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Masked by Moonlight
When night fell on the lawless streets of old San Francisco, Matthew Covington—seemingly just another wealthy society idler—became the mysterious crime-fighter known as the Black Bandit. Nothing could tempt him to reveal his secret identity, until the English gentleman met Georgia Waterhouse, whose pseudonymous newspaper accounts had made his daring exploits famous. He was coming to care deeply for this woman, who shared his passionate devotion to justice—and the Lord—but she could never know he was her shadow-shrouded hero. What would become of their growing love if he revealed the truth that lay behind the mask…?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Allie Pleiter
115 books619 followersAn avid knitter, coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four novels at a time. The bestselling author of over fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management for writers. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com to learn more.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 9, 2019
In 1890 San Francisco, wealthy English hero Matthew Covington is in the city on business, but he likes to work out privately with his whip and sword at night. When he sees a young boy being harassed by bullies he comes to the rescue, chasing the bullies away, but he keeps himself in darkness when he does it. The young boy tells his friends and acquaintances about his adventure and the bandit who rescued him, but most people really don't believe his story. Heroine Georgia Waterhouse (who works at the Grace House Mission in the poor area of San Francisco---South of the Slot) writes about it in her brother's newspaper. Soon afterwards, the people of San Francisco are all talking about the "Black Bandit" and if he is real or a fictitious story made up by the newspaper. When Matthew hears about (and sees) the poor conditions in the area and the work that Grace House is doing he decides to secretly help out as the "Black Bandit". The people are starting to believe that the "Black Bandit" is real, and it is giving hope to the poor area. Matthew is also falling for pretty and caring Grace...
I really enjoyed this charming, amusing, and fun romance. I liked the daring and caring hero Matthew and all the good he was doing. I also liked heroine Georgia, who was very sweet and kindhearted. I liked how the people all became hopeful and it brought the community together. I thought Matthew and Georgia made a lovely couple.
This was a very entertaining and heartwarming read.
I really enjoyed this charming, amusing, and fun romance. I liked the daring and caring hero Matthew and all the good he was doing. I also liked heroine Georgia, who was very sweet and kindhearted. I liked how the people all became hopeful and it brought the community together. I thought Matthew and Georgia made a lovely couple.
This was a very entertaining and heartwarming read.
January 11, 2019
1.5 stars
I wish I knew how this book ended up on my to-read list. The date I marked it tells me I was smack in my Scarlet Pimpernel obsession, so perhaps that is it. I thought this book might follow a similar line.
Going in, my biggest worry was that it was actually a sketchy, Harlequin romance novel. It turned out to be something much worse...
A Christian romance novel.
The story follows a British merchant visiting San Francisco. He's got daddy issues, mommy issues, brother issues, valet issues. He has the soul of a poet but is forced into business. But of course, he's also super hot, thoughtful, and likes standing in dark alleyways practicing with his...whip.
Then there is the heroine, a vague female who lives with her brother and does charity work. She's creamy skinned, faints at the sight of blood, and writes terrible fiction for her brother's newspaper in an attempt to liven the moral tone of the city. Of course, the terrible fiction is super popular and - since she writes under a pen name - all the credit goes to her brother.
British merchant accidentally inspires and later impersonates hero of said terrible fiction.
Several plot lines trickle throughout the story, including the heroine's confusion over whether she loves the British dude and her own fictional character. Other lines get dropped, like the initial woe-is-me attitude emanating from the hero. Possibly this is attributable to his love of the heroine and/or random conversion experience.
This being a Christian romance, God gets credited with a lot. Unfortunately, in my opinion, most of it is nonsense. Creativity, love, and a conscience all get called "God" but God himself seems to play some vague, match-making role in the background with little actual relevance. There is, of course, an obligatory conversion scene that made 0 sense. Problems get wrapped up quickly and generally skimmed over - God again, apparently.
Overall I would say there was nothing too terrible about this book, but also nothing that appealing. I almost would have preferred it to get sketchy and Harlequin...as it is, the plot owes more to Batman than the Scarlet Pimpernel and never captured more than a fraction of my attention.
I wish I knew how this book ended up on my to-read list. The date I marked it tells me I was smack in my Scarlet Pimpernel obsession, so perhaps that is it. I thought this book might follow a similar line.
Going in, my biggest worry was that it was actually a sketchy, Harlequin romance novel. It turned out to be something much worse...
A Christian romance novel.
The story follows a British merchant visiting San Francisco. He's got daddy issues, mommy issues, brother issues, valet issues. He has the soul of a poet but is forced into business. But of course, he's also super hot, thoughtful, and likes standing in dark alleyways practicing with his...whip.
Then there is the heroine, a vague female who lives with her brother and does charity work. She's creamy skinned, faints at the sight of blood, and writes terrible fiction for her brother's newspaper in an attempt to liven the moral tone of the city. Of course, the terrible fiction is super popular and - since she writes under a pen name - all the credit goes to her brother.
British merchant accidentally inspires and later impersonates hero of said terrible fiction.
Several plot lines trickle throughout the story, including the heroine's confusion over whether she loves the British dude and her own fictional character. Other lines get dropped, like the initial woe-is-me attitude emanating from the hero. Possibly this is attributable to his love of the heroine and/or random conversion experience.
This being a Christian romance, God gets credited with a lot. Unfortunately, in my opinion, most of it is nonsense. Creativity, love, and a conscience all get called "God" but God himself seems to play some vague, match-making role in the background with little actual relevance. There is, of course, an obligatory conversion scene that made 0 sense. Problems get wrapped up quickly and generally skimmed over - God again, apparently.
Overall I would say there was nothing too terrible about this book, but also nothing that appealing. I almost would have preferred it to get sketchy and Harlequin...as it is, the plot owes more to Batman than the Scarlet Pimpernel and never captured more than a fraction of my attention.
May 22, 2010
Great book. You don't expect it to end up being somewhat of a suspense but it does.
December 4, 2018
I enjoyed the plot of this book but would have liked a lot more action and much less dialogue. It seemed that the characters weren't speaking clearly and I found that I would read a section and still be confused about what was going on. I also found the writing style awkward and hard to read at times. My daughters and I read it together and we still have no idea how Georgia got wet from the fountain. Later in the book it talked about a kiss and we somehow completely missed it. The book would suddenly jump to a new time, place, and set of characters with no transition or characters would suddenly start talking and we didn't even know they were present and at times, who they were. If the author cleans up her writing style, we would love to read another of her books, but at this point, the thought of reading another of her books, just seems like it would be tedious.
March 20, 2015
First off, those who read my reviews will know that I try to be as fair and positive as I can. Rarely do I "bomb" a book if I can help it. THis book is between a 2 and a 3 star rating. I read the synopsis and I knew this wasnt going to be a huge literary blockbuster; however, the story is along the "Zorro meets Scarlet Pimpernel" theme and I do enjoy a good romp so I bought it. Guys, stick to Scarlet Pimpernel.
I found myself putting it down and constantly looking to see how much I had left. Not a good sign.
The story was simple; dare I say "trite" and somewhat silly. And I'm not against silly per se but I was hoping for a bit more character developement/ wit/ obstacles to go along with it.
The "inspirational" aspects of the book were contrived, unrealistic and inaccurate. Frankly, it was annoying. Senario: Heroine is falling for hero but Hero was an unbeliever. What to do? Have no fear, heroine because miracles of miracles! in one afternoon hero reads a few chapters of the bible, has an epiphany and 'believes'. Tada! He is now pronounced a 'man of faith'. He doesn't need to grow to Christian maturity he just IS. Are you moved to tears? No? The heroine was, but my only tears were of frustration. THis is the kind of thing that gives Inspirational fiction a bad name.
Bottom line: Just give us a well written, heartfelt, clean story, thats what we're looking for.
I bought the sequel "Mission of Hope" at the same time as this and I'll be reading it with an open mind. It was written two years after this one and I have hopes that I will enjoy it more.
I found myself putting it down and constantly looking to see how much I had left. Not a good sign.
The story was simple; dare I say "trite" and somewhat silly. And I'm not against silly per se but I was hoping for a bit more character developement/ wit/ obstacles to go along with it.
The "inspirational" aspects of the book were contrived, unrealistic and inaccurate. Frankly, it was annoying. Senario: Heroine is falling for hero but Hero was an unbeliever. What to do? Have no fear, heroine because miracles of miracles! in one afternoon hero reads a few chapters of the bible, has an epiphany and 'believes'. Tada! He is now pronounced a 'man of faith'. He doesn't need to grow to Christian maturity he just IS. Are you moved to tears? No? The heroine was, but my only tears were of frustration. THis is the kind of thing that gives Inspirational fiction a bad name.
Bottom line: Just give us a well written, heartfelt, clean story, thats what we're looking for.
I bought the sequel "Mission of Hope" at the same time as this and I'll be reading it with an open mind. It was written two years after this one and I have hopes that I will enjoy it more.
January 28, 2015
This was just a sweet, fun book to read. Matthew was a sweetie who liked to play with exotic toys and fell for a lovely girl. After he saves a young boy from some brutal men, the boy spreads his story until Georgia finally writes a story in her brother's paper. Hence the bandit was born. Matthew made everything more interesting by carrying out the bandit's stories as they appeared.
The romance was sweet. I felt bad for Georgia having such a rotten brother, but we can't choose our family.
I'm excited that there is a sequel to this book that cover's the boy's story.
The romance was sweet. I felt bad for Georgia having such a rotten brother, but we can't choose our family.
I'm excited that there is a sequel to this book that cover's the boy's story.
October 29, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this light, historical romance.
August 2, 2018
As the Harlequin Romance Love Inspired Historical Line has come to an end, it is my goal to read all of the books that interest me in this series that I have yet to read. Ie - western / North American 1800s - 1900s...
With that being said, I found "Masked by Moonlight" a meh - okay sort of read. It seemed more adventure - fantasty novel than a romance story. I am looking forward to starting it's follow up, "Mission of Hope" as my next read.
With that being said, I found "Masked by Moonlight" a meh - okay sort of read. It seemed more adventure - fantasty novel than a romance story. I am looking forward to starting it's follow up, "Mission of Hope" as my next read.
May 23, 2021
I had never read a Moonlight by Allie Pleiter novel but definitely will in the future.
July 22, 2022
Cute romance with a fun twist of the Bandit. Enjoyed.
May 28, 2011
I don't usually "do" romance, but I met this author at a conference last fall and she broke my brain. In her presentation she called this book "a Lois Lane meets Zorro story." That description fits nicely. This is a good, clean romance full of action and sedated chickens and was a fun read.
August 5, 2016
so boring
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews