"Unmasked Heart"

A Regency Challenge of the Soul Series

by Vanessa Riley

Description

Shy, nearsighted caregiver, Gaia Telfair always wondered why her father treated her a little differently from her siblings, but she never guessed she couldn't claim his love because of a family secret, her illicit birth. With everything she knows to be true evaporating before her spectacles, can the mulatto passing for white survive being exposed and shunned by a powerful duke who has taken an interest in her?
 
Ex-warrior, William St. Landon, the Duke of Cheshire, will do anything to protect his mute daughter from his late wife's scandals. With a blackmailer at large, hiding in a small village near the cliffs of Devonshire seems the best option, particularly since he can gain help from the talented Miss Telfair, who has the ability to help children speak. If only he could do a better job at shielding his heart from the young lady, whose honest hazel eyes see through his jests as her tender lips challenge his desire to remain a single man.

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Biography

Even as she pursued engineering degrees, Vanessa Riley's love of 19th century history yielded a hunger to take as many Western Civilization credits as possible (two classes shy of a minor). Vanessa adores Regency times with its conflicts between Church and State, the clash of the classes, and the sweeping romances. Her mission is to have the world fall in love with powerful Regency heroes and heroines who battle for peace with a flintlock and a prayer. Vanessa writes from the comfort of her southern porch with a cup of Earl Grey or Cinnamon Spice. 

Website: http://vanessariley.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVanessaRiley

My Thoughts ~

Set in the early 19th century this regency novel is unlike any other I have read to date. The author has broached a topic that many regency authors would shy from, mixed race. Gaia knew she was different but when confronted with the fact that her biological father was a black man Gaia's world crumbled around her.
 

Steeped in mystery, deception and intrigue with a strong Christian influence, this story of faith, forgiveness, love and lack thereof, captured my attention immediately. As the story developed I grew to love Gaia and William, even as I became frustrated with each of them for their hesitation in committing to one another. Both characters lived with scandalous family secrets. Their attraction was undeniable, but the past stood in the way of a future relationship. 

The author presents a well developed plot, with strong characters of widely differing socioeconomic status, composed with personalities from opposite ends of the spectrum, honorable and respectable versus evil and despicable. Unpredictable and well written, I enjoyed the varied characters throughout this interesting and captivating book. Additional editing could improve the book, but this did not affect my enjoyment of the story.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.