Litfuse Blog Tour: The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

January 18, 2014

The Dancing Master
by Julie Klassen
Copyright 2013
Revell Publishers
ISBN: 9780764210709

The Story:
Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch's daughter. Though he's initially wary of Julia Midwinter's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul--and hidden sorrows of her own.

Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master--a man her mother would never approve of--but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec's help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village...and to her mother's tattered heart?

Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen hoping to make a "good match" in Regency England.

My Thoughts:
If you're ever in the mood for a classic-style romance, don't look any further than a Julie Klassen book. Her latest story from Bethany House Publishers, The Dancing Master, is another hit. Not quite as gripping and heart-tugging as The Tutor's Daughter, but still a delightful story in its own right.

Alec Valcourt and Julia Midwinter the leads in this Regency tale are a bit different from what I'm used to. Alec was a bit of a snob and Julia was a spoiled flirt -- not really likable at all. Usually, I don't have the patience for "annoying" characters but knowing Julie and her talent for writing characters that grow and evolve as the story progresses, I held on to hope, and I wasn't disappointed in the least! Even though the pacing of this story was a bit slower than in her previous novels (a lot less mystery), I loved the fact that there was a brilliant cast of characters, each woven into Alec and Julia's lives, both past and present. The Desmonds, the Allens, and even the motherly baker, Mrs. Tickle kept me turning the pages. In spite of the rather long length of this story, with all of its brilliant characters, I couldn't help but want to know more when I turned the last page. This story's secondary characters deserved a sequel instead of a mention in the short epilogue. Ahhh well...

Klassen has once again proven herself as the premier writer of Regency fiction in the Christian market. While a little more 'preachy' than her previous novels, even those who don't normally care for faith-based fiction will still find a lot to enjoy in this book. As usual, I can't wait to pick up Julie's next book to add to my permanent collection!

~ My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ~

*I receive complimentary books for review from the publisher. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

To read what others are saying about The Dancing Master, go HERE!

Purchase a copy HERE.

Meet the Author:
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane–"Jane Eyre" and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She is a three-time Christy Award winner and a 2010 Midwest Book Award winner for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

To learn more about Julie, visit her website:
http://julieklassen.com/Books.html

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Giveaway Details!

Best-selling author Julie Klassen will be hosting a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a live webcast event (1/23) to celebrate the release of her latest novel, The Dancing Master. Enter and RSVP today!

One winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire HDX
The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 23rd. Winner will be announced at the "All Things Jane (from Austen to Eyre)" Live Webcast Event on January 23rd. Connect with Julie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Julie will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, Jane Austen DVDs, fun "Jane" merchandise, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Dancing Master and join Julie and friends on the evening of January 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)