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Masquerade

Scandalous Ballroom Encounters, Book 1

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Masquerade

By: Victoria Vale
Narrated by: Beatrice Pendergast
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About this listen

A sensual, erotic story with the rich texture of Regency romance with the spice of erotica.

Margaret Seymour is bored by the stifling constraints of society dictating her behavior as a debutante in search of a husband. Her prospects are promising by the standards of London society, yet, not one of them causes her heart to flutter, or her head to fill with scintillating, forbidden fantasies. Those feelings are reserved for Camden Rycroft, Duke of Avonleah - a man who isn't even aware of her existence.

While attending a scandalous Vauxhall Gardens masquerade, Margaret finds herself in the duke's arms. His promise of a night of pleasure is tempting, but is it worth it when Avonleah is a known rake notorious for his short attention span and avoidance of marriage?

Camden Rycroft is intrigued by the masked vixen he encounters in the Gardens. After one night with her leaves him hungry for more, his desire for her turns into a fiery obsession. Despite the scandal that could ensue from their affair, he finds himself unable to extract himself from a situation destined to end in pain. When faced with losing Margaret to a potential husband, will he rise to the occasion, or risk living without her?

©2015 Victoria Vale (P)2016 Victoria Vale Romance Marriage
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I always wondered what the difference between erotica and erotic romance was. I think this book answered the question for me. This is what I would call the latter. It has a beautiful romantic story of a woman who dislikes the constraints of her life and is pretending to be something she isn't. She is being pushed towards marriage with a very nice man, but one who would never appreciate her for the person she is. When her dreams come true and she is given the opportunity to have a passionate encounter with a man she has fantasised about for a long time she wants nothing more than to be with him forever. He, on the other hand, doesn't want marriage, he's a known rake and she knows that but it doesn't stop her falling for him. Whether or not he will let her go and marry her 'nice' gentleman is something you will have to find out by listening to or reading the book. The erotic part of the book is really steamy, very much for 18 and over. It is very descriptive but it's not written to shock. It's just perfect and along with the romance of the story, it made for a really great listen.

The narrator did a pretty good job of the various characterisations. My only negative remark would be that at times, especially in the passionate moments the way she would say something isn't the way that I would have read it. For example, she might have voiced the part harshly when the descriptive words said: "he whispered". Or sometimes the male character would sound a little gay when in fact he was supposed to be sexily teasing her. Not huge issues, but just something that stopped me from being able to give a full 5-star rating to Ms Pendergast.

On the whole, I really enjoyed this book.

Somebody pass me a fan!

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well written. thank you for this book.
I really enjoyed listening to this book anything Victoria vale puts her hand on is hot,hot. and absolutely fantastic.

steamy romance

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I liked the story, but the narrator was awful and very distracting and unbearable, so I did not enjoy this book. It's a good thing it was a short one as I couldn't bear the narrator for much longer. I actual didn't finish the last 5 minutes. A very false English accent with an American accent. And Camden's voice was awful. And Sheridan's even worse. I had already purchased Book 2 but I think I wil return it. It's the first time i am returning a book since being a member for about 3 years.

very steamy sexy story

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Narrator was extremely annoying. If rather funny ie. distinguishing her fire instead of extinguishing it. LOL

Good story poor performance

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A really great story about a young rebellious debutante who feels restricted by society's expectations and restraints. She is expected to select a husband from her suitors but is totally underwhelmed by them all. She has a crush on The Duke of Avonleah, who she secretly lusts after. She manages to 'catch his eye' at a masquerade, one she has been forbidden to attend, held at Vauxhall gardens. Things progress from there.....

This is a really hot read but unfortunately the narrator was poor.
As a British listener the accent was just awful - at times really over the top (in the way Americans think the British speak) and then at others very American - such as the pronunciation of DUTY. Also the narrator sounded like a 90 year old grandma - just all wrong for this type of story. I know that lots of American actors and actresses can successfully undertake an English accent - but this narrator is NOT one of them.

However, I still enjoyed the audiobook - but it could have been so much better.

A steamy story

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