After reading the first book in the series and not liking it very much, I hoped this one would be better. Unfortunately I didn't really like this book. I found the plot to be unbelievable.

This book was a suspense. It kept me on my toes and I never wanted to put the book down. I definitely recommend this book to ready

This is a entertaining story that combines romance with mystery - the story grabs your attention from the beginning and with expert plot twists, I was entertained to the end!

Thank you for the opportunity to read & review!

Great read, I would definitely recommend people to read the book. I loved the storytelling and the details. The main characters fit together quite well.

4 stars
What a charming tale of redemption and love. I loved the first book in this series, but this one didn't hold my attention as well. I almost stopped reading because there were so many typos and missing words in the first few chapters.
Viola Dove is in heaven when she escapes to Maida Pleasure Gardens for an evening of anonymous moonlight waltzing, where she dances with a mystery man who happens to be an escaped convict being pursued through the gardens wounded and in desperate need of help.
I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Although not my favorite of Ms. Lancaster's books, definitely a good read. Viola and Dominic are great mains and the story caught my interest from the beginning. I love a good romance with some mystery added in to stir the pot. Definitely worth reading.
Thank you Mary Lancaster, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

A Daring Rescue

She is a daring debutante who rescues a man, newly escaped from Newgate. How would such a bold adventure end? Did Dominic commit murder? Did Viola rescue a killer, or did she save an innocent man? Viola was delightful. She was brave and took a chance. She trusted her instinct and did what few women would, or perhaps should, do. Some might even consider her foolish. She would take us on an adventure that is sure to delight and entertain. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like Regency romance with mystery and suspense.

I love a good murder mystery and this was certainly a very interesting story with intriguing characters. Viola was a wonderful heroine and i enjoyed her. She was determined and focused throughout to see justice done for her "bad boy" who she believed when he protested his innocence. The journey to the truth also became a journey to love, and i was happy to be part of it. After these last two books, I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series! #netgalley #unmasking deception

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, fun and full of romance and mystery.

Dominic is wrongly accused of murdering an acquaintance and has been set up so that it looks like he's the one who committed the crime, but its it's obvious to readers that either of his two friends, or possibly both, have been the one behind it.

But with his family wanting to avoid scandal, a proper trial is not given and so Dominic is on the run and doesn't have many options in where to turn. And this is when he meets Viola and his luck changes.

Romance begins to brew between them as she decides to help by hiding Dominic and his companion in her cellar, questioning the people who were with him the night of the murder and enlisting the help of his older brother, all whilst putting the runners off the scent of where he is hiding.

I liked the moments that Dominic and Viola stole to be alone with each other and their chemistry felt real. And I also liked the characters of Dominic's brother, Richard, and Viola's siblings and pup. At the end there is a good amount of scheming and I found myself hoping it would all turn out ok for the couple.

4.5⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Dragonblade Publishing and the authors for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

I think I have read all of Mary Lancaster's books, and I usually enjoy them. The suspension of disbelief elements in this one are just a little too many for me. It was well written, but the story became too improbable. I read to the end to see how it all worked out, but I think this is the least favorite of her books. #NetGalley #UnmaskingDeception

Viola Dove is visiting Maida Pleasure Gardens for a night of dancing and fun. Viola dances with a mystery man who turns out to be an injured escaped convict. Viola helps the convict by hiding him in the family cellar.
Lord Dominic Gorse is innocent of the crime he has been accused of and with Viola’s help hopes to prove his innocence.

This was a fantastic read. Viola is a great female character who is strong and independent but in polite society she hides who she truly is in hope of finding a husband.
Dominic is the typical youngest son of a Duke who really has no responsibility or cares and feels that life is there to be enjoyed. He has that cheeky chap vibe which made me smile throughout the book.
I also loved Viola’s brothers and sister’s as well as their new puppy. It added entertainment to the story as you can just imagine the chaos and noise that comes with a large family.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be recommending it to everyone.

This is the second book in the series and can be read as a stand alone.

A spirited young girl, Viola stumbles upon an escaped convict Lord, Dominic… seeing goodness what choice does she have but to help him hide. The mystery of who truly killed Lord Crawley plays out throughout the story with many twists of intrigue for a compelling story. Can 2 people who need to marry for money, choose love instead and will it be enough? This was the question that made the story take root in my heart, the will they, won’t they of their love. It drew me in from the beginning.

She was having a lovely time dancing at the Maida Pleasure Gardens, but before she knew it, she was snatched into the arms of a man she had bumped into. She had a wonderful dance, but in a twist of fate, she found out he was injured and being sought out by Bow Street.

He was innocent and just had to prove it. But he was rescued by a beautiful woman and taken to a cellar to heal and try to find the true the true villain who committed the crime he is accused of.

Simply wonderful, with a delightful cast of characters, including a lot of siblings and adorable Pup who almost steal the story! Love all of this author's stories and this is one of the best!

The Maida Pleasure Gardens once again brings a mysterious stranger to dance with a young lady. Viola Dove is drawn to his smile and flirting personality. This is not just any rake, but Lord Dominic Gorse convicted for murder and escaped from Newgate. Wounded, he and his fellow prisoner are on the run. Viola may be nineteen, but she's smart and devises a way to remove him and his fellow prisoner from the Gardens to a safe place. Determined to find the real murderer, she incorporates the help of her family and Dominic's brother. As different plans are in play, Viola and Dominic form a bond that grows to love. Easy to read at a fast pace. Never boring. I can hardly wait for the next book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

The rakehell Lord Dominic Gorse is wasting his life away gambling and carousing his way through society. After a drunken night of gambling he is wrongfully accused of the murder of an acquaintance, and as he escapes captivity he is injured. He tries to make his escape through Maida Vale pleasure gardens, where he runs into the kind and retiring Miss Viola Dove, a young woman trying to secure her family's future by marrying well. She has escaped with friends to have a bit of fun at the garden, and when Dominic dances with her as cover, she finds herself wanting to help him. She helps to distract the Bow Street Runners looking for Dominic, and then hides him and his companion who has helped him escape, in her cellar.

This is the start of a delightful romp of a story, with a restless and difficult to confine hero, his laconic ex soldier sidekick, four delightful siblings and the huge Pup, Viola has her hands full, she also has unwelcome suitors to discourage, and mother to keep oblivious, and Dominic's soldier brother to enlist to help clear his name. She also has struggles of her own as she tries to find a suitor from the Ton. The plot thickens, when they realise that Dominic has been neatly set up to take the fall, and they need to find the real murderer and have evidence enough to convict him.

Such an enjoyable read, with a satisfyingly developed mystery at the heart of the book and a cast of wonderful characters, especially Viola and her mad dog. The main characters were very sympathetic with touching backstories, and the love story was very convincing

I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

When Viola Dove meets Lord Dominic Gorse at Maida Pleasure Gardens, it is not the romantic interlude that she expects. Dominic has been wounded in his escape from Newgate prison and is need of help. So Viola helps him to escape capture and hides him in the family cellar. Soon Viola comes to believe in his innocence and will do all that she can to help him prove it, all the while hoping that he is to be trusted.

The second book in the ‘Pleasure Garden’ series, was a sweet addition to the first book, which is still quite my favourite. Both Dominic and Viola are likeable characters, with Viola showing her determination, in her pursuit of finding justice for Dominic. She is spirited and intelligent, despite suffering from word blindness. Dominic appears to be jovial and carefree but seems to have suffered the plight of being the youngest son. With his father and several brothers not believing in him, and only hoping that he will disappear, it is only when Viola and his brother Richard, come to his aid, that he starts to reveal his hurt. It was also lovely to see Richard, wounded by war, come to his aid, and to see purpose in his own life. His is a story, that will be interesting to have told. Together with Viola’s younger siblings, this book was quite entertaining.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

SO EXCITING AND ADVENTUROUS!!! Unmasking Deception by Mary Lancaster is book 2 in the Pleasure Garden series and oh how I just loved this book. Though in a series this book can be read as a standalone. What I found so intriguing is that this book never slowed down. From page one to the very end it held me captive and I think is will hold you captive as well. Mary has such a unique way of writing that you can picture everything that is happening and she paints quite the picture. This slow burn regency book is one for the ages. This story has a innocent man convicted of murder, a women who helps him and believes in his innocents, a loving family, a big puppy that is not quite trained, a kidnap, a family that didn’t find out the truth, a unwanted marriage, rescue, hiding out, a scheme to catch a evil man, a mother that is left in the dark, not thinking your good enough, a warning against marriage and falling in love. I am highly recommending you read this book… You will not be able to put it down.

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

For a young lady, experiencing the Season should be everything you've ever wanted, but Viola Dove hates the stringent rules and the formality that must be followed. But as the eldest child, she knows her family rely on her marrying well, so she needs to find a husband by the end of the Season. However, the midnight waltz she had with a masked stranger at Maida Pleasure Gardens has been the most fun she's had yet, and when she realises that her partner is actually Lord Dominic Gorse, younger son of a Marquess, and escapee from Newgate Prison, she risks everything to hide him and his companion, while they discover the truth about his conviction. Dominic never expected that a night out with his friends would result in one of them dead, and him arrested and charged with murder. Escaping prison and being rescued by a beautiful young lady was definitely not in the cards, but while hiding in her cellar, entertained by Viola's siblings, Dominic can't imagine anything better. And as they get closer to discovering the truth, the sparks fly between the couple, and it seems that more than just freeing an innocent man is at stake.

After reading Unmasking the Hero, I was pleasantly surprised by this series, and the synopsis for book 2 definitely drew me in. I really enjoyed the plot line, and the mystery in this book. Both of the main characters were enjoyable to read, and I felt like their stories, both individually and as a couple, really suited their characterisations. Okay, the mystery wasn't a difficult one to solve for the reader, but the way in unfolded across the page was enjoyable, and I was hooked until the ending. I adored seeing the rest of the characters all come together, especially the scenes in the cellar with Viola's siblings. I'll be awaiting the next books, hoping to see more from our previous couples.

Unmasking Deception by Mary Lancaster is an entertaining story about proving an accused and found guilty murder who is really innocent and has now escaped from prison to prove just that. He comes upon the Maida Pleasure Gardens, and Viola while he was escaping the authorities, who didn't notice him because he was dancing. She took pity on him and his compatriot and snuck him home, where they lived in her cellar until she could get him help. Help came in the form of one of his brothers, one who believed in his innocence. Of course, mayhem ensued.

Lancaster always writes an entertaining book. She seems to have a plethora of unused story ideas and always writes endearing characters. This she did in spades in this book. Viola's brothers and sisters added an element that can't be denied, as well as the family's "puppy." Their mother remained clueless as to what was going on in her home and that provided entertainment as well. Lord Dominic Gorse is a reformed rake, well after this incident he is. But, he is very charming, and a surprisingly thoughtful. He is a good character. The "mystery" is a pretty good one and sadly doesn't paint a terrific picture of humanity, all deserved, however. This is an easy to read and enjoyable escape for an overcast afternoon.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Unmasking Deception by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #marylancaster #unmaskingdeception

This was a Regency romance that had a slight sensual level, but was very discreet in the telling. The story is a mixture of mystery and intrigue. The heroine is at a popular outdoor venue that offers an evening of supper, music, dancing, garden walks and a party-like atmosphere. There are places where couples can have assignations. The heroine is circling the dance floor, when a tall, masked and caped man sweeps her into a dance. As they dance, there are runners or police, looking over the crowds. The man thanks her for the dance and melts away, into the dark. She goes to look for him and finds him with a companion who tells her that the man is hurt. She writes a note to her friend and between the three of them, are able to sneak past the police into a hackney cab. At that point, she brings the man, who is hurt and his friend to the cellar on her family's property. She helps sew him up and learns the details, he killed his friend, was shot while escaping Newgate, and is actually innocent even though he was convicted. His companion is one if his jailers that is convinced he is innocent. The man is the hero of the story.
I enjoyed this story but found it to be a bit slow in the telling. While there were very little support characters who didn't make sense and the settings were nicely detailed, there was very little unnecessary items. But the story was just a little slow. The characters showed a maturity throughout the book. I liked the style of writing and contents. I give it 4 stars because of the slow pace of the story. I recommend reading even if it was slow. I still enjoyed it and felt nice after reading it