Diane Gaston puts in a new spin on the classic "Beauty and the Beast" tale in A MARRIAGE OF NOTORIETY.

Phillipa Westleigh is convinced no man will ever want her for a wife, because she has a childhood scar on her cheek. The boy who befriended her after her accident wants to be more than friends now, but Phillipa is sure Xavier Campion's attentions are just a kindness, not true affection.

Xavier loves Phillipa, and he relishes the chance to give her an adventure, a freedom that she has never known. Each night, he escorts her to the Masquerade Club, a gambling den where she can wear a mask that hides her scar and her identity.

When their game is discovered, they both have to look beyond appearances and decide whether to risk A MARRIAGE OF NOTORIETY or a life without each other.

This novel is a delight. It has a strong love story, of course, but also a bit of mystery, as Phillipa tries to unravel the truth about her accident. Xavier is just back from military service, and a subplot explores the plight of many veterans at that time. It's part of the Masquerade Club series, but I have not read the previous books.

Readers who enjoy Regency romances and daring heroines should add A MARRIAGE OF NOTORIETY and Diane Gaston to their list of must-read books and authors.