The Girl on the Midway Stage: A Novel of Love, Ambition and Scandal at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair

By DeAnna Cameron

Book Overview

LOVE, AMBITION & SCANDAL COLLIDE AT THE 1893 CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR

Dora Chambers may be the newest Lady Manager at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, but it isn't quite the plum position she expected.

Instead of afternoon teas and fancy dinner parties, she finds herself on the dusty Midway Plaisance, tasked with overseeing the Egyptian dancers whose shimmies and scant costumes are stirring up a scandal. Fueled by the Fair's progressive spirit and heady enthusiasm, Dora rises above her disappointment and embraces a determination to fulfill her duty and aid her husband's social ambition.

But as her eyes open to the world beyond her own and unlikely friendships are forged, Dora finds the courage to face long-buried secrets that change everything. Can the life she's always longed for still be the one she desires? Or will this tantalizing new passion change her forever?

THE GIRL ON THE MIDWAY STAGE is unforgettable historical fiction steeped in authentic Victorian detail and an exotic love story that will sweep you up in Dora's struggle to adapt to her changing world and forge her unique happily-ever-after. This is the debut novel from DeAnna Cameron and is a richly imagined, romantic historical novel that was formerly published as THE BELLY DANCER by Berkley/Penguin.

Rating: PG

THE DANCER CHRONICLES stand-alone novels feature young women destined for passion and fame. Step into their heart-warming stories of love and discovery, where there's never a cliff-hanger ending and always an uplifting happily-ever-after.

THE DANCER CHRONICLES
THE GIRL ON MIDWAY STAGE
THE GIRL ON THE VAUDEVILLE STAGE

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0990814653
• ISBN13: 9780990814658
• Release Date: September 2016
• Publisher: Fine Skylark Media
• Length: 358 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Engaging

Cameron's writing really draws you in. I felt as if I was Dora, being enthralled by the exotic smells, brilliant costumes, and drum beats of the Middle East for the first time. I was sharing her passion and enduring her pain, while experiencing life in 1893 Chicago. The historical context seemed pretty accurate, and I enjoyed the description of the dance. I don't think you have to be a fan of romance or belly dance to find this book engaging. It is extremely well written and hard to put down. Loved It! Can't wait for her next book!

The Belly Dancer book Raks!

I loved this book! When I put it down, I was thinking about when I could pick it up again. I hope there will be a sequel! And as a bellydancer, I was impressed with the accuracy of the bellydance history. DeAnna Cameron gave us a totally delightful read that was sensitive, entertaining and a wonderful respectful exposure of bellydancers. Great job!

Captivating story

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Let me first say that I don't read romance. As a genre, the stuff I tried to read in my youth (200 years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth) was melodramatic, sordid, over-the-top, blech. Now that I've read The Belly Dancer, I may have to dabble in romance again. DeAnna's story of this young New Orleans girl who thinks she wants one thing, when in reality, she needs another, kept me so captivated that I read it in one day. The juxtaposition of the straight-laced Victorian society with the exotic world of not just belly dancers, but "Fair folk" made each one of Dora's jaunts to the theater so intriguing - I couldn't wait to find out what would happen. Bottom line: If you like romance, you'll love The Belly Dancer, and if you don't like romance, you'll still love The Belly Dancer.

TERRIFIC STORY!!!

I FINISHED IT ALREADY!! What an awesome story of a woman finding her inner self and strength. The descriptions of each of the characters really brought them to life. I can hardly wait for the next book!!

terrific historical tale

Leaving New Orleans with her new husband, Dora Chambers vows to be a good wife. To obtain her spouse's approving regard, she joins Chicago's Fair's Board of Lady Managers. However, her efforts do not register with him as he remains distant and colder than the city's weather in winter. The Fair's Board of Lady Managers assigns Dora to the seemingly nasty task of monitoring the belly dancing exhibition at the World's Fair. While the prim and proper female elite laugh at Dora, she finds the assignment fun, likes and admirers the dancers and is attracted to their manager, Hossam Farouk. He is an enigma to her as his voice says he distrusts her, but his eyes say he wants her. Inside the pavilion, Dora feels free unlike outside where she lives in a gilded cage. The setting of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago provides more than just a wonderful backdrop as people from around the globe show off the best of their respective societies. In that venue, the innocent heroine, while trying to please her husband's family and friends, becomes Dora the "Explorer". However what she mostly scrutinizes is herself as she wants to break out of the chains society places on women, but also fears the consequences. THE BELLY DANCER is a terrific historical tale that proudly salutes the nineteenth century suffragette movement leaders and their everyday troops while also affirming society is so much stronger when barriers of specifically group aimed restraints are limited. Harriet Klausner