Helpful Score: 6
I'll admit....I hated it at first. For the first 140 pages, the characters are flat, one-dimensional, inconsistent and just not believable. Then there was an incredible act of kindness and generosity on the part of the hero and it turned the whole book around for me. And it just got better from there. It does have the typical Gist edgy-ness...the heroine gets drunk at a party when she doesn't know the punch is spiked, child abuse figures heavily in the story line, and there is a detailed description of the newlyweds undressing on their wedding night (but it stops when the sheets are pulled back). A Bride Most Begrudging is still my favorite by this author, but this will now rank a very close second. So if you don't like the beginning, just stick with it. It is sooooooo worth it!
Helpful Score: 2
Enjoyed this story very much. I didn't realize that so much work went into an estate or how a person was trained to be a lady's maid. The story was also interesting from the two points of upbringing.
Helpful Score: 1
The Gilded Age of America led into the Progressive Era; it was a time of great wealth for those who had made fortunes during the Industrial Revolution. The Progressive Era was also a time of social activism that exposed the plight of factory workers, women's suffrage and the treatment of orphans. All of these factors are at work in "Maid to Match" by Deeanne Gist, a novel that takes place on the Biltmore Estate of George Washington Vanderbilt in 1898.
This is a thoroughly researched novel. The author visited Biltmore and has portrayed the hierarchy of the servant class very well. Although slightly different from the servant class of Europe, "Downton Abbey' fans will recognize characters similar to Daisy, Mr. Bates, Mr. Carson and others. There is even a scoundrel that resembles Thomas! The story about how the orphans were treated reminds one of the poor children in "Oliver Twist" and history shows that orphanages of this era were often times little more than work houses. Gist has a way of writing a story that keeps one turning pages to see how it's all going to work out; even when the reader thinks they have it figured out, she throws in a surprise twist that one didn't see coming.
Read more of this review:
http://www.examiner.com/article/review-maid-to-match-by-deeanne-gist
This is a thoroughly researched novel. The author visited Biltmore and has portrayed the hierarchy of the servant class very well. Although slightly different from the servant class of Europe, "Downton Abbey' fans will recognize characters similar to Daisy, Mr. Bates, Mr. Carson and others. There is even a scoundrel that resembles Thomas! The story about how the orphans were treated reminds one of the poor children in "Oliver Twist" and history shows that orphanages of this era were often times little more than work houses. Gist has a way of writing a story that keeps one turning pages to see how it's all going to work out; even when the reader thinks they have it figured out, she throws in a surprise twist that one didn't see coming.
Read more of this review:
http://www.examiner.com/article/review-maid-to-match-by-deeanne-gist
This is a love story that takes place within Biltmore, the huge mansion of the Vanderbilts. The Details of the running of the mansion are interesting, but it really seems to me to be a novel for young adults. The writing is very simplistic....but it is a nice little book and very uncomplicated in its plot. Genny
Living only an hour from the Biltmore I enjoyed the details in this book of the house and the estate. An easy enjoyable read.
if you liked Downton Abbey, you will love this book. It is the perfect historical romance book. Definetly a keeper.
Great historical fistion. Wonderful characters.
Great read! Fascinating insight of "The Help" in a mansion of those days......
Loved this book! It has the same "feeling" as Downton Abbey for me; which I love. In some ways this was even better: It was done on a more personal level. It was a wonderful escape and I could not put it down I was totally transported.
A very light, sweet, clean romance. The unique setting is what really makes the story stand out from the rest, though. Readers of any kind of historical romance are so used to the servants being only background comments that a book that actually allows those servants center stage is wonderful in and of itself. Gist offers a very realistic look at the realities, both good and bad, in the life of the servant class while weaving a very sweet romance into the fabric. For that alone this book is highly recommended reading
I really enjoyed this story. I learned a lot of what maids, footmen, etc. duties were in that age, and how important their jobs were to them. It was a nice love story also. Then on the other hand were the orphans which made me sad. All in all it is a good read for anyone who likes a little history and a lot of romance.
This book is an entertaining book that keeps you coming back for more! I bit raw, I would use discernment in sharing this book with young people. However, as always, Gist packs this book with historical richness. The history of the Biltmore estate is fasinating and makes for a great read.
This was such a good book. I have read other novels by Deeanne Gist before and Maid to Match is my favorite. Tillie is the Head Parlor Maid and is in line to become Mrs. Vanderbilt's personal maid, a job she desperately wants. However, there is a certain man named Mack who has different plans for Tillie. The story flows smoothly with some very funny moments along with sad moments involving the local orphanage. I highly recommend this book!
I'd call this historical fiction. Based upon actual history of the Biltmore house and family, but definitely a great fictional piece of literature. I do not read a lot of fiction. I prefer bio.s or autobio.s or true life stores. But I must admit, I totally enjoyed the story, could hardly lay it down. You'll love this one!
I waited a really long time on the FIFO list for this book and was very much looking forward to reading it. Deeanne Gist knocked it out of the park with her book Courting Trouble and I've since sought out the rest of her novels in hopes of finding another one just as good. Unfortunately, none have made it onto my keeper shelf to sit alongside Courting Trouble (except for its sequel, I have this thing about keeping series together.)
I had really high hopes for Maid to Match. It's a story based on the POV of a maid in the Biltmore home in Asheville, NC. (If you aren't familiar with Biltmore, Google it, just to see the pictures. It's the most incredible 250 room mansion ever built. Or better yet, spend the $50 entrance fee and take the grand tour to experience it for yourself, it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing!)
I didn't feel like the author got into Tillie's, the heroine's, head the way she did in Courting Trouble. I liked her but didn't really care about her, which I guess is the difference. I also was looking forward to some real insights about life as a servant in this time period and what their jobs entailed. The author did cover this lightly, but not in enough detail to really satisfy. I think the book outline was terrific: what life was like "downstairs", life in a stratospherically wealthy home, stepping into a poorly run orphanage and true love. I also thought she was more of a Christian author but she glossed over that so lightly that I wouldn't classify this book as such. With the premise of this book, it had great ideas but it just plain under-delivered. It was a decent book, glad I read it once, disappointed it's not worth reading twice. I listed it back up for swap the night I finished it.
I had really high hopes for Maid to Match. It's a story based on the POV of a maid in the Biltmore home in Asheville, NC. (If you aren't familiar with Biltmore, Google it, just to see the pictures. It's the most incredible 250 room mansion ever built. Or better yet, spend the $50 entrance fee and take the grand tour to experience it for yourself, it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing!)
I didn't feel like the author got into Tillie's, the heroine's, head the way she did in Courting Trouble. I liked her but didn't really care about her, which I guess is the difference. I also was looking forward to some real insights about life as a servant in this time period and what their jobs entailed. The author did cover this lightly, but not in enough detail to really satisfy. I think the book outline was terrific: what life was like "downstairs", life in a stratospherically wealthy home, stepping into a poorly run orphanage and true love. I also thought she was more of a Christian author but she glossed over that so lightly that I wouldn't classify this book as such. With the premise of this book, it had great ideas but it just plain under-delivered. It was a decent book, glad I read it once, disappointed it's not worth reading twice. I listed it back up for swap the night I finished it.
I delightful tale!
This story was fair. I enjoyed hearing about the time period and about Biltmore. I did find the story very predictable and a bit lame.
