More Than a Mistress

When Jane Ingleby boldly interrupts a duel one early morning in Hyde Park, she doesn't expect one of the duellers to be so angry with her that he would force her to nurse the wound immobilising him after his adversary shot him in the leg. Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham, holds her responsible for his wound, and his annoyance increases when she provokes him and refuses to be treated as a simple servant. When Jane becomes his mistress, neither of them knows that their relationship will be different from what they both expect.But treating her like another mistress isn't possible for Jocelyn. He trusts her, confides in her, opens his heart to her, without suspecting that Jane is hiding many things from him, things that could compromise their relationship.Mary Balogh has a way to bare her characters' inner thoughts that is poignant and makes perfect sense. Misunderstandings keep them apart without artificial dramas. She also knows how to write love scenes between two characters and make them so very different according to the state of their relationship. More Than a Mistress includes a love scene of sheer romanticism and a later one that reflects the different emotions driving both heroes. A lot of the characters' state of mind is revealed through those two scenes, as well as another greatly powerful one where, after days of coldness between Jane and Jocelyn, a wordless exchange reminds us all of the unspoken feelings binding them.There was only one regret I had about this book: I wish the main element of the outcome (which I won't reveal to avoid spoilers) had been showed "live" and not just told about. It seemed out of the blue and out of sync with the way the characters behaved a few minutes before what they knew (and what the reader didn't know) was revealed. I would also have wished for an epilogue; an unpublished one is thankfully available on Mary Balogh's site, and it made up for that small complaint of mine. :)As a whole, a delightful story, full of humour and poignancy, and certainly one I'll enjoy reading several times.

It's early on a bright spring morning, and the Duke of Tresham is fighting another duel. He's cool, collected and not at all troubled by his opponent, the husband of his supposed lover. Until the order to fire is about to be given, and a scream echoes across Hyde Park; a young woman's voice yelling, "STOP!". Tresham lowers his pistol, but his opponent does not, shooting him in the upper calf. Furious, Tresham delopes - as is his habit in duels - then, in agony, orders the young woman to his side, lashing her with his tongue and demanding that she remains to support him while the surgeon examines him, thus deliberately making her late for work.Having been sacked unless she can produce evidence that her excuse was true, Jane Ingleby turns up at Tresham's home to induce the Duke to write a note for her. She's mistaken for the doctor's assistant and is conducted to his bedchamber, where she ends up helping the doctor to remove the bullet. Furious at her presumption, Tresham employs her as his nurse for the three weeks he will be immobile, telling her that he will soon make her believe that killing her would have been preferable.But Jane turns out to be a surprising companion. No-one has ever spoken to Tresham as she does; she refuses to be cowed, only calls him 'your grace' with reluctance and only as long as he calls her 'Miss Ingleby', she argues with him and entertains him... and, he discovers, has an understanding and compassionate nature. She can also sing like an angel. And he is more attracted to her - his servant - than to any woman he's ever known before.Jane, too, finds herself becoming more and more attached to the rakish, arrogant Duke, to the point that she is tempted to confide in him the truth about who she is and the fact that she's on the run having been accused of murder. And she doesn't want to leave him... so when he offers her a position as his mistress, she accepts. Because it would offer her further protection and enable her to stay hidden, and also because she loves him.Thinking of it as a business arrangement, as all other such arrangements have been, Tresham sets her up in a house and she becomes his mistress. But very soon, in that blissful first week in which they spend almost every hour of every day in each other's company and Jocelyn rediscovers his love of art and music, she becomes so much more than a mistress. Jocelyn, Duke of Tresham, has found his first real friend.And then... well, other reviews have dealt with Jocelyn's discovery of Jane's true identity as Lady Sara Illingsworth and his reaction to it, the breakdown of their relationship.In my opinion, this is Balogh's best book yet, better even than Precious Jewel, Tempting Harriet, Longing and other favourites. The developing relationship between Jocelyn and Jane is beautiful to read; I re-read some of those early chapters immediately upon finishing the book. It's all in the subtleties of dialogue; one word can say so much, as another reviewer commented. Then th

Reading anything by Mary Balogh, the queen of Regency writers, makes one hunger for more. Balogh's command of the mores and manners of the times when George IV was regent of England (roughly 1811-1820) is spot on. The plot of More Than A Mistress hinges on the Regency concept of Honor, and how far an honorable man will go to preserve it. It's difficult for someone in the 21st century to understand all this, when a few words could clarify a situation that might turn deadly, but Balogh takes us easily into this rare world, with elan, charm, and great, great passion. I agree with the reader who cited the kiss-in-the-darkened-hallway scene. The heat generated could have warmed up half of London! Tresham and Jane are marvelous, feisty, intelligent flesh-and-blood lovers, characters worthy of the Balogh canon. I just wish there were more books by Mary Balogh this year than More Than A Mistress. Balogh's books are addictive, like rich dark Belgian chocolates, and I cheerfully confess my cravings.

When I heard that Mary Balogh was coming out with a hardcover, I groaned out loud. I thought I'd be faced with yet another of the seemingly endless number of disappointing hardbacks by romance authors. It's almost as if romance is not prestigious enough for hardback, and the authors end up writing mediocre suspense novels instead. Because of hardbacks, the romance genre has been abandoned by almost all of its finest authors. I am happy to say that this is not the case with Mary Balogh. I wish I could thank her personally for not abandoning her romance audience and the romance genre. "More Than a Mistress" is a satisfying romance in every way: the characters are extremely attractive, appealing, and sexy; their relationship is passionate and full of surprises; they overcome obstacles; their dialogue is witty and extremely well written; and, most of all, there is a great deal of intensity in their love for each other. If you read this book, you enter their world and feel their emotion. As always, Mary Balogh's use of language is impecable (there are no anachronisms or American slang), drawing the reader into the world of Regency England. I am very happy to travel to Regency England with Mary Balogh, and I wait impatiently for her next book. I think "More Than a Mistress" is one of her best books ever, and I would love to have more stories about its characters. Readers seem to be asking for Ferdinand's story. But I would really like a book about the sexy Viscount Kimble.

I know when I heard that Mary Balogh was going to be published in hardback...You could hear me groan across town! It's almost a given that an author will change their writing style in some way to appeal to a broader audience in hardback. NOT SO HERE! I have to respectfully disaggree with some of the earlier reviews. I was so taken by this book! (I won't repeat the plot because it has been posted) This is not just a love story, it's a true Romance. The main focus is the entrancing interplay between Jane and Jocelyn. If you are a quick reader you may miss so much! One word can make such a difference! The entire relationship developes over several weeks. It is filled with scenes where there is a battle of wills, conflict, passion, discovery, emotional betrayal and hurt, doubt and finally...(smile) I have a couple of my favorites (eg. when she calls him Jocelyn for the first time, the attempt at courtship at Lady Webb's home, the kiss in the dark hallway without a word spoken ..) Balogh has included some wonderful secondary characters. Jocelyn's sister is priceless, and I heard that Jocelyn's brother Ferdinand will have his story told next.If it's in hardback, Mary ..I'm buying. This is a book that pulls you in and makes you feel so involved with the characters.You will cheer them on till the end! Read without interruption and SAVOR this One!