Mask of Dreams by Leigh Grant takes you to the romantic city of Venice during the 15th century. Caterina is the only child of the wealthy merchant, Ludovico. One act of foolishness as a child causes a chain of unfortunate events to unravel for Caterina. Her betrothed, Ariosto, requires continual payment for her mistake and is only satisfied with her suffering. When her prayers for escape from the betrothal are answered, a new search begins via a letter. The end result of that search becomes a Slav outlaw named Rade from across the Adriatic. He believes fate has brought him to Caterina but, being scarred, he is unable to meet the requirement for beauty in the letter. He finds a solution, a mask, but is also forced to agree to a long betrothal. Trapped by the mask, and falling in love with Caterina, there are many obstacles to overcome; will the secrets he hides crush any happiness they might someday find with each other?

Leigh Grant forges a different ambiance and background in her historical romance, Mask of Dreams. Through an intricate weave of characters, cultural differences, and secrecy, Grant constructs a fascinating storyline. The novel begins with Caterina’s unfortunate behavior and its consequences, which at her age should have been a factor, but the pride of a man’s reputation was on the line. The author gives an in-depth view of her dreams, hopes, and disappointments. When Rade’s fate changes, he is brave enough to take hold with an iron fist; his kindness and integrity are seen only by those closest to him. The dynamics between Caterina and Rade clash, keeping the reader absorbed in their drama. Overall, Grant writes with an originality that is spectacular and engaging. The plotline and conflict make this a fascinating novel.

Mask of Dreams by Leigh Grant is set in picturesque 15th-century Venice and the hinterlands of the Balkans. Caterina is half noble and half commoner. Betrothed to a man old enough to be her father, at a gathering, she reacts to ridicule brought on by behavior that angers her suitor and for that, she is punished. The betrothal fails. Having won a letter in a card game soliciting offers for her hand, a charismatic brigand, Rade, arrives in Venice. Drawn by what he sees as the hand of fate, he is unable to fulfill the concept of beauty put forth in the letter. He seeks out a lifelike mask to conceal his scarred face. A man of ambition, he views Caterina solely as his key to wealth, but eventually, he falls for the innocent yet willful maiden. While it may seem like fate has drawn them together, it decides to throw them a curveball. Can Rade and Caterina find their way to each other? Or are their destinies not meant to be intertwined?

Reading Mask of Dreams is a unique experience. Masks and hidden identities play an important role in this novel. The story is descriptive without being annoyingly long, which means the descriptions are helpful and entertaining to read. While the pace of the story is great, it is the descriptions that bind the story together for me. They are so vivid that I can easily imagine living in the pages with Caterina. Author Leigh Grant explains sounds and images in such a glorious way that I believe no reader will have trouble forming a connection with the characters and falling in love with the narrative. You can tell Grant put a lot of thought into each moment of the story and I love that.