45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning, moving, poignant and utterly romantic, July 12, 2001
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 there are the scenes which make your heart stop: that very first kiss in the music-room, when both are vulnerable and barriers are lowered. The fond, almost loving kiss after the party when he tells her that she can't stay. The moment when, once she agrees to be his mistress, she calls him Jocelyn for the first time. Their first lovemaking - even though he retreats afterwards and calls it 'sex' and 'bedwork'. And those poignant days when they sit together and talk in Jane's den; when he tells her about his chldhood and reveals his utter vulnerability. And, yes, that later kiss others have mentioned, the night before his next duel, where they say not a word to each other.
I too am glad that I didn't read the reviews here before I read the book; I utterly disagree with those who said that the resolution took too long, or who blamed Jane for not forgiving Jocelyn. What about his manner whenever they talked? When one word of kindness or love from him would have made her run to him - and he knew it - he remained arrogant and haughty, even after the duel when he knew she'd come because she cared.
This is now one of my absolute favourite historical romances, along with Putney's Thunder and Roses and Beverley's Devilish. It's that good.
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43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Compelling Romance, September 12, 2000
Jane is on the run from her cousin, an earl who inherited his title (but not the fortune) from Jane's father. The fortune was left to Jane and the new earl wishes to claim it by forcing her to wed his heir. She flees from her home and runs off to London, whereupon the earl immediately tries to find her, claiming that she robbed him and tried to murder his son. He wants, of course, to bring her back into his custody and force her into matrimony with his heir.
Jane meets up with Jocelyn--a duke--when she interrupts his duel with another gentleman in Hyde Park by shouting at the duo to stop, thereby distracting him from taking his shot. His opponent takes advantage and unsporting though it might be, shoots Jocelyn in the leg. Jocelyn, angry (and at this point in the novel a total jerk), insists that Jane nurse him back to health until he is recuperated. Once his leg is healed, however, he falls in love with her and doesn't want to let her go. He therefore offers Jane a new proposition...to become his mistress...
This is the first book I've ever read by Mary Balogh. "More Than A Mistress" is captivating on many levels, the most poignant two being emotionally and sensually. From an emotional standpoint, I was spellbound as I watched Jocelyn's slow transformation from jerk to hero and Jane's slow melting from ice queen to warm-hearted heroine. Sensually, the book has a lot of heat. This author really knows how to draw out a scene and ring it for everything it's worth.
The only reason I didn't give the book a five was because it went on for about 40 pages too many toward the end, using up far too much space wherein Jane punishes Jocelyn for hurting her feelings after he finds out her true identity (and has a negative reaction to her lying about it to him) and, somewhat ludicrously, for "making her fall in love with him".
I appreciate a good dressing down scene or two as much as the next person, but there comes a point when enough is enough...one chapter or two is okay--even three I could have lived with--but Jocelyn's punishment went on for the better part of a hundred pages. I found myself growing exasperated with the heroine Jane and began to find her behavior toward the hero petulant rather than independent. (Especially once she made it clear that he was being punished more so for making her fall in love with him rather than for any of his alleged misdoings.)
Still, the rest of the book was excellent enough to make me overlook the rather lengthy punishment for the most part. And since everything turns out alright in the end, it doesn't detract too much from the enjoyment as a whole. I still can't help but to begrudge a solid 40 pages of Jocelyn's punishment, however. The book would have been 100% perfect without it!
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
READ and SAVOR ! MARY BALOGH at her BEST!, October 1, 2000
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!
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