Elegance and wealth. Privilege and politics. The extravagance of the Butterfly Palace overwhelmed Lily’s senses and nearly smothered her painful memories. She pushed away her misgivings . . . She was perfectly safe in this huge house.
Austin, Texas—1904: Abandoned by the love of her life and still mourning the loss of her mother, Lily Donaldson has turned her back on the pain and come to Austin for a fresh start, working for the Marshall family as a kitchen maid in their luxurious mansion, the Butterfly Palace. The tasks before her are legion, and her mistress less than pleasant, but at least Lily’s new life will be, if nothing else, distracting.
But one night, while serving at a dinner party, Lily recognizes the man who abandoned her, Andy, her liaison from the livery stable, the blacksmith’s son . . . sitting among the distinguished guests. Though he recognizes her, Andy does not acknowledge her aloud, and Lily is left reeling, flabbergasted, and irate.
But before she can get an explanation, the path of the Servant Girl Killer swerves very close to the Butterfly Palace, sowing terror among the maids. Having come to Austin to start anew, Lily suddenly feels trapped in a spider web. How can she know who to trust in a house where lies come dressed in fine suits and deceit in silk gowns the colors of butterfly wings?
“This story about the importance of having faith, especially in your darkest hour, is recommended for fans of Amanda Quick and Sandra Brown and for readers who enjoy romantic suspense and historical fiction.” —Library Journal
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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
Overall Lily Donaldson never expected to see the face of her oncebeloved fiance , Andy Hawkins, ever again; especially posing as a fine gentleman around the grand dinner table at the famed Butterfly Palace. \"Drew Hawkes\", as he has introduced himself, is just as shocked; to see his beautiful Lily serving as a house maid in the Marshall's home; their reintroduction resurrecting pleasant memories of their past and torturous reminders of his abrupt abandonment following the murder of their fathers. As Lily and Drew find themselves crossing each other's paths in the elegant, but strangeattimes mansion, it becomes clear that many people within their acquaintance are not at all who they present themselves to be. And when young blond servant girls in the Austin area continue to fall prey to a heinous serial killer, Drew is forced to reveal his true identity to Lily and pray that he can protect her as they dig deeper into a tangled web of crime. This vintage mystery has a nice pace and leaves many questions unanswered until the story comes to a fitting conclusion.
Violence There are several murders and struggles with attempted murders, but the violence is descriptive.