The Masquerade

How have I never read this author before? Thanks to my GR friends for introducing me to this one. A lovely story and even though it's not typical regency fare, it was very grounded in its time period. The emotions and actions of the characters seemed realistic and believable. Each character remained true to him/herself even though they changed and grew. Lots of lovely angst and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

This is the first book I've read by Brenda Joyce and I loved it! I loved Lizzie's character and how she wasn't interested in high society things and fashion but instead wanted to stay in and read all day. So many people can connect with her personality and her crush on someone she has barely even talked to. Oh yes, her crush on Tyrell is COMPLETELY understandable. He is so charming, good looking, and an overall prefect guy. He's always there to save Lizzie, even though she won't admit to him her attraction. The story did have it's slow points and I did think it was drawn out a little too much, but the romance and attraction between Lizzie and Tyrell was so enjoyable to read. I hated Anna and how she ruined everyone else's lives in her show more family except for her own and she still got a perfectly happy life. But that aspect just brought out the best in Lizzie and brought even more love into her life. The Masquerade just fed more into my addiction for historical romances and I know this won't be the last book I'm going to read of Brenda Joyce's. show less

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book (I got it as part of my Mills and Boon subscription) but I was mostly pleasantly surprised.

There were a few blunders, so purists beware. [A horse is in no danger from gopher holes in Ireland. You don't drop a couple of dress sizes when you lose weight as ready-to-wear and dress sizing hasn't been invented yet.] The overall feeling of grounding in time and place was a little suspect, and I didn't feel wholly confident of certain aspects of societal acceptance and ostracism.

Overall though it was a pleasant read, where the heroine actually transgresses and breaks quite a few rules. Too many books have a heroine very nearly doing something "bad" but being saved in the nick of time, usually by the show more hero, so it was refreshing to see her step outside the bounds of proper society and suffer for it, and live through it. show less