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The Madcap Masquerade
After her mother's death, an impoverished young woman with no prospects for the future receives an irresistible offer from her father, whom she has never met. He offers to pay her to impersonate her long-lost twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared in Scotland. But she never counted on falling for her sister's rakish fiancee, the handsome Earl of Linley. And what would happen if he found out that the spirited, passionate object of his love was no more than a stand-in bride?
96 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 6, 2015
Wonderful characters and really fun story. :)
September 6, 2014
The Madcap Masquerade was a take on the 'mistaken identity' obstacle. Maeve Barrington, alias 'Marcus Browne', aka Meg Barrington, got involved with her father's scheme to pretend she is her twin until her sister can be located and returned to England. Maeve needs the money she had been promised so she can pay off her deceased mother's debts. Oh, and lets not forget, it will help to make her future more comfortable.
Theodore Hampton, the Earl of Lynley, had his own agenda for marrying Meg Barrington. He was land-rich but money-poor; he'd also like to combine the neighboring Barrington land with his own. His father had died leaving him to solve his family's financial problems and both Squire Barrington and the Lynley name needed an heir. The marriage was to solve his problems: then he could pursue his existing lifestyle.
The problem was the 'new' Meg was nothing like the 'old' Meg he first met and yet they looked the same. As far as Theo was concerned, the new Meg was just what he wanted in a wife if only he can convince her. And Maeve/Meg started to develop some feelings for Theo after he shows how serious he is towards wanting a faithful relationship.
Initially I didn't find either Maeve or Theo very likable but then they 'grow' on you. Maeve had her crude, loud father reminding her of her responsibilities and Theo was hounded by both his mother and his mistress. The author had to overcome these hurdles along with Maeve's continuing deception once Theo admitted his love for her. After some confusion, they both earned their HEA.
Theodore Hampton, the Earl of Lynley, had his own agenda for marrying Meg Barrington. He was land-rich but money-poor; he'd also like to combine the neighboring Barrington land with his own. His father had died leaving him to solve his family's financial problems and both Squire Barrington and the Lynley name needed an heir. The marriage was to solve his problems: then he could pursue his existing lifestyle.
The problem was the 'new' Meg was nothing like the 'old' Meg he first met and yet they looked the same. As far as Theo was concerned, the new Meg was just what he wanted in a wife if only he can convince her. And Maeve/Meg started to develop some feelings for Theo after he shows how serious he is towards wanting a faithful relationship.
Initially I didn't find either Maeve or Theo very likable but then they 'grow' on you. Maeve had her crude, loud father reminding her of her responsibilities and Theo was hounded by both his mother and his mistress. The author had to overcome these hurdles along with Maeve's continuing deception once Theo admitted his love for her. After some confusion, they both earned their HEA.
November 22, 2010
Very enjoyable. I look forward to reading more books by Nadine Miller in the future. I love it when authors use more obscure words like namby-pamby, looby, termagant, hoyton, etc. Good stuff :) :) :)
August 10, 2024
Huge potential but what a let down!
It feels like the author was confused and didn’t fully have the characters and plot down. Everything appears to be inconsistent and so storytelling felt off every page. Instantly, I hated her father! Did he improve as the story go? Between the heroine’s late mother and her father also the hero’s mother none of the parents of these ladies and gents seemed worthy. With the sudden lost of her mother and the unexpected meeting of her father, it was was glossed over to the point of poor storytelling. And, seriously, why was everyone so inconsistent?! The hero called her a green eyed cat over his original thought that she was a plain, mousy thing. But then following that moment he then referred her back to a rather plain looking girl. As for Maeve, one moment she was super aware of the hero in terms of his fortune hunting proposal and his rakish rep, as she really meant to dislike him and help her poor twin escape such unflattering matrimony but at their first official meet (and engagement ball) Maeve was perfectly obsessing over the hero for a good minute. Until she came face to face with his famous mistress, then Maeve was back to loathing the man and she even took it upon herself to grant a hissing and cussing fit at the hero publicly. It was so, so unlike Meg! Remember, the oh, so shy and timid Meg? Firecracker Twin over here was just going at the hero about his rude treatment of his mistress. A mistress that the author had already made clear, I thought, that was perfectly understanding of hero upcoming engagement as it wouldn’t alter their ‘arrangement.’ It will only bring plenty of new means to his and her[mistress] benefits. But unexpectedly, the kept woman showed up and started looking all hurt and otherwise clingy. It just doesn’t followed up at all! What we got was not what we were told! And somehow at a mere girl’s lecture it didn’t anger the hero at all but it turned the hero with a conscious mind? For he thought this:
Like it not, Miss Barrington had forced him to take a good look at what he done to Sophie when he’d made her his mistress—-something he had never before considered. The picture was not a pretty one. Nor did it helped that he could see the object of his betrothed’s concern standing alone in a far corner of the ballroom—-a plump, purple pariah shunned by the proper folks of the village.
Oh, come on! It’s not as if Sophie didn’t choose to come to the party herself knowing that she will be shunned, as if she didn’t choose that life for herself when she had accepted his proposition of the shunning kind! How bizarre is it! Are we to be grateful that the heroine is so compassionate towards mistresses and that the hero is so considerate of his new betrothed and mistress? I think they are both foolish! And to end it on a humorous note, according to the hero he had never intended to invite the mistress but a case of miscommunication with his chalet turned Sophie with an invitation, thus he was forced to introduced the mistress to Maeve and the squire. And as loony as Maeve’s father was, he had a perfect snub for the hero. “Already met the silly chit a hundred times in the village, ye looby. This ain’t London, ye know.”
Also, Maeve then tried extending an invitation to hero’s mistress for tea at her father’s house. Naturally, the snobby squire snubbed her, too. “Invite the jade to tea? In a pig’s eyes!”
(According to Maeve, the mistress will have common interests with their housekeeper who is evidently “kept” by her father. A poor joke, Maeve! A poor joke, indeed!)
It feels like the author was confused and didn’t fully have the characters and plot down. Everything appears to be inconsistent and so storytelling felt off every page. Instantly, I hated her father! Did he improve as the story go? Between the heroine’s late mother and her father also the hero’s mother none of the parents of these ladies and gents seemed worthy. With the sudden lost of her mother and the unexpected meeting of her father, it was was glossed over to the point of poor storytelling. And, seriously, why was everyone so inconsistent?! The hero called her a green eyed cat over his original thought that she was a plain, mousy thing. But then following that moment he then referred her back to a rather plain looking girl. As for Maeve, one moment she was super aware of the hero in terms of his fortune hunting proposal and his rakish rep, as she really meant to dislike him and help her poor twin escape such unflattering matrimony but at their first official meet (and engagement ball) Maeve was perfectly obsessing over the hero for a good minute. Until she came face to face with his famous mistress, then Maeve was back to loathing the man and she even took it upon herself to grant a hissing and cussing fit at the hero publicly. It was so, so unlike Meg! Remember, the oh, so shy and timid Meg? Firecracker Twin over here was just going at the hero about his rude treatment of his mistress. A mistress that the author had already made clear, I thought, that was perfectly understanding of hero upcoming engagement as it wouldn’t alter their ‘arrangement.’ It will only bring plenty of new means to his and her[mistress] benefits. But unexpectedly, the kept woman showed up and started looking all hurt and otherwise clingy. It just doesn’t followed up at all! What we got was not what we were told! And somehow at a mere girl’s lecture it didn’t anger the hero at all but it turned the hero with a conscious mind? For he thought this:
Like it not, Miss Barrington had forced him to take a good look at what he done to Sophie when he’d made her his mistress—-something he had never before considered. The picture was not a pretty one. Nor did it helped that he could see the object of his betrothed’s concern standing alone in a far corner of the ballroom—-a plump, purple pariah shunned by the proper folks of the village.
Oh, come on! It’s not as if Sophie didn’t choose to come to the party herself knowing that she will be shunned, as if she didn’t choose that life for herself when she had accepted his proposition of the shunning kind! How bizarre is it! Are we to be grateful that the heroine is so compassionate towards mistresses and that the hero is so considerate of his new betrothed and mistress? I think they are both foolish! And to end it on a humorous note, according to the hero he had never intended to invite the mistress but a case of miscommunication with his chalet turned Sophie with an invitation, thus he was forced to introduced the mistress to Maeve and the squire. And as loony as Maeve’s father was, he had a perfect snub for the hero. “Already met the silly chit a hundred times in the village, ye looby. This ain’t London, ye know.”
Also, Maeve then tried extending an invitation to hero’s mistress for tea at her father’s house. Naturally, the snobby squire snubbed her, too. “Invite the jade to tea? In a pig’s eyes!”
(According to Maeve, the mistress will have common interests with their housekeeper who is evidently “kept” by her father. A poor joke, Maeve! A poor joke, indeed!)
October 12, 2021
This was a decent book but I didn't enjoy it that much, I could tell within the first 20 pages I wasn't going to love it, I usually can with most books and mostly I am right, sometimes I am pleasantly suprised but this was not one of them, there is nothing actually wrong with it or the story, many probably will enjoy the book, but the only characters worthwhile were the hero and heroine and while both of them had good points, I probably prefered the hero but I didn't connect to either of them so I couldn't connect much to the book either, so decent but forgettable for me, and there was some things in it that annoyed me, which these things often pop up from time to time in regencys and I can't stand it, I am sick of the whole "independent woman" thing, it's bad enough it's shoved into everything today, I don't need it in regencys as well, the heroine was very modern, she seemed like a modern girl rather than an 19th century girl, not because she was fiesty, they are many regency heroines who were "fiesty" but still remained faithful to the setting but I felt she was not of the 19th century, I felt she could have been a 21st century woman so I didn't like that. Also had issues with some of the messages in it such as Theo getting all the blame for his mistress as if the widowed Sophie had no say in it, the heroine ignored the fact that Sophie choose to be his mistress, she was not forced, it was her choice so whatever came of that choice was just as much her responsibility. Also the fact that the heroine kept referring to the hero as a fortune hunter got old, which technically speaking you could say he was but we're not being technical because it wasn't a secret that he needed marriage for money, it was a marriage of convienience, men often married for money and women often married for titles and status, it was a mutual exchangement and this was painting it one sided. There was a few other things too that annoyed me but I shall not mention them all, I just get tired of seeing these type of things, it's one of the many reasons why i don't read 21st century books, they all inject 21st century thinking into past times as if people in the past walked around behaving like today, women did not walk around thinking they were "victims" in the 19th century, this is modern ideology that is put onto them. While this novel per say was not very bad in that way, it only had snippets of this but I'm just kind of letting my frustration out of whatever regencys I have read that do have it as well, I've read 2 more regencys recently like this and I'm tired of it, i try to avoid any books that have any bit of modernity to them but can't win them all.
September 3, 2025
The writing was well-done—meaning it seems written of that time and is not overly modern, and is also lightly descriptive without getting bogged down in details—but the “madcap” storyline was just too crazy for me. FMC is a child of an elegant courtesan whose death at the beginning of the novel leaves FMC needing to find some way to support herself. But wait… a long-lost father comes into the picture. And, oh, wait again…there is a secret twin sister that has run away from an arranged marriage set up by this father. And wait again! Can our FMC stand in for this twin so the elopement continues? Oh, and wait again! Our FMC also secretly publishes political cartoons in the paper under a male name as a means of revenue!? Really there were too many “madcap” ideas in this one novel and they were all dealt with lightly as if this kind of thing happens often. Not much character depth. I like that the FMC was an ordinary-looking girl and not some beauty. But where authors always mess this up is by having the MC almost immediately attracted to the FMC as if she was a beautiful woman. What’s the point? When it’s done well, the attraction usually builds between the two in a more
Meaningful way because there is no instant attraction. Anyway, suffice it to say I’ll keep away from Miller’s books for a while.
Meaningful way because there is no instant attraction. Anyway, suffice it to say I’ll keep away from Miller’s books for a while.
April 13, 2018
Historical English romance with a (secret) twin to replace the other in an engagement to a Lord.
Earl of Linley's engagement to Meg is easily replaced by Maeve because Meg is super shy (social anxiety after the childhood loss of her twin sister?) and no one really knows her except the Vicar Richard who figures out the switch quickly although the Earl is clueless. Maeve and Meg have opposite personalities, one is sarcastic and open while the other is super shy and docile.
The usual romance occurs with the Earl for the replacement, Maeve and Meg for the vicar best friend, Richard.
96 pages, but felt more like 150 and a kindle freebie
2 stars
Earl of Linley's engagement to Meg is easily replaced by Maeve because Meg is super shy (social anxiety after the childhood loss of her twin sister?) and no one really knows her except the Vicar Richard who figures out the switch quickly although the Earl is clueless. Maeve and Meg have opposite personalities, one is sarcastic and open while the other is super shy and docile.
The usual romance occurs with the Earl for the replacement, Maeve and Meg for the vicar best friend, Richard.
96 pages, but felt more like 150 and a kindle freebie
2 stars
July 18, 2020
Utterly Charming
I stumbled on this author by chance, but it was such luck. These books are well written and edited. Traditional Recency romances, quick reads that will leave you with a smile on your face. I've read two so far, the heroine in both is a plain but unusual woman, the hero a Lord who needs to learn to unbend. The path to romance is resolved to a happily ever after that is wrapped up tickly and competently. Well worth reading.
I stumbled on this author by chance, but it was such luck. These books are well written and edited. Traditional Recency romances, quick reads that will leave you with a smile on your face. I've read two so far, the heroine in both is a plain but unusual woman, the hero a Lord who needs to learn to unbend. The path to romance is resolved to a happily ever after that is wrapped up tickly and competently. Well worth reading.
February 25, 2017
This is the first book I’ve read that was made by the author Nadine Miller and I must say I love it, even though the story is your typical twin identity plot!
I noticed that the author place them both in the same ground, with Theo being a bastard while Maeve is a daughter of a courtesan and being the infamous cartoonist before they accepted their love for each other.
There are some characters that I liked and disliked at first but as the story progresses the book showed me that there are two sides of each character and that two or three shortcomings isn’t really what defines them as a whole. Example is Theodore Hampton, he was first introduced as a rake, fortune hunter and heartless and I wasn’t fond of him at all but I soon found out that he’s also kind, passionate on something he loves, thoughtful and a forgiving person. Another example is Richard Forsythe, he was gentle, kind and thoughtful but sadly he’s very judgmental too which lowered my fondness of him. As for the Maeve Barrington, I like her from the minute she was introduced to me until the last; even though her deception was reproachful I admired her more for being guilty and confessing it to Theo in the end.
The book’s has a good message which is “You should love a person despite his or her flaws”. The only reason why I’m giving it 4 stars is because I felt the ending was abrupt and I needed an epilogue badly.
April 12, 2020
A quick easy read, loved the characters and good amount of supporting characters without divulging too much into them. The main characters storyline was cute and romantic and a good amount amount character development for Theo and Meave for how short the story is.
March 29, 2021
Good book but...
Enjoyed reading but it ends abruptly. Would if given thus more stars if this is fixed. Would like to read more books from this author
Enjoyed reading but it ends abruptly. Would if given thus more stars if this is fixed. Would like to read more books from this author
November 25, 2021
Totally liked the characters, especially the twins father, very funny
February 4, 2017
Love this romance
Here you have twins separated at birth never knowing the other other exists. Until one sister runs for the hills, then her twin is to be her stand in until her return...what could go wrong? Normally one would say nothing...that's not true here and probably not true at all.
Maeve and Meg are two completely different girls. Where Meg is shy and timid, Maeve is outspoken and brave. Here's the key to telling the difference, it's their eyes.
The Earl of Linley is in a very tight bind...he needs money badly since dear old daddy left him with nothing. As desperate as he is, the Squire makes a marriage contract with the Earl. The Squire is desperate too, you see there's a land issue clause that has to be honored with every generation otherwise the land goes back to the crown.
Everything goes according to plan right??? Everyone gets what they want right????
You have to read this to find out what happens!!!
Here you have twins separated at birth never knowing the other other exists. Until one sister runs for the hills, then her twin is to be her stand in until her return...what could go wrong? Normally one would say nothing...that's not true here and probably not true at all.
Maeve and Meg are two completely different girls. Where Meg is shy and timid, Maeve is outspoken and brave. Here's the key to telling the difference, it's their eyes.
The Earl of Linley is in a very tight bind...he needs money badly since dear old daddy left him with nothing. As desperate as he is, the Squire makes a marriage contract with the Earl. The Squire is desperate too, you see there's a land issue clause that has to be honored with every generation otherwise the land goes back to the crown.
Everything goes according to plan right??? Everyone gets what they want right????
You have to read this to find out what happens!!!
November 8, 2020
A cute, fun romance!
I liked the premise of this book and the characters.
I liked the premise of this book and the characters.
January 4, 2015
Very amusing
I gave this book a five for it's humorous storyline. It kept me entertained all the way to the end! Never a dull moment with maeve! What a character! I would highly recommend this book to read. Very well written.
I gave this book a five for it's humorous storyline. It kept me entertained all the way to the end! Never a dull moment with maeve! What a character! I would highly recommend this book to read. Very well written.
September 25, 2009
Regency
February 11, 2014
A lost Regency treasure -- funny, sexy, and fresh take on twins and mistaken identity!
December 29, 2014
A re-issue of a regency from 1998. Surprised myself and enjoyed the read. I'm not a big regency fan; but now and then it works for the mood I'm in.
January 30, 2015
Good book!!!!
Lovable characters and the story was different and very memorable thanks nadine you are a skillful story teller all the best
Lovable characters and the story was different and very memorable thanks nadine you are a skillful story teller all the best
June 13, 2017
I really liked it. Obviously I gave it only two stars two years ago and now I'm giving it four
September 17, 2016
an enjoyable Regency. I enjoyed the characters and plot
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews