Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a blemish on Hazel’s real name. So when she takes a job as Doctor Gilbert Watts’s lady in attendance in 1898, she does so under an alias. In the presence of her quiet and pious employer, Hazel finds more than an income. She finds a friend and a hope that if she can set her tarnished past in order, she might have a future after all.
As Gilbert becomes accustomed to the pleasant chatter of his new dental assistant, he can’t help but sense something secretive about her. Perhaps there is more to this woman than meets the eye. Can the questions that loom between them ever be answered? Or will the deeds of days gone by forever rob the future of its possibilities?
Rachel Fordham pens a tender tale of a soft-spoken man, a hardened woman, and the friends that stand by them as they work toward a common purpose–to expunge the record of someone society deemed beyond saving–and perhaps find love along the way.
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Sexual Content - 1`/5
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Violence - 1/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
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Summary
From: Rebecca Maney
Book Title: A Lady in Attendance
Book Author: Rachel Fordham
What do you like about this book:
3.5 stars
"There was a time when Hazel felt irreplaceable and important. But now she was merely a rent payment. A wayward soul with no real place, and the reminder was humbling."
Sometimes life had a way of dismantling one's sense of importance; thus Hazel McDowell had been demoted into a life of humility through no fault, or even every fault, of her own. Five years of reformatory had left her nearly penniless and unable to return home dragging the heavy burden of a tainted reputation. Thrilled to secure a position as a "lady in attendance" to Doctor Gilbert Watts, a local dental physician in a small New York town, Hazel never imagined that this particular employment might provide the opportunity to re-discover herself, begin to atone for her mistakes, and possibly discover love in the process.
"Women were a mystery, that was for certain. And Hazel was no exception. "
Gilbert Watts was content with his life as a dentist, following in his beloved father's footsteps, serving the citizens of Amherst. Now second guessing his decision to hire a lady in attendance, he reluctantly supposed that he could at least allow Hazel McDowell an opportunity to prove her worth. The fact that she didn't bat her eyes at him all the time (like some of the applicants)bode well, and she had readily accepted his terms of firm profession boundaries without question. But before long, it turned out to be Gilbert that actually looked forward to Hazel's lively presence in his office, admiring how she managed difficult tasks with efficiency and appreciating her ability to calm difficult patients with ease. But she's hiding something, he's sure of it. He just had no idea how big.
What a lovely story! With precision plot balance, the author penned a picture of life after . . . navigating the results of grave errors which most would agree could potentially breed anger, resentment, and revenge but had produced humility, kindness, and compassion instead. The blend of character traits in both hero and heroine served them well, painting a picture of grace . . . lived without and within, some very difficult circumstances. And of course the combination of romance and intrigue added to the overall ambiance . . . . . repeat after me, "a red ear of corn".
I received a copy of this book from the Baker Publishing Group through Interviews and Reviews.