Butterfly Palace By Colleen Coble

You have to love a female main character who runs into obstacle after obstacle after obstacle and gets stronger after each run-in. Especially when she’s living in the turn of the 20th century.

After her father is killed in a fire, her fiancé vanishes without a trace and her mother dies not long afterward, Lily Donaldson decides to move away and put her past behind her. Although she’s never worked “in service” before, she takes a job as a maid in a mansion called Butterfly Palace.

Lily isn’t even in settled in yet when she learns The Servant Girl Killer (While doing research Coble discovered there really was a Servant Girl Killer!) has resurfaced, her former fiancé is a guest at Butterfly Palace living under an assumed name, and her mistress is a 23-year-old spoiled brat.

Not only does she have The Servant Girl Killer and mistress Belle to deal with, her former fiancé has some secrets he shares with her and she finds that she still has feelings for him despite the fact he broke her hear. Still, she stays strong and manages to help solve a couple of crimes.

As much as I like Lily, though, I found Belle to be the most intriguing character because of the transformation she makes throughout the story.

If you’re not into romance novels, don’t let the fact that this book falls into that category in some lists sway you from picking it up. The suspense and intrigue more than make up for any romance that may turn you off.

Listen to my interview with Colleen Coble -- and learn about a special offer -- here.

4 of 5

What do you think?

Note: I did get a free copy of the book from the publisher.