Mistakes that seem like a tragic poison bring about healing and new life in Julie Klassens debut novel, Lady of Milkweed Manor. In Regency England, the vicars daughter, Charlotte Lamb, has been banished from her home and disowned by her family when she discovers she is pregnant out of wedlock. After refusing to name the childs father, she flees to a manor for unwed mothers and registers under a pseudonym. There, she finds herself in the care of a former suitor, Dr. Daniel Taylor, whom her father deemed unworthy and has some secrets of his own. As they try to protect those they love through incredible sacrifices, they find healing, redemption, and true love.
This novel is remarkably well written. The characters are realistic and easy to sympathize with, and the narration has a poetic gracefulness about it that brings to mind such authors of classics as Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. While it is clear from the first pages of this novel that a vast amount of research was done, the information gathered is worked into the novel seamlessly. The one glaring flaw occurs in the final decision Charlottes character makes in regard to her child. Without giving anything away, the phrasing of her explanation seems incredibly cold and clashes with the maternal love she has displayed throughout the novel.
This novel is by no means a cookie-cutter love story. Whereas the ending is a happy one, it doesnt go for the corny or a quick-fix of the characters problems. The characters have depth, and the story is both inspiring and true to the pains of life. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romance, but wants more than a boy meets girl, boy gets girl story. -- Shannon Potelicki, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
