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Don’t be thrown off by the title, Carnegie’s Maid(paid link), when it comes to this novel. Some people want fiction, not history – I get that. BUT, whether you like historical fiction, realistic fiction, romance, mystery, whatever it may be, I guarantee you will still enjoy this book.

Let me stray away for a second and praise Marie Benedict for the amazing author that she is. She has a knack for taking an instance from history, and building her own fiction around it. By the end of her books, you’ll have yourself questioning if it could have truly happened. I’m looking forward to reading her newest book, “The Only Woman in the Room.”

With “Carnegie’s Maid,” it is about an Irish immigrant, Clara Kelly, who is shipped of to America and finds herself easily swept away into a life that was meant for a different ‘Clara Kelly’ (something which probably was very common back then due to the heavy migration to America at that time). Under this impersonation, she becomes a lady’s maid to Andrew Carnegie’s mother.

After a few encounters, Andrew can’t take his mind off of Clara and neither can she. Unlike other lady maid’s, she has a knack for reading and literature taught to her by her father. Her and Andrew share multiple forbidden walks together where they are truly able to delve into their honest opinions.

Then, something happens and the two are forced to be split from each other. I can’t spoil the ending, so you’ll have to read the novel to find out exactly what happens. What becomes of the woman who has changed Andrew Carnegie forever, and caused his sudden vow to charitable functions?

This story is so beautifully written, in diction and in detail. Marie makes you feel like you are in that time period and a part of the Carnegie household.

This is a must read! 🙂