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The Grand Masquerade (Bold Women of the 19th Century Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Amanda Hughes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,858 ratings
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For readers who like historical fiction with a bit of a love story.

It is a life built on secrets, lust, and lies, and Sydnee Sauveterre is at the center of the charade. Used as a source of income at a stand on the Natchez Trace, she escapes at a young age to start a new life in Louisiana. Gifted with visions and a knowledge of Hoodoo, Sydnee must find her way through the quagmire of danger and deceit that is 19th Century New Orleans. She bands together with four friends to create an illusion within the elegant, high society of the Louisiana Creole. It is a risky charade meant to fulfill all of their secret desires, and Sydnee gambles everything, including love, to lead this double life. Will she survive the grand masquerade?
"Once again Amanda Hughes splashes the pages with gritty adventure and love stories about audacious women in the past. Her page-turning tales will keep you on the edge of your seat as you take wild rides through dramatic and dazzling periods of history."


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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Bold Women of the 19th Century Series
  2. Print length
    462 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    October 7, 2014
  6. File size
    4966 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Complex characters, a rich and accurate history of New Orleans, love stories that were intricate, desperate and forbidden, had me reading this book well into the night." -Rosette, Literati Literature Lovers

"In this book and the others, you feel transported back in time and to an entirely new and strange place. As you follow the lives of the main characters, you also feel that you are truly experiencing their challenges, setbacks, and triumphs. Hughes' is a seriously talented author--" Dorothy Wiley, best-selling author of the American Wilderness Series


"This story has it all: adventure, romance, intrigue, mystery and great storytelling." -Historical Romance Review

From the Back Cover

"Once again Amanda Hughes splashes the pages with gritty adventure and love stories about audacious women in the 18th and 19th Century. Her page-turning tales will keep you on the edge of your seat as you take wild rides through passionate and dazzling periods of history."It is a life built on secrets, lust, and lies, and Sydnee Sauveterre is at the center of the charade. Used as a source of income at a stand on the Natchez Trace, Sydnee escapes to start a new life in Louisiana. Gifted with visions and a knowledge of Hoodoo, she must find her way through the quagmire of danger and deceit that is 19th Century New Orleans. She bands together with four friends to create an illusion within the elegant, high society of the Louisiana Creole. It is a risky charade meant to fulfill all of their secret desires, and Sydnee gambles everything, including love, to lead this double life.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00OABX19M
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lillis and Jaymes (October 7, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 7, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4966 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 462 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,858 ratings

About the author

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Amanda Hughes

Amanda Hughes

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Bestselling and award-winning author, Amanda Hughes is a "Walter Mitty", spending more time in heroic daydreams than the real world. At last, she found an outlet writing adventures about bold women through the centuries. Well known for her genre-busting books, she is the winner of the Gems National Medal for Writing, featured in USA Today and is nominated for the 2017 Minnesota Book Award. Amanda is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and when she isn't off tilting windmills, she lives and writes in Minnesota. Don't miss these page-turning novels for readers who like historical fiction with a just bit of a love story. All of her books are stand-alone and can be read in any order.

The Bold Women of the 17th Century: The Firefly Witch Book 1, The Sea Bandits Book 2, Painting with Fire Book 3

The Bold Women Series of the 18th Century: Beyond the Cliffs of Kerry Book 1, The Pride of the King Book 2, The Sword of the Banshee Book 3

The Bold Women Series of the 19th Century: The Grand Masquerade Book 1, Vagabond Wind Book 2, The House of Five Fortunes Book 3

The Bold Women Series of the 20th Century: Beneath a Blazing Sky Book 1, The Looking Glass Goddess Book 2, The Image Seeker Book 3

Interested in her new books or a free novelette? Go to www.amandahughesauthor.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,858 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Rosey
5.0 out of 5 stars A historical reader's treasure, especially if you love New Orleans.
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2015
Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed The Grand Masquerade. It was a beautifully written historical fiction that captivated me from beginning to end. Complex characters, a rich and accurate history of New Orleans, love stories that were intricate, desperate and forbidden, had me reading this book well into the night. I really had difficulty putting this down.

The book begins in the Natchez Trace, where a young and pregnant fourteen year old girl survives with the help of some unorthodox friends. Fortunately for her she has a mother figure that protects her and educates her in the ways of Hoodoo. Her father is a cruel man that offers her daughter to men that visit their spot on the Trace. Sydnee Sauveterre escapes her brutal life and eventually finds herself in awe of the life that was now open to her.

The author goes in great detail when describing New Orleans in the 1800’s, from the structures of the buildings, to the beautiful courtyards, the elegant gowns and the grand lifestyle of the well to do. But hidden behind the beauty are dangers of illicit love affairs, cruelty of enslavement, destitute families with children whose lives were lost to common diseases of that time. Sydnee’s social status rises but her spirit becomes weary of the soirees she is famous for hosting. She eventually finds purpose in her life, all the while keeping the secrets that entwine her and her four closest friends.

Just when it seems that love has skipped over Sydnee, she finds a man that is both arrogant and irritating. In turn, Dr. Fletcher finds Sydnee spoiled and pampered. But the romance builds slowly, and I was completely enamored with their relationship.

This novel is one of those that you wish could go on. At 90% I found myself a bit sad knowing that the story would soon end. Do not miss out on this book if you love historical fiction. The romantic tale of all the characters was a bonus, but I believe the reader will further appreciate the author’s effortless and eloquent style of writing, her imagination, and her love of all things New Orleans.

It’s been twenty years, since I’ve had a true beignet. I think I’m due for one soon.
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4.0 out of 5 stars The Grand Masquerade (Bold Women of the 19th Century)
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024
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This story brought out many different emotions . There was disgust, sympathy, fear, love, determination n unlimited friendship. I enjoyed it very much n will continue with the series. Also each book is a stand alone read .
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donald montano
5.0 out of 5 stars I am just getting to know Amanda Hughes. I have already started reading The Vagabond Wind!
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2015
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I have just finished reading The Grand Masquerade. I loved it! -So many plots and sub-plots that made it, what else,-a Grand Masquerade.
I am attracted to bold women; they weave the most interesting stories.
This one is no exception.
As I read on, I thought, hm-m, the author is weaving a far more intricate plot here between Sydney and Tristan, and then D'anton and Tristan and finally between Isabel and Mortimer than meets the eye.Once they were all on stage, the thread that pulled them together let me settle down to read just how their lives could get any more entwined and filled with danger.
The beginning pages let me fully appreciate where Sydney came from and what she endured in her early years to survive and overcome a heart-wrenching upbringing.
Maxim was the perfect character to rescue her from the horror of The Trace, only to introduce her to another stark reality of life during the years that led up to The Civil War.
In spite of many hardships, Sydney matured and grew into a role that allowed her to become a true heroine, possessing all the qualities of the privileged gentry under the tutelage of Madam Picard, a fee woman of color who ran a school to teach the wealthy proper manners.
When Dr. Fletcher entered her life, it was certainly not love at first sight.Their differences were many and only as the story moved along did they find common ground on which to build a meaningful relationship.
And then the charade unraveled and everyone was pulled separately into their own world.
This novel was a very satisfying read from beginning to end. The final pages made me reflect on what the future held for Sydney and Fletcher as new found lovers with a common goal. In fact I am still juggling all the characters in my mind well after I put the book down; or in my case, turned my IPod off.
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Constant
5.0 out of 5 stars A Grand Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2022
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I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of "The Grand Masquerade" and I do not often read period books. I am glad I decided to read this one. The storyline was interesting and well done with characters that were believable in situations that were also believable. It was nice to have a main character that began life in hardscrabble conditions be able to work her way up to be a woman of compassion and grace. This is the first of a series I look forward to following.
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Avirs59
3.0 out of 5 stars Unusual and interesting storyline
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2017
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Unusual and interesting storyline. Not what I was expecting from reading the book blurb, but I enjoyed learning more about New Orleans history and the different characters. That said, the book dragged for me, and I skimmed a lot of the narrative. I dinged it one star for editing--hard to read sometimes with wrong punctuation, verb tenses, word choices.
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PaperCraftLady
5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps a little too long, but completely engaging!
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2016
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Through the pages written by Amanda Hughes in The Grande Masquerade, I was able to live vicariously in Louisiana during the early to mid 19th century. It was an exciting time for some but dangerous and extremely difficult for others. The main character, a young woman, overcame great odds to be able to find herself thriving in the excitement of New Orleans.

Hardships continued to follow her, but she was always guided and protected by the spirits, not to mention her most trusted, loyal friends who happened to be two dogs and a large crow.

I realize this was a work of fiction, but I learned some interesting history such as the fact that there were devastating earthquakes in 1811-12 and in 1841. Also, I never would have guessed that there was human trafficking of children going on way back then.

This was an engaging read that was perhaps just a tad too long. The author's characters were well developed, believable, and the. Main characters were very likable.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Victor Akongwale
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, just wow!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2022
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What a read!
A tapestry woven from rich and varied threads.
Amanda Hughes is a fine writer, and knowledgeable one too
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Julia McClure
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read. Detailed. Colorful. Rich and Gritty!
Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2019
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What drew me to this author and what will keep me reading each and every book this author has written is the story behind the story! Amanda Hughes story-line is nuanced and multilayered. What you see on the surface of things is not all there is! This author reveals the traditional, cultural ways and practices that are relevant to the times, even the secret knowledge passed down from mother to daughter. I felt privileged to share in the family ways. Each page is packed full of detailed, colorful descriptions that allowed me to experience, with the heroine, whatever she was going through in the moment. I knew very well how she wore her hair on that occasion and could see the cut and color of the gowns she wore and the company she kept. The author writes as though she has all the time in the world. She does not cut corners! I greatly appreciate her skill and am overjoyed to have discovered her! A terrific, talented writer!
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raph
3.0 out of 5 stars Bon livre
Reviewed in France on December 29, 2019
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Bon livre
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars From Hell to Heaven
Reviewed in Australia on January 27, 2019
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A grand tale indeed. From the depths of poverty and deprivation to the heights of the ton. Full of greed, hatred, betrayal and the beauty of some truly humane souls and true friendship.
A very well written story.
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Patricia T.
5.0 out of 5 stars So much more than a “just” a historical romance.
Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
Not what I expected at all. This is a story of not just overcoming abuse, social stigma and taboos, cultural differences, dangers, but having the courage, love, hope and strength to thrive and be brilliant and beautiful (inside and out). Each of the characters are fascinating. There was so much happening and yet I never overwhelmed. It had a great pace. You will not be disappointed, just pleasantly surprised.
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