The Mask She Wears by Jennifer Leeland

After reading The Trust She Yields by Jennifer Leeland I knew I wanted to read more of her books. I enjoyed getting to know some of the other characters. I was not disappointed because The Mask She Wears was everything I hoped it would be. Jennifer Leeland is a masterful writer that weaves a wonderful tale of love romance and BDSM.

In the BDSM lifestyle, Catherine Lanyard is an extreme submissive with serious baggage. For years, she’s avoided her pain and hidden dark secrets. Now, an experienced Dom has broken through her barriers and forced her to face her fear. Sex was always a give and take for Justin Travers. He’d always kept his “lifestyle” practices separate from real life. But when Catherine blurs that boundary, he must decide what he really wants.

Catherine Lanyard is a loner. She eats lunch by herself at the same place everyday. She loves to read romance novels but never dreamed she could find that kind of love for herself. All of that is about to change when a handsome stranger sits at her table. She sees him often but would have never approached him because she is a sub not a Dom and she is tortured by her past. That alone keeps her isolated. She has only trusted one person with sordid details and David lets her be herself. She is comfortable with him because she knows there is no attraction there. One thing she can’t deny is her attraction to Justin. Will she let down her walls? Can she get over her past and let Justin in?

Justin Travers is a Dom and he is a good one. He loves the lifestyle but keeps it separate from the rest of his life. He is a professional and does not smudge the lines between his lifestyle choices and the rest of his world. Then he meets Catherine…and it all changes. He has noticed her on many occasions and she is vaguely familiar, but he can’t quite place her. One thing is for sure he is attracted to her but she is guarded. Can he get past her defenses? Will he be able to handle it when he does?

Catherine and Justin both attend BDSM parties at David’s house. She is always disguised by a mask. It is the only way she feels safe. When David pairs the two of them up both of their lives are changed forever. They connect with each other in a way neither has ever experienced. How will this effect their lives outside of David’s parites? Can they trust the bond they created? Or will they go back to living life the way they always do?

The Mask She Wears has an engrossing plot and is filled with poignant characters. Once I started reading I didn’t put it down until the last page. Catherine was a very identifiable character. Her emotional distress was very clear. I love how Jennifer Leeland creates characters that have room to grow and overcome adversities in their lives. It adds extra depth to them and the plot. The Mask She Wears is a perfectly enticing BDSM romantic read.