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Hearts of Stoneleigh Manor #3
Unmask My Heart
Caroline Langdon has gained a reputation for being unattainable; she has turned down twelve offers of marriage in four years. A traumatic incident from her past has convinced her she never wants to belong to any man. Her plan to live as a wealthy spinster is tested when she meets the enigmatic Lord Wrotham. For his new assignment for the crown, Cage Morgan must slip into the one role he's never wanted, his title as the Earl of Wrotham. Lady Caroline is in grave danger. His new job is to watch over her and investigate which of her jilted suitors wants her dead. But keeping tabs on the clever and fiery lady is challenging. And ignoring the attraction that flares between them, impossible. Will a daring rescue and a fake engagement lead two guarded hearts to take a risk on a passionate love from which neither of them can hide?
338 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2022
About the author
Karla Kratovil
9 books147 followersFrom the time she read fairytales as a child, Karla Kratovil was hooked on stories that ended in Happily Ever After. Now as an author of sexy historical romance she gets to craft her own happy endings.
Karla lives right on the edge of wine country with her college sweetheart, two terrific teenagers, and two blond terriers. She is a Taurus. Like any good earth sign she loves good food, good wine, and getting her hands dirty growing things in her garden.
For more information about Karla and her books visit www.karlakratovil.com
Karla lives right on the edge of wine country with her college sweetheart, two terrific teenagers, and two blond terriers. She is a Taurus. Like any good earth sign she loves good food, good wine, and getting her hands dirty growing things in her garden.
For more information about Karla and her books visit www.karlakratovil.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 22, 2022
I love all of this author's work and once again she delivers a stunningly beautiful read. Her historical accuracy is incredible. I love that her heroines aren't damsels in distress but women who drive the narrative to get what they want. I've been waiting for this release because Caroline is one of my favorite characters and she finally meets her match. If you like Sanditon or Bridgerton but wish the female leads were not so easily lead by men. This is the work for you. I highly recommend it!
January 17, 2022
I was so excited for this third book in the Hearts of Stoneleigh Manor series. Caroline and Cage have such great chemistry. Karla Kratovil sets up a great story with just the right amount of mystery and suspense and a whole lot of romance! If you've read the others in the Hearts of Stoneleigh Manor series, you will LOVE Unmask My Heart! If you haven't read the other in the series, then get started! They are all great! Karla Kratovil doesn't disappoint!
March 8, 2022
3 1/2 stars, squeaking up to 4. I love finding good Regencies by new/newish authors. As far as escapist romances goes, this one fits the bill in many ways, with a few caveats.
Strengths of the book:
*Despite his name-- which isn't my cup of tea--Cage is my cup of tea as a hero. Tough but tender. The h, Caroline, is a bit spoiled and unrealistic, but I enjoyed her strong side.
*Cage and Caroline have great chemistry. The steamy scenes are well written, and I liked the way her trauma was handled. She didn't just automatically forget her fears as soon as things got hot and heavy.
*The plot moves swiftly.
*Works pretty well as a standalone (I did not read the previous books in the series).
What kept this from being a 5 star book:
*Minor but recurring errors with commas, capitalization, spelling.
*A bigger error involving Caroline's age. At the beginning, she is 21, about to turn 22, and it's stated that her kidnapping took place 4 years ago, when she was 17. In the last several chapters, she's about to turn 24. Mistakes like this take a reader out of the story.
*Plot holes (SPOILERS AHEAD):
--When Caroline's brother assigned Cage to protect her, he didn't even mention the kidnapping. This was "need to know" info and Cage could have automatically zeroed in on the perpetrator. I actually thought the brother was in cahoots with the bad guy for a while because he didn't tell Cage anything about what had happened to his sister.
--When Caroline confided in Cage about what happened to her, that should have been Cage's cue to zero in on the bad guy. Didn't happen until nearly the end, and the confrontation scene is kind of a letdown.
Bottom line: This is my first time reading a book by this author and she does a good job creating chemistry between the H/h. Would recommend stronger editing.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.
Strengths of the book:
*Despite his name-- which isn't my cup of tea--Cage is my cup of tea as a hero. Tough but tender. The h, Caroline, is a bit spoiled and unrealistic, but I enjoyed her strong side.
*Cage and Caroline have great chemistry. The steamy scenes are well written, and I liked the way her trauma was handled. She didn't just automatically forget her fears as soon as things got hot and heavy.
*The plot moves swiftly.
*Works pretty well as a standalone (I did not read the previous books in the series).
What kept this from being a 5 star book:
*Minor but recurring errors with commas, capitalization, spelling.
*A bigger error involving Caroline's age. At the beginning, she is 21, about to turn 22, and it's stated that her kidnapping took place 4 years ago, when she was 17. In the last several chapters, she's about to turn 24. Mistakes like this take a reader out of the story.
*Plot holes (SPOILERS AHEAD):
--When Caroline's brother assigned Cage to protect her, he didn't even mention the kidnapping. This was "need to know" info and Cage could have automatically zeroed in on the perpetrator. I actually thought the brother was in cahoots with the bad guy for a while because he didn't tell Cage anything about what had happened to his sister.
--When Caroline confided in Cage about what happened to her, that should have been Cage's cue to zero in on the bad guy. Didn't happen until nearly the end, and the confrontation scene is kind of a letdown.
Bottom line: This is my first time reading a book by this author and she does a good job creating chemistry between the H/h. Would recommend stronger editing.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.
February 22, 2024
The characters in this book are strong and caring, despite traumatic experiences and therefore, admirable. There is adventure and romance on every page. It was hard to put the book down, so I didn’t!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 7, 2022
Unmask My Heart by Karla Kratovil is INCREDIBLE!
Caroline Langdon is a strong independent woman among London’s ton. She is a sneaky do-gooder who rescues Alice, Grace, and Dorothy Boyd from the brothel’s madam, Mrs. Gwyn. How Caroline manages to save them is a spoiler, so I won’t give it away. But Caroline is an expert with a knife! In the process, she managed to ruin Lord Devonshire’s reputation. That’s a huge plus—I despised him!
Cage “Morgan” Wrotham was hired by Caroline’s brother, the Duke of Gilchrest, to protect Caroline and find out who was sending her threatening letters. He quickly learns watching Caroline will be a challenge. She is headstrong and doesn’t keep to her schedule. Then he finds himself agreeing to all sorts of things to keep her safe, including escorting her to Devonshire’s famous bacchanal party and a faux engagement.
I’ve only touched on a few exciting points of Unmask My Heart. There is the back story of Caroline’s kidnapping. And the child abuse Cage and Grace had suffered at the hand of their father. It was interesting how Cage’s sister, Grace, ended up a prostitute. The author kept me guessing who wanted to harm Caroline right up until the very end. Excellent!
I will add I loved William, Emma, and Vivian’s characters. They added a nice bit of flavor to the novel.
Needless to say, the plot’s twists and turns kept me pinned to the pages. All the characters and settings were excellently crafted. And the romantic scenes were tastefully done in a sizzling hot way. Five Stars!
Caroline Langdon is a strong independent woman among London’s ton. She is a sneaky do-gooder who rescues Alice, Grace, and Dorothy Boyd from the brothel’s madam, Mrs. Gwyn. How Caroline manages to save them is a spoiler, so I won’t give it away. But Caroline is an expert with a knife! In the process, she managed to ruin Lord Devonshire’s reputation. That’s a huge plus—I despised him!
Cage “Morgan” Wrotham was hired by Caroline’s brother, the Duke of Gilchrest, to protect Caroline and find out who was sending her threatening letters. He quickly learns watching Caroline will be a challenge. She is headstrong and doesn’t keep to her schedule. Then he finds himself agreeing to all sorts of things to keep her safe, including escorting her to Devonshire’s famous bacchanal party and a faux engagement.
I’ve only touched on a few exciting points of Unmask My Heart. There is the back story of Caroline’s kidnapping. And the child abuse Cage and Grace had suffered at the hand of their father. It was interesting how Cage’s sister, Grace, ended up a prostitute. The author kept me guessing who wanted to harm Caroline right up until the very end. Excellent!
I will add I loved William, Emma, and Vivian’s characters. They added a nice bit of flavor to the novel.
Needless to say, the plot’s twists and turns kept me pinned to the pages. All the characters and settings were excellently crafted. And the romantic scenes were tastefully done in a sizzling hot way. Five Stars!
March 19, 2022
Caroline Langdon has had enough of society and its expectations. She does not want nor need a man. She simply wishes to turn twenty-four, receive her inheritance then slip softly into spinsterhood. Turning down no less than twelve proposals of marriage, she is convinced that there is no man that can make her change her mind. She had a horrible experience with one once and she never wants to repeat it.
Little does she know that she is in danger and her brother The Duke of Gilchrist is hiring someone to protect her.
Cage Morgan now the Earl of Wrotham, a title he both detests and must now accept is hired to protect what he thinks will be another lilting lady. But then he meets her, or more like her mask meets his head.
Drawn to her from the very first minute, he is delighted and abhorred to realize that there is so much more to her.
Drawn into scheme after scheme, it is only wise to accept a fake engagement. This way they can both get what they want.
But what happens when real feelings enter into this?
Read to find out. I wish I could give more than five stars. This was a wonderful experience. I felt like the characters jumped right off the page to tell me their story.
. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Little does she know that she is in danger and her brother The Duke of Gilchrist is hiring someone to protect her.
Cage Morgan now the Earl of Wrotham, a title he both detests and must now accept is hired to protect what he thinks will be another lilting lady. But then he meets her, or more like her mask meets his head.
Drawn to her from the very first minute, he is delighted and abhorred to realize that there is so much more to her.
Drawn into scheme after scheme, it is only wise to accept a fake engagement. This way they can both get what they want.
But what happens when real feelings enter into this?
Read to find out. I wish I could give more than five stars. This was a wonderful experience. I felt like the characters jumped right off the page to tell me their story.
. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2022
Caroline and Cage's Story . . .
Cage Morgan has an assignment for the crown. Presenting himself under his real title, the Earl of Wrotham, Cage Morgan has to keep Lady Caroline Langdon safe from the danger that stalks her. One of her jilted suiters allegedly wants her dead, so he is investigating as well as protecting. And the attraction the two of them form does not make this task any easier.
Caroline has never wanted to be married. She has already turned down twelve offers of marriage over a four-year period. But she and Lord Wrotham have to pretend a fake engagement. Will this lead to actual love for each other, perhaps a real marriage? Will Cage find the threat and stop it before the woman he is falling for is harmed or killed?
This was an intriguing story line with a mystery that pulls the reader in. The characters were wonderfully portrayed. Will there be a HEA in this story? Or will there be a tragedy and broken heart?
Cage Morgan has an assignment for the crown. Presenting himself under his real title, the Earl of Wrotham, Cage Morgan has to keep Lady Caroline Langdon safe from the danger that stalks her. One of her jilted suiters allegedly wants her dead, so he is investigating as well as protecting. And the attraction the two of them form does not make this task any easier.
Caroline has never wanted to be married. She has already turned down twelve offers of marriage over a four-year period. But she and Lord Wrotham have to pretend a fake engagement. Will this lead to actual love for each other, perhaps a real marriage? Will Cage find the threat and stop it before the woman he is falling for is harmed or killed?
This was an intriguing story line with a mystery that pulls the reader in. The characters were wonderfully portrayed. Will there be a HEA in this story? Or will there be a tragedy and broken heart?
March 11, 2022
Her protector, her lover, her future?
This book will keep you on your toes with everything that is happening in it. It is a complex book with multiple storyline interwoven. There is the love story between Cage and Caroline but there is also some characters that need to come to grips with their past. There is a dangerous threat to Caroline that needs to be dealt with and few other twists to take care of too. It was such a great book to read, the flow was good, the characters were grand, and I loved the ending. This is a book I hope check out I highly recommend it and I think you will love it as much as I did. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
This book will keep you on your toes with everything that is happening in it. It is a complex book with multiple storyline interwoven. There is the love story between Cage and Caroline but there is also some characters that need to come to grips with their past. There is a dangerous threat to Caroline that needs to be dealt with and few other twists to take care of too. It was such a great book to read, the flow was good, the characters were grand, and I loved the ending. This is a book I hope check out I highly recommend it and I think you will love it as much as I did. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
March 16, 2022
Caroline is a strong independent woman doing good things for people. I the process she has turned down suitors and ruined someone reputation. She is getting death threats, so her brother the Duke hires Morgan to protect her. He needs to keep her safe but she does not always follow his instruction. They both swore off love and yet the draw between the two is unmistakable. This is a wonderful story filled with danger and plot twists and romance. This is the third in the series and it is just as delightful as the others. Loved it. . I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 21, 2022
I LOVE, love, love when there is more than just the focus of him & her. Yes, it is a historical romance and that (him&her) are the main focus BUT you need your friends, your people, your town, your comrades, etc. This book had that and executed all the conversations and going on wonderfully. I Could even picture people passing by and chatting in the background.
And it isn't stalking if you are a bodyguard. Basically in simplest turns this boils down to fake it to you make it and YOU might realize you made like it and keep it. Guarded hearts be d6mn6d:) A great read.
And it isn't stalking if you are a bodyguard. Basically in simplest turns this boils down to fake it to you make it and YOU might realize you made like it and keep it. Guarded hearts be d6mn6d:) A great read.
March 15, 2022
Connie had turned down twelve suitors. Her family was getting worried she would never get married. Morgan was a friend of one of her brothers and when she started getting death threats her brother the Duke hired Morgan to help her safe even though she was always going out of her way to break out of the bonds put on women. You will have to read to find out what happens.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2022
The third book in the Hearts of Stoneleigh Manor series. Caroline Langdon and Cage Morgan the Earl of Wrotham meet when he is assigned to protect her, unknown to her. I found this to be a well written, steamy story that I was not putting down until I had finished reading it. This couple belonged together, but he has things in his past that he has to overcome. I would recommend. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 14, 2022
Lots of wonderful characters are in this delightful tale - a happy ever after with an amazing life ahead of this hero and heroine. I am sorry that I did not read the first two books, that is a mistake I will remedy soon.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 25, 2022
I've waited so long for this book, and now I'm devastated it's over. I've loved Caroline from book 1 and could not wait to get to her story--don't get me wrong, I ate up Emma and Andrew's book in practically one sitting. I loved seeing Caroline get her happy ending, and it was one heck of a delicious ride to get there. Can't wait for more from this author!
March 6, 2022
Entertaining story with adventure and passion, Caroline and Cage took me on a wonderful journey. It starts with a fake engagement and ends in a true and enduring love.
September 26, 2023
Wow this is a great sexy book…recommend.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews