Miss Arabella Nott desires nothing more in life than to ride her beloved horse through the fields around her home in Dorset. Although her mother won’t stop pressuring Ara to think about eligible young men and marriage, she has vowed that she will never marry. But when she unexpectedly meets a handsome Duke, he ignites a fire inside her, in ways that she could never have imagined. Why is she … suddenly thinking that marriage to the Duke might be just what she desires when she has always been so vehemently opposed to it?
In London, Lord Miles Comerford, younger brother to the Duke of Lancaster, places a bet with his brother. He will pretend to be the Duke, to prove that all the young ladies are only attracted to his brother’s title. Even though he has vowed that he will never let another woman touch his heart again, it is a good wager, and Miles is confident that he shall collect the winnings. But when the first young lady he meets is the delectable and fiery Miss Arabella Nott, he finds that the bet might be more of a liability than an asset…When his heart beats faster every time he thinks about her, will he be able to risk it all and reveal the truth?
As the ball approaches, choices must be made, by both of them. Will they deepen the desire that burns between them? Or will the Duke’s trickery make a mockery of the burgeoning love, before it has even started to blossom?
“Unmasked by a Captivating Lady” is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
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“Unmasked by a Captivating Lady” by Henrietta Harding
I was gifted a copy of this story by the author. It is a good story, a spicy Regency romance. I really liked the premise of the story, yet for me the story went on too long. It seemed like scenes were added just to get the word count to 80K. Thus, about ¾ of the way through, I found myself beginning to scan pages searching for the next relevant and necessary point in the story. Do remember this is just me. I do seem to prefer stories in the 350 pages range and less. If you prefer long and spicy stories… this is probably a story for you. Happy Reading ! !
Another excellent book from Henrietta Harding. She is fast becoming my favorite author.
The heroine this time is Miss Arabella Nott from Dorset. Ara, as she prefers to be called, is 21 and her mother is beyond ready for her to find a wealthy, titled gentleman to marry and settle down. Naturally, Ara is not interested in getting married. All she wants is to live in the country with her horses, especially her favorite, Penn.
Meanwhile, in London, Lord Miles Comerford, younger brother to the Alexander Comerford, the Duke of Lancaster, is not anxious himself to get married. He had his heart broken years ago and has swore to never let that happen again. But his brother, the Duke is ready to find the right woman, fall in love and get married.and settle down and start a family. The Duke just wants to meet a young lady who will love him for himself, not his title and wealth. He decides to throw a ball to meet the eligible young ladies of the current season. Which now also includes Ara and her cousin Ruth.
Naturally, there has to be something scandalous happening. To have just a boy meets girl, they fall in love and get married would be boring. Not to mention a short book. Miles make a bet with his brother that he could prove that all the young ladies only care about his title. Miles will impersonate his brother until the ball and they will see what happens. What could go wrong?
Next scene, Ara and Miles meeting at a horse auction, where he rescues her from two old coots that are scandalized that a mere woman would dare to approach a horse auction for MEN ONLY! Sparks fly between Ara and Miles. And when Miles introduces himself, it’s as the Duke of Lancaster. Ara’s mother is over the moon that a Duke is interested in HER daughter. And her father also approves.
Ara and Miles start developing a serious relationship and Miles wonders how to tell her the truth. And then there is the matter of her family. As I said, what could go wrong?
I loved the believability of the romance developing between two people not looking for anything serious. And all the twists really kept me intrigued.
I normally get an ARC from this author to read and review but I didn’t get one for this book. I purchased the book myself and this is a honest and voluntary review. This book will grab your attention from the beginning till the end.
Non-stop wonderful.
This is an exciting romance with mystery and intrigue thrown in! I read it straight through! The author has put in such grand twists and turns you are not sure just what is going to happen till the very end. I love when an author keeps the reader guessing. There are strong and well-develop characters also in this gem. I am always thrilled when I get a chance to read one of Henrietta Harding’s books because I know I am in for an outstanding piece. I highly recommend this gem.
This wonderfully written story line with characters that were so well created pulled me right into the story from the very beginning! The interaction between Ara and Miles kept me turning the pages until the very end!