Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell

Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell ISBN-13: 9780800720896 Trade Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Revell Released: March 1, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte...or other French political groups.

Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is asked by the Home Office to pose as the countess's butler and discover where her true loyalties lie. If he succeeds, he's been promised a career promotion--perhaps attached to a diplomat as he always wished. A better paying job would also mean he could afford to marry.

But the longer he observes her kindness toward all, no matter their social class, the more he hopes Lady Wexham isn't a spy. If she is, she's playing a dangerous game...


My Review:
Moonlight Masquerade is a Christian historical romance set mainly in 1813 in England. The political and everyday historical details (like manners and dress) were woven naturally into the action and brought the story vividly to life in my imagination. The suspense came mainly from the continual danger of the undercover activities.

The romance was a sweet one with two nice people who come to care about each other, only circumstances stand between them. I wasn't sure how believable I'd find the romance as I'd have a hard time accepting hard-core patriots for opposites sides genuinely falling in love (rather than lust). Luckily, the situation and motives were more complex than that, and I did find the romance believable. I was a bit astonished by how helpful certain people were at the very end, though.

Celine gave up on God when a prayer for protection for someone she loved was not fulfilled as she wished. Rees was a devoted, Bible-reading Christian. The Christian content flowed as a natural part of the characters' behavior and from their circumstances, though it wasn't a major focus of the story.

There was no bad language. The was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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