A Noble Masquerade

Back Cover

Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree.  Approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother’s old school friend, the Duke of Marshington.  Since she’s never actually met the man, she has no intention of ever sending the letters and is mortified when her brother’s mysterious new valet, Marlow, mistakenly mails one of the letters to the unsuspecting duke.

Shockingly, this breach of etiquette results in a reply from the duke that soon leads to a lively correspondence.  Insecurity about her previous lack of suitors soon becomes confusion as Miranda finds herself equally intrigued by Marlow, a man she has come to depend upon but whose behaviour grows more suspicious by the day.  As the secret goings-on at her family’s estate come to light, one thing is certain:  Miranda’s heart is far from all that’s at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.

Review

Make room bookshelves everywhere!  A new regency series has hit the market, and if A Noble Masquerade is any indication, it’s going to be a FANTASTIC series.

A smashing debut, A Noble Masquerade quickly propelled itself near the top of my favourites list.  Full of rich historical detail, A Noble Masquerade invites the reader into upper society where mansions, balls, elegant dresses, noblemen and husband-hunting mothers abound.  Intrigue and danger surface in the novel as it is discovered that some characters aren’t what they appear to be. 

The biggest theme is a tantalizing romance as Lady Miranda Hawthorne finds herself torn between the Duke of Marshington and her brother’s valet, Marlow.  One would be the best she could ever hope for in her fast-approaching spinsterhood, and the other would be well beneath her “social position”.  Who will she choose?

Peppered with humour and held together by a cast of wonderful characters, A Noble Masquerade is a novel I won’t soon forget.  I can’t wait for the next instalment in the “Hawthorne House” series!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  This is my honest review.