Review: Masquerade (Games #3) by Nyrae Dawn

Masquerade

Author: Nyrae Dawn

Series: Games

Pages: 320

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

Amazon

Release date: 7^th January 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

A biker. A tattoo artist. A love to last a lifetime.

Maddox Cross has always had to be tough. When his father went to jail for murder, the teenager took care of his sister and mother. Now on his own and working security at a night club, Maddox wants to become a tattoo artist-a dream that comes closer to reality when he falls for the hottest, most tatted woman he's ever seen. She's wild and beautiful, and Maddox will do anything to be with her.

Bee Malone came to town to open up her new tattoo parlor, Masquerade. Since being kidnapped as a young girl, Bee has had trouble getting close to anyone. But when she meets Maddox, she sees that under his hard biker's body is the sensitive soul of an artist. What starts out as a sizzling one-night stand soon becomes so much more.

Bee wants Maddox to join her tattoo business, but letting him into her life means revealing all her most intimate secrets. And as the past begins to intertwine with her present, Bee fears their love may not be as permanent as their ink . . . 

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 stars

I absolutely loved Charade, book 1 in the Games series; I’m yet to read book 2 Façade but Masquerade was fabulous! Nyrae Dawn never fails to disappoint with her amazing characters and truly heartfelt romances.

Masquerade is Bee Malone’s dream, her tattoo parlour; new in town and ready to start fresh she was a distant, hardened and straight talking character who has suffered since her kidnapping as a child and is trying to get on with her life without attachments; that is until she meets Maddox Cross who is just as broken as she is.

Maddox is guilt ridden and holds on to so much pain and anger towards his parents, the only person he seems to care about is his sister Laney and his dream to be a tattoo artist. When an opportunity comes up to apprentice for Bee despite sharing one night together she agrees to teach him what she knows but with the condition it is a professional relationship only.

Bee and Maddox clashed on numerous occasions but they were constantly drawn to one another, on many occasions I was rolling my eyes and hoping they would open up and let each other in but it was a bit of a journey to get there. They weren’t open or into heavy discussions but their attraction was off the charts, they complimented each other well.

The secondary cast were fabulous! it was great catching up with Colt & Cheyenne and I am now more than eager to read Laney and Adrian’s story – I’m really curious to learn more about Maddox’s hostility and anger towards Adrian.

With the story being told from both Bee and Maddox’s POV’s it gave us further insight into what both of the characters had been through which I appreciated and felt was necessary for this story, it bought out all the necessary emotions. Nyrae Dawn’s writing is fabulous! Her characters are written to perfection, they are flawed but believable and the romance is the kind I like, slow to develop and built on a mutual trust and chemistry.

I’ve also got to say that cover is one of my faves! It suits the couple perfectly and that model is mmmmm smexy!!

Overall, Masquerade was an emotional, heartfelt read that held my attention right from the very first page. A wonderful addition to the Games series.

Thank-you kindly to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read and review Masquerade.

 

About the author: (Goodreads) I am a compulsive reader and writer who loves YA fiction. 

I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me. 

I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.