The Masked Baron

Romance, suspense, and the supernatural effectively intertwine in this captivating Regency from Walker (Love in Disguise), which pairs an inquisitive beauty with a reclusive baron. Andalin Durante’s life is turned upside down when her poor tradesman father sends her to live with the Dark Rider, an infamous baron-turned-highwayman. Heirless, the Dark Rider, Lord Ellison (“Ellis”) Cadogen, intends to make Andalin his ward, planning for her to eventually inherit his manor, but is taken by her unexpected beauty. For her part, Andalin’s initial fear of Ellis is soon allayed as she finds him surprisingly kind and frequently absent on nightly rides through the Black Forest in Corbridge, England. Ellis piques Andalin’s curiosity and she spends her time alone in the manor searching for clues to his past, discovering that Ellis is on a quest to avenge the death of his parents and the disappearance of his twin sister 10 years earlier, both of which are somehow connected to a woman called Sephira, the witch of Baltar. The engrossing central mystery and electric chemistry between the spirited characters keep the pages turning. This rousing romance is sure to win Walker new readers. (Mar.)