The Maid of Fairbourne Hall Book Review

Title: The Maid of Fairbourne Hall.

Author: Julie Klassen.

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Drama, Regency England.

Plot: Margaret Macy has it all – wealth, a loving family, a good house, servants, a good reputation, the attention of gentlemen suitors and an inheritance on her way come her next birthday. But that’s the outside. On the inside, the reality of her life is much different. She still grieves for her father’s loss and is growing increasingly uncomfortable with her stepfather’s controlling ways and pressure on her to marry his dishonorable nephew. When a new level of discomfort arises in the form of her stepfather pressuring his nephew to take any and every action available to force her to marry him, Margaret thinks of Biblical Joseph and does likewise: she flees.

Changing her appearance, picking up an accent and sneaking out in the dead of night with a dismissed maid is one thing; finding work when she has no practical skills is a totally different matter. But somehow she must find a way to survive till her birthday and then she can be independent. She finds work in the most unlikely of places, however; Fairbourne Hall, the home of two former suitors – one whom she spurned and one whom she thought she would marry someday. Living and working as a servant quickly changes her perspective on many things and she begins to wonder if she’d made the right decision concerning the handsome brothers. But when trouble comes calling, will she be able to keep up her masquerade long enough?

Likes/Dislikes: I loved this book! It was lovely to see a blonde become a brunette and take on a daunting challenge. She learned humility and became a better person for her efforts. And I really liked how Margaret thinks of others and wants to use her inheritance to help her younger siblings in life. And Nathaniel was a wonderful hero, though with his own faults – namely, his quick temper that he tries so hard to control. I didn’t care for his brother, but he wasn’t the hero so that was okay.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for reading level and suggestions {ruined reputations, kissing maids, etc.}, nothing graphic. Highly recommended for Downton Abbey fans.

Date Report Written: June 7^th, 2014.

I received this book free from Bethany House publishers in exchange for an honest review via their review program. I wasn’t required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.