Customer Reviews

Rules For Being A Mistress (Zebra Historical Romance)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Overall I absolutely love this book and want to get my hands on some more by this author, however it took me three tries to start the book and get into it. The first chapter/intro is too long and overwhelming with too many characters and titles all going on at once, but once you get past the first chapter it all starts to make sense. Some real great comic twists and sensual moments. Overall a fabulous read, just give it some patience.

Ok here is why it is a mixed review - At first I could not stand the introduction of so many character and the weird conversation at the society parties. Then I started to love the book when knew all back stories for all the character it all did fit and some great lesson were learned. The main story was about Cosima Vaughn who is Irish with lots of English Ton connection. She meets Benedict Wayborn who you love to hate. Benedict want to marry so he starts looking and asking everyone who might say yes. He falls for Cosima/Cherry and that is were starts to get interesting. I found myself wanting to get back to book to find out what the cast of characters were up too... Take a chance.

I would also suggest; Simply Scandalous (Zebra Debut) and Surrender to Sin.

I thought that the beginning was a bit far fetched, but it had me laughing and I did enjoy the way that the heroine took the hero down a few pegs after he was so pompous. I liked the way that he loosened up and couldn't help but fall in love with the heroine and I liked the fact that the heroine didn't pretend not to like or love him. I thought at the beginning that it did have some flaws, but then I couldn't put it down until I finished it, so I think that over all it was pretty good!

I really wanted to like this book, but it didn't happen. For one the title really has nothing to do with the book and that annoys me when they just use a title that will draw attention rather than something that is related to the book. Secondly, there was way to many secondary characters in this book that in the first couple of chapters I got lost trying to figure out who everyone. The plot well I think it started out well, but the book needed to focus on them and not them and every other person. There was just a lot of unnessary "twists" that just distracted from the main overall picture that I believe the author was trying to convey.

The end was crap as well. Overall the book I believe had potential, but didn't go in the right direction with this book. I wish the author luck on the next one. Just please don't feel the entire book with people. Short and simple is the best way to go especially if you have a decent idea.

-Mal

I couldn't finish reading it! I got about 1/2 through before I broke my cardinal rule of making sure I finish whatever book I start. It was actually painful to read as far as I did.

The Hero is so very unlikeable (especially in the beginning) treating the heroine as a lowly servant (yes, it was a mix up, and this scenario had great potential, but instead the author made the hero look like a total jack***!!) He's physically attracted to her but because of her lowly station, all he can do is offer to set her up as his mistress (even though he hates the thought of being attracted to her!). Even after the mix-up is discovered, the Hero is still so very unlikeable.

I actually like the fact that the author made the Hero physically disabled. It makes for a new and refreshing read. Some really great authors have made some really interesting stories with disabled Heroes/Heroines. Lisa Kleypas and Brenda Joyce both have had great stories where either the Hero or Herione were physically or emotionally hurt. Therefore, this review is in no way influenced because of a prejudice towards Heroes or Heroines that are disabled.

So, if you're looking for a quality read, with good characters and a good story, skip this one!

I found this book in a box of books from a friend whose friend was cleaning out her summer cabin. I wasn't expecting much. Was I wrong! I was laughing out loud from the very beginning at the vivid characterizations, the descriptions of the appearance of the various characters, all sorts of dry observations made with a tongue in cheek attitude. How is it I've never read anything by this author? How could I have missed her so completely? Well, no more. I'll search out more by this author! She is a treasure. I even found fewer grammatical mistakes than I'm used to... there was a bad patch of "lie" and "lay" late in the book.

Now, of course, I can't give a totally positive review. It is against my crabby nature. I thought the plot element that included the illegitimate half sister "Cherry" was a little forced. I kept wanting to say, "R-i-i-i-ght." Still, Cherry served her purpose in the end. So, I suppose she was OK. I still loved the book, and I never expected to.

i usually don't last long with regencies since most are boring and have hypocritical rake heros and stupid virgin heroines, and this book, yes doesn't have an admirable hero since he wants to make the heroine (who he mistakes as a servant) as his mistress, but i couldn't put the book down. it was very funny!!! It's like the "Barber of Seville" comedy opera mixed with "who's on first" with mistaken identities galore and the heroine who is refreshingly not being written as being so pure and noble but much more human in that she takes the hero's money and robs him blind, of course but to help her poor family. The hero is none-too-bright but still can't stay away from the heroine. I couldn't put the story down and this is saying something considering I usually like fast-paced stories and this story is definitely fast paced and keeps you right in the heat of the action. It is well-written by the author. If the hero was a bit more admirable, I'd give it a 5 star.

I picked this up at a thrift shop because the title reminded me of the "Mistress" series by Tracey Anne Warren (which I enjoyed) and I hoped that this book would be of a similar vein.

Warren's "Mistress" books were fun, with likable characters and relatively believable plots. But "Rules For Being a Mistress" had next-to-no likable characters and a plot that was, to put it mildly, ludicrous. Sir Benedict was likable but, for reasons I cannot go into because they include spoilers, he's got to be the most gullible man ever. Cosima is tedious, as are her friends and family, and I wanted Sir Benedict to run as far away from Bath as possible.

Another reason I'd picked up the book is that I was initially intrigued by the fact that many of the characters had names that were taken directly from the pages of Jane Austen's books (Dalrymple, Carteret, Fitzwilliam, Kellynch and, in an homage to the 1995 version of P&P, Matlock), but Miss Austen is probably spinning her grave over this.

This book is a sly little romp, a funny satire, a humerous romantic comedy. I loved Sir Benedict. Poor repressed man. Who else could bring him out of his shell but a hoydenish minx?
There were a few weak points in the plot, and maybe some of the caricatures were a bit overdrawn, but overall this book was a pleasure to read. Laugh out loud funny.

This is a very fun read full of countless plot twists that kept me guessing until the last page. I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed any of Tamara Lejeune's other books.

If you have never read Tamara Lejeune before please be warned that she is unlike any other romance novel author. The title's and pictures are very deceptive; the books are not very romantic or sexy, they are funny and witty. The books she has released so far share some characters and were released chronologically: Simply Scandalous, then Surrender to Sin, and lastly Rules for Being a Mistress.

IMPORTANT: The male stars in her books are far from perfect and are not classic alpha males. They are ugly, stupid, uptight, foolish, vain, aging, hotheaded, socially inept, and/or missing an arm. Read these books for fun, not to make your heart flutter.

That said she is my favorite romance novel author, and this book is amazing!