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Masquerade: A Sexy Billionaire Romance
At this exclusive masquerade ball, membership has deliciously wicked privileges—from USA TODAY bestselling author Cara Lockwood…Asha Patel has a reputation for always getting what—and who—she wants. The moment the heiress and desi bombshell discovers the existence of the exclusive old-world Sphinx Society, Asha knows that she’s found yet another club that doesn’t want her. Which only makes her more determined to join.Of course, Mathis Durand isn’t exactly compliant. In fact, the gorgeous, delectably sexy French host treats Asha like just another spoiled, gauche American socialite. One who certainly needs a lesson in manners. Or maybe a spanking. But Asha knows how to deal with men like Mathis with a tantalizingly deep kiss that promises more…The moment her lips meet Durand’s, Asha is lost in a white-hot rush of pure lust, exposing only an unquenchable need for more, more and even more. Now it’s a dangerously sensual tango across the ballrooms of Europe, each masquerade ball a challenge that Asha can’t resist.For Durand won’t be satisfied until she’s offered herself to him, body, mind and soul. And worse, it might just be a cost that Asha is willing to pay…Take control. Feel the rush. Explore your fantasies—Harlequin DARE publishes sexy romances featuring powerful alpha males and bold, fearless heroines exploring their deepest fantasies.
Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2021
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About the author
Cara Lockwood
104 books372 followersI've written more than 30 books in a number of genres: chick lit, romance, suspense, paranormal and young adult. My debut novel, I Do (But I Don't) was made into a Lifetime Original movie.
I grew up in Mesquite, Texas, which for those of you who like livestock shows, is the home of the Mesquite Rodeo. Ironically, Mesquite was named after Mesquite trees, only none of them now exist in the city, which is about fifteen minutes east of Dallas. No, I don't own a pair of cowboy boots, although I do own quite an impressive collection of black shoes. My Dad is a third-generation Japanese-American, and my mom is a second-generation Texan who's mostly English.
I went to school at the University of Pennsylvania, only I'm not sure how I got in. I think these days they only accept students who can solve String Theory. Anyway, I majored in English, and because my dad said "and just what are you going to do with an English degree?" I went to work for the school newspaper. After college, I spent four years as a newspaper reporter, working for an overly excitable editor who sent me running anytime the police scanner went off. I was working insane hours for next to no pay. I was actually sent to cover a grass fire on my 25th Birthday. Let me tell you, it smelled bad. I think some mice may have lost their lives. But that was about it in terms of excitement. Happy Birthday to Me.
So, I decided after I had taken to hiding from my editor in the bathroom at the office anytime the police scanner went off, that journalism probably wasn't for me. I went to work for a marketing firm and discovered that most everyone else didn't stay until ten o'clock every night writing up their riveting story about grass fires. I also decided that I would take advantage of that free time to write some fiction. That's when I started writing "I Do (But I Don't)." A year later, I finished it, thanks to the help of my friend, Shannon, who wouldn't let me slack off and kept asking me for chapters.
And that's how I became a writer. Except that it still feels weird to say, "I'm a writer." I keep expecting to wake up tomorrow and have to go cover another grass fire.
I'm married and live with a blended broad of seven near Chicago, where I'm hard at work on my next book!
I grew up in Mesquite, Texas, which for those of you who like livestock shows, is the home of the Mesquite Rodeo. Ironically, Mesquite was named after Mesquite trees, only none of them now exist in the city, which is about fifteen minutes east of Dallas. No, I don't own a pair of cowboy boots, although I do own quite an impressive collection of black shoes. My Dad is a third-generation Japanese-American, and my mom is a second-generation Texan who's mostly English.
I went to school at the University of Pennsylvania, only I'm not sure how I got in. I think these days they only accept students who can solve String Theory. Anyway, I majored in English, and because my dad said "and just what are you going to do with an English degree?" I went to work for the school newspaper. After college, I spent four years as a newspaper reporter, working for an overly excitable editor who sent me running anytime the police scanner went off. I was working insane hours for next to no pay. I was actually sent to cover a grass fire on my 25th Birthday. Let me tell you, it smelled bad. I think some mice may have lost their lives. But that was about it in terms of excitement. Happy Birthday to Me.
So, I decided after I had taken to hiding from my editor in the bathroom at the office anytime the police scanner went off, that journalism probably wasn't for me. I went to work for a marketing firm and discovered that most everyone else didn't stay until ten o'clock every night writing up their riveting story about grass fires. I also decided that I would take advantage of that free time to write some fiction. That's when I started writing "I Do (But I Don't)." A year later, I finished it, thanks to the help of my friend, Shannon, who wouldn't let me slack off and kept asking me for chapters.
And that's how I became a writer. Except that it still feels weird to say, "I'm a writer." I keep expecting to wake up tomorrow and have to go cover another grass fire.
I'm married and live with a blended broad of seven near Chicago, where I'm hard at work on my next book!
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 9, 2020
I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Recent Dare stories have made me think Mills and Boon are right to cancel this line as it seems to have lost its way,
I've read some brilliant Dare books: Jackie Ashenden's The Debt and Bad Boss, and Avril Tremayne's Getting Lucky, Naughty and Even trilogy, for example, are simply fabulous. . Those books all have nuanced and rounded characters, who engage your interest from the first page; and plotlines which flow seamlessly and believably and where the romance is developed by the sex scenes not overpowered by them.
Masquerade had a great blurb but sadly the book does not live up to it. It's an over-the-top, melodramatic piece of tosh wrapped around an attempt to be erotic. A disappointment on all fronts - character, plot and execution.
Sorry, but I really need to like the heroine or be engaged by her in some way to be interested in what happens to her. I like the hero to be a bit of an alpha but with a heart of gold. Mathis Durand showed great promise but he was sadly under-written and gave in to Asha far too quickly for me and then lost his trust in her too quickly again..
By the way, who refers to a man by his surname all the time? Every time she called him Durand instead of Mathis, it threw me out of the story.
Asha was an utterly unbearable heroine for the first third of the book. Spoiled, demanding, rude, egotistic - I could go on but I won't. Her behaviour was like a toddler's. It was all 'I want, I want now, poor me, me me.' I just could not believe in her and as for her supposed reasons for behaving as she did? No, it never struck me as real.
She demands membership of a private club and when turned down, she turns up at Mathis' office with 2 lawyers to demand he lets her join. Seriously? It's a PRIVATE club! We're supposed to see this as her fighting her corner as a woman who has faced discrimination on account of her heritage?. Sorry, I didn't buy it at all.
As for Madelyn, the villainess of the piece - this was again a really weak piece of writing. To treat Asha as she did when she had no idea what the relationship really was, struck me as idiotic and totally unrealistic. As for the betrayal at the end which damaged Mathis so badly - it also made no sense. Every time I met a plot hole, it threw me out of the story again.
This author can write - her prose and her dialogue show that but this particular story just did not work for me. The sex scenes did not make up for the weaknesses in the story. two stars.
Recent Dare stories have made me think Mills and Boon are right to cancel this line as it seems to have lost its way,
I've read some brilliant Dare books: Jackie Ashenden's The Debt and Bad Boss, and Avril Tremayne's Getting Lucky, Naughty and Even trilogy, for example, are simply fabulous. . Those books all have nuanced and rounded characters, who engage your interest from the first page; and plotlines which flow seamlessly and believably and where the romance is developed by the sex scenes not overpowered by them.
Masquerade had a great blurb but sadly the book does not live up to it. It's an over-the-top, melodramatic piece of tosh wrapped around an attempt to be erotic. A disappointment on all fronts - character, plot and execution.
Sorry, but I really need to like the heroine or be engaged by her in some way to be interested in what happens to her. I like the hero to be a bit of an alpha but with a heart of gold. Mathis Durand showed great promise but he was sadly under-written and gave in to Asha far too quickly for me and then lost his trust in her too quickly again..
By the way, who refers to a man by his surname all the time? Every time she called him Durand instead of Mathis, it threw me out of the story.
Asha was an utterly unbearable heroine for the first third of the book. Spoiled, demanding, rude, egotistic - I could go on but I won't. Her behaviour was like a toddler's. It was all 'I want, I want now, poor me, me me.' I just could not believe in her and as for her supposed reasons for behaving as she did? No, it never struck me as real.
She demands membership of a private club and when turned down, she turns up at Mathis' office with 2 lawyers to demand he lets her join. Seriously? It's a PRIVATE club! We're supposed to see this as her fighting her corner as a woman who has faced discrimination on account of her heritage?. Sorry, I didn't buy it at all.
As for Madelyn, the villainess of the piece - this was again a really weak piece of writing. To treat Asha as she did when she had no idea what the relationship really was, struck me as idiotic and totally unrealistic. As for the betrayal at the end which damaged Mathis so badly - it also made no sense. Every time I met a plot hole, it threw me out of the story again.
This author can write - her prose and her dialogue show that but this particular story just did not work for me. The sex scenes did not make up for the weaknesses in the story. two stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2021
Masquerade by Cara Lockwood.
Asha gatecrashes a party to try and catch Connor with someone she doesn't know what she is getting into when Mathis catches her eye. When he mentions the sphinx society Asha wants in. She will do anything. But Madelyne Mathis private secretary is not happy.
Absolutely brilliant read. I loved Asha and how determined she was. Really loved Mathis yum. I really didn't like madelyne. Read in one sitting. Loved the cover too. 5*.
Asha gatecrashes a party to try and catch Connor with someone she doesn't know what she is getting into when Mathis catches her eye. When he mentions the sphinx society Asha wants in. She will do anything. But Madelyne Mathis private secretary is not happy.
Absolutely brilliant read. I loved Asha and how determined she was. Really loved Mathis yum. I really didn't like madelyne. Read in one sitting. Loved the cover too. 5*.
December 29, 2020
This story has potential, but the characters are not as relatable as they could be and the mystique and sensuality of the secret club and masquerade ball is not fulfilled.
The love scenes are well-written but the emotional connection is lacking for me.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The love scenes are well-written but the emotional connection is lacking for me.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews