starting to bloom between such a difference in positions.
For teen girl readers, there’s a sweet romance with heavy faith content and discussions, but also the lessons that Julia shares with a maid at Highland Hall that is letting her emotions take control. Because of the mentions of affairs and an unfaithful spouse, I would suggest this for ages 15+, but it’s all kept very clean and chaste in terms of what is said. If a younger reader has read a lot of classics, this would probably be fine as well.
This book has some dramatic parts and perhaps some cliche moments as well, but I enjoyed it all. I think it would make for a great period drama or movie because of it, personally! The faith content is what makes this book so good in my opinion and I loved how sweet Julia is. I’m looking forward to continuing my reread of this trilogy soon!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (WaterBrook Multnomah) for this honest review.
March 9, 2019
.
The governess at Highland Hall transports you to England, between 1911-1912. It commences with the heroine, Julia, returning to England from the mission fields of India for 12 years due to her father's illness. She joins the staff at Highland Hall, as a Nanny, in order to take care of herself. What a tall order she was tasked with - two small children and two spoiled teenage girls. Whew!
The strong plot and well-developed characters really touched my heartstrings as they struggled with fragility, lies, betrayal, forgiveness, faith, and struggles to deal with the lack of approval of relationships between the classes.
I listened to the audible version of this book through Hoopla and really enjoyed it. So I am moving on to book 2.
No cliffhangers! This is a clean, inspirational, Christian based story. It is able to stand on its own and delivers a Cinderella H.E.A. that melts your heart.
December 9, 2013
October 1911 Berkshire, England. Julia Foster has been living in India with her family doing missionary work, but her father's illness brings the family back to England and she takes the job as governess to Sir William Ramsey's two children. There's also a couple of older girls in the house (nieces I think), plus Sir William's on-the-shelf supposedly unmarriageable sister. William wasn't raised to be the lord of the manor, but a few inconvenient deaths in the family left it all in his hands, and he spends most of the time worrying over how to raise money for the death taxes. He worries and worries and worries and worries and worries and worries and worries until you're sick to death hearing about those two words: death taxes.
My two cents? While I am not dead-set against the inspirational genre, I don't care for it to be so heavy-handed that it permeates every page as it does in this book. Tastes vary, and I know there are plenty of readers who like it spread on this thick - but then again there are readers like me who don't want to be clubbed over the head.
“Very well. In light of the children’s illness, we will dispense with Scripture reading this morning. Let us pray.”
“I wrote you a letter, but as I prayed about it, I thought I should bring it myself.”
YMMV. As for the historical setting, I really didn't get a good feel for the period, this was more like the publisher realized they needed to jump onto the Downton Abbey train and get something going while the cash registers were still ringing. Worse yet, and my one of my biggest pet peeves is the lack of any barriers between the classes. None. Zip. Nada. The gardener and the baronet's sister want to marry. Of course the housekeeper would have a chat with the governess about the baronet's finances and why he needs to marry an American heiress.
It looks like there's at least one more book planned, but I don't plan on venturing further. Not my cuppa tea.
My two cents? While I am not dead-set against the inspirational genre, I don't care for it to be so heavy-handed that it permeates every page as it does in this book. Tastes vary, and I know there are plenty of readers who like it spread on this thick - but then again there are readers like me who don't want to be clubbed over the head.
“Very well. In light of the children’s illness, we will dispense with Scripture reading this morning. Let us pray.”
“I wrote you a letter, but as I prayed about it, I thought I should bring it myself.”
YMMV. As for the historical setting, I really didn't get a good feel for the period, this was more like the publisher realized they needed to jump onto the Downton Abbey train and get something going while the cash registers were still ringing. Worse yet, and my one of my biggest pet peeves is the lack of any barriers between the classes. None. Zip. Nada. The gardener and the baronet's sister want to marry. Of course the housekeeper would have a chat with the governess about the baronet's finances and why he needs to marry an American heiress.
It looks like there's at least one more book planned, but I don't plan on venturing further. Not my cuppa tea.
June 21, 2013
Carrie Turansky takes her readers back to 1911, England, where we will meet some fascinating characters between the walls of Highland Hall.
Julia Foster spent twelve years in India, helping her parents with missionary work among young girls. Her father’s health declined and they had to return to England. Now it is Julia’s task to financially care for her parents. She finds a job as governess at Highland Hall—a beautiful estate with Sir William Ramsey as the new master.
Sir William is a widower with two young children. He inherited Highland Hall from his cousin who has left the estate in a very difficult financial situation. Besides the estate, his cousin also left two teenage girls in William’s care. William is intrigued by the new governess, but after his deceased wife’s betrayal he has decided not to trust women anymore.
Julia has her hands full with Sir William’s children, but soon enough she starts to care for them. The teenage girls are not happy with Julia—or with a governess in general. They think they don’t need a governess, but the oldest, Katherine, will turn 18 soon and she must be prepared for her first season in London.
Money is a big issue for William. Besides the difficult financial situation his deceased cousin left him in, he must also pay death duties for inheriting the estate. It seems to be impossible to get the money in time…unless he marries someone with big money. Then Lady Gatewood—Katherine’s aunt—takes a wealthy American young lady to Highland Hall. She hopes William and Alice will marry to solve William’s financial problems.
Julia wonders why Sir William is always brooding and one day she asks him what troubles him. He decides to take her in his confidence and tells her about the financial situation. Julia has a good idea to save some money by changing the menus. It will not be enough to pay the death duties, but it should help a bit. Julia’s wisdom will bring more changes to Highland Hall. Some servants do not understand nor like the changes, but they also do not know about the financial difficulties.
The longer Julia works at Highland Hall the more her feelings grow for Sir William. William returns those feelings, but he cannot possibly marry the governess. Obviously the wealthy American is a better choice to save Highland Hall.
What choice will William make? Will he choose for wealth or rather for love?
I really enjoyed this new book by Carrie Turansky. The characters are very enjoyable and easy to love. There are also some very interesting secondary characters in this novel, which I didn’t mention in my review, but I loved them all! This book is certainly worth the read if you love historical novels.
I’m already looking forward to Carrie’s next book!
Julia Foster spent twelve years in India, helping her parents with missionary work among young girls. Her father’s health declined and they had to return to England. Now it is Julia’s task to financially care for her parents. She finds a job as governess at Highland Hall—a beautiful estate with Sir William Ramsey as the new master.
Sir William is a widower with two young children. He inherited Highland Hall from his cousin who has left the estate in a very difficult financial situation. Besides the estate, his cousin also left two teenage girls in William’s care. William is intrigued by the new governess, but after his deceased wife’s betrayal he has decided not to trust women anymore.
Julia has her hands full with Sir William’s children, but soon enough she starts to care for them. The teenage girls are not happy with Julia—or with a governess in general. They think they don’t need a governess, but the oldest, Katherine, will turn 18 soon and she must be prepared for her first season in London.
Money is a big issue for William. Besides the difficult financial situation his deceased cousin left him in, he must also pay death duties for inheriting the estate. It seems to be impossible to get the money in time…unless he marries someone with big money. Then Lady Gatewood—Katherine’s aunt—takes a wealthy American young lady to Highland Hall. She hopes William and Alice will marry to solve William’s financial problems.
Julia wonders why Sir William is always brooding and one day she asks him what troubles him. He decides to take her in his confidence and tells her about the financial situation. Julia has a good idea to save some money by changing the menus. It will not be enough to pay the death duties, but it should help a bit. Julia’s wisdom will bring more changes to Highland Hall. Some servants do not understand nor like the changes, but they also do not know about the financial difficulties.
The longer Julia works at Highland Hall the more her feelings grow for Sir William. William returns those feelings, but he cannot possibly marry the governess. Obviously the wealthy American is a better choice to save Highland Hall.
What choice will William make? Will he choose for wealth or rather for love?
I really enjoyed this new book by Carrie Turansky. The characters are very enjoyable and easy to love. There are also some very interesting secondary characters in this novel, which I didn’t mention in my review, but I loved them all! This book is certainly worth the read if you love historical novels.
I’m already looking forward to Carrie’s next book!
August 12, 2013
PACK UP YOUR BAGS, DOWNTON ABBEY FANS! YOU’LL LOVE RELOCATING TO HIGHLAND HALL!
Set in the same time period as Downton Abbey, The Governess of Highland Hall (Book one of the Edwardian Brides Series) by Carrie Turansky, opens with Julia Foster seeking employment as a governess. In 1900’s England, there is little else a former missionary to India can do to help support her mother and sick father.
She is hired by the handsome, temperamental Sir William Ramsey who has also experienced a significant change in his life. A widower with two precocious children, he has recently inherited Highland Hall as well as his deceased cousin’s two teenage girls, and an immense death tax bill. He is distracted by the demands placed upon him—both financially and emotionally—and has sorely neglected his children.
The governess quickly gains favor with those she serves, especially the children. Understandably, some of the current staff becomes jealous, providing readers with interesting and realistic conflict. Especially when Sir William—so badly wounded in his past—is drawn to the wholesome, bright, and godly young governess.
Despite Julia’s admirable experience rescuing and working with young women in India, she is unaccustomed to the undercurrents and sometimes duplicitous behaviors of Highland’s residents.
Readers will be quickly drawn into the lives of these believable characters and won’t be able to put down The Governess of Highland Hall. The faith messages of forgiveness and hope are organically woven into the story.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Carrie Turansky’s inspirational, romance books; however with The Governess of Highland Hall, she has truly found her voice! She excels in writing historical, especially the Edwardian period. New readers of Turansky’s writing will be blessed with a story they can get lost in, and longtime fans will enjoy this novel immensely.
Set in the same time period as Downton Abbey, The Governess of Highland Hall (Book one of the Edwardian Brides Series) by Carrie Turansky, opens with Julia Foster seeking employment as a governess. In 1900’s England, there is little else a former missionary to India can do to help support her mother and sick father.
She is hired by the handsome, temperamental Sir William Ramsey who has also experienced a significant change in his life. A widower with two precocious children, he has recently inherited Highland Hall as well as his deceased cousin’s two teenage girls, and an immense death tax bill. He is distracted by the demands placed upon him—both financially and emotionally—and has sorely neglected his children.
The governess quickly gains favor with those she serves, especially the children. Understandably, some of the current staff becomes jealous, providing readers with interesting and realistic conflict. Especially when Sir William—so badly wounded in his past—is drawn to the wholesome, bright, and godly young governess.
Despite Julia’s admirable experience rescuing and working with young women in India, she is unaccustomed to the undercurrents and sometimes duplicitous behaviors of Highland’s residents.
Readers will be quickly drawn into the lives of these believable characters and won’t be able to put down The Governess of Highland Hall. The faith messages of forgiveness and hope are organically woven into the story.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Carrie Turansky’s inspirational, romance books; however with The Governess of Highland Hall, she has truly found her voice! She excels in writing historical, especially the Edwardian period. New readers of Turansky’s writing will be blessed with a story they can get lost in, and longtime fans will enjoy this novel immensely.
April 30, 2015
This was a beautiful book. It was rich, deep, and inspiring. I thoroughly enjoyed it and gobbled it up in a few days, unable to put it down.
"Giving your heart away before you are certain of a man's character and commitment is dangerous. You must discern his true intentions or you'll pay a high price."
Religious, principled and courageous missionary Julia Foster arrives at Highland Hall in the hopes of securing the post of governess to Sir William's two children and two cousins. Sir William is a widower, who has just inherited Highland and is faced with difficulties on all sides; financial troubles, resentment on his cousins' parts, haunting memories of his late unfaithful wife, and now a new governess who reproaches him on his approach with his children. No wonder the poor man is exhausted and doesn't know where to turn his head!
I loved William from the moment we meet him at the beginning, trying to repair his car and being uncivil to Julia. He gave the impression of a haughty, brooding and serious man, and that is just what he was. As much as he had reason to brood considering all his troubles, the way he always wanted what was best for his family was really touching, and underneath his stern and serious façade he was very vulnerable and in much need of love and affection.
Julia was kind, thoughtful, responsible and always, always did the right thing. She was practically a saint, always listening to and accepting the will of God without question. Although highly admirable, she lacked vitality and joie-de-vivre to make her really loveable. She was a good model and I loved her decision-making skills, but she so rarely laughed or smiled that she gave the impression of being unhappy all the time.
The other characters were mostly annoying, superfluous and two-dimensional, but I loved William's sister Sarah and wished she had had her own book. She was so sweet, friendly and generous, and was as good and saintly as Julia, but lacked a boldness and confidence that somehow made her very endearing. I was so happy that she got her own HEA, and in fact I really enjoyed all the secondary romances woven into the story, as well as the upstairs/downstairs relationship. It was really well done, and the events and adventures that happened were believable. There was a decided Jane Eyre feel to this book that I particularly loved, too. It was decidedly my kind of book!
What failed to bump The Governess of Highland Hall to a five-star rating (as I admit I had been hoping it would be), was the lack of passion and chemistry in the romance. Yes, I like to keep my reads clean, and no I didn't want an Edwardian bodice-ripper, but when I read a romance, I like to feel the chemistry and the sexual tension between the two leads. It is often said that in order to have a good, lasting relationship, a couple must not only have passion. They must have understanding, trust, mutual respect and a solid friendship. William and Julia had all that...but no passion. As much as I don't believe a relationship can succeed if based only on passion, I don't believe it can well succeed either if passion is lacking, especially in marriage. They had a beautiful, touching love story, but there was so little physical contact between the two, and so little mention of awareness of the other as a man/woman, that I did not really feel their chemistry. They were superbly well-matched on every other point, but I feel like their wedding night will be very tame. I think I was probably expecting them to resemble Mr. Rochester and Jane in terms of passionate dispositions and they fell flat in comparison, although William had the potential of being very passionate, but Julia remained calmed and poised throughout, and as I said before, lacked spark and vitality.
I also would have loved if a little more detail about the Edwardian era had been incorporated into the story, as it is not an era I have read a lot about, but I am curious about it and want to read more books set in that time now. The next book in this series, The Daughter of Highland Hall, sounds really good although Katherine will be the heroine and I did not particularly like her in this novel, but I am still very willing to give it a try. I had never read Carrie Turansky before, but I really like her style, and strongly recommend this book to Christian fiction fans. This was one of the more "preachy" Christian books though, so if you don't often read Inspirational books, I would consider this one carefully before picking it up. There was constant talk and thoughts and about the Lord, and many Bible references and verses. I liked the message, but sometimes I wish Christian authors did not put so much spiritual content into their stories. I loved Julia's values and principles, but I wish she'd have had a few conversations with William that revolved around other things than God's will and following the Lord. Add to that numerous questions into the narrative such as "can she really trust the Lord again to lead her back to India?" or "what if God had abandoned him?" or "What do you want me to do, Lord?" etc, etc., and it became a little redundant. I like Christian content, but I prefer when it is shown through the character's actions, and not discussed in the narrative or each time the characters have conversations.
So, yes I was a little disappointed because I was hoping The Governess of Highland Hall would end up on the favourite list, but it was still a really great book, with an inspiring message and strong, Christian-model characters. I'm glad I finally read it!
"Giving your heart away before you are certain of a man's character and commitment is dangerous. You must discern his true intentions or you'll pay a high price."
Religious, principled and courageous missionary Julia Foster arrives at Highland Hall in the hopes of securing the post of governess to Sir William's two children and two cousins. Sir William is a widower, who has just inherited Highland and is faced with difficulties on all sides; financial troubles, resentment on his cousins' parts, haunting memories of his late unfaithful wife, and now a new governess who reproaches him on his approach with his children. No wonder the poor man is exhausted and doesn't know where to turn his head!
I loved William from the moment we meet him at the beginning, trying to repair his car and being uncivil to Julia. He gave the impression of a haughty, brooding and serious man, and that is just what he was. As much as he had reason to brood considering all his troubles, the way he always wanted what was best for his family was really touching, and underneath his stern and serious façade he was very vulnerable and in much need of love and affection.
Julia was kind, thoughtful, responsible and always, always did the right thing. She was practically a saint, always listening to and accepting the will of God without question. Although highly admirable, she lacked vitality and joie-de-vivre to make her really loveable. She was a good model and I loved her decision-making skills, but she so rarely laughed or smiled that she gave the impression of being unhappy all the time.
The other characters were mostly annoying, superfluous and two-dimensional, but I loved William's sister Sarah and wished she had had her own book. She was so sweet, friendly and generous, and was as good and saintly as Julia, but lacked a boldness and confidence that somehow made her very endearing. I was so happy that she got her own HEA, and in fact I really enjoyed all the secondary romances woven into the story, as well as the upstairs/downstairs relationship. It was really well done, and the events and adventures that happened were believable. There was a decided Jane Eyre feel to this book that I particularly loved, too. It was decidedly my kind of book!
What failed to bump The Governess of Highland Hall to a five-star rating (as I admit I had been hoping it would be), was the lack of passion and chemistry in the romance. Yes, I like to keep my reads clean, and no I didn't want an Edwardian bodice-ripper, but when I read a romance, I like to feel the chemistry and the sexual tension between the two leads. It is often said that in order to have a good, lasting relationship, a couple must not only have passion. They must have understanding, trust, mutual respect and a solid friendship. William and Julia had all that...but no passion. As much as I don't believe a relationship can succeed if based only on passion, I don't believe it can well succeed either if passion is lacking, especially in marriage. They had a beautiful, touching love story, but there was so little physical contact between the two, and so little mention of awareness of the other as a man/woman, that I did not really feel their chemistry. They were superbly well-matched on every other point, but I feel like their wedding night will be very tame. I think I was probably expecting them to resemble Mr. Rochester and Jane in terms of passionate dispositions and they fell flat in comparison, although William had the potential of being very passionate, but Julia remained calmed and poised throughout, and as I said before, lacked spark and vitality.
I also would have loved if a little more detail about the Edwardian era had been incorporated into the story, as it is not an era I have read a lot about, but I am curious about it and want to read more books set in that time now. The next book in this series, The Daughter of Highland Hall, sounds really good although Katherine will be the heroine and I did not particularly like her in this novel, but I am still very willing to give it a try. I had never read Carrie Turansky before, but I really like her style, and strongly recommend this book to Christian fiction fans. This was one of the more "preachy" Christian books though, so if you don't often read Inspirational books, I would consider this one carefully before picking it up. There was constant talk and thoughts and about the Lord, and many Bible references and verses. I liked the message, but sometimes I wish Christian authors did not put so much spiritual content into their stories. I loved Julia's values and principles, but I wish she'd have had a few conversations with William that revolved around other things than God's will and following the Lord. Add to that numerous questions into the narrative such as "can she really trust the Lord again to lead her back to India?" or "what if God had abandoned him?" or "What do you want me to do, Lord?" etc, etc., and it became a little redundant. I like Christian content, but I prefer when it is shown through the character's actions, and not discussed in the narrative or each time the characters have conversations.
So, yes I was a little disappointed because I was hoping The Governess of Highland Hall would end up on the favourite list, but it was still a really great book, with an inspiring message and strong, Christian-model characters. I'm glad I finally read it!
August 15, 2013
The Governess of Highland Hall invited me to a 1911 English country estate and introduced me to Julia Foster at the moment she’s forced on an uncertain life-path. After twelve years of missionary work in India, her father’s illness has returned her family to England with insufficient income.
Although lacking some needed skills, Julia secures a governess position in a grand house. Her added responsibility for the master’s two teenaged nieces, who itch to enter society and abhor authority, make this governess story delightfully unique. Julia wants to fit in among family members and servants, and hopes to soon return to the girls she taught in India.
Often obstinate Sir William Ramsey has recently inherited Highland Hall, a financial millstone. He wants to overcome social disrespect occurring from a past embarrassment, restore the hall to its former glory, and do the right things as master and father. In his growing friendship and feelings for Julia, he realizes she can help him with these goals…except one.
The story moves along with challenges, solutions, and new challenges. Many of the conflicts birth naturally from harsh and gentle characters, who are focused on their own wants and fears and are inclined to saddle themselves with troubles and sad consequences. Julia’s faith and trust in God make her a good example for those open to improvement. This weaving in of human nature is what made this engaging tale colorful and real for me. Beyond Historical Romance lovers, I recommend Ms. Turansky’s novel for those who enjoy intriguing interaction among diverse characters.
I received an Advanced Reading Copy from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Although lacking some needed skills, Julia secures a governess position in a grand house. Her added responsibility for the master’s two teenaged nieces, who itch to enter society and abhor authority, make this governess story delightfully unique. Julia wants to fit in among family members and servants, and hopes to soon return to the girls she taught in India.
Often obstinate Sir William Ramsey has recently inherited Highland Hall, a financial millstone. He wants to overcome social disrespect occurring from a past embarrassment, restore the hall to its former glory, and do the right things as master and father. In his growing friendship and feelings for Julia, he realizes she can help him with these goals…except one.
The story moves along with challenges, solutions, and new challenges. Many of the conflicts birth naturally from harsh and gentle characters, who are focused on their own wants and fears and are inclined to saddle themselves with troubles and sad consequences. Julia’s faith and trust in God make her a good example for those open to improvement. This weaving in of human nature is what made this engaging tale colorful and real for me. Beyond Historical Romance lovers, I recommend Ms. Turansky’s novel for those who enjoy intriguing interaction among diverse characters.
I received an Advanced Reading Copy from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 20, 2016
4.5 stars
This story was a delight! The plot kept turning in unexpected directions, which was delightful; the surprise directions kept me turning the pages. And, while I might have predicted the romance, I would not have guessed its exact form or scenes or its process of development. I will gladly be diving into the next book in the hopefully-near future.
This story was a delight! The plot kept turning in unexpected directions, which was delightful; the surprise directions kept me turning the pages. And, while I might have predicted the romance, I would not have guessed its exact form or scenes or its process of development. I will gladly be diving into the next book in the hopefully-near future.
July 27, 2013
The Governess of Highland Hall is a beautiful romance set in England in the early 1900's. Fans of Downton Abbey will appreciate the wonderful descriptions of the estate, as well as the many people who live and work there. I truly enjoyed the descriptions of both the wealthy family members living in Highland Hall and the servants working there.
The story begins as Julia Foster, who has returned to England after serving as a missionary in India, is hired to be the governess of Sir William Ramsey's two young children. William has a lot on his plate after inheriting this large estate and all of the debts and taxes due on it. He is highly concerned with trying to raise the money needed to pay the "death duties" and keep Highland in the family.
Julia is governess not only to William's two young children, but also must help guide his two teenage nieces. Katherine is the older niece and will be going to London soon for her season. She is quite a handful and very resentful that William is in charge of Highland and her life. Penelope is the younger niece and is not as resentful, but does follow the lead of her older sister.
Fans of Christian romance will enjoy discovering if a governess and the master of a large estate could ever bridge the societal gap that lies between them and find true love. This is just an all around good read. The characters are interesting, with a sweet side story about William's sister, Sarah. Some good old-fashioned scheming by some of the servants add some tense moments to the story, as well.
I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have written. All opinions expressed are my own.
You can connect with Carrie and order her books on her website at http://carrieturansky.com/index.php/b....
The story begins as Julia Foster, who has returned to England after serving as a missionary in India, is hired to be the governess of Sir William Ramsey's two young children. William has a lot on his plate after inheriting this large estate and all of the debts and taxes due on it. He is highly concerned with trying to raise the money needed to pay the "death duties" and keep Highland in the family.
Julia is governess not only to William's two young children, but also must help guide his two teenage nieces. Katherine is the older niece and will be going to London soon for her season. She is quite a handful and very resentful that William is in charge of Highland and her life. Penelope is the younger niece and is not as resentful, but does follow the lead of her older sister.
Fans of Christian romance will enjoy discovering if a governess and the master of a large estate could ever bridge the societal gap that lies between them and find true love. This is just an all around good read. The characters are interesting, with a sweet side story about William's sister, Sarah. Some good old-fashioned scheming by some of the servants add some tense moments to the story, as well.
I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have written. All opinions expressed are my own.
You can connect with Carrie and order her books on her website at http://carrieturansky.com/index.php/b....
November 26, 2024
Really loved this book! The faith was excellent, and Julia! Julia! Y'all, Julia. Such a great character.
July 28, 2013
Julia Foster’s life takes a drastic turn when she and her parents leave India, where they were missionaries, and return to England. Julia takes a position as a governess, but her misbehaving wards challenge her as she never expected. So does their handsome but preoccupied father, William Ramsey, who seems too caught up in his business affairs to pay any attention to his needy children. Through kindness and prayers, Julia slowly breaks down the walls of prejudice and pride. But just when she feels she’s losing her heart to her staid employer, a beautiful American arrives—a woman with the means to solve William’s desperate financial problems. Will tradition and prestige prove to great an obstacle for William to overcome, even for the sake of true love?
I’ll be the first to admit that Edwardian England is not my favorite setting for a book, but The Governess of Highland Hall held my interest from the first page and all the way through. In fact, I read this book in less than two days, setting aside work I should have done to find out what happened next. You can’t help admiring Julia’s kind heart and her desire to help others—even those who have mistreated her. She is a wonderful heroine that you’ll be happy to cheer for. William is a troubled man with a haunting past, and I enjoyed seeing him thaw under Julia’s wise and compassionate counsel.
A large cast of well-developed secondary characters add mayhem, conflict, and trouble, and the beautiful setting and inner workings of a massive English estate is fascinating to read about. Add The Governess of Highland Hall to your TBA list. You’ll be glad you did.
I’ll be the first to admit that Edwardian England is not my favorite setting for a book, but The Governess of Highland Hall held my interest from the first page and all the way through. In fact, I read this book in less than two days, setting aside work I should have done to find out what happened next. You can’t help admiring Julia’s kind heart and her desire to help others—even those who have mistreated her. She is a wonderful heroine that you’ll be happy to cheer for. William is a troubled man with a haunting past, and I enjoyed seeing him thaw under Julia’s wise and compassionate counsel.
A large cast of well-developed secondary characters add mayhem, conflict, and trouble, and the beautiful setting and inner workings of a massive English estate is fascinating to read about. Add The Governess of Highland Hall to your TBA list. You’ll be glad you did.
September 30, 2013
I really, really, really liked this book. I also did not expect to like it as much as I did.
For one, I honestly had not heard of the author before, but I can guarantee you that I will be looking for more from her soon.
Anyway, on to the actual book. It's setting is amazing. I love that it is late enough in history to have automobiles, but early enough to still be set in the grand, opulent halls of an old English manor. The setting reminds me somewhat of Downton Abbey.
I loved the added touch of the love of mission work in India that the main character, Julia, has.
At first I did not really love either main character. I thought Julia was slightly annoying, but after a couple of more chapters, I grew to love her. Also, I disliked the hero, William, at first because of how he treated his children, but after I learned his reasons, and how he changed later on, I really liked him.
There are also some lovely side-stories, including a bit of a romance between Sarah, William's crippled sister, and the hall's head gardener. I loved these two!
Anyway, Julia is taken in as, you guessed it, the governess of Highland Hall. She is governess to William's two young children and his two cousins, who are in their teens.
William is struggling with paying death duties for the estate he inherited, and must try to think of new ways to save or earn money, or he will lose his home. Luckily, Julia is happy to help him.
I loved this story, and I recommend it.
Pre-order or order a copy when you can. It's for sale on October 15, 2013.
I was given this copy in exchange for my honest review.
For one, I honestly had not heard of the author before, but I can guarantee you that I will be looking for more from her soon.
Anyway, on to the actual book. It's setting is amazing. I love that it is late enough in history to have automobiles, but early enough to still be set in the grand, opulent halls of an old English manor. The setting reminds me somewhat of Downton Abbey.
I loved the added touch of the love of mission work in India that the main character, Julia, has.
At first I did not really love either main character. I thought Julia was slightly annoying, but after a couple of more chapters, I grew to love her. Also, I disliked the hero, William, at first because of how he treated his children, but after I learned his reasons, and how he changed later on, I really liked him.
There are also some lovely side-stories, including a bit of a romance between Sarah, William's crippled sister, and the hall's head gardener. I loved these two!
Anyway, Julia is taken in as, you guessed it, the governess of Highland Hall. She is governess to William's two young children and his two cousins, who are in their teens.
William is struggling with paying death duties for the estate he inherited, and must try to think of new ways to save or earn money, or he will lose his home. Luckily, Julia is happy to help him.
I loved this story, and I recommend it.
Pre-order or order a copy when you can. It's for sale on October 15, 2013.
I was given this copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 14, 2018
{3.5 stars}
I'm so happy I finally tried a novel by this author! She has a sweet feel to her stories, combining several POV to bring out each character.
The first half of this book was really good, especially the spiritual content that flowed so well with the rest of the story. The last half of the book was a little weaker. Even descriptions seemed to be lacking, and I started getting really annoyed with William for . I found it strange that it was never stated if William was saved or not. I guess it's assumed because he envies Julia's great faith...I might have overlooked it though.
The romance was pretty clean. A few non-detailed kisses, and a couple secret relationships that soon come to light. I never really understood why Ann's POV was in the book...it didn't go with the rest of the story that much.
I don't have any major qualms about this book-it just wasn't the most stellar read for me. Although, I wouldn't mind reading the rest of the series. I'm curious to see how things continue with Katherine!
I'm so happy I finally tried a novel by this author! She has a sweet feel to her stories, combining several POV to bring out each character.
The first half of this book was really good, especially the spiritual content that flowed so well with the rest of the story. The last half of the book was a little weaker. Even descriptions seemed to be lacking, and I started getting really annoyed with William for . I found it strange that it was never stated if William was saved or not. I guess it's assumed because he envies Julia's great faith...I might have overlooked it though.
The romance was pretty clean. A few non-detailed kisses, and a couple secret relationships that soon come to light. I never really understood why Ann's POV was in the book...it didn't go with the rest of the story that much.
I don't have any major qualms about this book-it just wasn't the most stellar read for me. Although, I wouldn't mind reading the rest of the series. I'm curious to see how things continue with Katherine!
October 18, 2013
Historical Romance At Its Finest!
In The Governess of Highland Hall, author Carrie Turansky has crafted a wonderful Edwardian era novel set in England; replete with dashing lords and ladies, and opulent mansions with magnificent decor...nonetheless behind those ornate doors also lurk secrets, pain, and hidden passions.
A missionary in India, Julia Foster has returned to England because of her father's illness and procures a position as governess of Highland Hall, a wealthy estate owned by the handsome, brooding widower Sir William Ramsey. Julia's job is to care for William's children and his deceased cousin's two teenage girls. Doing so is quite a challenge as the baronet seems to be cold and withdrawn towards his own children and distrusts all women.
As Julia befriends William's lovely but crippled sister, Sarah, who is keeping a deep secret from her brother, she also begins to endear herself to the children. But what dark secret is William carrying inside and how can he save Highland Hall from financial ruin? Although his fondness towards Julia begins to turn to love...will he marry another with wealth to save not only Highland Hall but his reputation as well?...for to marry a governess is quite unacceptable for a man of his social standing.
This heartwarming novel, reminiscent of a cross between Jane Eyre and Jane Austen, will grab the reader from page one and not let go until the satisfying conclusion. This is one of those books where one falls so in love with the characters that it is SO hard to let them go! And this not only has one romantic plot, but two more romantic subplots which will break and also delight the reader's heart and cause several sighs (and tears!) to escape while reading. William is perfect as the brooding hero, but I couldn't stand this stuffed shirt at first until I got a chance to really see his heart. Beautifully written and researched, I highly recommend this wonderful novel!!
November 7, 2013
The Governess of Highland Hall is a sweet Edwardian romance filled with lovable characters, heartwarming sentiment, and valuable lessons of faith.
Julia was a different type of heroine; I'd never read a fiction book where the main character was a missionary. I appreciated the example she gave of keeping the faith through thick and thin- so often our heroines give up, or simply get worn thin in their spiritual life, and we are to learn from their mistakes; Julia was a nice break from the norm, proving that, if leaning on Jesus- trusting in Him- and making Him our focus, we CAN pull through and not waver so drastically in our walk with Him.
There were so many situations, scenes, or just paragraphs in this story that conveyed such profound word pictures and spiritual lessons, in an everyday setting. (i.e., relationships, trust, faith, patience, keeping our attitudes and emotions in check, etc.)
The side story of Sarah and Clark was so sweet and adorable! I really liked them. ;)
Alice and David made excellent antagonists. They did their jobs well. -_-
Carrie did a great job at portraying Millie and Andrew as the young children they were without making them ridiculously baby"ish". ;P
I loved Julia's parents; I loved their relationship with each other, and with Julia. I thought it was neat how, even at 27, Julia understood her parents roles as her protectors, encouragement givers ;), and spiritual leaders for as long as she remained unmarried ~ she didn't view them as a burden or inconvenience. <3
The Governess was an inspiring, uplifting, intricate, and amazingly clean novel- and I'm so glad I read it when I did- it really encouraged me in many ways.
I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.
Julia was a different type of heroine; I'd never read a fiction book where the main character was a missionary. I appreciated the example she gave of keeping the faith through thick and thin- so often our heroines give up, or simply get worn thin in their spiritual life, and we are to learn from their mistakes; Julia was a nice break from the norm, proving that, if leaning on Jesus- trusting in Him- and making Him our focus, we CAN pull through and not waver so drastically in our walk with Him.
There were so many situations, scenes, or just paragraphs in this story that conveyed such profound word pictures and spiritual lessons, in an everyday setting. (i.e., relationships, trust, faith, patience, keeping our attitudes and emotions in check, etc.)
The side story of Sarah and Clark was so sweet and adorable! I really liked them. ;)
Alice and David made excellent antagonists. They did their jobs well. -_-
Carrie did a great job at portraying Millie and Andrew as the young children they were without making them ridiculously baby"ish". ;P
I loved Julia's parents; I loved their relationship with each other, and with Julia. I thought it was neat how, even at 27, Julia understood her parents roles as her protectors, encouragement givers ;), and spiritual leaders for as long as she remained unmarried ~ she didn't view them as a burden or inconvenience. <3
The Governess was an inspiring, uplifting, intricate, and amazingly clean novel- and I'm so glad I read it when I did- it really encouraged me in many ways.
I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.
August 1, 2013
Julia Foster returned from the missionary field in India with her parents after being there twelve years. The Fosters returned to England due to her father’s declining health. Julia sets out to find work to help support her family while Mr. Foster recovers. She applies for the governess position and is accepted.
As governess, Miss Foster is responsible for Sir William Ramsey’s two small children and his two teenage nieces. Julia exudes style and grace but is not afraid to speak her mind, which gets her into some heated discussions with Mr. Ramsey more than once.
Can Miss Foster and Mr. Ramsey get along or will they continually be at odds? Will this relationship work out for the children?
The author does a great job of transporting its reader to another place and time. Each character is well developed and believable. At times you can almost feel their emotions. The story flows smoothly and has a meaningful Christian message without being preachy.
One cannot help but feel a connection with Julia Foster, the Governess. The strength she receives from the Lord, through her faith, is so inspiring.
I didn’t have a single favorite character. Besides Julia, I loved Sarah with her sweet and caring disposition. I even came to care for Mrs. Emmitt and her stiff, rigid, personality.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes historical romance that is not overdone.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book, directly from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
As governess, Miss Foster is responsible for Sir William Ramsey’s two small children and his two teenage nieces. Julia exudes style and grace but is not afraid to speak her mind, which gets her into some heated discussions with Mr. Ramsey more than once.
Can Miss Foster and Mr. Ramsey get along or will they continually be at odds? Will this relationship work out for the children?
The author does a great job of transporting its reader to another place and time. Each character is well developed and believable. At times you can almost feel their emotions. The story flows smoothly and has a meaningful Christian message without being preachy.
One cannot help but feel a connection with Julia Foster, the Governess. The strength she receives from the Lord, through her faith, is so inspiring.
I didn’t have a single favorite character. Besides Julia, I loved Sarah with her sweet and caring disposition. I even came to care for Mrs. Emmitt and her stiff, rigid, personality.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes historical romance that is not overdone.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book, directly from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2015
This book is being added to my favorites shelf, and I'm sure I'll be revisiting it again.
This is the first book I've read (or actually listened to since I purchased the audiobook.) by Carrie Turansky, but I loved it. It's very sweet and clean, and the characters felt real. There was an authentic depth to the characters and I found myself relating to them in many ways. I loved Julia, but I think my favorite character was actually Sarah.
Carrie masterfully wove in threads about waiting on God and His timing, being content with what He has given, seeking Him and following His call, and that true love puts others before themselves. I loved it that Julia was not the typical rebellious and independent girl, but still had some spunk. I also loved how we really saw her mess ups, but also where she repented in her heart and made the wrong right.
This is the first book I've read (or actually listened to since I purchased the audiobook.) by Carrie Turansky, but I loved it. It's very sweet and clean, and the characters felt real. There was an authentic depth to the characters and I found myself relating to them in many ways. I loved Julia, but I think my favorite character was actually Sarah.
Carrie masterfully wove in threads about waiting on God and His timing, being content with what He has given, seeking Him and following His call, and that true love puts others before themselves. I loved it that Julia was not the typical rebellious and independent girl, but still had some spunk. I also loved how we really saw her mess ups, but also where she repented in her heart and made the wrong right.
January 24, 2018
Re-read January 2018:
Upping the rating from 4 stars to 4.5. I still think the ending was a little rushed, but the faith elements were quite incredible.
Original Read May 2016:
The Governess of Highland Hall is an adorable romance with a wonderful message. The Christian content was inspiring. The characters were wonderful. While I liked Julia and William, the two children she was caring for, Andrew and Millie. They were so cute! :D
One of the most wonderful things about this book was the easy POV switch and the many different little subplots that flowed so naturally and added so much interest!
I can't wait to get the sequel! :)
You can find my full review here!
~Kellyn Roth
Upping the rating from 4 stars to 4.5. I still think the ending was a little rushed, but the faith elements were quite incredible.
Original Read May 2016:
The Governess of Highland Hall is an adorable romance with a wonderful message. The Christian content was inspiring. The characters were wonderful. While I liked Julia and William, the two children she was caring for, Andrew and Millie. They were so cute! :D
One of the most wonderful things about this book was the easy POV switch and the many different little subplots that flowed so naturally and added so much interest!
I can't wait to get the sequel! :)
You can find my full review here!
~Kellyn Roth
November 4, 2013
Despite a Master's in History, I rarely read historical fiction but I thoroughly enjoyed The Governess of Highland Hall.
For fans of Downton Abbey, readers will enjoy the upstairs/downstairs romance of this historical novel set in Edwardian England. Carrie Turansky brings the character and setting to vivid life with painstakingly accurate details so that readers will find themselves swept away to a time forever past. Sir William Ramsay and Julia Foster, who becomes the governess to his children, get off to a rocky start, but readers will enjoy their developing relationship.
Indulge your inner Edwardian and pick up your copy of The Governess of Highland Hall. You'll be glad you did.
For fans of Downton Abbey, readers will enjoy the upstairs/downstairs romance of this historical novel set in Edwardian England. Carrie Turansky brings the character and setting to vivid life with painstakingly accurate details so that readers will find themselves swept away to a time forever past. Sir William Ramsay and Julia Foster, who becomes the governess to his children, get off to a rocky start, but readers will enjoy their developing relationship.
Indulge your inner Edwardian and pick up your copy of The Governess of Highland Hall. You'll be glad you did.
August 27, 2020
This book was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed listening to it. Definitely had the Downtown Abbey feel!
July 22, 2016
This book should probably rate higher but I thought it only okay so... 2 stars it is.
Final thoughts:
I would've told every character off at least once and might have been disowned by the family pretty much right away.
Final thoughts:
I would've told every character off at least once and might have been disowned by the family pretty much right away.
March 27, 2024
Really loved this book!!! So wonderful! I feel like the story really takes off after the first 5 chapters or so. I think partly because there is a lot of POVs to get used to. But I just loved it! Great writing and characters! I really loved Julia. I especially liked that this story is set in the Edwardian time period in England. I loved how Julia helped the kids and their father come together. This book has it all with romance, “villains”, Christian Content, great family dynamic and more! I definitely recommend!
May 17, 2018
My friend, Anne, made a list of
What Regency Romance Has Taught [Her]
. The first item on that list was:
1. If you meet a man and immediately dislike him, thinking him the most arrogant toad alive, chances are he's, in fact, your soulmate.
So when Julia Foster comes across a seemingly haughty, mocking, uncivil, scowling, and rude man on her way to Highland Hall, was it very difficult to guess that he would probably turn out to be her soulmate? No, it wasn't. Moreover, when she innocently assumes he's the chauffeur, you know that he is probably the master of Highland Hall, especially if you already read Jane Eyre.
This book had a touch of Jane Eyre and of North and South. I found Sir William to be somewhat like Edward Rochester (marrying a governess, fire at the Hall, terrible wife) and similar to John Thornton (they're both masters with subordinates whom they can dismiss whenever they please, the heroines receive an inheritance which can help their heroes, and in the North and South movie, Margaret Hale is curiously like Julia in the way that we don't get to see much of their emotional weakness.)
I really wanted to love this book, not just like it. The cover is so pretty, and the heroine looks so sensible, pretty, and modest, and it's an Edwardian Era book too! 😢I guess some books just don't get along with some people. Ahh! The mystery of Life.
I loved the hero. Yes, he was almost always brooding, he was proud, he was gloomy, glum, moody and melancholy, but he was fair in his decisions and judgments (most of the time), he cared very much about his children and even tried his best for his ill-mannered teenage cousins, and he was lonely and broken-hearted. He needed to be loved with an all-encompassing love, to be shown what true love is like, to be cherished and cared for, in order for him to rise and reveal his best qualities.
I must say, I was glad that he wasn't wicked like Edward Rochester, not that Edward was very bad, but you know what I mean. And he did have God in his life, although he wasn't fanatic 😬 enough to suit Julia at first. I liked that he had doubts sometimes; it made him very relatable because I think that most of us are not that strong in faith.
The heroine, Julia, could have been developed more. She was kind and caring, responsible, proper, saintly and full of faith, but we didn't get to see her emotional side much, you know, the side that would make her relatable and loveable. She didn't laugh enough or even smile that much (at least I didn't get the impression that she did), and I felt like she should have brought laughter into Sir William's life along with her love and faith.
I know that Julia is a missionary and that she is from a religious family, but it annoyed me that almost every other sentence out of Julia's mouth (or thought) is about faith, righteousness, religion, praying, or the Lord's will. It's like you could talk and think about other things, you know, we are mere mortals. And I'm sure Sir William would've appreciated that.
When Sir William confides in Julia about his financial troubles, what does she say? "Have you prayed about it and asked for guidance and provision?" Is that how you comfort a man who just opened up to you and let you see how vulnerable he is? Ughh! 😑
Then, she had an idea! But, she had to add in: "Perhaps it's from the Lord...". She really could have left that out. When you constantly talk about the same theme, you risk boring your audience instead of making an impression on them.
Another time she says: "I wrote you a letter, but as I prayed about it, I thought I should bring it myself." Really? Who prays about a letter? 🙄 Come on, we need to be realistic. Julia always did the right thing, and always said the right thing. If she was more human and less angelic, she'd make some mistakes, right? Maybe say a wrong thing in the heat of the moment, eh?
I like Christian content, spiritual messages, strong values and good principles, but everything in moderation. Also, I like it better when characters reveal their faith through their actions, not their words, thoughts, and conversations. Remember the saying: "Actions speak louder than words!" I love books with Christian themes like The Brown Study or even Laddie: A True Blue Story. Now those were inspiring, heart-touching, and endearing books.
That's why I like Clark Dalton. He's just as good and full of faith as Julia, but he's so down-to-earth, so realistic, so comforting, so loveable. I love the way he loves Sarah and inspires her with confidence. I loved her character as well. She was a dear and had a good sense of humour. She was someone I'd love to have as a friend.
Other characters like Mr. Lawrence, Mrs. Emmitt, Peter Gates, Nelson, David Ramsey, Miss Alice Drexel, and Lady Gatewood are all annoying and just props for the story. I liked Lydia and Ann though, and I was hoping that something good might happen to Ann, poor girl. Katherine and Penelope were alright; apparently, Katherine's story is the next one in the series of Edwardian Brides, but it is so predictable that I won't bother to find a copy.
You'd think the romance was really something due to the gushing words of some of the reviewers whose excerpts are on the book cover, but in truth, the romance between the main characters was very, very stale, dull, and flat. And it wasn't because Sir William was so melancholy or distrustful; it was because Julia was so cool, composed, and controlled.
There was potential for this to develop into something really beautiful, but it somehow didn't make it. Sir William had the right characteristics for it, "He pulled her into his embrace, crushing her to his chest" or "His gaze settled on Miss Foster. She looked so serene, with her long, dark eyelashes fanned out above her softly rounded cheeks. Her pink lips were slightly parted... He pulled in a sharp breath and averted his eyes..." but Julia, she lacked something.
Sarah, on the other hand, showed us how she loved Dalton without breaking faith or degrading herself. I wish Julia showed William how much she loved him, I wish we could read some of those thoughts of hers. It would help us see her in a better light, help us better understand her, and probably make us like her more.
However, the main reason that I'm knocking off stars is due to the writing. (According to the Goodreads rating system, 3 stars is 'liked it', which is how I feel about this book.) There were several phrases that were repeated too many times decreasing the professionalism of this work. I will state some of the ones that I remember bothered me the most:
1) "She bobbed a curtsey." Over and over again this sentence used. And I hate the word "bobbed".
2) Someone always "clamped" shut their mouth, jaw, etc. You know, there are other descriptive words that describe the way you hold your mouth closed.
3) "Heat infused her face." Say, she flushed angrily, or she blushed, but don't repeat that same sentence to tell us about how the blood rushed into her (whoever you're talking about) cheeks.
4) "His/her heart clenched." Find some synonyms for "clenched" please, and trying rearranging the sentence of how the heart is acting.
5) Concern/surprise/anger/questions/whatever emotions are seen in one's eyes "filled her/his eyes". That one could really be changed around.
6) Mrs. Emmitt is forever having "a burning sensation fill/rise in her throat" whenever she experiences a negative emotion. Poor thing, is she suffering from heartburn? Maybe she should take some TUMS® tablets, eh? 🤨
7) The men are almost always "huffing".
Do you want to know the most improbable thing about Julia? She remembers exactly when she started to fall in love with Sir William. "When had she allowed her heart to begin to hope for something more? Had it started at her parents' cottage when her mother suggested the possibility? Or was it before that, when he took her into his confidence asked for her input concerning his financial struggles? No, if she was honest, it went even farther back, to the day she had challenged him to spend more time with his children, when he had listened and looked at her with that hint of acceptance and admiration in his eyes. Her heart had been drawn to him then, and those feelings had only grown stronger over time."
I find it somehow unrelatable, because I believe that most people would be like Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, “I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
So, I liked the book, and I liked the story, especially the side story of Sarah and Clark 💑, I loved the hero, and I tolerated the heroine. It's all good.
1. If you meet a man and immediately dislike him, thinking him the most arrogant toad alive, chances are he's, in fact, your soulmate.
So when Julia Foster comes across a seemingly haughty, mocking, uncivil, scowling, and rude man on her way to Highland Hall, was it very difficult to guess that he would probably turn out to be her soulmate? No, it wasn't. Moreover, when she innocently assumes he's the chauffeur, you know that he is probably the master of Highland Hall, especially if you already read Jane Eyre.
This book had a touch of Jane Eyre and of North and South. I found Sir William to be somewhat like Edward Rochester (marrying a governess, fire at the Hall, terrible wife) and similar to John Thornton (they're both masters with subordinates whom they can dismiss whenever they please, the heroines receive an inheritance which can help their heroes, and in the North and South movie, Margaret Hale is curiously like Julia in the way that we don't get to see much of their emotional weakness.)
I really wanted to love this book, not just like it. The cover is so pretty, and the heroine looks so sensible, pretty, and modest, and it's an Edwardian Era book too! 😢I guess some books just don't get along with some people. Ahh! The mystery of Life.
I loved the hero. Yes, he was almost always brooding, he was proud, he was gloomy, glum, moody and melancholy, but he was fair in his decisions and judgments (most of the time), he cared very much about his children and even tried his best for his ill-mannered teenage cousins, and he was lonely and broken-hearted. He needed to be loved with an all-encompassing love, to be shown what true love is like, to be cherished and cared for, in order for him to rise and reveal his best qualities.
I must say, I was glad that he wasn't wicked like Edward Rochester, not that Edward was very bad, but you know what I mean. And he did have God in his life, although he wasn't fanatic 😬 enough to suit Julia at first. I liked that he had doubts sometimes; it made him very relatable because I think that most of us are not that strong in faith.
The heroine, Julia, could have been developed more. She was kind and caring, responsible, proper, saintly and full of faith, but we didn't get to see her emotional side much, you know, the side that would make her relatable and loveable. She didn't laugh enough or even smile that much (at least I didn't get the impression that she did), and I felt like she should have brought laughter into Sir William's life along with her love and faith.
I know that Julia is a missionary and that she is from a religious family, but it annoyed me that almost every other sentence out of Julia's mouth (or thought) is about faith, righteousness, religion, praying, or the Lord's will. It's like you could talk and think about other things, you know, we are mere mortals. And I'm sure Sir William would've appreciated that.
When Sir William confides in Julia about his financial troubles, what does she say? "Have you prayed about it and asked for guidance and provision?" Is that how you comfort a man who just opened up to you and let you see how vulnerable he is? Ughh! 😑
Then, she had an idea! But, she had to add in: "Perhaps it's from the Lord...". She really could have left that out. When you constantly talk about the same theme, you risk boring your audience instead of making an impression on them.
Another time she says: "I wrote you a letter, but as I prayed about it, I thought I should bring it myself." Really? Who prays about a letter? 🙄 Come on, we need to be realistic. Julia always did the right thing, and always said the right thing. If she was more human and less angelic, she'd make some mistakes, right? Maybe say a wrong thing in the heat of the moment, eh?
I like Christian content, spiritual messages, strong values and good principles, but everything in moderation. Also, I like it better when characters reveal their faith through their actions, not their words, thoughts, and conversations. Remember the saying: "Actions speak louder than words!" I love books with Christian themes like The Brown Study or even Laddie: A True Blue Story. Now those were inspiring, heart-touching, and endearing books.
That's why I like Clark Dalton. He's just as good and full of faith as Julia, but he's so down-to-earth, so realistic, so comforting, so loveable. I love the way he loves Sarah and inspires her with confidence. I loved her character as well. She was a dear and had a good sense of humour. She was someone I'd love to have as a friend.
Other characters like Mr. Lawrence, Mrs. Emmitt, Peter Gates, Nelson, David Ramsey, Miss Alice Drexel, and Lady Gatewood are all annoying and just props for the story. I liked Lydia and Ann though, and I was hoping that something good might happen to Ann, poor girl. Katherine and Penelope were alright; apparently, Katherine's story is the next one in the series of Edwardian Brides, but it is so predictable that I won't bother to find a copy.
You'd think the romance was really something due to the gushing words of some of the reviewers whose excerpts are on the book cover, but in truth, the romance between the main characters was very, very stale, dull, and flat. And it wasn't because Sir William was so melancholy or distrustful; it was because Julia was so cool, composed, and controlled.
There was potential for this to develop into something really beautiful, but it somehow didn't make it. Sir William had the right characteristics for it, "He pulled her into his embrace, crushing her to his chest" or "His gaze settled on Miss Foster. She looked so serene, with her long, dark eyelashes fanned out above her softly rounded cheeks. Her pink lips were slightly parted... He pulled in a sharp breath and averted his eyes..." but Julia, she lacked something.
Sarah, on the other hand, showed us how she loved Dalton without breaking faith or degrading herself. I wish Julia showed William how much she loved him, I wish we could read some of those thoughts of hers. It would help us see her in a better light, help us better understand her, and probably make us like her more.
However, the main reason that I'm knocking off stars is due to the writing. (According to the Goodreads rating system, 3 stars is 'liked it', which is how I feel about this book.) There were several phrases that were repeated too many times decreasing the professionalism of this work. I will state some of the ones that I remember bothered me the most:
1) "She bobbed a curtsey." Over and over again this sentence used. And I hate the word "bobbed".
2) Someone always "clamped" shut their mouth, jaw, etc. You know, there are other descriptive words that describe the way you hold your mouth closed.
3) "Heat infused her face." Say, she flushed angrily, or she blushed, but don't repeat that same sentence to tell us about how the blood rushed into her (whoever you're talking about) cheeks.
4) "His/her heart clenched." Find some synonyms for "clenched" please, and trying rearranging the sentence of how the heart is acting.
5) Concern/surprise/anger/questions/whatever emotions are seen in one's eyes "filled her/his eyes". That one could really be changed around.
6) Mrs. Emmitt is forever having "a burning sensation fill/rise in her throat" whenever she experiences a negative emotion. Poor thing, is she suffering from heartburn? Maybe she should take some TUMS® tablets, eh? 🤨
7) The men are almost always "huffing".
Do you want to know the most improbable thing about Julia? She remembers exactly when she started to fall in love with Sir William. "When had she allowed her heart to begin to hope for something more? Had it started at her parents' cottage when her mother suggested the possibility? Or was it before that, when he took her into his confidence asked for her input concerning his financial struggles? No, if she was honest, it went even farther back, to the day she had challenged him to spend more time with his children, when he had listened and looked at her with that hint of acceptance and admiration in his eyes. Her heart had been drawn to him then, and those feelings had only grown stronger over time."
I find it somehow unrelatable, because I believe that most people would be like Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, “I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
So, I liked the book, and I liked the story, especially the side story of Sarah and Clark 💑, I loved the hero, and I tolerated the heroine. It's all good.
February 15, 2017
When Julia Foster returns with her mother and ailing father from a missionary’s life in India, she must find employment to support her parents during their time of need. Thus, she becomes the Governess of Highland Hall. Although her younger two charges, Sir William Ramsey’s children, are eager to please their new governess, the baronet’s cousins resist the necessity of having a governess as they approach the time for the social season in London. When Julia realizes her position as governess leaves her somewhere between the family and the downstairs help, will she be able to find a place to belong?
Many things about The Governess of Highland Hall appealed to me, making it difficult to know where to begin. The heart of the author shines through each subplot and character, strumming the chords of the reader’s heartstrings. The storyline appealed to me because it’s sometimes difficult to know exactly my place in life. Am I to make a huge impact on the world around me, or just try to survive the trials that come my way? Better yet, is it possible that both situations help improve the other? And do Julia’s words from chapter five, “Love is more than a fleeting emotion. It’s a choice you make based on many things,” have anything to do with it?
Every day I listen for God’s call on my life, so that I may be able to discern where He wants me to be and who He wants me to connect with while I’m there. In that way, I felt like Governess’ Julia Foster. She listened for God’s guidance about whether or not she should take on the role of governess at Highland Hall or if she should return to her mission work in India. If we follow God’s call, we can’t go wrong.
Carrie Turansky is a new-to-me author, and I’ve got to admit that she’s swiftly become a favorite. Having only read this one novel of hers, I can only say I highly recommend Governess of Highland Hall and am looking forward with a smile to the next Turansky book I can get my hands on. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for her name when I next go book shopping. She told this tale with a sweetness that fit the time period and made me feel as if I were there in Highland Hall along with the characters. Her writing style reminds me of Jane Austen and Julie Klassen, so if you’re a fan of those ladies, you’re certain to love Carrie Turansky.
Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah for my copy of The Governess of Highland Hall to review.
Many things about The Governess of Highland Hall appealed to me, making it difficult to know where to begin. The heart of the author shines through each subplot and character, strumming the chords of the reader’s heartstrings. The storyline appealed to me because it’s sometimes difficult to know exactly my place in life. Am I to make a huge impact on the world around me, or just try to survive the trials that come my way? Better yet, is it possible that both situations help improve the other? And do Julia’s words from chapter five, “Love is more than a fleeting emotion. It’s a choice you make based on many things,” have anything to do with it?
Every day I listen for God’s call on my life, so that I may be able to discern where He wants me to be and who He wants me to connect with while I’m there. In that way, I felt like Governess’ Julia Foster. She listened for God’s guidance about whether or not she should take on the role of governess at Highland Hall or if she should return to her mission work in India. If we follow God’s call, we can’t go wrong.
Carrie Turansky is a new-to-me author, and I’ve got to admit that she’s swiftly become a favorite. Having only read this one novel of hers, I can only say I highly recommend Governess of Highland Hall and am looking forward with a smile to the next Turansky book I can get my hands on. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for her name when I next go book shopping. She told this tale with a sweetness that fit the time period and made me feel as if I were there in Highland Hall along with the characters. Her writing style reminds me of Jane Austen and Julie Klassen, so if you’re a fan of those ladies, you’re certain to love Carrie Turansky.
Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah for my copy of The Governess of Highland Hall to review.
August 24, 2013
Carrie Turansky does terrific job of defining and showing the class divisions of a great house during the Edwardian Era.
Julia Foster takes on the job of governess to Baronet William Ramsey's two children and cousins, after living most of her life in India as a missionary with her parents helping young girls out of undesirable situations.
William is the new heir to Highland Hall,but because of the past indiscretions of the former owner and the high death tolls he is at rick of losing it before he can make it his home.
Can Julia help William restore Highland Hall to its former glory, and heal his hurting heart?
If you liked Downton Abbey, then you are going to LOVE The Governess of Highland Hall, I know I sure did! I loved how Ms. Turansky did such a good job of showing how separate different classes of the house were from one another, even though they all lived in one big house. And for a governess like Julia, who was toeing a fine line between the family and a servant.
Julia was a admirable heroine, because even though at times she spoke rashly, she always spoke the truth, never intentionally hurt anyone, and also had the backbone to stand up for herself. She also truly relied on her faith to help her through difficult times. Another of my favorite characters was Sarah Ramsey, William's dear sister, she had such heart of kindness and I think one of my favorite parts was her and Dalton's story.
Ms. Turansky showed the different perspectives of the various positions in the house by telling the story from many different perspectives, which is something that I don't always enjoy, but I think that it fit perfectly here.
I don't want to give too much away, but this book was fantastic with plenty of twists, and well developed side characters, with a realistic feel to the plot. I loved everything about this book, how perfect Julia was for the job with her knowledge of castes and exciting stories to share with the children, it all come together so wonderfully. I would happily recommend this book to practically anyone!
Thank you to Carrie Turansky for sending me a copy of this fabulous book to read! I was not required to write a positive review, but simply to give my honest thoughts :)
Julia Foster takes on the job of governess to Baronet William Ramsey's two children and cousins, after living most of her life in India as a missionary with her parents helping young girls out of undesirable situations.
William is the new heir to Highland Hall,but because of the past indiscretions of the former owner and the high death tolls he is at rick of losing it before he can make it his home.
Can Julia help William restore Highland Hall to its former glory, and heal his hurting heart?
If you liked Downton Abbey, then you are going to LOVE The Governess of Highland Hall, I know I sure did! I loved how Ms. Turansky did such a good job of showing how separate different classes of the house were from one another, even though they all lived in one big house. And for a governess like Julia, who was toeing a fine line between the family and a servant.
Julia was a admirable heroine, because even though at times she spoke rashly, she always spoke the truth, never intentionally hurt anyone, and also had the backbone to stand up for herself. She also truly relied on her faith to help her through difficult times. Another of my favorite characters was Sarah Ramsey, William's dear sister, she had such heart of kindness and I think one of my favorite parts was her and Dalton's story.
Ms. Turansky showed the different perspectives of the various positions in the house by telling the story from many different perspectives, which is something that I don't always enjoy, but I think that it fit perfectly here.
I don't want to give too much away, but this book was fantastic with plenty of twists, and well developed side characters, with a realistic feel to the plot. I loved everything about this book, how perfect Julia was for the job with her knowledge of castes and exciting stories to share with the children, it all come together so wonderfully. I would happily recommend this book to practically anyone!
Thank you to Carrie Turansky for sending me a copy of this fabulous book to read! I was not required to write a positive review, but simply to give my honest thoughts :)
August 4, 2013
Can a titled gentleman and a lowly governess find happiness together at Highland Hall?
With his inherited estate in serious financial distress, Sir William Ramsey is seeking ways to save his family inheritance and raise his two young children alone, since his wife's death two years earlier. He's also recently become guardian to his brother's teenage daughters, Katherine and Penelope. With little experience in managing an estate, let alone children, we see the struggles that William faces and how it effects his relationship with those he cares for.
Enter Julia Foster, missionary and now governess at Highland Hall. Julia is young in Williams' eyes and hired on a trial period. Julia shows an amazing restraint toward the teenage girls' rude and condescending behavior. Because her deep relationship with the Lord is evident, she instills trust and confidence in those she is surrounded by. Therefore, William seeks out her advice on managing the estate and its difficulties. Financial belts must be tightened and it is funny to see how the children and household staff respond to the new 'rules'. Upstairs and downstairs antics abound without any inappropriate behaviors. There are a lot of characters in the story but they're easy to keep up with.
Positive changes begin to happen at Highland Hall but a devious plan is hatched too. Who will take it upon themselves to try and undermine the budding relationship between William and Julia? I have to say, I was getting a bit nervous toward the end of the book. It was looking as if it was going to be a cliffhanger and I was not going to be happy with that. Of course, that enchanted me all the more with Carrie's writing ability. This story is intricately woven together to create a splendid family dynamic, both upstairs and down. Plus, seeing William grow into a more affectionate father, and desiring to spend more time with his children, was a precious thing to see. I was completely besotted with The Governess of Highland Hall for all 314 pages!
Overall, I think any Historical Fiction fan will enjoy this delightful blend of Edwardian Era mixed with a trifle of Jane Eyre. Thanks to the author for sending me a copy for review purposes. I wasn't required to write a positive review, just my honest opinion of the book.
With his inherited estate in serious financial distress, Sir William Ramsey is seeking ways to save his family inheritance and raise his two young children alone, since his wife's death two years earlier. He's also recently become guardian to his brother's teenage daughters, Katherine and Penelope. With little experience in managing an estate, let alone children, we see the struggles that William faces and how it effects his relationship with those he cares for.
Enter Julia Foster, missionary and now governess at Highland Hall. Julia is young in Williams' eyes and hired on a trial period. Julia shows an amazing restraint toward the teenage girls' rude and condescending behavior. Because her deep relationship with the Lord is evident, she instills trust and confidence in those she is surrounded by. Therefore, William seeks out her advice on managing the estate and its difficulties. Financial belts must be tightened and it is funny to see how the children and household staff respond to the new 'rules'. Upstairs and downstairs antics abound without any inappropriate behaviors. There are a lot of characters in the story but they're easy to keep up with.
Positive changes begin to happen at Highland Hall but a devious plan is hatched too. Who will take it upon themselves to try and undermine the budding relationship between William and Julia? I have to say, I was getting a bit nervous toward the end of the book. It was looking as if it was going to be a cliffhanger and I was not going to be happy with that. Of course, that enchanted me all the more with Carrie's writing ability. This story is intricately woven together to create a splendid family dynamic, both upstairs and down. Plus, seeing William grow into a more affectionate father, and desiring to spend more time with his children, was a precious thing to see. I was completely besotted with The Governess of Highland Hall for all 314 pages!
Overall, I think any Historical Fiction fan will enjoy this delightful blend of Edwardian Era mixed with a trifle of Jane Eyre. Thanks to the author for sending me a copy for review purposes. I wasn't required to write a positive review, just my honest opinion of the book.
July 29, 2013
As soon as I saw the cover of The Governess of Highland Hall I figured it was going to be a book I enjoyed. I was definitely right about that!
The Governess of Highland Hall is the story of Julia, a young woman who has been serving several years in India with her parents as a missionary. When her father became ill, Julia and her parents returned to England and Julia now seeks employment in order to help ease her parent’s financial burden. Applying to be a governess, Julia is hired at Highland Hall to be the governess of Sir William’s two children, Andrew, age 9, and Millie, age 6. She has also come to oversee Sir William’s cousins, Katherine and Penelope, as they learn social skills and prepare for Katherine’s first season in London.
William has recently inherited Highland Hall and he finds himself in a financial bind as he struggles to fix up the estate. A widower, William finds it hard to trust others, but the new governess begins to change that.
As Julia settles into her role as governess, trouble brews among the servants and romance blossoms where it is least expected.
I found myself loving many of these characters – though there were some that I greatly disliked as well! The author did a great job of transporting me back to 1911 and bringing the characters and setting to life. While this was my first book by Carrie Turansky, I look forward to reading more of her novels – especially if they’re anything like this one!
If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, you will definitely want to pick this book up. I highly suggest it to anyone looking for a quick read that will keep you turning the pages. After all, I finished this book within 24 hours!
I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing through the program Blogging for Books. I received no compensation other than this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.
The Governess of Highland Hall is the story of Julia, a young woman who has been serving several years in India with her parents as a missionary. When her father became ill, Julia and her parents returned to England and Julia now seeks employment in order to help ease her parent’s financial burden. Applying to be a governess, Julia is hired at Highland Hall to be the governess of Sir William’s two children, Andrew, age 9, and Millie, age 6. She has also come to oversee Sir William’s cousins, Katherine and Penelope, as they learn social skills and prepare for Katherine’s first season in London.
William has recently inherited Highland Hall and he finds himself in a financial bind as he struggles to fix up the estate. A widower, William finds it hard to trust others, but the new governess begins to change that.
As Julia settles into her role as governess, trouble brews among the servants and romance blossoms where it is least expected.
I found myself loving many of these characters – though there were some that I greatly disliked as well! The author did a great job of transporting me back to 1911 and bringing the characters and setting to life. While this was my first book by Carrie Turansky, I look forward to reading more of her novels – especially if they’re anything like this one!
If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, you will definitely want to pick this book up. I highly suggest it to anyone looking for a quick read that will keep you turning the pages. After all, I finished this book within 24 hours!
I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing through the program Blogging for Books. I received no compensation other than this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.
December 1, 2017
I listened to this one on audio book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was impressed when almost immediately there were references to Scripture, praying, and trusting God. I would say that the spiritual content was pretty solid throughout the entire book. Julia was constantly trying to seek and follow God. I felt like it gave a really good message about following God’s calling—not just based on what He has called one to do in the past, but what He is calling them to do in the present.
I really liked following all of the characters. There did seem to be a bunch of characters thrown at me all at once. It began following Julia then William then the housekeeper and various servants and a sister. Now that I think back, I don’t recall the conclusion of Anne’s story. Nor did things seem to resolve with the housekeeper very well—but, I realize that’s my writers’ mind talking. I did like how it showed various perspectives of the same events and how certain characters’ fears and presumptions led them to make choices which affected the other characters in the story. Overall, I felt that the characters were diverse and interesting.
Romance wasn’t too overpowering for me (in thinking of the main characters; some of the side characters’ romance was more immature, but I feel that was what the author was aiming for in these characters). It was definitely there—and in various forms. An affair was mentioned, but nothing was spoken of in detail. Also, one character kissed another without their permission, but once again, things didn’t go too far. It could be that I was so intrigued by the general plotline that my mind skimmed over the romance details—because the story was very interesting without a ton of romance, in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this one. I’ve wanted to try Carrie Turanaksy for a while, and this did not disappoint me.
I really liked following all of the characters. There did seem to be a bunch of characters thrown at me all at once. It began following Julia then William then the housekeeper and various servants and a sister. Now that I think back, I don’t recall the conclusion of Anne’s story. Nor did things seem to resolve with the housekeeper very well—but, I realize that’s my writers’ mind talking. I did like how it showed various perspectives of the same events and how certain characters’ fears and presumptions led them to make choices which affected the other characters in the story. Overall, I felt that the characters were diverse and interesting.
Romance wasn’t too overpowering for me (in thinking of the main characters; some of the side characters’ romance was more immature, but I feel that was what the author was aiming for in these characters). It was definitely there—and in various forms. An affair was mentioned, but nothing was spoken of in detail. Also, one character kissed another without their permission, but once again, things didn’t go too far. It could be that I was so intrigued by the general plotline that my mind skimmed over the romance details—because the story was very interesting without a ton of romance, in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this one. I’ve wanted to try Carrie Turanaksy for a while, and this did not disappoint me.
May 27, 2020
"The Governess at Highland Hall" by Carrie Turansky is a first-time author for this listener/reader with an additional first time by narrator, Veida Dehmlow. This story is an Edwardian English story that begins with the heroine returning form doing mission work in India to care for her parents, especially her father who is very ill. She takes on a job as governess at Highland Hall that has a couple of unruly children.
This was a very well written, plotted and developed story with characters that will touch her heard. It is a story of faith, forgiveness, hardship and love. The narrator did a nice job of presenting the story. This was definitely a Christian based historical love story and very inspirational where I could not put it down. Wonderful and recommended.
4-Stars
This was a very well written, plotted and developed story with characters that will touch her heard. It is a story of faith, forgiveness, hardship and love. The narrator did a nice job of presenting the story. This was definitely a Christian based historical love story and very inspirational where I could not put it down. Wonderful and recommended.
4-Stars
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