The Mask
by Donna Lee Poff

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Book Reviews of The Mask

Book Review: A Medieval Romance for Fans of the Beauty/Beast Archetype!
Summary: 4 Stars

That said, this was a pretty good romance for readers who enjoy that kind of storyline.

The hero was ambushed, imprisoned and tortured while on Crusade. He had been estranged from his domineering father. He stays away from home, but ultimately returns and has his heart captured when he spies a lovely village woman combing her hair in front of her cottage. But he fears to expose his disfigurement to her and stays in the shadows, yearning. Meanwhile, the villain is out to destroy them both.

The story has a nice fairy tale feel to it. The author even opens up using a formalized syntax that says to the reader "These are ye olde days." Never mind that the syntax isn't consistent and throughout the book there are a few anachronistic bits of dialogue that make one stop and go,"huh"?

Fortunately, this is a fast-paced tale with a truly repulsive villain (one-dimensional, fully evil, no redeeming qualities--which is not that odd in the romance genre, hence, forgivable for its two-dimensionality), a madwoman out for revenge and a hero with a tortured soul.

The above quibbles aside, this IS a page-turner, and if you enjoy medieval romances with "beast" heroes and can immerse yourself sufficiently in a love story so that small annoyances can be overlooked, then you will definitely enjoy the romance of Galen and Anne.

Why this novel does not get a higher overall grade from me is that the heroine's aggressiveness is just not believable. Middle ages, folks. Lord with the power of life and death. Growing up poor, a PEASANT, used to taking orders, AND A WOMAN, used to being commanded by father and those in charge. Yet Anne doesn't hesitate to talk back to nobility and to physically engage in scuffles with a warrior Lord. While we do see her engage physically and ably with would-be rapists--hurrah, for her!--those are lowlives and commoners, not the Lord of the Manor.

Also, the hero doesn't act very cunningly and cautiously when there is grave danger to the heroine towards the latter half of the book. He really does not come across as someone in control of his keep or his men...or terribly bright.

All that doesn't make me detract overly much from my final grade of B- because the writing is attractive, the story has a nice fairy-tale feel, the hero is brave and soulfully wounded, the heroine is loving and energetic, and the bad guy is really slimy and gets his comeuppance. I also liked the cranky housekeeper/cook. :)

I look forward to seeing what Ms. Poff does with her next romance. She's definitely got talent. If this is a debut, it's a promising one.

*Mir*

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