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Review: Penelope and Prince Charming

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Review: Penelope and Prince CharmingPenelope and Prince Charming: Nvengaria (Historical Paranormal) by Jennifer Ashley
Series: Nvengaria #1
Published by JA / AG Publishing on August 1, 2006
Genres: Historical, Paranormal
Pages: 377
Goodreads
three-half-stars

FINAL DECISION:  A fun mixture of fantasy, fairy tale and historical, this book introduces a new series.  While the insta-love reduces much of the emotional drama, the story was interesting and the characters have a good story to tell.

THE STORY:  Miss Penelope Trask is a double jilt after ending two disastrous engagements.   She has resigned herself to never marrying when Prince Damien of Nvengaria appears informing her that she is the the woman he has come to England to find.  The woman destined to be his bride and help him rule his land.  Penelope knows that something magical is happening (and this book has magic in it) but knows that men have deceived her before.  Damien and Penelope must battle those who are trying to prevent Damien from returning to his country and certainly trying to prevent a marriage between them.

OPINION:  This book was an enjoyable mixture of historical, fairy tale and fantasy.  As the first book in the series, the mixture is not always smooth, but I found the combination both sweet and fun.  (There is also some sexy situations put in the mix to keep the sickly sweet possibilities away).

Damien comes to England to search for his destined bride, immediately falls for Penelope but then has to win her and her family over.  At the same time, the two need to battle the evil Grand Duke who wants to prevent the two from fulfilling the prophesy and returning to Nvengaria as the rulers.  There are assassins and monsters and magic sleeping spells along the way.

The insta-love in this book (consistent with the Cinderella fairy tale this is loosely based on) reduces much of the emotional drama between the characters.  The book also has bit of “marriage of convenience” feel to it as Penelope and Damien seem fated to be together but then have to learn to live with one another.

I loved Penelope in this one.  She is strong and independent and clearly the center of this book.  Nothing works in this book without her.  It is her discovery of her true self that makes this book work.  Like Cinderella, she is hidden in the small town she lives in.  In truth, she is a princess.  Her discovery of her abilities — her true self — makes her relationship with Damien work and also saves their country.

I also was intrigued by the story of the villain, Alexander (whose story is next in the series).  For me, I was more interested in his story than Damien’s (I have a thing for the anti-hero).  I would read the next book in this series simply based on Alexander’s story, but I also was intrigued by the combination of genres.

A reader of this book will have to be open minded because the book combines the fantasy elements of magic and monsters with a some very typical historical elements.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This book is a historical paranormal with magic and fantasy elements along with taking place in the regency period.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  PENELOPE AND PRINCE CHARMING is the first book in the Nvengaria series.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 3.5 stars.

three-half-stars

Review: Beyond the Highland Mist

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Review: Beyond the Highland MistBeyond the Highland Mist (Highlander, #1) by Karen Marie Moning
Series: Highlander #1
Published by Dell on May 29th 2007
Genres: Historical, Paranormal, Time Travel
Pages: 375
Goodreads
three-half-stars

“This cannot be happening.  This is not possible.  This cannot be happening.  Yet in the forefront of her mind, realist that she was, she understood that the words can’t and impossible had not bearing when the impossible was indeed happening.

Unless she woke up soon from a nightmarish and vivid dream, she was in Scotland, the year 1513, and she was indeed getting married.”

FINAL DECISION:  An enjoyable and interesting mix of genres, I thoroughly enjoyed the story but felt that the mixture was clunky at times.  I was both compelled by the story and also felt that this book needed more in the way of world-building to make this a great book.  I would definitely read more based on the romance alone.

THE STORY:  Adrienne de Simone has been cured of the attraction to handsome men.  After the horrible experience, Adrienne knows that she will never trust a handsome man again.  For this reason, Adrienne is chosen by a vengeful fey to bring her back in time almost 500 years in order to torment the fey’s enemy.

Highlander Sidheach James Lyon Douglas, third earl of Dalkeith, known as The Hawk, has been a womanizer and has become a great lover.  When the queen of the fey praises him too much, the Fae king and fool seek revenge by saddling him with a wife who will never love him and might even be persuaded to betray him.  As a result of their intervention, Adrienne ends up taking the place of the Hawk’s betrothed.  Adrienne and The Hawk begin an contentious relationship.  While the Hawk begins to fall for his wife, Adrienne remains committed to not being foolish again.

The two have to confront Adrienne’s distrust, Hawk’s painful past and lovers, and the enmity of the Fae.

OPINION:  I thought this book was an intriguing mix of genres.  That was one of its great strengths because it felt intriguing and fresh.  It was also its greatest weakness because the mix didn’t always mesh well.  In the years since this book was written, many authors have taken to the mixing of genres and this early innovator suffers a bit in comparison.  That being said, I enjoyed the romance and the interaction between the characters and I am willing to read more of the series to see how Moning developed the mixture of genres in future books.

The interaction between Adrienne and Hawk was a highlight of the book for me.  Hawk was not what I expected in the book.  It was especially nice to see such a strong, sexy, handsome historical character who really just wanted peace and a family.  I liked how Hawk is a little clueless about how to have a relationship with Adrienne and continues to make mistakes that complicate his courtship.  The book contains an interesting twist about his reputation with women that gives him a sympathetic past.  At the same time, his painful past was written in a lighter fashion than I generally prefer.  Despite his history (and that of Adrienne as well) the emphasis in the book is on the present story.  While the characters have a history, it is quickly subsumed in the drama of the present.

Adrienne is a modern woman who is swept into the past.  One of the problems I had with the book was that she didn’t seem to have any trouble with adapting to the past.  There was little time paid to the disorientation that would have to result.  (I thought that the similar A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR by Jude Deveraux did a better job with dealing with that complication).  But this book seems to be more of a paranormal fantasy book in that regard than a true time-travel.

As for the romance, I loved it and really connected with the characters.  If this had been written as a historical or time-travel book, I might have given it a higher rating.  At the same time, the paranormal elements are what make this book unique and memorable.  I just felt that this book reads as a historical/time-travel in which the paranormal elements were not integrated as well.  The Fae seem a bit disjointed from the rest of the book because they remain without a true history or world.  There is some of the feel of Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM where the fairies interfere with the mortal world, but the Fae here feel less developed than I need to truly love this book.

While I didn’t love this book, I was intrigued and fascinated by it and the possibilities as the author developed her craft further. This was my first book by Moning, but I definitely will continue reading the series.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This book mixes paranormal, historical and time-travel.  It definitely pushes the boundaries of what can be expected in one romance book.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  BEYOND THE HIGHLAND MIST is the first book in the Highlander series.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 3.5 stars.

three-half-stars

Review: Sweetest Regret

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I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: Sweetest RegretSweetest Regret by Meredith Duran
Published by Pocket Star on November 28th 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 110
Goodreads
four-stars

FINAL DECISION: An enjoyable and well developed story about a second chance at love.

THE STORY: Georgiana “Georgie” Trent is left by her diplomat father to entertain his guests for Christmas and to search for a letter that one of the guests has stolen. To assist her, her father sends Lucas Godwin. Lucas broke Georgie’s heart two years ago when he left without a word to her. The two fight one another while searching for the letter and end up discovering what actually happened two years ago.

OPINION: I enjoyed this novella a great deal.  Georgie and Lucas have a tremendous amount of sadness and pain behind them. Even when they discover the truth, Georgie doesn’t believe that they have a future. The twists of this story were intriguing and the characters were well developed.

WORTH MENTIONING:  SWEETEST REGRET was previously published in the anthology WHAT HAPPENS UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  This book is a standalone.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: The Heiress and the Hothead

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I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: The Heiress and the HotheadThe Heiress and the Hothead by Sabrina Jeffries
Series: Sinful Suitors #1.5
Published by Pocket Star on November 28th 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 90
Goodreads
four-stars

FINAL DECISION:  Enjoyable novella that gives a taste of what the Sinful Suitors is all about.

THE STORY: Lord Stephen Cory, the younger brother of a marquess writes radical articles about the plight of mill workers and child laborers. He wants to meet Miss Amanda Keane, an American who owns mills, in order to prove that mill owners everywhere are atrocious. When he meets Amanda, he finds that she is more than he expected.

OPINION: I liked this story. Both Stephen and Amanda are headstrong people who have strong opinions. I liked that Stephen moves tremendously in his opinions. The two are cute together and the characters are well developed for such a short story. I liked this one.

WORTH MENTIONING:  THE HEIRESS AND THE HOTHEAD was previously released as part of the anthology WHAT HAPPENS UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  This novella is book 1.5 of the Sinful Suitors series.  I had not yet read the other books in the series when I first read this one so it is definitely not necessary to read the others books first.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: Hero in the Highlands

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I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: Hero in the HighlandsHero in the Highlands (No Ordinary Hero, #1) by Suzanne Enoch
Series: No Ordinary Hero #1
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on October 4th 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 384
Goodreads
four-stars

“Adam looked liked he’s swallowed a bug.  Gabriel, though, didn’t feel nearly as annoyed as his aide looked; she’d called him by his given name in front of someone else.  It shouldn’t have mattered in the slightest, but it did.  Covering his abrupt urge to smile by turning his back to collect Jack, he couldn’t explain even to himself what seemed to be happening, except that in the midst of this chaos and fristration at the stubborn nonsense keeping him from his duties, he felt…easier.  Not quite relaxed, because God knew he’s stepped from one battle direction into another, but lighter.  Because of her, and her relentless pushing at his well-established sensibilities.  It would never serve him in Spain, but here humor seemed to be an essential part of dealing with Highalnders and the Highlands.  And it felt like it had been a very long time since he’d laughed.”

FINAL DECISION:  The is an enjoyable read that is focused a lot on the plot.  The romance between Gabriel and Fiona is not that complex.  Definitely external problems that keep these two apart.

THE STORY:  Major Gabriel Forrester has dedicated his life to military service when he learns that he has inherited a dukedom he had no knowledge of.  Traveling to Scotland, Gabriel intends to investigate his holdings, put things in order and return to the war on the Continent.  When he arrives at his property, he find a curse, Highlanders unhappy with the arrival of the English Duke, sheep theft, and a woman acting as steward.  Fiona Blackstock wants nothing more than for the new duke to leave but she doesn’t know what to do with the man who doesn’t act like any duke Fiona expects.

OPINION:  This was the first Suzanne Enoch book I’ve read.  I don’t know how it compares with her other books, but I certainly will be reading more.

The story has a slow building romance without much emotional drama between Gabriel and Fiona.  This is a book that is grounded more in the plot with the drama centered there.  Gabriel and Fiona have a little conflict in the beginning, but as they recognize that they can have common goals, the conflict recedes and the plot drama increases.

I really, really liked Gabriel.  He is an honorable man who is trying to do the right thing.  Despite the anger and dismissal that he experiences in coming to the Highlands, he always considers the feelings of others.  He can understand and empathize.  And when he decides that Fiona is for him, he jumps in with all his heart and mind and talents.  He is willing to change everything for Fiona.

I liked the development of their relationship as partnership. When Gabriel commits himself to Fiona, he shows his willingness to listen, to learn, to take her counsel.  Sometimes a hero who has not obvious flaws is boring, but not Gabriel.  He struggles with finding his place in the world.  He works on learning how to take what he has learned as a soldier and adopt that to a civilian world.

Fiona was a bit more of a cypher and I while I liked her character, I never felt that I understood her as well as Gabriel in this book.  I suspect that there is more to learn about some of the events that formed her (especially the disappearance of her brother), but for me, there was just too much I don’t yet know.

WORTH MENTIONING: There are lot of books featuring a Scottish hero and an English heroine.  I liked the switch of having an English hero and Scottish heroine, a twist I haven’t read a lot of before.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  HERO IN THE HIGHLANDS is the first book in the No Ordinary Hero series.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: The Spinster and the Rake

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Review: The Spinster and the RakeThe Spinster and the Rake by Anne Stuart
on August 15, 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 162
Goodreads
four-stars

FINAL DECISION:  A sweet historical romance between a woman who has spent her life raising her brother’s children and a man who has plenty of notoriety behind him.  He brings animation into her life and she bring stability to his.

THE STORY:  Gillian Redfern has reached the age of thirty never having even been kissed.  Living with her brother and his family, Gillian takes care of the children and the household.  One night she meets Ronan Blakely, Marquis of Herrington who has been absent from England for twenty years.  Ronan is a true rake who left England in scandal.  Now he has returned as the Marquis.  When he meet Gillian, he thinks of making her break out of her comfortable world by turning his charm toward her.

OPINION:  I enjoyed this book tremendously.  It has a little dated feel to it (having been written in the early 1980s) but I loved Gillian as a character.  She is a woman who comes out of her shell and into her own as the book progresses.  She learns to reach out for what she wants in life rather than letting things happen to her.

Ronan is a true rake.  (Sometimes in modern books, rake is overused).  He has had notorious relationships (including an attempt to make off with a married woman).  I miss the opportunity to see his development as a character because much of his thinking remains murky (not uncommon in older romances).

I like how Ronan doesn’t know how to deal with Gillian.  Everything in the book was great until the ending.  There is a big twist that really wasn’t necessary and was brought up and resolved far too quickly.

I was amazed that so much story and character development was contained in so few pages.  I enjoyed it and this book reminds me that Anne Stuart has been a great writer for a long time.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This is a reissue (with a bit of new material) of a 1980s Candlelight Regency romance.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  This is a standalone.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: A Midsummer’s Kiss

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Review: A Midsummer’s KissA Midsummer's Kiss (Farthingale Series Book 4) by Meara Platt
Series: Farthingale #4
on February 3rd 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 302
Goodreads
four-stars

FINAL DECISION:  A gently developing romance with a hero with a broken leg and a reluctant betrothed, I loved that this book is about Laurel and Graelem talking and getting to know one another.  There are people plotting against them, but the true center of this book is the time Laurel and Graelem spent quietly together.

THE STORY:  Laurel Farthingale literally knocks Lord Graelem Dayne off his feet.  Unfortunately, it is because of her headstrong horse which manages to break Graelem’s leg.  The accident ends up with Laurel becoming betrothed to Graelem against her wishes.  Laurel loves and intends to marry a childhood friend.  As the two end up spending time together, Laurel sees a different side to the gruff Scot.  Graelem must marry Laurel because he needs to marry in a month in order to retain his inheritance.  While he came to London intending on having a business relationship with his future wife, Laurel’s caring nature seeps into the soul of a man who has been alone for a long time.

OPINION:  There is something I really enjoy about Platt’s characters.  They are all gentle, nice people.  Don’t get me wrong, they are not boring, but rather there is a tenderness to their personalities that I really enjoy.

Laurel is caring and nice and she is willing to protect those she cares about.  Even when Graelem annoys her, Laurel deeply feels his pain and wants to comfort him.  What is a triggering part of their relationship is that Graelem almost immediately wants to care for Laurel in return.  Without knowing her and having good reason to dislike her horse, Graelem shields Laurel and her horse from being separated.

The books has a different feel since Graelem is convalescing for much of the book.  This gives him a weakness that should not be attractive in a hero.  Yet it manages to do the opposite here.  Graelem always appears in control despite his physical limitations.

This book also contains a special relationship between Laurel and her sisters.  I enjoy the interaction between these sisters which isn’t stereotypical but rather feels deep and real.  I also enjoy the meddling Farthingale family in general.  They are annoying, loving, nosy, unfair, judgmental, supportive and everything that a real family is like.

WORTH MENTIONING:  Because of the unique order in which these books are written, there are intriguing reveals no matter what order you read the books in.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  A MIDSUMMER’S KISS is the fourth book in the Farthingale series.  It is actually a prequel to the other books in the series and can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: Rules for Reforming a Rake

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Review: Rules for Reforming a RakeRules for Reforming a Rake (Farthingale, #3) by Meara Platt
Series: Farthingale #3
on May 21st 2015
Genres: Historical
Pages: 308
Goodreads
four-stars

FINAL DECISION: I found this book so interesting because it was a different take on a plot that I have read before.  The characters were so likeable that I was completely satisfied to sink into their world and see how their difficulties would be resolved.

THE STORY:  Daisy Farthingale is determined to find the perfect suitor in order to regain her family’s regard.  Daisy voluntarily took the blame for an attempted elopement (but it wasn’t her).  Her family no longer trusts her opinions regarding men.  Daisy’s determination is challenged when she meets Lord Gabriel Dayne, rake and wastrel extraordinaire.  Despite her best intentions, Daisy finds herself attracted to Gabriel and she just senses that he is a better man than his reputation suggests.  Gabriel is indeed a better man but purposely cultivates a terrible reputation in order to disguise his missions as a spy against the French.  Gabriel cannot risk getting close to Daisy even as he finds her irresistible.  Gabriel must stay away from Daisy for both their sake.

OPINION:  What strikes me most about Platt’s Farthingale series is how likeable the characters are.  In every book, the characters seem like they would be people that I would enjoy meeting.  I also enjoy how each Farthingale sister is so different from the others.

In this book Daisy is the middle sister who wants to make things better.  She even took the blame for her older sister’s attempted elopement.  That act by Daisy has placed her in a difficult position in her family.  Although completely innocent, she is distrusted by her family.

In fact, Daisy and Gabriel are both seem incorrectly by their family.  Both have taken on actions not their own in order to protect.  Daisy to protect her sister; Gabriel to protect his country and those he loves.  It is therefore unsurprising that each recognizes something in the other and sees something beyond reputation.  This equivalency is done with deft care and a great deal of subtlety.

The romance is so sweet and I especially enjoyed how Gabriel is given reason to hope for a future by Daisy.  He is a damages soul that is healed by the gentleness and vivacity of Daisy.  I liked Gabriel a great deal and I loved that Daisy does not give up on Gabriel despite all indications.  She wants true love and when she finds it, she becomes determined.

This is not my favorite in the series, but it is really good and I look forward to going back in time and reading about Daisy’s older sister.  (We should also learn about the attempted elopement which gets Daisy in so much trouble).

WORTH MENTIONING:  I find the fact that this book is a prequel to the other two books in the series fascinating.  The remainder of the sisters’ stories will be told in reverse order.  What I like best about it is how rather than knowing about the past and having to wonder about what happens to the characters in the future, the future instead is already known and the past has many secrets.  This is a different way of building a series and I find it intellectually interesting what techniques Platt is using.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  RULES FOR REFORMING A RAKE is the third book in the Farthingale series.  The book is actually a prequel to the first two books and thus can be read as a true standalone.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: Dressed to Kiss

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Review: Dressed to KissDressed to Kiss by Madeline Hunter, Caroline Linden, Megan Frampton, Myretta Robens
on September 12th 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 370
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a collection of four novellas tied together by characters connection to a dressmaker’s shop.  Madame Follette’s dressmaking shop has been declining for years due to changing fashions and the stubbornness of its owner.  Her children convince her to turn over operations to her daughter who struggles to revitalize the business in the shadow of the king’s coronation.

THE DUKE’S DRESSMAKER by Madeline Hunter:  Selina Fontaine is working at Madame Follette’s when Randall, Duke of Barrowmore comes back into her life.  Four years ago, Randall’s brother seduced and left her at Randall’s urging.  Selina knows that the Duke disapproves of her.  She now fears that he will expose her true identity and ruin her again.  By the description of this story, I expected more drama and angst.  Things are neatly explained in this story which was sweeter than I expected.  These two quickly manage to find out the truth about the past.  I liked the characters which is important in a short novella.  Rating: 4 stars.

THREADS OF LOVE by Myretta Robens:  Delyth Owen is a new dressmaker in the shop.  She loves vibrant and sometimes unfortunate color choices.  Simon Merrithew is the author of a fashion column.  He comes to ruin Delyth after she creates a too colorful dress for a friend that Simon believes was intentional.  When he meets her, however, Simon realizes that the bright colors are just a reflection of the joyful woman Delyth is.  This story was good, but I really didn’t feel drawn to Delyth at all.  She remained too insubstantial for me to root for her. I did enjoy the story and having a man interested in fashion was a novel experience. Rating: 3 stars.

NO ACCOUNTING FOR LOVE by Megan Frampton:  This is the story of the son of Madame Follette, Mr. Henry Dawkins.  Henry is the bookkeeper for the shop.  When Miss Katherine Grant walks into the shop, Henry can’t keep his eyes from her.  Katherine is a lady’s companion.  Unfortunately, her charge is drawn to the inappropriate Mr. Dawkins.  Henry is big and gentle and a bit shy and he desperately wants Katherine even if they are a social mismatch.  I really loved Henry’s character.  On this one, the story didn’t work as well for me, but I liked the characters.  Henry is definitely not your alpha male, but he is adorable.  Rating: 3.5 stars.

A FASHIONABLE AFFAIR by Caroline Linden:  This is the story of Miss Felicity Dawkins, daughter of the owner.  Felicity is struggling to reinvent the shop and return it to prominence. Evan Hewes, Earl of Carmarthen, wants to buy the shop to tear it down as part of his revitalization of the street.  This story could have been fascinating as a full novel.  In its shortened form, the personalities of the characters were not as well developed.  I liked the story, but it seemed like there was much more to find out.  Rating: 3.5 stars.

What would have made this collection amazing would have been an epilogue.  All these characters contracted such difficult marriage pairings that I would like to know what happened a year later.

four-stars

Review: No Mistress of Mine

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Review: No Mistress of MineNo Mistress of Mine (An American Heiress in London, #4) by Laura Lee Guhrke
Series: An American Heiress in London #4
Published by Avon on August 30, 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 384
Goodreads
five-stars

‘He’d been ready to sacrifice everything dear to him, to turn his back on everyone else he loved, in order to keep her.  And then, she had left him.”

FINAL DECISION:  This is my favorite book of the series.  I loved just about everything about this book.  The characters were good people, intelligent and demonstrated growth in the story.  The romance was difficult and there was no magic solution for these two but rather a mature acceptance of the painful things that can go with love.

THE STORY:  Lord Denys Somerton has finally regained the respect of his family after a wild period where he fell for a cancan dancer and thought to make her his future countess until she abandoned him for another man.  Now Denys is considering marrying his childhood friend while managing his family businesses.  Then Lola Valentine walks back into his life.  Having inherited half a theater from the man she left Denys for, Lola has returned to London to fulfill her dream of being an actress.  Denys finds himself an unwilling business partner of Lola.  Denys knows that Lola is bad for him but he has never been able to resist her.

OPINION: I don’t if I can express how much I loved this book.  A fallen woman.  Class differences.  Hero is a genuine nice guy.  Heroine is smart.  Setting someplace other than the ton balls. Second chance at love.  Accepting love requires sacrifice.  This hit so many of the points that make my heart soft and gooey.

I loved Lola.  This woman is a survivor.  Intelligent and self made.  She has taken risks and brought herself so far.  And yet she is haunted by the choices she has made to get where she needs to be.  Being with Denys challenges her because she feels unworthy because of her past and because of their class differences.  She let Denys before in order to protect him from the sting of their relationship, but she also wanted to save herself.  She has returned, older and stronger and perhaps willing to try harder.

Denys is adorable.  I love that he acknowledges his mistakes and tries to remedies them.  He is also completely devoted to Lola.  Even when he is hurt from her actions, he still treats her with more respect than other people.  I like that he attempts to understand her.  When he realizes that he did not know Lola as well as he assumed, he takes actions to remedy that.  It takes a brave man to toss everything he loves away for a woman and an even stronger one to try and convince those he loves to support her.

The romance between Denys and Lola begins in this book with them being equals in a way that they were not in their prior relationship.  Lola, especially, feels the inequality between them so it means something for the two of them to be equal business partners.  Their equality in business which Denys accepts become a proxy or a more equal personal relationship.  Their equality also refreshingly comes into their acceptance of their sexual history.  Denys realizes that he cannot condemn Lola for her sexual experience in light of his own. He cannot judge Lola and that allows him to see her in way that is personal and meaningful.

I adored that this book is about two people recognizing their mistakes, learning to trust and talk to one another and then just jumping into love with all it’s complications and pitfalls.  At the end of this book, Denys and Lola know that not everyone will accept their love but the important ones will.

WORTH MENTIONING:  I hope Pongo eventually gets his own story.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  NO MISTRESS OF MINE is the fourth book in the An American Heiress in London series.  While characters from the other books make appearances, it is not necessary to have read those books to enjoy this one.  This book can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 5 stars.

five-stars