The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

By Julie Klassen

(Blurb: Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt--and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall? 

Observing both brothers as an "invisible" servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?

On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of "serve one another in love.")

This being my first Julie Klassen novel, I had no idea what to expect, but as soon as I started reading, I fell completely in love with each and every character, minus the baddies, of course! 
Our heroine starts the novel as a selfish and spoiled young woman, who after the escape of a lifetime and countless trials and tribulations, learns from a new perspective, how her actions and attitudes affected those around her. And throughout the novel , we watch her character grow and see her become a wise and kind woman. And what I liked about this novel is that however rude and spoiled Margaret was at the beginning, she was never unlikable. But, after she finds her virtue being threatened, she decides to act as Joseph did when being seduced by Potiphar's wife and just…flee! In a very real sense, her faith in God is what saved her. 
And once she arrives at her 'hiding place', she finds that she isn't as safe as she had hoped she'd be. Despite her disguise, suspicions about her identity surface and she has to constantly combat unwanted attention, while trying not to fall in love with a formerly-rejected sutor… and once she does, wondering if her could ever forgive her and rekindle their love. 
I read this novel in just one day, it was that good! I just couldn't put it down! It was moving, spiritual (but not in the preachy sense) and oh so romantic! Prepare yourself for some tears of happiness as well as squeals of all sorts! I give this novel a 9/10 :)