"The Secret of Pembrooke Park," by Julie Klassen

"The Secret of Pembrooke Park," by Julie Klassen

Abigail Foster is the practical daughter. She fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry, and the one man she thought might marry her seems to have fallen for her younger, prettier sister.

Facing financial ruin, Abigail and her father search for more affordable lodgings, until a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play...

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem acquainted with the manor's past, the only information they offer is a stern warning: Beware trespassers drawn by rumors that Pembrooke Park contains a secret room filled with treasure.

This catches Abigail's attention. Hoping to restore her family's finances--and her dowry--Abigail looks for this supposed treasure. But eerie sounds at night and footprints in the dust reveal she isn't the only one secretly searching the house.

Then Abigail begins receiving anonymous letters, containing clues about the hidden room and startling discoveries about the past.

As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks...or very real danger?

I enjoyed this book.  It was one of those books where you think you know what will happen next and/or who is who, only to be surprised by another twist.  There were a couple of things that were pretty obvious, but other things where you were completely surprised by the outcome.

Abigail was a perfect heroine, practical, level headed and someone you could totally rely on.  Her sister, the total opposite!!!  The Chapman family were all lovable in their own ways, even the formidable Mac Chapman the head of the household.

The secret room with the treasure was a surprise and totally not what you would expect,; don't want to say more, as it will spoil the story.  I liked the relationship between those "upstairs," and those "below stairs."  As with all books please read the authors notes at the end of the book, as it draws light on some things mentioned in the book.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  This is quite a long book, but it had me hooked from the beginning.  The story keeps you wanting to read a "few more pages," before I go to bed, and then you find another hour has gone by.  I personally think this is the best book I have read by this author,  Well worth the read.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".