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Book Review of A Noble Masquerade (Hawthorne House, Bk 1)

A Noble Masquerade (Hawthorne House, Bk 1)
cindyj avatar reviewed on + 62 more book reviews


Lady Miranda Hawthorne has a passionate nature which she has learned to conceal behind an acceptable ladylike veneer while in polite society. As a catharsis for her true emotions, Miranda pens letters addressed to her oldest brother's friend, yet she never mails them to this man she has never met. One day Marlow, her oldest brother's new valet, efficiently collects the letters to be mailed and, unknown to Miranda, includes her latest healing tirade. The letter's recipient, Ryland Montgomery, Duke of Marshington, responds to Miranda's inadvertent confessions, thus beginning a lasting correspondence.

Miranda longed for a husband and family of her own but sometimes struggled with trusting God for her future. Marlow determined to locate and eliminate the spy ring. Ryland avoided his only remaining blood relatives because of unresolved issues while growing up. These very human struggles made the story true-to-life. But there were other instances, including word choices and phrasing, that I felt were not true to the time period. Also, at one point Miranda and a male were escaping some of the spies and were out overnight together unaccompanied. To be true to the time period, I would have expected Miranda's brother to insist upon marriage but he didn't.

I loved the idea of this book. The spy-searching-for-the-traitor storyline was intriguing, Miranda and her family were mostly endearing, and Ryland and his generosity with his cohorts was heartwarming. There were parts where I laughed out loud, segments where I cried in sympathy, and portions where I trembled with tension. But sometimes I was also confused; I simply couldn't follow the logic of the characters. This debut novel by Kristi Ann Hunter was a bit predictable and was not always clear, but it was a pleasurable story to read. I would recommend A Noble Masquerade as a clean, fun novel, and I look forward to finishing the series in the future.

I received a copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.