Since I have discovered Julie Klassen as an author, I have read every book she's had published and loved every single one of them. The Tutor's Daughter is no exception. Emma Smallwood is trying to find a way to help her father make ends meet. He runs a small boarding school for boys and their last pupil has graduated out of their school. Emma takes it on herself to write to former clients who have younger sons to see if they would be interested in their school again. The family responds by asking Emma and her father to come to them to tutor their younger sons. This is the catalyst that starts a chain reaction of events to lend to the air of mystery, intrigue, and romance with a bit of high-jinx thrown in for good measure.
Rowan and Julian are the twin sons of Sir Giles and the boys that the Smallwoods have come to tutor. Henry and Philip are their older half-brothers who were once pupils at the Smallwood's boy's school. Both Henry and Philip remember Emma and the friendship she offered while they were living with the Smallwoods. Henry played pranks on Emma at every turn, it seemed; while Philip genuinely enjoyed her company. When Philip hears that Emma is now in residence at his family home, he comes home from Oxford to see her. Julian, especially, and Rowan, to a lesser degree, join forces to pull some pranks on Emma but with a less innocent motive than their older brother.
Julie Klassen develops her characters in such a way that you know immediately there are people you shouldn't trust, some you question their trustworthiness, and some you feel an immediate empathy for. Her settings are incredible in their detail and they invite you into the book so that you can see where the story is taking place to the point that you feel you are there.
Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a Chess Set.
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