Synopses & Reviews
A scandal that shocks a nation...and a passion that transforms a woman. At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the modern, the exotic, and the ground-breaking collide. But Dora Chambers has more pressing matters to consider. Hoping to begin a life of wealth and privilege in Chicago, she sets out to earn the approval of the Fair's Board of Lady Managers to appease her ambitious, aloof husband. Unimpressed, they give Dora the distasteful task of enforcing proper conduct at the Egyptian belly dancing exhibition.
But Dora's sensibilities are not so easily flustered. She finds herself captivated by these exotic women, and by their enigmatic manager, Hossam Farouk, who makes his mistrust of her known-although his lingering glances hint at something else.
As Dora's eyes are opened to the world beyond a life of social expectations and quiet servitude, she finds the courage to break free of her self-imposed bondage, and discovers the truth about the desire and passion in her own heart.
Review
"The characters in this novel will dance right off the page and into your imagination! Cameron's representation of late nineteenth century Chicago is rich and evocative, and the whispered echoes of old New Orleans in Dora's fragmented memory left me hoping this author goes there with her next novel."
-Brenda Rickman Vantrease, author of The Illuminator and The Mercy Seller
"A beautifully written page-turner with characters that leap off the page, THE BELLY DANCER transports readers into an exotic and sensual world within a world, as plucky but initially nanve Dora Chambers fights Chicago society's conventions and her husband's indifference to discover, in the thrall of the Egyptian Theatre, a passion beyond her wildest dreams. Will she risk security and society's approval to live what many would think a dissolute life? Cameron keeps us guessing until the end. I loved it...(and picked up a few useful tips about seduction in the process!)."
-Lynette Brasfield, author of Booksense pick NATURE LESSONS: A NOVEL (St. Martin's Press, NY, 2004)
Synopsis
Given the task of enforcing proper conduct at the Egyptian belly dancing exhibition, Dora Chambers' eyes are opened to the world beyond a life of social expectations and quiet servitude and finds the courage to break free of her self-imposed bondage.
Synopsis
At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Dora Chambers volunteers to enforce proper conduct on the Egyptian belly dancing exhibition to earn the approval of the World Fair's Board of Lady Managers, and appease her socially ambitious husband. But Dora finds herself captivated by these exotic women and their enigmatic manager, Hossam Farouk--and discovers the truth about the desire and passion in her own heart...
Synopsis
A scandal that shocks a nation...and a passion that transforms a woman. At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the modern, the exotic, and the ground-breaking collide. But Dora Chambers has more pressing matters to consider. Hoping to begin a life of wealth and privilege in Chicago, she sets out to earn the approval of the Fair's Board of Lady Managers to appease her ambitious, aloof husband. Unimpressed, they give Dora the distasteful task of enforcing proper conduct at the Egyptian belly dancing exhibition.
But Dora's sensibilities are not so easily flustered. She finds herself captivated by these exotic women, and by their enigmatic manager, Hossam Farouk, who makes his mistrust of her known-although his lingering glances hint at something else.
As Dora's eyes are opened to the world beyond a life of social expectations and quiet servitude, she finds the courage to break free of her self-imposed bondage, and discovers the truth about the desire and passion in her own heart.
About the Author
DeAnna Cameron served as editor of Orange Coast, a regional lifestyle magazine, and worked at several Southern California newspapers before turning to fiction.