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Melbourne After Dark #1
Unmasked
Cinderella is about to get wicked... But can a naughty fantasy have a happily ever after? Lainey Kline has one goal before she leaves Melbourne forever: transform into a sexy siren, sneak into the season's most glamorous masquerade ball and seduce Damian McKnight. Only there's a teeny little problem - one deliciously hot night isn't nearly enough. Now Lainey wants more. But while getting naked is one thing, taking off their masks is quite another...
ebook
First published April 1, 2018
63 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Stefanie London
121 books979 followersStefanie London is a multi-award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romances and romantic comedies.
Stefanie’s books have been called “genuinely entertaining and memorable” by Booklist, and “elegant, descriptive and delectable” by RT magazine. Her stories have won multiple industry awards, including the HOLT Medallion and OKRWA National Reader's Choice Award, and she has been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA award.
Originally from Australia, Stefanie lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and anything zombie-related.
Stefanie’s books have been called “genuinely entertaining and memorable” by Booklist, and “elegant, descriptive and delectable” by RT magazine. Her stories have won multiple industry awards, including the HOLT Medallion and OKRWA National Reader's Choice Award, and she has been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA award.
Originally from Australia, Stefanie lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and anything zombie-related.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 19, 2018
4.5 stars.
Unmasked isn’t the first I’ve read from Stefanie London, but so far it’s the best and with no scrimping on the sizzle, she brings us a seductive Cinderella-esque romp between a quirky lady and her BFF’s brooding brother.
Having sworn off relationships following his divorce, Damian McKnight is a one-night only type of guy, but when a beautiful and mysterious flame-haired woman spills her drink down him at a masquerade party, he’s clueless to the fact that the woman making no secret of her desire is his little sister’s best friend, Lainey Kline.
Tonight is all about the mystery, don’t you think? Strangers without faces.”
I’m not saying anything on what happens beyond the this couple’s steamy masked tryst, but what I will say is they were fabulous together, I devoured in one sitting and Stefanie London does a superb job in bringing that allure which comes with two strangers getting up-close and very personal together, whilst at the same time keeping it real as there’s the small but fairly important fact that Lainey and Damian have actually known each other for years.
He was her Prince Charming, her Mr. Darcy, the Harry to her Sally. The Danny to her Sandra Dee. The only guy who’d ever truly known her.”
Deliciously sexy yet at the same time charmingly sweet, Unmasked kicks off the Melbourne After Dark series nicely, and I for one am hoping we get to catch up with these characters again—I’d love to see Imogen’s slightly covert shenanigans elaborated on in the future.
Copy received courtesy of
via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Unmasked isn’t the first I’ve read from Stefanie London, but so far it’s the best and with no scrimping on the sizzle, she brings us a seductive Cinderella-esque romp between a quirky lady and her BFF’s brooding brother.
Having sworn off relationships following his divorce, Damian McKnight is a one-night only type of guy, but when a beautiful and mysterious flame-haired woman spills her drink down him at a masquerade party, he’s clueless to the fact that the woman making no secret of her desire is his little sister’s best friend, Lainey Kline.
Tonight is all about the mystery, don’t you think? Strangers without faces.”
I’m not saying anything on what happens beyond the this couple’s steamy masked tryst, but what I will say is they were fabulous together, I devoured in one sitting and Stefanie London does a superb job in bringing that allure which comes with two strangers getting up-close and very personal together, whilst at the same time keeping it real as there’s the small but fairly important fact that Lainey and Damian have actually known each other for years.
He was her Prince Charming, her Mr. Darcy, the Harry to her Sally. The Danny to her Sandra Dee. The only guy who’d ever truly known her.”
Deliciously sexy yet at the same time charmingly sweet, Unmasked kicks off the Melbourne After Dark series nicely, and I for one am hoping we get to catch up with these characters again—I’d love to see Imogen’s slightly covert shenanigans elaborated on in the future.
Copy received courtesy of
via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion. 
April 3, 2018
Frisky, enticing, and salacious!
Unmasked is a passionate, beguiling read that mixes the determined, focused Lainey who may have come up with the perfect plan to spend one fervent night with the man of her dreams, and Damian, the handsome, consumed businessman who may finally discover his little sister’s best friend is more than he ever could have imagined.
The writing style is steamy and smooth. The characters are hesitant, playful, spirited, and endearing. And the plot is a wonderful combination of light drama, family, friendship, delicious tension, smoking chemistry, sexy innuendoes, and swoon-worthy romance.
Overall, Unmasked is a provocative, entertaining novel that I would have to say is hands down one of the sexiest fairy tales I’ve ever read.
Thank you to Stefanie London for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Unmasked is a passionate, beguiling read that mixes the determined, focused Lainey who may have come up with the perfect plan to spend one fervent night with the man of her dreams, and Damian, the handsome, consumed businessman who may finally discover his little sister’s best friend is more than he ever could have imagined.
The writing style is steamy and smooth. The characters are hesitant, playful, spirited, and endearing. And the plot is a wonderful combination of light drama, family, friendship, delicious tension, smoking chemistry, sexy innuendoes, and swoon-worthy romance.
Overall, Unmasked is a provocative, entertaining novel that I would have to say is hands down one of the sexiest fairy tales I’ve ever read.
Thank you to Stefanie London for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
April 2, 2018
MY RATING: 4/5 STARS
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
For those who are fans of Harlequin, you may know that there is a new series called Harlequin Dare that just launched. From my understanding, Harlequin Dare is kind of a more romantic and flirty sister of Harlequin Presents. Both series are dramatic with the glam and fancy cars and fancy balls but one just seems...nicer? At least, that's what the impression I got from reading my first Harlequin Dare novel from Stefanie London.
I've read some Stefanie London books before but I think her Harlequins are starting to be my favourite stories from her simply because Unmasked made me 'Awww' in real life. I expected drama. I got it. I expected a hero who was moody and sexy. I got it. But I didn't count on the fluffiness between our hero and heroine, Lainey and Damian. Unmasked follows the classic trope of falling in love with your best friend's older brother. It's a trope I never read in a LONG time so when I accidentally stumbled into this plot, I really enjoyed it. Maybe too much.
Lainey has been harboring feelings for Damian ever since she was an awkward teenager and he was this super confident and sexy older brother of her best friend. She didn't think someone like him would ever like someone like her. But the stolen glances and the way he studies her makes her think otherwise. When a career opportunity presents itself for Lainey, she doesn't hesitate to leave things behind especially her unrequited and silly crush on Damian. Deciding to be brave for one final time, Lainey sneaks into a masquerade ball and tries to seduce the man of her fantasies so she can finally get him out of her system.
Damian doesn't know who this sexy mysterious redhead is. However, he's all game for one night of fun. After being burnt by his ex-wife, Damian doesn't trust his heart or love anymore. He doesn't do relationships. When Lainey (our mysterious redhead) agrees that it's a one-night thing, they have explosive sex thinking everything is done with. Except things are never that easy.
I loved how Lainey was kind of a two-sided character. She was unsure about his feelings towards her which made her feel vulnerable but she was also strong enough to stand up for herself, love, and leave someone who was hurting her. I also enjoyed Damian because he would do anything to make her younger sister happy and he was extremely family orientated despite his busy schedule and complicated past. He's also sarcastic which made me snicker. And I love any book that makes me snicker. Together, Lainey and Damian had a flirty and hot relationship readers would die for. It was super adorable when Damian wanted to reciprocate his feelings but couldn't do it because of his circumstances. I enjoyed every angsty bit.
Finally, I wanted to point out that Stefanie does a spectacular job at writing an interesting story while also adding a certain romantic comedy flare to it. I found the sarcastic comments hilarious and it didn't seem forced but natural. I also want to just say that despite the book being fluffy, it was also hot. The intensity of love scenes were spot on!
MY RECOMMENDATION
Read this book and I suggest to follow up on the series!!!
September 23, 2018
3.5 stars
This was a nice read. h has always had feelings for her best friend's brother who is a decade older & has finally given up on him noticing her. But she is moving away and still wants one chance with him so she sneaks into a costume party and has one night with him. The H is older & pretty affected by his ex cheating on him. He only has his business and revenge on his mind. I did like how this book balanced the sexy times with emotional depth as well. Despite the h's age she saw the hero more clearly than he did. Nice one!
This was a nice read. h has always had feelings for her best friend's brother who is a decade older & has finally given up on him noticing her. But she is moving away and still wants one chance with him so she sneaks into a costume party and has one night with him. The H is older & pretty affected by his ex cheating on him. He only has his business and revenge on his mind. I did like how this book balanced the sexy times with emotional depth as well. Despite the h's age she saw the hero more clearly than he did. Nice one!
April 15, 2018
Woot! A Dare with enthusiastic consent, an actual plot and actual conflict and a heroine that actually matches MY definition of strong! I have really enjoyed Stefanie London's Blaze books in the past and so I thought she might be a better bet for me than the authors they've been snaking from Presents and an particular corner of self-pub I don't particularly enjoy. I was right! Not that this book was totally perfect. Some readers may object to the fact that the couple has sex while the heroine is lying about her indentity (yes, another Dare consent issue), but it didn't bother me as much in this case because of the context. The whole book really worked for me--the conflict, the couple, the setting, everything. If you've been alwanting to try Dare or you've been disappointed with your reads in the line like I was, try this one. And look for more London! Strong heroines, hot sex and a curiously adorable obsession with llamas ;-)
March 10, 2018
After pining after Damian Knight for years, Lainey Kline has made a drastic choice: she will move to London and leave the man of her dreams in Melbourne, since he seems a lost cause. When she tells her best friends Imogen and Corinna of her plans, Corinna – Damian’s younger sister – confesses that she will crash a snazzy masquerade ball to spy on someone, and Damian will be attending the event; that’s when a little light shines in Lainey’s mind. A disguise is the perfect opportunity to have an anonymous fling with Damian and get him out of her system, if she can’t hope for more.
UNMASKED is part of Harlequin’s new Dare line, I was curious to see how it fared, and who better than Stefanie London to try, whose writing is always impressive. I loved the light tone of the book, the delightful humour, the easy dialogues and the interactions between all the characters; it always felt genuine. The expected sexy moments are written with flair, lush sensuality, and flirtatious playfulness. The expected misunderstanding was taken care of swiftly, but better yet, it led to some soul-searching and much growth from Lainey and Damian. I was impressed with Lainey and Damian’s backstories, mostly his, and how solid the plot was. UNMASKED offers an in-depth character study, and it was an empowering story as well because Lainey is the one in control at all times. Not to say that Damian is a wimp, far from it; he is quite the alpha hero, but he never bullies his way into anything because he’s respectful of Lainey, and while she’s no pushover, she’s not aggressive either; all this made me so very happy.
Stefanie London’s writing is, as usual, all lightness and grace, and her descriptions of Melbourne, the environment and architecture, and especially the ballroom where the masquerade takes place left me sighing and dreaming. I am very much looking forward to the next books in Melbourne after Dark, because UNMASKED was such a delightful book which showed that you can have substance along with the sizzle.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
UNMASKED is part of Harlequin’s new Dare line, I was curious to see how it fared, and who better than Stefanie London to try, whose writing is always impressive. I loved the light tone of the book, the delightful humour, the easy dialogues and the interactions between all the characters; it always felt genuine. The expected sexy moments are written with flair, lush sensuality, and flirtatious playfulness. The expected misunderstanding was taken care of swiftly, but better yet, it led to some soul-searching and much growth from Lainey and Damian. I was impressed with Lainey and Damian’s backstories, mostly his, and how solid the plot was. UNMASKED offers an in-depth character study, and it was an empowering story as well because Lainey is the one in control at all times. Not to say that Damian is a wimp, far from it; he is quite the alpha hero, but he never bullies his way into anything because he’s respectful of Lainey, and while she’s no pushover, she’s not aggressive either; all this made me so very happy.
Stefanie London’s writing is, as usual, all lightness and grace, and her descriptions of Melbourne, the environment and architecture, and especially the ballroom where the masquerade takes place left me sighing and dreaming. I am very much looking forward to the next books in Melbourne after Dark, because UNMASKED was such a delightful book which showed that you can have substance along with the sizzle.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 6, 2018
A sultry, sexy ride! First, have to love Lainey's determination to go after the man she's loved for so long. The conflict: the man in question, Damian McKnight, is her best friend's older brother and this could go wrong in so many ways. Lainey decides to make her move at a $5000 masked ball. But when the masks come off, will Lainey get the reaction she's hoping for?
April 4, 2022
Unmasked
4 Stars
Lainey Kline has loved Damian McKnight her whole life. Now she is taking the chance of a lifetime and seducing him in disguise. Will one night be enough?
This is my first Harlequin Dare and it definitely won't be my last.
Damien and Lainey's attraction is palpable from the first and their interactions are both sweet and sexy. The fact that the secret identity trope doesn't drag on is an added bonus.
Looking forward to finding out what happened to Imogen at the masquerade ball soon.
4 Stars
Lainey Kline has loved Damian McKnight her whole life. Now she is taking the chance of a lifetime and seducing him in disguise. Will one night be enough?
This is my first Harlequin Dare and it definitely won't be my last.
Damien and Lainey's attraction is palpable from the first and their interactions are both sweet and sexy. The fact that the secret identity trope doesn't drag on is an added bonus.
Looking forward to finding out what happened to Imogen at the masquerade ball soon.
April 7, 2021
Pirmoji knyga „Melburnas nemiega naktį“. Ji kirpėja. Jis verslininkas. Raudonplaukė Leinė slapčia patenka į aukštuomenės kaukių vakarėlį, kad suviliotų geriausios draugės brolį Deimijaną. Tai istorija lyg šiuolaikinė Pelenė. Tik šioje knygoje Pelenė pameta močiutės veidrodėlį, o ne batelį ir išsiaiškinti jos tapatybę padeda jo sesuo, kuri puikiai žino tą veidrodėlį. Knygoje netrūksta atvirų sekso scenų, kas itin kaitina atmosferą ir man patinka. Skaitėsi labai lengvai, nes skyriai neilgi, istorija greita plėtojasi ir įdomu.
March 13, 2018
This is one sinfully, sensual and sexy read, I practically inhaled this one, it is moving and emotional as Lainey Kline decides that it is time that she had one night at least with the man that she has always craved, her best friends brother Damian McKnight and she goes all out to have that night without him knowing who she is at the famous masked ball, will Cinderella win her man?
Lainey, Corinna and Imogen have been best friends forever but Lainey has always wanted to be more than friends with Corinna’s brother Damian over the years he has helped her out of a few disasters that she has gotten herself into, but he was only ever a friend and now Lainey has taken a job in London, she is a fabulous hairdresser but after an evening with her girlfriends she plots a plan to gate crash the masquerade ball and get her man and what a night it turns out to be leaving Damian at the end of the night alone.
Damian is a successful business man these days he has been hurt badly by his ex-wife and is determined to stay single but he has always felt a pull, a spark for Lainey but she is off limits he will not hurt his sister or her friend. When is pays a huge amount of money for a ticket to the masked ball chasing a new customer as some form of revenge he never thinks to be approached by a gorgeous woman in a mask this leads to a very sexy evening and then he is left alone but he has a compact now can he find the woman he was with.
This was a delicious story that had me turning the pages as I got to know Lainey and Damian two very special people Lainey who would often get herself into scapes to be someone else and Damian who kept his feelings locked up inside after what had happened to him but bring them together and Lainey just understood Damian so well and his need to protect and there is an explosion of love and a sensuality between them that cannot be denied woohoo MS London this story rocks I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance that will leave you smiling I am loving this new line from Harlequin, thank you.
Lainey, Corinna and Imogen have been best friends forever but Lainey has always wanted to be more than friends with Corinna’s brother Damian over the years he has helped her out of a few disasters that she has gotten herself into, but he was only ever a friend and now Lainey has taken a job in London, she is a fabulous hairdresser but after an evening with her girlfriends she plots a plan to gate crash the masquerade ball and get her man and what a night it turns out to be leaving Damian at the end of the night alone.
Damian is a successful business man these days he has been hurt badly by his ex-wife and is determined to stay single but he has always felt a pull, a spark for Lainey but she is off limits he will not hurt his sister or her friend. When is pays a huge amount of money for a ticket to the masked ball chasing a new customer as some form of revenge he never thinks to be approached by a gorgeous woman in a mask this leads to a very sexy evening and then he is left alone but he has a compact now can he find the woman he was with.
This was a delicious story that had me turning the pages as I got to know Lainey and Damian two very special people Lainey who would often get herself into scapes to be someone else and Damian who kept his feelings locked up inside after what had happened to him but bring them together and Lainey just understood Damian so well and his need to protect and there is an explosion of love and a sensuality between them that cannot be denied woohoo MS London this story rocks I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance that will leave you smiling I am loving this new line from Harlequin, thank you.
March 31, 2018
Be enthralled by Stefanie London’s impeccable storyline, characters and whimsical type fairytale in Unmasked!
Truly dived in blinded with Ms. London’s work as she is a new author for me and I have to say I am beyond pleased with this romance. I enjoyed the mystery, angst of a best friend’s brother forbidden romance, with a strong heroine who didn’t stop for what she wanted from the man she has lusted for. London’s writing was easy to read and captivating nonetheless.
“He was her Prince Charming, her Mr. Darcy, the Harry to her Sally. The Danny to her Sandra Dee. The only guy who’d ever truly known her.”
Can a mask really hide what’s underneath the surface? The emotions, temptations, desires that have been burning for years. But what happens when the truth is unveiled. Will it leave you feeling elated as you’ve wanted or miserable because of the deceit/lies that the boundary has been crossed?
“You’ve made your bed--now you have to lie in it.”
I would hope that Ms. London would continue onward with sequels of Lainey’s friends and within those we can get glimpses into Lainey and Damien’s world. I for one would like to see more of them.
4.5 Cinderella Stars
**ARC graciously provided by the author in exchanged for an honest review**
Reviewed by Allyson, Late Night reviewer for Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Truly dived in blinded with Ms. London’s work as she is a new author for me and I have to say I am beyond pleased with this romance. I enjoyed the mystery, angst of a best friend’s brother forbidden romance, with a strong heroine who didn’t stop for what she wanted from the man she has lusted for. London’s writing was easy to read and captivating nonetheless.
“He was her Prince Charming, her Mr. Darcy, the Harry to her Sally. The Danny to her Sandra Dee. The only guy who’d ever truly known her.”
Can a mask really hide what’s underneath the surface? The emotions, temptations, desires that have been burning for years. But what happens when the truth is unveiled. Will it leave you feeling elated as you’ve wanted or miserable because of the deceit/lies that the boundary has been crossed?
“You’ve made your bed--now you have to lie in it.”
I would hope that Ms. London would continue onward with sequels of Lainey’s friends and within those we can get glimpses into Lainey and Damien’s world. I for one would like to see more of them.
4.5 Cinderella Stars
**ARC graciously provided by the author in exchanged for an honest review**
Reviewed by Allyson, Late Night reviewer for Up All Night w/ Books Blog
April 1, 2018
4 1/2 STARS!
Adorable and spicy all rolled into one! A case of going after what you want, no matter how sneaky you have to be to get it! Lainey is a really fun character to get to know, and as we hear about how much she likes Damian and the fact that him not seeing her as more than a friend has really affected her life, we really feel for her. Watching them pick up the pieces after her secret quest comes with consequences is really fun. I enjoyed them a lot!
Lainey Kline has been lusting after her best friend's older brother for like forever now, so when she makes the decision to leave Melbourne, she decides to go out with a bang! She sets out on a mission of seduction, and crashing a masquerade ball is just the way to accomplish having one sexy night with her dream man without him ever knowing it's her! Only problem is ... one night just isn't enough!
Damian McKnight knows that Lainey has had a crush on him for years, but he's never been wiling to go there and risk her friendship with him and his sister in the process. He's focused on making his business all that it can be, and if he's lucky, nabbing that one special client that will help him purge his revenge for past wrongs!
Adorable and spicy all rolled into one! A case of going after what you want, no matter how sneaky you have to be to get it! Lainey is a really fun character to get to know, and as we hear about how much she likes Damian and the fact that him not seeing her as more than a friend has really affected her life, we really feel for her. Watching them pick up the pieces after her secret quest comes with consequences is really fun. I enjoyed them a lot!
Lainey Kline has been lusting after her best friend's older brother for like forever now, so when she makes the decision to leave Melbourne, she decides to go out with a bang! She sets out on a mission of seduction, and crashing a masquerade ball is just the way to accomplish having one sexy night with her dream man without him ever knowing it's her! Only problem is ... one night just isn't enough!
Damian McKnight knows that Lainey has had a crush on him for years, but he's never been wiling to go there and risk her friendship with him and his sister in the process. He's focused on making his business all that it can be, and if he's lucky, nabbing that one special client that will help him purge his revenge for past wrongs!
May 4, 2018
3.5/5
Fun! I need to read more of London's books!
March 22, 2018
Unmasked by Stefanie London is part of Harlequin’s new Dare imprint, and the first in her Melbourne After Dark series. It’s set in Australia, and this one is a best friend’s sibling romance with a woman determined to catch the interest of her longtime crush, even if it’s in disguise.
Lainey Kline has had a crush on her best friend Corinna’s brother Damian McKnight for years, but he’s never shown any sign of returning those feelings. Desperate for a change, she’s planning a move to London in a few weeks for a new career opportunity. When she finds out that Damian will be attending a masquerade ball, and that her friend Corinna plans to sneak in to do some spying of her own, she decides its her best bet to seduce Damian, even if he’ll never know who she really is.
Damian is captivated by the woman in the mask who spends a few hours with him, then vanishes. Only she’s left a compact behind and he soon finds out his mystery woman is none other than Lainey, his sister’s longtime friend. Their time together was smoldering hot, and he can’t forget about it. And, he needs a favor, a fake fiancee to help persuade a potential business partner that his playboy days are behind him. He’s been burned before in the love department so he’s not interested in anything that will last too long, which is perfect since Lainey is leaving. But will he be able to let her go so easily?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-unm...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
Lainey Kline has had a crush on her best friend Corinna’s brother Damian McKnight for years, but he’s never shown any sign of returning those feelings. Desperate for a change, she’s planning a move to London in a few weeks for a new career opportunity. When she finds out that Damian will be attending a masquerade ball, and that her friend Corinna plans to sneak in to do some spying of her own, she decides its her best bet to seduce Damian, even if he’ll never know who she really is.
Damian is captivated by the woman in the mask who spends a few hours with him, then vanishes. Only she’s left a compact behind and he soon finds out his mystery woman is none other than Lainey, his sister’s longtime friend. Their time together was smoldering hot, and he can’t forget about it. And, he needs a favor, a fake fiancee to help persuade a potential business partner that his playboy days are behind him. He’s been burned before in the love department so he’s not interested in anything that will last too long, which is perfect since Lainey is leaving. But will he be able to let her go so easily?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-unm...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
November 15, 2019
4/5 Sterne
Unmasked - Jetzt gehörst du mir
von Stefanie London
HarperCollins Germany
„Endlich hat Damian die maskierte Rothaarige da, wo er sie haben wollte: in seinen Armen. Doch im entscheidenden Moment flieht sie aus der Limousine. War alles nur eine sinnliche Illusion? Damian muss die aufregende Fremde wiedersehen! Zum Glück hinterlässt sie ihm wie Cinderella einen Hinweis auf ihre Identität. Als er erfährt, dass hinter der sexy Fassade seine gute platonische Freundin Lainey steckt, ist Damian entsetzt! Sie hat ihn hinters Licht geführt. Und wie kann es sein, dass er sie plötzlich so begehrt wie noch keine Frau jemals zuvor? Er sinnt auf Rache und hat bald einen wunderbar sinnlichen Plan für die durchtriebene Lainey …
»Die Leserin wird in eine Welt von Lust und Leidenschaft entführt.«
Dailymail“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem HarperCollins Germany Verlag für das kostenlose Rezensionsexemplar des Buches. Ich gebe hier meine unabhängige und unbezahlte Meinung zu dem Buch ab.
Wieder einmal ein gutes Buch von dieser Autorin. Bisher habe ich schon einige ihrer Bücher lesen können und muss immer wieder sagen, sie schreibt auf einem gleichbleibend hohen Niveau. Ihre Bücher können mit viel Charme, Witz, Sinnlichkeit und Romantik überzeugen und beinhalten durchaus auch hin und wieder ein wenig Drama, was aber kein Muss ist. Denn diese Bücher brauchen es nicht unbedingt. In diesem Buch wurde dies ebenso deutlich. Denn die Story an sich war schon vollkommen ausreichend.
Die Protas sind charmant, witzig und sehr sinnlich dargestellt. Zwar hat auch bei ihnen jeder so seine Vergangenheit mit der er umgehen muss und diese versucht nicht mit in die Zukunft einzubauen, aber das Drama hält sich wirklich in Grenzen, was ich als sehr positiv in diesem Fall bewerte.
Mir hätte es aber noch besser gefallen, wenn man die Enthüllung des Geheimnisses um den Maskenball noch länger hinaus gezögert hätte. Das hätte das Ganze noch prickelnder gemacht und die emotionale Spannung zwischen den Protas und beim Leser enorm in die Höhe getrieben. Diese Auflösung kam mir ein wenig zu schnell. Ebenso hätte ich mir mehr zu lesen gewünscht wie sehr Damian seine Gefühle für Lainey entdeckt hat und was es mit ihm in der Vergangenheit angestellt hatte. Ob er litt, weil er diese Gefühle nicht wollte oder ob er sich kaum beherrschen konnte sie nicht zu berühren, schon seid Jahren.
Daher fehlte es mir hier dann ein wenig an der Glaubwürdigkeit und an den Emotionen, die es bei mir beim Lesen auslösen hätte sollen. Ich mag Geschichten, in denen die Protas lange Zeit umeinander herum schleichen, wie die Katzen um den heißen Brei ohne sich nahe zu kommen. Ich mag die Gedanken und Emotionen lesen, welche sie über lange Zeit verbergen und mit denen sie einen innerlichen Kampf ausfechten. Das finde ich besser als wenn alles zu schnell geht.
Das ist also meine Kritik an diesem Buch, mir fehlte ein wenig mehr Wissen und Herzschmerz von Damians Seite aus in der Vergangenheit.
Ansonsten ist es ein leicht lesbares Buch, welches man wunderbar im Urlaub oder auch abends in einer warmen Badewanne schmöckern kann.
#liebesroman #erotik #newadult #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #stefanielondon #unmasked #harpercollins #harpercollinsverlag #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #jetztgehörstdumir #mirataschenbuch #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher
Unmasked - Jetzt gehörst du mir
von Stefanie London
HarperCollins Germany
„Endlich hat Damian die maskierte Rothaarige da, wo er sie haben wollte: in seinen Armen. Doch im entscheidenden Moment flieht sie aus der Limousine. War alles nur eine sinnliche Illusion? Damian muss die aufregende Fremde wiedersehen! Zum Glück hinterlässt sie ihm wie Cinderella einen Hinweis auf ihre Identität. Als er erfährt, dass hinter der sexy Fassade seine gute platonische Freundin Lainey steckt, ist Damian entsetzt! Sie hat ihn hinters Licht geführt. Und wie kann es sein, dass er sie plötzlich so begehrt wie noch keine Frau jemals zuvor? Er sinnt auf Rache und hat bald einen wunderbar sinnlichen Plan für die durchtriebene Lainey …
»Die Leserin wird in eine Welt von Lust und Leidenschaft entführt.«
Dailymail“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem HarperCollins Germany Verlag für das kostenlose Rezensionsexemplar des Buches. Ich gebe hier meine unabhängige und unbezahlte Meinung zu dem Buch ab.
Wieder einmal ein gutes Buch von dieser Autorin. Bisher habe ich schon einige ihrer Bücher lesen können und muss immer wieder sagen, sie schreibt auf einem gleichbleibend hohen Niveau. Ihre Bücher können mit viel Charme, Witz, Sinnlichkeit und Romantik überzeugen und beinhalten durchaus auch hin und wieder ein wenig Drama, was aber kein Muss ist. Denn diese Bücher brauchen es nicht unbedingt. In diesem Buch wurde dies ebenso deutlich. Denn die Story an sich war schon vollkommen ausreichend.
Die Protas sind charmant, witzig und sehr sinnlich dargestellt. Zwar hat auch bei ihnen jeder so seine Vergangenheit mit der er umgehen muss und diese versucht nicht mit in die Zukunft einzubauen, aber das Drama hält sich wirklich in Grenzen, was ich als sehr positiv in diesem Fall bewerte.
Mir hätte es aber noch besser gefallen, wenn man die Enthüllung des Geheimnisses um den Maskenball noch länger hinaus gezögert hätte. Das hätte das Ganze noch prickelnder gemacht und die emotionale Spannung zwischen den Protas und beim Leser enorm in die Höhe getrieben. Diese Auflösung kam mir ein wenig zu schnell. Ebenso hätte ich mir mehr zu lesen gewünscht wie sehr Damian seine Gefühle für Lainey entdeckt hat und was es mit ihm in der Vergangenheit angestellt hatte. Ob er litt, weil er diese Gefühle nicht wollte oder ob er sich kaum beherrschen konnte sie nicht zu berühren, schon seid Jahren.
Daher fehlte es mir hier dann ein wenig an der Glaubwürdigkeit und an den Emotionen, die es bei mir beim Lesen auslösen hätte sollen. Ich mag Geschichten, in denen die Protas lange Zeit umeinander herum schleichen, wie die Katzen um den heißen Brei ohne sich nahe zu kommen. Ich mag die Gedanken und Emotionen lesen, welche sie über lange Zeit verbergen und mit denen sie einen innerlichen Kampf ausfechten. Das finde ich besser als wenn alles zu schnell geht.
Das ist also meine Kritik an diesem Buch, mir fehlte ein wenig mehr Wissen und Herzschmerz von Damians Seite aus in der Vergangenheit.
Ansonsten ist es ein leicht lesbares Buch, welches man wunderbar im Urlaub oder auch abends in einer warmen Badewanne schmöckern kann.
#liebesroman #erotik #newadult #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #stefanielondon #unmasked #harpercollins #harpercollinsverlag #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #jetztgehörstdumir #mirataschenbuch #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher
August 19, 2018
This was much less angsty than I was anticipating. Lainey has crushed on her best friend's brother since she was a little girl. (The book confused me about the age difference. Damian keeps saying she's a decade younger than him. But later she says she's 25 and he divorced 4 years ago at 29 so that makes him 33. Either way, when he married in his early 20s she would've been early teens.) She has to watch him marry and divorce. Watch him date many women. Then he was on an Australian version of The Bachelor. She's done with pining away for him and ready to move on with her life. I liked this about her character. She was finally taking control.
The whole masked ball was the kind of thing you just have to go with. They meet and he doesn't recognize her, deal with it ;) I really liked Lainey. She was fun and funny, smart, adventurous and finally ready to take a risk and go after what she wanted. Damian on the other hand, was boring and too busy protecting his widdle bwoken heart and getting his revenge to be in any sort of relationship. He didn't win me over until the end.
This book surprised me with how this trope was handled. Lainey was a strong h and wouldn't settle for less than what she deserved. When Damian won't give her more, This hardly ever happens in CR. Go Lainey! And there is nice grovel to win her back.
There were a few things I didn't like, but they are mostly just a personal preference. I didn't like that Lainey acted as the aggressor for most of the relationship. I like a H who chases the girl, not the other way around. I also hated Damian's reasons for not pursuing Lainey sooner. They were lame and made him sound weak. And I just hate all the wasted time.
This was a nice distraction for the evening. A nice romance with a strong h. I didn't love it, but aside from a few things, it was pretty good. And the epilogue was terrific!
Safety
The whole masked ball was the kind of thing you just have to go with. They meet and he doesn't recognize her, deal with it ;) I really liked Lainey. She was fun and funny, smart, adventurous and finally ready to take a risk and go after what she wanted. Damian on the other hand, was boring and too busy protecting his widdle bwoken heart and getting his revenge to be in any sort of relationship. He didn't win me over until the end.
This book surprised me with how this trope was handled. Lainey was a strong h and wouldn't settle for less than what she deserved. When Damian won't give her more, This hardly ever happens in CR. Go Lainey! And there is nice grovel to win her back.
There were a few things I didn't like, but they are mostly just a personal preference. I didn't like that Lainey acted as the aggressor for most of the relationship. I like a H who chases the girl, not the other way around. I also hated Damian's reasons for not pursuing Lainey sooner. They were lame and made him sound weak. And I just hate all the wasted time.
This was a nice distraction for the evening. A nice romance with a strong h. I didn't love it, but aside from a few things, it was pretty good. And the epilogue was terrific!
Safety
May 4, 2018
Heather's review from Smut MattersI don't know what Stefanie London has been eating or drinking lately, but every book of hers I've read has been better than the one before, and Unmasked was no different.
I'm always hesitant with the best friend's older brother or younger sister trope. (And it's generally that way. Rarely is it an older sister or a younger brother). Especially the younger sister trope. It's always presented as if the worst thing the brother can imagine is his friend dating his younger sister. Which I have a rant about. This is not the place for that rant, but trust me, it's coming.
But that's not what Stefanie London does here. In Unmasked, we have Lainey, who has been in love with her best friend's older brother since she was a teenager. She's watched him date, get married, get divorced, go on an Austrailian version of The Bachelor, and now he's single again. She's the one who has decided Damian is off limits because he's Corinna's older brother. She's never even told Corinna how she feels about Damian, so she has no idea if Corinna would actually be ok with it or not.
But now, all bets are off. She's landed her dream job as a social media manager to one of the top stylists in London, so in two weeks she's packing up her entire life and leaving Melbourne for good. So really, where's the harm in finally putting it all out there and seeing if she could have a chance with the guy of her dreams? And when the perfect opportunity to do exactly that lands in her lap, why would she even think twice? One application of red hair dye and a gorgeous borrowed dress and mask later, and Lainey is all set to seduce Damian at an upcoming masquerade ball.
I admired Lainey for going after what she wanted, although I really wish she could have done it without the subterfuge. Only in a romance novel would I accept one person tricking another into having sex with them. Even if it is completely hot limo sex. And, true to the new, hotter Harlequin Dare line, Lainey and Damian do have hot limo sex. In Romancelandia, it's acceptable because there really is no other way to get Damian to even consider the notion of having sex with Lainey, so it appears to be her only hope, especially since she's getting ready to move, but in real life, this would not fly.
Lainey was the exact type of heroine I like. She was smart, funny, sarcastic, and willing to put herself out there, even when she was terrified to do it. I really do like this trait in characters. I have a lot of anxiety, and because I'm a homebody introvert who runs my own business, I'm often forced to do things that make me extremely uncomfortable. It's so hard. It's exhausting, it takes everything I have to do it, and I'm often knocked out for the rest of the day by one video chat or phone call. I so admire people who can take an uncomfortable situation and just rock the fuck out of it. It took her impending move to London to force Lainey to finally put things in motion with Damian, but once she decided to do it, she did what she had to do to make him realize how good they could be together. Even when Damian discovered her ruse and was rightly furious with her, she stood her ground, stood up to him, and told him how she felt. And when Damian made it clear that it would never work between them and that he wasn't going to fight for them? She left. She packed up all of her shit and went to London like she'd planned. I loved her.
Damian was just as well-done a character as Lainey was. He was so grumpy. There is a fine line between grump and asshole, and Damian straddled it perfectly. His marriage imploded and even though he knows he's gotten over it, he has absolutely not gotten over it. Currently, his entire professional life revolves around getting revenge on the man who his wife had an affair with, which is the very definition of "not over it yet", but he doesn't see it. He doesn't see how completely stuck in the past he is until Lainey comes along and dropkicks him out of his funk. It takes some big moves on Lainey's part for Damian to come around, but when he does finally figure out what's important, he doesn't hesitate to go after it.
Damian and Lainey both struggle with where they are in their lives and the fact that the futures they envisioned for themselves are not coming to fruition. Lainey thinks she's moving on by moving to London, but she's running away from her current situation more than she's running toward something. And Damian is stuck exactly where he was when he first discovered his wife cheating on him. He thinks that by getting revenge he'll finally be able to move past the cheating, but as readers, we know that life doesn't work that way. No matter how each of them thinks they've moved on, they haven't.
I'm not going to give away the exact circumstances of the HEA, but I absolutely freaking loved it. Lainey and Damian were able to be together without either of them having to sacrifice their dreams or what they wanted in other aspects of their lives. So often this ends up with an HEA that involves one of the characters (usually the woman, but it's getting better) having to move, or quit a job they really like, or give up a dream they have so they can be together. Stefanie London managed to get them both everything they wanted including each other, and I loved it.
This book was one of my favorites by Stefanie London. It had so many of my favorite parts of a romance. Women who know what they want and go for it. Grumpy men who are smoking hot. Great sex, no virgins, sarcasm, snarky banter, and an HEA. I don't think I'd go so far as to call this one a romantic comedy, but I definitely found myself laughing at some of the banter. Stefanie London does that so well, and it seems like it gets a little bit better with each book.
I'm always hesitant with the best friend's older brother or younger sister trope. (And it's generally that way. Rarely is it an older sister or a younger brother). Especially the younger sister trope. It's always presented as if the worst thing the brother can imagine is his friend dating his younger sister. Which I have a rant about. This is not the place for that rant, but trust me, it's coming.
But that's not what Stefanie London does here. In Unmasked, we have Lainey, who has been in love with her best friend's older brother since she was a teenager. She's watched him date, get married, get divorced, go on an Austrailian version of The Bachelor, and now he's single again. She's the one who has decided Damian is off limits because he's Corinna's older brother. She's never even told Corinna how she feels about Damian, so she has no idea if Corinna would actually be ok with it or not.
But now, all bets are off. She's landed her dream job as a social media manager to one of the top stylists in London, so in two weeks she's packing up her entire life and leaving Melbourne for good. So really, where's the harm in finally putting it all out there and seeing if she could have a chance with the guy of her dreams? And when the perfect opportunity to do exactly that lands in her lap, why would she even think twice? One application of red hair dye and a gorgeous borrowed dress and mask later, and Lainey is all set to seduce Damian at an upcoming masquerade ball.
I admired Lainey for going after what she wanted, although I really wish she could have done it without the subterfuge. Only in a romance novel would I accept one person tricking another into having sex with them. Even if it is completely hot limo sex. And, true to the new, hotter Harlequin Dare line, Lainey and Damian do have hot limo sex. In Romancelandia, it's acceptable because there really is no other way to get Damian to even consider the notion of having sex with Lainey, so it appears to be her only hope, especially since she's getting ready to move, but in real life, this would not fly.
Lainey was the exact type of heroine I like. She was smart, funny, sarcastic, and willing to put herself out there, even when she was terrified to do it. I really do like this trait in characters. I have a lot of anxiety, and because I'm a homebody introvert who runs my own business, I'm often forced to do things that make me extremely uncomfortable. It's so hard. It's exhausting, it takes everything I have to do it, and I'm often knocked out for the rest of the day by one video chat or phone call. I so admire people who can take an uncomfortable situation and just rock the fuck out of it. It took her impending move to London to force Lainey to finally put things in motion with Damian, but once she decided to do it, she did what she had to do to make him realize how good they could be together. Even when Damian discovered her ruse and was rightly furious with her, she stood her ground, stood up to him, and told him how she felt. And when Damian made it clear that it would never work between them and that he wasn't going to fight for them? She left. She packed up all of her shit and went to London like she'd planned. I loved her.
Damian was just as well-done a character as Lainey was. He was so grumpy. There is a fine line between grump and asshole, and Damian straddled it perfectly. His marriage imploded and even though he knows he's gotten over it, he has absolutely not gotten over it. Currently, his entire professional life revolves around getting revenge on the man who his wife had an affair with, which is the very definition of "not over it yet", but he doesn't see it. He doesn't see how completely stuck in the past he is until Lainey comes along and dropkicks him out of his funk. It takes some big moves on Lainey's part for Damian to come around, but when he does finally figure out what's important, he doesn't hesitate to go after it.
Damian and Lainey both struggle with where they are in their lives and the fact that the futures they envisioned for themselves are not coming to fruition. Lainey thinks she's moving on by moving to London, but she's running away from her current situation more than she's running toward something. And Damian is stuck exactly where he was when he first discovered his wife cheating on him. He thinks that by getting revenge he'll finally be able to move past the cheating, but as readers, we know that life doesn't work that way. No matter how each of them thinks they've moved on, they haven't.
I'm not going to give away the exact circumstances of the HEA, but I absolutely freaking loved it. Lainey and Damian were able to be together without either of them having to sacrifice their dreams or what they wanted in other aspects of their lives. So often this ends up with an HEA that involves one of the characters (usually the woman, but it's getting better) having to move, or quit a job they really like, or give up a dream they have so they can be together. Stefanie London managed to get them both everything they wanted including each other, and I loved it.
This book was one of my favorites by Stefanie London. It had so many of my favorite parts of a romance. Women who know what they want and go for it. Grumpy men who are smoking hot. Great sex, no virgins, sarcasm, snarky banter, and an HEA. I don't think I'd go so far as to call this one a romantic comedy, but I definitely found myself laughing at some of the banter. Stefanie London does that so well, and it seems like it gets a little bit better with each book.
March 29, 2018
A one night fantasy come to life? Yes, please! The sensuality literally drips off the pages of this sizzling erotic romp. I couldn't stop turning the pages!
November 15, 2019
4/5 Sterne
Unmasked - Jetzt gehörst du mir
von Stefanie London
HarperCollins Germany
„Endlich hat Damian die maskierte Rothaarige da, wo er sie haben wollte: in seinen Armen. Doch im entscheidenden Moment flieht sie aus der Limousine. War alles nur eine sinnliche Illusion? Damian muss die aufregende Fremde wiedersehen! Zum Glück hinterlässt sie ihm wie Cinderella einen Hinweis auf ihre Identität. Als er erfährt, dass hinter der sexy Fassade seine gute platonische Freundin Lainey steckt, ist Damian entsetzt! Sie hat ihn hinters Licht geführt. Und wie kann es sein, dass er sie plötzlich so begehrt wie noch keine Frau jemals zuvor? Er sinnt auf Rache und hat bald einen wunderbar sinnlichen Plan für die durchtriebene Lainey …
»Die Leserin wird in eine Welt von Lust und Leidenschaft entführt.«
Dailymail“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem HarperCollins Germany Verlag für das kostenlose Rezensionsexemplar des Buches. Ich gebe hier meine unabhängige und unbezahlte Meinung zu dem Buch ab.
Wieder einmal ein gutes Buch von dieser Autorin. Bisher habe ich schon einige ihrer Bücher lesen können und muss immer wieder sagen, sie schreibt auf einem gleichbleibend hohen Niveau. Ihre Bücher können mit viel Charme, Witz, Sinnlichkeit und Romantik überzeugen und beinhalten durchaus auch hin und wieder ein wenig Drama, was aber kein Muss ist. Denn diese Bücher brauchen es nicht unbedingt. In diesem Buch wurde dies ebenso deutlich. Denn die Story an sich war schon vollkommen ausreichend.
Die Protas sind charmant, witzig und sehr sinnlich dargestellt. Zwar hat auch bei ihnen jeder so seine Vergangenheit mit der er umgehen muss und diese versucht nicht mit in die Zukunft einzubauen, aber das Drama hält sich wirklich in Grenzen, was ich als sehr positiv in diesem Fall bewerte.
Mir hätte es aber noch besser gefallen, wenn man die Enthüllung des Geheimnisses um den Maskenball noch länger hinaus gezögert hätte. Das hätte das Ganze noch prickelnder gemacht und die emotionale Spannung zwischen den Protas und beim Leser enorm in die Höhe getrieben. Diese Auflösung kam mir ein wenig zu schnell. Ebenso hätte ich mir mehr zu lesen gewünscht wie sehr Damian seine Gefühle für Lainey entdeckt hat und was es mit ihm in der Vergangenheit angestellt hatte. Ob er litt, weil er diese Gefühle nicht wollte oder ob er sich kaum beherrschen konnte sie nicht zu berühren, schon seid Jahren.
Daher fehlte es mir hier dann ein wenig an der Glaubwürdigkeit und an den Emotionen, die es bei mir beim Lesen auslösen hätte sollen. Ich mag Geschichten, in denen die Protas lange Zeit umeinander herum schleichen, wie die Katzen um den heißen Brei ohne sich nahe zu kommen. Ich mag die Gedanken und Emotionen lesen, welche sie über lange Zeit verbergen und mit denen sie einen innerlichen Kampf ausfechten. Das finde ich besser als wenn alles zu schnell geht.
Das ist also meine Kritik an diesem Buch, mir fehlte ein wenig mehr Wissen und Herzschmerz von Damians Seite aus in der Vergangenheit.
Ansonsten ist es ein leicht lesbares Buch, welches man wunderbar im Urlaub oder auch abends in einer warmen Badewanne schmöckern kann.
#liebesroman #erotik #newadult #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #stefanielondon #unmasked #harpercollins #harpercollinsverlag #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #jetztgehörstdumir #mirataschenbuch #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher
Unmasked - Jetzt gehörst du mir
von Stefanie London
HarperCollins Germany
„Endlich hat Damian die maskierte Rothaarige da, wo er sie haben wollte: in seinen Armen. Doch im entscheidenden Moment flieht sie aus der Limousine. War alles nur eine sinnliche Illusion? Damian muss die aufregende Fremde wiedersehen! Zum Glück hinterlässt sie ihm wie Cinderella einen Hinweis auf ihre Identität. Als er erfährt, dass hinter der sexy Fassade seine gute platonische Freundin Lainey steckt, ist Damian entsetzt! Sie hat ihn hinters Licht geführt. Und wie kann es sein, dass er sie plötzlich so begehrt wie noch keine Frau jemals zuvor? Er sinnt auf Rache und hat bald einen wunderbar sinnlichen Plan für die durchtriebene Lainey …
»Die Leserin wird in eine Welt von Lust und Leidenschaft entführt.«
Dailymail“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem HarperCollins Germany Verlag für das kostenlose Rezensionsexemplar des Buches. Ich gebe hier meine unabhängige und unbezahlte Meinung zu dem Buch ab.
Wieder einmal ein gutes Buch von dieser Autorin. Bisher habe ich schon einige ihrer Bücher lesen können und muss immer wieder sagen, sie schreibt auf einem gleichbleibend hohen Niveau. Ihre Bücher können mit viel Charme, Witz, Sinnlichkeit und Romantik überzeugen und beinhalten durchaus auch hin und wieder ein wenig Drama, was aber kein Muss ist. Denn diese Bücher brauchen es nicht unbedingt. In diesem Buch wurde dies ebenso deutlich. Denn die Story an sich war schon vollkommen ausreichend.
Die Protas sind charmant, witzig und sehr sinnlich dargestellt. Zwar hat auch bei ihnen jeder so seine Vergangenheit mit der er umgehen muss und diese versucht nicht mit in die Zukunft einzubauen, aber das Drama hält sich wirklich in Grenzen, was ich als sehr positiv in diesem Fall bewerte.
Mir hätte es aber noch besser gefallen, wenn man die Enthüllung des Geheimnisses um den Maskenball noch länger hinaus gezögert hätte. Das hätte das Ganze noch prickelnder gemacht und die emotionale Spannung zwischen den Protas und beim Leser enorm in die Höhe getrieben. Diese Auflösung kam mir ein wenig zu schnell. Ebenso hätte ich mir mehr zu lesen gewünscht wie sehr Damian seine Gefühle für Lainey entdeckt hat und was es mit ihm in der Vergangenheit angestellt hatte. Ob er litt, weil er diese Gefühle nicht wollte oder ob er sich kaum beherrschen konnte sie nicht zu berühren, schon seid Jahren.
Daher fehlte es mir hier dann ein wenig an der Glaubwürdigkeit und an den Emotionen, die es bei mir beim Lesen auslösen hätte sollen. Ich mag Geschichten, in denen die Protas lange Zeit umeinander herum schleichen, wie die Katzen um den heißen Brei ohne sich nahe zu kommen. Ich mag die Gedanken und Emotionen lesen, welche sie über lange Zeit verbergen und mit denen sie einen innerlichen Kampf ausfechten. Das finde ich besser als wenn alles zu schnell geht.
Das ist also meine Kritik an diesem Buch, mir fehlte ein wenig mehr Wissen und Herzschmerz von Damians Seite aus in der Vergangenheit.
Ansonsten ist es ein leicht lesbares Buch, welches man wunderbar im Urlaub oder auch abends in einer warmen Badewanne schmöckern kann.
#liebesroman #erotik #newadult #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #stefanielondon #unmasked #harpercollins #harpercollinsverlag #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #jetztgehörstdumir #mirataschenbuch #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher
March 12, 2018
“Here’s to masked strangers and wayward wine glasses”
Hairdresser Lainey Kline has always been slightly in love with her best friend’s brother, Damien McKnight, and dreams about making fantasy a reality just once before she leaves Melbourne for a new job in London.
Finding that Damien is invited to the prestigious Carmina Masquerade Ball, and on hearing that her friend Imogen plans to sneak in to the event to spy on her sister’s wayward fiancee, Lainey decides to transform her appearance and sneak into the event incognito as well. After all, dying her hair red and wearing a mask covering most of her face, she can try her luck with Damien without him knowing who she really is. Unintentionally spilling red wine onto Damien’s shirt, sparks fly between the two and some passionate antics are soon taking place before the night is out without Damien realising who his mystery partner is. Unfortunately for both, a brief interlude was never going to be enough, and when Damien eventually finds out Lainey’s identity, he goes against his better judgement and acts on instinct.
In Lainey and Damien, Stefanie London has created two vibrant, likeable characters who deserve a chance of happiness. Damien’s trust issues resulting from his divorce and his desire for revenge against his former boss who had an affair with Damien’s wife, drives him to continually question his desire for Lainey, even though it turns out Lainey’s lust for him wasn’t entirely one sided after all. The chemistry between the two is believable, instant and never forced, even when Damien doesn’t recognise Lainey at the ball. Indeed, when Damien discovers who his mystery woman is, his hesitation to potentially ruin a friendship is believable, and the two leads make an engaging couple who spark off each other, and believe the lust will pass over without lasting effect.
As this is the Dare series, the sex scenes are somewhat explicit and adventurous without being forced in to the plot to fulfil the ‘sexy, passionate, bold’ brief. The strong writing means you care about the characters enough to believe that they could have a future together, if only Damien can get over what happened with his ex-wife and former boss.
The masquerade is a fun idea that adds a bit of intrigue in the build up to the first encounter, and the various references to fairy tales add a touch of magic to the event. Indeed, by the time Lainey’s deception is uncovered, Damien is in far too deep, and try as he might, he can’t deny his longing for Lainey any longer, especially when he discovers her impending move to London.
Easy going, romantic, funny, and at times serious and somewhat emotional, ‘Unmasked’ is an enjoyable, escapist read with two excellent lead characters.
This is the first book by Stefanie London I have read, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Thanks to M&B for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hairdresser Lainey Kline has always been slightly in love with her best friend’s brother, Damien McKnight, and dreams about making fantasy a reality just once before she leaves Melbourne for a new job in London.
Finding that Damien is invited to the prestigious Carmina Masquerade Ball, and on hearing that her friend Imogen plans to sneak in to the event to spy on her sister’s wayward fiancee, Lainey decides to transform her appearance and sneak into the event incognito as well. After all, dying her hair red and wearing a mask covering most of her face, she can try her luck with Damien without him knowing who she really is. Unintentionally spilling red wine onto Damien’s shirt, sparks fly between the two and some passionate antics are soon taking place before the night is out without Damien realising who his mystery partner is. Unfortunately for both, a brief interlude was never going to be enough, and when Damien eventually finds out Lainey’s identity, he goes against his better judgement and acts on instinct.
In Lainey and Damien, Stefanie London has created two vibrant, likeable characters who deserve a chance of happiness. Damien’s trust issues resulting from his divorce and his desire for revenge against his former boss who had an affair with Damien’s wife, drives him to continually question his desire for Lainey, even though it turns out Lainey’s lust for him wasn’t entirely one sided after all. The chemistry between the two is believable, instant and never forced, even when Damien doesn’t recognise Lainey at the ball. Indeed, when Damien discovers who his mystery woman is, his hesitation to potentially ruin a friendship is believable, and the two leads make an engaging couple who spark off each other, and believe the lust will pass over without lasting effect.
As this is the Dare series, the sex scenes are somewhat explicit and adventurous without being forced in to the plot to fulfil the ‘sexy, passionate, bold’ brief. The strong writing means you care about the characters enough to believe that they could have a future together, if only Damien can get over what happened with his ex-wife and former boss.
The masquerade is a fun idea that adds a bit of intrigue in the build up to the first encounter, and the various references to fairy tales add a touch of magic to the event. Indeed, by the time Lainey’s deception is uncovered, Damien is in far too deep, and try as he might, he can’t deny his longing for Lainey any longer, especially when he discovers her impending move to London.
Easy going, romantic, funny, and at times serious and somewhat emotional, ‘Unmasked’ is an enjoyable, escapist read with two excellent lead characters.
This is the first book by Stefanie London I have read, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Thanks to M&B for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2018
Y'all, this is a must-read book. I have read several Stefanie London's books and enjoyed each one of them, but I think this is the best one yet! It is sensual and steamy, yet it has heart and deep emotions with captivating characters, and it is written in such a smoothly flowing way, it is addictive, truly an unputdownable book.
Despite the known fairytale type of theme in the story, it is a fresh and original tale. It is sinfully seductive and it is daring, indeed. It is pushing the lines between romance and erotica with its bold sex scenes but done so tastefully, the scenes embedded into the plot so well, they have an essential role in the development of the storyline, and definitely have their place in the story.
The bond, the friendship developed over the years, and the sizzling attraction, natural connection between Lainey Kline and Damian McKnight and the history they share was intruding, bringing sweetness, adoration, and a touch of angst into the sexy tale. I loved how well the characters were developed, how detailed their personifications were. I felt like I got to know them well, their dreams, wishes, their disappointments, and even their faults.
A lush and richly enticing tale that captured my mind with the devoted, ardent, even adorable passion, with compassionate, well-developed, engrossing characters in an exciting, gripping, addictively mesmerizing storyline.
~ Five Spoons!
Despite the known fairytale type of theme in the story, it is a fresh and original tale. It is sinfully seductive and it is daring, indeed. It is pushing the lines between romance and erotica with its bold sex scenes but done so tastefully, the scenes embedded into the plot so well, they have an essential role in the development of the storyline, and definitely have their place in the story.
The bond, the friendship developed over the years, and the sizzling attraction, natural connection between Lainey Kline and Damian McKnight and the history they share was intruding, bringing sweetness, adoration, and a touch of angst into the sexy tale. I loved how well the characters were developed, how detailed their personifications were. I felt like I got to know them well, their dreams, wishes, their disappointments, and even their faults.
A lush and richly enticing tale that captured my mind with the devoted, ardent, even adorable passion, with compassionate, well-developed, engrossing characters in an exciting, gripping, addictively mesmerizing storyline.
~ Five Spoons!
September 24, 2023
3.5*
Lainey has always been in love with her best friend's older brother. Damien saw her as an annoying little sister at first and later became aware of her as a woman. But, his sister's best friend and he doesn't do relationships since his divorce. So when an opportunity comes forward to be able to spend time with him, she takes it. See, she's leaving for a job in London and might not have another chance.
They meet at a masked ball. He has no idea who she is, except for it feels like he knows her and has known her for a long time.
They clearly have chemistry. Because she accidentally loses her grandmother's compact (she loves this and carries for luck), Damien does figure out who he was with. Enter a fake relationship to placate a client Damien wants to land, Lainey does eventually admit to Feelings.
Lainey is a good character who tells it like it is and doesn't hold back. I liked how supportive Lainey's friends were once they found out about Damien. Well paced for the length.
Lainey has always been in love with her best friend's older brother. Damien saw her as an annoying little sister at first and later became aware of her as a woman. But, his sister's best friend and he doesn't do relationships since his divorce. So when an opportunity comes forward to be able to spend time with him, she takes it. See, she's leaving for a job in London and might not have another chance.
They meet at a masked ball. He has no idea who she is, except for it feels like he knows her and has known her for a long time.
They clearly have chemistry. Because she accidentally loses her grandmother's compact (she loves this and carries for luck), Damien does figure out who he was with. Enter a fake relationship to placate a client Damien wants to land, Lainey does eventually admit to Feelings.
Lainey is a good character who tells it like it is and doesn't hold back. I liked how supportive Lainey's friends were once they found out about Damien. Well paced for the length.
March 22, 2018
Masquerade balls evoke images of mystery, romance and secrets, 'Unmasked' encompasses all of these elements in a contemporary setting.
Lainey is leaving Melbourne and her friends for a fantastic career opportunity, but is she taking the next step in her future life or running? Her teenage crush on her best friend's older brother grows into love, but he doesn't see her that way? Damien has a failed marriage and hidden self-esteem issues, at odds with his successful career. Damien's attraction for Lainey is inconvenient and something he is not going to explore despite her provocation.
The chance to act out her greatest fantasy before he leaves is something Lainey must do, and so she gatecrashes an 'A'List, charity ball that the object of her desire is attending. The love scenes are sensual and explicit, but in keeping with the 'Dare'genre and mirrored by the emotional intensity of the hidden feelings, Lainey and Damien have for the other. There is a lovely 'Cinderella' like twist after Lainey's night at the ball. Passion, romance and steamy moments make this an enjoyable, fast-paced, sexy read. I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Lainey is leaving Melbourne and her friends for a fantastic career opportunity, but is she taking the next step in her future life or running? Her teenage crush on her best friend's older brother grows into love, but he doesn't see her that way? Damien has a failed marriage and hidden self-esteem issues, at odds with his successful career. Damien's attraction for Lainey is inconvenient and something he is not going to explore despite her provocation.
The chance to act out her greatest fantasy before he leaves is something Lainey must do, and so she gatecrashes an 'A'List, charity ball that the object of her desire is attending. The love scenes are sensual and explicit, but in keeping with the 'Dare'genre and mirrored by the emotional intensity of the hidden feelings, Lainey and Damien have for the other. There is a lovely 'Cinderella' like twist after Lainey's night at the ball. Passion, romance and steamy moments make this an enjoyable, fast-paced, sexy read. I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
April 2, 2018
This is my first foray into both the Harlequin Dare line and Stephanie London and I couldn't be happier with my experience with both.
I like my heroes a little broody and a bit broken, and that's exactly how I would describe Damian. And sexy. Believe me, He's quite yummy. He's successful, passionate, and motivated, but he's also hesitant to let his heart get involved with Lainey for a multitude of reasons.
Lainey was a great combination of both bold and daring, and timid and shy. I love how her personality spanned such a wide range. It made her more real, easier to relate to.
I really enjoyed this story! I'm always a sucker for best friend's older brother/younger sister stories and this one checked all the boxes for me. I'd definitely grab another Harlequin Dare story and I look forward to reading more from Stephanie London.
I like my heroes a little broody and a bit broken, and that's exactly how I would describe Damian. And sexy. Believe me, He's quite yummy. He's successful, passionate, and motivated, but he's also hesitant to let his heart get involved with Lainey for a multitude of reasons.
Lainey was a great combination of both bold and daring, and timid and shy. I love how her personality spanned such a wide range. It made her more real, easier to relate to.
I really enjoyed this story! I'm always a sucker for best friend's older brother/younger sister stories and this one checked all the boxes for me. I'd definitely grab another Harlequin Dare story and I look forward to reading more from Stephanie London.
November 20, 2019
Da ich bereits einige Romane von Stefanie London gelesen habe, war ich sehr gespannt auf "Unmasked".
Ich hatte einige Schwierigkeiten in die Geschichte reinzufinden. Ich hatte nicht das Gefühl, dass es sich um den Auftakt einer Reihe handelt, sondern dass ich in Laineys Freundeskreis etwas verpasst habe und bin daher zu Beginn nur schwer in die Geschichte reingekommen.
Zudem fand ich es eher schleppend bis es zur Begegnung von Damian und Lainey kommt.
Die Chemie zwischen den beiden hat mir gut gefallen und die beiden haben für mich sowohl auf der emotionalen als auch der sexuellen Ebene gut funktioniert.
Die Geschichte hatte dennoch einige Längen für mich und insgesamt ist handlungstechnisch einfach zu wenig passiert.
Ich fand "Unmasked" unterhaltsam, aber wirklich überzeugen konnte mich nicht die Geschichte leider nicht.
Ich hatte einige Schwierigkeiten in die Geschichte reinzufinden. Ich hatte nicht das Gefühl, dass es sich um den Auftakt einer Reihe handelt, sondern dass ich in Laineys Freundeskreis etwas verpasst habe und bin daher zu Beginn nur schwer in die Geschichte reingekommen.
Zudem fand ich es eher schleppend bis es zur Begegnung von Damian und Lainey kommt.
Die Chemie zwischen den beiden hat mir gut gefallen und die beiden haben für mich sowohl auf der emotionalen als auch der sexuellen Ebene gut funktioniert.
Die Geschichte hatte dennoch einige Längen für mich und insgesamt ist handlungstechnisch einfach zu wenig passiert.
Ich fand "Unmasked" unterhaltsam, aber wirklich überzeugen konnte mich nicht die Geschichte leider nicht.
August 27, 2018
Unmasked was so romantic and sexy, and it had me falling in love with love all over again. I absolutely adored this best friend’s big brother romance, that could also be classed as a friends-to-lovers romance, along with a hint of a fake-fiancée trope. There’s a lot packed into this story, I’ll admit that, but never did I feel like too much was crammed into Lainey and Damian’s story, and so I never felt like things were moving too fast almost to the point where I couldn’t keep up. It was all just super romantic and really enjoyable, and told at a good enough pace that I devoured this story and was hooked from beginning to end. I loved it - no flaws here. Everything about it was perfect - and I know for a fact that it’s definitely a story I will be revisiting again in the future.
April 28, 2018
Unmasked by Stefanie London is the fist in the Melbourne After Dark series. I have read London's work in the past and always enjoyed it. Therefore I was thoroughly looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint. I can't believe how easily the flow of this book reads. Everything literally falls into place.
Lainey is amazing. I love the fact that she goes after what she wants no matter the consequences. The way that she brings herself into her best friends brothers life may not be approved by some but was very interesting to say the least. I could not put this book down. I had to know exactly how it ended. What an amazing read.
Lainey is amazing. I love the fact that she goes after what she wants no matter the consequences. The way that she brings herself into her best friends brothers life may not be approved by some but was very interesting to say the least. I could not put this book down. I had to know exactly how it ended. What an amazing read.
July 24, 2018
Okay so goodreads on my fone sucks and wouldn’t let me write my review so I had to switch to iPad form. Anyway I enjoyed this quick read which I got to read for free when I signed up for Harleequin. Plus I love the author from when I read the bad bachelor :) which I can’t wait for the second one to come out! I liked this dirtier turn on Cinderella :). Definitely fun to read lol
September 10, 2018
Cinderella's White Knight...
Lainey Kline needs a change in her life. She decides to move to London to see if she can escape her hidden truth of how she feels for Damian Knight. He is 10 years her senior and his sister is Lainey's best friend. Lainey decides to go for broke and sneak into a Masquerade Ball where she knows Damian is attending. Lainey ends up seducing Damian without him knowing her real identity. Damian likes this fire red haired woman. She is hot, sexy and has no filter whatsoever when she says what she wants in the bedroom. Damian had not planned on having a tryst with anyone at this stage in his life, but this woman was hard to resist. He was just coming out of a bad relationship and did not want to enter into a new one.
Once the masks are off, things get complicated really quick. Lainey is relentless in her pursuit of Damian. She lets him see what is truly behind his mask so he can finally admit his true feelings for her. I love Lainey. She is spunky, open and direct. She is the only one that could draw out emotions from Damian who is broody and spends too much time and energy overthinking everything.
Unmasked was seductive, sexy and had my blood pressure rising as each chapter was read. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Lainey Kline needs a change in her life. She decides to move to London to see if she can escape her hidden truth of how she feels for Damian Knight. He is 10 years her senior and his sister is Lainey's best friend. Lainey decides to go for broke and sneak into a Masquerade Ball where she knows Damian is attending. Lainey ends up seducing Damian without him knowing her real identity. Damian likes this fire red haired woman. She is hot, sexy and has no filter whatsoever when she says what she wants in the bedroom. Damian had not planned on having a tryst with anyone at this stage in his life, but this woman was hard to resist. He was just coming out of a bad relationship and did not want to enter into a new one.
Once the masks are off, things get complicated really quick. Lainey is relentless in her pursuit of Damian. She lets him see what is truly behind his mask so he can finally admit his true feelings for her. I love Lainey. She is spunky, open and direct. She is the only one that could draw out emotions from Damian who is broody and spends too much time and energy overthinking everything.
Unmasked was seductive, sexy and had my blood pressure rising as each chapter was read. I look forward to the next book in this series.
April 2, 2018
Loved. Great reading local authors and proud of their achievements. Sexy, romantic, funny and sweet. Wished it was longer.
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