Reviewer: Trudy Smith
Title: The Lady's Maid - 1st in the Prairie Dreams series
Author: Susan Page Davis
Publisher: Barbour
ISBN-13: 978-1-61626-439-0
Release Date: October 2011
Genre/Sub-genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 978-1-61626-439-0
Overall Rating: 3.75
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Susan's Website/Blog: www.susanpagedavis.com
Elise Finster has been a Lady’s maid for many years in service to the Earl and Lady of Stoneford. The Earl has recently passed away as his wife before him. Now their daughter, Lady Anne is alone except for her cousin and an uncle who went to America some 20 years ago and hasn’t been heard from in many years.
Afraid that her cousin will become the new Earl, Lady Anne and Elise head to America to find Uncle David. The trail first leads them to St. Louis but it appears it’s been 10 years since Uncle David left St. Louis to head west; Oregon it appears was his destination. Now both Lady Anne and Elise are determined to find David so he can claim his rightful position to the earldom. It appears the only viable way to reach Oregon is by wagon train so the Lady and her maid begin the arduous journey.
Eb Bentley can’t believe his good friend and wagon master Rob Whistler is allowing the "ladies" on the train. It’s obvious to the scout that these ladies are just that and haven’t done a lick of work, at least not the hard work that’s required on a wagon train. With hard work, a few trying experiences and God, after a while the ladies are proving that they are willing and eager to pull their weight to get to Oregon.
Though the ladies have become more than just a Lady and her maid, Elise knows her place and her responsibility to Anne. When Elise and Eb are drawn to each other will Elise choose true love or responsibility? Will the Wild West be too wild for Elise and Anne? Will they find David and return "home" or let God direct their paths to the home He wants them to have?
By mixing regency and western genres, Susan Page Davis has crafted a story that will satisfy the draw to both eras. As the story was set up, before the actual wagon train journey began, I found the story dragged a bit, but as soon as the train left Independence, the story moved right along. It was heart-warming to find two pampered ladies wanting to pull their own weight and not expecting that their rank and privilege would carry them. All the characters are well-rounded with lots of heart, with human-like qualities.
A surprise ending kind of took me aback for a moment but I trust that the next book in the Prairie Dreams series will pick up where The Lady’s Maid left off. Will Lady Anne’s story be the next one to be told? I look forward to the next Prairie Dreams tale.
Trudy
Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Trudy know.
Top
Reviews
Featured Reviews
Archived Reviews