The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose

 

I recently received an advanced reader copy of The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose.  I had the first two books on my to be read pile for a while now and had never gotten around to starting them.  I'm really happy getting this copy got me to prioritize reading the first two novels because this is an excellent series.

Molly the Maid (she's heard the jokes before) loves working as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel.  She takes her role as Head Maid very seriously.  Molly takes great pride in doing the job well.  Her grandmother has taught her well.  Although these past years she's been distracted from her job by mysteries that have occurred at the Regency Grand.

In the first two novels, The Maid and The Mystery Guest, Molly finds herself in the middle of crimes and The Maid's Secret is no different.  When the Hidden Treasures reality TV show comes to the Regency Grand Molly brings a few of her treasures to be assessed not expecting one of her items to be the highest valued item the show has ever seen.  Molly has long treasured a jewelled egg she received as a child.  When the TV hosts tell her it's a real Faberge Egg worth millions Molly faints right there on the stage.

The Maid's Secret is told in alternating chapters - telling the story of her grandmother, Flora Gray, who raised her and the mystery of the Faberge Egg.  I don't want to say too much about this particular book as it may spoil parts of the first two novels.  

I really enjoyed all three of these novels.  I loved all the characters - especially Molly.  I loved that the novels had mystery - including murder - but handled them in a not so serious manner.  I highly recommend these novels to anyone looking for a lighthearted mystery series.  

As for the Faberge Egg - a few years ago while I was on vacation I passed a jewellery store on a cruise ship that had the most beautiful bejewelled egg.  After admiring the egg for a few days I finally stopped into the store to hear more about this egg.  The particular egg I saw was made by the grandson of the original Faberge eggs.  This egg was far less expensive and prized than the original Faberge Eggs but no less beautiful.  I came to find this egg that had caught my attention was over $20,000 so sadly it didn't come home with me.  But I was so excited to read more about the Faberge in all three of these novels.  Take a moment to read more about these eggs and if you ever get to see one and their intricate details you will be amazed.

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman

 

Viola Shipman is a new author read for me although she has many books published.  The Page Turner was a fun lighthearted read with some twists and turns.  You may even learn a few things you don't know about publishing a book and become inspired to write a novel yourself.

Emma Page has recently graduated college.  She still doesn't know what she wants to do with her life but she knows it involves books.  She's got her first manuscript finished but is it good enough to submit to a publisher?  And which publisher would she submit it to her?   Certainly not The Mighty Pages, they would never publish the fluff she likes to write.  Also, The Mighty Pages is owned by her parents and she definitely isn't ready for them to read it.

Everything would be better if her grandmother Gigi was still around.  They have always shared a love of books.  At least she grabbed a few of Gigi's old romance books to read before her parents tossed them.  But it's time to stop day dreaming and reading all day and commit to a career and stop wasting her degree.  But is there a future for Emma at The Mighty Pages?  She wants to be excited about books and she's not excited about the books her parents publish.