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Winter Masquerade
Her Secret Thrust Her Into A Dangerous Game Of Desire
Lovely Kimberly Barrow was enthralled by the glorious winter splendor of William and Mary's court and the two devastatingly attractive men vying for her attentions. No one suspected that Kimberly - honoring her guardian's dying wish - was playing a dangerous game of deceit by hiding her true identity.
Intrigue further engulfed her as the visiting Russian Prince Casimir Novikov used his seductive charms to tempt her heart and threaten her life. But it was the handsome, enigmatic Sir Anthony Tempest who haunted Kimberly's dreams as he discovered in her eyes a wild spirit to match his own - and awakened in her senses a sweet fire that would never stop burning...
Lovely Kimberly Barrow was enthralled by the glorious winter splendor of William and Mary's court and the two devastatingly attractive men vying for her attentions. No one suspected that Kimberly - honoring her guardian's dying wish - was playing a dangerous game of deceit by hiding her true identity.
Intrigue further engulfed her as the visiting Russian Prince Casimir Novikov used his seductive charms to tempt her heart and threaten her life. But it was the handsome, enigmatic Sir Anthony Tempest who haunted Kimberly's dreams as he discovered in her eyes a wild spirit to match his own - and awakened in her senses a sweet fire that would never stop burning...
347 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1984
11 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Maxwell
9 booksaka Les Simons, Kathryn Atwood, Anne Mayfield, Kathryn Ptacek, Kathryn Grant
Kathryn Anne Ptacek was born on 12 September 1952 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, but was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She received her B. A. in Journalism, with a minor in history, from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, where she was graduated with distinction in 1974. While attending the university, she was a student of award-winning mystery writer Tony Hillerman and well-known YA writer Lois Duncan. Afterward, she worked briefly for a political party best left unnamed, was a telephone solicitor for the New Mexico Assn. of Retarded People, and spent two years as an advertising lay-out artist for a regional grocery warehouse co-op, and then worked for the University of New Mexico first as a secretary in the Dept. of Speech and Hearing, then for the University's Computing Center as their only technical writer and editor.
After the sale of her first novel, an historical romance, in July 1979, she quit to become a full-time novelist. As Les Simons, Kathryn Atwood, Anne Mayfield, Kathleen Maxwell, Kathryn Ptacek, and Kathryn Grant, she has written an historical fantasy series, numerous historical romances, and five horror novels. Her dark fantasy have won the Silver Medal and Gold Medal awards given by the West Coast Review of Books. She has also edited three anthologies, the critically acclaimed Women of Darkness and its companion Women of Darkness II (both Tor), and Women of the West (Doubleday). Editions of her books have appeared in England, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Germany. Her short stories have appeared in Greystone Bay, Doom City (Greystone Bay II), Fantasy Tales, the Post Mortem anthology, Pulphouse 5, The Horror Show, Freak Show (HWA anthology), A Confederacy of Horrors, Into The Fog, The Ultimate Witch, and Phobias. She is a member of Horror Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the International Women Writers Guild, and the Police Writers Club. She also prepares a market report for Hellnotes, is the editor of the Horror Writers Association's monthly newsletter, and publishes a market newsletter, The Gila Queen's Guide to Markets, which goes to writers and artists around the world.
On 1982, she married to dark fantasy novelist Charles L. Grant, who died in 2006. She shares a 116-year-old Victorian clapboard house with five cats in Newton, New Jersey. Her hobbies include gardening, jewelry making, and various needlework. She also has a large collection of gila monster memorabilia, and collects unusual teapots and cat whiskers.
Kathryn Anne Ptacek was born on 12 September 1952 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, but was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She received her B. A. in Journalism, with a minor in history, from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, where she was graduated with distinction in 1974. While attending the university, she was a student of award-winning mystery writer Tony Hillerman and well-known YA writer Lois Duncan. Afterward, she worked briefly for a political party best left unnamed, was a telephone solicitor for the New Mexico Assn. of Retarded People, and spent two years as an advertising lay-out artist for a regional grocery warehouse co-op, and then worked for the University of New Mexico first as a secretary in the Dept. of Speech and Hearing, then for the University's Computing Center as their only technical writer and editor.
After the sale of her first novel, an historical romance, in July 1979, she quit to become a full-time novelist. As Les Simons, Kathryn Atwood, Anne Mayfield, Kathleen Maxwell, Kathryn Ptacek, and Kathryn Grant, she has written an historical fantasy series, numerous historical romances, and five horror novels. Her dark fantasy have won the Silver Medal and Gold Medal awards given by the West Coast Review of Books. She has also edited three anthologies, the critically acclaimed Women of Darkness and its companion Women of Darkness II (both Tor), and Women of the West (Doubleday). Editions of her books have appeared in England, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Germany. Her short stories have appeared in Greystone Bay, Doom City (Greystone Bay II), Fantasy Tales, the Post Mortem anthology, Pulphouse 5, The Horror Show, Freak Show (HWA anthology), A Confederacy of Horrors, Into The Fog, The Ultimate Witch, and Phobias. She is a member of Horror Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the International Women Writers Guild, and the Police Writers Club. She also prepares a market report for Hellnotes, is the editor of the Horror Writers Association's monthly newsletter, and publishes a market newsletter, The Gila Queen's Guide to Markets, which goes to writers and artists around the world.
On 1982, she married to dark fantasy novelist Charles L. Grant, who died in 2006. She shares a 116-year-old Victorian clapboard house with five cats in Newton, New Jersey. Her hobbies include gardening, jewelry making, and various needlework. She also has a large collection of gila monster memorabilia, and collects unusual teapots and cat whiskers.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 3, 2025
Read: 10/3/25
Setting: William and Mary, England 1695-1702?
Trope: spy, secret identity
2.5 stars /paperback
plot:
According to her guardian's will, Kimberly (weird name for the 1600s) must marry within a year after Lida's death, or she doesn't inherit. Lida also makes Kimberly promise to use Lida's title in order to gain entry to court. So off Kimberly goes playing a dangerous game of deceit. She is a little out of her element at William and Mary's (minus the Mary) court. She manages to gain two suitors.
The first suitor is the Russian Prince Novikov. He is visiting with the Czar Peter the Great. Kimberly is shocked when this important, handsome man starts pursuing her. Still, there is something off about him sometimes.
The 2nd suitor is the good-looking, enigmatic Sir Anthony. He seems to haunt Kimberly's dreams. He awakens a burning in her like nobody else, but he too is hiding something.
On top of everything else, somebody knows Kimberly's real identity and is blackmailing her. She must find a husband soon before she runs out of money.
Sir Anthony has fallen in love. Unfortunately, she might be helping the villain. Anthony has been sent to spy on Prince Novikov. There is a plot to assassinate the Czar while he is in England. Sir Anthony prays that Kimberly is not part of the plot because he can't stay away from her.
Liked:
1. Sir Anthony was suave and charming. He was like a cleaner version of James Bond.
2. Kimberly was nice. I was indifferent to her. I could have cared less, but she wasn't a bad character - I'm trying to find the positives!
dislikes:
1. The romance was lazy. They barely talked with one another. It was instant love.
2. Kimberly sleeps with Sir Anthony at a party. They never have the marriage talk or any kind of discussion afterward. Really? In the 1600s? Kimberly needs to marry, and she gave away her virginity like it was no big deal. 😡
3. The author focused too much on the spy angle of the plot. The characters' development suffered because of it, and the spy element wasn't even interesting. I could have cared less.
Conclusion: This author couldn't decide if she wanted to write a romance or a spy novel, and this book suffered because of it. The plot ended up being predictable and boring. It was an unforgettable book that wasn't worth the time and money it took to find the paperback.
Setting: William and Mary, England 1695-1702?
Trope: spy, secret identity
2.5 stars /paperback
plot:
According to her guardian's will, Kimberly (weird name for the 1600s) must marry within a year after Lida's death, or she doesn't inherit. Lida also makes Kimberly promise to use Lida's title in order to gain entry to court. So off Kimberly goes playing a dangerous game of deceit. She is a little out of her element at William and Mary's (minus the Mary) court. She manages to gain two suitors.
The first suitor is the Russian Prince Novikov. He is visiting with the Czar Peter the Great. Kimberly is shocked when this important, handsome man starts pursuing her. Still, there is something off about him sometimes.
The 2nd suitor is the good-looking, enigmatic Sir Anthony. He seems to haunt Kimberly's dreams. He awakens a burning in her like nobody else, but he too is hiding something.
On top of everything else, somebody knows Kimberly's real identity and is blackmailing her. She must find a husband soon before she runs out of money.
Sir Anthony has fallen in love. Unfortunately, she might be helping the villain. Anthony has been sent to spy on Prince Novikov. There is a plot to assassinate the Czar while he is in England. Sir Anthony prays that Kimberly is not part of the plot because he can't stay away from her.
Liked:
1. Sir Anthony was suave and charming. He was like a cleaner version of James Bond.
2. Kimberly was nice. I was indifferent to her. I could have cared less, but she wasn't a bad character - I'm trying to find the positives!
dislikes:
1. The romance was lazy. They barely talked with one another. It was instant love.
2. Kimberly sleeps with Sir Anthony at a party. They never have the marriage talk or any kind of discussion afterward. Really? In the 1600s? Kimberly needs to marry, and she gave away her virginity like it was no big deal. 😡
3. The author focused too much on the spy angle of the plot. The characters' development suffered because of it, and the spy element wasn't even interesting. I could have cared less.
Conclusion: This author couldn't decide if she wanted to write a romance or a spy novel, and this book suffered because of it. The plot ended up being predictable and boring. It was an unforgettable book that wasn't worth the time and money it took to find the paperback.
October 12, 2014
it was ok
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews