The Masquerading Groom

Bachelor Billionaire Romances

by Taylor Hart, Lucy McConnell (Foreword)

When Sterling Pennington, movie star/billionaire extraordinaire, gets stuck with a paid date at a masquerade party…he’s not happy. Too bad his agent doesn’t want the press to think he’s lonely after the pretend break up with his latest co-star. The arrangement makes him feel like a loser, until he sees the woman in the sequined dress.

Sayla Jones made it clear she would only take this date if the egocentric movie star knew he got three hours before she turned into a pumpkin. That’s all. She never imagined she might actually connect with him, or that he would kiss her. Good thing she slapped him for good measure.

Sterling never expected to see Sayla again, and he really wasn’t expecting to find her at the hospital. The next thing he knows, he’s taking her home and spending the next four days cooking, listening to Neil diamond on a record player, and putting braids in her hair. His feelings intensify when he finds himself admitting out loud, she even looks cute while drooling in her sleep. What’s happening to him?

When Sayla confesses she believes they are too different to make it work, Sterling is faced with a choice—fight for her or live alone in the world of masks forever.

This book also includes an excerpt of Christine Kersey's newest release, Sawyer and Amethyst: An Emerald Falls Romance.And Cami Checkett's new release, The Protective One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance.

Sterling's story's is a stand alone book. But, there's four other fun bachelor billionaires living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming who have already fallen in love...they are:

Cameron Cruz, football player for the Denver Storm. His story is Second String (Part of The Last Play Romance Series)
Montana Crew, his story is Almost Everything (Part of The Destination Billionaire Romances)
Hunter James, his story is The Unfinished Groom (Part of the Bachelor Billionaire Romances)
Cooper Harrison, his story is The Barefoot Groom (Part of Bachelor Billionaire Romances)

If you want The Last Play Romance Series in order, they would go like this:

Last Play
The Rookie
Just Play
A Player for Christmas
Second String

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Contemporary Romance, Novella, Adult

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2016

About the author

★ USA TODAY BESTSELLER, AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR, and TOP KINDLE ALL STAR! ★

Taylor Hart writes inspirational and Christian romance and is a best-selling author of over eighty-five books with fans in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and all over the world.

A note from the author:

Thanks for visiting my Goodreads page.

I wanted to tell something meaningful about myself, but let's start with the important stuff--I love swoon-worthy heroes. The kind of heroes that are strong and would take a bullet for you, but also want to open your door and listen to you pour out your heart.

What else? I grew up moving. If you’ve read my books, you won’t be surprised by this. I have a lot of moving themes through my books centered around characters experiencing pain from someone moving.

It was hard. But, I believe there’s always a seed of good that comes out of everything hard, so I think the best thing that came from it was that I learned to love books.

And I had to learn a lot of mad skills on friend making. It gave me a love of people…good people, compassionate people. Interesting people of all kinds.

What else about me? I am a mother and wife! I have four amazing boys that are like little ninjas running around. I love them so much and I’m so grateful for my amazing husband who doesn’t get intimidated by all the billionaire men in my life.

I have a fierce love of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for Him and for the healing and forgiveness I’ve gotten to experience in my life. This is a theme in many of my books.

I love being an American. I am so proud of the men and women that support and preserve our freedom. This is another theme you will find in my books.

I am so grateful for my fans and for the support and love you all show me! Don’t stop reading!

Hugs-

Taylor

Reviews

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading this series over the weekend, its been fun reading them all together so, but I also love that each story can stand alone. I've also read the series completely out of order, but our hero in this one, Sterling Pennington, is in the others books and I was looking forward to reading his story.

I thought this was a fun one. I liked Sterling and Sayla, they have an unusual courtship, but it works for them. They get to know each other under quickly and while normally I think they'd be moving to fast, it seems to work for them. They have a sweet and accepting kind of relationship that I enjoyed watching come about.

Content
Romance: Clean, just kissing
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: Secular
Series: Bachelor Billionaire, Book 5

Source: Kindle Unlimited

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to this fun series. Taylor Hart is one of my favorites! I love how these characters met, how their courtship went and how they could "see" each other. So sweet.

[Marija · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading their story

[Mary McFarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 because of grammar other errors like that, that just really bugged me for some reason. Again lacking the guys from the group but Hunter, it just seemed so much more fun when they would all get together. It did have me tearing up a bit at the end when he was talking to his dad and brother and hearing her reasons for why she felt so guilty at the end. I liked the whole series. Easy books to read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed Sterling's story.

Content: Clean
Source: Kindle Unlimited

[Rick Farlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read some of the reviews on this book by critical readers who didn’t even read the whole book? That’s pretty dumb… like judging a book by its cover! Actually, the storyline is pretty solid, and yes, Sayla can by sort of annoying, but that’s just her character, which is written like that on purpose. It contrasts with Sterling, making his character more engaging. It’s a really good story about two broken, different people who need each other. Personally, I think Taylor Hart did a great job with this storyline. RECOMMENDED.

[Veray · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a great story about two people with broken lives finding each other under interesting circumstances. She's hired to be his date because she needs money for an operation and he needs a date for an important function. He's wealthy she's poor and it's hard to know whether they'll ever be able to resolve those two things. as usual love wins out in the end of course. it was a great ending.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to Sterling's story since early on in the series. Hart did a wonderful job, both with the characters, and adding heart and depth to the novel.

Sterling and Sayla have learned to wear "masks"; masks to hide their pain and vulnerability. While these masks protect them, they also hinder them from having true and deeper relationships. Both have to learn to be honest with themselves and each other. I really enjoyed seeing their transformation, as well as their developing friendship and romantic feelings.

A delightful and quick, clean read romance with heart! Enjoy!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I'm talkin' about. Such an improvement on the last story in the series. and all it took was Sayla saying she didn't deserve this (wrong, but whatever) but still wanted it. She was humble about her mistakes and admitted them. <\spoiler> I didn't always love each book in this series, but I love that they were friends. And was glad to see Hunter in this one so much. I think this was a good ending to the series (although I don't know. Maybe there are more and I missed them. I'd read 'em if there are!)

[Tamera Westhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet romance

This is another version of the poor girl and the rich actor. Sayla has a rough life as an orphan and widow. Sterling has everything he wants, except her. He sounds absolutely amazing! He takes care of her, he cooks... This will either make you jealous or make your dreams crazy big! I loved that it was a sweet romance!

[Teya Teya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what it is with the books I've read lately, but I swear they have taken scenes from my own life. I love it. I was sweet, heart felt, and for lack of a better word AWESOME! I love the forgiveness, the letting go, and healing both physically and mentally. I really enjoyed it.

[Donna Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story about two people coming together from very different backgrounds. There is fun, romance and best of all it's clean.

[Jacqueline Driggers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, the author lost me on this book about a chapter and a half in. She has this female character, Sayla, who is sick and needs an operation for something causing pain in her stomach. But the story is very vague as to her symptoms or what's wrong or the doctor she's seen or anything, but yet, she's able to work. She's saved up some money for a trip she wanted to take, and the book starts off with her going on about not wanting to spend the trip money on the medical attention that she needs. And I'm like .......
WHAT!!!!
Because I have several chronic conditions, and so does my husband; and he had cancer in 2011. We both live with chronic pain. When you have something wrong with you, are ill, don't feel good, having pain, you don't give a rat's behind about going on some silly trip. And you'll gladly spend that trip money on the medical treatment that you need so you'll feel well.

So the entire premise of this book is full of holes and faulty. The writer simply goofed up there. She must not have been sick much. A better premise would have been to come upon Sayla after she had had her medical treatment, and had used her trip money, and was talking to her employer about wishing she could take that trip now that she was feeling good. That would have been a much better base for the story that the writer spins than the one she uses.
So no, I didn't read the book. As a writer myself, it just didn't work for me. Her whole book is set upon a bad foundation.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Masquerading Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romance is by Taylor Hart. This is a light romance that takes up the idea of masks. Masks are protection. They protect the wearer from getting their most sensitive parts of their souls hurt. They do restrict the wearer from the amount of love that is let in as well. Only special people can see through the masks that are put into place.
Sayla has been working for Henry at the marine for some time now. She is hiding out at his marina and grieving for her husband Rob who was killed in a traffic accident. She is saving up for a trip she and Rob had been talking about before his death. However, she needs some medical attention on her female reproduction organs. She can’t have the surgery and go on the trip. She can’t afford both.
Caleb then shows up with a proposition that will solve her problems. He offers her ten thousand dollars to go to a party as the guest of actor Sterling Pennington. Penninton needs his reputation re organized and he needs a date to a party given by director Harold Swensen. All she has to do is show up, hang out with Sterling until after photographs and she has the money to do both. Unhappily, she finally agrees. How will she get out of this?

[Anoush · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sayla needs a life-saving surgery. She's been saving for the trip of a lifetime to Rome, but she can't do both. It's one or the other and as things are, she'd rather go on her trip and die than forgo her dream. When she's approached by the agent of a wealthy actor, asking her to work as the last-minute date of a wealthy actor, she says yes. It's distasteful, but she needs the money. She'll go.

At the ball, Sterling Pennington is impressed and intrigued that Sayla can see through his actor mask. She's the only person that has been able to do that since his mother passed away. After the ball, he can't seem to get her out of his mind and so he insinuates himself in her life, making himself indispensable in her recovery and hoping that she'll more than tolerate him by the time her Rome trip comes along.

From the beginning they have chemistry but Sayla has a lot of guilt after the death of her spouse a few years earlier. And then there seem to be insurmountable barriers between them--mostly Sterling's wealth.

This story is all about Sterling convincing Sayla he's serious long-term and waiting for her to figure out her own hang-ups and work through them.

[Pattisue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the theme of “taking off the mask and being yourself” threaded throughout this story. Growing up in foster care has hardened Sayla Jones’ heart. “She could be whatever she wanted, whoever she decided to be.” The shock of losing her husband in a devastating accident has thrown her into a tailspin from which she can’t seem to recover. Striking, Sterling Pennington slips into her life as easily as he slips into his movie roles. “He wanted nothing but had everything” except what he truly desires, “…a wife, kids, long walks at sunset” with someone he loved. As the rapport builds between these two, the dialogue is witty and snarky. She is nothing like the plastic beauties he encounters in his world. Sayla is authentic and real and sees right through the mask he hides behind. Common heartache and loss draws them together. His tender care of her post surgery is so sweet. His patience as he helps her deal with her survivor’s guilt is both attractive and appealing. Love, forgiveness, friendship are wonderful elements of this sweet story. Fun cameo appearances by Hunter, Summer, and crusty old Henry rounds out this enjoyable, clean romance.

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was only an arranged date
Sterling, in spite of being a movie star, needed a date on short notice. Sayla needed money for surgery, money she didn’t have. The pay was right so Sayla agreed. What neither expected was what was in their future. When Sterling decided to reach out to her after the date, he found that she was getting released from the hospital. Soon he is taking care of her as she recovered and liking it. With her he finds himself dropping his mask he usually presents to the world and just being himself, enjoying the experience. Sayla also finds that with him she can just be herself but her background is so different and her past has some secrets she fears will destroy any chance they might have. A wonderful story of finding love and acceptance where you would normally never look.

[Ashley D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was really cute and I loved how they could read each other right off the bat and called each other out. I liked Sterling and how thoughtful and kind he was and how he did what he wanted even if that meant others would be angry with him like showing up at the hospital and helping out there and also taking care of her during her recovery. Sayla was a good character and I liked how she stood up for herself and did her own thing and didn't swoon over Sterling like everyone else. I honestly had a hard time putting this book down and didn't think it was as long as it is. It's a fast, fun read. It was a clean book with no swearing and no love scenes.

[Rachael Dorronsoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sterling Pennington is a movie star and also a billionaire, when his agents sets him up with a hired date for a masquerade party, Sterling is not happy. When he meets his date Sayla, and she see’s right through him, he is more than a little intrigued. Sterling wants to know more about Sayla, but she is quite adamant to keep him at arms length. Sterling is now very interested and when he finds Sayla needs him, he is more than willing to put his life on hold and help her out.

This was another really cute story, I loved reading who Sterling was and how he came to get his happy ever after. This was a fast paced, cute clean read.

[Stephanie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Having someone famous trying to find himself is always a task in itself. It's hard to be yourself when everyone sees you as someone else. For Sterling have Sayla see him for who he truly was, was the only thing he wanted. I enjoyed that this brought Sterling back to himself after losing his mother.
My favorite character was definitely Sayla. She didn't just fall head over heels for the famous movie star who wanted her without some emotional depth. She not only went through the emotions of losing her husband and having to move on but she realizes that there's more to life than just herself and her own emotions.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Us ordinary humans normally fail to stop and think about any problems the rich and famous might have, after all, they’re rich and famous, they don’t have problems. Taylor Hart is good at letting us see that just like us they do have problems, yes, sometimes money can help solve the issues, but not always. Loneliness isn’t cured with money. I love that Sayla isn’t impressed by Sterling’s money or good looks. When two hard heads collide there are going to be sparks. Thankfully we get to stand back and watch. I really enjoyed this story.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
I'm not sure if it was because I didn't have a ton of time to read this book the last couple weeks. Yes, I said a couple weeks. Between end of the year stuff, my Dad being in the hospital for a week, or what but I didn't connect well with this book. Again, it was probably because I didn't get really sit and enjoy it but there it is.

Moral Note: Nothing I can recall except the fact that with him being a movie star it talks about him being a player with the ladies, etc.

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the Sweet Summer Billionaire Kisses collection. Sterling Pennington, famous movie-star billionaire needs a date for a masquerade party, and widow Sayla Jones fills the role to obtain funds for an upcoming surgery. They both find more than they expected, but can they trust their feelings and find forgiveness for their pasts, or are they too different. Great heartwarming story!

[MileHighSunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sterling is an actor and would never guessed in a million years that he would be bringing a local woman, who works in a marina! What an enigma she is. By the end of tat night, he wants to learn more about her, but ends up with a rude awakening when he takes her home. Shayla and Sterling each have a lot of personal issues that they need to work through.

You will laugh, you will cringe and laugh at the same time, and will definitely enjoy reading this book!

[Tausha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, clean read. I was drawn in rather quickly and I felt some urgency to finish it. Both our main characters definitely had some serious life issues to deal with, but that made them that much more relatable. It ended as expected...happy, but also with a desire to see their happily ever after show up in another book??

[Brian Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

😃😃😃😃😃

One of the things I particularly liked here is that the story has a happy ending but not a "blueberries are singing, everything is wonderful" ending. They don't suddenly find they've surmounted e dry obstacle, they've just reached agreement that love is worth facing those challenges.

[carlybanarly · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I really liked that this was a clean romance, and was drawn in by idea of the handsome movie actor. But sadly, I just couldn’t get drawn in to the story. It was fine, and I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my time, but I don’t have that excited feeling that I get when I have read a really good book.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not find a good page to truly sink myself into, during the beginning stages of this novel. I like to imagine it in my mind as a movie as the pages turn; however, I never could find footing to actually get that started here with this story. I would possibly like to try again later, hopefully it might be a better fit.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the Mask

Sayla needs money for her operation and special trip. Sterling's assistant arranges for him to have a date with Sayla. Their attractions for each other changes the whole evening. Taylor has written another wonderful story with strong and believable characters. Strong emotional
feelings make it impossible to put this book down.

[Phyllis Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

4 stars for The Masquerading Groom (Jackson Hole Bachelor Book 5). Two people who probably would have never met and who, on the surface, couldn't be more different. Sterling, the billionaire actor and Sharks the foster home kid who had nothing. A sweet story that gets to the heart of the matter....we are more alike than what appears on the surface.