Masquerading the Marquess [Mass Market Paperback]

Anne Mallory (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2004

Anne Mallory makes her Avon debut with this exciting new novel in which everyone has something to hide...Masquerading the Marquess is sure to be loved by fans of Regency–era historical romance and mysteries.

Calliope Minton is a caricaturist in disguise. For her latest role she secures the help of Stephen Chalmers, the one true gentleman she knows and trusts. Unfortunately the role also plops her right into the lap of James Trenton, Marquess of Angelford, her favourite subject of ridicule and personal enemy. With James around, keeping her clever disguise becomes harder that she anticipates, especially since she's pretending to be a courtesan.

James Trenton has enough on his mind trying to discover the identity of the caricaturist who has been humiliating him in the papers, and the last thing he needs is the additional distraction of Calliope Minton.

But when Stephen disappears and death threats begin, Calliope and James reluctantly form a partnership to find their friend – and find a traitor. Slowly distrust transforms into friendship and animosity into desire.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anne Mallory is a lifelong romance reader who sold her first novel to Avon Books after becoming a finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart contest. In Total Surrender is her eleventh book. A native Michigander, Anne currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060587873
• ISBN-13: 978-0060587871
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I think all writers love to read -- it's part of the job description. Romance, mystery and fantasy are my favorites -- and if all three are combined, all the better!

I write Regency era set romances that are heavy on mystery, intrigue and adventure.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Muddled. ** Grade: C **, December 12, 2004

By 

MaryGrace Meloche (Ontario, Canada.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Masquerading the Marquess (Mass Market Paperback)

The House of Avon continues to move forward with light humorous romances. MASQUERADING THE MARQUESS is no exception. It seeks to be amusing and pleasant. However, too many characters and too much scrambled detail fill this storyline!

Calliope Minton is a motivated Regency caricature artist - incognito of course! Her target is England's upper class and culture. She loves to trouble and demean the rich and highborn. Her number one victim is James Trenton, the Marquess of Angelford. Why is Calliope so ruthless? Because she and her mother were once victims of a scheming rogue -- or so Calliope remembers!

Angelford may be a marquess, but he is also a member of an elite society. Men who serve England's foreign office; men who protect the British Empire from distress . . .

For Calliope and James, their attraction radiates and heated sparks fly. Everyone, IN the story, can feel the pull - everyone except James and Calliope. Antagonistically, the two are forced to work together to solve the disappearance of a mutual friend which only leads further into the depths of a dark mystery.

Disappointingly, a contemporary weight is felt throughout the story. And although Anne Mallory tries to convey a heated attraction between the main characters, the warmth is just not felt! Regrettably, this romance is too reserved and too congested! Grade: C

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Decent Effort For A Debut!!!, September 25, 2005

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Masquerading the Marquess (Mass Market Paperback)

Ms. Mallory's debut effort demonstrates that she does have what it take to be a good author, but there are still some kinks that need to be worked out. One thing that was a problem was the over population of characters.

Calliope Minton is not your average Regencey miss. She is a Caricaturist who just so happens to also play at being a ladies companion, and later a courtesan all with the effort to get scandalous "on-dits" for her next cartoon. Her plan, take down one member of the "Ton" at a time. But, instead she gets more than she bargained for. Now she has stepped into a mystery that tied to national security and her friend Stephen has gone missing and the bain of her existance the Marquess of Angelford is now forced to work with her in order to find out what happened to Stephen. The fact that these two strong willed people set sparks to flying everytime they're in a room together escapes no one except for...Callie and James. Will these two people manage to work together before they kill each other or will they finally admit to the attraction that they can't keep ignoring?

This story had a lot of potential but what kept it from being "great" was the convoluted connections between so many of the characters with little ryhme or reason for the reader to follow. It looks as if she was laying the ground work for a series and this would have been fine except again...too much with little connection. As a result this romance between James and Callie felt forced and was not truly believeable for the reader. One can hope that her next effort will be a tad scaled down with more attention to the "romance" and less attention to building toward a series. Still this was a decent read and I will pick this author up again in the future.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Funny and a fast read, December 22, 2004

By 

Ratmammy "The Ratmammy" (Ratmammy's Town, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Masquerading the Marquess (Mass Market Paperback)

MASQUERADING THE MARQUESS by Anne Mallory
December 22, 2004

I read this debut novel by Anne Mallory, and loved it! MASQUERADING THE MARQUESS was a fun romp set in England's regency era. Main character Calliope Minton disguises herself to work her way into the world of the "ton", to help with her career as a successful caricaturist. Her latest caricatures are all aimed at the handsome Marquess of Angelford, and to her dismay, she finds her path crossing with his more often than she'd like (except that he's great material for her drawings!)

The book is funny but along with it there is romance and danger as the two get involved in finding their missing friend Stephen, who had been helping Calliope on the sly with infiltrating the balls and fancy parties. This is one book that could possibly be read in one sitting. I found myself enjoying MASQUERADING THE MARQUESS a lot, and gave it 4 stars. Recommended for those who love regency romances with a lot of humor mixed in with mystery and intrigue.