While in Paris, Miss Alyse Brogan attended a masquerade ball being held in her honor to celebrate her twenty-first birthday. It was a gift from her grandmother in an attempt to get her to reconsider her choice of fiance back in America. Although reluctant to participate fully in the festivities, she decided to make the most of it before wedding a man twice her age. What she didn't count on was encountering the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on, one who would make her question her choices.

Robert DuMont was a man of many disguises. Not only was he a fake count, he was a government agent as well. Having been in love with Miss Brogan since she was eighteen, he knew that he was not free to make a declaration, and if he were, his suit would most likely be spurned by her family. Nevertheless, he had an obligation to fulfill, one that saw him in constant contact with the light of his life. It was this constant contact that made it increasingly difficult to maintain his disguise. What would happen if his love recognized him from the masque?

On returning to America, Alyse realized that she could not in all honesty marry her betrothed. After breaking off the engagement, she realized what a wise decision she had made when her ex-fiance became rather violent. Escaping from Philadelphia to take up a teaching post in Franklin, she believed that all her problems were solved. What she didn't count on was a man going by the name of Bud O'Rourke. He aroused emotions in her that no decent lady should have been experiencing and a feeling of recognition every time she looked into his eyes. Things were not what they seemed, and as she was thrown more often in danger's path, she realized that all her problems were not solved when her ex-fiance did everything in his power to get her back.

LOVE'S MASQUERADE is a tale about intrigue and the lengths that some people will go to get what they want. Barbara Clemens has made a valiant effort in telling a tale that has a number of twists to its plot. It is a good storyline, but the lack of polish has let it down to a degree. I'm sure that with careful editing, it will achieve the rating it really deserves.

Emilie Spargo
© August 2004