Masquerade

by Theresa Butler

Nothing’s more valuable to a career in fashion than a positive public opinion. Most will stop at nothing to cover up their private inadequacies to attain the perfect image. With ten long years in the industry under her belt, twenty-eight-year-old personal assistant Emilia Wyck is confident she has perfected her act for the cameras. Of course, that’s only until the night of a Venetian masquerade when perceived physical anonymity blurs the lines between truth and fabrication, public and private. Caught hopelessly unprepared for the attentions of a man with familiar blue eyes, Emilia finally sees how impossible it is to distinguish the masked from the unmasked. Her confusion turns her world upside down in a way she never imagined, ultimately forcing her to acknowledge the lies she’s told herself for years. Torn between desire and personal obligation, Emilia must find balance before her life becomes a smoldering heap of regret... and all without slipping back into the comforts of a mask.

Genres: Adult, Fiction

409 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2015

About the author

Even though she spent decades writing for fun, it took many more years of Theresa Butler's adult life to realize her heart truly belonged in a book, not in a veterinary science lab. So she changed her college major and her career trajectory, much to the chagrin of her parents, and earned a double BA in English and Psychology from Ottawa University. Three years after that, she finished a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University with a specialization in short and long fiction.

Theresa is also owner of Butler Did It Publishing, a boutique indie imprint she uses to support and guide new writers, as well as more seasoned writers, embarking on their own writing and publishing careers.

She can be found hanging out in the cool comfort of the desert home she shares with her best friend, a chatty-but-reclusive feline roommate, and a lovable-but-not-so-bright dog. Otherwise, you can find her at your nearest renaissance festival, historical reenactment or geeky con pretending to live in the past.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I usually like my romance with a healthy dose of historical fiction or suspense, when I need something with a little more angst or trepidation, showing a less that perfect love story, this one absolutely fit the bill.
I really enjoyed the story, and the vivid backdrops of Venice and London were excellent. The characters felt very real and relatable, even though at times I felt like shaking some of them.
I am sad the story is over now, as I tore through this as soon as it arrived. I would love to read what happens next in Emilia and Alex's story, although it did end pretty perfectly.
A special thank you to the author for the surprise extras! Those were excellent additions to an already great novel!

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about the masks we all wear publicly and privately and the mind games if forces us to play. How much do we really know about another person and their feelings towards us? Can you trust someone who makes a career out of their ability to wear those masks? Especially when the choices they lead you to have such far-reaching consequences for your future, and theirs. But when you've got red hot chemistry like this, it's hard to keep your head. A well-written book, with enchanting yet realistic characters that have you rooting for, or against, them the whole way. I highly recommend it and will be keeping a close eye out for anything new from this refreshingly skillful debut author.

[Marivi Sanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot even tell how much I love this book. I read first the kindle edition, but I ended up buying the paperback too.
I like to read romances from time to time, and this has the perfect amount of love, sex, angst, bullying, friendship, and absolutely imperfect characters that will make you love them, and hate them and want to slap them and put some sense into some of them too.
I love Emilia's struggle between what she feels she has to do and what she actually wants to do. I love that the characters take the wrong decisions sometimes, and most of all I love the ending.
I won't confess how many times I've read it, but I recommend you to read it at least once. You won't be disappointed.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to do with a masked man...

You make him yours of course. And Emilia does just that. An excellent book that makes you beg for more and let's you get lost in a non traditional love story.

[Devika Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept picturing my favourite actor while reading this.