The Maiden Of Mayfair (Tales of London, v. 1)

Written by Lawana Blackwell
Review by Dana Cohlmeyer

This heartwarming work set in Victorian London tells of a young girl’s inspirational journey from abandonment to belonging. Sarah Matthews, raised in an orphanage in the slums of London, suddenly finds herself living in the wealthy Mayfair district as the ward of a wealthy widow, Dorothea Blake. Sarah and Dorothea struggle to understand each another, but one is harboring a secret that has the potential to destroy their fragile world and make outcasts of both among London’s social elite. They and Naomi, the servant woman that brought them together, struggle to discover God’s love and develop a bond stronger than blood.

Although this story has a strong Christian core, it is one most readers of historical fiction would find intriguing regardless of personal religious beliefs. This is a charming, tender and sometimes funny story that delves into Victorian social structure. By forcing readers to question the moral implications of characters’ choices, The Maiden of Mayfair is a book that finds one thinking about these choices long after the book has been put back on the shelf.