*review to come* 
 Julie Klassen is one of my favorite Regency authors active today. I've read and own every one of her novels (minus the previous year's, The Dancing Master). That being said, I think The Secret of Pembrooke Park is one of her most finely crafted Regency romances, with an almost gothic-inspired mystery element that kept me reading until 3:00am to finish! 
 Historical details made me feel immersed in Abigail Foster's world and the romance was quite well done. It was perfect for the CBA market but enough to keep readers' anticipation high for the payoff (first kiss!). While practical, "plain jane" Abigail Foster's voice could have easily devolved into a pitying stereotype, instead Klassen's writing had me emphasizing with Abigail's insecurities, perhaps because they are similar to my own. I was reminded, like Abigail, that we are treasured and valued in God's eyes. Meanwhile, the hero is principled and charming (along with the rest of his family) though a couple other characters thrown into the mix made me briefly second guess who might end up together! 
 But one of the things I always enjoy about Julie Klassen's books is that they're never usually "just" a romance and they often have some sort of secret or mystery the protagonist is trying to figure out (or hide). The Secret of Pembrooke Park is no exception. From the manor itself, the suspicious disappearance of the Pembrooke family, to the reluctance of neighbors and the steward's family to speak of the past, there is so much going on in this story! Astute readers may find their suspicions on what happened or who the mysterious letter sender is before the characters themselves, but that didn't stop me from turning the pages to see if I was correct! The only thing I disliked was the conclusion to one character's story arc, though the character did attempt to make amends. 
 One interesting thing to note is that the different quotations I always enjoyed that began each chapter in many of Klassen's previous novels are absent. (I'm not sure if The Dancing Master had this feature or not). However, that doesn't detract from this wonderful tale as I didn't even realize it until I started to write this review! Definitely a must-read for Julie Klassen fans and those who enjoy a good Regency! 
 *Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in in exchange for an honest review, which I have done*