The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

Published by Bethany House Publishers

This book was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my posted review.

Set in the early 1800's, The Girl in the Gatehouse follows the life of Mariah Aubrey, a young lady who has to leave the only home she has ever known to live in the gatehouse of a distant relative - an aunt by marriage, named Mrs. Prynn-Hallsey - because of a scandal surrounding her name. 

Having no money to her name, Mariah must support herself and her trusted servant, Miss Dixon, the only way she knows how - by writing novels. This can only compound the scandal already attached to her name.   You see,  women writing novels in the early 19th century is frowned upon!

So Mariah writes anonymously. Trouble presents itself, though, when the man who offers to publish her book wants to meet her in person. Should she allow this? Can she trust him? Or will he be the one to ruin it all for her?

As the meeting looms, a wealthy Navy captain, Matthew Bryant, comes to rent the estate from Mrs. Prynn-Hallsey's step son following her death. He sees the publisher going to visit Mariah, and wonders what a man would be doing visiting "his" estate's gatehouse. 

When he  checks it out, he realizes there is a young lady who lives there.  And she is quite beautiful. Kind, too.  As he gets to know her, and discovers she has a secret to hide, he becomes aware that befriending a young lady with scandal attached to her name is not the best idea. 

Add to all this drama some mystery surrounding the gatehouse itself, 2 servants falling for the Miss Dixon at the same time, and the fact that although Captain Matthew is drawn to Mariah, he is determined to win back an old flame,  and you have a book Jane Austen fans will enjoy.