Synopsis:
My name is Charlotte Agoston, and I’m a runner. Not the ‘let’s go for a jog and slap a 26.2 sticker on your bumper’ kind of runner; I’m the kind of runner who takes off when her father is staring down the barrel of a guilty verdict that carries a 175-year sentence for perpetrating the largest fraud in the history of the world. That’s right. Bernie Madoff was an amateur compared to Alistair Agoston.
Faced with living under a cloud of suspicion and constant questioning by the FBI, I ran. I’m making a new life in New Orleans as Charlie Stone. I traded my future in New York high finance for tattoos, booze, a few friends who don’t ask questions, and one giant mutt named Huckleberry Finn. Everything is simple and uncomplicated until Simon Duchesne—former hotshot Navy fighter pilot, NOLA’s favorite son, city councilman, and rumored congressional hopeful—walks into my life.
The flashing cameras he attracts threaten to expose everything I’m hiding, but I can’t seem to stay away. Why are the most dangerous ideas always the most seductive?
In trying to get lost, I found myself. And then I found Simon. He loves me, and he doesn’t even know my real name. I’m going to break his heart, but mine will shatter right along with it. This is our story.
Will we be strong enough to face the consequences of revealing what’s beneath this mask?
Faced with living under a cloud of suspicion and constant questioning by the FBI, I ran. I’m making a new life in New Orleans as Charlie Stone. I traded my future in New York high finance for tattoos, booze, a few friends who don’t ask questions, and one giant mutt named Huckleberry Finn. Everything is simple and uncomplicated until Simon Duchesne—former hotshot Navy fighter pilot, NOLA’s favorite son, city councilman, and rumored congressional hopeful—walks into my life.
The flashing cameras he attracts threaten to expose everything I’m hiding, but I can’t seem to stay away. Why are the most dangerous ideas always the most seductive?
In trying to get lost, I found myself. And then I found Simon. He loves me, and he doesn’t even know my real name. I’m going to break his heart, but mine will shatter right along with it. This is our story.
Will we be strong enough to face the consequences of revealing what’s beneath this mask?
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Review by: Fidah
Beneath This Mask follows a rather similar plot to other novels where our main character is running away and hiding from her past. Charlotte Agoston ran to live her life as Charlie Stone where she wouldn't be constrained by the questioning from the FBI.
For a story that stems from a rather common plot, it can be seen as overdone or cliché. However, this book was able to diverge from others and tell its own story. I think the main reason that it is able to grow to its full capacity is because of the characters.
The characters in this book are very real. Every character in the book played a role in the story. They weren’t aimlessly mentioned and never seen again. We actually got to know them a little bit better, no matter how small.
Of course, romance is a huge factor in the book. In this case, Charlie meets Simon who is the son of a politician. Charlie was very hesitant into being in a relationship with Simon because of the unwanted attention that she would receive. This was one of the reasons I liked Charlie. She was aware of her problems and how having a relationship with him would affect them. She didn’t jump straight into his arms.
There wasn’t a lot of angst in the relationship which I really enjoyed. Again, too much angst in a relationship can be overdone and damaging. It can also be very aggravating. Their relationship wasn’t always smooth but I liked how the characters tackled their problems.
The ending of the book was quite predictable. I knew what the author was going to write about in the epilogue before reading it. It isn't a huge deal but I would have liked the ending a little bit better if the epilogue wasn't included in the book. I thought it would have been unique as the last scene referenced what happened earlier in the book. Hence, an epilogue isn't necessary in my opinion.
All in all, the book was a very solid novel. I really enjoyed it for most of its parts. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romance novel.
4.5 Stars
Excerpt:
“I gotta go, babe.” His eyes skimmed over my nude body. “And that blows. I was hoping to stay in bed all day with you.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I don’t remember inviting you to spend the day in my bed.”
“You would have.”
“So cocky.” I trailed a finger down my chest, between my breasts. “You’re lucky I think that’s hot.”
“You don’t play fair.”
My smile transformed into an outright grin as he watched my fingers continue down to my belly. “Should I?”
“Never.”
He crossed to the bed and leaned down to press a quick kiss to my lips.
“Wish I could stay, but I have to take care of something for work. A customer’s cargo is currently sitting on the bottom of the Mississippi, and I need to clean up the mess.”
I flipped the sheet up and covered myself, suddenly embarrassed that I’d been trying to act the seductress when he had real world problems to deal with. “It’s fine. Do what you need to do.”
He pulled the sheet away, leaving me naked again. “Like you better this way.” He sat on the bed and cupped the side of my face in his big hand. “Dinner tonight?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Sure.”
“Wear a dress. A short one.” My jaw dropped. He said what?
“Seriously? You did not just say that.”
“Oh, but I did.”
I huffed, tugging the sheet from his grip. “Have you ever seen me wear a dress? Let alone a short one?”
He leaned in and brushed his lips over the shell of my ear. “I’m going to see it tonight.”
“Cocky bastard,” I said, shivering from the contact. “If it gets you into a dress, I’ll be whatever kind of bastard you want me to be.”
I won the sheet tug-of-war and tucked it around me before crossing my arms over my chest. “Maybe. No promises.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven. Short dress. High heels. The same wild, just-been-fucked hair you’ve got going on right now. That’s how I’m going to be picturing you all day while I sort this shit out.”
I bit my lip and shook my head at him. “You’re crazy.”
“Only about you.” His lips met mine for one more kiss. This one was long, slow, and full of promise of what was to come. Finally, he pulled away. “See you later, babe.”
He left the room, and I heard the door to my apartment open and close. I uncrossed my arms and pressed a palm against either side of my face and rubbed upward. I was in way too deep.
Trailer: http://youtu.be/F-IpVFMQ3cg
About the Author:
Meghan March is a Michigan native who has spent a good portion of her life buried in a book. Case in point: she read the entire romance section of her small town public library by age fourteen. Even after growing up (sort of) and getting a law degree, she never lost her passion for a great story, twisty plot, epic romance, and amazing characters. When she’s not writing, she’s probably reading, target shooting, drooling over fast cars, playing with her crazy mutt, or hanging with her very own sexy bad boy.
**GIVEAWAY**
$25 Amazon Gift Card and a signed paperback of Beneath This Mask.
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