Customer Reviews

Maid to Match

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It was really nice to be able to read another Deeanne Gist novel, especially after having one in February, her book, Beguiled, written with another author.
This one is extremely rich in detail about Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. She has done some remarkable research and it is absolutely fascinating. However, that is just one aspect of the story. I never give away any plots of the books I review, but this one is full of all the goodness of a Deeanne Gist book. Mack Danvers is a wonderful man, caring of women and children in a time when they were mostly considered property. Tillie wants to spend her life as a ladies maid, not even thinking that maybe God has another plan for her life that includes love and a family all her own. That's all I'm giving away, but this book is rich in history and God's love, guidance and direction. And also a good measure of healthy, clean romance thrown in. Don't miss it.

*****
This lovely romance is set in Ashville, NC at the Biltmore estate at the turn of the century, and is rich with intriguing details about the estate, the servant class, the social order of the time, and so much more. The author, Deanne Gist, goes to great lengths to make the story historically accurate. Reading this novel is an adventure, exploring a portal to a world that none of us would normally know much about. Today we are in many ways class-less, but at the time this novel takes place, opportunities were carefully circumscribed by social class. The Vanderbilts (who built the Biltmore) differed from many other wealthy people in that they cared for their servants and treated them as people. Still, to be limited by one's birth was hard and this experience is explored in this novel.

It is the story of Tillie, the head parlormaid at the Biltmore, a young lady who has been raised and educated to fulfill a high position in the home of the wealthiest people in the area--an amazing opportunity. When she falls in love she must choose between this dream of her entire life and the man she falls in love with. She must also discern what God's will is in her decision.

Although this is technically a Christian romance, I would call it a "Christian lite" romance, as faith does not have an overt role in the story line. I would expect that this is a novel that would appeal to all fans of historical romance, no matter what their faith leanings.

Highly recommended.
*****

I don't think I'm saint-like enough for this book. It was difficult for me to relate to Tillie and Mack. Tillie constantly put helping other people at the top of her priorities for the future. It just baffled me that she put such heavy weight into being able to give other people monetary aid as a high motivation to keep her job. (It never seemed to strike her that she could give of her time if she had a different job.) Conversely, one of the reasons why she wanted to keep her job was because of the status and prestige. It felt like too big of a contradiction for me. Besides that, I found her to be a very weak and at times, a stupid character. She didn't seem to put much thought into how much she would like being a lady's maid. She completely ignored her motion sickness problems and put too much emphasis on what her mom wanted. She didn't think very logically about her decision and took way too long to make it.

I actually did enjoy the first half of this book. It was fun reading about Biltmore and the life of the servants. The romance between Tillie and Mack was sweet and realistic. However, once the orphanage came to be a main part of the storyline, I lost interest and started skimming. The characters involved with the orphanage were very thin and the villain was a caricature. I couldn't understand why he didn't work the kids like slaves to keep the house clean. He had no qualms about beating them. It just seems like that would saved him and his wife work and made them look better if someone happened to want to see the back of the house.

I couldn't comprehend Tillie and Mack's sacrifice at the end of the book. The obstacles that they would have faced would have been incredible. It wasn't all that happy of an ending for me. The first half of the book was a 3 or 4 star rating and the second half was a 2 star.

I have enjoyed reading all of Deeanne Gist's books, and this one was a treat! Not only are the characters wonderfully developed, the setting of The Biltmore was a fabulous twist on Gist's historical fiction. I'm especially fond of the way Gist portrays her heroines with real emotions and desires like real women, not a cleaned up, whitewashed version of a female that leave a Christian woman wondering if she's somehow sinning to have these desires.

I absolutely recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction and romance with godly influence.

Excellent storyline, well researched and flows beautifully. A definite read in my opinion. Ms. Gist books have a slightly spicy flavor, so if you are offended by spice I don't suggest reading this one. It was expertly done and never taken too far, but she really makes you feel the chemistry between a man and a woman. It was not a book that I put down and walked away from. In fact, I stayed up late to finish it. I've stopped giving out 5 stars unless it is a terrific read because of the economy. I don't want people to waste their money. You will not waste your money or your time reading this book. I actually found it educational because she included a lot of how Biltmore was built and ran.

Maid to Match is the first of Deeanne's books that I have read. And what a beautiful book it is! From exquisite cover through to its satisfying conclusion, this story is a delight.

Set in the early days of the 20th century, in and around Asheville, N.C. and Biltmore Estate, Gist takes us back to the Gilded Age and gives us a peek at the daily life of the Vanderbilts and their household staff. The historical details are fascinating, as are the characters. Gist draws the reader into the dilemma of the main characters. We share their pain and struggles, as well as their happiness, and laugh at their antics. I loved this book and look forward to picking up Gist's other books-A Bride Most Begrudging, The Measure of a Lady, Courting Trouble, Deep in the Heart of Trouble, A Bride in the Bargain, and Beguiled. I highly recommend this most enjoyable book.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable--also, the female lead character was a strong, independent character. I appreciate that because so often it seems like women in these kinds of novels come across a little stubborn at first, but really just dying to give themselves to a man. This lead character falls in love, but she's got a great head on her shoulders and plans to follow God's will, with or without a man by her side. The historical aspect of this book is great. I was so interested in the Biltmore that I looked it up online as soon as I finished reading. This is a fun, light, enjoyable story with a satisfying ending.

Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist is a Gilded Age romance filled with passion and historical detail. Tillie Reese has been groomed by her mother to be a lady's maid since she was a little girl. Working for the Vanderbilts at their Biltmore estate, she is finally presented with the opportunity. The job will go to either Tillie or rival Lucy, but when her brother asks her to help train Mack, a mountain man with a fiery temper, to work as a footman, it's more than just her job that's at stake, her heart may be endangered as well. Gist fills the book with tons of great historical information and lavishes detail about the luxurious clothing and furnishings of the Vanderbilts. Tillie is a lovable character who has very specific dreams, but isn't sure if they belong to her or her mother. Mack is a good man who the reader will easily sympathize with as he tries to make his way in a foreign world while trying to support his younger sister who is living in a detestable orphanage. Mack and Tillie's relationship is one of the most passionate I've ever read in a Christian fiction book; the pages absolutely sizzle when they are together. Some Christian romances are filled with heroes and heroines who don't have much personality, but Mack and Tillie are such terrific characters, I was sad to reach the end of the book, because I know that these two have many more stories to tell. I hope that Gist writes a sequel.

Tillie Reese is dazzled from the day she arrives at the Biltmore. She is now the head parlor maid, and she has aspirations of becoming the ladies maid. But then, the Vanderbilts hire Mack Danvers, a mountain man. Mainly because Mack's twin brother, Evan is employed there and Mrs. Vanderbilts is thinking of the handsome twin brothers as being footmen. But there's a problem.

Mack is a rough mountain man, used to talking with his fists and not his mouth. and turning him loose in an opulent mansion is a cause for disaster--for the crystal goblets and for Tillie. Especially when Tillie is chosen to teach Mack proper servant etiquette.

The stakes are raised even higher when a scandal at the orphanage involves Mack--and Tillie, by association. And now they could both lose their jobs--their aspirations--and their hearts.

MAID TO MATCH is a book I wanted to read for a long time and I'm so glad it finally wandered across my path. I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic tale and learning a bit about the life of the extremely rich and famous, though to be honest, some of the details grossed me out. I don't think I would have lasted one day as a ladies maid so I have to hand it to Tillie that she was willing to try--and wanted to succeed!

The romance was every bit as good as what I came to expect from Ms. Gist's writing, and she had me hooked from the moment the heroine and hero met and noticed each other. If you are looking for a good historical romance, rich with historical detail, then you'll want to read MAID TO MATCH. More history about that time period is included in the author's notes at the end of the book.

The first book I read by Deeanne Gist was Courting Trouble. By the time I was done, I had become an avid fan and devoured every book of hers I could find. Gist remains one of my favorite authors of historical fiction. Maid to Match is another winning offering, giving us characters who are so alive, you almost feel like you've stepped into a time machine and gone back to 1898 North Carolina. Fans of Gist will be charmed by this fun, passionate novel. And if you're new to Gist, I guarentee this novel will make a fan out of you.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for reviewing purposes.