Unmasked by the Marquess

Unmasked by the Marquess (2018) Cat Sebastian (Regency Imposters)

Set in Regency England, mostly London.

Alistair, Marquess of Pembroke has been struggling to rebuild his fortunes after his father left the estates in ruin, spending much of his money on his mistress and the children he had with said mistress. He also wants to see his younger brother settled in a living proper to a younger son of a Marquess.

Robert Selby is in London to give his sister a season in the hopes she makes good match that will keep her happy and out of poverty. Because “Robbie” is really “Charity”, masquerading as Robert, and as soon as Louisa is married, Robbie will disappear. Robbie asks Alistair to introduce his sister to society.

Overall, I found this story to be weak. I truly didn’t understand what Robin saw in Alistair, since he was pretty much a complete jerk to everyone, and didn’t even have noble intentions as an excuse for being an unpleasant sod to everyone–including his brother.

Robin, I very much liked, since her motives were fairly clear from the start, and only became more honorable as the story progressed.

“Is that your experience, my lord? That a single dance with a young lady is enough to confer such an advantage on her? I’ve never met a marquess before so please forgive my ignorance. Is nobility a sort of contagion? Like lice or influenza?”

I also liked Louisa and Gilbert and Amelia and Agatha Cavendish (although Mrs Allenby came off exceedingly flat).

Snippets of conversation drifted their way.

“The issue is the quality of the manure,” Louisa was saying.

“What do you know about drainage?” asked Lord Gilbert. He was writing in a small notebook he had withdrawn from his coat pocket.

Miss Allenby shot Charity an incredulous glance. “Are they discussing agriculture?”

“Likely so.”

I also felt the ending of the story was a little too pat, a little too convenient, a little too unlikely. As much as one wishes, I don’t think the HEA was at all probable or likely, and that made a story that already felt weak, fall flat.

And sadly, this is a pretty terrible cover. It starts with the hair being… not right. And then I think their faces aren’t quite right either with him looking very much like an android. As a thumbnail it’s not awful, but once you look at it more closely, the details are disconcerting.

Mind you, nothing about this book was horrible, it just kept coming up short pretty much across the board.

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Rating: 5.5/10

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