Moonlight Masquerade

Regency Classics: Alphabet Series #14

by Michelle Kasey, Kasey Michaels

Injured when her coach overturns in a blizzard, Christine Denham finds herself recovering in the home of Vincent Mayhew, Earl of Hawkhurst, a man exiled from society because of his excessively libertine ways

Genres: Romance, Regency, Historical Romance, Historical, Beauty and The Beast

220 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 16, 1989

About the author

AKA Kasey Michaels

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 in Ms. Kasey’s Regency Duet.  The sequel is A Difficult Disguise.

This is still one of my all-time favorite books.  I can’t help but love the Beauty and the Beast/Phantom of the Opera theme and characters.  Christine Denham is on her way to London with her aunt for her first season when their coach gets overturned in a blizzard.  The nearest manor is Hawk’s Roost, where Vincent Mayhew, the Earl of Hawkhurst lives as a recluse.  Hawkhurst is living in guilt of what he believes he did to his best friend’s sister, and his one-time betrothed Arabella.  He has the scars on his face and a near-useless left arm as constant reminders of that pain.  However, now that Christine is intruding on his solitary life, his heart can’t help but warm to her.  The attraction between the two is immediate and passionate.  Can Christine help mend Vincent’s heart?  Or will he succeed in pushing her away?

Fletcher Belden is Arabella’s brother and the hero in A Difficult Disguise.

[Sandy Digger · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the beginning I thought this was going to be a beauty and the beast book, but a little ways in I realized it was going to be so much more. Christine and her aunt are stranded in a carriage accident in the country and are at the door of a mansion asking for help. Christine has been injured and the driver of their rented carriage is carrying her. Vincent (the earl) is not inclined to help them and tells his servant, Lazarus, to send them to the village. The aunt is outraged and in fear for her niece's health. She demands to see the earl. He comes out dressed in a hooded cloak and has words with the aunt then sees Christine and mistakes her for a child. He is outraged that Lazarus didn't tell him a child was involved. Poor Lazarus shows them to some bedrooms where the aunt puts Christine to bed. Turns out that theatre is disfigured and has lost the use of his left hand, and basically feels sorry for himself as well as punishing himself for what we don't find out till much later in the story. He discovers Christine is not a child, suffice it to say the story becomes interesting as they develop a romance but the earl sends her on to London to have her season and risk the chance of losing her. The ending could have been a little more developed but Ms Michaels does not lack in writing romance.

[Ririn Aziz · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's all about how beautiful and how perfect the hero and and the heroin were. They formed the supposedly 'deep love' because of that. Nothing else.

[Deb Diem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonlight Masquerade by Michelle Kasey is a fabulous historical romance with a Beauty and the Beast twist. Ms. Kasey has delivered a well-written book loaded with outstanding characters. Christine and her aunt are on their way to London for Christine to find a husband when they are stranded in a snowstorm. They're forced to take shelter at Hawk's Roost, the home of Vincent, Earl of Hawkhurst. Vincent and Christine's story is full of drama, humor and sizzle. I enjoyed reading Moonlight Masquerade and look forward to reading more from Michelle Kasey in the future. Moonlight Masquerade is book 1 of the Regency Duet Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book that I received from Bookfunnel.

[Susan Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way Kasey Michaels writes, and I read Regency romances, so what's not to love? Nothing. I enjoyed this short book from start to finish. It might be a cliché, but it's entertaining none-the-less. Actually, for Regency romances, there aren't that many surprise plots. Authors are restrained by the culture, language, and strict rules society imposed. It can be difficult coming up with something totally new. RR are generally about the characters, not the plot. If an author, like Kasey Michaels, is able to give us a twist on characters, I'm all for it. I have - and will - read more of her books.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't make up my mind if I like this book or not. I've never been a fan of books where the two people fall desperately in love with each other right from the start. To me there is no substance to their relationship. That's what happened in this book, obviously. I also felt that it was rather melodramatic. I didn't hate it, I was entertained but felt the whole time that it was a bit much.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it, read it in one sitting, I loved the gothic tones to it, it's obviously taken inspiration from Phantom Of The Opera. It's a nice story that gets straight to the point early rather than later which I like, the hero and heroine were both very likeable, I loved their interactions and could feel the tension ad chemistry through the writing. I just adore Allan Kass's art and this book cover is many reasons why, although I am suprised he didn't add Vincent's scars in the art, he normally gets every detail in but that doesn't matter, the art is stunning. Vincent is a nice hero, he's brooding and tortured but basically has the heart of a poet, and Christine is sweet and innocent but fiery in a good ladylike way, in fact both of them give me Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh movie characters vibes which is interesting since I always thought the two of them in the artwork look like Laurence and Vivien too. While 80s and 90s regency's are usually innocent in general which is why I read them, this one was extra innocent in a way which I liked very much, not much else to say, an enjoyable fast read, you can't really go wrong with a country mansion covered in snow with a scarred hero.

[Darlene Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Kasey Michaels writes as Michelle Kasey with Moonlight Masquerade. I found the story to be an enjoyable ,no too long, way to spend an afternoon. The main characters are likeable enough. It's Beauty & The Beast mixed with Phantom Of The Opera. There's a crazy aunt that I started thinking of as a 1930's dingbat character. kind of a scatterbrain with good intentions. Taken at face value she was a little annoying so I changed my perception.

Thank you to the author for making this older, 2012, e-book available. It was a nice gift for her readers.

#KaseyMichaels #MoonlightMasquerade #RegencyDuet

[Patrizia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ho avuto questo e-book come 'bonus' per avere scelto di 'seguire' l'autrice, e, sinceramente, sono restata estremamente delusa. La storia, melodrammatica, i personaggi e le situazioni, incoerenti e improbabili, non sembrano appartenere alla penna di un'autrice che avevo più o meno avuto modo di apprezzare per la scrittura vivace e per la discreta competenza storica.
Mi sorprende che proprio questo romanzo sia stato scelto (dall'autrice? dall'editore?) per 'fidelizzare' i lettori...

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Glorified novella about the insta-love/lust between a teenaged nitwit and a self-pitying weirdo. I'm actually a fan of many of Kasey Michael's Regency books, but this one stunk.

[deeann linford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much too flowery and slow paced.

This book was definitely not up to standards of other books by this author. It was so boring for the first third I almost stopped reading it but after skipping a bit had to finish to answer the questions about what happened. The speech was much too flowery and the action was so slow.

[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've enjoyed a number of books by Kasey Michaels, but this early venture is not one of them. Melodramatic and sappy, with little character development or humor, I could barely finish it. Yes, it's a regency but having read hundreds of those over the years I can assure you there are better selections, many of them from the same author.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Kasey Michaels!! Vincent has hidden himself at his estate for over 4 years when all of asudden his peace is disturbed by a pounding knock on the door!! When the door is opened his life will change forever. This book is based on redemption, love and forgiveness!! It is a beautifully written story!!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Beauty & the beast...regency-style! I didn't realize until I began reading the book that it is actually a prequel to "A Difficult Disquise". Moonlight Masquerade should definitely be read first in order for the second book to be fully appreciated.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most entertaining and quick romantic read . I really enjoyed the humor of Christine’s Aunt throughout the whole story --- the mansion, secret hallways --- candles lighting the way! Fun read! Again, I've found a new wonderful author!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Sweet.

[Mary L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess that I have outgrown regency romances. It was okay but I would rather have read something with a little more meat in it.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A typical Regency. Light-hearted, some hint of Phantom of the Opera, a touch of Beauty and the Beast. I enjoyed it very much.

[Andrea Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Forced language, forced story. Very predictable. Did not like this at all. Amazing I finished it.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - too silly & shallow.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a decent book, but the main male character exaggerates himself a lot and believes he is disfigured when in fact he has only a scar.