The Man Behind the Mask

Rating:
Summary: Out of the shadows came her prince...
Review: Dulcinea Samples was just an average girl from Bakersfield, California. An aspiring writer, Dulcie spent most of her time working at low-paying jobs that helped her survive. Her best friend, Brit, was now a princess in a tiny kingdom in the Adriatic Sea, and Dulcie was invited to Brit's wedding. Dulcie thought that her stay in the kingdom would provide her with a great setting to a new novel she planned on writing. Dulcie had no idea that while in Gullandria she would meet the love of her life - a scarred prince named Valbrand, Brit's brother.

Prince Valbrand had gone mad from the terrors that he had faced while at sea, terrors that had left half of his face burned and horribly twisted. He had survived the attempt on his life, and had returned to Gullandria, unable to pick up where he had left off in his life. His only thought his consuming need for revenge for his would-be assassins, until he met his sister's American friend, Dulcie. For the first time in many months, Valbrand found himself happy again, and living again, thanks to Dulcie. A prince couldn't marry a commoner, so Valbrand's affair with Dulcie would have to be short-lived, unless love found a way.

I absolutely loved this book. I tried to start reading the book a few times, but I always got hung up in the first chapter when Dulcie chatters with little rhyme or reason about falling in love, dickies, and her life in California. Once you get past the first chapter, though, things are much improved. I could hardly bear to put the book down after the first chapter!

Something unusual about this book is the fact that it is written entirely in first person, with Dulcie and Valbrand each narrating parts of the story. It can be a bit confusing to follow at times, but it really gives a depth to the story that wouldn't have otherwise been there. It offers the opportunity to really see inside the heads of these characters and to see what makes them tick, or what makes them take a particular action. It almost felt like two dear friends were telling me the story of how they met, from their own perspectives.

Dulcie was an interesting heroine - not as assertive as her friend, Brit, but definitely brave in her own way. She was also not the typical heroine. She was not a svelte supermodel with a perfect body. She had red hair that she hated and she thought she was too heavy, and a couple of the other characters in the book called her fat. Valbrand was an incredible hero - strong, yet vulnerable, and incredibly sexy despite his scarred face.

This book was a perfect blend for those romance readers who love historical and contemporary novels. Although the book was set in the present, it really had an air of being swept back in time. The book really had everything - humor, tender scenes, adventure, suspense, and most of all, a breath-taking love story. It really reminded me a bit of Susan Kay's "Phantom," with the scarred hero, the enchanting heroine, the mystery surrounding the hero, the labyrinth of tunnels, a presumably doomed romance, etc. This book was just incredible, and I can definitely see myself reading this book again in the future, probably several times over.

Rating:
Summary: This is a wonderful read!
Review: If you like contemporary stories and historicals, you're in for a real treat! Author Christine Rimmer cleverly writes a present day story mixed with some very interesting historical (Norse/Viking) tidbits.

The story is not only unique because of the timing and setting but also because it is written in the first person voice. As a result, it captivates the reader interest from the very first page.

Dulcinea (Dulcie) Samples travels to the imaginary island country of Gullandria to attend the wedding of her best friend, Brit Thorson. There, she meets and immediately falls in love with Valbrand Thorson, Brit's older brother. Tragically scarred in a murder attempt and concentrating on revenge, love is the last thing on Valbrand's mind. Yet, he cannot fight his feelings when he sets his eyes on Dulcie. The heroine is sassy and engaging and the hero is dynamic and captivating (despite his physical appearance).

"The Man Behind the Mask" has a little bit of everything - a love story, intrigue, action and humor. This book is a wonderful read. By the time you reach the last page, you'll want to return immediately to the first page and soak it all up again. This book has become one of my favorites.

Fafa Demasio

Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read this year!
Review: Take a strong, wounded (both physically and emotionally) princely hero and add a sassy, zippy heroine from Bakersfield and you have the makings of a good read. Toss in a bit of intrigue, the feel of an old world setting, a castle, modern day vikings, and bits of Viking lore, add lots of sizzling romance, and you have a keeper. The snappy, funny dialogue is worth the price of the book. I read so much that I've become a rather jaded reader, but I loved this book and hated to see it end. I picked it up not knowing it was part of a series, so now I will have to find all the rest. Yay! More gread stories to look forward to. This book is that good.

Rating:
Summary: Beware!
Review: The use of a first person narrator in this book by a usually excellent writer is really off-putting and annoying and ruined this book for me. It grew so distracting I could barely finish it. If you do not like first-person narrators in romance novels, AVOID this book! I know I should have.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous romantic adventure
Review: This book is absolutely the best. It's the story of an ordinary girl from Bakersfield swept off to find love and adventure in a mystical land. I personally loved the alternating first-person viewpoints. Usually when a book is told in first person, you only get the heroine's view on the world. But in this book, you get a view of the hero's mind and heart, as well. Excellently done.

Rating:
Summary: Not a very exciting read
Review: This book was not a very exciting read. The fact that it was written in the first person from both of the characters was very confusing. I constantly had to switch gears. Emotions of the characters were not fully explored. I was expecting a more romantic read.