Review: Nyrae Dawn is my all-time favorite author!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 9, 2014
Out of the list of authors whose books I eagerly anticipate and subsequently devour upon release, Nyrae Dawn sits at the very top. While I'm a fan of all of her books, the Games series as a whole is my favorite because of its honest and riveting portrayal of flawed characters in need of being saved by the one person who can make a difference. Like the first two books in the series, Charade and Facade, Masquerade features two protagonists who are lost and broken in some way; Bee Malone and Maddox Cross are kindred souls, each recognizing in the other shared pain and heartache. My emotional connection with these characters was deep and immediate, only growing the more I delved into their lives and their backstories.Usually when I read a book, I tend to gravitate more towards either the hero or the heroine but with Masquerade, I found myself equally drawn to both Bee and Maddox. They're so similar in character and temperament that, whenever they aren't butting heads, they have an effortless rapport.  I've read plenty of stories with the one night stand turned something more trope, but what makes Masquerade stand out from the rest is its characters. Bee and Maddox are both no-nonsense, independent types, yet their vulnerabilities emerge as their past and current hardships are revealed. The rest of The Games series gang also has prominent roles in the story, and even though I was satisfied with the conclusion of their individual narratives, I appreciate the updates on their lives, romantic or otherwise, especially because of the way their narratives entwined with Bee and Maddox's story.Masquerade is a perfect example of why I love dual perspectives. Before meeting each other, Bee and Maddox made an effort to close off their emotions to everyone, including those closes to them, so not knowing what is going on behind their practiced faade would mean not knowing the entire story. The most important part of the journey is experiencing the process as they work through their inner demons. It's not as heartbreaking and gut-wrenching as the previous two books in the series, but is instead more subtle about the way it grips your emotions. As with Colt and Cheyenne, Laney and Adrian, I was captivated by Bee and Maddox because they are like two halves of a whole, each incomplete without the other. I love how each of Nyrae Dawn's couples epitomize the concept of soul mates, creating heroes and heroines who may seem like polar opposites at first glance, but in the end, turn out to be perfect for each other."Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."