When family financial difficulties and scandal threaten to decimate Charlotte Gleason's current and future social standing and security in England, her family sends her to America with her personal maid to secure the hand of the wealthy Tremaine heir. On the voyage over, she concocts a plan to trade places with her maid - trying her hand at living an independent life in New York while her maid - Dora - assumes her identity and travels to the Tremaine's to see if their son Conrad is the man for her. Needless to say, this quickly becomes a sticky wicket as both young women are trapped in the deception and surprised by the new lives they find.

I like Nancy Moser. I like historical fiction set in the Gilded Age. I have truly enjoyed several of her novels and they have found permanent spaces in my bookshelf. I'm afraid that Masquerade hasn't. Moser seems to have focused more upon historical detail and fashion (both fun in their own right) than she has upon character development. Charlotte makes very choppy, and somewhat unrealistic changes - mainly during her voyage to America. Dora is believable, as is Conrad and the Italian family Charlotte (Lottie) finds refuge with, but the others are sorely underdeveloped.

This in turn leads to unbelievable and hastily assembled romantic developments and more of a 'fairy-tale' story feel than one of a rich, fully developed novel. The budding feelings between two of the characters that do NOT end up together is more realistic than any of the characters that DO end up together. I don't want to include a spoiler here, but after reading the author's note at the end of the novel I can see why that is - the final pairing was an unexpected development that occurred to her only once a good portion of the novel had been written. I'm afraid it shows in the writing.

That being said, this is still a nice story, and a sweet tale. The spirit of the American immigrants included within its pages is inspiring, but I'm afraid that despite the delectable cover (I was so looking forward to this one) Masquerade reads as though it was more hastily written than other works of Moser's that I have enjoyed.

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com

Written by Nancy Moser, "Masquerade" is a truly brilliant mix of "The Prince and the Pauper" and "Titanic". Even more than just being a "feel-good" type of novel with a happy ending, the reader is given a glimpse into the rules of the society of the late 1800s - which ones can be broken and which ones, if broken, will leave you desolate and downtrodden.

Dora and Charlotte have been raised together although their relationship is clearly tainted by the societal expectations of roles which even they do not truly understand. It is just the way things are and neither class gives much thought to it. Charlotte is the spoiled right girl who is looking for adventure but does not realize the extent to which such a break will affect her life. Dora is her personal maid an confidante.

Sailing across the ocean to America and leaving anyone who knows them provides the perfect opportunity for the ladies to swap identities and "become" the other person. For spontaneous Charlotte, it is a chance to see what "real life" is all about. But what begins as an adventure turns into Charlotte's worst nightmare and she is forced to draw on the goodness of strangers. And Dora? She's been given the chance of a lifetime to better her station, but somehow through it all she maintains her innocence and beautiful spirit, managing to break down walls in relationships without even realizing her influential role. Everyone loves Dora's charismatic nature and naturally follows her lead.

Discovering love, romance and adventure, both Dora and Charlotte are thrust into new roles. Moser masterfully weaves historical and societal expectations to create a novel which captures your attention from the first page.


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The description on the back of the book had me hooked the moment I read it. What a great story line, one I haven't come across in my years of novel reading. The story begins with the protests of an only child, Charlotte Gleason, to her father when he announces that she will be leaving England & the comforts of their mansion/home to sail to New York City to marry the son of one of the richest men in the known world. When you meet Charlotte she is self centered, dramatic, superficial & sometimes so naive. At times you wonder how anyone could like her. Her ladysmaid Dora is summond to go along with Charlotte to New York City & in doing so Dora gives up everything she's known as well. Dora gives up a job, security, a beloved country that is familiar. Charlotte & Dora have to give up family to sail to Charlotte's arranged marriage. Charlotte is all about adventure & fairy tales of falling in love not being forced to marry. She wants more out of life than society, pretty dresses & a forced marriage to a man she might not even like. On the ship she decides that Dora will become "Charlotte" & go in her place, that way the real Charlotte Gleason can explore, find love & experience life. Dora does protest but gives in & is taught all the ins & outs of being a betrothed woman of society. This book is about finding out that appearances aren't what they seem. Everything isn't as you would expect. Charlotte finds out skeletons that have come out of the closet about her father & family that have made the journey to New York City a necessary one. Also Dora is surprised at how little her new family in New York City nurture & care for one another & act like a family. Charlotte finds acceptance, strength & resourcefulness amoungst people she would never have met if she was a woman of society. It is so much fun to watch & see Charlotte & Dora struggle with the lie they are living & wrestle with coming clean to all involved. Each girl wants to fit in & have a purpose but they can't get past the mask of their lie. I couldn't put this book down & read it in a weekend. Historically accurate, meticulous attention to detail & a story line that is so fascinating.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I enjoyed Nancy Moser's novel Masquerade.

Lottie's parents send her to New York to meet a potential husband, a man of wealth that will be the rescuer of their own floundering financial situation. Dora, her maid and best friend accompanies her on the journey.

Lottie wants adventure and independence, not a marriage without love. On the ship to America she cooks up the plan to swap places with Dora. Dora would become Lottie and have the chance of a lifetime -- move from a lowl ...more I enjoyed Nancy Moser's novel Masquerade.

Lottie's parents send her to New York to meet a potential husband, a man of wealth that will be the rescuer of their own floundering financial situation. Dora, her maid and best friend accompanies her on the journey.

Lottie wants adventure and independence, not a marriage without love. On the ship to America she cooks up the plan to swap places with Dora. Dora would become Lottie and have the chance of a lifetime -- move from a lowly maid to a wife to one of America's wealthiest heirs.

What the real Lottie didn't bargain for was her financial means to be stolen immediately upon embarking the streets of New York. Suddenly she's as poor and destitute as all the other immigrants she's surrounded by.

The plot was one that raised my blood pressure, I'm sure. Both girls are in precarious situations and it was anxiety producing for this reader, but in a good way of course. :-)

It's a good novel. Things lined up a little too well for reality, but I guess the author's point in that was how God was orchestrating all the details. I can appreciate that.

I loved the Fact or Fiction part at the end of the book where the author shares the facts of the time frame written about. And I also liked her sharing the pictures from late 1880's catalogs which she based her characters' wardrobes. That was a fun and clever addition to the book.

My copy of Masquerade was graciously provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Masquerade is available now at your favorite bookseller of Bethany House books.