Olivia and the Masked Duke

ByGrace Callaway

Release Date: 2021-02-18
Genre: Historical Romance

Score: 4

From 476 Ratings

Description

He saved her life when she was a girl. Now she is a woman determined to heal his heart... In this steamy, friends-to-lovers age gap historical romance brimming with mystery and adventure, a spirited debutante turned lady detective must solve a deadly case while winning the love of a brooding duke. Perfect for readers who love intrigue, forbidden attraction, and slow-burning passion. "A very hot and perfectly paced page turner, all the way to happily ever after." – NPR Winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery & Suspense and the Passionate Plume Award Lady Olivia McLeod has two obsessions: solving mysteries and winning the heart of Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, who saved her as a child. When the mysterious Lady Charlotte invites Livy to join her "charity," Livy is thrilled to discover that the society is, in fact, a covert investigative agency and throws herself into a dangerous case. Little does she realize that the path to peril will also lead to her heart's deepest desire. Notorious widower Ben channels his tortured past toward helping others, convinced he doesn't deserve innocence or love. Yet temptation taunts him as the little girl he once rescued transforms into an alluring woman. A dozen years younger and the daughter of his friend, Livy is everything he cannot have...and everything he needs. Will deadly secrets tear them apart? Will surrendering to forbidden desire lead to their happily ever after? The unmasking of their hearts and desires will change everything. "You can’t help falling in love with Ben and Olivia and rooting for their happy ending… If you love great character development, mystery, and a hot love story, this book is for you." – Goodreads reviewer Grace Callaway writes hot and heart-melting historical romances packed with steam, swoon, and suspense. Perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Lisa Kleypas, and Amanda Quick. Her standalone novels can be enjoyed individually or as part of the irresistibly interconnected Callawayverse. LADY CHARLOTTE'S SOCIETY OF ANGELS (a hot Victorian romance series) 1. Olivia and the Masked Duke 2. Pippa and the Prince of Secrets 3. Fiona and the Enigmatic Earl 4. Glory and the Master of Shadows 5. Charlotte and the Seductive Spymaster Novella: Mrs. Peabody and the Unexpected Duke Don't miss the sizzling historical romance series in the Callawayverse: – Mayhem in Mayfair – Heart of Enquiry (Kents) – Game of Dukes – Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels (this book belongs to this series) – Blackwood Legacy

Reviews

Great Read
4
By LuvHistoricals
Storyline was very good and characters well developed. There were quite a bit of typos/errors that were hard to over look, but overall this was a very good one. The series looks promising too.
Olivia and the Masked Duke
4
By stresstomax
I really enjoyed the characters and the story except for the very explicit sex.
Exceptional!!
5
By teddidrake
Loved this!!! Great story and great characters . I’m sort of sad that it had to end, it’s that good!
Good Feminist story but too much sex for me
4
By PstfromMe
This book promoted women being about to do anything which is good.
I found the domination sex scenes a bit long but that’s just me.
Love
5
By Mommylonglegs
I love the development of their relationship. Her love, so sweet and strong. He feels so undeserving but deserves it nonetheless. I’ve read some of the other reviews, all I have to say is it’s a FICTIONAL story about two FICTION characters. If you enjoy romance and great sex scenes Grace Callaway is the best author for you to read.
I was worried.
5
By j21969
I had read anther review that had me a little concerned. There is nothing wrong with this book. It seems everyone is looking for secret despicable hidden meanings. Grow up! Sometimes a story is just a story. I also think yellow may be this authors favorite color. What do you think that might mean? In all seriousness this is a good story. A little tongue in cheek. Certain references you might get. I thought it was cute.
Bizarre
1
By 🍀🏖
I am usually a big fan of this author but this one just did not work. The choice of creating a relationship between these two characters struck me as odd. When they first meet, the female protagonist is twelve and the male is twenty-four; they strike up a “friendship” that turns romantic pretty soon after she turns eighteen. I know this is “historical fiction” and that age differences were common, but the decision to have an adult develop a “friendship” with a child like this is enough to make a lot of people uneasy. Especially where the author talks about how this adult in his twenties feels like this twelve year old is the only one who understands him/that he can trust/that has stood by him-it is just so uncomfortable. There’s also a lot of language that the author uses to justify the switch in perspective that just adds to the problematic nature of it; at some points she talks about the female’s “women’s body” or “adult body masking the same heart” or something along those lines. There’s also the weirdly paternalistic and sometimes controlling nature of the male for much of the story. And calling her “little one” or “my little angel” given how they started is just bizarre.

I know there are people who will read this review and think I’m making too much of a fictional story, but it bothers me that this book normalizes and glorifies a relationship that anyone looking at it today would be horrified by. I also doubt there are many younger girls reading this author, but if there are, why put this out there as ok? Who is this book trying to cater to by deliberately using language that emphasizes their past power imbalance when she was a child and he was a fully grown adult? There are times it feels like the author wants you to revel in what she knows is problematic while excusing it with “oh well but she’s an adult now.”

This unrelated adult who feels this type of “we’re the only ones who understand” level of connection with a child is a creep, and any relationship between them the second she becomes an adult is not normal or heroic or beautiful. It asks for too much suspension of disbelief to portray it a such.