Andalin is accustomed to her father’s frequent travels—and to being left behind. So when he returns home and instructs her to pack her belongings, she is bewildered—but there is no time for questions as she is whisked away on a mysterious journey under the cover of night. When their tense flight leads them into the forbidding Black Forest, the pair quickly finds themselves in great peril. With … little hope of escape, father and daughter are spared when rescue appears in the form of the mysterious Dark Rider, a notorious deadly highwayman feared by all he meets. But his assistance does not come without a price: he is taking Andalin with him. Now her fate rests in the hands of the enigmatic masked man whose secrets are inescapably tied to the beautiful young woman now in his charge.
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The Masked Baron by Annika Walker
Wow this is not what I anticipated. I thought it was just another regency romance. Boy was I wrong. This was basically a retelling of beauty and the beast. The story captured my attention from the very beginning. Andalin ( love the name) is the daughter of a merchant working in her fathers store. She is being pursued by a pompous arrogant man. To get her away from this man, her father takes her to a remote manor, to become the word of a Baron. So she can be taught how to be a lady and marry well Ellis has been haunted by his past tragedies. The characters are strong and the story flows really well. I struggled to put it down. I felt like there were twists and turns to kept it from being to predictable. This was a clean romance. I would definitely read more from this author. Thank you to you covenant communications
for a copy of this book to review
Absolutely ADORED this Beauty and the Beast retelling by Anneka Walker. She does the story, and the Regency genre, real credit with her wonderful characters. Annie and Ellis are now among my absolute favorite Regency couples. There were some very moving scenes, quite a few laugh-out-loud moments, and a kiss I may have read over again just because it was so sweetly done. 😉
Regency, romance and mystery make for a wonderful story! An amazing debut book, I can’t wait to read whatever else Anneka R. Walker decides to release!
Book Review:
Title: The Masked Baron
Author: Anneka Walker
Review: This book was surprising and sweet. The beginning was so good and sucked me in right away. Andalin’s father’s surprise and her shocking new life were very fun. Then I had a few minutes where I got a bit tired of Andalin because she seemed so wishy-washy to me. But then! Then! Things got interesting. Andalin decided who she was going to be and the story started moving along at a good clip. A few times I found myself holding my breath just a little because the story had a mild intensity that pulled me to the edge of my seat. And to say I was shocked by the ending might be a bit of an understatement. Also, the Dark Rider! Woo! He’s a good hero. So mysterious and interesting. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to other books by Anneka.
Foods:
Berry pie
Orange marmalade and toast
Quote I loved:
“At times like this this, when her mind could not sort itself out, a girl required a very good book.”
Rating:
I loved loved loved The Masked Baron by Anneka R Walker!
I was curious how you could possibly twist a different story off Beauty and the Beast BUT Anneka R Walker succeeded and then some! The Dark Rider is mysterious and Andalin is thrown suddenly from everything she has known. Mystery and secrets surround the grounds and the forest. What does Andalin have to do with its secrets and why does the Dark Rider choose her… is for me to know and you to find out! . This book I didn’t want to put down and couldn’t wait to continue reading! Add this to your “must read” pile!!!
The Masked Baron is an exciting and realistic twist to a well-loved favorite, “Beauty and the Beast.” I read this novel quickly and would love to read more of this author’s re-makes.
A charming rendition of beauty and the beast. Annie and Ellis were both intriguing, well drawn characters. A good bit of mystery also lent itself to make this a very enjoyable read. I also thoroughly enjoyed the audible version and will be looking forward to further stories by this author.
The Masked Baron was a beautiful read. I thoroughly enjoyed this Beauty and the Beast retelling, with a Hero that is part Beast(ly) and part Zorro (or highwayman. I only say partly because the Dark Rider is never well-loved by the people from town). I loved having both Ellis’s and Andalin’s POVs, though the former were so short at the beginning, they left me wanting more. Now, while the beginning took me a bit to warm up to, the story had enough humor and swoony scenes to make up for it (they certainly gave me *the feels* at pretty much all the right moments). I liked the twist on the curse (yes, there’s mention of witches and/or witchcraft, though there’s also mention of Scripture and prayer), and the fact that there’s not only one villain, but at least two.
All in all, this is a clean regency romance retelling of Beauty and the Beast, that also has a side mystery plot, but which doesn’t take away from getting to see Lord Ellison Cadogen and Miss Andalin Durante slowly fall for each other. ~4.5 stars
A creative Regency retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Andalin is beautiful, curious and stronger than she thinks. She has heard stories of the Dark Rider and all the embellishments that people add along the way. She is not sure what is true, but she is determined to find out. Seeking the truth leads her to more than she bargained for, but this is what creates the enchantment and magic in this story. The supporting characters in this version do justice to their counterparts in the original story. The story felt a little choppy at times, but I was able to look past this and just enjoy the tale.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions offered are my own and freely given.
The Masked Baron was my first book by Anneka R. Walker. Whooeee, it won’t be my last! Ms. Walker has provided readers with a well-written book populated with a stellar cast of characters. This spectacular historical romance has made me an instant fan. Andalin worked in her father’s small shop until he left her with the Baron, Lord Ellis Cadogen, also known as the Dark Rider. Ellis and Andalin’s story is loaded with drama, humor, spice, action and suspense along with unexpected twists. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and look forward to my next book by Anneka R. Walker. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Love! Love! Love! I loved this book. Every once in awhile I come across a book that I know I will be rereading. This is one of them. It’s going to take time before I get enough of it.
This book has a “Beauty and the Beast” feel to it. It has an unwelcome manly man who wants to marry Andalin. There is the masked Baron who people fear, but is more than he seems. There is a witch and household servants that are very loyal to their master. Lastly, there is a lovely young woman who loves to read, loves to help the servants, and feels out of place in a big estate.
Just when you think you know what the book is about, Anneka R Walker adds a twist that takes it in a different direction. The things that don’t make complete sense do as more of the plot is revealed.
For me, this is one of those must-read books. Particularly if you love a fairy tale retelling with a twist.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Praise from the Clean Romance Team:
”An amazing book full of mystery and romance.”
”Walker magically transported me into a world that I didn’t want to leave.”
Do you love fairytale retellings? I do! This creative retelling of Beauty and the Beast is a fun twist on the classic story. Filled with romance, mystery, and a surly main character to rival the beast, this story was an instant favorite and has made me want to pick up other books by Anneka Walker.
The heroine Andalin or Annie grew on me over time. She was not a happy character in the beginning when she is forced to become Ellis’ ward and she certainly shows it. As the story progresses and she grows to care for Ellis, she begins to soften and became much more likable. Ellis is the “beast” character who is gruff, abrupt, and constantly wears a mask. His reasons for wearing the mask as well as his late night rides through the forest are a mystery. With legends, witches, secrets, and a creepy forest, this book was a page turner and hard to put down. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fairytale retelling!
Review copy received through NetGalley.
I’m torn with this one and having difficulty finding words to review this. On one hand, it was a super sweet regency novel and I found myself hooked to the page reading it. It was a cute story that I wanted to continue with. On the other hand, it wasn’t very detailed. I found very little description of the setting or characters. It seemed like a lot of the book was a narrative. I read somewhere, I think, that this is the author’s first novel ever written, so maybe this is why. So I found it hard to completely enjoy the novel and feel wrapped up into it.
The story line was a bit confusing too. All the stuff with his sister and the witch, and then her family. I see how it all links, but much of it I found brushed over until it mattered. The character was being secretive but the whole belief of the witch and stuff just threw me. He of all people should know that stories and rumors are just that.
Overall, it was enjoyable, just not a book I’d read again
The beautiful cover and mysterious premise intrigued me. I fully expected to enjoy this story. The secrets kept me curious, but unfortunately, I just couldn’t believe the romance. The entire guardian/ward situation confused me, even once the reason for it was explained. This had a bit of a gothic vibe to it, and the inclusion of a witch made me think this was more of a fantasy than a historical romance, so I really tried to suspend my disbelief. Solid writing, unusual plot, but the character development and backstory just didn’t go deep enough to move me. I never felt immersed, never laughed or cried. I readily admit that I have high expectations for historical romances. I’ve been spoiled by some masterful storytellers in this genre. This story had good bones, just felt like it needed more fleshing out for believability and stronger characters. An entertaining read, nonetheless.
This book captured my interest right from the start and kept me reading till my kids needed dinner. I loved the characters and the nod to Beauty and the Beast. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is only because I didn’t like how things played out with his sister. Her reason for disappearing wasn’t a good one, but the rest of the book made me happy so I would recommend it. It had a happy ending and plenty of adventure and romance.
I loved this story! This was the second time I read it, actually. The first happened to be before it was publish (I evaluate manuscripts before the editors work with the author). I love the adjustments made between my two reads! Qualities: great characters to whom I related and felt endeared (including the minor characters, which really added to the story). I loved how the story had its independent tangents from the familiar fairy tale. The conflicts were well thought and resolved to my satisfaction. The romance was integral to the plot and I appreciated the sensitivity to being clean while at the same time making my heart pitter-patter in a pleasant way :). The resolution was in a timely manner (not rushed, not drawn-out). The pace of the story overall was good. There weren’t word choices that pulled me out of the story (I was able to be wrapped up in it quickly, even when I set it down between chunks of reading time). I loved the cover art. I loved the realistic dialogue and the wit that developed between the main characters and supporting minor characters. The dialogue was natural and added to the story. The scenery was integral to the plot and was authentic. The wardrobes were a perk (they added, not detracted). The descriptions of the characters were spot on and added to the quality of my reading experience.
Great job, Anneka Walker! I look forward to your next book!
A refreshing new twist on my favorite story, Beauty and the Beast. The backstory is very detailed but easy to understand and the characters unfold very genuinely. There are twists and turns in the story that I didn’t see coming, so it was very nice to be surprised. I won’t go into to many details as to not ruin the book. But it is a must have, especially if you love fairy tale retellings.
Andalin fears Lord Cadogen, due to his reputation as the Dark Rider and the mask he wears to conceal half his face. Her father suddenly packs her up with her belongings and leaves her with Lord Cadogen; due to a “business deal.” Through time, she slowly unravels the mystery of the past and learns to see Lord Cadogen for who he truly is. But will it all be enough to set the past to rest and move on finding a happily ever after?
What a captivating story. This was one that took me a little bit to get in to, but once I got past the first few chapters, I was hooked! Even though the story was a little bit choppy in parts, I still fell in love with Annie and Ellis. Watching their relationship develop was enjoyable.
I will admit, I expected a bit more from the bad guy scenes at the end…it felt like they were a bit rushed, just so we could get back to the relationship part of the story. (I like the relationship part, but I like a good bad-guy scene too.)
All in all, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.
Andalin/Annie”s father returns from his many travels, one evening, and tells her to pack her bags. She is to leave her home and go on a journey. Her father leads Andalin through the mysterious Black forest only to run into danger by dangerous, murderous thieves. They are then rescued by the Dark Rider; a notorious, mysterious, highwayman who is feared by everyone in town. The Dark Rider and Adalins father negotiate a plan for an award without Andalin knowing. The plan is for country girl Andalin is to be The Dark Riders ward and is to be taught to be a proper lady until Lord Cadogen finds her a suitable marriage. Andalin is horrified and saddened at this plan and misses her dear father desperately. She doesn’t trust The Dark Rider. who she later learns is Lord Ellis Cadogen. Lord Cadogen is smitten with the beautiful Andalin and tries to comfort her and not fall even more in love with her as he tries to find Andalin a suitable husband. Andalin tries to adjust to her new life as Lord Ellis Cadogen”s ward. when she discovers a story about a mysterious witch .who has haunted Lord Cadogens family for years.
This book was a great read. Well-written and riveting. It was so much more than a BEAUTY AND THE BEAST cookie-cutter redo. It was more of a supernatural, sci-fi mystery with almost a hint of romance. lol. Meaning the romance part was secondary. It dealt more with family secrets, mysteries and lies waiting to be discovered and resolved. Like another reviewer has said. It reminded me of a Gothic Novel like Jane Eyre or Rebecca with its writing, setting, and characters. It is a clean romance novel. No steamy, heaving breasts or pelvic thrusts. Lol. It is basically character driven with three-dimensional and characters who are basically human. They all are not good or bad. They are just human; making mistakes like the rest of us and hope to be forgiven when they are remorseful. I loved this book. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and will not be my last. I am so happy I found this author. I wish to thank NETGALLEY for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.