The Dancing Master By Julie Klassen Book Review

/ / The Dancing Master / /

/ / A Novel By Julie Klassen / /

 

{Review By Madi}

Book Title: The Dancing Master

Author: Julie Klassen

Source: Litfuse Publicity Group

Number Of Pages: 424

ISBN: 978-0-7642-1070-9

Publisher: Bethany House

Year Of Publication: 2013

My Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

Leaving London, dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire--but is stunned to discover that dancing is prohibited! He finds an unlikely ally in Miss Julia Midwinter, but her questions about his past are becoming harder to evade. Together, can they bring new life to this quiet village--and heal long-kept-secret scars?

 

 

/ / Book Review / /

 One of the this book's best attributes is it's lovable characters, so I have taken the time to write down some of the main characters and their personality traits. In doing this I hope to give you a better perspective into this story, but it MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS, so if you have this book on your "soon-to-read" shelf, be aware. If you aren't sure that you want to try this novel, then I encourage you to read this review and I hope that it will help you make a decision on that front.

 

 

 Alec Valcourt-

Alec is a noble, hardworking, gentlemanly man that is caring for his mother and sister since his father left them. Alec is the type of man that dresses well and is quick to make new friends, I think that this partially comes from his job as a dancing and fencing master. He will do just about anything to protect the Valcourt name, and he isn't afraid to take the blame for something that he didn't do in order to do so. He is kind, compassionate, isn't afraid to stick up for what's right and above all he is passionate about his work. Though the odds are stacked against him, he is determined to bring dancing back to this small town that he's just moved to.

 

Julia Midwinter-

Julia is a feisty and independent woman  that has a strained relationship with her family. Because of her lack of relationship with her family members, Julia sometimes goes looking for attention and acceptance in other places. In fact, she can be quite the flirt when she wants to. The only man she can't seem to catch is that dancing master, Alec Valcourt.

 

Amelia Midwinter-

Mother of Julia Midwinter, Amelia has a big secret. One that could change her daughters life forever. Amelia detest dancing masters and everything that they represent to her. She has all but outlawed dancing in her small parish, and she wants to keeps things just as they are. She just wants to protect her daughter. Is that too much to ask for? But when her mothering instincts turn from protective actions to smothering her grown daughter, will she lose her daughter permanently?

 

John Desmond-

John is a former dancing and fencing master that is currently working for his father as a blacksmith. He's just trying to slide in under the radar, and he definitely doesn't want word to get around in this small town that he's back from his travels. That is a can of worms that he has no desire to open.

 

The Wilcox Brothers-

The Wilcox brothers are the town bullies, and they have no problem with gaining cooperation from those that they require it from. The older brother (Felix) is the towns wrestling champion, and he makes sure that the townspeople keep that in mind. These two ruffians have a special dislike for Alec Valcourt, and they enjoy tormenting him as much as possible.

 

~

 

All these characters, as different as they are, bring this story together like nothing I've read in quite some time. I simply adored this book, and I wish there were more like it. Julie Klassen has always been one of my favorite authors. I've read almost all of her books, but this book has got to be one of the best one's that she has written. I wish there were more Christian authors like Klassen, she kind of reminds me a modern-day Jane Austen. This book also reminded me of old fairytales in a sense. Imagine this:

 

A small village.

A cranky town leader that forbids dancing.

A dancing master that comes to sweep this woman's daughter off of her feet.

 

Whimsical, right? In addition to a great plot, this book contained all the things that make for an interesting novel. It had biased "law keepers", action, adventure, and one very stubborn woman. I enjoyed "The Dancing Master" immensely, and I can't wait for Klassen to release another book for me to get my hands on.

 

~Madi For The Literary Maidens

 

DISCLAIMER :: I received a free copy of The Dancing Master from Bethany House publishers through Litfuse Publicity Group for the sole purpose of this review. I was not paid in any way to review this book, and all thoughts expressed in my review are completely my own, honest and unbiased.