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Posts Tagged ‘Nancy Moser’

ABOUT THE BOOK

1886, New York City: Charlotte Gleason, a rich heiress from England, escapes a family crisis by traveling to America in order to marry the even wealthier Conrad Tremaine.

She soon decides that an arranged marriage is not for her and persuades her maid, Dora, to take her place. She wants a chance at “real life,” even if it means giving up financial security. For Charlotte, it’s a risk she’s willing to take. What begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl wanting adventure becomes a test of survival amid poverty beyond Charlotte’s blackest nightmares.

As for Dora, it’s the chance of a lifetime. She lives a fairy tale complete with gowns, jewels, and lavish mansions–yet is tormented by guilt from the possibility of discovery and the presence of another love that will not die. Is this what her heart truly longs for?

Will their masquerade be discovered? Will one of them have second thoughts? There is no guarantee the switch will work. It’s a risk. It’s the chance of a lifetime.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Masquerade, go HERE.

View the book trailer:

MY THOUGHTS

Prior to reading Masquerade, I read two other books by author Nancy Moser – Washington’s Lady and Mozart’s Sister. I loved how these books took the reader into the heart of the main characters, Martha Custis Washington and Nannerl Mozart,  and really opened up the reader’s mind to how life with it’s triumphs and struggles must have been for those ladies. Masquerade is similar, yet different.

Masquerade is a “lighter” read – I don’t mean that in a demeaning way, just that, in my opinion, the details and in-depth characterizations are less. In no way does that observation mean the plot line or story is weak. It just makes for a shorter story and one that doesn’t require as much concentration to read.

I loved the idea of a “prince and pauper” switch between a maid and her mistress. No one knows that Dora really isn’t Charlotte when they land in America because the family of Charlotte’s intended fiance has never met Charlotte, including the fiance himself. (Can you imagine traveling to another country to marry a man whom you have never met and only corresponded with via letters (and those letters weren’t very interesting or promising)? No wonder Charlotte was nervous and wanted to switch places!)

Is the switch believable to the reader? Absolutely. Each girl, while enduring bouts of guilt, nervousness, and excitement over her new role in life, develops in character and strength. Their individuality leads them down different paths, yet both find love and meaning in life.

Masquerade is another top-notch historical fiction book from Nancy Moser. As a special bonus, she included the drawings of period gowns that she based the descriptions of some of Charlotte and Dora’s gowns on.