15th
Feb
Feb
Today I’m excited to participate in the awesome February
Fiesta Blog Tour with Hannah Fielding. For this blog tour I read ‘Masquerade’ by Hannah Fielding. This is the second book I
read by this author and let me tell you her books are amazing. Find out more
about ‘Masquerade’ and Hannah Fielding here today. And don’t forget to enter
the awesome Giveaway.
About ‘Masquerade’:
From the award-winning author of The Echoes of Love. Love, mystery and desire under the scorching Spanish sun.
A
young writer becomes entangled in an illicit gypsy love affair, pulling
her into a world of secrets, deception and dark desire.
Summer,
1976. Luz de Rueda returns to her beloved Spain and takes a job as the
biographer of a famous artist. On her first day back in Cádiz, she
encounters a bewitching, passionate young gypsy, Leandro, who
immediately captures her heart, even though relationships with his kind
are taboo. Haunted by this forbidden love, she meets her new employer,
the sophisticated Andrés de Calderón. Reserved yet darkly compelling, he
is totally different to Leandro but almost the gypsy’s double. Both men
stir unfamiliar and exciting feelings in Luz, although mystery and
danger surround them in ways she has still to discover.
Luz must
decide what she truly desires as glistening Cádiz, with its enigmatic
moon and whispering turquoise shores, seeps back into her blood. Why is
she so drawn to the wild and magical sea gypsies? What is behind the old
fortune-teller’s sinister warnings about ‘Gemini’? Through this maze of
secrets and lies, will Luz finally find her happiness… or her ruin?
Masquerade is a story of forbidden love, truth and trust. Are appearances always deceptive?
The Facts:
|
Publication Date:
|
August 6th 2015
|
|
Series:
|
Andalucian Nights #2
|
|
Genre:
|
Contemporary Romance
|
|
Pages:
|
442
|
|
Formats:
|
Paperback, Audio, eBook
|
|
Available at:
|
A Glimpse of Masquerade:
In the still of the night, under a velvet sky studded
with stars like diamonds and a bright golden moon hanging in the heavens like a
big porcelain saucer, Leandro rode to L’Estrella, holding Luz to him on his
jet-black stallion. The sea was quiet, the air soft with an all-pervasive smell
of iodine and seaweed. They made their way, corkscrewing along the empty
cobbled backstreets of Cádiz that snaked uphill to the top of the cliffs.
There, L’Estrella lay; the focal point of an enchanting setting, a tiny
jewel-like circular house in calm seclusion, halfway between fascinating
reality and a mirage. Its whitewashed walls gleamed almost luminous under the
full moon and a faint breeze whispered through the cluster of almond trees
fringing the entranceway.
with stars like diamonds and a bright golden moon hanging in the heavens like a
big porcelain saucer, Leandro rode to L’Estrella, holding Luz to him on his
jet-black stallion. The sea was quiet, the air soft with an all-pervasive smell
of iodine and seaweed. They made their way, corkscrewing along the empty
cobbled backstreets of Cádiz that snaked uphill to the top of the cliffs.
There, L’Estrella lay; the focal point of an enchanting setting, a tiny
jewel-like circular house in calm seclusion, halfway between fascinating
reality and a mirage. Its whitewashed walls gleamed almost luminous under the
full moon and a faint breeze whispered through the cluster of almond trees
fringing the entranceway.
The house was dark. Luz was still asleep – the concoction
must have been strong, his mother perhaps a little heavy-handed with the herbs.
Leandro was perplexed: no one seemed to be waiting up for her. The lights were
off but the front gate was wide open. He quietly steered Ventarrón to a Holm
oak in the courtyard. Carefully leaning Luz forward against the stallion’s mane
and holding on to her with one hand, he slid to the ground. With the other,
Leandro tied the horse to the trunk of the tree and then carried the young
woman into the hacienda.
must have been strong, his mother perhaps a little heavy-handed with the herbs.
Leandro was perplexed: no one seemed to be waiting up for her. The lights were
off but the front gate was wide open. He quietly steered Ventarrón to a Holm
oak in the courtyard. Carefully leaning Luz forward against the stallion’s mane
and holding on to her with one hand, he slid to the ground. With the other,
Leandro tied the horse to the trunk of the tree and then carried the young
woman into the hacienda.
The grounds of the
villa were all steps and corners, arches and angles, linked by patios and
punctuated by sweet-smelling shrubs and orchard trees. He walked up to the
house and circled round it: the place seemed deserted. Gently hitching Luz
closer to him, he searched her pockets for a key, but there was none – it must
have spilled out with the fall. He was toying with the idea of taking her back
to camp when he noticed, in the light of the moon, Zeyna grazing on one of the
expanses of grass at the edge of the garden. The creature lifted its head and
regarded Leandro for a few moments as horses do before lowering it again to the
ground. ‘Well, at least the mare is back,’ he muttered to himself.
villa were all steps and corners, arches and angles, linked by patios and
punctuated by sweet-smelling shrubs and orchard trees. He walked up to the
house and circled round it: the place seemed deserted. Gently hitching Luz
closer to him, he searched her pockets for a key, but there was none – it must
have spilled out with the fall. He was toying with the idea of taking her back
to camp when he noticed, in the light of the moon, Zeyna grazing on one of the
expanses of grass at the edge of the garden. The creature lifted its head and
regarded Leandro for a few moments as horses do before lowering it again to the
ground. ‘Well, at least the mare is back,’ he muttered to himself.
As he turned with Luz in his arms a veranda draped in
wisteria caught his eye, flanked by a handsome flight of stone steps. He
climbed to the top of them and was relieved to find a French window slightly
ajar. Nudging it open with his foot, he gazed into the moonlit room. It was a
bedroom – Luz’s bedroom by the look of it. He walked in.
wisteria caught his eye, flanked by a handsome flight of stone steps. He
climbed to the top of them and was relieved to find a French window slightly
ajar. Nudging it open with his foot, he gazed into the moonlit room. It was a
bedroom – Luz’s bedroom by the look of it. He walked in.
She was still fast asleep against his shoulder. He laid
her carefully on the bed and slowly removed her riding boots. He spotted a
blanket neatly folded on a chest next to the window and gently tucked it around
her. For a moment he stood there, feasting his eyes on the ripe perfection of
his Sleeping Beauty. Her eyes were closed, her mouth pink, and thick dark
lashes feathered against her pale face. She was lovely, but unconscious and
remote. What would she, a rich gajo, say if she woke to find that he had
brought her home and was standing in her bedroom alone with her? What had she
thought of him when she had looked his way? She fascinated him. He stretched
out a cautious hand and touched her silky black hair. A slight frown creased
his brow and he hesitated, then stooped and gently, ever so gently, brushed her
soft, parted lips with a kiss. There was a hint of worship in his caress.
her carefully on the bed and slowly removed her riding boots. He spotted a
blanket neatly folded on a chest next to the window and gently tucked it around
her. For a moment he stood there, feasting his eyes on the ripe perfection of
his Sleeping Beauty. Her eyes were closed, her mouth pink, and thick dark
lashes feathered against her pale face. She was lovely, but unconscious and
remote. What would she, a rich gajo, say if she woke to find that he had
brought her home and was standing in her bedroom alone with her? What had she
thought of him when she had looked his way? She fascinated him. He stretched
out a cautious hand and touched her silky black hair. A slight frown creased
his brow and he hesitated, then stooped and gently, ever so gently, brushed her
soft, parted lips with a kiss. There was a hint of worship in his caress.
My Review:
Almost a year ago I read my first book by Hannah Fielding
called ‘The Echoes of Love’. I was immediately enchanted by her almost poetic
way of writing. Due to my very busy reading schedule I haven’t been able to
read more of her books. So when the February Fiesta blog tour invite came
along, I decided to see it as fate. I cleared out my reading schedule so I
could review ‘Masquerade’ for my tour stop. ‘Masquerade’ is the second book in
the Andalucian Nights Trilogy but can be read as a standalone.
called ‘The Echoes of Love’. I was immediately enchanted by her almost poetic
way of writing. Due to my very busy reading schedule I haven’t been able to
read more of her books. So when the February Fiesta blog tour invite came
along, I decided to see it as fate. I cleared out my reading schedule so I
could review ‘Masquerade’ for my tour stop. ‘Masquerade’ is the second book in
the Andalucian Nights Trilogy but can be read as a standalone.
“Fate had not yet lit up the winding pathway
of her life nor the echoes of history along it, but now, in front of this stranger,
a disturbing awareness leapt into flame deep inside her and began to flicker
intensely.”
of her life nor the echoes of history along it, but now, in front of this stranger,
a disturbing awareness leapt into flame deep inside her and began to flicker
intensely.”
Sigh.. There really is something special about Hannah
Fielding’s writing. When I started reading ‘Masquerade’ I was soon completely
pulled into the romantic and poetic way Hannah Fielding writes her stories.
Although the beginning was a little slow, it soon became impossible to stop
reading. The sentences Hannah writes are just so beautiful and they made this
book so much more romantic. I honestly couldn’t put ‘Masquerade’ down, and
although there are 442 pages.. I read this one in just one day.
Fielding’s writing. When I started reading ‘Masquerade’ I was soon completely
pulled into the romantic and poetic way Hannah Fielding writes her stories.
Although the beginning was a little slow, it soon became impossible to stop
reading. The sentences Hannah writes are just so beautiful and they made this
book so much more romantic. I honestly couldn’t put ‘Masquerade’ down, and
although there are 442 pages.. I read this one in just one day.
‘Masquerade’ is the story of Luz de Rueda, a twenty four
year old woman who returns to her homeland Spain after living in England for
the last couple of years. Luz is a beautiful, passionate and kind woman. At
times a little naïve.. but definitely a great main character. It was easy to
love Luz. And I loved the way she loved so passionately.
year old woman who returns to her homeland Spain after living in England for
the last couple of years. Luz is a beautiful, passionate and kind woman. At
times a little naïve.. but definitely a great main character. It was easy to
love Luz. And I loved the way she loved so passionately.
The two male characters the rich businessman Andrés de
Calderón, and the young gypsy Leandro are definitely two handsome, toe-curling
man I couldn’t get enough of. I loved reading about these two very different
and charismatic man. And although I expected what was going on with these two
early on, there were still enough secrets and passionate moments to keep me
wanting to keep on reading.
Calderón, and the young gypsy Leandro are definitely two handsome, toe-curling
man I couldn’t get enough of. I loved reading about these two very different
and charismatic man. And although I expected what was going on with these two
early on, there were still enough secrets and passionate moments to keep me
wanting to keep on reading.
The romance between Luz and Andrés and Leandro was just
so pure and beautiful. I really felt those butterflies while reading about
their story. And before you decide you don’t want to read this book because of
the two male characters and you’re not into the love triangles.. Trust me when
I say you just have to read this book and let all those reservations go.. This
is an amazing, and beautiful love story and you just have to read it.
so pure and beautiful. I really felt those butterflies while reading about
their story. And before you decide you don’t want to read this book because of
the two male characters and you’re not into the love triangles.. Trust me when
I say you just have to read this book and let all those reservations go.. This
is an amazing, and beautiful love story and you just have to read it.
And although I haven’t been to Spain myself, I’ve always had
this interest in this country and the passionate Spanish people. So since this
book takes place in Spain, it definitely made this read even more fascinating
to me. I loved the scenes where the characters where enjoying the beautiful
Spanish beaches. It definitely made the cold Dutch evenings a little warmer.
this interest in this country and the passionate Spanish people. So since this
book takes place in Spain, it definitely made this read even more fascinating
to me. I loved the scenes where the characters where enjoying the beautiful
Spanish beaches. It definitely made the cold Dutch evenings a little warmer.
If you haven’t read a book by Hannah Fielding before,
this is your change. Her books are beautiful and just so romantic, you’ll never
want them to end! It’s a promise!
this is your change. Her books are beautiful and just so romantic, you’ll never
want them to end! It’s a promise!
My Rating:
About the Author:
Hannah Fielding is an incurable romantic. The seeds for
her writing career were sown in early childhood, spent in Egypt, when she came
to an agreement with her governess Zula: for each fairy story Zula told, Hannah
would invent and relate one of her own. Years later – following a degree in
French literature, several years of travelling in Europe, falling in love with
an Englishman, the arrival of two beautiful children and a career in property
development – Hannah decided after so many years of yearning to write that the
time was now. Today, she lives the dream: writing full time at her homes in
Kent, England, and the South of France, where she dreams up romances
overlooking breath-taking views of the Mediterranean.
her writing career were sown in early childhood, spent in Egypt, when she came
to an agreement with her governess Zula: for each fairy story Zula told, Hannah
would invent and relate one of her own. Years later – following a degree in
French literature, several years of travelling in Europe, falling in love with
an Englishman, the arrival of two beautiful children and a career in property
development – Hannah decided after so many years of yearning to write that the
time was now. Today, she lives the dream: writing full time at her homes in
Kent, England, and the South of France, where she dreams up romances
overlooking breath-taking views of the Mediterranean.
To date, Hannah has published four passionate, evocative novels: Burning Embers,
a ‘romance like Hollywood used to make’, set in Kenya; the award-winning Echoes
of Love, ‘an epic love story that is beautifully told’, set in Italy; and books
1 and 2 of the Andalusian Nights trilogy, set in sultry Spain, entitled ‘Indiscretion’
and ‘Masquerade’. She is currently working on her fifth book, Legacy, which
will publish this spring.
For more information about Hannah
Fielding and her books please visit her website, Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.
Fielding and her books please visit her website, Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.
Giveaway:
You might also like:
Cover Reveal 'Let Me Burn' by Carrie Elks
Release Blitz 'Noble Prince' by Devney Perry
Blog Tour 'Family Portrait' series by Gillian Felix
Release Blitz 'The Devil You Know' by Elizabeth O'Roark
Review 'How to Seduce a Bad Boy' by Traci Douglass
Blog Tour 'The Widow of Rose House' by Diana Biller
Sunday's Author Spotlight: Mandy Thomas
Review 'Waiting For Wren' by Cate Beauman
Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
Thank you very much for hosting me, and for taking the time to read and review Masquerade. Hannah x
You're very welcome Hannah. It was a great read and I couldn't get enough!