Lord of the Masquerade

Rogues to Riches #7

by Erica Ridley

A fun, fast-paced interracial romance full of banter, scandal, and devastating secrets, from a New York Times bestselling

Entrepreneur Miss Unity Thorne helped two different men amass their fortunes—only to end up on the street. She’s scraping by at the theatre, but this isn’t the show she plans to star in. The next fortune Unity builds will be hers alone. Her masquerade-themed assembly rooms will rival the ton, but to do so, she’ll have to apprentice the most dangerous rake of all.

The arrogant, sexy-and-he-knows-it Duke of Lambley’s weekly masquerade parties are decadent odes to unlimited food, drink, dancing, romantic gardens, and private pleasure rooms upstairs. Everyone loves his balls, and he likes it that way. He’ll take a wife someday, but it certainly won’t be the pretty termagant who challenges him in the ballroom and the bedroom…

In the Rogues to Riches historical romance series, Cinderella stories aren’t just for princesses!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Fiction, Regency Romance

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2021

About the author

Get freebies and 99¢ deals at: https://ridley.vip

Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels, including THE DUKE HEIST, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist?

In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!

Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England.

When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found eating couscous in Morocco, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entrepreneur Miss Unity Thorne helped her cousin amass a fortune only for him to throw her out onto the streets. She’s scraping by at the theatre, but this isn’t the show she plans to star in. The next fortune Unity builds will be hers alone. Her masquerade-themed assembly rooms will rival the ton, but to do so, she’ll have to apprentice the most dangerous rake of all. The arrogant, sexy-and-he-knows-it Duke of Lambley’s weekly masquerade parties are decadent odes to excess: unlimited food, drink, dancing, romantic gardens, and private pleasure rooms upstairs. Everyone loves his balls, and he likes it that way. He’ll take a wife someday, but it will be someone who knows her place
I’ve hoped that Lambley would have his story & thrilled that he did & it didn't disappoint. Very well written with strong characters & a pace that flowed beautifully. I loved Julian who was gradually wound round Unity’s finger but I adored Unity for her determination, intelligence & joie de vivre. The road to their HEA was highly entertaining
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE CHARACTERS AND THE CHEMISTRY CARRY THE BOOK THROUGH

If you love character driven historical romance with strong, well-crafted characters and a sizzling chemistry, this book is definitely for you!

👍 What I Liked 👍

Lambley: Lambley, our male MC, was such a clear-cut character. I never had a moment of doubt as to who he was, why he did the things he did or what his motivations were. It was so nice to have such a crystal clear character.

Chemistry: There was no denying the chemistry between Lambley and Unity. It was obvious that they both complemented and challenged each other. They were so compatible in such a profound way that I shipped them right from the start.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and enjoyable story. 4☆

[Gloria Pastorino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica did it again!!!! She really hit the mark with this new book of the Rogues to Riches series, the eagerly awaited - by me, at least! - story of the Lord of the Masquerade. I’ve always been a great fan of Erica’s books and this one exceeded my expectations. The book is funny - I laughed out loud quite often! - and moving at the same time and the characters are wonderfully brought to life. Unity, the heroine, is a real force of nature, smart, full of life, bustling with ideas, the perfect opposite of the controlled, serious and arrogant Julian. But to paraphrase a famous idiom, “the more arrogant they are, the harder they fall” and Julian is bound to fall for Unity since the beginning. And what’s more important, he NEEDS Unity. Because Julian has everything, but he doesn’t have a heart, or so he believes. He seems to have fun organizing his masquerades, but in reality he doesn’t. It’s just a way to satisfy his need for control. So he needs beautiful, spontaneous Unity to save him from himself.
This book has only one big flaw... It’s much too short! I didn’t want to let Unity and Julian go!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Brinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! I love how it defied some of the stereotypes we typically see in historical fiction, and how strong our characters were.

My favorite thing about this was definitely our main character, Unity. She was the perfect female lead. She wasn't a pushover, wasn't catty, and wasn't illogical. I loved how devoted she was to achieving her goals, and how she would do anything to get there. And, I loved how she didn't need Julian, but because she loved him, she let him into her life.

I also really enjoyed the setting of this one. I'm definitely a reader who enjoys masquerade balls, and this was no exception. The descriptions were so magical, and I was so drawn to the characters and reasons behind them.

Originally, I had chosen this one because of the cover, but now I'm happy it did. With both a beautiful cover and a great romance, I'd definitely recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic read!

Unity’s character was so refreshing and I loved her wit and confidence. She’s definitely not going to settle for less than she deserves. The Duke of Lambley is definitely a rogue in the beginning but I quickly fell for him.

It’s a fast paced, short read but definitely a rich and fun story.

I received an arc of this book

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite for sure.

I've read many books by Ridley and the more I read her work she gets better and better. I like that she is venturing out to more diverse stories and characters. This book has tension and steam. I love this book and the series. The relationship built between Unity and Julian was a one to remember.

Unity & Julian
The night Butler
The white cousin (grandfather's money) was a loan lender
The theatre women
Solomon?
Julian's friends
The accident/need for control (age 8)
Julian's negligent Uncle

Notes for later

Highly recommend

Thank you to WebMotion for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts of this book.

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Web Motion and Erica Ridley for the advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

4.5 stars & rounded up to 5 because I enjoyed this so much.

For a novella that is less than 200 pages Erica Ridley did a lot, very qyickly without sacrificing any of the writing, romance, and character development. I was a bit apprehensive when I first picked this book up due to its length and placement within the Rogues to Riches series (#7). Not only did this feel like a full length novel with complete development, there was absolutely no hiccups in understanding who the characters were or what was happening in the book. There are definitely references and cameos from other series characters but they do not impact the readers enjoyment or understanding at all.

The book started out a bit slow if that makes any sense but Ridley's writing kept me going until there was a seamless change in pace that really captured me. I was unable to put this book down all day and I found myself highlighting and bookmarking specific lines and scenes because of how much they made me laugh or how awesome I think Ridley handled the scene. Best parts about this book: the humor and one liners, Unity's self-autonomy and unwillingness to bend to or FOR anything, and Julian's willingness to compromise and change to better fit what UNITY wanted and needed rather than himself.

I would 100% recommend this to fans of modern historical Romances, readers looking to explore the historical romance genre, and fans of Courtney Milan and Eva Leigh. I specify these two authors because of their strong female leads, amazing writing, and heart warmingly good romances.

[deborah ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.8 STARS

“I didn’t believe in love. Didn’t believe I was worthy of it. Didn’t believe I was capable of it. Life was about control, and never forming attachments with anything or anyone.... And then came you.”

“Meeting you was like finding the lost piece of my soul, when I hadn’t realized there was anything missing.”

AHHHH I loved this book 💗 💗 💗 💗🥹. I've been in a reading slump and this book saved meeee. I finished just now at 4 am so I'm gonna do a super quick review.

I loved both main characters I will not take any criticism on Julian or Unity at ALLL they were both perfect. The plot was great I loved the twist with Roger. I love how Unity's passion and goals were written, it didn't get annoying to read. I could not put this book down!! The characters were developed so well and even though the book was short I really felt like I understand Julian and Unity really well.

The writing was really good and I could feel the connection and get why they loved/liked each other. Plus Julian's grand gesture gave her the option to choooseee which takes the cake. I also adore the masquerade theme and the scandalous balls!!! The elements around race were done well it didn't feel like the author was misrepresenting Unity and the other Black characters.

I literally have nothing to complain about, however, I can't give this five stars bc it needed something extra. I was really sad when it was over and I wished there was more. I would totally recommend this book please read it right now.

Thanks for reading. Bye!

[Lana Birky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julian Newcombe-Ives can be described as rich, arrogant, cocky, in complete control of himself & everything/everyone around him. He hosts weekly Saturday night masquerade parties, which he oversees completely & people come to enjoy food, drink, dancing, romantic gardens & pleasure room upstairs. Julian has spent years learning to control himself & therefore, the life around him. He has made the decision that this will be his final year doing the masquerade parties - he needs to make himself respectable in the eyes of society so he can choose a fitting bride to present him with an heir & a spare. Things are going just as planned & then she stepped into his office!

Miss Unity Thorne lost her family when she was young & she was forced to live with a cousin who was terrible to her - she even built his gentlemen's club & made his profits grow but when she wanted a commission, her threw her to the street to make it on her own. She finds the owner of a gambling hall who is in competition with her cousin's club & proceeds to help him build his club & profits but when she suggests a partnership, he offers marriage instead - she moved on. Unity wants to open a club with masquerade parties for the common people not of society ilk & she makes plans to talk with the Duke of Lambley & learn from the expert plus see if she could give him some suggestions to better his parties.

When Unity finally gets in to talk to Lambley, she is shocked at how cold, sharp, handsome & controlling he is. He has no time for her to critique his parties (as they are perfect) but for some reason she fascinates him. The bantering, witty comebacks, friendship, romance are so much fun & after her time at the masquerades this season, they will part. He cannot have a woman with no lineage, title - she doesn't even have one in her extended family, her color would always cause pain for her in society & he wanted his future children to have the best chance possible in society. What will happen - will she leave - can he take any suggestions from her - will he let her go? This is a wonderful, funny, & entertaining book which I highly recommend. I voluntarily read & reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts & opinions are my own.

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this is the seventh in the Rogues to Riches series, I don’t think you need to have read the others to enjoy this - I haven’t read any of them, and I had no problem following along with the plot.

Unity Thorne might be one of the most driven romance heroines I’ve ever read. She knows she’s a capable businesswoman; she’s already helped create turn around two struggling businesses and make them wildly successful. Problem was, neither of them was hers… and the men running them weren’t inclined to cut her in on the profits, so she’s back to square one. Just hungrier and angrier and more determined than ever. Her plan; create a masquerade club for the merchant class. But first she needs to check out the most successful masquerade club in London, the elite one run by the Duke of Lambley. If she can get in!

Julian might just be the most OCD hero I’ve ever read. He takes being a control freak to a whole new level. Even the suggestion that something about his masquerade might be able to be improved upon is insultingly preposterous. It’s just that there’s something about the woman making the suggestions he can’t quite look away from.

There is some A-grade banter between these two, and I enjoyed the acknowledgement of London’s diversity in the era; the Black community to which Unity belongs is some 20,000 strong. This, however, is also where the story fell down a little bit for me, because despite this acknowledgement, and despite Unity thinking herself at a greater disadvantage due to her race, not one single person actually treated her any differently than if she had been a white woman. It’s diversity Bridgerton style. Which. I mean. It’s worked for Bridgerton. But if you want to read stories which more represent the real experiences of Black women in the Regency era, you might want to try Vanessa Riley or another Black author instead. WIth that said, of course, we are already suspending our belief in this Regency of young and handsome dukes willing to marry women from far outside their social spheres, so if you’re able to let it go and just enjoy the story, I think you’ll have a thoroughly good time. I did, despite the issue I’ve mentioned; Erica Ridley writes a ripping good yarn and this one is no exception. I’m happy to give it five stars.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of Lord of the Masquerade. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*

Ridley's historical romances are deliciously anachronistic in that her heroines have a lot of agency, and very little fear when it comes to standing for what they believe in. This is also the case in this novel, which I loved. Unity is a strong protagonist, and the way she has no fear in dealing even with a Duke shows this more than anything else ever could.

I loved that the Duke of Lambley thought he could organize absolutely everything in his life, even what age he'd find a suitable Duchess wife, and how well-behaved his future children would be. Love had no part in his equations at all. And of course, we all know what that means, right?

The chemistry, romance, and the humor got me hooked from the beginning, and the characters, including their development, and the continued romance kept me hooked throughout.

[Kazen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Lord of the Masquerade is a delight, and we can tell in the first few pages that it will be fun, sexy, and subversive. The Duke of Lambley holds weekly masquerades during the Season and he has made them an art with the perfect music, most fitting finger foods, and pleasure rooms for use of willing parties (consent is paramount). Here people of different classes and races meet, mingle, and maybe even share a pleasure room with Lambley... but only once. That is changing, though - he's nearing 35, a good age to search for a staid, sensible Duchess.

Unity is biracial and has been through a lot, now finding herself doing theatre makeup to make ends meet. She would love to run her own masquerade, and schemes her way onto the floor of Lambley's one night to suss out what makes it so great. When she suggests improvements Lambley pales... but also can't resist the idea that some aspect of his parties may be improved. They spend more and more time together, and you can guess the rest :)

This is only my second Ridley book but I'm already a huge fan. This is the fun side of Regency romance - it doesn't take itself too seriously, delivering fun with the steamy romance. It's diverse, with people of color and queer side characters. And during an especially tough week it was just what I needed.

Excited to go back and read the rest of the series, starting with book 1.

-----

Content notes: mentions of familial death and being orphaned

Thanks to the author for providing a review copy.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really witty and maddening.
A know it all Duke gives his heart to a equally arrogant woman. Unity didn't think herself his equal but she truly was.
Erica Ridley has done a marvelous job with this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fell in love with both main characters right from the beginning.
Fantastic quick read. Definitely recommend.

[AcademicEditor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big Erica Ridley fan, and read many books in her holiday series last year, so it was a nice surprise to revisit her Rogues world this summer. I always enjoy her historical research, and this book's information about the 20,000 people of African descent living in London in the 19th century was no exception. I liked the characters' backstories and courtship, but somehow the character transformation didn't totally feel fleshed out and the conflict and resolution were very fast indeed. Not my favorite Ridley, but still a good read. ;)

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Lord of the Masquerade is the seventh book in Erica Ridley’s Rogues to Riches series. It can be read as a stand-alone, and I found that it worked well on its own, even though I had not read the prior books in the series.

This book is really sweet, and a lot of that comes down to the two leads. Unity drew my attention immediately given her somewhat precarious financial position, and the creative way she’s working to bring herself back up in the world. Lambley, meanwhile, sounded like the exact type of character I typically avoid at all costs: an arrogant Duke aware of his own charms.

But Ridley has a way of taking what could potentially be a problematic dynamic and breaking it down, so the two can truly be equals. I appreciated the in-text discussion about dukes and other aristocrats who married courtesans, brought on by Unity’s masquerade as one, and even though it’s ultimately not relevant to justifying whether Lambley can marry Unity, it does provide justification for anyone who may have thought such marriages never happened.

And while Lambley castigates himself when he finds out she’s not a courtesan, believing she’s a virgin, I loved the enlightened view she shares with him about how there’s a lot of gray area in terms of sexual experience, something that people of his rank would not be familiar with, given the “virgin or whore” mentality they had. And there were these little ways as the story went on that showed that he valued her, including a moment after they’ve finally made love where she realizes he not only views her as an equal, but he puts her needs before his own, which also comes into play in the big moment at the end.

I loved how sweet and uncomplicated this book was, at least on the romance side. If you prefer more intense conflict (and judging by the heat of the discourse around third act breakups lately, I can see the issue is divisive), you won’t find that here. But there’s plenty of tension and there are issues to be resolved that make for an entertaining read for anyone looking for a lighthearted historical romance read.

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was I hooked by that book? Yes! Fun, romantic, steamy, interesting characters, and an intriguing plot. Don't miss it.

Unity Thorne is smart and resourceful, and she has helped at least two gentlemen rise above their debts and become successful. But she is tired of being relegated to the shadows and wants to make her own fortune for a change. The Duke of Lambley hosts wildly successful masquerades every week and Unity finagled herself an invitation so that she can learn the secrets of his success.

I very much enjoyed reading about Julian's controversial masquerades. They do seem like a whole lot of fun. Julian takes his responsibilities as the host extremely seriously. He is super anal about every little detail, and he has no intentions of taking Unity's advice at all. But she stealthily sneaks past all his defenses and soon Julian started looking forward to her unsolicited advice.

It was a lot of fun reading this book. I laughed every time Julian thought, "only until he finds the perfect bride." Unity showed Julian that it was okay to not be in control all the time and Julian appreciated and came to love Unity for who she is.

Another gem of a quote is when Unity says to Julian, "How can you be friends with thousands of people and still not know anything about women? Do you honestly believe the only flavors we come in are 'whore' and 'virgin'?"

All in all, a great read. I haven't read any of the other books in the Rogues to Riches series yet, but I'm going to. Seems it's not necessary to read them in order. I can recommend any Erica Ridley book to readers of historical romance who enjoy a lot of steaminess thrown in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-warming, entertaining and romantic, this novel kept me up all night. Duke of Lambley has taken OCD to a totally different level, one where being in control is the beginning and the end of his existence. It takes the determined and resourceful Miss Unity Thorne to upend his carefully controlled existence as she questions everything he does. Despite being arrogant and unquestionably sure of himself, Julian is nevertheless intrigued by the woman who has an uncanny ability to befriend everyone around her and creep unbidden into his heart. My interest was piqued when Julian, the Duke of Lambley, rescued Anthony Fairfax from certain failure and helped him turn his life around, making me realize that despite his strong denials, Julian does have a strongly beating heart and his concern and compassion towards those in need is not in question. Unity, on the other hand, easily finds acceptance amongst her friends, but an even stronger urge is to shake off the controls of society and to find an endeavor where she can succeed and become her own mistress. For too long others have governed her life's choices and she is determined to forge her own path. It may have seemed that Julian's rules would have put the kybosh on any chance of a relationship between them, but ultimately they prove that they are soul mates and compatible in every way. This romance is well-written, witty, and engrossing, and although part of a series, it is a standalone and comes to a delightful conclusion. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Rainelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord of the Masquerade, by Erica Ridley. Once I read one story that I believe has left me in aww, comes another one on its heels. This ever so eloquently written, wonderfully exquisite, sensual romantic love story. I must sing the high praises for Unity and Julians characters. Never have I read two people who fit so well together.
I took pleasure and their conversations, how the two worked so well discussing business, and their personal lives. I loved how the two shared conversations that often times had the two teasing each other, just to get a rise out the other one. I definitely loved it Julian when Julian looks at Unity and he really didn’t see the color of hear skin. He was in unequivocally head over hills mad for her. Unity came on scene and changed the everything around on the ton with her head hailed high, while very much being a proud woman.
I loved her independence. I liked that her character is a strong heroine who relies on no one except for herself. It was sweet how Unity thought that Julian was just a friend. Oh, Unity. This succulent relationship was the rocket to the stars in this book.
The writer has won me over with how she told the story with details and descriptions of every little thing in the story. I appreciate this so much, because I was able to find myself envisioning all the entertaining thrills that Julian and Unity shared together. The book is light and cheery. It’s very romantic. The characters are all charming.
I also would like to give a huge thank you to the writer for providing the readers with an interracial couple. You don’t even know how much I respect that. I give this book two snaps and a, “Julian forget about the diameter of the square cut sandwiches. Now get on your knees before me naked”. Until next my fellow readers… read on!

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord of the Masquerade by Erica Ridley
Rogues to Riches #7

Delightful romance with two people who should not have anything in common definitely finding common ground to build on. Loved this story!

What I liked:
* Miss Unity Thorne: bright, focused, business-minded, multi-talented, has a dream and a goal with a vision to follow. Her backstory is difficult and yet she has not only survived but thrived. She is willing to work hard to achieve her dreams but may find her dreams are not quite big enough.
* Julian Newcombe-Ives, Duke of Lambley and Lord of the Masquerade: controlled, detailed, upper class, overcame much, difficult childhood, giving, kind, lives by rules until his rules are shaken up but a woman that comes into his life…and it just might be for his betterment.
* The chemistry between Unity and Julian
* The idea of the masquerade
* Unity’s strength and indomitable will
* The development of the relationship between Unity and Julian
* Getting to see and remember the stories of other rogues in the series
* That both main characters were not defined by class expectations
* The growth of both characters
* Wondering if Samson might find his mate in a future story
* That a dastard was exposed and dealt with
* The HEA for the main couple

What I didn’t like:
* The pain and difficulties both main characters had to deal with in their pasts.
* Being reminded of class rules and expectations

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Candy Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Unity Thorne lost both of her parents and was sent to her cousin, Roger, who became her guardian. His business was not doing well, she asked if he would let her run it. When she became manager, she made a success of it. When she reached maturity she decided to ask for a commission from the club. He threw her out of the house and the club. She went to her friend Sampson and helped him become a success and she hoped he would offer a job but he wanted to marry her. She was not ready for this. She didn't want a man to control her life.
Lord Julian Lambley held Masquerades at his house. He was truly unconventional. Every day, every minute was timed and structured. He had done experiments to make things as efficient as possible.
He was a nice-looking man but cold and didn't let his emotions rule him, not at all. He was not married yet and would not be ready until he was thirty-five. He did not want to try anything new, his was the only word in his house and dealings.
These two unusual people were fun to read about. She loved trying new things out and he wanted everything to stay the same. The twists they go through, They have a very large problem of different status, she a commoner and he a duke. It is well written, easy to read, and very exciting.
The characters are not only engaging but also intriguing. There is gaiety, eating, and music there.
Everything you would need to have an exceptional time. It is a great read.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Viper Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've waited YEARS for Lambley's story!

The Duke of Lambley's masquerades are familiar to those of us who've read the earlier Rogues to Riches stories, so I was thrilled to see that the Duke himself was finally getting a story. And what a story it is! There's nothing predictable about this story, except that we can always rely on this author to give us a stunning, triumphant HEA.

Unity is a mixed-race young woman who is determined to chart her own path in life, no matter how hard that is for a woman who is also Black and of humble means. She was a delightful, inspirational character and I was captivated by her approach to life and attention to detail.

Julian was so much more interesting in this story than I could have ever imagined. His backstory is heartbreaking, even as it explains his current eccentricities. The spontaneity diary was a stroke of genius, and I adored how it was used by both Julian and Unity to further their own agendas.

The HEA was so much more than just a resolution for our young couple. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing certain matters put to rights and proper restitution being made. I loved the way their differences were celebrated and how the author always reminds us that love is the only thing that really matters in life. I highly recommend this book, as well as the entire series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! Erica Ridley has done it again.

Exploring a more scandalous side to the beau monde in the form of the Duke of Lambley’s masquerade balls. A man who has the power and the money to live out with proper society and still have the respect of the ton he controls every aspect of his life down to the angles of the triangular sandwiches he serves at his ball.

Unity Thorne has been controlled all her life and longs to be self sufficient and have her own business. She enters the Duke’s life to try and learn about the balls to replicate them for others in society and build her business. The Duke finds his control bending however he tries to resist as Unity does not fit the image he has of the perfect Duchess. Unity fights her feelings also as she doesn’t want to be controlled by another man.

I loved Unity and how she went about infiltrating the masquerade and the Duke’s heart. She is her own person and is determined to be independent and have equality in a partnership. Julian - the Duke was perfectly imperfect and very endearing as a character.


#NetGalley #LordoftheMasquerade
Publish date 6 August

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erica Ridley infuses her books with humor joy and memorable characters. We have caught glimpses of Julian Newcombe-Ives, the sixth Duke of Lambley in the previous books in the series, but here he is on center stage. We learn why he is a control freak and hosts those scandalous masquerade balls.

New to the series is Unity Thorne, a mixed race woman who like Julian was orphaned at a young age, and under the thumb of a neer-do well relative, but as a woman, she was taken advantage of. She is a go-getter, and twice turned someone else's unprofitable business into a success, but had nothing to show for it. So with a lot of chutzpah, she fakes her way into an audience with Julian, with a proposal to improve his parties. He has already perfected them, but he has a kind heart and allows her to work for him so she can earn some coin. Little does he know that he has met his match with Unity.

This book, as the others is fun to read. I suspect that after watching the Netflix version of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton Series, the author decided to introduce blacks into her books. I think it might be an anachronism to call them blacks (Shakespeare called them Moors, I believe), and there might be other anachronisms in the story too, but this isn't a text book, so who cares?

[DD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julian, Duke of Lambley, is a man in control of his life. Everything is planned to the last minute and that plan is refined until everything is just perfect, and has to be just so. For years he’s hosted the notorious masquerade of masquerades every Saturday night during the season, and avoided all the ton events. But he knows the masquerade will stop once he finds himself the perfect wife, so he can have a perfect family. Until his life is upended by an upstart half-caste young lady who describes herself as a courtesan.
Unity Thorne is a spinster orphan, raised in comfortable circumstances, until her grandfather dies and leaves everything to her cousin. To be helpful to the cousin who despises her because of her race, she takes a job in his club, and gradually improves it, when she asks to be paid for her job he throws her out. Unity flees to another club run by a black man, in revenge she sets out to improve his club and make it better than her cousins. This time she is paid, but she wants to be the boss, not take direction, so she saves as much as she can to establish her own masquerade club.
To learn more she approaches the Duke for an invitation to his masquerade so she can learn from the best.

Of course in the real world in Victorian times this could never happen, but it’s a good book. It starts a little slowly, and I nearly gave up on it, I’m happy I didn’t, definitely liked the Duke a hundred times more than Unity , which for me is unusual, usually I’m all for the heroine.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been desperately waiting to find out the real story behind the Duke of Lambley and his scandalous masquerades. This book made every minute of that wait worthwhile. Control was wrenched from his hands at a very young age, and now control over himself and everything around him is the only thing Julian prizes. Similarly, Unity understands what it’s like to lose control of one’s destiny to another and she’s not about to give up on her dreams for a third time. I knew that the future Duchess of Lambley would have to be someone special to be able to catch and hold Julian’s attention, but I had no idea how truly remarkable she would prove to be. In a world where everything feels so divisive, it was wonderful to read something that focused on busting stereotypes and brought people from such different backgrounds together in love and happiness.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.

[Tanja OMGReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica Ridley has become my constant when reading HR books. She has a way with words that you can sink into and not come up for air until you've finished the book. And this one was no exception.

I absolutely loved Unity and her wish to gain her independence. She was smart, resourceful, funny and could work a room like nobody's business. It's these attributes that she is convinced that she can help Julian the infamous Lord of Lambley make his masquerades even better.

Together they discover that sometimes being attached to someone and letting them lead is not so bad and can bring a lot of happiness.

This is one of my favorite Erica Ridley books for sure!

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

London, 1819
He maintained control. Control over the masquerade balls he gave every week, control over his dukedom, control over his life. "There was nothing Julian could not control."

Famous last words? Well, yes, because he was about to meet the one person he might not be able to control! Unity just wanted to find her fortune. She had helped others, but it seemed not herself. So she decided to create her own balls and to do that she needed to meet Julian!

A fun, fast paced romance that has humor, witty banter and an attraction that cannot be denied!

[Teneisha (Teesbookjourney) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this romance! Unity is an ambitious driven person. She is determined to have something of her own. She already knows she can make a business profitable.

The duke hosts the most talked about parties where anything goes. As outlandish as his parties are the Duke has all the control.

Unity and the Duke start an arrangement to enhance the parties.

The chemistry and the banter between these two were amazing! I loved them both together and individually

Such a great feel the good historical romance