Masquerading the Marquess

like all the other books anne mallory has done this one is just as good it is actully my favorite so far

Masquerading the Marquess is wonderfully written with a blend of just the right emotional touches and light hearted humor. Masquerading the Marquess was the prefect read for a lazy afternoon. Anne Mallory knowledge of the period paints such vivid pictures that her readers feel they're a part of the action, and the underlying sexual tension will leave you squirming in your chair. Anne Mallory delivers a sensuous, humorous, adventurous plot. The sex was so hot to make you burn - the laughs had me wiping my eyes and holding my stomach - and the love story itself was precious! Filled with Lovable characters, exciting and action-mystery twists. Lots of laugh out-loud scenes and oh so plenty of heart warming moments. If you long to be swept into the lives of two enchanting people, I highly recommend this one.

I can't believe this is a debut author. I think the most important thing to mention would be that the heroine has the same level of intelligence as the hero. She is simply another person in the world. They are one of the most truly equal couples I can recall reading. Calliope, as noted, is a sketch artist who becomes involved in the life of one of her subjects. Her career is the catalyst for the plot, but not the plot itself. There is very little hiding of identity or angst over discovery. The more important story involves the hero and heroine acknowleding the mistakes their parents made and coming to terms with them. Calliope has no fairy tale resolution with her parents, but a more realistic one that rings very true. Same for James. This is a solid, well written romance based in conflict between people, not contrived communication errors or frustrating silences. The side mystery is in the currently popular spy cartel theme, but with a higher body count. A great one sitting read.

I read this debut novel from Anne Mallory in one sitting. A wonderful hero, an engaging and spunky heroine, a mystery to be solved, and a large heaping of danger and action. I positive devoured this book. :-) Looking forward to more from this author!

In 1823 caricaturist Calliope Minton, using the pseudonym Landis, hates nobles taking great fun out of ridiculing their foibles. To gain access to her subjects, she dons disguises; currently she works as Lady Simpson's companion. Her prime target of late has been Marques James Trenton, who observes her as her behavior gets her fired. She leaves with her head up high and her cane left behind. Not long afterward, Calliope arranges through her mentor Robert Cruickshank to pretend to be a courtesan attached to Stephen Chalmers, who has just come in from the cold. James who works undercover with Stephen immediately recognizes his beautiful companion as Calliope and not Esmeralda as she claims. When someone abducts Stephen, James and Calliope try to rescue him and to uncover the identity of the traitor in the Home Office even though he ponders her masquerades and how they link to the vanishing while the duo also falls in love. This entreating Regency romantic suspense works on several levels mostly because of the relationship that started dysfunctional between the lead couple. The support cast enhances the exhilarating story line in which the espionage elements take off much later than the romantic caricatures do, but quickly picks up speed as Calliope sees a different facet to James and he wonders if her secrets have to with Stephen's disappearance. Sub-genre readers will enjoy this delightful historical treat.