The Painter's Daughter

By: Julie Klassen

Narrated by: James Gillies

Julie Klassen Is the Gold Standard for Inspirational Regency Fiction

Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the North Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It's where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she's beautiful.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother's neglected duties. Home on leave, he's sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter's daughter. He's startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him - one of Wesley's discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse.

Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she'll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family's estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows?

©2015 Julie Klassen (P)2015 Recorded Books

Interesting plot!

I enjoyed the book. The story was interesting and spoke volumes on the need for forgiveness and restoration. I really enjoyed it.

A delightful store, appropriate for a Christian.

I was hooked from the beginning. l Thankfully I didn't have to jump any parts due to too explicit diolog. I look forward to checking out other books by this author.

Simple butterflies

Full of emotion, the narration was wonderful! Loved the dynamics of the story, the overtree brothers and the women they love. The believability is particularly enjoyable.

Beautiful Book

Original storyline, lovely narration. There is depth to the characters to draw you in and just enough pace to keep you entertained.

Such a good book

So well written and read. The characters are well developed and eventually you find yourself empathetic to Each. The story is interesting from early on and holds your attention easily. This was a book I was eager to get back to every time I had to set it aside. I wish James Gilies read all of Klassen’s books. His inflection and character voices are very good. His ability to flow between conversation, narration, and the characters’ private thoughts makes it easy to visualize (& enjoy) the “play” in your mind. With many audio books I’m often distracted by the false drama in the voices of the reader and it is distracting.

Tough plot well handled

I gave the story four stars because it was so very painful to listen to. However, I love this author’s treatment of difficult subjects and so I trusted her. The resolution was satisfying on almost every level. Well done, Julie!

First Klassen book...content a bit off putting

I was in the mood for a historical audiobook. I'd had this one in my library for ages. Julie Klassen has been highly recommended by other readers I know. I am not one that is particularly drawn to Christian themed stories, but I do read exclusively clean/sweet/closed door books. Going in to this I knew Klassen's reputation and since I don't enjoy being 'spoiled' I didn't read the blurb. I just wanted a clean, historical romance. I'd recently seen Klassen reply to a question that this was probably one of her more romantic stories. So I gave it a shot.

I am not a fan of "surprise babies" even though this one isn't a surprise if you'd read the blurb. If I'd read the blurb, I probably wouldn't have read the book. Then I thought that marital intimacy and consummation took up way too much of the plot. Not that it actually happened, but that it was mentioned in the characters' thoughts and feelings way too much for my taste. I honestly considered not finishing this book for that reason and also that the story was moving so slowly.

Julie Klassen is a wonderful author and very descriptive. I enjoyed that part of the book but felt that nothing was happening for so much of the story. I knew there would be a lot of descriptions going in when I saw the audio book was over 12 hours long, but I wasn't really prepared for how slow it was. I only kept going because I saw a glowing review by a trusted Bookstagramer as I was in the middle of my debate.

Things picked up about 75 percent through and the last quarter was interesting, even though more content that I wasn't really comfortable with was discussed. I don't like the implication of premonitions and paranormal activity either. Although most of those suggestions were explained in other ways.

Writing this review, I think probably should have just given up. But I finished it and for the most part enjoyed the last 25 percent.

As for the male narrator, I didn't have a problem with him. I sort of enjoyed his reading, even though I may be in thr minority there. I do think it may have had a different feel had a female been reading it, but I don't think that would have affected my review.

Good, but preachy

It was a well-written, sweet story.
The first moment religion was mentioned, I was a little hesitant to finish the story, but it wasn’t overly prudish, and didn’t seem to push views onto readers, beyond mentioning faith. Faith is a strong theme in the story, so if you’re looking for super spicy romance, this may not be for you.

Quotes and references from Jane Austen sometimes bothered me and seemed out of place, but overall a sweet story about acceptance and unconventional family structures.

Fantastic read

My favorite of J Klassen’s books. Excellent story and narration. Bravo! Don’t miss this story.

Loved it

I’m becoming such a fan of this era. I’m fascinated by the way they lived and how they overcome their differences