What are parties for but to find a distraction? For Massimo di Rossi that seems to be what he’s looking for when he holds a Masque at his estate. And he finds it in Peiro, an estate guard that takes his notice. Peiro has his own agenda in getting involved with Massimo though. Just when things start heating up between them a servant is murdered, poison which is meant for Massimo. Then Massimo’s brother is attacked and Massimo doesn’t know who to trust. He certainly isn’t sure of Peiro even if he does have feelings for the man.

Julia Talbot never disappoints and she certainly didn’t with Masque. For the start she writes the first three chapters in a way that makes you feel like you’re at the masque, telling three separate stories. Eventually she brings those stories together in a way that both intrigues and makes you want to keep reading. An unpredictable plot certainly helped me keep reading. I found myself wanting Massimo to not only find a love with Peiro but also to find a renewed love with Serena. Serena was a likeable villain, something that couldn’t have been easy for Ms. Talbot to pull off but she does so effortlessly.

Reviewed by: April