Unmasking Juliet - Teri Wilson

Unmasking Juliet by Teri Wilson
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Source/Format: Netgalley (Thanks Harlequin!) || e-galley

[I received this book for review from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]

Ever since she was a little girl learning to make decadent truffles in her family's chocolate shop, Juliet Arabella has been aware of the bitter feud between the Arabellas and the Mezzanottes. With their rival chocolate boutiques on the same street in Napa Valley, these families never mix. Until one night, when Juliet anonymously attends the annual masquerade ball. In a moonlit vineyard, she finds herself falling for a gorgeous stranger, a man who reminds her what passion is like outside of the kitchen. But her bliss is short-lived when she discovers her masked prince is actually Leo Mezzanotte, newly returned from Paris and the heir to her archenemy's confection dynasty. As they compete head-to-head, Leo and Juliet's fervent attraction boils over. But Juliet's not sure whether to trust her adversary, or give up on the sweetest love she's ever tasted... (modified from Goodreads)

Last year, I read Unleashing Mr. Darcy and fell promptly in love with Teri Wilson’s ability to take a classic novel and put a contemporary spin on it. Her stories may be inspired by classic works like Pride & Prejudice, but they’ve certainly got a quality that is all their own. 

In her latest release, Unmasking Juliet (a story inspired by Romeo & Juliet), Wilson takes elements from Shakespeare’s original to sprinkle in amidst a story of chocolate, dogs, Napa Valley and Italy. With a combination like that, I dare you to try and resist this fun, decadent, romantic tale! 

(Spoiler alert: You’ll find it hard to do this. In fact, it may be nearly impossible.)

So, since I can’t seem to think about reviewing this in any way but list form, here’s one of all the things I really liked:

• Romance: Leo & Juliet had a really appealing romantic relationship. It started with a spark of attraction (and a kiss!), but eventually kindled into something much, much more. Their attraction was definitely a big part of why they were so drawn to each other. But it was their mutual respect and admiration, plus, just a genuine interest in the other person that really cemented this relationship in the end. Plus, it did help that they could both be extremely sweet (though Leo was a lot more sweet, from what I recalled) about thoughtful when it came to one another! I seriously swooned over their encounters, and just wanted to keep yelling at them to kiss already!
• Romeo & Juliet elements: In case you didn’t know, I’m a big Romeo & Juliet fan! I read it at an extremely young age, and have read it many times since. Wilson definitely took some of the recognizable elements – the feuding families, the attraction and subsequent romance, the dramatic ending – and put her own spin on them. It was a lot of fun spotting familiar elements – and I like the way she put a twist on the dramatic ending!
• Leo: It’s seriously kind of hard to not fall for this guy, as he dazzles from the instant he appears! He’s insanely talented in the realm of chocolate, incredibly intelligent and surprisingly sweet too. I really like that he goes for what he wants (including Juliet), and found myself completely charmed by him right away.
• Juliet: Juliet's very headstrong, but I admired that instead of finding that it drove me crazy. Juliet’s loyalty to her family and dedication to her work are definitely admirable. I love seeing how she slowly learns how to embrace what makes her happy, while still being pretty respectful towards her family. Plus, she has an awesome dog named Cocoa too!
• Chocolate: How in the world do you expect me, the girl with a sweet tooth, to resist a book that involves two chocolatiers? Because seriously, it’s impossible. The elements in this book reminded me a bit of The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand, but also felt different! I think it’s fun to see these two experts in chocolate creation whipping up these fantastic sounding delights (and I may or may not have gotten a craving for chocolate and wine while reading). And besides, chocolate totally screams romance.
• Masquerade: The book start with a masquerade. I love me a good masquerade. Especially when it involves a romantic encounter with a mysterious stranger.

I seriously enjoyed Unmasking Juliet! It’s one of those fun, lighter reads that I like to indulge in every now and then – and it’s one that happens to be well done. If you’ve yet to try a Teri Wilson novel, you definitely should! I’ve been a fan of the two I’ve read, and fully endorse them for those of you looking for a new chick lit author to enjoy.