Title: The Maidservant in Cabin Number One: The Beginning (The Guest Book Trilogy 4)
Author: Chrysteen Braun
Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction
Book Blurb:
"Braun uses the mountainous area and cabins to her advantage in telling the stories of her characters. An exceptional plot. Her character development is outstanding."—Readers' Favorite
After her father’s death in 1923, when Ruth Ann Landry is just ten, she joins her mother as a maidservant for a wealthy Seattle family. The hours are long, the rules are strict, but she and her mother desperately need her wages to survive.
By the time she’s seventeen, they’ve moved into the house, and she’s become a mistress to her employer. While accompanying the family on vacation, she sees an opportunity to start a new life, and leaves. Ruth eventually finds solace in the mountain town of Lake Arrowhead, California, where she stays in one of the cabins owned by a man who becomes part of her future.
The Maidservant in Cabin Number One is the beginning of the story of The Guest Book Trilogy, and of Annie Parker who eventually comes to own the cabins where Ruth Landry stayed.
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/KpruHNC5lmQ
My Review:
Ruth Ann learns quickly her station in life as a maidservant, but can she carve out a life for herself and her unborn child in the wilds of Lake Arrowhead? The Maidservant in Cabin Number One: The Beginning is a poignant story of a young girl named Ruth Ann and her incredible life. Seeing the world events and history through her eyes is what makes this book impossible to put down. The descriptive narration is immersive. The historical accuracy is on point. But it’s the characters, especially Ruth Ann, that make The Maidservant in Cabin Number One: The Beginning such an engrossing read.
Let’s start with the characters. Ruth Ann’s life unfolds throughout the span of this book and let me tell you, it’s a fascinating life. She learns to survive and thrive. Her spirit and determination are two traits I love about her. I connected with her on so many levels.
The rest of the characters breathe life into this story. Each character is well-written and are the embodiment of this historical time period.
The descriptive narration and historical setting are flawless. Chrysteen Braun details every scene so the reader can experience everything that Ruth Ann feels. The little historical tidbits add such depth to the overall story. There are big world events (World War One, etc.) that are poignantly described which had me whipping through the pages.
If you’re looking for a book that will transport you to a different time period, pick up The Maidservant in Cabin Number One: The Beginning. It’s quite lovely.
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it Now:
B&N Paperback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-maidservant-in-cabin-number-one-chrysteen-braun/1145157824
B&N Hardcover: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-maidservant-in-cabin-number-one-chrysteen-braun/1145157824?ean=9781647048099
Amazon eBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYS2BCVZ
Google Play eBook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=Z8r8EAAAQBAJ
iTunes eBook: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6479916433
Author Biography:
Chrysteen Braun is a California native, born and raised in Long Beach.
The mountains, where she and her husband had a second home, were the inspiration for her first three books, The Guest Book Trilogy. These fictional restored cabins from the late 1920s all had their own stories to tell.
Her writing crosses genres of Women’s Fiction with relationships, and a little mystery and intrigue. She’s published articles about her field of interior design and remodeling, both for trade publications and her local newspaper.
She lives in Coto de Caza, with her husband Larry and two Siamese cats.
Contact her at chrysteenbraun@gmail.com, or www.chrysteenbraun.com
Social Media Links:
Website: www.chrysteenbraun.com
Newsletter: https://chrysteenbraun.com/newsletter/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/chrysteenbrauncom
Reviewed by: Nancy