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30 June 2016

Unmasked Heart by Vanessa Riley - Audiobook Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels


Blurb: Shy, nearsighted caregiver, Gaia Telfair always wondered why her father treated her a little differently than her siblings. She never guessed she couldn't claim his love because of a family secret, her illicit birth. With everything she knows to be true evaporating before her spectacles, can the mulatto passing for white survive being exposed and shunned by the powerful duke who has taken an interest in her? 

Ex-warrior, William St. Landon, the Duke of Cheshire, will do anything to protect his mute daughter from his late wife's scandals. With a blackmailer at large, hiding in a small village near the cliffs of Devonshire seems the best option, particularly since he can gain help from the talented Miss Telfair, who has the ability to help children learn to speak. If only he could do a better job at shielding his heart from the young lady whose honest hazel eyes see through his jests as her tender lips challenge his desire to remain a single man


Compelling Listen!
My review of Unmasked Heart: Challenge of the Soul, Book One. 
The narrator did a good job with Vanessa Riley's latest release. What a delight to be able to read this as an audiobook listen! Gaia is a sympathetic heroine whose heart belongs to an undeserving man with fickle romantic aspirations. William is a heartsick hero who has been betrayed. The two have the common experience of gut-wrenching betrayal by the very ones who should love them most.  Gaia also has the shocking discovery that she is not the person she's been told she is all her life.  


William has been receiving threatening letters for some time, as a blackmailer warns that the truth about William's unfaithful wife will be disclosed. And that blackmailer is getting bolder and bolder. Will the blackguard prevail? Can a biracial Regency-era young lady and a wealthy Duke possibly make a match -- against all odds? Or is Gaia right, and there is no way it could happen? Will her first love prevail and steal her from William?


I received an audible.com download of Unmasked Heart from the author, the beautiful Vanessa Riley - pictured below, and am under no requirement to write a positive review. My opinions are my own.


Giveaway: We're giving away a copy of Unmasked Heart (winner's choice of format). Answer this question -- have you experienced rejection or prejudice because of something you have no control over?

18 comments:

  1. What an enticing review, CARRIE! Very nicely done and certainly whets my appetite to read this! Vanessa Riley is a new to me author...will have to rectify that! :)

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    1. I really enjoyed the first book of hers that I read, too, Diana! Thanks!

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  2. Wonderful review, Carrie!! It certainly has me intrigued and wanting to read it! Also a new-to-me author. :)

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    1. Aussie Angel, Vanessa has a unique Regency flair that shines!

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  3. Carrie, great review!
    This sounds very interesting. I have read 2 of her books and both of them were really good.
    Blessings,Tina

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  4. I'm happy to see a review for this book. I have waffled on getting it a number of times, but with so many books to choose from, I have always gone a different direction. A trusted review really helps. Thanks, Carrie. :)

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    1. You are welcome, Terrill! This is Regency with a twist, which is cool!

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  5. CARRIE, thank you for the wonderful review!

    Yes, I have experienced rejection over something I had no control over.

    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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    1. That's really sad that so many people do experience that rejection over stuff that is out of their control, Caryl! Thanks for coming by!

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  6. This book sounds very intriguing and has me curious to know what happens! Thanks for the wonderful review, Carrie!

    Yes, I have experienced rejection over something I had no control over. On our honeymoon, I had a scuba diving accident and almost died. I was in therapy for about a year. Some of my co-workers who I considered friends accused me of faking the accident so I could get a longer honeymoon. It was bad enough to go through such a horrible experience, let alone on your honeymoon, and then to be falsely accused was gut-wrenching. It reminds me to be compassionate to others and extend a hand of grace.

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    1. Oh my goodness! What wicked people to think such things! Praying all is well now!

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  7. I like the sound of this. In every sense.

    I have certainly experienced prejudice. Totally out of place.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. I have, too, Mary, all across the country. Rudeness and prejudice has no boundaries on earth.

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  8. Unfortunate I have been the recipient of unearned prejudice. I trust I have learned from my unfortunate situation to wait until all the facts are in before making comments or decisions. This book sounds wonderful. Thanks for the giveaway.
    bettimace(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for coming by, Betti! Yes, sometimes we must wait on the facts. This book gives great examples of people trying to feed facts that weren't necessarily true.

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  9. Wonderful review, Carrie - thanks!! 'Unmasked Heart' has a touching storyline, I'd love to read it!! Rejection and prejudice cover many areas other than race, yes - I've been a victim as so many people have. Though it hurts me as a victim, I may not be aware the perpetrator may have lashed out as an insecure person who has experienced rejection or prejudice also. I can allow such an experience to break me or strengthen me, I feel spiritual maturity is the answer to being strengthened.

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    1. Thanks Bonnie! sometimes such a reaction from people does strengthen and mature us. Good point! Blessings!

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