Welcome to another First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books. If you are a Jane Austen or Regency fan, then Julie Klassen’s books need to be on your shelves. Julie writes beautiful stories, etched with the prose and mores you have come to expect from a stellar Regency novel. Her latest novel, The Bridge to Belle Island, is a standalone novel, full of romance, suspense, and mystery with a humiliated lawyer vowing not to trust another beautiful lawyer and a young woman who finds herself the lead suspect in not one, but two murders. I can’t wait to dive in and get reading! How about you?
First Line
I feel nervous for Benjamin already!!
After a humiliating mistake, lawyer Benjamin Booker resolves to never again trust a beautiful woman. When an old friend is killed, the senior partner isn’t satisfied with Bow Street’s efforts and asks Benjamin to investigate. Eager to leave London for a while, Benjamin agrees. Evidence takes him to a remote island on the Thames, a world unto itself, shrouded in mist and mystery. Soon he finds himself falling for the main suspect–a woman who claims not to have left the island in ten years. But should he trust her?
On Belle Island, Isabelle feels safe and leads a productive life, but fear keeps her trapped there. When Mr. Booker arrives with news of her trustee’s murder in London, Isabelle is stunned. She has not left the island, yet she has a recurring dream about the man’s death. Or is it a memory? She had been furious with him, but she never intended . . . this.
When a second person dies and evidence shockingly points to her, Isabelle doesn’t know who to trust: the attractive lawyer or the admirer and friends who assemble on the island, each with grudges against the victim. Can she even trust her own mind? While they search for the truth, secrets come to light and danger comes calling.
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Minnesota Book Award, the Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit www.julieklassen.com and talesfromivyhill.com for more information.
Relz Reviewz ExtrasAll Things Klassen @ Relz Reviewz
Visit Julie’s website
Buy at Amazon: The Bridge to Belle Island or Koorong
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January 4, 2020 at 11:02 am
I read quite a few Regency novels this past year, I discovered Sally Britton and have read most of her books! There is a gentility to the era I would say.
January 4, 2020 at 11:02 am
Happy Friday! 😊
On my blog I’m sharing the first line from Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green: https://christianfictiongirl.blog/2020/01/03/first-line-friday-117/. Currently I’m reading An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz. It’s AMAZING!!!
“The field of winter wheat was sun-drenched and silent, the heated August air already blackened by buzzards.”
Hope you have a great weekend filled with awesome reading time. 🙂❤📖
January 8, 2020 at 11:15 am
Nicole Santana » I loved An Uncommon Woman too!
January 4, 2020 at 11:13 am
I love Regency era books because….hmm…not completely sure why. I just do?! 🙂 I love learning to know more about that time period, and find it extremely fascinating.
thanks for doing a giveaway!
January 4, 2020 at 11:21 am
I’m not sure exactly why I like regency, but it was definitely an interesting period of time. Two of my favorite regency authors are Michelle Griep and Abigail Wilson.
January 4, 2020 at 11:46 am
I like historical books, so this falls right into my wheelhouse.
January 4, 2020 at 12:38 pm
I love Regencies and the main thing I love is just the romance of it all. What’s not to love about balls and elaborate dinners, horses and carriages, the clothes, and spending your time reading, going for walks, or visiting friends and neighbours?
January 4, 2020 at 12:46 pm
I love the manners of the gentleman and the beautiful dresses! Thanks for the chance to win!
January 4, 2020 at 1:12 pm
I think I like the Regency period just because it is so different, feels almost magical because it’s so far removed from my life. 🙂
January 4, 2020 at 1:29 pm
I’m sharing from The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock today. Here is the second line:
Rounding the corner, she slowed her velocipede and overheard two women gasp at her lack of chapeau and corset.
Happy Friday!
January 8, 2020 at 11:14 am
Yvette » Such a great first line!
January 4, 2020 at 3:16 pm
I love historical fiction! Love books by her. Looking forward to this one
January 4, 2020 at 3:57 pm
I love the Regency Era because it reminds me of Jane Austen. 🙂 Really excited for Julie’s new book!
January 4, 2020 at 9:47 pm
I love stepping into that period of time and soaking in the history.
January 5, 2020 at 12:51 am
I love the clothes, the food, and the way they talk.
January 5, 2020 at 2:21 am
I love the Regency Era and trying to imagine what it would be like to live in that time period.
January 5, 2020 at 2:22 am
I enjoy it because of the lifestyle and the horses and carriages. Life seems simpler, but I know it required much harder physical labor.
January 5, 2020 at 5:51 am
In the past I have always avoided the Regency era, but Abigail Wilson’s novels have captured my interest and opened the door to more books set during this time period. I enjoy reading about characters who usually defy the strict social mores and marry for love rather than wealth or social standing.
January 8, 2020 at 11:14 am
Sarah Snider » That’s great to hear, Sarah.
January 5, 2020 at 6:36 am
I really enjoy Julie Klassen’s books. I like hearing about lifestyles during this time.
January 5, 2020 at 9:03 am
Regency is one of my favorite genres. I’d love to go back to that time to visit . . . for about a day or two! I’m pretty sure I’d quickly miss my creature comforts–like indoor plumbing, central heating/ac, my heated mattress pad, convenience foods, etc. The manners and customs were so different back then.
I’m looking forward to reading Julie Klassen’s book. I’ve only read a couple of her books, so far, so I need to catch up! Thanks for the chance to win!
January 5, 2020 at 10:06 am
The gowns, the balls, the chivalry of the gentlemen, the estates
January 5, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Love the dresses and how proper they were. Such a different day today. 🙁
January 6, 2020 at 9:50 am
I love the simpler time and feel of the Regency period. I also like how it was important to be modest and propriety was pretty important to most of society.
January 6, 2020 at 9:57 am
Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance to win.
January 6, 2020 at 10:10 am
My favorite thing about the Regency period is the dresses. I would love to wear one, but just one day!!
January 6, 2020 at 10:22 am
I love regency novel—more intelligent conversation and no unnecessary bedroom action.
January 6, 2020 at 10:27 am
I love the romance of the era. While I know life back then was not as easy as today, I would love to go back in time for 6 months to get a feel for what it was like.
January 6, 2020 at 10:35 am
I love Regency because it transports you to a time of magic and elegance. 🙂
January 6, 2020 at 11:43 am
I love the regency era! The mannerisms and simple way of life and the fashion of course.
January 6, 2020 at 11:59 am
I love reading about a time that is so different than ours. I can just imagine all of the fancy balls 🙂
January 6, 2020 at 12:19 pm
I love the regency era because everything is so detail oriented. I love the way people had manners and that there was a proper etiquette to doing things.
January 6, 2020 at 1:59 pm
I love learning about the clothes, love learning about the social structure, how they traveled, lived day to day.
January 8, 2020 at 2:54 am
When i read my first Regency book i was hooked,just love the time period.Thank you for the giveaway and would love to win a copy
January 9, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Hallo, Hallo Relz!
Happy New Year, to you! 🙂 I’m actually migraine-free this lovely January and physically I feel better than I have in the past half of 2019. Which means I’m finally able to start visiting everyone again! I spied this post and knew I had to leave a comment – I’ve just started my first Julie Klassen novel before my Winter cold of December – I’m looking forward to diving back into it this New Year. I found it at one of those free bookshelves they put round the city? This time whilst I was in the ER awaiting results of Dad’s latest health crisis in late November/early December, I was taking a breathier with Mum in the cafeteria. I saw “Klassen” and picked it up immediately… talk about a bit of random joy? (the book is “The Silent Governess”)
You’ve asked why I adore the Regency? From Jane Austen to Rebecca Connolly’s Spinster series to goodness, every other author I’ve ever read who writes delish romantic and/or Rom Suspense plots within this era of interest truly give me the kind of wicked good read I’m seeking for a Historical setting in an era where we all get to re-visit what first drew us into Jane Austen’s novels.
I love the romantic gestures of the era, the fashions and of course, the whole upstairs/downstairs drama (similar to why I appreciate the Victorian & Edwardian eras too!) – I move between INSPY and mainstream fiction for these lovelies, seeking a solid plot, a beautiful character-driven arc of story and I also want to feel the era not just read about it; so anything that sensory is eluding to what we hope to see if we actually time travelled is a wicked good aspect of the story, too!
Of course, I’m in love with the choices in language… something alluring about how time slowed down, people were generous with their hours and there was a lot of propriety which could be brought back a bit nowadays as its so draining to always explain yes, I still say “Mr, Mrs and Ms” out of courtesy and respect inasmuch as I love wearing Sunday best and being stylist.
I can’t pin it down simply… it is just an era that speaks to my bookish heart.
Thanks for the chance to win but moreso thanks for cluing me in there is a new Klassen novel! After I finish this current one I’ll be borrowing more through my local library!
January 15, 2020 at 10:04 am
Jorie » Thank you, dear Jorie! Sorry for the late reply. I tried to respond to your Twitter DM but it wouldn’t let me 🙁 So glad you love Julie’s novels too. They are the best! Love what you shared about why you love Regency novels – so good! Happy reading and a wonderful new year to you!
January 9, 2020 at 11:02 pm
I like some of the clothing and historical fiction.
January 10, 2020 at 11:44 am
I love the history of it the clothes and how they lived back then.
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