The Marriage Masquerade

Rating:
Summary: Very well written, but spoiled by an unlikely romance
Review: I wanted to like this book. I really did. As I started it, I thought - I've finally got it - a five star Regency. Beautifully written, with a true Regency "flavor" spicing up the story (she uses real Regency words, as opposed to our vernacular), and an unusual and interesting beginning (Queen Charlotte's goddaughter?), and I was all set for a really good read. Unfortunately, as I kept reading, I found myself losing first one star - for the slow pace and lack of plot of the story, and then two, for a romance that at first was only unbelievable, and then offended me.

The writing, however, remained quite stable throughout - and even though, as a previous reviewer pointed out - the narrative starts and stops in funny places (one obvious example is when the author spends two pages on wondering how they will get home, without a carriage - and twenty pages later, they are somehow going home, in a carriage - who's carriage? Where did it come from? That should have been explained).) But on the whole, this did not detract from the writing of the book, which remained elegant and pleasant throughout.

The story starts with Lady Lucianne and her godmother, Queen Charlotte. Queen Charlotte is making a masquerade, and she "persuades" Lucianne that she must come. Lucianne has just broken her engagement, and is now facing the humiliation of a fourth (fifth?) season. Queen Charlotte has resolved to re-install Lucianne's reputation, and, better yet - marry her off quickly, perferably all this happening at her ball. (This alone seems quite contrived - why DOES Queen Charlotte care so much about Lucianne's social standing? And why such a hurry to marry? Plenty of Regency, or other era of English history, women never got married (indeed, Jane Austen comes to mind). The only reason I can see is that we are reading a "romance" novel, did Queen Charlotte realize that she was acting only to be helpful to this author?)

Lord Victor Oxenby is Lucianne's brother's friend, and they know each other well, however, they have had a falling out somewhere along the way and are no longer on speaking terms. Yet at the Masquerade, it is Lord Victor Oxenby's name that is pulled out of the hat, along with Lady Lucianne's as reigning Lord and Lady of the ball.

And here's where I found fault - firstly, when it was related to us what terrible thing Lady Lucianne had done to make things akward between them - the actual awful and hateful thing that she had said - I found myself thinking - my, my, that's it? Lord Victor must have a very thin skin, indeed. When you are constantly living with a disability, you become sort of immune to people's reactions to it - at least if you wouldn't - you would have nobody left to talk to, that's all.

Which brings me to my second point - Lord Victor has a scar across his face, and he limps, as a result of a childhood accident that involved a horse. He is preoccupied with his scar. He talks only about his scar (or at least the author does). He is extremely sensitive about his scar, and he is so preoccupied with it (at least in the book) to the point that it is the scar and the limp that defines his every action. I felt like yelling at him - get a life! Get something, anything, to think about besides your scar! Thankfully, this is not at all a real portrayal of the norm, as most of the people I know who have had to deal with an infirmity or a disability have tried their best to live as normally as possible, to live their lives to the fullest they can, within their limitations. So that I think that Ms. Tesjerdian actually does a disservice to handicapped or disfigured people by their portrayal in this book.

This is not because I have any animosity, or fear of crippled or scarred people, in fact, it is just the oppposite. I had a close family member who was in a wheelchair for many years, and this is exactly the attitude that people had that I hated - they would identify her in their mind as "the wheelchair". The fact that she was a real person, with complex emotions, thoughts, and attitudes - just like anybody else - did not enter anyone's head. But she definitely did her best to live her life as fully as she was able to - and cheerfully, too - to defy as much as possible "that monster" which was her disease. And I do think, that most people (at least the better ones) do react that way, hence I found this part of the book a bit unbelievable.

I think Ms. Desjardien DID try to write this book with sensitivity - and did try to present Victor as a real person, and obviously, since she picked him as her hero, she was trying to make a point, to discuss a sensitive subject in a caring way. But I feel that she failed in her objective - she should have done some real live research instead of going by how she felt it should be handled - very often the way other people deal with a person with a disability and the way the victim himself feels about it are two different things.

My third problem was with the romance itself - the wedding seemed a bit too contrived to me. And maybe its just me - but I didn't feel that the h/h had totally resolved their differences, or had made complete peace with their situation - last time I looked, she was still tiptoeing around his disability. I also found it hard to understand why she at last fell in love with him - is there anything, anything at all, that she actually *liked* about Victor, that would make her fall in love with him? No, all we know about him is his scar. All we hear is that she fell in love with him *despite* his scar. This was not a satisfactory ending to me.

While a well-written and interesting read, I disagreed with how the author handled the issues she decided to tackle in this book, and that is the reason for my grading this book three stars.

Rating:
Summary: I disagree. I highly enjoyed it.
Review: Lady Lucianne Gordon was commanded by Queen Charlotte to attend a grand masquerade she was holding. It would be the first time Lucy was seen in public since the humiliating scene in the park, two weeks previously, when she and her fiancé broke up! Unfortunately for Lucianne, Queen Charlotte was her godmother! And the queen intended to play the role of match maker. Lucy would be one of the main players in a game during the party so all the eligible men would see her in a fresh, new light (and hopefully court her afterward.) Things went well, until her ex-fiancé showed up, trying to woo her back.

Lord Victor Oxenby was surprised when Queen Charlotte called his name as the one to participate with Lucy in a game! Lucianne was the sister of his best friend. In fact, he had watched Lucianne as she grew up. Yet once they had reached maturity, they cared nothing for each other. Victor planned to remain a bachelor and used his scars, from a horse accident, to his advantage. Neither Lucianne, nor Victor, expected to be wed by the end of the party!

***** The thing I find most fascinating is that the first half of the book IS the night of the masquerade! Only one night! However, the story is so incredibly written that the pages flew by in a blur! I still cannot believe how much time had past as I read! Those two facts alone prove this author is VERY talented and the book is awesome! Highly recommended! *****

Rating:
Summary: Not very interesting
Review: Poor Victor. A third generation Baron, he was injured as a child by a horse. He limps and his face is scared on one side. He is excepted in society so I am guessing not hideously scared. But scared enough that all take note of it and he has declared himself a bachelor for life. Lucy, our heroine, is the goddaughter of Queen Charlotte and is in the Queen's black book for breaking her 2 year engagement to Mr. Holden. Events lead to Victor and Lucy marrying, each one not terribly pleased. As in almost all regencies, sex not an issue as the author solves that problem by the tried and true regency romance method, Victor tells Lucy they can wait for that aspect of their marriage until she invites him. Please...how uninteresting. FYI to regency writers - sex can be alluded to in your stories, especially when the stories include marriage as it is a natural part of marriage. Writers do not have to go into detail, but stop being so afraid of it! It is almost unnatural they way it is avoided. Poor Victor also has a phobia of horses, so does not ride and had real trouble with "mania" in a carriage. The trouble with the story was it was not interesting. There was nothing really new in this regency. Again, the beautiful chaste bride, the maimed groom. Half way through the story, Lucy feels she is now in love with Victor but as the reader you have to ask why? And if so, why not finally sleep with him? Lucy herself admits that interaction betwen them is strained so where does this love come from? On his side, he notes she seems sweeter than he thought. Well, okay but love? There is zero chemistry between them, too.

Rating:
Summary: Not very interesting
Review: Poor Victor. A third generation Baron, he was injured as a child by a horse. He limps and his face is scared on one side. He is excepted in society so I am guessing not hideously scared. But scared enough that all take note of it and he has declared himself a bachelor for life. Lucy, our heroine, is the goddaughter of Queen Charlotte and is in the Queen's black book for breaking her 2 year engagement to Mr. Holden. Events lead to Victor and Lucy marrying, each one not terribly pleased. As in almost all regencies, sex not an issue as the author solves that problem by the tried and true regency romance method, Victor tells Lucy they can wait for that aspect of their marriage until she invites him. Please...how uninteresting. FYI to regency writers - sex can be alluded to in your stories, especially when the stories include marriage as it is a natural part of marriage. Writers do not have to go into detail, but stop being so afraid of it! It is almost unnatural they way it is avoided. Poor Victor also has a phobia of horses, so does not ride and had real trouble with "mania" in a carriage. The trouble with the story was it was not interesting. There was nothing really new in this regency. Again, the beautiful chaste bride, the maimed groom. Half way through the story, Lucy feels she is now in love with Victor but as the reader you have to ask why? And if so, why not finally sleep with him? Lucy herself admits that interaction betwen them is strained so where does this love come from? On his side, he notes she seems sweeter than he thought. Well, okay but love? There is zero chemistry between them, too.

Rating:
Summary: contrived plot spoils this romance novel
Review: The trouble with "The Marriage Masquerade" is that it has the feel of having been written in fits and starts -- the novel does not unfold smoothly, and far too much time is spent on setting the stage for the sudden marriage between Lady Lucianne Gordon and Lord Victor Oxenby, that the second half of the novel that dealt with the couple's coming to terms with their marriage and each other felt really rushed.

After a very public slanging match with her fiance, Jerome Holden, Lady Lucianne Gordon finds herself single again and the center of some rather unwelcome gossip. Since this would be her fourth season, and her prospects of reeling in another eligible bachelor seems remarkably slim given her sudden notoriety, Lucianne's godmother, Queen Charlotte (yes, the Queen of England no less) comes up with a plan to try and restore her goddaughter's reputation by holding a masquerade ball that would focus on Lucianne's many charms and talents. It's a very contrived plot that seemed to me (anyway) to be full of loopholes -- also the Queen's actual objectives were murky at best. But anyway, Lucianne is proclaimed Lady of the Masquerade and Lord Oxenby (a close friend of the Queen's and best friend to Lucianne's brother, although there is a distinct coolness between Oxenby and Lucianne because of a past incident), the Lord of the Masquerade. In a twist of events which involves another public altercation with Jerome Holden at the ball, Lucianne finds herself married to Lord Oxenby in order to save her reputation and her family's fortunes (her father has rather conveniently lost much of his fortune). But can this forced marriage work?

Many years ago, Lord Oxenby overheard Lucianne and her friends being rather frivolous and cruel about scarred and maimed people. Lucianne was of course embarrassed but Lord Oxenby was really hurt by her callous attitude (Lord Oxenby had been maimed and scarred in a riding accident), esp since he had always nurtured a rather warm regard/attraction/desire for Lucianne. And so he took her rejection of him rather badly, and the two have not been friendly at all since then. And now they are married, and Lord Oxenby comes to realise that he is still enamored with Lucianne. But what exactly are her feelings for him? Does their marriage have any chance of success? Or will he have to settle for a life time with a woman who is repulsed by his scars and disability?

Part of the problem with this novel was that much of the plot was rather weak and contrived. Lucianne's quarrel with her erstwhile fiance for example -- his character is only properly explained towards the end of the book. So that while I understood her frustration with him, her very public screaming match seemed (at first) a rather over the top response to his perverse behaviour. Also the reasons why Lucianne had to suddenly marry seemed terribly contrived to me. Oxenby sees the Queen's plotting as brilliant; I on the other hand thought it was one of the feeblest plots I had ever come across! And then there was the bit at the ball, in which Lucianne motions to a tired Oxenby to sit down next to the Queen. I don't think this could have happened as I seem to remember that Queen Charlotte was a rather starched up individual who placed a high premium on etiquette and protocol. Never would she have allowed those not of royal blood to sit in her presence. In fact there is a rather well known anecdote of how she made a very pregnant courtier stand throughout a never ending concert in spite of the poor lady's condition! So that the likelihood of her allowing Lucianne and Oxenby to sit with her is practically nonexistent. Another problem with the novel was the manner in which Lucianne's character is built up, and the manner in which the authour contrasted her less likeable past behaviour with her current one. But this contrast is seen through Oxenby's eyes, so that we've no way of knowing if his view is the right one or if he's just being prejudiced.

I must say that I was rather surprised with this novel. Usually Teresa DesJardien writes a rather delightful and appealing tale -- like "The Misfit Marquess" for example. But this novel seemed, to me at least, not to possess the finesse that DesJardien usually exhibits. I liked the bits that dealt with Oxenby and Lucianne learning to deal with each other and getting accustomed to being married, and really wished that there had been more of that instead of the rather feeble setting the ground for the forced marriage in the first half of the book.

Rating:
Summary: contrived plot spoils this romance novel
Review: The trouble with "The Marriage Masquerade" is that it has the feel of having been written in fits and starts -- the novel does not unfold smoothly, and far too much time is spent on setting the stage for the sudden marriage between Lady Lucianne Gordon and Lord Victor Oxenby, that the second half of the novel that dealt with the couple's coming to terms with their marriage and each other felt really rushed.

After a very public slanging match with her fiance, Jerome Holden, Lady Lucianne Gordon finds herself single again and the center of some rather unwelcome gossip. Since this would be her fourth season, and her prospects of reeling in another eligible bachelor seems remarkably slim given her sudden notoriety, Lucianne's godmother, Queen Charlotte (yes, the Queen of England no less) comes up with a plan to try and restore her goddaughter's reputation by holding a masquerade ball that would focus on Lucianne's many charms and talents. It's a very contrived plot that seemed to me (anyway) to be full of loopholes -- also the Queen's actual objectives were murky at best. But anyway, Lucianne is proclaimed Lady of the Masquerade and Lord Oxenby (a close friend of the Queen's and best friend to Lucianne's brother, although there is a distinct coolness between Oxenby and Lucianne because of a past incident), the Lord of the Masquerade. In a twist of events which involves another public altercation with Jerome Holden at the ball, Lucianne finds herself married to Lord Oxenby in order to save her reputation and her family's fortunes (her father has rather conveniently lost much of his fortune). But can this forced marriage work?

Many years ago, Lord Oxenby overheard Lucianne and her friends being rather frivolous and cruel about scarred and maimed people. Lucianne was of course embarrassed but Lord Oxenby was really hurt by her callous attitude (Lord Oxenby had been maimed and scarred in a riding accident), esp since he had always nurtured a rather warm regard/attraction/desire for Lucianne. And so he took her rejection of him rather badly, and the two have not been friendly at all since then. And now they are married, and Lord Oxenby comes to realise that he is still enamored with Lucianne. But what exactly are her feelings for him? Does their marriage have any chance of success? Or will he have to settle for a life time with a woman who is repulsed by his scars and disability?

Part of the problem with this novel was that much of the plot was rather weak and contrived. Lucianne's quarrel with her erstwhile fiance for example -- his character is only properly explained towards the end of the book. So that while I understood her frustration with him, her very public screaming match seemed (at first) a rather over the top response to his perverse behaviour. Also the reasons why Lucianne had to suddenly marry seemed terribly contrived to me. Oxenby sees the Queen's plotting as brilliant; I on the other hand thought it was one of the feeblest plots I had ever come across! And then there was the bit at the ball, in which Lucianne motions to a tired Oxenby to sit down next to the Queen. I don't think this could have happened as I seem to remember that Queen Charlotte was a rather starched up individual who placed a high premium on etiquette and protocol. Never would she have allowed those not of royal blood to sit in her presence. In fact there is a rather well known anecdote of how she made a very pregnant courtier stand throughout a never ending concert in spite of the poor lady's condition! So that the likelihood of her allowing Lucianne and Oxenby to sit with her is practically nonexistent. Another problem with the novel was the manner in which Lucianne's character is built up, and the manner in which the authour contrasted her less likeable past behaviour with her current one. But this contrast is seen through Oxenby's eyes, so that we've no way of knowing if his view is the right one or if he's just being prejudiced.

I must say that I was rather surprised with this novel. Usually Teresa DesJardien writes a rather delightful and appealing tale -- like "The Misfit Marquess" for example. But this novel seemed, to me at least, not to possess the finesse that DesJardien usually exhibits. I liked the bits that dealt with Oxenby and Lucianne learning to deal with each other and getting accustomed to being married, and really wished that there had been more of that instead of the rather feeble setting the ground for the forced marriage in the first half of the book.