The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

Back Cover:

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?

Brimming with romance and danger, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall takes readers inside the fascinating belowstairs world of a 19th-century English manor, where appearances can be deceiving.

Review:

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall was an enjoyable, historical, romantic novel. A little obvious at times, (as almost all chick-lit books are) but still lovely story.

The story is kind of a reverse-Cinderella story. The beautiful heroine has run away from her family, her wealthy life style to become someone she is not – a servant in her former beau’s household (who just happens to be the hero of the story). I always enjoy reading a book or watching a movie where the rich must do the tedious work of the middle-man, and then of course returns to their former way of life with a whole new outlook. I almost enjoy it more than a Cinderella- rags to riches – story, because the hero or heroine always learns something valuable. In The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, Margaret learns how she misjudged people and the folly of her pride.

Julie Klassen has done an excellent job on the historical setting. I extremely enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter – from magazines, books or newpapers from that time period. Klassen isn’t just making this stuff up as she goes along. In some way, shape or form, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall shows how the people of that time actually lived.

Julie Klassen is an amazing writer. Like many of her other books, I really enjoyed reading The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. The history, romance, and Jane Austen influence mixes together delightfully in this book, making it a keeper on my bookshelf.

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.