Helpful Score: 3
This is a wonderful Victorian Prince and the Pauper type story. I very much enjoyed this book. It was interesting to watch each girl mature and realize that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Both young ladies found themselves relying on God as they never had before as they find themselves trapped in situations of their own making.
It made me think about how we often rush ahead without God and try to manipulate life to fit our desires, and find ourselves in dire consequences. I like the way the author gave detailed insight into how poor immigrants lived during that era and the ridiculously wealthy. I felt like I was there with the girls, experiencing both lifestyles during this time in history. I highly recommend this book.
It made me think about how we often rush ahead without God and try to manipulate life to fit our desires, and find ourselves in dire consequences. I like the way the author gave detailed insight into how poor immigrants lived during that era and the ridiculously wealthy. I felt like I was there with the girls, experiencing both lifestyles during this time in history. I highly recommend this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book contrasting the lives of a very rich, high society family in New York with the poor immigrants who came to America seeking a better life. Lottie is sent to America to marry. Her maid comes with her and they switch places because Lottie doesn't want any part of an arranged marriage. The author does a fantastic job telling their stories so you see what is happening with each one during the same time. Lots of historical details of the poor tenements of the period.
Another great book by Nancy Moser. She doesn't disappoint in this interesting and compelling story of a rich English girl and her maid going to America and trading places, where they find hardship, new friends, personal growth, love, and each other again on their journey. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This may be my new favorite Nancy Moser historical book. I still love John 3:16 the most but for historicals this book is fantastic. It is like an updated version of the prince and the pauper but it is beautifully crafted and a pure pleasure to read. I actually thought that it might bore me a little since it was similar in tale to an old story, but I was sorely mistaken. It is brilliantly written with incredible characters and I read the entire book in about a day... I just couldn't put it down. Nancy is a master of historical fiction and has proven that time and again. Masquerade just confirms it all over again - absolutely wonderful.
Although I enjoy this author's books, this one frustrated me some. The heroine bounces between likeable and unlikeable. Parts of the book are good and parts are irritating enough I wanted to slap the characters. LOL But others may find it a good story. It was interesting to read about the experience of the different areas around New York when we had all the immigrants coming in through Ellis Island.
Spoiled London society girl trades places with her maid to avoid arranged marriage to unknown "nouveau riche" New Yorker in 1886. I found the first several chapters slow and boring. Once they arrive in New York and are split up the story gets interesting and became a real page turner....(I should say "stories", as the author moves us back and forth between the two and their very different paths).
Her depiction of the poorer immigrant's plight graphically contrasts with that of the 1% wealthiest of the time. She writes in the first person of the two lead characters, leaving the male characters appearing one dimensional and distant. Overall an enjoyable quick read.
Her depiction of the poorer immigrant's plight graphically contrasts with that of the 1% wealthiest of the time. She writes in the first person of the two lead characters, leaving the male characters appearing one dimensional and distant. Overall an enjoyable quick read.
Loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next! What a fascinating story, I could hardly believe parts of it, but then it all came together in a very believable way in the end. Definitely worth the read!
