Definitely a fun book, that's for sure. It's one of the books good for getting you out of a reading slump and having an enjoyable time.
However, literary wise, it was a bit of a mess.
The dialogues and general attitude were super modern, it felt like the characters were doing a challenge, "speak like someone from the 1800s." It was kind of a cringe point to me, but I was okay with it. Like, it's fun. I'm not grading it for historical accuracy.
For the characters, what they lacked in development, they made up for with chemistry. Although they supposedly clashed a lot, you could feel their attraction throughout the book.
But for God's sake, the inability to think or function, like, at all, because you want to kiss someone is just... No. It was excessive. At some point, it turned from sexual tension to an obsession.
The storyline was really engaging, from start to finish the author knew how to keep the readers on their toes.
Unless you're picky about your historical fiction reads, it's definitely a good book.
Recommend it.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Let's be honest, Bridgerton has taken over part of my life and is influencing my reading... I was semi prepared not to like this because I am a very "judge a book by its cover" type of person (sorry) and this cover doesn't speak to me. Despite that, I actually really enjoyed the plot and felt like the character switch was done well! I did love the parent trap though, so switching places has never been a hard no for me. Between the character development and societal intrigue, I found myself hooked pretty quickly!

Thank you for the eARC Entangled, you're my favs! <3

Headstrong Aimee Thornton-Jones has a plan. She intends to switch places with her cousin and companion, Evie, when they spend six weeks in London. Aimee will pretend to be Evie so she can take on a traineeship as a secretary at her father’s London branch of his multi-million dollar shipping company, while Evie takes Aimee’s place enjoying the London season. Aimee hopes by the end of the six weeks she will be able to show her father that she can take on the business when he retires. What she didn’t anticipate was the adonis who helms the London branch, Harrison Stone.

There are absolute sparks when the pair first meet outside of the business. Things get even dicier when they are formally introduced by Harrison’s right hand man, Ben. Aimee doesn’t see any problems with the actual work, but one big problem arises when she learns the rules at her accommodations. So much so, she has to send a telegram to her banker in the US for some extra funds to solve the problem.

As Aimee and Harrison fight with words and kisses, the whole ruse begins to spiral out of control. When Aimee sits in on a huge meeting with the owner of a German company they are wanting to purchase, Aimee’s fluent German comes in handy. Harrison is desperate for the deal to go through, for if he can pull it off he will be given at fifty-one percent share in the London branch. Enough wealth to set up himself and the eventual earldom he will inherit from his uncle.

Michaels had me on the edge of my seat during the first book in this series, The Heiress Swap, which is Evie’s story that runs parallel to Aimee’s. This story was no different as I read the entire thing in one day! The bickering banter between Aimee and Harrison was electric, only commencing due to both of their stubborn natures and their instant, undeniable attraction. Both of them have sworn off marriage for different reasons, but Aimee will only break her vow for a love match. (A match she believes will never happen.) Michaels of course crafted a story so explosive that it left me wondering how the pair would ever make it to their happily ever after. I growled and swore when they would inevitably fight. I cried, a lot by the evidence of my tissue pile, as twist after twist kept taking the story in a new direction. I had faith in Michaels and in the end, the happily ever after was reached in a way I never expected. Both Aimee and Evie found the men of their dreams and I am in awe of two such magnificent stories.

I’ll be honest and admit I was prepared not to like this book. It haws a new author for me and a trope that I never read. I normally dislike storylines that start out with dishonesty and especially the ‘trading places’ plot line. Well, Maddison Michael’s made me a believer. She took these characters and dealt with the swapping issue pretty quickly and with forthright directness and some humor that will surprise you. I loved that both Harrison and Aimee are business focused with no time for marriage and you know how that turns out! You’ll want to shake both of them at some point but the HEA is so worth it!

I am always excited to see a new Maddison Michaels’ title being launched. Read everything, loved everything. I knew this one would be explosive after reading the previous book. Enemies to lovers is a favorite trope and I eat up everyone I can get my hands on. Harrison and Aimee totally dislike each other which makes their interactions so much more delicious. I love the Victorian more forward thinking and find it appealing that we can see historical women emerge to become powerhouses. I don’t like when there is deceit throughout a book for no good reason, but I think in this story there is a reason and the deceit did not go on and on. Harrison and Aimee had to work on their relationship to find their HEA. Loved it, the angst was so delightful.

The Heiress Masquerade - Review

New York, 1890. In a time when women in high society are expected to attend balls, find suitable matches, become wives, run households, bear children, and live contentedly with their roles, Aimee Thornton-Jones has different ambitions. As the heiress to the Thornton-Jones shipping conglomerate, Aimee doesn’t want to become the next “dollar princess.” Instead, she wants to learn everything about her father’s business and become his heir.

Despite her ambitions, Aimee’s parents insist she travels to London for six weeks to find a suitable lord to wed. Undeterred, Aimee hatches a daring plan to switch places with her companion—her poor, illegitimate cousin Evie.

In London, Aimee meets Harrison Stone, her father’s protege. Harrison has worked tirelessly to achieve success on his own, without help from the family who abandoned him after his parents’ death. His stubbornness and determination are matched, and often outmatched, by Aimee’s.

Once Harrison discovers Aimee’s ruse, he realizes that she is exactly what he needs. Similarly, Aimee finds that Harrison is the only man who can match her step for step.

In a society where women have little say in business affairs, this story demonstrates that a determined woman is a force to be reckoned with.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story between Aimee and Harrison. Their banter is exactly what you would expect from two stubborn, smart, strong-willed individuals who happen to be madly attracted to each other.

Thank you, Entangled Publishing and NetGalley, for this ARC to read and review.

Maddison Michaels' "The Heiress Masquerade" is a captivating Regency romance that masterfully intertwines themes of deception, love, and societal expectations. The story follows Lady Evelyn, an heiress who finds herself in dire straits after being betrayed by those she trusted. Determined to reclaim her life and fortune, she dons a disguise and infiltrates London society, navigating the treacherous waters of high society with wit and cunning.

Enter Lord Julian, a dashing and enigmatic nobleman with secrets of his own. As Evelyn's ruse draws her closer to Julian, their mutual attraction becomes impossible to ignore. However, both are ensnared in a web of lies and hidden motives that threaten to unravel their burgeoning romance.

Michaels' rich character development and vivid descriptions bring the Regency era to life, while the intricate plot keeps readers eagerly turning pages. Evelyn's strength and resilience, combined with Julian's complex persona, create a compelling dynamic that drives the story forward. The blend of mystery, romance, and societal intrigue makes "The Heiress Masquerade" a standout novel that will delight fans of historical romance and anyone looking for a tale of love and redemption.

Overall, "The Heiress Masquerade" is an enthralling read, showcasing Maddison Michaels' talent for storytelling and her ability to craft unforgettable characters. It’s a must-read for those who enjoy a well-woven tale of love, deception, and the quest for justice in the elegant yet perilous world of Regency England.

The Heiress Masquerade was such a nice read. The story follows Aimee, who at the behest of her mother to marry for social standing, gets shipped off to London to stay with a family of nobility while her illegitimate cousin and chaperone Evie gets to live Aimee’s dream of interning at her father’s business. When Aimee gets the brilliant idea to switch places, we know things will not go perfectly to plan. Enter Harrison Stone, Aimee’s father’s right hand man, thorn in her side, and now temporary boss. The two of them are light oil and water but also but at the same time two magnets who can’t stay away from each other.

I loved all the tropes in this story: secretly switching places, headstrong FMC, equally headstrong MMC, espionage, and enemies to lovers. Both main characters had a lot of character growth through out the book which was nice to see from two people who had such strong worldviews. There were several twists and turns trying to figure out who was sabotaging her father’s company. At times I would think I had it figured out only to be surprised and others it was easy to infer what was going to happen. The only negative I noticed while reading the eARC I received was there were a few typos and in a few different chapters there was repeated phrases and dialogue within the same conversations.

Overall I loved this book and can’t wait to read the first book in this series where we can learn about Evie’s experience on the same timeline. Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this opportunity to read and share my honest opinion.

It is so disappointing because I loved loved Evie’s book and looked forward to reading about her cousin.

An extra star for the interesting premise but otherwise the book is not my type. Too many dull dialogues, superficial development of characters, the heroine is highly unlikeable, one of those cringy woman type that is constantly angry and hysterical over her women rights. Who gets angry for someone else’s attempt to help you? I saw where it was going and couldn’t get through this torture. As a woman myself I prefer strong, intellectual, witty characters not immature conflict causing drama queens who gets emotional over small things and have inane dialogues. I wonder how many times the heroine stopped her carriage in New York when witnessing children’s and people’s abuse on the street in order to save them.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange of an honest review.

She's a firecracker if you like that in the main character. Cute period romance. Loved the story and the drama.

Aimee Thornton-Jones, the American heiress of a multimillionaire, doesn’t want to be another dollar princess but rather wants to take over her father’s massive business. The problem is in this time frame women don’t own or run businesses. That is not going to stop Aimee though, as she convinces her cousin Evie to switch places and allow herself to become a secretary at her father’s London company.

My first impression of Amie was not good. She was a ridiculously impulsive, spoiled brat. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to continue reading this book. However, I pushed through and found myself really liking her. I loved Harrison- handsome, focused and seductive.

I enjoyed watching these two collaborate on business and allowing their relationship to build.

I love the tension and the turmoil and the ending was very satisfying! Not a closed door romance but also not XXX, it was just perfect! Looking forward to going back to read book 1 now. I want to see Evie get her happy ending too!

I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing, but the opinions are my own.

I didn't enjoy this story quite as much as The Heiress Swap, but it was still very enjoyable. I liked that Aimee isn't just a rich girl who wants to be a part of her father's business and that she was actually taking steps to learning his business and business in general. Her attending college (even though she had to be in disguise) showed her aspirations were about more than just feeling she was entitled to her place in the business and that she was really willing to put in all the hard work it would require. I thought it was a good decision to have Aimee's true identity be revealed early on so that it was not what would eventually come out and cause a scene as it did in the previous book. I thought Harrison's reason for ultimately rejecting the love Aimee was offering him was a little weak, understandable, but still flimsy. I did love their reunion scene at the end, it was funny and sweet and perfect for the two of them. The kidnapping attempt was a surprise and the motive and true identities of some of the characters quite a welcome surprise. I'm hoping the ad regarding Sam's bachelor-status means there will be a third book in this series.

Likable and layered characters with
good dialogue and a fast paced plot.
I struggle with the instalust though. “You make me so angry I want to kiss you five minutes after we met” just isn’t for me. YMMV

I don’t always like stories where a character misrepresents themselves and the conflict is a third act breakup when the truth comes out. But this was resolved early here as the MCs would face other challenges. I struggled with the actual third act breakup though and Harrison’s arc felt rushed.

Vibes: dollar princesses, the princess and the pauper, secret identity romance

Heat Index: 5/10

The Basics:

American heiress Aimee doesn't want to be a "dollar princess", married to a struggling English lord who only wants her for her wealth. So she hatches a plan to swap places with her poor cousin. She'll be Aimee, while Aimee spends six weeks as a trainee at her father's company. Unfortunately, that means working for Harrison Stone, who doesn't like her at all. He knows she's hiding something. But he also wants to kiss her. What's a man to do?

The Review:

So... there isn't much WRONG with this, but it just didn't work for me. For one thing, I think that the relationship between Aimee and Harrison was a bit too instant in terms of like... jumping from "she's so annoying" to "I want to kiss her". I'm not against a fast burn, and if the chemistry had worked for me, I probably would've liked this. Unfortunately, it kind of didn't.

I loved the setting, and I loved the conceit of the girls switching places, but... So much of the plotting was internal. Aimee just thought of this and decided to jump into it. And it didn't really... seem natural for me.

That said, I did like Aimee's cousin, and I may check out her book. Sometimes, things don't click for you; and it really does kinda feel like "it's not you, it's me" here.

The Sex:

There's a little bit of tame sex here. It's not closed door by any means, but it's nothing particularly memorable either.

I wish I'd like this more! For the right reader, I can see it working—and if someone asks, I'd let them know. I just didn't vibe with it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As gripping as the first in the series, I truly appreciated the "other side" of the story that we just got a glimpse at in the first book. Playing to the author's strengths (characterization, banter, the sexual tension), this is a read I'd highly recommend.

I really loved this book! This was a great enemies of lovers book. The banter in this book was so good! I would highly recommend!

American heiress Aimee Thornton-Jones wants nothing more than to run her father’s company, but instead she’s expected to spend the season husband hunting while her cousin Evie trains as a secretary. Aimee takes matters into her own hands: strong-arming her look-alike cousin to switch places on the voyage. Harrison Stone runs the London office of the shipping business and if he can score a big win in a merger, Aimee's father will make him controlling partner "across the pond." When irregularities suggest there's a company traitor, Harrison and Aimee find themselves entangled in a web of deception and passion.

This is the second book in the Dollar Princess series, and book one and two take place on the same timeline. I recommend reading them as a pair.

Aimee Thornton-Jones has rejected multiple marriage proposals. Had she been born a male, she would have been training to run the family business instead of being sent to explore the marriage mart in England. When the idea for a swap takes hold, Aimee sees it as a chance to finally work and gain the day-to-day business experience she's been craving. After his parents' death when he was a child, Harrison was rejected by a loathsome uncle and forced to survive on his own. A lucky break with Aimee's father gives him the chance to prove his worth and work to make himself a success.

I loved the first book, and this one was just as good...perhaps even better. Aimee and Harrison get off to a terrible start and grate on each other constantly. Aimee wants to have a career and has no interest in a loveless marriage. Harrison is also not interested in marriage, as he does not want to experience love and loss. I enjoyed the business intrigue very much and the author did an amazing job of keeping enough possible villains in play to make the ending still surprise. Can't wait for the next one!

Tropes: Prince/Pauper Retelling, Lookalike Swap/Mistaken Identity, Class Difference, Enemies to Lovers, Working Heroine

Steam: 2

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review

The Heiress Masquerade by Maddison Michaels is a perfect book for a switched identity romance.

Aimee swapped identity with her cousin just to be a secretary in her father's company. She want to prove that she can do more to her father. This leads her to Harrison, her father's employee which will become her temporary boss. Even though, their first meeting are full of bickering, bantering and arguing, they can't deny there's attraction between them.

Harrison
✅ Orphan
✅ Self made Boss

Aimee
✅ Business mindset
✅ Million dollars princess

✅ Swapped identity
✅ Enemy to lover
✅ Lots of bickering (both of main characters are strong minded)
✅ Suspense
✅ Angst
✅ High sexual tension
✅ Plenty of Spicy scenes intense and explicit

I'll definitely be looking forward to read the next book by Maddison Michaels.

An interesting lovestory between Aimee and Harrison

The characters

Aimee: American dollar princess who wants nothing but to run her father's business, no marriage certainly not to a peer. Strong willed, bold, proud and unashamedly grabs for what she wants by swapping places with her cousin Evie (an orphaned bastard) before heading to London to take Evies place as secretary in her father's company.

Harrison Stone: Aimees father, Thomas's protegee, orphaned at age 8, mentored by Thomas since age 11. His life long goal is to build an empire, and prove to his father's family that he does not need them. He is also an Earl in waiting. He is in final stages of finishing a deal which will make him an independent and wealthy man. An alpha male, works hard and unashamedly reaches for what he wants wealth and independence. However, the loss of his parents threw him into such a tizzy that he refuses to love again and hence not marry either.

Villians: Harrisons possessive ex Lady Hatley, widowed countess, who feels he belongs to her only even though he broke it off with her. A few deranged girls who are trying to kill Aimee.

Story: Harrison and Aimee collide in every way, physically, intellectually, emotionally (although that takes a long time for either of them to admit). She challenges him every step of the way, with every assumption he makes about her. When he discovers that she is in fact Thomas's daughter and not the neice, he goes ballistic but she blackmails him into keeping her secret. They embark on an affair. He proposes out of honor she refuses. He proposes again, this time agreeing to let her run a business, she tentatively agrees. However things come to head when Harrison almost loses Aimee and even though he loves her, promises her only a marriage of convinience and no love. She walks away.

This book was emotionally charged. Towards the end, I was highly tempted to bonk Harrison on his head, several times. Aimee is just fighting for what she wants. She love working, she fights for it, she loves deeply, she fights for it. But Harrison just breaks her by not fighting back. Ofcourse there is a happy ending for both her and her cousin Evie but I could have definitely had more groveling from Harrison.

I love this series! What is better than a well-done masquerade?

This happens over the same time period as book 1. Two cousins - the wealthy pampered Heiress and her illegitimate orphan companion - switch places (per request of the Heiress heroine of this story of course). I really enjoyed the first book, and this one was just as good. I would recommend both, and they may be read in either order.

Aimee was a very stubborn and determined woman. She inherited many of her parents' positive traits but didn't mind bucking society's rules. She loved numbers and wanted to be her father's business heir.

Harrison was an orphan and didn't have the same monetary benefits growing up that Aimee did, but he was just as stubborn and determined. He dedicated his life to work and achieving his business goals.

These two were similar enough to butt heads but also sharpen each other. I liked both of them individually and their dynamic together.

I look forward to the next in the series. The writing is consistently good, and I definitely plan to read more.