Downton Abbey/Upstairs Downstairs Fans Rejoice

I am a fan of books set in the era (early 1900s) and have come across one or two great Christian fiction books that do the time period justice. Now I have another author to add to my list of those who did it right.

In The Governess of Highland Hall, Julia Foster has just returned from living in the mission field in India with her parents for twelve years because of her father’s failing health. Determined to help her parents out, she applies for a position as a governess at a manor near her parents. She will be caring for Sir William Ramsey’s two children as well as his two older nieces. Sir William has recently inherited Highland Hall to find that the finances aren’t there to pay the death taxes and he is struggling with hurt from his past.

Both Julia and William are fighting to save their families. Julia’s steadfastness and patience with those around her wins several members of Highland Hall right away but there are others who aren’t so sure about her. Sir William is trying desperately to find a solution to keep his family at Highland Hall and not have to uproot everyone.

I loved this book. My only complaint is that it ended too abruptly. I was relieved to see that this seems to be the first book in what is hopefully going to be a series. Carrie Turansky did a wonderful job of sharing the lives of the servants as well as the Highland Hall family so readers get a peak behind both worlds. And while there were some pretty predictable things in the story, it was an engaging and uplifting story.

*****Waterbrook Multnomah provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. I was not compensated in any way for either a negative or positive review.