Maid to Match

Maid to Match. Deeanne Gist. 2010. June 2010. Bethany House. 368 pages.

Biltmore Estate
Near Asheville, North Carolina
August 1898

Like a butterfly breaking free from its confining cocoon, Tillie Reese emerged from the barren, tan-colored servants' hall into the opulence of Biltmore's main level. These predawn hours were her favorite. All was dark, no one stirred, and she had the entire floor--easily a half acre in size--all to herself.

Tillie, our heroine, has trained to be in service for most of her life. When the novel opens, she is head parlormaid. But there's a chance, a good chance, Tillie is about to be promoted to being a lady's maid.
Lady's maid to Mrs. Vanderbilt. The thought of it alone brings a smile to Tillie's face. This is what she's been hoping and praying for.

Next to housekeeper, the highest ranking position for a woman. The servant who had morning tea brought to her by the first housemaid while the second housemaid made up a fire in her room. The servant who was free to take a bath as often as she liked. Who traveled with Mrs. Vanderbilt. Who read books--books!--aloud to Mrs. Vanderbilt. Best of all, a lady's maid earned quite a bit more money, so she could help her family and others in the community who were in need. (13)

Of course, it's a job that will require some sacrifice on her part. No marriage. No children. No home of her own. But Tillie, for better or worse, hasn't met a man who could even slightly tempt her away from her dreams. No man who would make her feel that the job would require any sacrifice on her part. That is until she meets Mack Danvers.

Our hero, Mack, does not want to be in service. He does not want to be a useful man or a footman. (Though if he had to pick between the two, he'd pick being a useful man.) But he desperately needs to earn money. Why? Well, since his parents died, he's had to divide his brothers and sisters up. His sister, Ora Lou, is in an orphanage. And when he learns that she's being mistreated--that all the children are being mistreated--well, he's got to do something with that anger, that frustration. Working for the Vanderbilts, like his twin brother, Earl, will be the best way to make enough money to get his sister out of the orphanage. He never expected to meet someone like Tillie while he was there.

From the start Tillie and Mack are drawn to one another. Their chemistry is undeniable. Can Mack convince Tillie that a life with him would be better than a life in service?

I loved this one. I loved the characters. I loved the romance between Tillie and Mack.

Other Deeanne Gist titles I've enjoyed: A Bride in the Bargain (2009), Courting Trouble (2007), Deep in the Heart of Trouble (2008), The Measure of a Lady (2006), A Bride Most Begrudging (2005).

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Wayfarer (MG)

Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson. 2010. June 2010. HarperCollins. 304 pages.

First line of the prologue: The Queen is dying.
First line of chapter one: "I expected more of a missionary's son."

More than a few years have passed since the close of Spell Hunter, the first novel in R.J. Anderson's Faery Rebel series. Linden, the newly-hatched faery placed under Knife's care, is now fifteen. Like Knife, she has earned the trust of the Queen. In fact, Linden is given something extraordinary by the Queen. A special mission. But that's not all. No, there's one other thing. She's given some of the Queen's magic. But this isn't Linden's story. In fact, I was surprised by just who told this story! Readers are introduced to Timothy, a cousin of Paul. And though Timothy isn't much of a believer--at least not at the start of the story--by the end, he's quite the convert. He learns of the faeries. He learns that their existence is in great danger. And he feels led to help--and this commitment isn't without sacrifice. Timothy and Linden's lives are in danger--constant danger--and it will take courage and strength to outwit the evil powers that be. Can Linden and Timothy win in their battle against evil? Will Linden's mission succeed? Can she find a way to save her people, the people of the Oak?

To visit other stops on the tour:



Whispers of Dawn, The Book Cellar, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, KidzBookBuzz.com, Reading is My Superpower, Book Crumbs, Becky’s Book Reviews, Fireside Musings, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, Homeschool Book Buzz, Homespun Light, Book Review Maniac

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

What's On Your Nightstand (June)

It wouldn't be exaggerating to say I've got too many books started this week. I am a little over 400 pages in Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. I have a little less than a week to finish this one for the Classics Circuit Blog Tour--my tour date is June 29th! I am a little over 500 pages in Wilkie Collin's Armadale. Collins is a bit more enjoyable than Tolstoy--I admit. Less philosophy, less mowing make for a more enjoyable read. In my opinion. I am a little over 200 pages in These Is My Words by Nancy Turner. To say this one is intense is a bit of an understatement--within the first twenty-one pages tragedy has struck at least ten times. A Crack in the Sky by Mark Peter Hughes is just one of the dystopias I plan on reading this summer. I'm just a little over 200 pages, but I haven't picked this one up in days. Z is for Zachariah is apocalyptic (or is it post-apocalyptic?). Regardless, it's been an interesting read so far--all sixty or so pages. I'm about that far along in Lois McMaster Bujold's The Curse of Chalion too. I keep hoping to pick this one back up. Desolation Road by Ian McDonald is reminding me of Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday--in a way. But this one is set on Mars. And now the final book, I'm about 120 pages into Lloyd Alexander's Book of Three.


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Audiobook Week: Reviewing Audio Books

Jen of Devourer of Books is hosting Audiobook Week. She has discussion topics for each day this week. And if you link to your posts on audio books, or your reviews of audio books you could win a prize.

Today's discussion topic is How To Write An Audio Book Review (Ideas: What do you include? How do you rate an audio if the narrator is good but the story isn’t (or the other way around). Do you let people know the book was an audio off the bat, or do you surprise them with it at the end, ‘trick’ them into reading the review?)


If I've just read the book and listened to the audio, then usually I'll review them together. I'll discuss the book as I would usually do, then I'll add my thoughts on the audio. As to what I include--I list the basics: the title of the book, author of the book, publisher of the audio, and length of the audio. I would then, of course, discuss the narrator and/or the adaptation if it is an abridged book. I share my reactions to listening to a book.

If it's been a while since I've read the book, then I'll write a review just for the audio. I'll just include a link to the original review, and write up something short that shares my thoughts on the audio book.

If I don't like a narrator, then chances are really good I'll just give up on the audio. Especially since I listen to audio books as a way to "reread" some of the books I've already read and enjoyed. For example, while I love Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, the narrator just didn't work for me. So I gave up on listening to these.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter. R.J. Anderson. 2009. April 2009. HarperCollins. 336 pages.

"I only want to go out for a little, little while," the faery child pleaded. "Just below the window, on that branch. I won't fly away and I won't tell anyone, I promise."

Faeries are typically magical creatures--capable of using magic for good or evil. But this faery realm lacks magic...it is in fact dying--slowly but surely. How did these faeries lose their magic? Is there a way to get it back? Who holds the answers?

Our heroine, Knife, may be small, she is a faery after all, but she's strong. She's determined. She's ambitious. She's a real warrior. A hunter, actually. She's loyal to the faery queen too. For the most part. If only there weren't so many secrets, so many mysteries, so many dangers. If only Knife could see the big picture then maybe it would all make sense.

Knife is one of the many faeries living in the Oak. All her life she's heard warnings about the Outside, warnings about humans. But there is a part of Knife that is more curious than cautious. A part of her that just has to see for herself, to know for certain what that outside world is really like.

And Knife gets her chance! She meets Paul, a human boy with a broken body and broken spirit. What can Paul teach her about life, about love? And just what can Knife show him? Can they be each other's salvation? Or will their friendship lead to only greater despair...

I liked this one. It was different than what I thought it would be. But different in a good way. I liked the faery realm Anderson created. I liked meeting these characters.

The sequel to Spell Hunter is Wayfarer.

To visit other stops on the tour:

Whispers of Dawn, The Book Cellar, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, KidzBookBuzz.com, Reading is My Superpower, Book Crumbs, Becky’s Book Reviews, Fireside Musings, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, Homeschool Book Buzz, Homespun Light, Book Review Maniac

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews