"The Secret of Pembrooke Park" by Julie Klassen

About this book:

  “Abigail Foster is the practical daughter. She fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry to improve her charms, and the one man she thought might marry her has fallen for her younger, prettier sister.
  Facing financial ruins, Abigail and her father search for more affordable lodgings, until a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play . . .
  The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem acquainted with the manor's past, the only information they offer is a stern warning: Beware trespassers who may be drawn by rumors that Pembrooke contains a secret room filled with treasure.
  This catches Abigail’s attention. Hoping to restore her family's financial situation—and her dowry—Abigail looks for this supposed treasure. But eerie sounds at night and footprints in the dust reveal she isn’t the only one secretly searching the house.

  Then Abigail begins receiving anonymous letters, containing clues about the hidden room startling discoveries about the past.

  As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks...or very real danger?”


Series: As of now, no. 

Spiritual Content- Luke 8:17 at the beginning; Church going; Hymns are sung; Very good (but short) sermons; Many Scriptures are quoted; Scriptures are read and discussed; William Chapman is a Parson; Many Prayers.

          *Note: a “what the devil”, a “h*ll-bent” and different people are called the devil.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddy’; Drinking wine at parties; Some people think Pembrooke Park is haunted, so there’s mentions of that, ghosts, skeletons, etc; Mentions of stabbing & blood (not-detailed); Mentions of murder & almost killing someone (boarder-line barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed).

Sexual Content- a 'wanton'; Two semi-detailed kisses; Wishing & Wanting to kiss; Hand kisses; Crushes; Noticing & Staring; a child born out of wedlock; Lousia is a flirt; Love, falling in love and the emotions.

          *Note: Mr. Chapman (the local curate) asks Abigail “Should I make passionate love to you to make him jealous?” this causes heat to the face and him apologizing to which she adds “I admit the notion is not within appeal, but I shouldn’t like to use you in such a manner.”

Chapman: “I promise you, Miss Foster, it would take very little acting ability on my part.”

Abigail: “Thank you, Mr. Chapman. You are very kind to restore my fragile feminine ego.” {This conversion takes place on pages 183 & 184. But I’m now being told that “making love” does not mean what it is now, but flirting back in the 1800s. It’s up to the parents to decide if they want their daughter reading these lines and the possible discussion.}

-Abigail Foster

-William Chapman
                                        P.O.V. switches between them.

                                              Set in 1818 (Prologue set in 1817)
                                                        456 pages (!!)

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Pre Teens-

New Teens- 

(and a half)

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating- 

{Lower all ratings half a star for girls who have active imaginations.}

{Lower all ratings half a star for girls who are frighten easily}

I’ve been so excited about this novel! I would read the back cover and sigh over how intriguing it sounded! I read this book in a little less than four hours—very, very late at night. Which probably wasn’t a good idea for a scaredy cat like me! “The Secret of Pembrooke Park” had an in-depth plot and some greats sermons by William but I had to lower ratings because of the comment in the Sexual Content and the mentions of ghosts and such. Imagine this, it’s really late at night (or really early morning—doesn’t matter, the sun isn’t up and it’s super quiet) and right when a chase scene happens a poster in your room falls! Scares the living-daylights out of you! This is what happened to me near the end of reading this book. ;)

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher for this review.