Dangerous Masquerade

This is the second Americana book I've read by Janet Dailey. I was going to read them for fun, something different than my usualy true crime/mystery or more techinical books, but after reading this one, I'm not sure I want to continue.
I know the book was originally written in 1977, but have times changed that much? Were women looking for ruthless, dominating men who bordered on crazed 35 years ago? I hope not, because I read my share of popular romance novels while in high school and if this is what I was digesting it's a wonder I didn't end up in a physically abusive relationship. Maybe someone should research what girls are reading in high school and then track how their relationships end.
Laurie is an orphan raised by her father's show more brother and his wife who dotes on their daugther LaRaine, never paying much attention to Laurie except to tell her what a burden she is. She moves out when she's 18, but when the bratty LaRaine wants to move out, the aunt guilts Laurie into moving in with her to help her out. LaRaine is a gold digger and wants to land a rich husband and be a movie star. She gets the opportunity to do both, but she is obligated to fly to Alabama to meet her fiance's old aunt. She convinced Laurie to pretend she is her and sends her off. The fiance is in South America on business. Of course, he returns and finds out the truth. Laurie offers him the explanation but he wants nothing to do with it and forces Laurie to continue the charade. At times, he grabs her painfully - leaving marks on her wrists and arms. One time he even grabs her by the throat. He threatens her physically and emotionally, but all Laurie can see is a strong man. The kind who will take care of her and ravish her in bed. Heaven help her if she is ever out of line in his opinion. While the writing is consistent, the themes of abuse hiding as love left a bad taste in my mouth. show less

Was looking on my bookshelf for a quick, light read and chose this one. It's a Harlequin, which gives you the basics of the plot - handsome powerful man, beautiful but insecure woman, sparks, rejection, misunderstanding, love.

But the characters were engaging and the story okay. I do like that love always wins in the end in a romance novel!

The first book in what became the Americana series. I read most, if not all, of the series as a young teenager when my mom, grandmother, and sisters were inhaling Harlequin romances. I have never been a huge romance fan, but these books formed my initial impressions of other states long before I ever left the deep south.

I need to reread this one. But I do remember that the OW here is the heroine of one of my favorite JDs, [b:A Land Called Deseret|1345043|A Land Called Deseret|Janet Dailey|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340976508s/1345043.jpg|2166543].