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The Masqueraders #2
Mischief
One night of passion can build a world. One memory can tear it down.
"A captivating Cinderella story from the pen of a marvelous writer." — RT Book Reviews
As Napoleon invades Persia, clever but shy Japonica Fortmon is chosen by the ailing English Viscount Shrewsbury to arrange his escape from Baghdad. To get him out, Japonica must enlist the aid of the infamous Hind Div, a man as mysterious as he is ruthless. Whispered to be a spy, an assassin, and even a sorcerer, Hind Div agrees to help Fortmon, and all it will cost her is a night of passion.
A year later and the war is over. Freshly widowed Japonica arrives in England, wishing only to settle her unruly step-daughters with Devlyn Sinclair, the new Viscount, and to return to France, and the son conceived on that one night of surrender. She is stunned to recognize the new Viscount, for he is none other than Hind Div, only scarred by war and missing any memory of the merciless man he once was. If his memory returns, he could claim back his son and destroy Japonica. She must live with this man who once ignited her passions, and has started to once more, and to restore to him a sense of pride, of honor, of identity, even if it costs her everything.
"A captivating Cinderella story from the pen of a marvelous writer." — RT Book Reviews
As Napoleon invades Persia, clever but shy Japonica Fortmon is chosen by the ailing English Viscount Shrewsbury to arrange his escape from Baghdad. To get him out, Japonica must enlist the aid of the infamous Hind Div, a man as mysterious as he is ruthless. Whispered to be a spy, an assassin, and even a sorcerer, Hind Div agrees to help Fortmon, and all it will cost her is a night of passion.
A year later and the war is over. Freshly widowed Japonica arrives in England, wishing only to settle her unruly step-daughters with Devlyn Sinclair, the new Viscount, and to return to France, and the son conceived on that one night of surrender. She is stunned to recognize the new Viscount, for he is none other than Hind Div, only scarred by war and missing any memory of the merciless man he once was. If his memory returns, he could claim back his son and destroy Japonica. She must live with this man who once ignited her passions, and has started to once more, and to restore to him a sense of pride, of honor, of identity, even if it costs her everything.
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First published May 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 24, 2021
Като приказка от „1001 нощ“ е този любовен роман, екзотичен и романтичен. Въпреки някои наивни моменти в него, ми допадна самата история и начинът, по който е написан. Описани са персийските традиции, а героите използват поетични арабски изрази, което прави текста екзотичен и приказен.
Вероника е отраснала в Персия, но е принудена да се върне в Англия като вдовица и с титлата виконтеса. Тя се омъжва за застарелия и болен виконт Шрюсбъри, давайки обещанието да се погрижи неговите пет дъщери да бъдат възпитани и въведени в обществото. Само че тя трудно забравя индиеца Хинд Див, който я съблазнява с хитрост, когато тя отива да го помоли за помощ. Но кой е тайнственият индиец и защо тя го намира в Англия, след като са я уведомили, че не е жив? А той не помни нищо от онези дни и Вероника ще трябва да впрегне всичките си сили, за да успее да го накара да повярва в любовта, въпреки душевните и физически рани, които е получил в Персия.
Вероника е отраснала в Персия, но е принудена да се върне в Англия като вдовица и с титлата виконтеса. Тя се омъжва за застарелия и болен виконт Шрюсбъри, давайки обещанието да се погрижи неговите пет дъщери да бъдат възпитани и въведени в обществото. Само че тя трудно забравя индиеца Хинд Див, който я съблазнява с хитрост, когато тя отива да го помоли за помощ. Но кой е тайнственият индиец и защо тя го намира в Англия, след като са я уведомили, че не е жив? А той не помни нищо от онези дни и Вероника ще трябва да впрегне всичките си сили, за да успее да го накара да повярва в любовта, въпреки душевните и физически рани, които е получил в Персия.
June 17, 2013
I liked the idea behind this story. Not many people enjoy the secret baby theme but it doesn't bother me. The hero's memory was lost due to some torture he experienced so he doesn't even recall his past with our heroine. So, it would be quite difficult for Japonica (horrid name) to tell him Devlyn about his son.
Word of warning, in the beginning seduction scene, she is drugged so it is a bit of a forced seduction. However, as the heroine tells Devlyn about her past she mentions how she was drugged and seduced by a man and our hero is appalled at the tale and vows to call out the cad, not knowing it was him. There were circumstances that led to him drugging Japonica. He thought she was an assassin sent to kill him.
So, all in all, it isn't something the hero would normally do. He was quite upset when he found out he was the man who had drugged her.
I wasn't wowed by this book but I did enjoy the story. The step-daughters were horrid, the character of Laurel, mainly and dumb to boot. I wanted more of a come-uppance for Laurel but she did seem to learn the error of her ways. Still, she annoyed me.
This is kind of a mish mash review to say I liked to book but not enough to keep it. It was a nice way to while away the weekend.
Word of warning, in the beginning seduction scene, she is drugged so it is a bit of a forced seduction. However, as the heroine tells Devlyn about her past she mentions how she was drugged and seduced by a man and our hero is appalled at the tale and vows to call out the cad, not knowing it was him. There were circumstances that led to him drugging Japonica. He thought she was an assassin sent to kill him.
So, all in all, it isn't something the hero would normally do. He was quite upset when he found out he was the man who had drugged her.
I wasn't wowed by this book but I did enjoy the story. The step-daughters were horrid, the character of Laurel, mainly and dumb to boot. I wanted more of a come-uppance for Laurel but she did seem to learn the error of her ways. Still, she annoyed me.
This is kind of a mish mash review to say I liked to book but not enough to keep it. It was a nice way to while away the weekend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2012
I loved reading about the Hind Div, the mysterious exotic man. I was very disappointed when there was very little of him after Devlin lost his memory. I wanted more of him, not just Devlin. I stayed up reading half the night in anticipation. It was frustrating, to say the least.
September 27, 2019
Japonica Fortnom is a relation of the British shop family of Fortnum & Mason. Her branch lives in Persia and specializes in the spice trade which they supply to the British branch. Japonica has lived all her life there even though she's English. After her father's death, the British East Indies Company requests her healing services in Baghdad for Viscount Shrewsbury, who's dying. Unable to heal him, she's now trapped by Napoleon's forces. Shrewsbury sends her to the Hind Div to arrange their escape. The Hind Div is greatly feared and in fact a British agent. He thinks she's a spy, drugs her, and takes her virginity. He does help her escape, but is taken, hand cut off and presumed dead. Japonica is prevailed upon to marry the dying viscount and take responsibility for his 5 daughters in England. On the way home with his body, she discovers she's pregnant by the Hind Div. Held up by war in Portugal, she delivers there and then goes on to England to be met by 5 teenagers who do NOT want her around. The new viscount turns out to be Devlyn Sinclair - the Hind Dev. He's now missing his hand and his memory and doesn't remember Japonica or being the Hind Dev. Eventually they work out their problems including the step-daughters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2024
While in Persia, Japonica Fortnom is seduced by a wily rogue known as the Hind Div. Sent to him by her patient, the elderly Viscount Shrewsbury, to arrange for his escape from Baghdad, she asks for the Hind Div’s help as the price of his vile deed. He’d thought she was an assassin sent to kill him and realized his blunder only too late, so he agrees. When Japonica hears that the Hind Div is dead, she accepts the Viscount’s marriage proposal. He dies, leaving her the sole caretaker for his unruly daughters. She travels to their home in England and assumes her rightful place. Then the new Viscount Devlyn Sinclair shows up, and she’s shocked to recognize him as the Hind Div, who still lives. However, he’s lost his memory and doesn’t recall ever meeting her. She fears his recovery because then he might discover the secret she’s trying to hide. A well-paced story with an interesting background setting make this tale a delightful read.
March 9, 2024
While in Persia, Japonica Fortnom is seduced by a wily rogue known as the Hind Div. Sent to him by her patient, the elderly Viscount Shrewsbury, to arrange for his escape from Baghdad, she asks for the Hind Div’s help as the price of his vile deed. He’d thought she was an assassin sent to kill him and realized his blunder only too late so he agrees. When Japonica hears that the Hind Div is dead, she accepts the Viscount’s marriage proposal. He dies, leaving her the sole caretaker for his unruly daughters. She travels to their home in England and assumes her rightful place. Then the new Viscount Devlyn Sinclair shows up, and she’s shocked to recognize him as the Hind Div, who still lives. However, he’s lost his memory and doesn’t recall ever meeting her before. She fears his recovery because then he might discover the secret she’s trying to hide. A well-paced story with an interesting background setting make this tale a delightful read.
June 30, 2020
This book has EVERYTHING! Exotic locale (Persia), spies, a secret baby, a heroine with a fortune who marries a dying viscount so now she is titled, amnesia, stepdaughters to be launched into society, a faithful servant with wise advice, and an ugly duckling to beautiful swan heroine. I thought I would try a new author but I don’t think I will read another book in this series. There’s just too much going on. The redeeming quality of this book is that it is written well - it is fast paced, though I did skim sections just to finish it (like the endless bedroom scene that went on for ever).
April 1, 2019
This was mostly a romance with some historical details thrown in. There's nothing unique that I would remember about the book.
November 10, 2013
different in a good way
October 6, 2014
I enjoyed reading the story. It had a lot of entertaining aspects. The novel had many parts that belonged together and some that stood apart from the rest. The descriptive writing is done very well.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews