1. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
    Julie Klassen
    Bethany House / 2011 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$16.99 Retail Price$20.00 Save 15% ($3.01)
    4.7 out of 5 stars for The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. View reviews of this product. 56 Reviews
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    Stock No: WW207099
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  1. i blog 4 books
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    One of the best books I've read all year!
    August 30, 2012
    i blog 4 books
    It's been months (!!!) since I read The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and I'm just now getting around to posting my review. Ack! Back in March, I said this was "hands down" my favorite read of the month, and I can say in August that this book will make the top 10 list for this year.

    Margaret Macy realizes she must leave home to avoid her stepfather's plot to marry her off to a horrible man. As she flees from her home and her pampered lifestyle, she finds work as a maid, hoping that the man of the house will marry her and rescue her from her stepfather. Margaret must hide her identity until the time is right, and in the meantime must learn to be a maid. Will she find the security she longs for at Fairbourne Hall? Or will she learn that some things are more important than fulfilling her own plans?

    Julie Klassen is a new-to-me author, and I'm so glad I took a chance on her with The Maid of Fairbourne Hall! Klassen writes with great detail–her research process must be intense!–and does a beautiful job of making the setting, characters, and story truly come alive. I loved learning about the life of servants during this period and their relationship with the family. The story was intriguing as well, with enough questions and unknown elements to keep me curious as to the next turn the story would take.

    There were a ton of characters in this book, which at times had me backtracking to confirm someone's identity. Overall, though, the life-like characters drew me into the story and I really connected with them. I originally thought that Margaret was going to simply be a spoiled little rich girl. There was so much more to her, though, and I was glad that the author wrote with so much depth and feeling. It helped me be an empathetic reader! Plus, the challenge of writing a character with a dual-identity made for some humorous moments as well.

    Thank you, Julie Klassen, for writing one of the best novels I've read all year! [5 stars]

    I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my fair and honest review.
  2. Becky
    california
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    loved this book
    August 15, 2013
    Becky
    california
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    this book takes us on a trip back in time and allows us to see just what life was like in the 1800's. i love the Jane Austin style/time set and this book is not a disappointment. the story is exciting [sometimes too exciting...i couldn't put it down]! Ha. we are able to see family functioning under the dictates of a society where "looking/being proper" decides how the characters react to any given situation. it is an honest look at "what we see it not always how it really is"... I highly recommend this book. this author never disappoints!
  3. Rachel Ropper
    Scotland, UK
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Immensely comforting and satisfying
    April 30, 2012
    Rachel Ropper
    Scotland, UK
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    How on earth have I not discovered Julie Klassen before now? I'm typically drawn more towards American, prairie historical romances but Julie is an excellent writer, regardless of what time period her novels are set in. Such attention to detail! This might put some readers off, but being a budding historian myself this appealed to me massively. I'm now seriously considering writing about Victorian servants for my dissertation, as Julie made the subject far more interesting than I initially expected.

    I will admit that I was initially a bit wary of Margaret as she seemed quite stuck-up and snobbish at the beginning of the novel. But it was wonderful to see much she grew over the course of the novel. Sometimes it's worth starting out with a dislikable character in order to make the character's growth more interesting. As well as the strength of historical detail, I also adored the originality of the secondary characters - none of them seemed like cardboard cut-outs, which is something that often occurs when a novel is swimming in secondary characters, as this one was. Helen, Hudson, Lewis, Betty, Fiona - they were all believable and endearing in their own ways.

    I suppose you could say the romance was pretty standard for a historical novel, or complain that the hero and heroine didn't spend much time together, seeing as she was pretending to be a servant and he was the master of the house. Somehow, this didn't detract from the story for me. The mystery of Margaret's disappearance and Nathaniel's fears about his ship and his brother twisted around the romance and drew it out without making the reader get impatient. I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns Margaret and Nathaniel had to wade through before they were able to reveal their true colours to each other. The ending was sweet, simple and very satisfying.

    I think the best way to describe this book is to say that it's comforting. It's spring break and I'm attempting to catch up on all the reading I've got behind on this semester at university, and I picked up this novel in the hope that it would bring a nice 30 minute break from all of the eighteenth century literature I'm wading through. Three days later, I've just managed to put the book down! It was the perfect time to read this book as well - amazingly, it's been 20 degrees celsius for three days straight in Scotland in March. I've spent most days lying on a blanket on the grass outside my house or taking advantage - for once - of the fact that we live a minute's walk from the beach. This was an excellent beach book. I will definitely be getting hold of more of Julie's books this coming summer! So to those who regularly read regency romances - and I do believe that this is my first - this story might not be so special or original, but it was just what I needed at this point in my life. It was immensely comforting and satisfying.
  4. Vera
    North Carolina
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A joy of a read
    April 2, 2012
    Vera
    North Carolina
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Julie Klassen gives us an absorbing glimpse into the life of 1800s London in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. Historical fiction with a bit of romance in a well-researched pleasurable read. The female lead character is Margaret Macy. Margaret is a 19th century woman who is in the cusp of receiving her inheritance when it becomes evident that a plot is afoot to marry her off to a dishonorable man.

    Margaret Macy absolutely must leave because her stepfather and would-be fiancé are plotting for her inheritance through this unwanted marriage. She leaves the only life she has known stealthily and seeks employment in a home as a housemaid - knowing full-well she doesn't know a single thing about housework.

    In Margaret's new place of employment, she encounters Nathaniel Upchurch, the second son in the household, a former romantic interest of Margaret's, and the male lead character. Nathaniel is a man of strong character and resolve.

    The status conflict between servant help and their rank is revealed early in the story. Now employed at Fairbourne Hall, our untrained servant and former upper class lady, Margaret, discovers she might soon be revealed because of her rank (pun intended) lack of skills.

    We are given a good look at the classic interaction and rank among the servants that was so prevalent in the 1800s London home. Getting to see what life was like for the servants of each level is an interesting journey into history. I remember visiting Biltmore House in Asheville, NC and seeing the servants' work area and also the servants' sleeping areas. There were distinct differences and the accommodations for the servants, while adequate, were extremely modest. That was America and the wealthy class during this same period. The difference was more profound in London and Europe.

    Klassen is a Jane Austen expert and has secured a place as a noted author of the Regency period. She researches each new book thoroughly. Some of her many sources for the current release are used as a quotation at the beginning of each chapter.

    I found this to be an entertaining and enlightening book to read. Julie Klassen presents her readers with a joy of a read.

    DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary review copy of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions expressed are my own.
  5. ToriPeterson
    USA
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Historically Classic!
    April 1, 2012
    ToriPeterson
    USA
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I love historical romance novels! If your like me this novel will surpass your expectations easily. Aside from romance in a historical setting there is rebellion, mystery, intrigue, scandal, and charisma.

    The characters are intriguing and there is more to each of them than meets the eye. I love that each character has a story behind them no matter how big or small. This really helped bring each and every one of them to life, and made the story come to life.

    I will admit that at first I really despised the main character, Margaret Macy, because she seemed so spoiled and uppity. She had little sympathy for anyone other than herself, but at the same time I caught some glimpses her more gentler side which helped me soften towards her. I was drawn even closer to her when she was thrust into a humbled way of life. Due to her fleeing her home in order to escape her planned marriage under forced circumstances she not only had to serve as a maid, but she found compassion towards those she merely ordered around in her privileged life. It was quite refreshing to see her placed at the servants level because she began to see them as the people they are rather than merely household servants.

    Despite his brusque beginning in the novel I felt a pull towards Nathaniel Upchurch. From Margaret's brief descriptions of him and their past with him being a suitor I could just tell there was more to him than met the eye. I couldn't wait to uncover more about him, and I wasn't disappointed.

    I loved the characters pull towards each other and you could almost feel the electricity between the pages. It was a hard book to put down to say the least.

    I really didn't feel as if this novel lagged at all since there is something going on constantly, and I was kept at the edge of my seat wondering if Margaret would be found out in her maids getup.

    I really want to go into more details about this book, but I just can't without giving anything away. I will say that I was on the edge of my seat anticipating what would happen next.

    This novel is very uplifting, and humbling. Aside from truly enjoying this novel as a fantastic read it will have you looking at others in a whole new light as you've never seen them before. As much as I have always enjoyed a good historical romance I will admit I haven't given MUCH thought to the maid characters in them, and this really opened my eyes. A wonderful read that I highly recommend to all you historical romance buffs.

    DISCLAIMER: I was provided this book for free through Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. Opinions expressed are mine alone.
Displaying items 1-5 of 56
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