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Dangerous masquerade
First published 1976 · 202 pages
A vintage, high-stakes romantic drama where hidden identities and undeniable chemistry collide in a world of 1970s glamour.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage romance feels like stepping into a time capsule of 1970s glamour and high-stakes emotional melodrama. The pace is brisk, pulling you through a whirlwind of secret identities, glittering Hollywood parties, and sharp, breathless longing. It is a deeply nostalgic experience, wrapped in an atmosphere of turbulent angst and swoony, irresistible attraction. The prose is straightforward but heavily colored by the heroine's internal turmoil, capturing every flush of jealousy and spark of desire with earnest intensity. It delights readers who love the classic category romance formula—where wealthy, commanding heroes and innocent but passionate heroines navigate a maze of misunderstandings before finally surrendering to an all-consuming, dramatic reconciliation.
- Mood
- glamorous
- emotionally turbulent
- nostalgic
- swoony
- Tone
- earnest
- melodramatic
- romantic
- angsty
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- mistaken identity · irresistible attraction · pain of separation · glamorous deception · second chances
- The writing
- The writing is straightforward yet emotionally heightened, leaning heavily into the breathless internal turmoil of its heroine.
- The arc
- The journey moves from sharp, secretive heartbreak through tense, glamorous proximity to a deeply passionate reconciliation.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave the nostalgic, high-drama angst of vintage 1970s category romance with wealthy heroes and hidden identities.
Content notes
- dated gender dynamics
- emotional manipulation
About the book
Laurie read the caption beneath the newspaper picture. "Hotel owner and entrepreneur Rian Montgomery seen escorting the rising young newcomer LaRaine Evans at a recent Hollywood party."
Laurie tried to be glad that Rian and LaRaine were together again, but she couldn't forget how his dark eyes had looked at her, sparking the flame of desire 'hat punctuated the time they spent together.
It might as well have been yesterday that she had left him, so sharp and fresh was the pain of her love.
Description from Open Library.
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