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nolegirl's review
4.0
My new Kindle arrived on Saturday, Feb. 13th, kind of a Valentine gift to myself. I knew there were free books available so I went looking and was surprised to find this one so I grabbed it quick. Started reading it that night and finished the next. I guess I was in the mood for something like this. A good, romantic read with a couple of twists, but not too many. Both of the main characters were well written and I loved his brother. I'll be checking to see if there is a book where he finds the right woman to share his life with.
lifeand100books's review
2.0
As a confessed book addict, a free book is like a free hit of a drug to me. Who could possibly turn down a novel for free, much less one from the famous Harlequin romance novel series? (Thank you Barnes and Noble for your free Nook Books) Follow along as I share my unique experience in reading one of these intriguing romances, His Lady Mistress, and feel free to comment below if you share my experience or feel otherwise.
Our heroine, Verity Scott, is caught in a sad state of affairs. With her father recently deceased due to suicide, she has no inheritance to her name and she is awash with grief. Enter Max Blakehurst, an old friend of Verity’s father who comes to her aid in order to put his affairs in order to the best of his abilities. Verity comes to discover that her father was actually Max’s commanding officer, and she instantly takes to the man as he offers her comfort in her time of need. Fast forward five years, where Verity is now living in the care of her uncle, not as a member of the household but as a common servant. Her family has forced her to change her name, recognizing her as “Selena” only. She crosses paths with Max for the first time since her father’s death, as he comes to visit her uncle’s family but does not recognize her. Even so, he becomes enthralled with her and decides to take her as his mistress as a way to protect her from the mistreatment’s she endures. Upon finding out that Selena is actually Verity he forces her to marry him, claiming that she knew all along the line she was walking. His overall opinion towards her, however, is as changing as the weather, as the two constantly fall in and out of love with each other. What will become of them? Will Verity finally be able to convince him of her innocence?
While the concept of the book was originally intriguing to me, the execution fell completely flat. The entire novel felt like one giant roller-coaster flowing off the ebb of the same conflict. He hates her, she loves him. She hates him, he loves her. Back and forth and back and forth it went. It got incredibly boring an old after the third “misunderstanding”. Max’s jealous outbursts didn’t make sense in the context of the “I hate you” moments. When Verity reveals that she did not sleep with him to trap him into marrying her he believes her, then 10 pages later we’re back to him doubting her.
I’m not sure how I feel about continuing on with another Harlequin romance novel after reading this one. I’ve seen the titles of some others and have serious doubts about finding a good one. (My favorite title I’ve seen to date has to be Reclaiming His Pregnant Widow). Despite these shortcomings, His Lady Mistress did keep me entertained and both Max and Verity were definitely likeable at times. So, when taking into account that this book was free, it’s shortcomings are lessened slightly. Although not for everyone, Harlequin romances do still hold a particular place in the literary world that they fill quite well. Give one a try and decide for yourself.
PS – If you think you can totally change my mind about Harlequin Romances and have one you think I’d like, leave me the title of one in the comments below.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-FO
Our heroine, Verity Scott, is caught in a sad state of affairs. With her father recently deceased due to suicide, she has no inheritance to her name and she is awash with grief. Enter Max Blakehurst, an old friend of Verity’s father who comes to her aid in order to put his affairs in order to the best of his abilities. Verity comes to discover that her father was actually Max’s commanding officer, and she instantly takes to the man as he offers her comfort in her time of need. Fast forward five years, where Verity is now living in the care of her uncle, not as a member of the household but as a common servant. Her family has forced her to change her name, recognizing her as “Selena” only. She crosses paths with Max for the first time since her father’s death, as he comes to visit her uncle’s family but does not recognize her. Even so, he becomes enthralled with her and decides to take her as his mistress as a way to protect her from the mistreatment’s she endures. Upon finding out that Selena is actually Verity he forces her to marry him, claiming that she knew all along the line she was walking. His overall opinion towards her, however, is as changing as the weather, as the two constantly fall in and out of love with each other. What will become of them? Will Verity finally be able to convince him of her innocence?
While the concept of the book was originally intriguing to me, the execution fell completely flat. The entire novel felt like one giant roller-coaster flowing off the ebb of the same conflict. He hates her, she loves him. She hates him, he loves her. Back and forth and back and forth it went. It got incredibly boring an old after the third “misunderstanding”. Max’s jealous outbursts didn’t make sense in the context of the “I hate you” moments. When Verity reveals that she did not sleep with him to trap him into marrying her he believes her, then 10 pages later we’re back to him doubting her.
I’m not sure how I feel about continuing on with another Harlequin romance novel after reading this one. I’ve seen the titles of some others and have serious doubts about finding a good one. (My favorite title I’ve seen to date has to be Reclaiming His Pregnant Widow). Despite these shortcomings, His Lady Mistress did keep me entertained and both Max and Verity were definitely likeable at times. So, when taking into account that this book was free, it’s shortcomings are lessened slightly. Although not for everyone, Harlequin romances do still hold a particular place in the literary world that they fill quite well. Give one a try and decide for yourself.
PS – If you think you can totally change my mind about Harlequin Romances and have one you think I’d like, leave me the title of one in the comments below.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-FO
nikkieliz13's review
2.75
⎯» Rating: 2.75 Stars
⎯» Genre(s): Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Harlequin
⎯» POV: Hero & Heroine—Third Person Omniscient
❥
If ever there was a saying that Max and Verity should learn from it’s, “You know what they say about assuming? It makes an ass out of uand me.”
If you’re okay with your angst having a higher quantity than quality, this is the perfect story for you. Almost all of the conflict is caused by miscommunication and the aforementioned assumptions.
Personally, I enjoyed the cycle of: hero jumping to conclusions, blaming the heroine, causing her to withdraw from him, then him regretting his behavior, and inevitably grovelling. Rinse. Repeat.
Healthy? Nope. Toxic? Most definitely. But this is fiction, so I only feel a smidge guilty for enjoying the drama.
❥
⎯»Extra Information
⎯» Genre(s): Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Harlequin
⎯» POV: Hero & Heroine—Third Person Omniscient
❥
If ever there was a saying that Max and Verity should learn from it’s, “You know what they say about assuming? It makes an ass out of uand me.”
If you’re okay with your angst having a higher quantity than quality, this is the perfect story for you. Almost all of the conflict is caused by miscommunication and the aforementioned assumptions.
Personally, I enjoyed the cycle of: hero jumping to conclusions, blaming the heroine, causing her to withdraw from him, then him regretting his behavior, and inevitably grovelling. Rinse. Repeat.
Healthy? Nope. Toxic? Most definitely. But this is fiction, so I only feel a smidge guilty for enjoying the drama.
❥
⎯»Extra Information
❖ Series or Standalone:
Standalone
❖ HEA:
SpoilerYes
❖ Cliffhanger:
No
❖ Relationship:
M-F Romance
❖ Labels/Tropes:
➢ Age-Gap
➢ Angst
➢ Cruel-Hero
➢ Hate-to-Love
➢ Hero-Wrongly-Accuses-Heroine
➢ Heroine’s-Loved-Hero-For-Years
➢ Marriage-of-Convenience
➢ Remorseful-Hero/Groveling
➢ Society-Drama
➢ Surprise-Pregnancy
➢ Tortured-Heroine
➢ Virgin-Heroine
❖ Triggers:
N/A
❥
tessisreading2's review
3.0
There's something oddly soothing about a Harlequin Historical - you know what you're getting, so to speak - and I read my way avidly through this one, even though the plot goes: In between, the hero and the heroine misconstrue absolutely every interaction they have in every conceivable way they can misconstrue them. This really reminds me of those Betty Neels novels I used to read in my grandmother's room at Thanksgiving. That said, if you want an in-depth romance with characters you don't want to punch who have any sort of internal consistency, this is not that book. The hero is a dick and the heroine is a doormat. The brother is whatever plot device is required at any particular moment. But if you want a stereotypical Harlequin novel with lots of swooning and misunderstandings and a Guaranteed Happy Ending, this is that book.
Spoiler
heroine is the teenage daughter of hero's former commanding officer, hero shows up and helps bury heroine's father after he has committed suicide, heroine is taken in by her wicked aunt and forced to change her name and work as a servant, hero shows up to check on the heroine and is told she is dead, heroine is molested by her wicked cousin, hero asks heroine to be his mistress, hero and heroine do the deed, hero learns the following day that heroine is actually, well, heroine, hero promptly marries the heroine while saying mean things to her because he thought she tricked him into marriage, heroine is woefully unhappy in marriage, hero fusses over her like a mother hen but remains convinced that she is also an evil conniving bitch, heroine is kind to servants, hero's twin brother is rude to heroine because he doesn't want to be cut out of the inheritance, hero starts sleeping with heroine but not going all the way because he doesn't want to have a baby, heroine thinks that hero is being kind to her because the only time they did the deed previously she was a virgin, heroine tells hero she wants to have a baby, hero storms off, heroine feels dizzy and is helped into the shade by hero's twin brother, hero shows up and starts yelling that heroine is trying to seduce the brother in order to have a baby, heroine gets very upset and vomits into the petunias, hero is instantly stricken with remorse, heroine storms off, hero discovers that heroine has been cheated out of her inheritance by her wicked uncle, hero takes heroine to London to follow up on the inheritance, heroine thinks that hero is taking her to London so he can meet some hookers (no, really), heroine decides to make the hero think she is having an affair (what?). Etc.milkweedwitch's review
1.0
I don't know why I torture myself with Regency romances. They always infuriate me.
macnchz's review
2.0
I liked this book at first. But the length to which these people took their misunderstandings started annoying me after a while. Still, not bad, except how the phrase "his whole body hardened" was used at least 4 times, and I have trouble picturing it. Really? The whole thing?
faiviii's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
the_sassy_bookworm's review
4.0
As part of Harlequin's 60th anniversary, they are offering several free Ebooks for download and this was one of the ones on offer. I have to admit I LOVED this book, it reminded me why I use to devour smutty romances when I was younger. The against, the unrequited love, the hot love scenes, I need more books like this in my life! LOL