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Mystique
A tantalizing tale of a legendary knight and a headstrong lady whose daring quest for a mysterious crystal will draw them into a whirlwind of treachery–and desire.
When the fearsome knight called Hugh the Relentless swept into Lingwood Manor like a storm, everyone cowered–except Lady Alice. Sharp-tongued and unrepentant, the flame haired beauty believed Sir Hugh was not someone to dread but the answer to her dreams. She knew he had come for the dazzling green crystal, knew he would be displeased to find that it was no longer in her possession. Yet Alice had a proposition for the dark and forbidding knight: In return for a dowry that would free Alice and her brother from their uncle's grasp, she would lend her powers of detection to his warrior's skills and together they would recover his treasured stone. But even as Hugh accepted her terms, he added a condition of his own: Lady Alice must agree to a temporary betrothal–one that would soon draw her deep into Hugh's great stone fortress, and into a battle that could threaten their lives...and their only chance at love.
When the fearsome knight called Hugh the Relentless swept into Lingwood Manor like a storm, everyone cowered–except Lady Alice. Sharp-tongued and unrepentant, the flame haired beauty believed Sir Hugh was not someone to dread but the answer to her dreams. She knew he had come for the dazzling green crystal, knew he would be displeased to find that it was no longer in her possession. Yet Alice had a proposition for the dark and forbidding knight: In return for a dowry that would free Alice and her brother from their uncle's grasp, she would lend her powers of detection to his warrior's skills and together they would recover his treasured stone. But even as Hugh accepted her terms, he added a condition of his own: Lady Alice must agree to a temporary betrothal–one that would soon draw her deep into Hugh's great stone fortress, and into a battle that could threaten their lives...and their only chance at love.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
312 people are currently reading
2321 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Quick
93 books5,497 followersPseudonym of Jayne Ann Krentz
The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
Pseudonym(s):
Jayne Ann Krentz
Jayne Castle
Stephanie James
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass
The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
Pseudonym(s):
Jayne Ann Krentz
Jayne Castle
Stephanie James
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
September 4, 2023
I love books with heroines that are ahead of their times and heroes that are their match. Lady Alice and Hugh the Relentless make a great couple. Although Mystique's set in the medieval times, there is nothing helpless and docile about Alice, but unlike his generation mates Hugh likes her just like she is. Awesome plot with plenty of romance and suspense, just my kind.
Amanda Quick confused me with her one word-titles, and I thought I had already read it. So I decided to read it again, but was amazed when discovering that it was all new to me! 4 stars, highly recommended for lovers of historical romance.
Amanda Quick confused me with her one word-titles, and I thought I had already read it. So I decided to read it again, but was amazed when discovering that it was all new to me! 4 stars, highly recommended for lovers of historical romance.
December 5, 2025
If you need a pick me up you should Quickly pick an Amanda book up
Do you have an author whose work you love no matter what? As if the chemistry always works. It's similar to authors you think you should like because everyone loves them but the chemistry just doesn't work for you?
Well, Amanda Quick is the former for me. Despite her work being, objectively speaking, similar to the point of self-plagiarism, I still always end one of her books with a smile on my face.
Mystique is no exception.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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Do you have an author whose work you love no matter what? As if the chemistry always works. It's similar to authors you think you should like because everyone loves them but the chemistry just doesn't work for you?
Well, Amanda Quick is the former for me. Despite her work being, objectively speaking, similar to the point of self-plagiarism, I still always end one of her books with a smile on my face.
Mystique is no exception.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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August 3, 2019
Me encantó, es una novela preciosa, con unos personajes inolvidables. Hugh nunca defrauda, a pesar de las interminables pruebas a que lo expone Alice con su carácter impulsivo. La relación de estos dos personajes avanza de manera exquisita y además va a acompañada de distintas intrigas, leyendas sobre piedras preciosas, venganzas familiares. Muy recomendable.
May 11, 2022
Such a great medieval romance, and it holds up incredibly well in 2022 for a 1990s publication date. Gah, I need more. Read via library.
October 27, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Hugh The Relentless is on the hunt for a precious green jewel, to give his people peace from a curse that has fallen upon them. He isn't known as the "relentless" for nothing. His search has brought him to Lingwood Manor and he has taken over like a storm over the sea. And he is determined to get the jewel, only one problem....Lady Alice is the only person who knows of its location. They barter and flirt their way into a marriage agreement, one that is very logical and even though Alice has always being a practical woman, she still wants more than just a practical marriage, she wants one out of love and affection. As they begin a search together for the precious jewel and learn each other along their journey....the find a love neither thought that they would discover and be able to hold onto....
The Hero
Hugh is a man that has had to learn to fight every battle all on his own. His parents were killed in a brutal way, and he was raised by his grandfather. He has a bitter enemy....who his is own relation, but he vows to show what he is capable of and rebuilding his own estate and people to its former glory. Hugh is a hero who is a sexy knight for sure....a warrior, very alpha but isn't the type of alpha that runs over the females in his life with his own dictates. He listens, and is respectful and even at his worst, he treats them as his equals and I loved him even more for that. Especially with the time period you are dealing with here. His character was sexy and charming and you crave more.
The Heroine
Alice is one of those heroines that is so unique to this time period and I loved her to pieces, she was very endearing and likable. I found her character to be one of those that you wish you saw more of in this genre. She is practical and logical, but even though she looks at life at a very straight view, she also doesn't overlook emotion either. She craves more than what her parents had, she wants love when she gets married. Alice is a scientist, and at first she sees this "betrothal" as an opportunity to be Hugh's equal, and she handles him quite well. Especially after they spend some time together, it quite wonderful to see how well she adapts to his personality and knows which battles to fight and which ones to let go. Not too often you see that in a heroine in the HR fiction.
Plot and Story Line
I had been meaning to get to this author, and even though I have read some of her books under her Jayne Ann Krentz name, I had yet to read any of her books under this pen name. And so while scouting my new library...I found Mystique and I was intrigue by the set up of the story. So I grabbed it up, and quite honestly I can never get enough of this time period. What I found to be so fun about this story was seeing the way that these two got along so quickly. They are both pretty compatible, they think in the same terms and even though they might have a few different goals, they balance each other quite well. In fact, it is so rare to see a couple work so well together from the beginning. Now that doesn't mean they don't have a few hurdles to cross because they do, especially on Hugh's side. However despite some stops they don't give up on each other and I found that to be so heartwarming.
The Cover
I really love the simplicity of this cover....and yes the Chest of Jewels has meaning to the story.
Overall View
Mystique was fun, intriguing and full of some thrilling adventures and sensuality that will have you grabbing more of Amanda Quick!
Summary
Hugh The Relentless is on the hunt for a precious green jewel, to give his people peace from a curse that has fallen upon them. He isn't known as the "relentless" for nothing. His search has brought him to Lingwood Manor and he has taken over like a storm over the sea. And he is determined to get the jewel, only one problem....Lady Alice is the only person who knows of its location. They barter and flirt their way into a marriage agreement, one that is very logical and even though Alice has always being a practical woman, she still wants more than just a practical marriage, she wants one out of love and affection. As they begin a search together for the precious jewel and learn each other along their journey....the find a love neither thought that they would discover and be able to hold onto....
The Hero
Hugh is a man that has had to learn to fight every battle all on his own. His parents were killed in a brutal way, and he was raised by his grandfather. He has a bitter enemy....who his is own relation, but he vows to show what he is capable of and rebuilding his own estate and people to its former glory. Hugh is a hero who is a sexy knight for sure....a warrior, very alpha but isn't the type of alpha that runs over the females in his life with his own dictates. He listens, and is respectful and even at his worst, he treats them as his equals and I loved him even more for that. Especially with the time period you are dealing with here. His character was sexy and charming and you crave more.
The Heroine
Alice is one of those heroines that is so unique to this time period and I loved her to pieces, she was very endearing and likable. I found her character to be one of those that you wish you saw more of in this genre. She is practical and logical, but even though she looks at life at a very straight view, she also doesn't overlook emotion either. She craves more than what her parents had, she wants love when she gets married. Alice is a scientist, and at first she sees this "betrothal" as an opportunity to be Hugh's equal, and she handles him quite well. Especially after they spend some time together, it quite wonderful to see how well she adapts to his personality and knows which battles to fight and which ones to let go. Not too often you see that in a heroine in the HR fiction.
Plot and Story Line
I had been meaning to get to this author, and even though I have read some of her books under her Jayne Ann Krentz name, I had yet to read any of her books under this pen name. And so while scouting my new library...I found Mystique and I was intrigue by the set up of the story. So I grabbed it up, and quite honestly I can never get enough of this time period. What I found to be so fun about this story was seeing the way that these two got along so quickly. They are both pretty compatible, they think in the same terms and even though they might have a few different goals, they balance each other quite well. In fact, it is so rare to see a couple work so well together from the beginning. Now that doesn't mean they don't have a few hurdles to cross because they do, especially on Hugh's side. However despite some stops they don't give up on each other and I found that to be so heartwarming.
The Cover
I really love the simplicity of this cover....and yes the Chest of Jewels has meaning to the story.
Overall View
Mystique was fun, intriguing and full of some thrilling adventures and sensuality that will have you grabbing more of Amanda Quick!
May 18, 2021
5/2021 I figured after 8 years, this book was due for a re-read. I forgot how amazing this book is!
The h is a strong, intelligent woman who has the courage to face down even the most intimidating man. The H is a knight, bastard son who lost his inheritance and is bent on revenge. He has the chance to start over with a holding and he wants a wife to help him run his home (and he wants someone to help him make it a home whether he recognizes it or not). The H/h meet and are instantly attracted to each other because of their wit, intelligence, cunning, oh and also because they're both pretty hot. This is a MOC story set in medieval times with a well matched H/h and great secondary characters.
The banter between these two was great. The H falls for the h first, he just doesn't know what he is feeling. The h makes him work for it and doesn't just fall at his feet. She has her occasional TSTL moment, but nothing too bad. They both had things in their past that made it hard to love, but they were so cute together and both overcame their issues.
There is an interesting mystery in the story having to do with poisons, legends and missing stones. I loved how both the H/h reasoned out the problems they faced and trusted each other. Seriously, the way they trust each other was just so attractive.
Safety
The h is a strong, intelligent woman who has the courage to face down even the most intimidating man. The H is a knight, bastard son who lost his inheritance and is bent on revenge. He has the chance to start over with a holding and he wants a wife to help him run his home (and he wants someone to help him make it a home whether he recognizes it or not). The H/h meet and are instantly attracted to each other because of their wit, intelligence, cunning, oh and also because they're both pretty hot. This is a MOC story set in medieval times with a well matched H/h and great secondary characters.
The banter between these two was great. The H falls for the h first, he just doesn't know what he is feeling. The h makes him work for it and doesn't just fall at his feet. She has her occasional TSTL moment, but nothing too bad. They both had things in their past that made it hard to love, but they were so cute together and both overcame their issues.
There is an interesting mystery in the story having to do with poisons, legends and missing stones. I loved how both the H/h reasoned out the problems they faced and trusted each other. Seriously, the way they trust each other was just so attractive.
Safety
February 24, 2022
Plain fun...!
May 20, 2023
4 Estrellitas. Ha sido una grata sorpresita, si bien todos los libros de Amanda Quick acaban siendo similares, aquí tenemos de particular que la historia ocurre en la Inglaterra medieval.
Lo bueno de los libros de Amanda Quick es que se leen solos, pese a que tengan temáticas similares y nunca sepas si éste lo has leído o ha sido el otro, enganchan y se leen solos.
"Amor mágico" nos transporta a la Inglaterra medieval, donde conoceremos a lady Alice y a Hugh el Implacable. Lady Alice es una dama bien educada a quien su tío ha robado su herencia y la de su hermano lisiado, Benedict. Alice es una estudiosa de las ciencias naturales, habilidad que heredó de su madre, una sanadora famosa. Pero Alice es particular, su única ambición es conseguir su herencia para retirarse a un convento y seguir con sus estudios, y pagar a su hermano Benedict un viaje a Italia para estudiar leyes.
Las ambiciones de Alice se verán truncadas cuando al castillo de su tío llegue Hugh el Implacable, un caballero oscuro y temible que busca el cristal verde; una piedra que Alice recibió como regalo y que estaba estudiando, hasta que le fue robada.
La piedra verde es una leyenda local sobre el tesoro de Scarcliffe, el pequeño pueblo donde Hugh tiene su castillo y sus tierras. Pero Hugh es bastardo, y el castillo de Scarcliffe es una herencia que le dejó su padrino, y tras muchos años de abandono, Hugh está empeñado en devolver al pueblo el cristal verde para romper la maldición y que Scarcliffe recupere su esplendor.
No voy a decir que el amor sea inmediato en éste libro, porque no lo es. Alice era propietaria de la piedra verde y ésta le fue robada, pero Alice cree saber quién es el ladrón. De éste modo, se establecerá una sociedad entre Alice y Hugh para buscar la piedra, algo que en el medievo viene traducido como una proposición matrimonial.
De ésta manera, Alice y su hermano escapan del castillo de su tío, y se van con Hugh a buscar la piedra. Una vez la encuentren, se hará más evidente para Alice que lo suyo con Hugh no es un compromiso fingido, pues Hugh está empeñado en hacerlo real; y llevar la piedra verde Scarcliffe, además de una novia, es lo que necesita para afianzar su posición como dueño y señor de su propiedad.
Y no todo será tan fácil, pues habrá alguien, alguien muy enfadado con Hugh el Implacable, como para desear hacerse con la piedra, y envenenar a todo el que pueda para conseguirlo.
El ritmo de la novela es bueno y tiene grandes giros. Además, Amanda Quick es una narradora maravillosa, tanto si lo hace en época medieval, como el regencia o victoriana o contemporánea. En sus libros siempre hay un detonante de asesinato o una búsqueda por parte de los protagonistas y siempre le funciona.
El libro ha estado muy entretenido y lo he disfrutado bastante, y como siempre, estoy segurísima de que volveré a leerla, aunque tenga que acudir a Goodreads para saber si éste libro lo he leído o no.
Lo bueno de los libros de Amanda Quick es que se leen solos, pese a que tengan temáticas similares y nunca sepas si éste lo has leído o ha sido el otro, enganchan y se leen solos.
"Amor mágico" nos transporta a la Inglaterra medieval, donde conoceremos a lady Alice y a Hugh el Implacable. Lady Alice es una dama bien educada a quien su tío ha robado su herencia y la de su hermano lisiado, Benedict. Alice es una estudiosa de las ciencias naturales, habilidad que heredó de su madre, una sanadora famosa. Pero Alice es particular, su única ambición es conseguir su herencia para retirarse a un convento y seguir con sus estudios, y pagar a su hermano Benedict un viaje a Italia para estudiar leyes.
Las ambiciones de Alice se verán truncadas cuando al castillo de su tío llegue Hugh el Implacable, un caballero oscuro y temible que busca el cristal verde; una piedra que Alice recibió como regalo y que estaba estudiando, hasta que le fue robada.
La piedra verde es una leyenda local sobre el tesoro de Scarcliffe, el pequeño pueblo donde Hugh tiene su castillo y sus tierras. Pero Hugh es bastardo, y el castillo de Scarcliffe es una herencia que le dejó su padrino, y tras muchos años de abandono, Hugh está empeñado en devolver al pueblo el cristal verde para romper la maldición y que Scarcliffe recupere su esplendor.
No voy a decir que el amor sea inmediato en éste libro, porque no lo es. Alice era propietaria de la piedra verde y ésta le fue robada, pero Alice cree saber quién es el ladrón. De éste modo, se establecerá una sociedad entre Alice y Hugh para buscar la piedra, algo que en el medievo viene traducido como una proposición matrimonial.
De ésta manera, Alice y su hermano escapan del castillo de su tío, y se van con Hugh a buscar la piedra. Una vez la encuentren, se hará más evidente para Alice que lo suyo con Hugh no es un compromiso fingido, pues Hugh está empeñado en hacerlo real; y llevar la piedra verde Scarcliffe, además de una novia, es lo que necesita para afianzar su posición como dueño y señor de su propiedad.
Y no todo será tan fácil, pues habrá alguien, alguien muy enfadado con Hugh el Implacable, como para desear hacerse con la piedra, y envenenar a todo el que pueda para conseguirlo.
El ritmo de la novela es bueno y tiene grandes giros. Además, Amanda Quick es una narradora maravillosa, tanto si lo hace en época medieval, como el regencia o victoriana o contemporánea. En sus libros siempre hay un detonante de asesinato o una búsqueda por parte de los protagonistas y siempre le funciona.
El libro ha estado muy entretenido y lo he disfrutado bastante, y como siempre, estoy segurísima de que volveré a leerla, aunque tenga que acudir a Goodreads para saber si éste libro lo he leído o no.
June 6, 2025
Lady Alice (23) y Hugh (30), en algún momento de la Inglaterra medieval...
Ella es tu heroína pizpireta versión pelirroja con carácter, que todo lo hace bien. Él es un caballero ilegítimo que se gana la vida como puede y acaba de recibir un feudo de su señor. Anda buscando un objeto que consolidará su posición, una piedra verde. Parece que lo puede tener esta chica.
Nada más conocerla, decide que ella será la dama de su castillo, y Alice acepta el compromiso.
Amanda Quick vintage: ella cerebrito, él grande y peligroso, y con más paciencia que el santo Job cuando Alice le trae complicaciones.
El tono es ligero, aunque yo diría que otras novelas suyas de la época (esto salió en 1995) tenían más gracia, un humor más marcado, más suelto. Cumple sobradamente, eso sí. Ha aguantado con solidez el paso de los años.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
Ella es tu heroína pizpireta versión pelirroja con carácter, que todo lo hace bien. Él es un caballero ilegítimo que se gana la vida como puede y acaba de recibir un feudo de su señor. Anda buscando un objeto que consolidará su posición, una piedra verde. Parece que lo puede tener esta chica.
Nada más conocerla, decide que ella será la dama de su castillo, y Alice acepta el compromiso.
Amanda Quick vintage: ella cerebrito, él grande y peligroso, y con más paciencia que el santo Job cuando Alice le trae complicaciones.
El tono es ligero, aunque yo diría que otras novelas suyas de la época (esto salió en 1995) tenían más gracia, un humor más marcado, más suelto. Cumple sobradamente, eso sí. Ha aguantado con solidez el paso de los años.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
April 29, 2021
Very strong willed women, gotta love it 👌🏾
September 8, 2025
Review from 10/18/2019:
Enthralling medieval romance with a fabulous audiobook performance
At 30 years of age, Hugh the Relentless is in his prime and is famed far and wide as an intimidatingly victorious knight, both due to his being a champion of jousting tournaments and the scourge of marauding bandits. Born illegitimate to a highborn lady and a landed knight, whose tragic deaths in his childhood are shrouded in mystery, he has strived all his life to be a faithful retainer of the man who raised him, his liege lord. In addition to that important role, he has also made a fortune as a merchant of spices. In spite of his fame and fortune, however, what he has wanted most all his life has been out of his reach until the present moment. At long last, his lord has rewarded him with the ultimate boon for a landless knight: a castle and lands of his own. And this particular property is of great personal significance to Hugh, because it once belonged to his mother’s family. However, in order to win the hearts and minds of the peasants who live on this land, and insure thereby their obedient acceptance of his legitimacy as their lord and master, there are two things Hugh must first obtain: a high-born lady as his wife, and a mysterious green crystal. The crystal has been stolen from the convent in the village outside his newly acquired castle, and according to local legend, rescue and ownership of the crystal represent an essential sign from heaven which will unequivocally prove to them that High is their rightful lord.
At 23 years of age, Lady Alice and her 16-year-old brother have been orphaned for several years. Their mother died first, and their father died not long after, during one of several vainglorious expeditions to the crusades. Her brother badly injured one of his legs in an accident at the tender age of eight, and after that, their father regarded him as useless, since he could not be trained as a knight. As a result, the combination of her brother’s youth, inexperience and physical disability gave their paternal uncle sufficient justification to successfully petition their mutual liege lord to assume possession of their deceased father’s estate. Alice and her brother have been living in their uncle’s castle ever since, because he transferred ownership of their former home to his oldest son. Alice has never gotten over her resentment at her uncle as well as intense guilt and shame at her failure to save her father’s estate for her brother. In order to recompense her brother for letting him down, she is determined to find a way to fund formal education for him on the continent so that he can become the medieval equivalent of a lawyer. Additionally, she hopes to somehow find a means to afford the pricey dowry required to enter a high quality convent with a large library. A reclusive life away from idiot men sounds ideal to her.
Alice is a scholarly woman who is the equivalent of what in the modern world would be called a scientist. Her mother had a similar propensity. She was a brilliant herbalist obsessed with her craft, who left behind a large, handwritten book filled with her carefully tested recipes for healing herbal potions. This book is Alice’s only legacy from either of her parents, but she has such a forceful personality, that she has managed to obtain, over the years, and even under her uncle’s roof, a quantity of books and various supplies, such as dried insects, for her explorations of “natural philosophy.”
Hugh and Alice meet for the first time when Hugh seeks her out at her uncle’s castle because he has learned that she possesses the green crystal he is seeking. Unfortunately, someone has recently stolen the crystal from Alice but, seeing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before her, Alice strikes a bargain with Hugh. She informs him that she knows where the crystal very likely can be located, and she is willing to help him recover it, but in return he must fund her aspirations for her brother and herself. Hugh, who can well afford to do so, states his willingness to comply, but to Alice’s dismay, he makes a counter-offer. He needs her, on a temporary basis, to act as his betrothed for at least two weeks, long enough for him to settle in at his newly acquired castle.
Alice is initially quite leery of his offer, which directly contradicts her goal of happy spinsterhood, until he assures her that a betrothal is not a legally binding commitment, and he will do his best to settle her in an excellent convent after the two weeks are over, if she still wants to do that. Unknown to her, however, Hugh has decided that Alice would make him the perfect wife, and he is determined to do everything in his power to convince her to become his bride.
I have read and re-read a whole lot of contemporary romance by Jayne Ann Krentz, and I am a huge fan of her Harmony, futuristic, paranormal romances. But I only recently began reading her historical novels written as Amanda Quick, because I rarely read historical romances. I’m not a big fan of immersing myself in a world with a lack of indoor plumbing and, in that regard, I especially don’t enjoy reading about the extreme privations of the medieval era. However, I recently discovered my local library system has a complete collection of AQ historicals as audiobooks, and as a result, I have been systematically listening to all of her historical romances. Out of all of the ones I’ve experienced so far—perhaps 25—per my own personal taste, this is one of the very best historical romance she’s written, for the following reasons:
First, though there is ultimately a bit of a mystery in this book, it does not dominate the story, as seems to be the case with virtually all of AQ’s other historicals, because her trademark genre is “romantic suspense.” In her historical novels, the plot usually goes like this: Somebody is murdered. The hero and heroine are both sleuthing around, trying to discover whodunit. They get in each other’s way and, with varying degrees of resistance in one or both of them, decide to join forces. In the process, the hero becomes intensely protective of the frequently foolhardy heroine. She is an enormously independent soul, and she gets extremely irritated at his ordering her around and demanding she be more safety conscious. She sees this as him not treating her as an equal partner in their mutual investigation, which becomes a central romantic conflict. The murder mystery tends to be the main plot, with the romance coming in second place, with very little page space dedicated to the growth of mutual respect, liking and love between them. Instead, most of the time they are looking for clues, which is an activity that, for me as someone who is not a fan of the mystery genre, can sometimes get quite boring. The first sex scene is usually precipitous, and the heroine doesn’t enjoy her deflowering. And the depictions of their love life after that milestone don’t get much better from there. Virtually all her heroes are described as if they suffer from premature ejaculation, and they do very little in the way of foreplay. In short, they greatly disappoint the romance genre expectation that they will be virtuosos in the bedroom.
None of those issues occur in this book. The romance is the main plot, and the secondary plot is an outstanding interweaving of the solution of the mystery around the deaths of Hugh’s parents, along with the solution of the mystery of the green crystal. Along the way, Alice’s relationships with the Mother Superior of the local convent and the people living in the village next to Hugh’s castle make the historical time and place come alive while AQ simultaneously and refreshingly presents the lives of women in that era in an empowering and uplifting way.
It is clear from the first moment that Alice steps on stage, and all through the whole book consistently, that she is a woman of great charisma and natural authority. She protects and defends the weak, and goes toe to toe with any man who might try to dominate her. No one has ever made her cower, or even retreat. Thus, when she meets Hugh, it is quite believable to the reader that, other than his liege lord, she is the only person he has ever met who is not intimidated by him. By the same token, it is equally well motivated that Hugh proves to be the only man she has ever met whom she finds that she instantly, if grudgingly, respects.
I love it that Hugh never orders Alice around or treats her with condescension, as virtually all of AQ’s other heroes (in many of her early contemporary romances, as well as her historical romances) seem to invariably treat her other heroines. In an age of rampant illiteracy, both Alice and Hugh are literate and enjoy reading. Both are honorable, loyal people who are natural leaders, and who feel duty bound to care for those whom they feel are their personal responsibility. And both are blazingly attracted to each other.
In short, because they have so much in common, in my personal opinion, AQ has done a better job in this book than in almost any other I have read by her, in all three of her genres, at showing these two are true soulmates. I believe that this contributes greatly to the fact that the love scenes in this book are some of the most enthralling she’s ever written.
I experienced this novel in audiobook format. It is narrated by the outstanding voice talent, Barbara Rosenblat. She is extremely talented, and it is a treat to listen to her.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Adventure-Mystery Plot: 5 stars
Historical Setting: 4 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Audiobook Narration: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Enthralling medieval romance with a fabulous audiobook performance
At 30 years of age, Hugh the Relentless is in his prime and is famed far and wide as an intimidatingly victorious knight, both due to his being a champion of jousting tournaments and the scourge of marauding bandits. Born illegitimate to a highborn lady and a landed knight, whose tragic deaths in his childhood are shrouded in mystery, he has strived all his life to be a faithful retainer of the man who raised him, his liege lord. In addition to that important role, he has also made a fortune as a merchant of spices. In spite of his fame and fortune, however, what he has wanted most all his life has been out of his reach until the present moment. At long last, his lord has rewarded him with the ultimate boon for a landless knight: a castle and lands of his own. And this particular property is of great personal significance to Hugh, because it once belonged to his mother’s family. However, in order to win the hearts and minds of the peasants who live on this land, and insure thereby their obedient acceptance of his legitimacy as their lord and master, there are two things Hugh must first obtain: a high-born lady as his wife, and a mysterious green crystal. The crystal has been stolen from the convent in the village outside his newly acquired castle, and according to local legend, rescue and ownership of the crystal represent an essential sign from heaven which will unequivocally prove to them that High is their rightful lord.
At 23 years of age, Lady Alice and her 16-year-old brother have been orphaned for several years. Their mother died first, and their father died not long after, during one of several vainglorious expeditions to the crusades. Her brother badly injured one of his legs in an accident at the tender age of eight, and after that, their father regarded him as useless, since he could not be trained as a knight. As a result, the combination of her brother’s youth, inexperience and physical disability gave their paternal uncle sufficient justification to successfully petition their mutual liege lord to assume possession of their deceased father’s estate. Alice and her brother have been living in their uncle’s castle ever since, because he transferred ownership of their former home to his oldest son. Alice has never gotten over her resentment at her uncle as well as intense guilt and shame at her failure to save her father’s estate for her brother. In order to recompense her brother for letting him down, she is determined to find a way to fund formal education for him on the continent so that he can become the medieval equivalent of a lawyer. Additionally, she hopes to somehow find a means to afford the pricey dowry required to enter a high quality convent with a large library. A reclusive life away from idiot men sounds ideal to her.
Alice is a scholarly woman who is the equivalent of what in the modern world would be called a scientist. Her mother had a similar propensity. She was a brilliant herbalist obsessed with her craft, who left behind a large, handwritten book filled with her carefully tested recipes for healing herbal potions. This book is Alice’s only legacy from either of her parents, but she has such a forceful personality, that she has managed to obtain, over the years, and even under her uncle’s roof, a quantity of books and various supplies, such as dried insects, for her explorations of “natural philosophy.”
Hugh and Alice meet for the first time when Hugh seeks her out at her uncle’s castle because he has learned that she possesses the green crystal he is seeking. Unfortunately, someone has recently stolen the crystal from Alice but, seeing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before her, Alice strikes a bargain with Hugh. She informs him that she knows where the crystal very likely can be located, and she is willing to help him recover it, but in return he must fund her aspirations for her brother and herself. Hugh, who can well afford to do so, states his willingness to comply, but to Alice’s dismay, he makes a counter-offer. He needs her, on a temporary basis, to act as his betrothed for at least two weeks, long enough for him to settle in at his newly acquired castle.
Alice is initially quite leery of his offer, which directly contradicts her goal of happy spinsterhood, until he assures her that a betrothal is not a legally binding commitment, and he will do his best to settle her in an excellent convent after the two weeks are over, if she still wants to do that. Unknown to her, however, Hugh has decided that Alice would make him the perfect wife, and he is determined to do everything in his power to convince her to become his bride.
I have read and re-read a whole lot of contemporary romance by Jayne Ann Krentz, and I am a huge fan of her Harmony, futuristic, paranormal romances. But I only recently began reading her historical novels written as Amanda Quick, because I rarely read historical romances. I’m not a big fan of immersing myself in a world with a lack of indoor plumbing and, in that regard, I especially don’t enjoy reading about the extreme privations of the medieval era. However, I recently discovered my local library system has a complete collection of AQ historicals as audiobooks, and as a result, I have been systematically listening to all of her historical romances. Out of all of the ones I’ve experienced so far—perhaps 25—per my own personal taste, this is one of the very best historical romance she’s written, for the following reasons:
First, though there is ultimately a bit of a mystery in this book, it does not dominate the story, as seems to be the case with virtually all of AQ’s other historicals, because her trademark genre is “romantic suspense.” In her historical novels, the plot usually goes like this: Somebody is murdered. The hero and heroine are both sleuthing around, trying to discover whodunit. They get in each other’s way and, with varying degrees of resistance in one or both of them, decide to join forces. In the process, the hero becomes intensely protective of the frequently foolhardy heroine. She is an enormously independent soul, and she gets extremely irritated at his ordering her around and demanding she be more safety conscious. She sees this as him not treating her as an equal partner in their mutual investigation, which becomes a central romantic conflict. The murder mystery tends to be the main plot, with the romance coming in second place, with very little page space dedicated to the growth of mutual respect, liking and love between them. Instead, most of the time they are looking for clues, which is an activity that, for me as someone who is not a fan of the mystery genre, can sometimes get quite boring. The first sex scene is usually precipitous, and the heroine doesn’t enjoy her deflowering. And the depictions of their love life after that milestone don’t get much better from there. Virtually all her heroes are described as if they suffer from premature ejaculation, and they do very little in the way of foreplay. In short, they greatly disappoint the romance genre expectation that they will be virtuosos in the bedroom.
None of those issues occur in this book. The romance is the main plot, and the secondary plot is an outstanding interweaving of the solution of the mystery around the deaths of Hugh’s parents, along with the solution of the mystery of the green crystal. Along the way, Alice’s relationships with the Mother Superior of the local convent and the people living in the village next to Hugh’s castle make the historical time and place come alive while AQ simultaneously and refreshingly presents the lives of women in that era in an empowering and uplifting way.
It is clear from the first moment that Alice steps on stage, and all through the whole book consistently, that she is a woman of great charisma and natural authority. She protects and defends the weak, and goes toe to toe with any man who might try to dominate her. No one has ever made her cower, or even retreat. Thus, when she meets Hugh, it is quite believable to the reader that, other than his liege lord, she is the only person he has ever met who is not intimidated by him. By the same token, it is equally well motivated that Hugh proves to be the only man she has ever met whom she finds that she instantly, if grudgingly, respects.
I love it that Hugh never orders Alice around or treats her with condescension, as virtually all of AQ’s other heroes (in many of her early contemporary romances, as well as her historical romances) seem to invariably treat her other heroines. In an age of rampant illiteracy, both Alice and Hugh are literate and enjoy reading. Both are honorable, loyal people who are natural leaders, and who feel duty bound to care for those whom they feel are their personal responsibility. And both are blazingly attracted to each other.
In short, because they have so much in common, in my personal opinion, AQ has done a better job in this book than in almost any other I have read by her, in all three of her genres, at showing these two are true soulmates. I believe that this contributes greatly to the fact that the love scenes in this book are some of the most enthralling she’s ever written.
I experienced this novel in audiobook format. It is narrated by the outstanding voice talent, Barbara Rosenblat. She is extremely talented, and it is a treat to listen to her.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Adventure-Mystery Plot: 5 stars
Historical Setting: 4 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Audiobook Narration: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2018
Ahhh my heart <3
"Mystique" is the story of Alice and Hugh.
Now, I am sooo mad at myself- that though I had read the other pseudonyms of this author (Jayne and Jayne)- it took me such a long time to read her as Amanda- because this was a GEM.
Lady Alice is a philosopher, who lives in Lingwood Manor with her brother Bernard. Sharp tongued and resourceful, she resides with her uncle unwillingly, for he took away what was rightfully her brothers', and is smart enough to extract subtle forms of revenge while being under his control.
Things change when Hugh the Relentless,a famous knight sweeps to their keep in order to extract a green stone she had been gifted and is researching.
Lady Alice, however uses this oppurtunity to strike a bargain- she would give him the stone if he freed her and her brother from the uncle's clutches.
Hugh is extremely entranced by the beautiful and witty lady, and strikes a "temporary" betrothal for the same, knowing well that when the time comes, he will seduce her.
As they journey to retract the stone and into Hugh's lands, they are faced with many challenges, but how they overcome everything and fall in love is the story.
What a great book! A brave knight for a hero who is kind, considerate and always respects the heroine and supports her- A well educated scholar for a heroine who is the jack of all trades, cares for everyone in her life and stands up for what is right- a tender love story between the two and a heartwarming epilogue.
I hereby pronounce that I shall be binging on this author, come fortnight anon!
Safe
4.5/5
"Mystique" is the story of Alice and Hugh.
Now, I am sooo mad at myself- that though I had read the other pseudonyms of this author (Jayne and Jayne)- it took me such a long time to read her as Amanda- because this was a GEM.
Lady Alice is a philosopher, who lives in Lingwood Manor with her brother Bernard. Sharp tongued and resourceful, she resides with her uncle unwillingly, for he took away what was rightfully her brothers', and is smart enough to extract subtle forms of revenge while being under his control.
Things change when Hugh the Relentless,a famous knight sweeps to their keep in order to extract a green stone she had been gifted and is researching.
Lady Alice, however uses this oppurtunity to strike a bargain- she would give him the stone if he freed her and her brother from the uncle's clutches.
Hugh is extremely entranced by the beautiful and witty lady, and strikes a "temporary" betrothal for the same, knowing well that when the time comes, he will seduce her.
As they journey to retract the stone and into Hugh's lands, they are faced with many challenges, but how they overcome everything and fall in love is the story.
What a great book! A brave knight for a hero who is kind, considerate and always respects the heroine and supports her- A well educated scholar for a heroine who is the jack of all trades, cares for everyone in her life and stands up for what is right- a tender love story between the two and a heartwarming epilogue.
I hereby pronounce that I shall be binging on this author, come fortnight anon!
Safe
4.5/5
May 23, 2021
I always think of the 19th century when someone mentions Amanda Quick, the pseudonym under which Jayne Ann Krentz writes her historical romances. She did, however, write a couple of medieval-era romances as well. Mystique is not one that I read often; in fact, I probably have not read it in over 20 years, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it on reread. I wish she had written more medievals.
The H/h will be familiar to any AQ fan. The hero is the typical wounded, self-made hero that is seen as cold and unrelenting to all the world. The heroine is intelligent, studious, apt to speak her mind and doesn't have the highest opinion of the male of the species.
Hugh the Relentless (SWIDT?) is a bastard knight who was raised by his grandfather, because his mother killed Hugh's father and herself shortly after Hugh's birth because he refused to break his previous betrothal and marry her, the mother of his child. Or so Hugh has always been told.
Fortunately for Hugh, his grandfather died when he was only eight, so he was mostly raised by Erasmus, a kindly lord. Erasmus has now given Hugh, age 30, his own fief in reward for years of loyal service. However, the gift of Scarcliffe estate is presenting its own problems because its fabled treasure, the stones of Scarcliffe and especially a legendary green crystal, have disappeared. The superstitious serfs believe that the rightful lord of Scarcliffe will return the crystal. Hugh isn't interested in their superstitions, but being a practical man, sees that the easiest way to secure the people's loyalty is to find the crystal. That search has led him to our heroine.
Alice is a student of natural philosophy (aka science), particularly rocks and crystals. Her cousin purchased an unusual green crystal for her recently but it was stolen. When Hugh the Relentless appears at her uncle's castle, Alice, who also is practical, realizes the opportunity she has for her brother and herself to escape their uncle. She proposes a bargain to Hugh: she will relinquish her claim to the crystal if he will pay for her brother's education and provide her a dowry so that she can enter a convent.
Hugh accepts, with one modification: that Alice agree to a temporary betrothal. Stating that his people will see him as more settled and dependable if he is to be married soon. Of course he intends to marry her, but realizes she won't agree to that at the present.
As is typical of early AQ, the romance part is fairly straightforward, but it is woven into a mystery, or rather several related mysteries. I'm a big fan of whodunits, which likely explains why I enjoy these types of romances. Also, I love the bluestocking heroine character that AQ recycles over and over and frankly, I can never get enough. I love Alice, who has always been accustomed to being the smartest person in the room. Hugh is every bit as intelligent as she is, plus he has street smarts, which is why he expects to win this battle of the sexes. Of course, it doesn't work out as he envisions, because he falls in love with Alice.
One of my favorite funny bits: "He was gone before Alice thought to dump the contents of the flagon of wine over his head. She consoled herself with the realization that there would doubtless be other opportunities."
The H/h will be familiar to any AQ fan. The hero is the typical wounded, self-made hero that is seen as cold and unrelenting to all the world. The heroine is intelligent, studious, apt to speak her mind and doesn't have the highest opinion of the male of the species.
Hugh the Relentless (SWIDT?) is a bastard knight who was raised by his grandfather, because his mother killed Hugh's father and herself shortly after Hugh's birth because he refused to break his previous betrothal and marry her, the mother of his child. Or so Hugh has always been told.
Fortunately for Hugh, his grandfather died when he was only eight, so he was mostly raised by Erasmus, a kindly lord. Erasmus has now given Hugh, age 30, his own fief in reward for years of loyal service. However, the gift of Scarcliffe estate is presenting its own problems because its fabled treasure, the stones of Scarcliffe and especially a legendary green crystal, have disappeared. The superstitious serfs believe that the rightful lord of Scarcliffe will return the crystal. Hugh isn't interested in their superstitions, but being a practical man, sees that the easiest way to secure the people's loyalty is to find the crystal. That search has led him to our heroine.
Alice is a student of natural philosophy (aka science), particularly rocks and crystals. Her cousin purchased an unusual green crystal for her recently but it was stolen. When Hugh the Relentless appears at her uncle's castle, Alice, who also is practical, realizes the opportunity she has for her brother and herself to escape their uncle. She proposes a bargain to Hugh: she will relinquish her claim to the crystal if he will pay for her brother's education and provide her a dowry so that she can enter a convent.
Hugh accepts, with one modification: that Alice agree to a temporary betrothal. Stating that his people will see him as more settled and dependable if he is to be married soon. Of course he intends to marry her, but realizes she won't agree to that at the present.
As is typical of early AQ, the romance part is fairly straightforward, but it is woven into a mystery, or rather several related mysteries. I'm a big fan of whodunits, which likely explains why I enjoy these types of romances. Also, I love the bluestocking heroine character that AQ recycles over and over and frankly, I can never get enough. I love Alice, who has always been accustomed to being the smartest person in the room. Hugh is every bit as intelligent as she is, plus he has street smarts, which is why he expects to win this battle of the sexes. Of course, it doesn't work out as he envisions, because he falls in love with Alice.
One of my favorite funny bits: "He was gone before Alice thought to dump the contents of the flagon of wine over his head. She consoled herself with the realization that there would doubtless be other opportunities."
May 14, 2010
I'm feeling a mite sick so I'll be brief with this review.
I liked this book and as this is my first Amanda Quick book, I'm glad I purchased the first few books of the Arcane Society series. The characters were compelling, the dialogue quick, witty and easy and the mystery interesting enough with a reasonable twist at the end.
Alice & Hugh are both similar enough in their temper, wits and dogged determination that it's easy to see why they like each other. However, while Hugh rules with steel, Alice rules with liquid fire which can be either painful or warming. They were both forced to grow up fast and both were saddled with a responsibility that rightfully belonged to their fore-bearers.
When Hugh comes to Lingwood Manor where Alice and her brother have been since their parents died, looking for a stone that will secure his place as rightful heir to the Scarcliffe Manor - they butt heads and stir up emotions. Alice, smart and stubborn, strikes a bargain with Hugh only to have it come and bite her in the butt. He will agree to all her terms but in return he wants her to become his betrothed - temporarily, with the fine print being until he can make her see that marriage to him would be convenient and practical.
Alice wants love and Hugh doesn't understand what that is. Together they have to face the dangers that the surrounds the stone and the danger that surrounds their hearts.
I liked this book and as this is my first Amanda Quick book, I'm glad I purchased the first few books of the Arcane Society series. The characters were compelling, the dialogue quick, witty and easy and the mystery interesting enough with a reasonable twist at the end.
Alice & Hugh are both similar enough in their temper, wits and dogged determination that it's easy to see why they like each other. However, while Hugh rules with steel, Alice rules with liquid fire which can be either painful or warming. They were both forced to grow up fast and both were saddled with a responsibility that rightfully belonged to their fore-bearers.
When Hugh comes to Lingwood Manor where Alice and her brother have been since their parents died, looking for a stone that will secure his place as rightful heir to the Scarcliffe Manor - they butt heads and stir up emotions. Alice, smart and stubborn, strikes a bargain with Hugh only to have it come and bite her in the butt. He will agree to all her terms but in return he wants her to become his betrothed - temporarily, with the fine print being until he can make her see that marriage to him would be convenient and practical.
Alice wants love and Hugh doesn't understand what that is. Together they have to face the dangers that the surrounds the stone and the danger that surrounds their hearts.
July 23, 2021
Humorous, suspenseful, unputdownable
Brief Summary:
Sharp witted Lady Alice maneuvers a better position for herself and her younger brother, away from their greedy uncle, by striking a bargain to aid a legendary knight recover a stolen crystal vital to the welfare of his keep. Hugh the Relentless, recently in possession of Scarcliffe Keep, must return the stone of legend before he gains the support of the people. Lady Alice gets more than expected when Hugh’s requirement for the bargain has her accepting a temporary betrothal. Hugh knows if he returns with the stone and a bride, the people cannot fail to see him as the new lord of the castle.
Lady Alice, a 23-year-old intelligent and unpredictable scholar of natural philosophy, speaks her mind and can usually outwit any man. She is a perfect example of the foolishness of educating females according to her Uncle Ralf, who managed to cheat Alice and her 16-year-old brother, Benedict, out of their inheritance. So far, Lady Alice has managed to dodge the unsuitable marriage proposals arranged by her uncle but knows she must find a way to fund her brother’s education, while buying a position in a large convenient to further her studies. The crystal stone Hugh seeks was recently in Alice’s possession, a gift bought for her from a peddler by her cousin, and she knows the name of the one who stole it from her. Alice schemes to lend her information to Hugh if he will pay for her and Benedict’s studies.
Hugh the Relentless, now 30 years old, was raised and trained as a knight by Sir Erasmus after the death of his grandfather. Hugh’s parent’s deaths are entangled in scandal and it fuels the vengeance Hugh seeks against his father’s clan Rivenhall. Hugh wishes to impress his sickly liege lord by bringing prosperity back to Scarcliffe Keep, thus proving himself. Hugh must postpone his revenge to seek the green stone stolen from his keep. Upon meeting Lady Alice at her uncle’s manor, her realizes his fortune when she means to bargain with him. Well, he will bargain too. As he finds Lady Alice determined to maintain the betrothal as temporary, Hugh soon realizes he has met a formidable opponent.
The writing flows easy and the pacing kept me turning the pages. The mild suspense adds another layer to the plot, even if it is a bit predictable. All points to the plot are supported and explained.
I most enjoyed the matching of wits and banter of the hero and heroine. Hugh often underestimates Alice and finds himself outmaneuvered. It was fun watching Hugh come to terms with the emotions he felt for Alice. He was an unwavering hero in his pursuit of her.
Possible Triggers:
• Cheating:
• Offensive language:
• Descriptive sex:
• Graphic violence:
• Sensitive subjects:
• Sex scene with OW or OM:
• OW or OM drama:
• Couple separation:
4-Star Rating
Brief Summary:
Sharp witted Lady Alice maneuvers a better position for herself and her younger brother, away from their greedy uncle, by striking a bargain to aid a legendary knight recover a stolen crystal vital to the welfare of his keep. Hugh the Relentless, recently in possession of Scarcliffe Keep, must return the stone of legend before he gains the support of the people. Lady Alice gets more than expected when Hugh’s requirement for the bargain has her accepting a temporary betrothal. Hugh knows if he returns with the stone and a bride, the people cannot fail to see him as the new lord of the castle.
Lady Alice, a 23-year-old intelligent and unpredictable scholar of natural philosophy, speaks her mind and can usually outwit any man. She is a perfect example of the foolishness of educating females according to her Uncle Ralf, who managed to cheat Alice and her 16-year-old brother, Benedict, out of their inheritance. So far, Lady Alice has managed to dodge the unsuitable marriage proposals arranged by her uncle but knows she must find a way to fund her brother’s education, while buying a position in a large convenient to further her studies. The crystal stone Hugh seeks was recently in Alice’s possession, a gift bought for her from a peddler by her cousin, and she knows the name of the one who stole it from her. Alice schemes to lend her information to Hugh if he will pay for her and Benedict’s studies.
She was a woman who drew a man’s gaze not because she was beautiful, although she was far from plain, but because she compelled attention.
Hugh the Relentless, now 30 years old, was raised and trained as a knight by Sir Erasmus after the death of his grandfather. Hugh’s parent’s deaths are entangled in scandal and it fuels the vengeance Hugh seeks against his father’s clan Rivenhall. Hugh wishes to impress his sickly liege lord by bringing prosperity back to Scarcliffe Keep, thus proving himself. Hugh must postpone his revenge to seek the green stone stolen from his keep. Upon meeting Lady Alice at her uncle’s manor, her realizes his fortune when she means to bargain with him. Well, he will bargain too. As he finds Lady Alice determined to maintain the betrothal as temporary, Hugh soon realizes he has met a formidable opponent.
She was not responding well to the notion of marriage, Hugh acknowledged. He determined to pursue a less obvious route to his goal. He was skilled at stratagems. He saw no reason why he could not apply that talent to securing himself a wife.
The writing flows easy and the pacing kept me turning the pages. The mild suspense adds another layer to the plot, even if it is a bit predictable. All points to the plot are supported and explained.
I most enjoyed the matching of wits and banter of the hero and heroine. Hugh often underestimates Alice and finds himself outmaneuvered. It was fun watching Hugh come to terms with the emotions he felt for Alice. He was an unwavering hero in his pursuit of her.
Possible Triggers:
• Cheating:
• Offensive language:
• Descriptive sex:
• Graphic violence:
• Sensitive subjects:
• Sex scene with OW or OM:
• OW or OM drama:
• Couple separation:
4-Star Rating
March 6, 2022
Medieval era. Hopefully, England. Amanda Quick’s Mystique is an escapist-type novel. Lady Alice and
Sir Hugh the Relentless strike a bargain. Lady Alice needs a dowry large enough to free her and her brother from their “conniving “ uncle. Sir Hugh wants the final crystal to the Stones of Scarcliffe as it will aid him as lord of Scarcliffe. Gems, crystals, and all kinds of stones are the passion of Lady Alice, but she sold the crystal that Sir Hugh wishes to possess. Just what kind of a bargain can these two characters agree? A light medieval tale. 3.5-4 stars
PS: My hardcover copy does not have this cover. Mine has light background with a silver treasure chest filled with baubles-just like the Kindle edition.
Sir Hugh the Relentless strike a bargain. Lady Alice needs a dowry large enough to free her and her brother from their “conniving “ uncle. Sir Hugh wants the final crystal to the Stones of Scarcliffe as it will aid him as lord of Scarcliffe. Gems, crystals, and all kinds of stones are the passion of Lady Alice, but she sold the crystal that Sir Hugh wishes to possess. Just what kind of a bargain can these two characters agree? A light medieval tale. 3.5-4 stars
PS: My hardcover copy does not have this cover. Mine has light background with a silver treasure chest filled with baubles-just like the Kindle edition.
February 27, 2019
Mystique does not rate quite as high upon my reread, but still 4.5/5 stars.
November 10, 2021
I didn't love this one as much as I loved her other books. I think the major problem lies with the language that she used for this book. This book is set in the medieval period, but the language came across Regency (or Victorian?). I found it to be really off putting. Small wonder that as far as I know, Ms. Quick has only written 2 books in the medieval period (I wasn't too impressed with the other book as well). Maybe this period isn't her strongest suit.
The book is a typical Ms. Quick book with the aloof hero and bluestocking heroine. If you're familiar with her works, you know what to expect. I found it to be a tad slow though. So, a solid 3 stars.
The book is a typical Ms. Quick book with the aloof hero and bluestocking heroine. If you're familiar with her works, you know what to expect. I found it to be a tad slow though. So, a solid 3 stars.
August 10, 2017
I was recommended this book by a local librarian, who said she really enjoyed this author and described this book as 'mystical; involving magical gems and warring tribes'. So maybe she was thinking about another Quick book?
This was a pretty standard romance book for me. Read it on vacation, wasn't super invested nor interested.
Two main characters start out disliking each other, agree to become betrothed which will obviously not be as temporary as they originally intend, and they fall in love in the end.
Hugh the Relentless was all tell, minimal show of why he was so fearsome and scary. It would have been interesting to see his cruelty/ruthlessness and have the main girl (can't even think of her name) have to work to overcome this part of his personality. Plus he loved her essentially immediately and for no reason other than her beauty.
The main girl is immediately described as being super competent and very intelligent and highly educated for her female status during this time setting, yet she rarely if ever demonstrates this, rushing into situations without thinking and then being like "well, I knew you'd be there to rescue me, and ooh look, something shiny" topic dropped.
The sex scenes were meh, not particularly steamy to have sex in some dark dank cave.
I think the talk of "the stone" and all it's properties and how other stones have other properties COULD have been interesting, but was too vague. Instead of attributing crystals magic or healing powers or some significance, all stones were mentioned in ways like "she had yet to unravel its secrets". Huh?
The plot was so so. I didn't care about the rivalry between Hugh and his family, nor particularly care when Main Character had to ride to save the day, this could have been maybe a little more shown so we saw the tension and cared. There were also timing issues, where in small details/dialogue it seemed little time had passed but then in more general passages of description it seemed like significant time had gone by. I also can't recall much "getting to know you"/insightful moments happening, which really you just need like 2 times where both the main characters have a thought "oh, so (s)he isn't like I thought, which make him/her interesting and/or appealing to me" to make the love believable in this genre.
Overall, it was perfectly fine, and I may even try another Amanda Quick, but it wasn't a great hit for me.
This was a pretty standard romance book for me. Read it on vacation, wasn't super invested nor interested.
Two main characters start out disliking each other, agree to become betrothed which will obviously not be as temporary as they originally intend, and they fall in love in the end.
Hugh the Relentless was all tell, minimal show of why he was so fearsome and scary. It would have been interesting to see his cruelty/ruthlessness and have the main girl (can't even think of her name) have to work to overcome this part of his personality. Plus he loved her essentially immediately and for no reason other than her beauty.
The main girl is immediately described as being super competent and very intelligent and highly educated for her female status during this time setting, yet she rarely if ever demonstrates this, rushing into situations without thinking and then being like "well, I knew you'd be there to rescue me, and ooh look, something shiny" topic dropped.
The sex scenes were meh, not particularly steamy to have sex in some dark dank cave.
I think the talk of "the stone" and all it's properties and how other stones have other properties COULD have been interesting, but was too vague. Instead of attributing crystals magic or healing powers or some significance, all stones were mentioned in ways like "she had yet to unravel its secrets". Huh?
The plot was so so. I didn't care about the rivalry between Hugh and his family, nor particularly care when Main Character had to ride to save the day, this could have been maybe a little more shown so we saw the tension and cared. There were also timing issues, where in small details/dialogue it seemed little time had passed but then in more general passages of description it seemed like significant time had gone by. I also can't recall much "getting to know you"/insightful moments happening, which really you just need like 2 times where both the main characters have a thought "oh, so (s)he isn't like I thought, which make him/her interesting and/or appealing to me" to make the love believable in this genre.
Overall, it was perfectly fine, and I may even try another Amanda Quick, but it wasn't a great hit for me.
May 29, 2019
Loved it.
September 12, 2016
I missed these historical oldies from Amanda Quick. Wish she would go back and write more of the same. Great fun read.
June 19, 2024
My quest for good medieval romance continues. This turned out to be Medieval Romance-Lite: entertaining enough but the medieval setting was more window dressing than I prefer. Plus, I found Alice to be a frustrating character. She might be Book Smart but her repeatedly reckless actions disputed her intelligence. She never took basic safety precautions, even when Hugh instructed her to. On the surface, Alice and Hugh had the kind of dynamic I enjoy: he’s grumbly but can’t help but look out for her while she blithely carries on with her sunshiney view of the world. But the execution just plain didn’t work here. Still, I’d try another medieval from this author and see how it compares.
This was published in 1995 and it holds up fairly well. However, there is a fair amount of ableism around Alice’s disabled brother and it does include both the Fat Villain and Mentally Ill Villain tropes.
Characters: Hugh is a 30 year old white knight and spice trader. Alice is a 23 year old redheaded white scholar of natural philosophy, herbalist, and a virgin. She’s the guardian for her 16 year old brother Benedict, who is disabled.
Content notes: secondary character dies by suicide , past child sexual abuse (secondary character), off page attempted rape of secondary character, past partner violence (secondary character), dying child (FMC able to heal him), murder, attempted murder, poison, abduction, attempted robbery, mentor is dying (recovers), sexism, misogyny, slut-shaming, purity culture, FMC’s brother’s leg is disabled (riding accident), ableism, past parental rejection of FMC’s brother for disability, religious abuse (misogynist monk), Fat Villains trope, Mentally Ill Villain trope, past murder-suicide of MMC’s parents when he was an infant, past child neglect, sibling parentification, past death of MMC’s grandfather who raised him, past death of FMC’s parents (accidental self-poisoning while testing a remedy, murder), MMC’s parents weren’t married when mom became pregnant (dad was betrothed to another), infidelity (secondary characters), past participation in the Crusades (secondary characters), FMC’s uncle stole her inheritance, secondary character with depression, secondary character with a stutter, past death of FMC’s aunt, vomit, pregnancy epilogue, on page sex, alcohol, opium (secondary character), sex worker stigma, hymen misinformation, anti-fat bias, redhead stereotypes, STD stigma, “womanly flesh” as euphemism, gender essentialism, ableist language
This was published in 1995 and it holds up fairly well. However, there is a fair amount of ableism around Alice’s disabled brother and it does include both the Fat Villain and Mentally Ill Villain tropes.
Characters: Hugh is a 30 year old white knight and spice trader. Alice is a 23 year old redheaded white scholar of natural philosophy, herbalist, and a virgin. She’s the guardian for her 16 year old brother Benedict, who is disabled.
Content notes: secondary character dies by suicide , past child sexual abuse (secondary character), off page attempted rape of secondary character, past partner violence (secondary character), dying child (FMC able to heal him), murder, attempted murder, poison, abduction, attempted robbery, mentor is dying (recovers), sexism, misogyny, slut-shaming, purity culture, FMC’s brother’s leg is disabled (riding accident), ableism, past parental rejection of FMC’s brother for disability, religious abuse (misogynist monk), Fat Villains trope, Mentally Ill Villain trope, past murder-suicide of MMC’s parents when he was an infant, past child neglect, sibling parentification, past death of MMC’s grandfather who raised him, past death of FMC’s parents (accidental self-poisoning while testing a remedy, murder), MMC’s parents weren’t married when mom became pregnant (dad was betrothed to another), infidelity (secondary characters), past participation in the Crusades (secondary characters), FMC’s uncle stole her inheritance, secondary character with depression, secondary character with a stutter, past death of FMC’s aunt, vomit, pregnancy epilogue, on page sex, alcohol, opium (secondary character), sex worker stigma, hymen misinformation, anti-fat bias, redhead stereotypes, STD stigma, “womanly flesh” as euphemism, gender essentialism, ableist language
May 4, 2022
Hmm, what to say about Mystique? I thought this was an okay listen. Started off not to my liking but I became interested and then it fell off again. It was a bit slow in pace for me and I became a bit tired of Alice's smart mouth and banter with Hugh, however I knew that was the character that the author was portraying in this story. Narration by Barbara Rosenblat was performed very well and I think that is what kept my interest.
3-Stars
3-Stars
April 17, 2020
The book that made me fall in love with Amanda Quick. <3
June 18, 2023
Mano pirmasis į rankas paimtas istorinis romanas. Anksčiau negalvojau, kad tokio žanro knyga, man gali būti įdomi, bet su šia knyga nuomonė visiškai pasikeitė. Buvo labai įdomu skaityti.
December 4, 2020
I love this book! I love ho Hugh and Alice come to agreements and I love how Alice helps Hugh deal with the past! Such a fun and exiting read!!
February 11, 2025
Amanda Quick has an easily digestible style, and while I don't like calling books palate cleansers, that's really what her books are (and exactly how I used it).
Mystique is a medieval that feels like a regency in the sense that AQ has a light tone and the focus is on character rather than era. Hugh the Relentless is a knight with a reputation. Lady Alice is trying to hold her lands for her younger brother, but she's at the mercy of her uncle. At 23 she's basically unmarriargeable, so when Hugh offers for her, Alice's uncle is skeptical (he buys him off by paying for Alice in chests of spices, a commodity in the middle ages.) Hugh and Alice are actually not planning to marry, despite their increasing attraction, but are united in locating a set of gems linked to Hugh's estate.
Light and fun, like all AQ. @hsumanityreads called it "accessible medieval" because it's more atmospheric than doing any heavy duty worldbuilding. It's also lacking the aggression of the era we sometimes see in, say, Virginia Henley.
Mystique is a medieval that feels like a regency in the sense that AQ has a light tone and the focus is on character rather than era. Hugh the Relentless is a knight with a reputation. Lady Alice is trying to hold her lands for her younger brother, but she's at the mercy of her uncle. At 23 she's basically unmarriargeable, so when Hugh offers for her, Alice's uncle is skeptical (he buys him off by paying for Alice in chests of spices, a commodity in the middle ages.) Hugh and Alice are actually not planning to marry, despite their increasing attraction, but are united in locating a set of gems linked to Hugh's estate.
Light and fun, like all AQ. @hsumanityreads called it "accessible medieval" because it's more atmospheric than doing any heavy duty worldbuilding. It's also lacking the aggression of the era we sometimes see in, say, Virginia Henley.
January 31, 2018
Zabavna priča, super za izbjegavanje obaveza odmaranje mozga :)
May 26, 2022
Well this was a fun discovery! Aarya is right - it holds up really well in 2022, considering it was published in the mid-90's.
April 12, 2023
MYSTIQUE is an early and a favorite standalone historical romance novel written by Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz (published in 1995). I bought and listened to the the audio version performed by Barbara Rosenblat.
MY RATING GUIDE: 4.5 Satisfied Stars.
As a fan of Quick/Krentz’s style of writing, I have read and enjoyed MYSTIQUE a number of times. This was my first listen with audio.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, THIS WAS GREAT FUN! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
MYSTIQUE features an independent lady and a fearsome knight who is challenged by yet appreciates the lady’s spirit and intelligence. Together, they face dangers and mysteries arising from the past.
Lady Alice, 23, is a well educated lady and a knowledgeable woman in the healing arts. Since her parents’ early demise, Lady Alice and her younger brother have been living with her greedy uncle. Lady Alice resents the method in which her uncle took over her family home and inheritance. Accordingly, she balks under his guardianship and her uncle considers her an uncooperative “shrew.”
Hugh the Relentless, the Bringer of Storms is a 30 year old knight and the bastard son of a noble woman. Upon his parents death, Hugh was taken in and raised by his embittered maternal grandfather and after the grandfather’s death, by his trusted lige lord. From the time of Hugh’s youth, he was trained in battle but also educated in the knowledge of books and business. As he grew older and became more experienced, Hugh established himself in the spice trade and, with time, became a man to be reckoned with.
Hugh meets Lady Alice while visiting her uncle and is intrigued by her spirit and strength. He approaches her with a proposal and the two agree on a bargain which Lady Alice believes will suit them both. But a killer waits in the dark to thwart their plans.
Comments ~
1) Amanda Quick/Jayne Anne Krentz is one of my favorite authors. Dialogue drives her stories - with quips, humor and spirited connections between the main characters, along with mystery elements and a much earned HEA. Quick novels are perfect when I’m looking for a Pick Me Up read - something light, positive, easy.
2) Quick’s male characters are determined, bold, driven, loyal men who often begin their lives with nothing but through their concentrated efforts and intellect accomplish much. These men live by a certain code of honor and they never break it. They are not intimidated by complex women, rather they appreciate them. The women MCs tend to be independent, spirited, complicated, intelligent, resilient, loyal and opinionated and they prefer men who are strong enough to accept them as they are. This pattern continues in MYSTIQUE and I found myself identifying with both the main characters and respecting them as individuals.
3) I again enjoyed the romp and adventurous tone in MYSTIQUE; it appeals to my sense of humor. This was not a great piece of literature but for me, it created a welcomed escape.
4) I have previously read MYSTIQUE (a number of times). This time I purchased and listened to the audio version. The vocal performance by Barbara Rosenblat was delightful and consistent with how I imagined the characters speaking. Both male and female voices were well performed. I am sure I will enjoy listening again.
5) Angst-filled moments and misunderstandings are minimal (which I appreciate).
READER CAUTION ~ Not recommended to readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Infrequent use of strong language.
VIOLENCE - PG. Not particularly dark or graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Intimate scenes occur on several occasions. These could be easily skipped.
MY RATING GUIDE: 4.5 Satisfied Stars.
As a fan of Quick/Krentz’s style of writing, I have read and enjoyed MYSTIQUE a number of times. This was my first listen with audio.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, THIS WAS GREAT FUN! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
MYSTIQUE features an independent lady and a fearsome knight who is challenged by yet appreciates the lady’s spirit and intelligence. Together, they face dangers and mysteries arising from the past.
Lady Alice, 23, is a well educated lady and a knowledgeable woman in the healing arts. Since her parents’ early demise, Lady Alice and her younger brother have been living with her greedy uncle. Lady Alice resents the method in which her uncle took over her family home and inheritance. Accordingly, she balks under his guardianship and her uncle considers her an uncooperative “shrew.”
Hugh the Relentless, the Bringer of Storms is a 30 year old knight and the bastard son of a noble woman. Upon his parents death, Hugh was taken in and raised by his embittered maternal grandfather and after the grandfather’s death, by his trusted lige lord. From the time of Hugh’s youth, he was trained in battle but also educated in the knowledge of books and business. As he grew older and became more experienced, Hugh established himself in the spice trade and, with time, became a man to be reckoned with.
Hugh meets Lady Alice while visiting her uncle and is intrigued by her spirit and strength. He approaches her with a proposal and the two agree on a bargain which Lady Alice believes will suit them both. But a killer waits in the dark to thwart their plans.
Comments ~
1) Amanda Quick/Jayne Anne Krentz is one of my favorite authors. Dialogue drives her stories - with quips, humor and spirited connections between the main characters, along with mystery elements and a much earned HEA. Quick novels are perfect when I’m looking for a Pick Me Up read - something light, positive, easy.
2) Quick’s male characters are determined, bold, driven, loyal men who often begin their lives with nothing but through their concentrated efforts and intellect accomplish much. These men live by a certain code of honor and they never break it. They are not intimidated by complex women, rather they appreciate them. The women MCs tend to be independent, spirited, complicated, intelligent, resilient, loyal and opinionated and they prefer men who are strong enough to accept them as they are. This pattern continues in MYSTIQUE and I found myself identifying with both the main characters and respecting them as individuals.
3) I again enjoyed the romp and adventurous tone in MYSTIQUE; it appeals to my sense of humor. This was not a great piece of literature but for me, it created a welcomed escape.
4) I have previously read MYSTIQUE (a number of times). This time I purchased and listened to the audio version. The vocal performance by Barbara Rosenblat was delightful and consistent with how I imagined the characters speaking. Both male and female voices were well performed. I am sure I will enjoy listening again.
5) Angst-filled moments and misunderstandings are minimal (which I appreciate).
READER CAUTION ~ Not recommended to readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Infrequent use of strong language.
VIOLENCE - PG. Not particularly dark or graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Intimate scenes occur on several occasions. These could be easily skipped.
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