Julie Klassen’s The Bridge to Belle Island is a suspense-filled Regency romance, but for me, it wasn’t the Klassen I’m used to. Not to say that the book isn’t good. But it did take me a bit to get into. I pushed myself to continue reading, though, and I think it was well worth it.
Klassen did a great job of slowly revealing clues and building suspense. I would be certain I knew who the murderer was, but then Klassen would throw a curveball that left me second-guessing. With twists and turns and plenty of suspects, The Bridge to Belle Island will keep you turning pages. For me, though, it took about a third of the novel before I was truly invested.
The romance itself is nicely done, but it’s more of a subplot. The main story is in Isabelle’s anxiety and Benjamin’s search for redemption. Both are good stories and worthy of exploration, but they didn’t create the romantic tension I expected. If anything, they seemed to slow the story down a bit. And at times I found the leads to be a bit dry at times, though Isabelle became a bit more sympathetic when I learned more of her backstory.
That being said, I do still recommend the book. Julie Klassen may not write action-packed reads, but she knows how to weave a mystery while exploring the human condition. I liked the way she explored how fear can control our lives, whether it’s fear of repeating past mistakes or fear of stepping out of your comfort zone. And just as she did with her Tales from Ivy Hills trilogy, Klassen has crafted a book perfect for a relaxing afternoon with a cup of tea.
More Information
You can click the book cover image to order it on Christianbook.com or you can go to your local bookstore.
Side note: If you haven’t read her Tales from Ivy Hills trilogy, I highly recommend it. I wrote a review of the last book, The Bride of Ivy Green, but the whole series is wonderful. And she has a novella coming out next year that I’m looking forward to.
You can also follow Julie Klassen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. And to keep up with her latest books and news, you can sign up for her newsletter on her website.
Note: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
