Masquerade Part 4: Masquerade

By Valerie Francis

Part 4: Hold on to your hats! Grace and Marlowe head to Aspen for a ski weekend hot enough to melt every last snowflake. Grace wishes she'd brought waterproof mascara and Marlowe tells a funny, but ill-timed, Thor joke.

 

What would you do if you knew you wouldn't get caught?

Unwind with this steamy love story. Told as a 12-part serial, each book is about the length of a glass of wine or a soak in the tub.

Isla Foster and Colin Jackman are strangers. Desperate to escape the daily grind of life, they each accept an anonymous invitation to a masquerade ball — one of the most prestigious events in New York City. There they are given lavish costumes, false identities and an opportunity to take part in a seductive game.

If they accept, using the aliases Grace and Marlowe, they'll meet each month for a year in a series of secret rendezvous, consequence free. No one will ever know where they go or what they do, as long as they follow three simple rules:

1. they must never know the other's identity
2. they must only meet at the prearranged times and places
3. they must not fall in love

What could possibly go wrong?

"You'll be hooked from the opening scene." - Victoria Barbour, USA Today Bestselling Author

 

A Selection of Reviews

"Masquerade reads like a piece of chocolate after dinner. It goes down smoothly and leaves you craving more."

"Amazing fantasy getaway. Perfect rainy day read!"

"Ms. Francis is a skillful storyteller. She quickly captured the attention of this fussy reader and held my interest through to the end."

"Hard to put down."

"Absolutely phenomenal. Each part is better written than the last."

"I enjoyed this book as another fun diversion from my busy life."

"It has excellent characterization and I was pulled into the story, intrigued to know what would happen next."

"Absolutely love this format of delivery for a book. Oh Masquerade you have my attention now! I voluntarily reviewed this book."

"I really like this book. The characters were believable, the story had some mystery and I liked where the series was going to go with the Masquerade themes. I especially liked how this story was 'as long as a glass of wine'. I didn't test that but it was as long as a short stint on the beach. Now I want to see what happens in the next few stories!"

"This first instalment hooked me in every way: interesting opening, great detail, fully-fleshed major characters, each with a problematical life situation and minus my pet peeve -- poor editing. This instalment is expertly written AND edited, so there are no grammatical errors or typos to weaken/distract from the story. Kudos to Ms. Francis. I look forward to reading more!"

"What a fun escape these first two books are! I just finished part 2 and am left hanging in suspense and anxiously awaiting part 3 to be delivered. This is a unique way to read for me and I love it. Come on part 3!!!!!!!!!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fifth Hammer Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9780994014184

Book preview

Chapter 1

If Isla never heard the name Marian Leo again, it would be too soon. And yet, here it was splashed all over the front page.

More Investigation Needed Says Leo

Well, at least the headline was below the fold. Isla scanned through the article and shook her head at the references to her firm. That woman was doing everything she could to keep Kenroy, Morgan & Walters in the news. She made it sound as if there were some kind of conspiracy going on.

She tossed the paper aside and leaned back in her chair. Where was Robert getting the money for his campaign? It was a good question, albeit an uncomfortable one. She clasped her hands behind her head and was in the middle of a good think when Gordon came into her office. He sat in the chair across from her desk and scowled.

What have you done? he asked. He wasn't so much angry as annoyed.

Isla unfolded her hands and leaned forward to face him. She'd been waiting for this.

I just got a call from Sam Ansty over at the city, he continued.

And how is Sam these days?

He wanted to let me know that there'd be a fee for all the reports we requested.

That was nice of him. Isla smiled sweetly and acted as though there were nothing out of the ordinary going on.

He said it would take about a month to pull it all together. He was in parent mode, talking to her like a teenager who'd done something she was told not to do. But she wasn't a teenager. And he wasn't her father.

Funny, she said. They told me ten to twelve weeks. I guess it helps that you golf together.

Why did you make that request? He'd dropped his voice to a deeper, more commanding tone.

In return she was cocky, almost baiting him into an argument. I want to make sure they match the files Robert gave me.

Goddamnit, Isla. Why can't you leave this alone?

She leaned back in her chair again. You're beating a dead horse, Gordon.

Can you at least tell me what you hope to gain from this — apart from pissing off Robert, damaging our relationship with the city and giving the media more copy?

The article was unfortunate. She couldn't argue with him there.

What the hell is Marian's problem anyway? he asked. We've never had any issues with her before.

Look, I'm no fan of hers. Trust me. But she isn't the kind of woman who stirs up trouble for the sake of it.

Gordon raised an eyebrow.

"Think about it. She had concerns about Midshipman and