Tuesday, November 20, 2007

My Fair Mistress-Tracy Anne Warren

My Fair Mistress
Tracy Anne Warren
Ballantine, Nov 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780345495396

In 1812 London Lord Harry Hawthorne confesses to his widow sister Julianna that he has made a mess of their lives; he gambled and lost a fortune and admits he has nothing for their younger sister Maris’ coming out gala. Instead he owes ruthless financier Rafe “Dragon” Pendragon a ton of money that is due.

Julianna visits the Dragon in his lair to persuade him to give them more time. Rafe counters with an offer of the debt paid in full by her being his willing mistress for six months. He expects the prim and proper lady to be outraged, faking a swoon, and walking out angrily; instead she accepts his daring terms to his shock. Both are quickly stunned by the passion of their lovemaking as neither has felt like this before. As each realizes without telling the other that they are in love, his enemy plots to use her to destroy him.

Although the underlying theme has been used a zillion times especially in the Regency sub-genre, Tracy Anne Warren displays her talent by making it so fresh that MY FAIR MISTRESS seems like the first novel to employ a rogue using a debt to buy a mistress. The story line is fast-paced and smoothly converts from an illicit love affair into a caring love affair and finally into protecting one’s beloved at risk to one’s self. This is a terrific Regency romance with two “Mistress” tales to follow.

Harriet Klausner

No comments: