With humor reminiscent of Noel Coward and the sarcastic wit of Oscar Wilde, this is one romantic comedy that you’ll be recommending to all your friends.

It’s the early 1900s and Ms. Hester Mansfield, at the ripe old age of 28, is on the road to spinsterhood. The daughter of a wealthy family, she is shipped off to Saratoga, New York to spend the summer with family friends, the Benedicts. Hester disdains marriage, but her parents have every intention of marrying her off to “Horrible Harry,” the Benedict’s rude and artistic son.

Hester and Harry despise each other at first sight and manage to avoid each other’s company. Hester amuses herself by attending one of the outrageous Masquerade Balls held by Saratoga society during the summer. Dressed as a dazzling Spanish siren, she meets and is instantly attracted to a dashing masked bandit. She falls in love with him and is transformed! Gone are her dowdy clothes and hairstyle—a vibrant, sexy woman begins to emerge. Hester anticipates the other two masquerade balls, longing for her masked bandit. But who is he and why does he seem slightly familiar?

Elwin teases the reader, revealing just enough so that you’re hungry for more. The plot is concise and the characters are hilarious representations of modern day lovers caught up in a love/hate dance.


 

About the Author

Christine Elwin was a professional ballet dancer and dance instructor for over 25 years, teaching in the United States and abroad. An avid collector of fine art and antiques, she is now a fulltime writer and spends her time renovating old estates and homes. She lives in Mexico with her husband Robert and relaxes in her hammock, nurturing her characters. Ms. Elwin has recently completed her second novel, A Tale in Time and is working on her third romantic comedy.