On My Nightstand - The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

Miss Mariah Aubrey is banished to her aunt's estate after an unfortunate scandal. She and her former nanny, Miss Dixon, take up residence in an old gatehouse. With no hope for love, Mariah does her best to carve out a life. Her dwindling assets inspire her to take up an old pastime, writing.

Captain Matthew Bryant returns from war a hero, but is haunted by thoughts of the woman who spurned his attention. He launches a campaign to win her hand, but will it bring more pain and rejection?

Two elderly sisters, two servants, a strange old man, and several children help unlock the door to happiness and solve the mystery of the girl in the gatehouse.

While the author transports you into the past, the characters are written without any author intrusion or explanation to the reader. Each one thinks, acts, and interacts with other characters in a way true to the time period.

I'm a big fan of Julie Klassen's writing. Every time I think this is her best book, she writes another that surpasses it. The Girl in the Gatehouse is my new favorite. I hope you'll check out her books, particularly this one.