Charlotte Gleason is a socialite - she has it all - money-prestige-a life of the idle rich. However all this comes crashing down on her 19th birthday. She planned a big party, inviting all her friends, but no one comes. What is happening? Society is turning their backs on the Gleasons. It seems her father has lost his fortune and is involved in a divorce scandal. Masquerade by Nancy Moser Bethany House October 2010 Thomas has made an arranged marriage for Charlotte. She is to travel to New York to marry one of America's wealthiest heirs - Conrad Tremaine. Charlotte is balking at this arrangement, but her father is adamant. She really has no choice in the matter. She is is go to New York with her mother and marry a man she has never met for the sake of the family's reputation. Circumstances change, her mother becomes too ill to travel and she is to travel with her maid. Dora Connors. They set sail on the Steamship Etruria bound for America. Charlotte makes the decision to have Dora travel as her companion - not her maid- and sets about turning Dora into a lady. Dora finds she has a talent for being charming and soon becomes the belle of the ball. A prominent doctor on board is attracted to Dora and this makes Charlotte (or Lottie as she is frequently called) very angry. After all she is the lady and Dora is just a maid. During the voyage Lottie reaches the decision that she cannot marry Conrad. She persuades Dora to take her identify and become Charlotte Gleason and marry Conrad. This is a dream come true for Dora. When they arrive in New York, Dora goes with the Tremaines and Lottie strikes out on here own. Her jewelry and money is stolen and she doesn't know what to do. She is befriended by Lea Scarpelli and taken to their home. Lottie is thankful for their help, but is determined to take back her rightful place in the Tremaine home. While Dora is living the life of a high society lady, Lottie is fighting just to survive. She finds an abandoned baby left on the street; when she takes the baby to a foundling home she finds her old Nanny as head mistress of the home. Dora is so afraid the Tremaines will learn her true identify and Lottie will make trouble claiming she is the real Charlotte Gleason. She is fond of Conrad, but can she marry him and live a lie. What about her feelings for Doctor Greenfield? One must read the book to learn the fate of Lottie and Dora. Is Dora's true identity discovered - what happens to Lottie? This is truly an amazing book. You will find it hard to put down. Ms. Moser is an excellent writer of historical fiction. Highly recommended.