Mistress by Mistake (Berkley Sensation) [Paperback]

Susan Gee Heino (Author)

Book Description

Series: Berkley Sensation | Publication Date: December 1, 2009

Lord Dashford has decided to ward off the marriage-minded by convincing the world he?s throwing away his fortune. No matter, since heiress Evaline Pinchley, dragged to the Dashford estate, has no inclination to marry him.

Unfortunately, she fails to recognize her host when he begins to seduce her. An empty bottle later, Evaline wakes to find herself in Dashford?s bed. Now rumors and passions are sure to run wild?unless Dashford and Evaline realize that what happened by moonlight was no mistake.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Evaline Pinchley blamed both Madeira and moonlight for her current predicament. If Evaline had not finished almost a whole bottle of Madeira to celebrate finally achieving control of her fortune, and if the moonlight in the garden that night had not been so darned romantic, she most certainly would not have spent one unforgettable night of passion with a tall, dark, and sexy man. When Evaline later discovers her mystery lover is none other than Lord Randolph Dashford, the very same rakish, rumored-to-be-penniless viscount her aunt is hoping will marry Evaline, matters quickly become quite complicated. Even if she did want to marry Dashford—and she is almost certain that marrying the arrogant, insufferable man is the last thing on earth she wants—the impossible nobleman already has a fiancée, a beautiful heiress, no less. Sparkling with superbly crafted characters, humor, and deliciously sexy romance, Heino’s debut, winner of RWA’s Golden Heart award, is splendidly entertaining. --John Charles

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425231518
• ISBN-13: 978-0425231517
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,242,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was always one of those kids with a pencil in hand, scribbling down stories and then begging my parents to read them. I officially began my writing career in the Theatre, where I discovered that writing plays for others to perform was much easier than actually memorizing lines and showing up to rehearsal every day.

After several years working for various drama troupes and unheard-of little theatres (and whatever other job I could get to help to pay the bills), I eventually settled into my current role as preacher's wife and child herder. To preserve my sanity, I took my love of Historical Romance and turned my focus back onto writing. In 2008 I was honored to win the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart ® Award in the Regency Historical category.

MISTRESS BY MISTAKE was my first release, published in 2009 by Berkley Sensation. Following that, DAMSEL IN DISGUISE came out in 2010, and TEMPTRESS IN TRAINING just hit shelves this summer. The fourth book in this series, PASSION AND PRETENSE, is set for release in April, 2012. Today I reside in rural Ohio with an ever-changing menagerie of creatures, one very supportive husband, and the two most adorable (and frighteningly creative) children ever.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great debut!, February 10, 2010

By 

Lisa Cooke (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mistress by Mistake (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

Wow, if this is an example of this authors books to come, I'm standing in line at the bookstore! This was fun and sexy from page one. Can't wait for the next release from Heino!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Historical Debut, February 10, 2010

By 

D. Macmeans - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mistress by Mistake (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

Comedy is so easy to read and so difficult to write. Ms. Heino brought a great deal of humor to her enjoyable Regency debut. I'm anxiously awaiting more from this author.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good debut novel from a new voice in the Regency Romance genre., December 1, 2009

By 

Detra Fitch "Always hunting good books." (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mistress by Mistake (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

Set in Warwickshire, England. The year is 1816. Lord Dashford does not want to wed Claudia, but her father, Sir Victor Graeley, has the signed engagement papers. In hopes of changing Claudia's mind, the viscount convinces the world that he has thrown away his fortune on courtesans and gambling. Not even his mother knows that they are not really deep in debt as the world now believes. So when his mother, Lady Dashford, invites an heiress, Miss Evaline Pinchley, and her Aunt Bella for a short stay, he cannot blame her. His mother only wishes to help him. However, Lord Dashford is determined he will not succumb to the heiress or her scheming aunt.

The trust Evaline's father left for her is set up so that she receives it whenever she marries or reaches the age of twenty-five. Her mean Aunt Bella believes Evaline's twenty-fifth birthday to be five months away. In truth, Evaline has only just turned twenty-five. Evaline sneaks out to the garden - alone - to toast her birthday. The drunk heiress never recognizes the man she meets there is Lord Dashford; not even when she wakes - alone - in his bed the next morning.

Lord Dashford is surprised to learn that the servant from the garden is actually the heiress. He is still engaged to Claudia after all. But still, when Evaline refuses his marriage proposal he is both relieved and disappointed. The attraction between them is overwhelming. Things turn for the worse when Claudia and her father arrive to insist on a date for their wedding (within the month). Then, to cap it all off, a man from Evaline's past shows up, along with a guest, and the area becomes too flooded for anyone to leave. Lady Dashford's little visit of two ladies has turned into mad chaos.

*** THREE STARS! Here is a good debut novel from a new voice in the Regency Romance genre. The story has a sound plot and is executed with style. If you are looking for a realistic story, this is it. No danger lurking around the corners here. Instead, readers get a romance with hot bedroom scenes, scheming characters, and a hidden treasure subplot. This author shows lots of promise and I plan to keep a close eye on her future work. ***

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.