"The Painter's Daughter"

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?

My Thoughts...

I always enjoy reading a Julie Klassen novel, and again she did not disappoint. One reason I enjoy her novels is I know I will have a nice clean romantic story, with a few twists and turns along the way. The setting is in 1815, which I always find makes for enjoyable reading. If you are a fan of Jane Austen, or Jane Eyre, this novel should be right up your alley. I always love reading historical romantic novels, compared with the modern romantic novels of today which I don't really care for. The modern novels leave nothing to the imagination....

Like I said, the pros for this book for me is...it was a nice clean read. The con for this book for me is...the references to religion, even though it was not in your face religion, when I read for fun and entertainment, I don't need to be preached too. We each have our own religion which we adhere to, so when I am reading for entertainment, please leave the religion out of the story. Therefore, because of that religious element, I will only be awarding the book 4 "Painters" stars.**** Otherwise, it would have received 5 stars.

This book is a part of my Nook library.