Customer Reviews

More than a Mistress

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

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've read a number of Mary Balogh's books but this one, for me, is definitely the highlight. I read it alongside its pair "No Man's Mistress" but this is by far the superior of the two.

The hero of More Than A Mistress is the Duke of Tresham, a wild, rakish man who has had all trace of warmth and artistic flair beaten out of him by his father and grandfather. The Tresham men are manly and this one became duke aged 17 and has spent the next nine years as your average rich titled gentleman did in Regency times - horse riding, fencing, brawling, shooting, duelling and keeping mistresses.

Jane Ingleby is escaping a disaster in her past - saving herself from attack from her cousin she accidentally injures him - apparently mortally. She flees her home in Cornwall to take refuge with a relative... who is out of town. Jane has to find work quickly to keep herself alive, and eventually finds a position at a milliner's shop. Unfortunately she loses her job three days later when coming into work late - late because she intervened in a duel between the Duke of Tresham and the husband of a woman he has apparently slept with.

Jane and the Duke find themselves thrown together by circumstance - she has to nurse him following a shot to his leg in the duel. Their verbal sparring in this part of the book is brilliant. Jane is a calm, clever, self-contained woman (despite the problems in her life) and she is a match for Tresham when no-one else can stand up for him. Eventually he no longer requires nursing but can't bear to see her leave so offers her the position of his mistress - which she accepts with certain conditions. As their liaison progresses Tresham starts to learn about himself, to embrace some of his talents that he has repressed as unmanly and to understand the worth of Jane.

There are some great secondary characters in this book - Ferdinand Dudley, Tresham's brother, is amusing and fun and he's the hero of the second book in this series, No Man's Mistress. Their sister Angeline is great fun, if rather ditsy. Tresham's friends, although with fairly small parts in the series, are equally well written. Jane is being pursued by her cousin and a bow street runner and we learn about her from them, too.

But the real highlight of the book is the relationship between the two central characters. Their conversations are written with sparkle, the way that this relationship changes over time is excellently drawn, and the ending is satisfying. I still marvel at Jane's ability to put up with some of the awful things Tresham says to her but it's clear throughout the book that these two are well suited.

This is a book that can be read and enjoyed again and again and I recommend it highly!

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.

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.

I often avoid traditional romance novels because they are usually repetitive, corny and predictable. I prefer romanticas (romantic erotica) or novels with romance as one of its subgenre. However, I have found that my instincts scarcely fail me when I do decide to read a full-blown romance novel. Mary Balogh's More than a Mistress is a beautifully told Regency story starring two rather high-strung, stubborn protagonists. Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham, is one of London's most scandalous and wildest rakes -- constantly getting himself into trouble that lead to duels. But then his life is turned upside down when he meets Jane Ingleby. When she intervenes during a duel that leaves Jocelyn with a wounded leg, she is reluctantly hired to be his nurse for three weeks. She refuses to be subservient and docile to the handsome and moody rake. On the contrary, she is downright insubordinate. But their attraction is undeniable. Jocelyn offers the young woman great accommodations if she agrees to be his mistress. Jane accepts because, unbeknownst to her, she has developed feelings for Jocelyn, but also because being his mistress would be the perfect hiding place for her...

I loved all of the historical references in this novel. The language and details are true to the time period. I loved how the author emphasized the importance of aristocratic titles and the popularity of the ton and its many gossipers. And I especially loved the love story of Jocelyn and Jane. The attraction and chemistry between the characters are palpable even though their constant disagreements and bickering got on my nerves. I admit that Jocelyn annoyed me often in the novel. He was at times incredibly cruel to Jane during their clandestine affair. But I loved him nevertheless. He became a more sympathetic character when he revealed his somewhat dysfunctional relationship with his father to Jane. He touched me during the scenes in which he opens up his heart to her. I am such a sucker for heroes with wounded souls! He sounded scrumptious and his bad boy facade came about as quite realistic. And I liked the scenes in which he used his quizzing glass to intimidate people. I enjoyed the fact that Jane was far from being a doormat to Jocelyn even as she worked as his servant. But she too annoyed me at times, but her feelings and insecurities for Jocelyn were understandable, especially when he gave out mixed signals. The secondary characters, mainly Jocelyn's eccentric sister and his rakish friend Kimble, were great. The overall storytelling of the novel was wonderful. The novel sometimes had a Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility quality to it that made it all the more irresistible. Again, I don't often read traditional romances, but this one is definitely a keeper. I look forward to reading No Man's Mistress.

I was walking around the bookstore when I came across this book. The title itself sounded interesting. I started to read the first chapter and was taken with Jane Ingelby, her character and her witty comments. Both heroine and hero were wonderful characters. I decided to buy the book. I've read one of Balogh's short regency story before and enjoyed it immensely. I was into this book, it took me less than two days to read it. It made me laugh and cry. The book was wonderful but the ending......oh..what a disappointment. I was very frustrated by it......so I give it a three.

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This is my first book of Mary Balogh and definitely not the last. I was hesistant to read this book in the beginning because of the book cover and the way it is titled. Even the back description didn't sound interesting either. I thought this is one of those books that's filled with sex with no substance whatsoever but I am happy to be wrong.

Sure, the plot's simple and not very unique, I even find the solution of the original problem a bit too easy but Mary Balogh made it up by weaving humor and emotional rift all through out the book. She also compensated the thin plot by creating and executing smashing characters. Every one of them contributed wonderfully. Jocelyn and Jane's are both a memorable character. Jane, however is who I love the most. She is a Lady through and through. I've read heroine that is witty and even described as intelligent but Jane is the only one so far that has convinced me thoroughly. The way she moves, the way she speaks, the words she uses, even when provoked remained logical. Their love story is overall a touchy and heart warming read. It's intense and romantic. I even enjoyed the moments of their non-sexual relationship - where they get to know each other...learning, giving, accepting, trusting ... oh so full of passion, so full of love. Aside from Jane, Angeline is my second favorite. She is definitely the main humor of this book. She is a chatterbox, full of flaw but lovable nonetheless.

The most impressive part of this book is how Ms. Balogh expresses her "dialogues". It's witty and very drawing. I've never read a historical romance book that uses words that's perfectly consistent with the time plot. Very ENGLISH, indeed.... Even to the last expression. Well, done, Ms. Balogh. I will read more of her works, especially NO MANS MISTRESS, which is the sequel of MTAM, Ferdinand's story, brother of Jocelyn. I can't wait to read updates of Jane, Jocelyn and Angeline too.