My Fair Mistress by Tracy Anne Warren Published by Random House Publishing Group on October 30, 2007
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / General, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency, Fiction / Romance / Suspense
Pages: 432
Format: Paperback
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He drives a hard bargain, but the pleasure is all hers.
London financier Rafe Pendragon has a reputation for ruthlessness, and exotic beauty Julianna Hawthorne is determined to clear the debt her brother owes him. Captivated by Rafe’s virile good looks, weakened by his intoxicating mix of danger and sensuality, Julianna boldly agrees to Rafe’s shocking terms: six months as his mistress. As Rafe’s intense green eyes pierce her body and set it afire, Julianna can only imagine what emotions his kiss may unleash.
Surrendering to the pleasures of seduction and carnal delight, Rafe never anticipated that love would be the cost of his bargain. When he realizes that a vindictive enemy may harm Julianna should their clandestine liaison be exposed, Rafe must choose between loving her and protecting her. To save his fair mistress, Rafe must risk what he has already lost: his heart.
Part one of the Mistress Trilogy, My Fair Mistress opens with a familiar plot. Our heroine, Julianna, wants to clear her brother’s debt and so agrees to the wicked Rafe Pendragon’s proposition. She will serve for six months as his mistress.
Clandestine liaison ensues while a villain emerges from the shadows to threaten the pair of lovers.
There was something about the hero, Pendragon, that was off for me. Perhaps his backstory was a little silly or weak, or maybe I just didn’t like his ruthlessness. Romance always walks a fine line with these types of plots between romance and…well, human trafficking. And the feminist in me has hard time reconciling romance with a woman being forced into a type of sexual slavery. In the same vein that Indecent Proposal is really rather indecent, it’s hard to swallow a plot where the woman gives up her cherished prize (in Regency times, virginity) in a self-sacrificing gesture. Of course, in hist-ro she always finds release, freedom and pleasure in sexual freedom. But, nonetheless, there is something slightly seedy about exchanging one’s favors in a financial transaction.
Perhaps some women dream about being reluctant and vulnerable. I suppose that’s where I have a tough time with the hero. It’s not necessarily something that interests me; as a woman I find myself subjugated enough that when I relax to romance, I want to read about a meeting of the minds.
Otherwise, it was a good read.
