The Blackwood Masquerade. The Secrets of Blackwood, #1

Step behind the gilded doors of Blackwood Manor, where every chandelier sparkles with secrets, and every whispered name could change your life. Welcome to Port Diamond, New Jersey-a city run by power, money, and the shadowy influence of the Blackwood family. Isaac Parker never belonged to this world. Raised in the quiet, open spaces of Western Massachusetts, Isaac's life was built on honesty and grit.
But love doesn't care for boundaries. When Lysander Blackwood, the exiled heir of a notorious dynasty, brings Isaac home for the first time, both men are thrust into a world of privilege, rivalry, and danger-a world where being yourself is the bravest (and most dangerous) act of all. At the heart of this world lies the Blackwood Masquerade, an annual gala where masks aren't just for show. Beneath the glamour, old wounds fester and new threats prowl.
Lysander is no longer the lost son-he's returned, arm-in-arm with the one man the Blackwoods can't control. Isaac quickly discovers that survival at Blackwood Manor isn't about playing the part-it's about rewriting the rules. Family isn't everything-but it's everywhere. Amara Blackwood, the family's matriarch, rules with icy grace and sharper words. Julian LaRoux, flamboyant party planner and unrepentant gossip, knows how to spin chaos into opportunity.
Elliot Vale, the family's enigmatic fixer, is always watching-and maybe hunting for more than a story. Every guest at the gala has something to lose, and Isaac's arrival turns up the heat under simmering rivalries and buried grudges. But this isn't just a battle for acceptance-it's a war for freedom. As Isaac is drawn deeper into the Blackwoods' deadly games, he must confront more than just the ghosts of Lysander's past.
There's a code hidden in every exchange, a legacy of secrets stretching back generations, and a darkness in the family's history that could destroy everything and everyone Isaac loves. With Lysander at his side and only their love as a shield, Isaac faces a house built on lies, a matriarch who never forgives, and a network of power that doesn't tolerate outsiders. But Isaac Parker has survived worse-and he's about to show the Blackwoods that not every outsider can be broken.
If you love: Found family and enemies-to-lovers Glittering, cutthroat family drama Mystery, suspense, and queer romance Witty banter, lavish parties, and power plays Characters with sharp tongues, hidden scars, and unwavering loyalty .then The Secrets of Blackwood: The Blackwood Masquerade will pull you in, keep you guessing, and leave you hungry for the next chapter. Discover the secrets. Unmask the truth.
Enter the masquerade-if you dare.