Masquerade

By Nancy Moser

Masquerade is the beautiful story of young Charlotte Gleason, a very spoiled rich girl who has led a very privileged and sheltered life, and Dora Connors, her ladies maid.

Set in the Gilded Age, Lottie is being sent by her parents to marry a wealthy American heir to a department store fortune – one whom she has never met. On the voyage over, she hatches a plan to switch lives with Dora. She teaches Dora all the ins-and-outs of high society while she prepares herself to live a normal life in America, and marry for love.

A few twists of fate, and she ends up living in tenement housing in New York in extreme poverty, while Dora lives a life of opulence.

I loved this book! Both girls find themselves in many sticky situations while trying to maintain their life of deceit. Dora uses her wit brilliantly to cover for her many social blunders, while Lottie sees the harsh reality of how the other half lived.

The book was very clearly thoroughly researched. Those who are familiar with the Gilded Age will recognize some of the real life characters included in the story line. From the clothing to the social etiquette and roles and expectations of the servants everything is very historically accurate.

I would strongly recommend this book to all historical fiction lovers.

I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of the book from Bethany House, but that in no way influenced my opinion of it.