"The Painter's Daughter," by Julie Klassen

"The Painter's Daughter," by Julie Klassen

Sophie Dupont assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. In private, she paints the picturesque north Devon coast, popular with artists--including handsome Wesley Overtree, who seems more interested in Sophie than the landscape. 

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother Wesley's responsibilities. Near the end of his leave, he is sent to find his brother and bring him home. Upon reaching Devonshire, however, Stephen is stunned to learn Wesley has sailed for Italy and left his host's daughter in serious trouble. 

Stephen feels duty-bound to act, and strangely protective of the young lady, who somehow seems familiar. Wanting to make some recompense for his own past failings as well as his brother's, Stephen proposes to Miss Dupont. He does not offer love, but marriage "in name only" to save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he fears, she will at least be a respectable widow.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie finds herself torn between her first love and this brooding man she barely knows. Dare she wait for Wesley to return? Or should she elope with the captain and pray she doesn't come to regret it?

Set in the Regency period in England this book is full of drama, secret passages, hidden rooms and of course romance.  It's set in a time when appearances and how you act in public and avoid scandal are uppermost in everyone's mind.  A hint of scandal and your position in society can evaporate before your eyes.

You can more or less guess how this will all turn out, but there are the odd twist and turn added to the book to keep it interesting.  As always the author's notes at the end are a valuable resource and well worth reading.  I thought it was appropriate that the author did make mention that women painters were not encouraged in their talent. 

Stars out of 5 : 4 I did need to know what happened next, but overall it will be a book I will not remember reading next month.

"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".