A Noble Masquerade
by Kristi Ann Hunter
Summary
Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and 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, a duke–with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she’s heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marcus, her brother’s new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.
When Marcus accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men–one she’s never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent that state secrets are at risk and Marcus is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda’s heart is far from all that’s at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.
My Review
I really enjoyed this Regency romance. It wasn’t what I initially thought it would be, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much drama went on and how complex the story became. I thought it was very well-written and highly entertaining. I loved the time period and felt transported back in time. I will always love Regency romances that take place during the London Season. I love the balls and parties, costumes, fancy dresses, drama, and scandalous shenanigans that can happen at these events. I had such a great time!
This is a dual-POV story told by Miranda and the duke, so we get some interesting angles from both characters. Miranda was a fun character and probably my favorite one. She was witty, clever, and snarky. She wanted to live by her own rules, not society’s, which I respected. I was rooting for her the entire time. Then, the duke was mysterious but a really good guy. He grew on me over the course of the story. I always wanted to know what he was up to because he was so secretive. I loved the two of them interacting together. The witty banter was great, and I really felt their chemistry.
There was a lot of humor in this story, which made it feel light-hearted, but it’s definitely not a “fluffy” read. I also loved the “You’ve Got Mail” vibes in it when Miranda would write letters to her brother’s friend.
The faith element was very light, almost a little too light. I would’ve liked a bit more, but they do talk about God and praying.
One downside for me was listening to it on audiobook. While I enjoyed the narrator and thought she did a wonderful job, I got a little lost with the story. A lot was happening, and it was hard to keep up with all the drama and plot twists. I will absolutely continue in this series, but will probably change the format and read the physical book or digital ebook instead.
If you like some mystery and excitement mixed with romance in your Regency romances, then pick up this cute, funny, and wildly entertaining book. It’s also clean with no spice or language. I was highly engaged with the story and characters and fully immersed in this time period. I loved it!! Highly recommend!!