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The Family Masquerade: The Men of Mills Bluff
For 15 years, Trey Highland used the pain of his high school girlfriend, Poppy Kingsley’s, betrayal to fuel his ambition. He threw himself into his work, trying to escape her memory and the feelings that refused to die. It almost worked. But when Maggie Kingsley came to ask for help finding her missing daughter and bringing her home, all those feelings he’d buried deep down rushed back to the surface.
Trey’s world is turned upside down when he locates Poppy and discovers the truth about their past and the reason for her disappearance--her daughter. Driven to right his wrongs and reunite them with their family, Trey offers to marry Poppy and adopt her daughter to protect them from the person who forced Poppy to flee her home at sixteen. But will it be enough?
If you like small-town romances and stories about undying love and second chances, you will love Trey and Poppy’s story.
This book is recommended for mature audiences as it contains mature language, sexual situations, intense emotional scenes, and violence. While this book contains only mentions rape as a past event and contains no details of that event, it still may trigger individuals who have experienced rape. It may also trigger those who have experienced bullying and life-threatening trauma.
Trey’s world is turned upside down when he locates Poppy and discovers the truth about their past and the reason for her disappearance--her daughter. Driven to right his wrongs and reunite them with their family, Trey offers to marry Poppy and adopt her daughter to protect them from the person who forced Poppy to flee her home at sixteen. But will it be enough?
If you like small-town romances and stories about undying love and second chances, you will love Trey and Poppy’s story.
This book is recommended for mature audiences as it contains mature language, sexual situations, intense emotional scenes, and violence. While this book contains only mentions rape as a past event and contains no details of that event, it still may trigger individuals who have experienced rape. It may also trigger those who have experienced bullying and life-threatening trauma.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2021
4 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 18, 2023
This is not my usually genre. I’m typically not into romance, but wow, this book pulled at my heart strings. It is very well written and fast paced, but not at the same time. I loved the characters right from the beginning and I was rooting for them all the way through the end. I actually felt like I was in the story with Trey and Poppy, living it right along with them. What a beautiful story. Get ready to cry!!!!
September 30, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the author, and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
Trey is on a mission to find his lost love Poppy Kingsley. He is rich and in love with someone he lost 15 years ago. He goes to a seedy bar to watch a band, hoping it is her. He has an insane bond with her family and is trying to find the missing daughter for them, or so he tells himself.
Poppy feels strange at this performance and isn't sure why. I'm not sure about her and why she is hiding. She wants to hate him because he broke her heart, but he tells a different story. She is one heck of a singer and eventually finds out why she has the heebie-jeebies. She goes for a look. It is him, and she gives him her address to talk later. I think that was probably too easy for someone who has been running for 15 years.
This book does jump perspective between the characters, so you get both sides of the story. We also get the introduction to the band. She is so definitely hiding something.
Oh, her big secret comes out, and wow, I didn't expect that. She has one heck of a troubling story to tell him. Trey comes up with an exciting solution. But it has many ways to fail. I'm excited to see where this will go and how it will work out.
Things get more intense and fascinating as they move back to her hometown in front of the one man she never wants to see again. This book is filled with suspense, happiness, loving romantic times, and lots of mature content. This book does have some exhilarating moments where you see Poppy shine and some incredibly emotional moments. The end of this book is more than I could have hoped for.
This was a thrilling read of romance, pure love, and bad circumstances. I enjoyed how the author brought all the action but also incorporated times of simplicity. This story could have been based on a true story. It was that twisted. I found the romance in the book to be very sweet, gentle, and really amazing. Poppy was quite the character once her truth and history surfaced, and I loved how she was a rock when she needed to be. She definitely overcame her circumstances and tragedy all by herself. There were parts of that story that I wondered where the band was as they were left out of a lot of pieces, for as heavily as they were introduced in the beginning. But they were there when it really mattered, and the story wasn't about them.
Poppy and Trey have a pretty serious infatuation with each other and a love that spanned separation, fights, and even trauma. This was a really great read but be warned that some of the contents can trigger some people a warning would be nice. I don't mind how the author incorporated the mature content personally. Still, some scenes were more challenging to read due to the emotional content and impact on the reader.. I do like that this romance took place later in life. I also loved that the big surprise in the book was revealed very quickly and then continued in the storyline. If you love a thrilling, suspenseful romance with a strong woman and a charming, caring man you will love this book.
Trey is on a mission to find his lost love Poppy Kingsley. He is rich and in love with someone he lost 15 years ago. He goes to a seedy bar to watch a band, hoping it is her. He has an insane bond with her family and is trying to find the missing daughter for them, or so he tells himself.
Poppy feels strange at this performance and isn't sure why. I'm not sure about her and why she is hiding. She wants to hate him because he broke her heart, but he tells a different story. She is one heck of a singer and eventually finds out why she has the heebie-jeebies. She goes for a look. It is him, and she gives him her address to talk later. I think that was probably too easy for someone who has been running for 15 years.
This book does jump perspective between the characters, so you get both sides of the story. We also get the introduction to the band. She is so definitely hiding something.
Oh, her big secret comes out, and wow, I didn't expect that. She has one heck of a troubling story to tell him. Trey comes up with an exciting solution. But it has many ways to fail. I'm excited to see where this will go and how it will work out.
Things get more intense and fascinating as they move back to her hometown in front of the one man she never wants to see again. This book is filled with suspense, happiness, loving romantic times, and lots of mature content. This book does have some exhilarating moments where you see Poppy shine and some incredibly emotional moments. The end of this book is more than I could have hoped for.
This was a thrilling read of romance, pure love, and bad circumstances. I enjoyed how the author brought all the action but also incorporated times of simplicity. This story could have been based on a true story. It was that twisted. I found the romance in the book to be very sweet, gentle, and really amazing. Poppy was quite the character once her truth and history surfaced, and I loved how she was a rock when she needed to be. She definitely overcame her circumstances and tragedy all by herself. There were parts of that story that I wondered where the band was as they were left out of a lot of pieces, for as heavily as they were introduced in the beginning. But they were there when it really mattered, and the story wasn't about them.
Poppy and Trey have a pretty serious infatuation with each other and a love that spanned separation, fights, and even trauma. This was a really great read but be warned that some of the contents can trigger some people a warning would be nice. I don't mind how the author incorporated the mature content personally. Still, some scenes were more challenging to read due to the emotional content and impact on the reader.. I do like that this romance took place later in life. I also loved that the big surprise in the book was revealed very quickly and then continued in the storyline. If you love a thrilling, suspenseful romance with a strong woman and a charming, caring man you will love this book.
September 11, 2023
Exciting plot, I just needed more
'The Masquerade' reminds me of a Mexican telenovela. I can pick any one I've watched and there's a 90% chance (just my estimate) that I'll find all the plot points of this book in that show. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing. There's a reason there's a dedicated audience for these shows. The drama, the suspense, the vindication, and the romance make them a staple. However, the book 'The Masquerade' unfortunately also has the negative aspects of a telenovela that can sometimes make it boring, and unfortunately that overpowered the good parts. The characters are black and white and are not complicated at all, the side characters can more often feel like plot devices than actual people, some of the decisions the characters make don't make sense, and the outcome is predictable and doesn't feel earned.
🌶️🌶️ 2 out of 5 spice rating
There are about two steamy scenes with mention of the bre**** but that's pretty much as extreme as it goes. The other ones are more flirting than actual intercourse. This did not affect my review at all. Everyone has different tastes in spice levels so I thought it'd be worth setting a different rating for it.
Personally, this didn't work for me but I'm happy for everyone who enjoyed it. A book just needs to be appreciated by its intended audience. If you're looking for a quick, romance read and tropes like childhood lovers, romantic reunions, and fake marriages, then there's a chance you'll like this one. This is most especially true if you're not in the mood to deal with too many negative emotions, convoluted plot points, and watching characters in their low points. This one has its main characters ride a sequence of wins.
If you don't mind spoilers, read my in-depth review coming up on my blog on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at 12 AM PHT.
'The Masquerade' reminds me of a Mexican telenovela. I can pick any one I've watched and there's a 90% chance (just my estimate) that I'll find all the plot points of this book in that show. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing. There's a reason there's a dedicated audience for these shows. The drama, the suspense, the vindication, and the romance make them a staple. However, the book 'The Masquerade' unfortunately also has the negative aspects of a telenovela that can sometimes make it boring, and unfortunately that overpowered the good parts. The characters are black and white and are not complicated at all, the side characters can more often feel like plot devices than actual people, some of the decisions the characters make don't make sense, and the outcome is predictable and doesn't feel earned.
🌶️🌶️ 2 out of 5 spice rating
There are about two steamy scenes with mention of the bre**** but that's pretty much as extreme as it goes. The other ones are more flirting than actual intercourse. This did not affect my review at all. Everyone has different tastes in spice levels so I thought it'd be worth setting a different rating for it.
Personally, this didn't work for me but I'm happy for everyone who enjoyed it. A book just needs to be appreciated by its intended audience. If you're looking for a quick, romance read and tropes like childhood lovers, romantic reunions, and fake marriages, then there's a chance you'll like this one. This is most especially true if you're not in the mood to deal with too many negative emotions, convoluted plot points, and watching characters in their low points. This one has its main characters ride a sequence of wins.
If you don't mind spoilers, read my in-depth review coming up on my blog on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at 12 AM PHT.
September 27, 2021
Loved it!
I’m a sucker for a happy ending. The story is constantly moving forward. You are never left wondering if things are finally going to get moving. I can’t wait for book two.
I’m a sucker for a happy ending. The story is constantly moving forward. You are never left wondering if things are finally going to get moving. I can’t wait for book two.
November 22, 2021
I have always loved romantic movies and books of all kinds... and this is one of my favorites!!! I love true love stories, especially when there is a little drama thrown in to shake it up!!! This book was amazing and I can't wait for the next one!!!
January 17, 2023
Wow! Amazing!
This book is so amazing! You will fall in love with Trey and Poppy’s story!!!! And Savannah!
I highly recommend this book!!!!
This book is so amazing! You will fall in love with Trey and Poppy’s story!!!! And Savannah!
I highly recommend this book!!!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews