Lady Dearing's Masquerade

It may not be spectacular, but after an abundance of poorly-written, poorly-edited books lately, this one, which is both well written and edited, was a decided treat! Elena Greene is a craftswoman of the first rank, and this may well be her best book yet. The story is a bit off the beaten path, that's true, and the hero and heroine are both a good bit older than normal, both having been widowed in their first marriages. Gossip and scandal are the constant companions of those in the ton, and that's no exception here either. Olivia, Lady Dearing, and Sir Jeremy Fairhill seem perfect for each other, if only they can be convinced to believe it, in the face of the seemingly insurmountable difficulties they must first overcome. Livvy, believing she cannot have children of her own, takes four orphans from the Foundling Hospital in London to her home-Rosemead. Sir Jeremy, also childless, is one of the Governors of the place. They have a brief and secret shared past, of which neither of them is aware, until it all blows up again in their faces. But, as in all good romance stories, it all ends very well for the good guys, not so well for the bad ones. It's all perfectly believable, and so engrossingly told that it's almost impossible to put the book down for any reason whatever. You just want to keep reading and reading and reading. Well done!

I couldn't put this book down. The characters are real and believable, and somehow the emotions of their story just pull you in, and you want to keep reading (and reading) to find out the next step in their story.... Elena Greene's books are always compelling, but I think this one is my favorite.

Having survived, of late, on a diet of some rather horrendously bad as well as averagely goodish reads in the Regency romance department, I had (almost) forgotten what a tonic a good romance novel could be. Thank goodness for Elena Greene's "Lady Dearing's Masquerade:" it definitely fit the bill. Possessing a mature and interesting heroine and hero, as well s a capably and brilliantly executed plot, "Lady Dearing's Masquerade" was an example of how a novel can be compelling and absorbing even when the storyline is a very basic and often rendered one. Two years ago, the young widow, Lady Olivia Dearing, unfairly lost her good name when gossip that she had gone to a public masquerade at the Pantheon Theatre and that she was seen kissing a man took the ton by storm. But rather than wring her hands with despair at the sad state of things, Olivia has instead taken steps to lead as fulfilling a life as possible far from the gossiping ton. Leading a quiet and secluded life at her estate (Rosemead), Olivia has given generously, both her time and money, to London's Foundling Hospital; she has also taken four of the children into her home. But her world is about to come apart, for one of the governors of the hospital, Sir Jeremy Fairhill, has turned up at her doorstep, claiming that he's come to check up on how her charges are faring. Olivia fears that Jeremy is there in order to find an excuse to take the children away from her. So what will he do when he discovers that Olivia is the lady he kissed so tenderly and passionately at the Pantheon Theatre? Olivia cannot allow for Jeremy to make the connection; and yet she cannot deny that the feelings that Jeremy aroused in her that day are still blazing. Should she take the second chance that has been granted her? Can she afford to? For if Jeremy believes the gossip about her supposed notoriety, he just might take the children away... I enjoyed this novel from beginning to end. Yes, it's an oft used plot, and yes, the part where all the evil intriguers get their comeuppance was a bit rushed, but on the flip side you've got a very nice tale about second chances at love involving a very deserving hero and heroine. Intelligent, kind, generous and haunted by their respective pasts, both Olivia and Jeremy deserved their second chance together, and one couldn't help but root for them to get it. I thought that the manner in which the author contrived for Jeremy to realise that the notorious Lady Dearing and the sweet and shy lady he had met at the theatre were one and the same was rather well done -- even the requisite BIG MISUNDERSTANDING on Jeremy's part was capably and cleverly handled. The highlight for me, however, was how Olivia took an active part in protecting the children under her care and herself when one of the villains tries to blackmail. No hapless damsel waiting for fate to step in here! There is very little new and novel in "Lady Dearing's Masquerade" but that didn't stop it from being a very abso