Intrigue, fast-past drama, romance, "The Maid of Fairbourne Hall" has it all

Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: January 2012

Book Synopsis as provided by the publisher:

To escape a scheme to marry her off to a dishonorable man, Margaret Macy flees London disguised as a housemaid. If she can remain unwed until her next birthday, she will receive an inheritance, and with it, sweet independence. But she never planned on actually working as a servant. And certainly not in the home of Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch--both former suitors.

As she fumbles through the first real work of her life, Margaret struggles to keep her identity secret when suspicions arise and prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall. Can she avoid a trap meant to force her from hiding?

MY REVIEW:

Julie Klassen, you are amazing! Mystery and intrigue, danger, a touch of romance, all set in an intriguing historical setting and time period - this novel has it all! I challenge any reader to pick up this book and be able to put it down any time soon, because the beginning is sure to captivate you and hold you prisoner as you race to the end. Margaret's run from the danger facing her in her own home is completely fascinating as she becomes immersed in the role of a housemaid, one utterly foreign to her. I couldn't help but smile as she had to face the horrors of emptying a chamber pot, and got a first-hand look into the difficulties of being a maid - along with the sudden realization of how she'd failed to treat her own maid with respect. Her character is sure to endear herself to you and by the end of the book you will be cheering her on. I found that the romance aspect was handled perfectly without being over the top, and as such the book is sure to appeal to a large crowd. I won't be surprised if Klassen garners further award nominations for this one!

I enjoyed this book immensely and give it my highest recommendation of 5 out of 5 stars. Readers who have enjoyed previous books from Klassen will be mesmerized by her latest, and those who love historical fiction but have never read one of her books are in for a pleasant surprise.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.