Name: Francesca G's review of Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway
Item: Olivia and the Masked Duke
Rating: 2
Author: Francesca G

Grace Callaway

An exciting new historical romance series from USA Today Bestseller Grace Callaway He saved her life when she was a girl. Now she is a woman determined to heal his heart… Spirited debutante Lady Olivia McLeod, cherished daughter of Duke and Duchess of Strathaven, has two interests: solving mysteries and winning the love of her rescuer and secret crush, the infamous Duke of Hadleigh. When Livy joins Lady Charlotte Fayne’s charity for young ladies and discovers that it is a front for a covert investigative agency, she is thrilled. Livy dedicates herself to solving a deadly case; little does she realize that the path to danger will also lead to her heart’s deepest desire. Notorious widower Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, has only one goal in mind: redemption. After his tortured past, he channels his demons toward helping others, and the last thing he wants or deserves is innocence. Yet temptation taunts him by transforming the little girl he once saved into an alluring young woman. A dozen years younger than him and the daughter of his friend, Livy is everything he cannot have…and everything he needs. Will perilous secrets, past and present, tear Livy and Ben apart? Will succumbing to their forbidden desires lead to their happily ever after? Find out in this steamy friends-to-lovers romance filled with mystery and adventure! Grace's books feature sizzling hot historical romance, fun and feel-good happily ever afters, and exciting mystery and adventure. Her books are standalones which can also be enjoyed as part of her interconnected series. LADY CHARLOTTE’S SOCIETY OF ANGELS (steamy Victorian romance) #1 Olivia and the Masked Duke (Preorder for 02.18.21) GAME OF DUKES (steamy Victorian romance) #1 The Duke Identity (Tessa & Harry) #2 Enter the Duke (Maggie & Ransom) #3 Regarding the Duke (Gabby & Garrity) #4 The Duke Redemption (Beatrice & Wick) #5 The Return of the Duke (Fancy & Severin) #6 Steamy Winter Wishes: A Hot Historical Romance Short Story (featuring characters from all of Grace's series) HEART OF ENQUIRY (The Kents) (steamy Regency romance) Prequel novella: The Widow Vanishes (Will & Annabel) #1 The Duke Who Knew Too Much (Alaric & Emma) #2 M is for Marquess (Gabriel & Thea) #3 The Lady Who Came in from the Cold (Marcus & Penny) #4 The Viscount Always Knocks Twice (Richard & Violet) #5 Never Say Never to an Earl (Sinjin & Polly) #6 The Gentleman Who Loved Me (Andrew & Rosie) MAYHEM IN MAYFAIR (steamy Regency romance) #1 Her Husband’s Harlot (Helena & Nicholas) #2 Her Wanton Wager (Percy & Gavin) #3 Her Protector’s Pleasure (Marianne & Ambrose) #4 Her Prodigal Passion (Charity & Paul)

Olivia and the Masked Duke

Carrie

Francesca G

"A very hot and perfectly paced page turner, all the way to happily ever after." -NPR He saved her life when she was a girl. Now she is a woman determined to heal his heart... Spirited debutante Lady Olivia McLeod has two interests: solving mysteries and winning the love of her rescuer and secret crush, the infamous Duke of Hadleigh. When Livy joins Lady Charlotte Fayne's charity for young ladies and discovers that it is a front for a covert investigative agency, she is thrilled. Livy dedicates herself to solving a deadly case; little does she realize that the path to danger will also lead to her heart's deepest desire. Notorious widower Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, has only one goal in mind: redemption. After his tortured past, he channels his demons toward helping others, and the last thing he wants or deserves is innocence. Yet temptation taunts him by transforming the little girl he once saved into an alluring young woman. A dozen years younger than him and the daughter of his friend, Livy is everything he cannot have...and everything he needs. Will perilous secrets, past and present, tear Livy and Ben apart? Will succumbing to their forbidden desires lead to their happily ever after? Find out in this steamy friends-to-lovers romance filled with mystery and adventure! Grace's books feature sizzling hot historical romance, fun and feel-good happily ever afters, and exciting mystery and adventure. Her books are standalones which can also be enjoyed as part of her interconnected series. LADY CHARLOTTE'S SOCIETY OF ANGELS (hot Victorian romance) #1 Olivia and the Masked Duke (Olivia & Ben) #2 Pippa and the Prince of Secrets (Pippa & Cullen, Fall 2021) GAME OF DUKES (hot Victorian romance): #1 The Duke Identity (Harry &Tessa) #2 Enter the Duke (Ransom & Maggie) #3 Regarding the Duke (Garrity & Gabby) #4 The Duke Redemption (Wickham & Beatrice) #5 The Return of the Duke (Severin & Fancy) #6 Steamy Winter Wishes: A Hot Historical Romance Short Story (featuring characters from all of Grace's series) HEART OF ENQUIRY (THE KENTS) (hot Regency romance): Prequel Novella: The Widow Vanishes (Will & Annabel) #1 The Duke Who Knew Too Much (Alaric & Emma) #2 M is for Marquess (Gabriel & Thea) #3 The Lady Who Came in from the Cold (Marcus & Penny) #4 The Viscount Always Knocks Twice (Richard & Violet) #5 Never Say Never to an Earl (Sinjin & Polly) #6 The Gentleman Who Loved Me (Andrew & Primrose) MAYHEM IN MAYFAIR (hot Regency romance): #1 Her Husband's Harlot (Helena & Nicholas) #2 Her Wanton Wager (Percy & Gavin) #3 Her Protector's Pleasure (Marianne & Ambrose) #4 Her Prodigal Passion (Charity & Paul)

Preye

The duke isn't actually masked. There's only a scene where the Duke conceals his face and that's because it's something like a masked festival. Fellas, this is click bait. The MMC was irredeemable and although I felt a little pity for him(the sordid details of his background and all that), but I couldn't get over how high-handed he was with the FMC. The FMC was terribly deceptive and I couldn't get over how she would moan about her guilt and blag and still did it straight to his face...several time. There's a whole-ass scene where they got intimate and she knew his passion was fueled by intense guilt and still. It just wasn't my thing and admittedly, it's more steamy than book of this sub-genre, but sexxxxxxxssss can't make everything alright.

Also, the author does this weird thing where the timeline is shifted and we get to see the supposedly precious moments they had shared in the past. A 13-year-old and a 27-year-old fgs. Nope, not even going there. Weird as hell. There's nothing cute about cultivating that type of feeling for a child.

Shaana Juntunen Cooper

Secret Charlie’s Angels society! Ready to solve a mystery! TW: drugs; prejudices against Asians; Light BDSM

There is so much to unpack in this story, but that’s what makes it great. Olivia was saved from drowning at the age of 12 by Hadleigh who was in his mid twenties. They form a friendship over the years and as Hadleigh battles his demons, Olivia is his only light. By the age of 19, Olivia knows she’s in love with Hadleigh. And she’s determined to make him admit he’s in love with her. 

Outside of their love story, the Angels and Hadleigh are trying to figure out who is behind a new drug that is killing so many unsuspecting people. Much stronger than opium, bodies are being found in alleys.

laura

I thought this book was a super fun read. I had never read a age gap romance before and i Liked it. I really loved Oilvia as a main character. I loved Ben background and thought the mystery the developed throughout the read was super fun. The aggressive and Alpha male romance type is not my type of romance and there was so much miscommunicated trope that was sort of predicable. I really did loved the friendhsip group. It was a fun read!! I will def read book 2 and more by this author in the future!

Lacey

This was so sweet and fun! The friends to lovers romance is the unrequited love type and even though I don't enjoy reading unrequited love that much, Livy and Ben were too charming and HOT for me to not love them. I loved that as soon as she kissed him, there was no one else for him. Livy was a headstrong heroine and very determined to win Ben's heart. It was great that she wasn't waiting on the sidelines as he came to terms about his feelings, and instead chose to join a secret society that helped women in need. I loved our girl gang – Livy and her best friends join the Society of Angels, a society of badass ladies a la Charlie's Angels. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Carrie &
Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway

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Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway