The Dancing Master

When Alec Valcourt relocates his family from London to Devonshire in hopes of establishing a new dance studio, he discovers that the town's benefactor, Lady Amelia Midwinter, has forbidden dancing, and the reason for the moratorium is a secret. There's more that remains hidden to the reader; questions abound regarding Alec's mysterious background, and all is not as is seems in Devonshire or in the Midwinter family. Yet powerful and surprising allies, such as Amelia's own daughter, Julia Midwinter, help keep Alec's dream alive. The inspiring themes—loyalty, love, and family ties—in Klassen's (The Tutor's Daughter) historical romance pay homage to such writers as Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. Christian messages of forgiveness are both subtle and highly effective, and there is an abundance of intrigue to keep patrons listening even if the feel-good ending is reminiscent of a holiday musical. Narrator Elizabeth Sastre excels at the delivery of regional accents. She switches fluidly between West Country English and a Scottish brogue while simultaneously transitioning among male and female voices of all ages without flaws.