A Masquerade in the Moonlight

by Kasey Michaels

In Masquerade in the Moonlight, Kasey brings a brash American to London just in time to meet debutante Marquerite Balfour; young, beautiful, and very much in his way. It would appear she has some mischief afoot, mischief that could ruin Thomas Joseph Donovan's mission to arrange some "deliveries" to his country, hoping to avoid yet another war with England. Bring on a battle of wills, a battle of wits... and an attraction that can't be denied.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical

358 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Kasey Michaels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books (she doesn't count them). Kasey has received three coveted Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, two for the historical romances, THE SECRETS OF THE HEART and THE BUTLER DID IT, and a third for contemporary romance LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (that shows diversity, you see). She is a recipient of the RITA, a Waldenbooks and Bookrak Bestseller award, and many awards from Romantic Times magazine, including a Career Achievement award for her Regency era historical romances. She is an Honor Roll author in Romance Writers of America, Inc. (RWA)

Kasey has appeared on the TODAY show, and was the subject of a Lifetime Cable TV show "A Better Way," in conjunction with Good Housekeeping magazine, a program devoted to women and how they have achieved career success in the midst of motherhood (short version: "with great difficulty").

A highly praised nonfiction book, written as Kathryn Seidick, "...OR YOU CAN LET HIM GO," details the story of Kasey and her family during the time of her eldest son's first kidney transplant.

Kasey has written Regency romances, Regency historicals, category books including novellas and continuities and a few series "launch" books, and single title contemporaries. She has coped with time travel, ghosts, trilogies, the dark side, the very light side, and just about everything in between. Hers is also the twisted mind behind her ongoing Maggie Kelly mystery series starring a former romance writer turned historical mystery writer whose gorgeous hunk of a fictional hero shows up, live and in color, in her Manhattan living room – to melt her knees, to help her solve murders, and to leave the top off her toothpaste. And, says Kasey, she's just getting started!

Series:
* His Chariot Awaits
* Lion On the Prowl
* Crown Family
* London Friends
* Chandlers Request
* The Trehan Brothers
* Maggie Kelly Mystery
* Romney Marsh
* Sunshine Girls

Reviews

[Lyn Sweetapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing set of characters with a great battle of words between them. I like how their relationship developed over time.

[Nicole alphAbet]

Winter Pile

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five influential regency gentleman are planning to overthrow the English monarchy but two people keep getting in their way. In their treachery, they have murdered the father of the heroine, debutante Marguerite Balfour. She gets even by planning their public humiliation and censure by the most creative and diobolical means. Enter the brash, clever, and totally capable Irish-American hero Thomas Donovan, who happens to have dealings with the same five conspirators for some weapons deliveries, as an emissary to President Madison. They keep running into each other and the inevitable flaming hot erotic hands-on romance blossoms between them. Mr. Donovan cannot quite figure out why Marguerite plans revenge but he quietly seeks to protect her because of the five conspirators three are buffoons but two are cunning and deadly. This is one of the best combinations of regency Mystery, intrigue, and romance that I have read in years. The author cleverly introduces our heroine in the prologue as a sweet, charming but mischevious young girl and how her beloved parents shaped her into the brilliant, relentless and calculating woman she is. She outwits almost everyone but cannot fathom the roguish and analytical charm of the inappropriate and reckless American adventurer. I cannot recommend this book enough. The characters, especially the hero, heroine, and the five conspirators fairly leap off the pages of the book.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally I really like Michaels' novels (even delighted in a few), but this one took perseverance to finish. It is fine to have two voluble Irish-American characters full of blarney wax on and on every time they spoke, but to have all the main characters speak in excess quickly went from charming banter to tedium. Marguerite, the female protagonist might have been Michaels' attempt at Jane Austen's experiment with Emma--finding out if she could write a whole novel about a young woman who was not particularly likable and still engage her readers. Donovan, our male protagonist, was charming, but initially, arrogant and a bit slimy. The tale of Marguerite's revenge had moments of farce, but spending an entire novel in the company of five egomaniacs and/or buffoons grew tedious, too. The ending elicited some sympathy for the wounded, orphaned child at the heart of the bratty, too intelligent for her own good, headstrong very young woman, but by then it was too little too late.

[Kerliza Foon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kasey Michaels creates a world so deliciously enticing that it sucks you in and leaves you laughing at the shenanigans the characters pull off and in suspense as the characters work to undermine evil machinations. Marguerite Balfour and Thomas Donovan Joseph are a wonderfully enjoyable couple to read about. Their witty and sarcastic banter are a delight to read as well as translate when you read between the lines. Not your typical women in the Regency era who have their season to find a husband, Marguerite Balfour has a plan and no one is going to get in the way of it. Thomas Donovan Joseph is in Britain doing work for the President but not even he is a match for Marguerite's shrewd mind and her alluring green eyes.

I was given an ARC in return for an honest review

[Teri Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once you start this book, you will not be able to put it down. There are six different story lines going on. You'll need to pay close attention to keep them all straight, but I assure, they all intertwine.
The main story line involves Thomas Donovan, a charming Irishman, who has met his match in Marguerite. She is bold, sassy and out for revenge. Thomas is a love them and leave them guy, bed them but not wed them. When Marguerite keeps interrupting his plans for members of The Club, he decides that she is the one for him and for the first time, sets out to woo a woman.
Don't hesitate. Just download this book and get reading!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. It may be my first Kasey Michael's book, but it won't be my last.

[Bernadette Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the interaction between the heroine, Marguerite Balfour, and the hero, Thomas Joseph Donovan!

Marguerite has been secretly plotting revenge against the five men she knew responsible for her father's ruin and her mother's collapse and death but then Donovan begins to appear at the same places to talk to the same men about their intentions toward the Americans. Both of them try to keep their secrets but it soon becomes impossible to keep their affairs separate and five men are heading toward their downfall in quick succession.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michele Lacroix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book I loved it. The love between Vincent and Christine was great. Then Kasey Michaels throws Fletcher in the mix and you wonder if it's going to be a HEA. But when the two men make up you know it's going to be a HEA.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good I read it twice!

Ms. Michaels delivers once again with a well written, compelling story. Intrigue and passion interwoven with amusing incidents in an interesting plot. The characters run the gamut from adorable and comical to diabolical and dangerous.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters targeted for destruction were too hard to follow, as to which was which. Eventually I just kept reading this mystery as it unfolded. Meanwhile, man and woman fall in love.

[Megan Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome story!