Escaping to Maida Pleasure Gardens for an evening of anonymous moonlight waltzing is bliss for Viola Dove, 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. So, of course, Viola hides him in her family’s cellar. Lord Dominic Gorse, the youngest son of a marquis, is ill-suited to confinement, whether in Newgate or a surprisingly comfortable cellar, cared for by the beautiful, intriguing Viola, a parcel of lively children, and a very large puppy. Viola sees beneath Dominic’s layers of charm and trouble to the man beneath, and sets out to help prove his innocence.
This is the second book in the series & is easily read on its own. I loved both Dominic & Viola who are both strong characters. Viola is feisty & intelligent but hides her true self whilst in society, she’s also suffers from word blindness but with help from Miss Mathers, the children’s governess she is slowly learning to read. Dom is the devil may care younger son but knows he’s never killed anyone. Viola is aided by Richard, Dom’s elder wounded soldier hero brother to find the killer. A page turning read with murder, abduction, & a lovely romance. Dom & Viola were perfect for each other & I loved the road to their HEA. Viola’s four siblings are a delight as is Pup, I also loved Richard & hope he finds love
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Unmasking Deception is a special romance of a man convicted of murder who meets his savior in a pleasure garden upon escaping Newgate. Of course, Dominic was framed, and Viola sees him as an intriguing man upon dancing with him. This ‘who done it’ has some interesting twists and turns that keep you wanting to find out how these two catch the real murderer.

Viola is quite an independent, young lady who steps out ahead of the female character from that era. She thinks for herself and makes her own decisions, not entirely as her mom would like, but she still respects her mother and delights in her siblings. Viola is supposed to marry to help the family finances but ends up doing what is best for herself.

Dominic is the quintessential rake of the day and causes himself all kinds of trouble. We are not quite sure about his family and their support of his circumstance, but it all comes out the telling.

Both of their families play into their tale entertaining us with their involvement. Viola’s siblings, and Pup, become Dominic’s helpers with their personalities and shenanigans, while Dominic’s family, for the most part, appear to need to be brought around to supporting him. Either way, the road to Dominic and Viola’s happily ever after is paved with delight. As second in the Pleasure Garden series, it can still be read as a stand-alone.

Having read the first book of the series, I was happy that this book continued the course. With a rakish but rather dissolute hero and a practical heroine who tames him, what's not to love? Lord Dominic Gorse can unfortunately not remember what happened that night, but the flashes of what went before convince him that he cannot possibly be responsible for the death of his acquaintance. Unfortunately, known as a wag, quick to act and slow to think, has everyone thinking the worst of him, including his own family. Desperate to prove his innocence, he makes his escape and even though wounded, when Miss Viola Dove bumps into him, he grabs the opportunity to dance with her, hiding in plain sight at the Maida Pleasure Gardens. Viola may not be a diamond of the first water, but she's a practical young lady, and realizing that Dominic is not only the escaped convict everyone is looking for but is also wounded, she takes charge of the situation. Hence Dominic and the one man who believes in him find themselves ensconced in the Dove's cellar, surrounded by Viola, her 4 lively siblings, and Pup. Viola takes it upon herself to help Dominic's investigation and together with her quick-thinking siblings they take charge of the situation. The novel takes the reader on a wild ride, right up to the entertaining conclusion when justice is finally served. I enjoyed this romance immensely and was glad that Dominic and Viola had their trust rewarded and finally found their rightful place. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I’m sad to say that I did not care for this book. When I read that he was wanted for murder, I got super excited to read it. But it was just disappointed and I actually wished that he was actually guilty. When I finished the book I just closed it and Had no reaction at all

Loved this book! Mary Lancaster writes with a simmering passion that covers mysterious affairs. Unmasking Deception is a series of deceptions which begin with the death of Crawley, a speedy trial for Dominic Gorse, and his subsequent escape from transportation to Australia. He quite literally runs into Viola Dove at Maida Garden and she brings him home to patch him up from a gun shot wound. It is there we meet her siblings and "Pup" which is not much of a puppy. The interactions between the children and Pup with whomever they are interacting with is witty and playful. I love that the dog was introduced to lighten up the story. The is mention of murder, kidnapping, war, jealousy, and betrayal but the story never gets heavy or bogged down. This is definitely a great story to read on a dreary weekend. Mary Lancaster is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I would definitely recommend this book!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book! The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, but this book didn't entertain me as much. There were numerous typos/missing words in the first few chapters and I almost stopped reading because it was so annoying. Luckily, I kept reading and the story moved along well after that. Viola's family is depending on her to save them by marrying well, but the only man that excites her is Lord Dominic Gorse, a convicted murderer who has recently escaped prison. She meets him at the Pleasure Gardens and there's something about him that she agrees to help him evade the authorities.

Viola's family is adorable in this story with multiple siblings and a very large puppy who has a tendency to steal every scene he's in. Viola and Dominic fall for each other in a believable way. There's more twists and turns in the story although the villain is easily identified in the story. I look forward to more stories in the Pleasure Garden series.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

The second book in Pleasure Garden, Mary Lancaster’s new Regency Romance series, is Unmasking Deception, to be released this month. The book stands alone, but the first book, Unmasking the Hero, is a delight, so you may want to read that one first.

The current book is an entertaining romp. The hero, Lord Dominic Gorse, the youngest son of a marquess, is a ne’er-do-well going to ruin ever since his father refused to buy him a commission. He drinks, gambles, fools around, and hangs out with other low characters. Until one of his gambling companions is murdered after one of their drinking/card playing evenings, and half the man’s money and one of his expensive cuff buttons is found at Dominic’s door. He is arrested and, after a slapdash trial, sentenced to deportation. Fortunately for him, he manages to escape from Newgate prison.

Viola Dove is a clever, pretty, adventuresome, but poor young gentlewoman. The fate of her family is in her hands. She must marry for money. However, on a night out with friends (at the Pleasure Garden), she runs into a stranger, Dominic Gorse, who is fleeing from Bow Street Runners. She trusts him instinctively and helps him escape.

The two work together to hide him from the law while they solve the mystery of who actually killed Dominic’s gambling acquaintance.

The hero and heroine are fine characters and the romance between them develops in a believable fashion. The adventure is lively and the side characters entertain. The villain is truly villainous.

Unfortunately, the villain resorts to kidnaping Viola. (This isn’t really a spoiler because the reader can see it coming from a mile away.) While I recognize that Regency Romances recycle plots and recombine elements into new stories all the time, the kidnaping-the-heroine thing is painfully overdone. Or maybe I somehow stumble on a disproportionate number of romances using that device to move the plot along. I managed to plod on past it because the rest of the novel was sweet and fun enough. However, I swear the next time a heroine is kidnaped by a villainous pseudo-suitor, I’m dropping the book at once, not even bothering to see if she requires rescuing by the hero or manages to escape on her own. Both have been done to death.

Aside from that disappointment, I’ll continue to follow the series. Surely there won’t be another kidnaping in the Pleasure Garden series.

Miss Viola Dove doesn't enjoy all the rules surrounding her first season. She feels stifled and bored, but excitement is soon to come her way.

Lord Dominic Gorse is on the run from a murder conviction. If he hadn't been so drunk that night, maybe he would remember what happened.

This is an exciting historical romance with a murder/mystery to solve. Our characters are all great fun. There is a lot of humour and a little danger in the story.

This is the second book in the series but easily read on it's own.

I loved it.

Escaping to Maida Pleasure Gardens for an evening of anonymous moonlight waltzing is bliss for Viola Dove, compared to the strained formality of her first London Season. But the excitement reaches fever pitch when an escaped convict is pursued through the gardens – wounded and in desperate need of help.
Lord Dominic Gorse, the rakehell son of a marquis, is ill-suited to confinement, whether in Newgate or a surprisingly comfortable cellar, cared for by the beautiful, intriguing Viola, a parcel of lively children, and a very large puppy.
Viola sees beneath Dominic’s layers of charm and trouble to the man beneath, and sets out to help prove his innocence. But is she right to trust the handsome, volatile stranger with whom she is falling hopelessly in love? Is he using her for his own ends, or is there a deeper, deadlier deceit at work?
Dominic and Viola are meant for each other. The truth of the matter is that Dominic is innocent of the accused crime.
Mary Lancaster books are so good.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

5 stars

Excellent read.

Viola meets Dominic at the Pleasure Gardens. She's intrigued with him and realises that he is wounded. Impetuously she decides to help and hides him in her families cellar. Her many siblings find out about him and also help and protect him.

It's a good story with lots of intrigue and great descriptions.

I'm really enjoying this series and recommend you try these books.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Viola dances with a mysterious man at a pleasure garden, only to discover that he's been shot while escaping from Newgate. Dominic, a marquess's son, insists that he's innocent of the murder he's been convicted of. Viola can't leave the injured man to bleed to death, so she helps him escape the Bow Street Runners and nurses him back to health. As she tries to help him clear his name, will they fall in love along the way?

This book is so much fun. Not only are Viola and Dominic enjoyable characters with a ton of chemistry—her younger siblings are adorable and add humor to the book. There's a strong mystery that goes along with the romance, but the book isn't particularly violent. Dominic's family also adds some clever, original elements.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, convicted and awaiting transportation, Lord Dominic escapes Newgate Prison and runs. Attempting to throw off his pursuers, he steals a mask and domino and conceals himself in plain sight on the dance floor at Maida Pleasure Gardens. Viola is intrigued by the gentleman who scoops her up into a dance without asking and when she later realises he is hurt and in serious trouble, decides on the spur of the moment to help him escape. This chance meeting leads to a delightful story involving family and friends attempting to prove Dominic’s innocence and catch the real culprit. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dominic viola
Unmasking Deception is the perfect title for this book. Dominic has been accused of murder and Viola feels she trusts him enough to help clear his name. As they work together, they grow closer and learn many things about themselves. I liked how all the children pitched in. Pup was a bit of a distraction. I love stories with mischievous animals who cause chaos, but it felt like he was being forced into that role. Overall, it was a sweet story.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

At a pleasure garden, Viola, literally bumps into a lord, Dominic, who is wearing a masked costume. He is also an escapee from nearby Newgate who has been shot. Viola decides to come to his aid by hiding him and his friend in her family’s cellar. She then helps Dominic and his family to clear his name and to find who really murdered the man he was convicted of murdering. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

I love this series, the first was excellent, it had all of the tension and steam you come to expect from a Lancaster novel. This series was a bit more of an ensemble read and very similar to books she has written in the past.

When a midnight dance in a pleasure garden brings Violet and accused murderer Lord Dominic together, Violet jumps in to save him from being recaptured by Bow Street Runners. With a cast of characters of a puppy, siblings, and friends, Violet sets out to help prove that Lord Dominic did not kill an acquaintance.

Lord Dominic, rake and irresponsible son of a Marquess, has never had a lasting relationship with a woman. So when delightful Violet believes in him after he's been abandoned by friends and family, he falls pretty hard.

There's a lot of hijinks in this book that make it a bit of a thrilling ride and a lot of new characters are introduced. It's not like book one at all other than Violet being Wenning's cousin. I can't wait to see the next in the series and see if any of these side characters get their own story. I love the masquerade theme and it's nice to see it employed in different stories.