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Mistress Trilogy #3
His Favorite Mistress
Vivacious Gabriella St. George is penniless yet proud. Thanks to the benevolence of a generous relative, she gets a chance for a new life in London, never dreaming that it will entangle her in a sensual battle of wills with an irresistible rogue who doesn’t believe in love. With one scorching caress, Anthony Black invites Gabriella to share his bed. But she wants his heart and his name, so the determined beauty embarks on a daring game of seduction to win both.
Firmly committed to the pleasures of bachelorhood, Tony Black, Duke of Wyvern, has no intention of offering to any woman more than shared moments of erotic delight. But Gabriella tests his mettle, undermines his resolve, and cracks the ice around his heart with each sweet smile, teasing glance, and rapturous kiss. Suddenly a man who relishes only carnal pleasures must confront the unexpected: a passion that may lead to everlasting love.
Firmly committed to the pleasures of bachelorhood, Tony Black, Duke of Wyvern, has no intention of offering to any woman more than shared moments of erotic delight. But Gabriella tests his mettle, undermines his resolve, and cracks the ice around his heart with each sweet smile, teasing glance, and rapturous kiss. Suddenly a man who relishes only carnal pleasures must confront the unexpected: a passion that may lead to everlasting love.
356 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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About the author
Tracy Anne Warren
44 books793 followersTracy Anne Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of ten Regency historical romance novels, including At The Duke’s Pleasure and The Husband Trap. Her books have appeared on the USA Today Bestsellers’ list and the Borders’ Group List of Bestselling Single Title Romance Paperbacks. She has won numerous writing awards, including Romance Writers’ of America’s prestigious RITA® Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Golden Quill, and others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 3, 2020
This is a pretty weird story at best that definitely isn't for me.
Let's start with the strange characters. I mean, they wouldn't be weird at all, just perfectly normal for historical romances, were it not for Gabriella being 17. And she is really sexually aware for such a young age in those times (even considering that her mother was an actress and the girl received an unusual upbringing). Gabriella somehow combines girlish innocence and sexualization of a much older woman. Together, this causes a complete inconsistency in her character. It is Gabriella who seduces Tony, who is almost twice her age, although I'm not sure she knows what she is doing. The whole thing looks a bit like a failed inspiration from Lolita.
But once she gets him, she gives up any work on their relationship. We have a typical conflict here, resulting from the fact that the main character accidentally heard something she shouldn't have and instead of talking like an adult (which, after reflection, she probably still isn't) decides to act as she thinks will be best for her.
I also didn't like the fact that all the work to reconcile them is done solely by him. She merely graciously agrees to his efforts and still sniff at his attempts from time to time. I sincerely hoped that in the end she would have to put some effort herself, and I was disappointed that she didn't.
It was definitely not a book for me. I have other books by this author on my TBR pile, but I don't feel like reading them at the moment.
Let's start with the strange characters. I mean, they wouldn't be weird at all, just perfectly normal for historical romances, were it not for Gabriella being 17. And she is really sexually aware for such a young age in those times (even considering that her mother was an actress and the girl received an unusual upbringing). Gabriella somehow combines girlish innocence and sexualization of a much older woman. Together, this causes a complete inconsistency in her character. It is Gabriella who seduces Tony, who is almost twice her age, although I'm not sure she knows what she is doing. The whole thing looks a bit like a failed inspiration from Lolita.
But once she gets him, she gives up any work on their relationship. We have a typical conflict here, resulting from the fact that the main character accidentally heard something she shouldn't have and instead of talking like an adult (which, after reflection, she probably still isn't) decides to act as she thinks will be best for her.
I also didn't like the fact that all the work to reconcile them is done solely by him. She merely graciously agrees to his efforts and still sniff at his attempts from time to time. I sincerely hoped that in the end she would have to put some effort herself, and I was disappointed that she didn't.
It was definitely not a book for me. I have other books by this author on my TBR pile, but I don't feel like reading them at the moment.
November 28, 2021
2.75
The “mistress” part of the title doesn’t come into play until the 80% mark if I recall correctly, so the title is a little misleading. It reminded me of Mary Balogh's The Secret Mistress, which is also a misleading title. Both books are about married heroines who end up being their husband's mistresses towards the end of the book. However, in Mary Balogh's book, this was barely brought up. It's just the authors' attempt at making the last book fit in with the "Mistress" part of their series.
This book was a little better than the second book in the series. The heroine is actually the illegitimate daughter of the villain in Book 1, which I had already forgotten that there was a villain in that book. She's also the niece of the hero from Book 1. I liked that the heroine is a sharpshooter and archer, but this was never brought up again once she went to London for her season. I also liked that this book spanned over at least a year. The H/h meet, then 1-3 months go by, they meet again, another month goes by, and so on.
There is an age gap. The heroine is 17 years old and the hero is probably in his 30's. It's definitely lust at first sight.
There is a scene the hero is in bed with his mistress (after he and the heroine already met), which some readers may not like. Fortunately, this is also the scene he breaks things off with her and she was not happy. The ex-mistress
For the first half of the book, there was little plot. The conflict came in the second half when the heroine The last 20% kind of dragged on for too long.
Side note: Violet Brantford, the heroine from The Husband Trap, made a brief appearance towards the end, at a ball. It looked like she was still unmarried, which is odd since this book came out after The Husband Trap, so shouldn't she be married? *shrugs* Oh, well.
The “mistress” part of the title doesn’t come into play until the 80% mark if I recall correctly, so the title is a little misleading. It reminded me of Mary Balogh's The Secret Mistress, which is also a misleading title. Both books are about married heroines who end up being their husband's mistresses towards the end of the book. However, in Mary Balogh's book, this was barely brought up. It's just the authors' attempt at making the last book fit in with the "Mistress" part of their series.
This book was a little better than the second book in the series. The heroine is actually the illegitimate daughter of the villain in Book 1, which I had already forgotten that there was a villain in that book. She's also the niece of the hero from Book 1. I liked that the heroine is a sharpshooter and archer, but this was never brought up again once she went to London for her season. I also liked that this book spanned over at least a year. The H/h meet, then 1-3 months go by, they meet again, another month goes by, and so on.
There is an age gap. The heroine is 17 years old and the hero is probably in his 30's. It's definitely lust at first sight.
There is a scene the hero is in bed with his mistress (after he and the heroine already met), which some readers may not like. Fortunately, this is also the scene he breaks things off with her and she was not happy. The ex-mistress
For the first half of the book, there was little plot. The conflict came in the second half when the heroine The last 20% kind of dragged on for too long.
Side note: Violet Brantford, the heroine from The Husband Trap, made a brief appearance towards the end, at a ball. It looked like she was still unmarried, which is odd since this book came out after The Husband Trap, so shouldn't she be married? *shrugs* Oh, well.
May 16, 2020
An improbable but nice fairytale!
April 28, 2023
I enjoyed this book over the other two in Tracy Anne Warren's "Mistress" series. There was TAW's typical segment of discord but, although it got old by the end, it didn't feel completely inorganic to me as others have. For one thing, the typically sweet heroine didn't become a raving shrew to the hero. That's something that Warren sometimes does to keep the discord going when there's obviously no reason for it to continue, and it works a lot better when the insults don't fly.
The heroine, Gabriella, is the illegitimate niece of the hero from "My Fair Mistress" and she comes to his home to shoot him for supposedly hounding her father to his death. She meets up with Tony, the Duke of Wyvern, who disarms her and, of course, thinks she needs a lusty kiss before the uncle she's never met enters the room. He then unloads all the dirty laundry she's never learned about her father right on her head.
So, it's a fun start.
The heroine is very young. Only seventeen. Which my modern morals object to, but I have to remind myself of the times. She's a very mature seventeen, as well, being the orphaned wrong-side-of-the-sheets daughter of a peer and an actress. But she's naive in the ways of society and her uncle, Rafe (who has generously and lovingly made her part of his growing family), asks Tony to look out for her when she has a season. Um ... silly uncle.
No, it's not at all likely that the known bastard daughter of a known murderer would enjoy a season. Nor would she "take" as well as Gabriella does. But, if life were fair in the regency era, she would. She's really very sweet and clever and beautiful and there's no reason not to like her. It was easy enough to suspend my disbelief.
Tony is a rake who seems heartless to the women he leaves behind. His back story provides the reason for his seeming coldness, and intention to let his title pass to his cousin rather than ever marry, and it works well enough for me. We've seen him in the other books, and he's a decent guy. He just has a very distorted view of relationships between men and women.
That view is the cause of all his problems later and, although the inevitable point where you say "enough of this!" does happen, it's not all that tedious in this case.
Poor Tony. He deserves five stars for his excellent groveling alone, but he's sexy and manly and almost always sweet, if a bit emotionally under-educated. Lucky for the reader, Gabriella is perfect for him and this is a very romantic end to the trilogy.
The heroine, Gabriella, is the illegitimate niece of the hero from "My Fair Mistress" and she comes to his home to shoot him for supposedly hounding her father to his death. She meets up with Tony, the Duke of Wyvern, who disarms her and, of course, thinks she needs a lusty kiss before the uncle she's never met enters the room. He then unloads all the dirty laundry she's never learned about her father right on her head.
So, it's a fun start.
The heroine is very young. Only seventeen. Which my modern morals object to, but I have to remind myself of the times. She's a very mature seventeen, as well, being the orphaned wrong-side-of-the-sheets daughter of a peer and an actress. But she's naive in the ways of society and her uncle, Rafe (who has generously and lovingly made her part of his growing family), asks Tony to look out for her when she has a season. Um ... silly uncle.
No, it's not at all likely that the known bastard daughter of a known murderer would enjoy a season. Nor would she "take" as well as Gabriella does. But, if life were fair in the regency era, she would. She's really very sweet and clever and beautiful and there's no reason not to like her. It was easy enough to suspend my disbelief.
Tony is a rake who seems heartless to the women he leaves behind. His back story provides the reason for his seeming coldness, and intention to let his title pass to his cousin rather than ever marry, and it works well enough for me. We've seen him in the other books, and he's a decent guy. He just has a very distorted view of relationships between men and women.
That view is the cause of all his problems later and, although the inevitable point where you say "enough of this!" does happen, it's not all that tedious in this case.
Poor Tony. He deserves five stars for his excellent groveling alone, but he's sexy and manly and almost always sweet, if a bit emotionally under-educated. Lucky for the reader, Gabriella is perfect for him and this is a very romantic end to the trilogy.
January 21, 2026
4.5 stars
I'm mad because this easily would have been a 5 star read if it hadn't been for the last 25%ish of the story. Didn't care for the "he can't love me so I'm leaving him" misunderstanding annoying plot device used near the end. I usually love misunderstandings about feelings used as angst but here it was a bit redundant, extra and unneeded. If it hadn't gone on for so long I would have ignored it but it pulled me out of the story a little so yeah. Made the otherwise smart heroine come across stupid & dense. Other than that, this was a breath of fresh air in what has been a terrible whole year of endless disappointing reads for me. The lothario rakish Anthony Black having to finally work for something was great to see and Gabby was his perfect match.
Although I will say I found Gabriella's easy transformation into a Duchess a little bit hard to swallow considering she was a bastard daughter of an earl and stage actress who lived her whole life on the fringes of society, dirt poor. Granted it didn't happen overnight but I would have liked a little more gradual and realistic fumbling considering the huge change in lifestyle (who taught her to read and write?!) but since this book covered nearly a year, I’m looking the other way on that. Yes that’s right, a year. You hear that Romance authors? Months. Not 2 days, not 1 week, a whole year. And no time jumps either. This is why I love TAW and old school HR. Nothing is rushed like everything is now with insta-lust and instant ILYs by Chapter 5. Slow burn romance and gradual build up is what I find the most gratifying in my reads and something TAW is such a natural at. Her character development is amazing and just draws you in. She takes her time with her stories but doesn't drag her feet either. And of course her signature insatiable naughty jerk older heroes are always fun to read. This felt bittersweet since it’s my last backlist read from her. I really wish she would write more. I miss her work. :( And can I say seeing that little cameo of Violet from The Husband Trap was so exciting and made me feel nostalgic. I wish I had known the Trap trilogy was a spin-off from this trilogy, cause just that little tease alone with Violet & Raeborne got me eager to pick up her book again. Which is still one of my all time favorite HR books. ❤️
I'm mad because this easily would have been a 5 star read if it hadn't been for the last 25%ish of the story. Didn't care for the "he can't love me so I'm leaving him" misunderstanding annoying plot device used near the end. I usually love misunderstandings about feelings used as angst but here it was a bit redundant, extra and unneeded. If it hadn't gone on for so long I would have ignored it but it pulled me out of the story a little so yeah. Made the otherwise smart heroine come across stupid & dense. Other than that, this was a breath of fresh air in what has been a terrible whole year of endless disappointing reads for me. The lothario rakish Anthony Black having to finally work for something was great to see and Gabby was his perfect match.
Although I will say I found Gabriella's easy transformation into a Duchess a little bit hard to swallow considering she was a bastard daughter of an earl and stage actress who lived her whole life on the fringes of society, dirt poor. Granted it didn't happen overnight but I would have liked a little more gradual and realistic fumbling considering the huge change in lifestyle (who taught her to read and write?!) but since this book covered nearly a year, I’m looking the other way on that. Yes that’s right, a year. You hear that Romance authors? Months. Not 2 days, not 1 week, a whole year. And no time jumps either. This is why I love TAW and old school HR. Nothing is rushed like everything is now with insta-lust and instant ILYs by Chapter 5. Slow burn romance and gradual build up is what I find the most gratifying in my reads and something TAW is such a natural at. Her character development is amazing and just draws you in. She takes her time with her stories but doesn't drag her feet either. And of course her signature insatiable naughty jerk older heroes are always fun to read. This felt bittersweet since it’s my last backlist read from her. I really wish she would write more. I miss her work. :( And can I say seeing that little cameo of Violet from The Husband Trap was so exciting and made me feel nostalgic. I wish I had known the Trap trilogy was a spin-off from this trilogy, cause just that little tease alone with Violet & Raeborne got me eager to pick up her book again. Which is still one of my all time favorite HR books. ❤️
October 24, 2016
I adore a good marriage of convenience story. Gabriella and Tony are a wonderful couple. He marries her to save her reputation but she falls in love with him. Sadly she overhears Tony saying he doesn't love her and she leaves him. Tony realizes he is crazy in love with his wife but he must now win her trust again.
Super romantic and passionate love story. Hero was sex on legs and heroine was a sweetheart. Sex scenes were so sensual and the epilogue melted my heart! I need more books like this in my life! Can't wait for this author's next book!
Super romantic and passionate love story. Hero was sex on legs and heroine was a sweetheart. Sex scenes were so sensual and the epilogue melted my heart! I need more books like this in my life! Can't wait for this author's next book!
July 8, 2020
This was a big disappointment after reading the other books in the series. The story started out great till Anthony puts his big foot in his mouth half way through the book. Gabrielle reacts very immaturely and the book goes down hill from there. What a waste!
March 14, 2021
Tracy is such a great writer. Her worst book is still better than most of the HR I am reading lately. She is truly a master at conveying emotion.
While this is my least favorite in the series, I still enjoyed Tony and Gabriella's story. The ending was so romantic, and I've always enjoyed a hero working to fix things with the heroine. Tony did that and more. It was a very swoon-worthy story.
Heroine is only 17- I didn't like that when I DNF the first time, but I pretended she was older and it made the story more enjoyable for me.
While this is my least favorite in the series, I still enjoyed Tony and Gabriella's story. The ending was so romantic, and I've always enjoyed a hero working to fix things with the heroine. Tony did that and more. It was a very swoon-worthy story.
Heroine is only 17- I didn't like that when I DNF the first time, but I pretended she was older and it made the story more enjoyable for me.
January 26, 2010
I enjoyed the first two novels in this series, but this one didn't work for me at all. Right off the bat, I was turned off by the 17-year-old heroine and 30-something-year-old hero. (I missed his exact age and don't really care, it's gross whatever the digit after the 3_ is. :=) )
Going forward, though, this turned out to be yet another story that was completely about a man's refusal to say three little words, which I find tedious. Don't get me wrong -- it's fine to take some time to say those words, but something else needs to be going on behind or around it.
To make matters worse, when Gabriella overhears her new husband tell a friend that he doesn't love her and married her to protect her honor, she behaves precisely like a spoiled teenager for the rest of the book, running away, refusing to do her duty, shaming her husband, and basically throwing a big temper tantrum. This makes the whole age-difference ick factor thing go up tenfold. At one point I asked my 33-year-old husband what he thought of 17-year-olds and he did a bit of gagging. That was the right answer. :=)
Going forward, though, this turned out to be yet another story that was completely about a man's refusal to say three little words, which I find tedious. Don't get me wrong -- it's fine to take some time to say those words, but something else needs to be going on behind or around it.
To make matters worse, when Gabriella overhears her new husband tell a friend that he doesn't love her and married her to protect her honor, she behaves precisely like a spoiled teenager for the rest of the book, running away, refusing to do her duty, shaming her husband, and basically throwing a big temper tantrum. This makes the whole age-difference ick factor thing go up tenfold. At one point I asked my 33-year-old husband what he thought of 17-year-olds and he did a bit of gagging. That was the right answer. :=)
August 11, 2014
The third book in the Mistress Trilogy by Tracy Anne Warren. I didn't like this one as much as the previous 2. And, no, it's not because of the age difference (He is 35 and she is 17). I really liked Tony and Gabriella characters but the story just didn't work for me.
January 11, 2016
Oh my God. Why this book have low average rating? This one is so good. Become one of my fav of TAW.
I thought the story would be bawdy dirty and raunchy. Turns out i was wrong. The perfect word to describe this story is : Elegant.
Yup. Elegant, and Classy.
I thought the story would be bawdy dirty and raunchy. Turns out i was wrong. The perfect word to describe this story is : Elegant.
Yup. Elegant, and Classy.
September 3, 2019
Actual rating: 3.5 stars, some occasional bits were a four hence my liberality in rounding up the rating
Considering I had to pay an exuberant $15 for an ebook, I had, rightfully, high expectations for this book. I know, this is like the second book I finished today and I really have to reign it in. Because when you read so many regency romances, especially two back to back in one day, it really makes for quite a cynical disposition. As someone who as, on average, been reading about a book a day in the past month, I'm slowly flushing my desire to read out of my system. As each day passes, I find, sadly quite unfairly, that I am being harsher critic by the day.
That being said, I did enjoy this book. It was certainly scintillating enough to keep me reading 5 hours straight. The Duke was the kind of rakish aristocrat that I liked — he was a libertine who basked in the power afforded by wealth and title. I did find it a little weird that the heroine was all chummy and best friends with like her aunt and uncle and in the end they were all these best mates when there was a considerable age gap which I wish we addressed! But lol it's the regency period so I suppose the ton's not going to be batting an eye.
Tying in with the h's age, or lack of age, was her propensity to be rash and childish. In fact, her desire to be emancipated lowkey detached me from the story. She acted so childish for a Duchess, and for someone of her position, she rarely did much during the season lmao.
The best thing about this book was she writes like she regurgitated a dictionary! I learn't more words in the past five hours than I have in the past 5 years. And that is quite the feat because I am like a second dictionary myself. That may be a turnoff for some but I quite liked it. Who'd of thought! A romance teaching me a thing or two apart from the woes of misogyny HAHAHA
Considering I had to pay an exuberant $15 for an ebook, I had, rightfully, high expectations for this book. I know, this is like the second book I finished today and I really have to reign it in. Because when you read so many regency romances, especially two back to back in one day, it really makes for quite a cynical disposition. As someone who as, on average, been reading about a book a day in the past month, I'm slowly flushing my desire to read out of my system. As each day passes, I find, sadly quite unfairly, that I am being harsher critic by the day.
That being said, I did enjoy this book. It was certainly scintillating enough to keep me reading 5 hours straight. The Duke was the kind of rakish aristocrat that I liked — he was a libertine who basked in the power afforded by wealth and title. I did find it a little weird that the heroine was all chummy and best friends with like her aunt and uncle and in the end they were all these best mates when there was a considerable age gap which I wish we addressed! But lol it's the regency period so I suppose the ton's not going to be batting an eye.
Tying in with the h's age, or lack of age, was her propensity to be rash and childish. In fact, her desire to be emancipated lowkey detached me from the story. She acted so childish for a Duchess, and for someone of her position, she rarely did much during the season lmao.
The best thing about this book was she writes like she regurgitated a dictionary! I learn't more words in the past five hours than I have in the past 5 years. And that is quite the feat because I am like a second dictionary myself. That may be a turnoff for some but I quite liked it. Who'd of thought! A romance teaching me a thing or two apart from the woes of misogyny HAHAHA
August 14, 2022
I’m actually giving it 2.5 stars
There were problematic elements throughout the book, starting with the fact that the heroine was 17 and the hero 35ish. I had a really hard time getting past that, especially since their relationship was very sexual from the onset. Gabriella was an odd heroine, though, because she often acted much older than her age, although at other times her adolescent angst would burst to the forefront.
My other problems stemmed from the utter lack of realism in their situation. Gabby was the illegitimate daughter of a low level aristocrat murderer and his actress mistress. The fact that she was just launched into society and GIVEN VOUCHERS TO ALMACK’S without a second thought was pretty unbelievable. There was like a day of uncomfortableness at one point, but it’s glossed over pretty quickly. And why does she seem to know exactly how to get on in society? She grew up in the theatre. She didn’t go to finishing school. Her language and manners seem perfect. For that matter, how does she even know how to dance? To make matters worse, the hero she is matched up with is a duke! That would be overwhelming for most debutantes, but the these two MCs would only have a bigger gap in status if Tony was the Prince Regent, himself. This dichotomy in their standing is barely touched on. It’s just all so strange.
The romance itself (outside of my issues) was fairly conventional with all the good, bad and indifferent stuff that goes on in these things. A lot of it was enjoyable, but the requisite separation went on too long. One unusual, and IMO good (considering the heroines’s age), thing about the book was that it took place over the course of more than a year. I was happy that Gabriella was getting older as I read. I just wish she had been older to begin with!
Small complaint...Gabriella is Rafe Pendragon’s niece. At one point in the book, his toddler son refers to her as “Aunt Gabby.” Hunh? They would be first cousins. Their fathers were brothers. Why would you call your cousin your aunt, even as a courtesy title? I don’t care about the age difference. That’s just confusing. I have two cousins that were born when I was 16 and 18. The idea that they would consider me anything other than just their older cousin is unthinkable. And to refer to me as “aunt?” Uh, creepy and weird.
There were problematic elements throughout the book, starting with the fact that the heroine was 17 and the hero 35ish. I had a really hard time getting past that, especially since their relationship was very sexual from the onset. Gabriella was an odd heroine, though, because she often acted much older than her age, although at other times her adolescent angst would burst to the forefront.
My other problems stemmed from the utter lack of realism in their situation. Gabby was the illegitimate daughter of a low level aristocrat murderer and his actress mistress. The fact that she was just launched into society and GIVEN VOUCHERS TO ALMACK’S without a second thought was pretty unbelievable. There was like a day of uncomfortableness at one point, but it’s glossed over pretty quickly. And why does she seem to know exactly how to get on in society? She grew up in the theatre. She didn’t go to finishing school. Her language and manners seem perfect. For that matter, how does she even know how to dance? To make matters worse, the hero she is matched up with is a duke! That would be overwhelming for most debutantes, but the these two MCs would only have a bigger gap in status if Tony was the Prince Regent, himself. This dichotomy in their standing is barely touched on. It’s just all so strange.
The romance itself (outside of my issues) was fairly conventional with all the good, bad and indifferent stuff that goes on in these things. A lot of it was enjoyable, but the requisite separation went on too long. One unusual, and IMO good (considering the heroines’s age), thing about the book was that it took place over the course of more than a year. I was happy that Gabriella was getting older as I read. I just wish she had been older to begin with!
Small complaint...Gabriella is Rafe Pendragon’s niece. At one point in the book, his toddler son refers to her as “Aunt Gabby.” Hunh? They would be first cousins. Their fathers were brothers. Why would you call your cousin your aunt, even as a courtesy title? I don’t care about the age difference. That’s just confusing. I have two cousins that were born when I was 16 and 18. The idea that they would consider me anything other than just their older cousin is unthinkable. And to refer to me as “aunt?” Uh, creepy and weird.
August 10, 2017
Having finished the entire Mistress Trilogy, I have to admit that I still stand by my previous opinion that I mentioned in the second books review. The second book was definitely the best in the series, in my opinion.
Ironically enough, the first book had a ton of the H/h relationship at the forefront but, we were having to share it with the big bad villain in the backdrop throughout the whole book. The second book was nearly entirely focused on the H/h relationship and only minorly included a hiccup by a manipulative mother and a villain with a somewhat suspenseful-esque tone in the final chapters. Then you move on to the third where the whole book is pretty much dedicated to the core H/h relationship, and when a villain-like character finally pops in being troublesome (which naturally pushed the couple to marry in the first place) only to never been seen again, it leaves you kind of hanging. That was surprising since I was expecting his ex vindictive mistress to cause more trouble before the end especially when they were having issues. Not a complaint, really. More an observation that surprised me. It gave off a very sort of "unfinished" vibe.
Another thing about this book was the ages of the characters. Usually this isn't a huge deal for me. Sometimes the age gap is significant enough to make note of it, or even plays a role in how you see the characters. In this book's case, I think that applies. The heroine Gabriella was only seventeen when the book opens, and I can only assume Tony was the same age as Rafe and Ethan (from the previous books), which lands him at thirty-five years old. That is quite a gap, if I'm honest. I wasn't super comfortable with it, I'll admit. There were many times I found it easy to forget Gabriella's age as she was quite outgoing and seemed to handle herself well. For the most part she appeared mature for her age and street smart, but the author couldn't keep that up through the book though. She tended to bounce back and forth eventually acting only as I would imagine her age permitted. Many times she felt too young for Tony. She fell in love too quickly, and obviously had a crush on him the first half of the book. Her infatuation even went as far as being obvious and trying to make him jealous while courting with other men while experiencing her first season. It became tiresome listening to her inner monologues about how much she wished he'd come around or how much she wanted him. She was too young for him mentally. She had a very romantic view of him when he was hardly prince charming.
And Tony, well he was your average charming rake. He dallied with many and had no intentions of ever marrying, happy to let the dukedom fall to his cousin instead of doing his duty in creating an heir himself. For the most part he struggled with his attraction for Gabriella. He thought her too young but most importantly she was his best friend's niece, and that was something no honorable man would trespass upon. Especially when Rafe appointed him as her protector during her season. He did try, but Gabriella was a dog with a bone in that regard. He was her first kiss, and in her inexperience it simply felt like she attached herself to him because of her inexperience in the romantic realm, and allowed her infatuation to goad him into kissing her and more whenever she could.
Much of the book after they married was pretty sweet. He was pleased with his marriage and Gabriella was just over the moon in puppy love with her new husband.
Alas, this trilogy was OKAY. Not bad per se, but not great either. The second book was better IMO. All the romance was pretty decent in all the books but mostly they were just dramatic and predictable.
Ironically enough, the first book had a ton of the H/h relationship at the forefront but, we were having to share it with the big bad villain in the backdrop throughout the whole book. The second book was nearly entirely focused on the H/h relationship and only minorly included a hiccup by a manipulative mother and a villain with a somewhat suspenseful-esque tone in the final chapters. Then you move on to the third where the whole book is pretty much dedicated to the core H/h relationship, and when a villain-like character finally pops in being troublesome (which naturally pushed the couple to marry in the first place) only to never been seen again, it leaves you kind of hanging. That was surprising since I was expecting his ex vindictive mistress to cause more trouble before the end especially when they were having issues. Not a complaint, really. More an observation that surprised me. It gave off a very sort of "unfinished" vibe.
Another thing about this book was the ages of the characters. Usually this isn't a huge deal for me. Sometimes the age gap is significant enough to make note of it, or even plays a role in how you see the characters. In this book's case, I think that applies. The heroine Gabriella was only seventeen when the book opens, and I can only assume Tony was the same age as Rafe and Ethan (from the previous books), which lands him at thirty-five years old. That is quite a gap, if I'm honest. I wasn't super comfortable with it, I'll admit. There were many times I found it easy to forget Gabriella's age as she was quite outgoing and seemed to handle herself well. For the most part she appeared mature for her age and street smart, but the author couldn't keep that up through the book though. She tended to bounce back and forth eventually acting only as I would imagine her age permitted. Many times she felt too young for Tony. She fell in love too quickly, and obviously had a crush on him the first half of the book. Her infatuation even went as far as being obvious and trying to make him jealous while courting with other men while experiencing her first season. It became tiresome listening to her inner monologues about how much she wished he'd come around or how much she wanted him. She was too young for him mentally. She had a very romantic view of him when he was hardly prince charming.
And Tony, well he was your average charming rake. He dallied with many and had no intentions of ever marrying, happy to let the dukedom fall to his cousin instead of doing his duty in creating an heir himself. For the most part he struggled with his attraction for Gabriella. He thought her too young but most importantly she was his best friend's niece, and that was something no honorable man would trespass upon. Especially when Rafe appointed him as her protector during her season. He did try, but Gabriella was a dog with a bone in that regard. He was her first kiss, and in her inexperience it simply felt like she attached herself to him because of her inexperience in the romantic realm, and allowed her infatuation to goad him into kissing her and more whenever she could.
Much of the book after they married was pretty sweet. He was pleased with his marriage and Gabriella was just over the moon in puppy love with her new husband.
Alas, this trilogy was OKAY. Not bad per se, but not great either. The second book was better IMO. All the romance was pretty decent in all the books but mostly they were just dramatic and predictable.
March 16, 2019
I got a déjàvu when i read the first chapter, like i have already read this...... So i skipped a few chapters and started frm where the H And h were married.... And let me tell you, even after skipping chap it was a nice and beautiful story... And i enjoyed it... Especially i love the heroine..... even the story was unique in a way.... How they get married as marriage of convience and how h and H enjoys understanding each other, their brief separation and the their deal as mistress.... Everything was perfect!!!
April 12, 2024
The best of the series!
March 29, 2016
I started this book...and then ended up DNF'ing it in the middle of the first chapter when the so-called "H" sexually assaults the h. Is there supposed to be something appealing or attractive about having the H, who's in his mid-thirties, sexually assaulting the h, who's a seventeen year old girl? Yes, I realize she's there to kill someone, but that's no justification for sexual assault. Nothing is. In fact, he even gets the gun away from her BEFORE said sexual assault, at which point she is obviously no threat.
So, after divesting her of the gun, this thirty-something year old hero grabs the gunless, teenaged heroine and proceeds to hold her against her will. He presses his body against hers and makes remarks about this teenager's "full-grown" woman's body. He says he has a talent for persuasion, and lowers his eyes to her lips...which basically means he's going to sexually assault her some more and kiss the answer out of her. Oh, and she's trying to shove him away and telling him "release me." That's sexual assault.
I think authors should have the decency to indicate in their synopses if their heroine is underage. I don't care to read May-December relationships, especially not if it involves a heroine who's seventeen and a hero who's much older (in his mid thirties in this case). I would never have picked this book up if I'd known.
So, after divesting her of the gun, this thirty-something year old hero grabs the gunless, teenaged heroine and proceeds to hold her against her will. He presses his body against hers and makes remarks about this teenager's "full-grown" woman's body. He says he has a talent for persuasion, and lowers his eyes to her lips...which basically means he's going to sexually assault her some more and kiss the answer out of her. Oh, and she's trying to shove him away and telling him "release me." That's sexual assault.
I think authors should have the decency to indicate in their synopses if their heroine is underage. I don't care to read May-December relationships, especially not if it involves a heroine who's seventeen and a hero who's much older (in his mid thirties in this case). I would never have picked this book up if I'd known.
January 22, 2017
Veru, veru, Tony je starý záletník. Neplánuje sa nikdy oženiť. Pravdaže Tony mieni, osud mení. V tomto prípade sa Tony stretáva s temperamentnou Gabriellou, je v pokušení zmeniť svoje zásady - nikdy si nezačínať s nevinnou pannou - a skúsiť to. Rafe ho požiada, aby na ňu dohliadol pred neželaným záujmom ostatných džentlmenov londýnskej spoločnosti, do ktorej mladú, iba sedemnásťročnú Gabby predstavili. Pre vojvodu Wyverna žiadna zložitá úloha, avšak jeho priateľ nepomyslel na to, kto uchráni jeho zverenkyňu pred ním?
Tony to bude mať ťažké - našťastie sa do toho zamotá jeho bývalá milenka. Tá sa nedokáže zmieriť s tým, že ju odvrhol a narafičí naňho pascu. Tony sa má rozhodnúť, buď sa k nej vráti, alebo vyvolá škandál. Samozrejme, Tony sa zachová ako chlap - nenechá sa vydierať :-)
Vďaka tomu skončia ona a Gabby ako manželia.
Po dvesto stranách som myslela, že nás teta Warrenová obdarí ďalšou zaujímavou zápletkou, no v podstate sa zvyšok točil len o tom, kto koho ľúbi a či vôbec ľúbi... Preto ukrajujem jednu hviezdičku.
Inak veľmi pútavé čítanie.
Tony to bude mať ťažké - našťastie sa do toho zamotá jeho bývalá milenka. Tá sa nedokáže zmieriť s tým, že ju odvrhol a narafičí naňho pascu. Tony sa má rozhodnúť, buď sa k nej vráti, alebo vyvolá škandál. Samozrejme, Tony sa zachová ako chlap - nenechá sa vydierať :-)
Vďaka tomu skončia ona a Gabby ako manželia.
Po dvesto stranách som myslela, že nás teta Warrenová obdarí ďalšou zaujímavou zápletkou, no v podstate sa zvyšok točil len o tom, kto koho ľúbi a či vôbec ľúbi... Preto ukrajujem jednu hviezdičku.
Inak veľmi pútavé čítanie.
September 1, 2014
Short Review
His Favorite Mistress is the third in the this trilogy, and I haven't read her older trilogy's yet, so I was really excited to see how this one compared with her other books I have had a pleasure of reading and what a wild and fun romance!! It starts out with the heroine get a chance with a new life, and along the way meets Tony, the Duke of Wyvern. Tony can't help but be drawn to Gabriella yet at first all he wants is to have her in his bed. But with each embrace he starts to slowly fall in love with her. But a mistake might cost him everything. His Favorite Mistress was such a unique story and this was such a interesting take on the way the plot unraveled and there is such a sweet connection between them on each page, and such intense emotion happens with these two and it gets pretty crazy but the story comes together in such a satisfying way that it capture your heart. A STUNNING TALE TO ENTHRALL!!!
His Favorite Mistress is the third in the this trilogy, and I haven't read her older trilogy's yet, so I was really excited to see how this one compared with her other books I have had a pleasure of reading and what a wild and fun romance!! It starts out with the heroine get a chance with a new life, and along the way meets Tony, the Duke of Wyvern. Tony can't help but be drawn to Gabriella yet at first all he wants is to have her in his bed. But with each embrace he starts to slowly fall in love with her. But a mistake might cost him everything. His Favorite Mistress was such a unique story and this was such a interesting take on the way the plot unraveled and there is such a sweet connection between them on each page, and such intense emotion happens with these two and it gets pretty crazy but the story comes together in such a satisfying way that it capture your heart. A STUNNING TALE TO ENTHRALL!!!
November 22, 2013
When I realized the heroine was 17 and the hero (I cannot exactly remember and felt too lazy to check in the previous books) somewhere around 35, I was worried. Then I realized the heroine was to boot the illegitimate daughter of a former villain and an actress and I wondered how she could fit with a Duke.
In TAW's world, social acceptance of imperfect lineage, and a few other behaviors seemed way easier than what I expected. However having accepted those, I rather liked the story and the characters. Obviously the heroine behaved accordingly to her age, not always showing maturity nor any responsibility, but she was likable. And I liked the way Tony finally realized he was in love with Georgianna and willing to do for me a few things he had always said he would never do. His ability to behave very romantically totally surprised me.
In TAW's world, social acceptance of imperfect lineage, and a few other behaviors seemed way easier than what I expected. However having accepted those, I rather liked the story and the characters. Obviously the heroine behaved accordingly to her age, not always showing maturity nor any responsibility, but she was likable. And I liked the way Tony finally realized he was in love with Georgianna and willing to do for me a few things he had always said he would never do. His ability to behave very romantically totally surprised me.
May 5, 2009
Shamefully addictive. So predictable and formulaic, but satisfying none the less. Doesn't everyone like to see a bad boy gone good and a feisty lady get her happy ending. At least the heroine's no simpering little darlin', and the characters are well defined. There is a plot. Yay.
February 6, 2011
Don't really like very young heroines and this one was.
Loved the nod she gave to the Trap trilogy in one of the last scenes of the book. Very subtle and clever and you would really only notice it if you had read the previous trilogy.
Loved the nod she gave to the Trap trilogy in one of the last scenes of the book. Very subtle and clever and you would really only notice it if you had read the previous trilogy.
December 1, 2018
Love it !!
February 18, 2010
I enjoyed this book but I think they could have made her slightly older maybe 20 or more.Had a bit of a problem with her being only 17.Overall it didnt take away from my enjoyment of the book.
April 4, 2015
Better than the 2nd book in the series,but not quite as good as the 1st book. I wasn't crazy about the age difference between the main characters
January 27, 2021
Hugely disappointing end to the series
2 stars
This is the third book in Warren's Mistress Trilogy after My Fair Mistress and The Accidental Mistress. Although it contains characters and relies on instances that occurred in the first two stories, I still think this book stands alone quite nicely.
Despite that, I was hugely disappointed in this book and quite annoyed that what has been a fun and likeable series of books should end on such a note.
The plot, in my opinion, was virtually non-existent and the story just seemed to plod along without much excitement or interest. I didn't feel any real connection with, or between, the characters and felt they were too lacking in depth to be taken seriously.
I also had a real problem regarding the difference in the character's ages. Gabriella was 17 while Tony was at least 36. It wasn't the age gap so much as that Gabriella really was written as a 17 year old girl and was immature with it, which made the whole thing about a grown man lusting after a teenager a little creepy for me. It might have been the norm for Regency times but Gabriella could at least have been written at least slightly mature for her age.
Tony was also apparently completely uncaring that he was having his way with his best friend's niece and his switch from never marrying to proposing was laughable in its suddenness.
Overall, this book fell completely flat for me. I'm giving it two stars instead of just one because the writing wasn't terrible and I at least finished it. I won't give up on Tracy Anne Warren but unless you're desperate to read the concluding part to the Mistress Trilogy I can't recommend this book to you at all.
August 6, 2017
Starts with our heroine, Gabriella, the illegitimate daughter of a baron and an actress, being thwarted in her attempt to avenge her father's murder -- and learning that in fact her father was not murdered; her father had kidnapped his older brother's wife, and was killed by said brother in self defense during her rescue.
This book is about Gabriella coming to terms with the discovery that her entire childhood was a lie.
Just kidding! It's not about that. Gabriella is generously adopted by her uncle -- the one she tried to kill; and so this book is about overcoming hatred, learning to trust again --
Kidding again! In fact Gabriella is completely unaffected by her backstory. She loves her uncle, she loves her sister in law, they love her and she has a joyful first season, virtually unimpeded by the fact that her father's family won't recognize her because she's illegitimate, or that her father was killed after an attempt to murder his brother and steal the title. No one cares about that stuff among the ton during the Regency...
Instead, this is a very simple story about a young girl crushing on a handsome duke (her uncle's best friend), and the Duke crushing right back, but misunderstandings keep them from HEA for several chapters.
I tell you. Why even bother with the backstory if you're not going to use it?
This book is about Gabriella coming to terms with the discovery that her entire childhood was a lie.
Just kidding! It's not about that. Gabriella is generously adopted by her uncle -- the one she tried to kill; and so this book is about overcoming hatred, learning to trust again --
Kidding again! In fact Gabriella is completely unaffected by her backstory. She loves her uncle, she loves her sister in law, they love her and she has a joyful first season, virtually unimpeded by the fact that her father's family won't recognize her because she's illegitimate, or that her father was killed after an attempt to murder his brother and steal the title. No one cares about that stuff among the ton during the Regency...
Instead, this is a very simple story about a young girl crushing on a handsome duke (her uncle's best friend), and the Duke crushing right back, but misunderstandings keep them from HEA for several chapters.
I tell you. Why even bother with the backstory if you're not going to use it?
December 7, 2018
Bu yazarın yazdıklarından 2 serisini tamamlamış bulunuyorum. Biri ülkemizde çevrilen Trap Serisi öbürü de şimdiki bitirdiğim Mistress serisi. Kendi açımdan 2 seri arasında şunu gözlemledim: Her iki serinin de son kitaplarında yazar sanki bir boşvermişlik havasına bürünüyor. Önceki kitaplardaki güzel kurgu gidiyor, yerine sıradan bir hikaye geçiyor.
Ama asıl konumuz His Favorite Mistress olduğu için bütün eleştirilerim bunun üzerine olacak. Maalesef bu kitap yukarıdaki olumsuzluğu bolca barındrıyordu.
Bu seferki ana çiftimiz olan Tony-Gabriella'yı okurken oldukça sıkıldım. Diğer çiftlere göre daha sıradan ve okuyucuyu daha da süründüren bir ilişkileri vardı. Aralarında sıradışı denilecek durum sadece tanışma şekilleri olur. Diğer yönlerden oldukça sıradan ilerleyen bir ilişkileri oldu. Aralarındaki sorunlar bile sıradandı. Ayrıca mecburi olarak Gabriella'nın metres olmasını gerektirecek bir olay da yoktu.
Gabriella'yı sevmiş olsam da Tony oldukça düzdü. Onu sevmemi veya nefret etmemi sağlayacak bir sebep yoktu. Böyle olunca da ikiliden iyice bezdim.
Tony'nin önceki metresi olan Erika'nın sorun çıkarmasını bekledim fakat Tony, Gabriella ile evlendikten sonra o da hikayeden tamamen çıkıyor.
Kısacası hikaye sırf Tony boşlukta kalmasın diye yazılmış
Ama asıl konumuz His Favorite Mistress olduğu için bütün eleştirilerim bunun üzerine olacak. Maalesef bu kitap yukarıdaki olumsuzluğu bolca barındrıyordu.
Bu seferki ana çiftimiz olan Tony-Gabriella'yı okurken oldukça sıkıldım. Diğer çiftlere göre daha sıradan ve okuyucuyu daha da süründüren bir ilişkileri vardı. Aralarında sıradışı denilecek durum sadece tanışma şekilleri olur. Diğer yönlerden oldukça sıradan ilerleyen bir ilişkileri oldu. Aralarındaki sorunlar bile sıradandı. Ayrıca mecburi olarak Gabriella'nın metres olmasını gerektirecek bir olay da yoktu.
Gabriella'yı sevmiş olsam da Tony oldukça düzdü. Onu sevmemi veya nefret etmemi sağlayacak bir sebep yoktu. Böyle olunca da ikiliden iyice bezdim.
Tony'nin önceki metresi olan Erika'nın sorun çıkarmasını bekledim fakat Tony, Gabriella ile evlendikten sonra o da hikayeden tamamen çıkıyor.
Kısacası hikaye sırf Tony boşlukta kalmasın diye yazılmış
June 21, 2023
There’s a part in the novel when the hero says to the heroine something to the affect of “You are being immature and ridiculous.” And yes, she is. But she is only 17, though the book takes place over the course of months and months so perhaps she’s 18 to his 30-something? In the beginning I tired of her because she ‘a one of those heroines who is not only beautiful but can shoot! With a gun! And a bow and arrow! And something else which makes her oh-so-unique and irresistible to the hardened rake! Some good parts in the middle when they are married and learning about each other, and then the ridiculousness when she plays at being his mistress at the end of the novel because he won’t say he loves her.
March 26, 2017
There were elements of predictability here, and the happy ending was assured from the start because Mistress series 1 & 2 required that this following in their footsteps. By far, this was the most interesting with the most twist and turns, and I love reading about rakes who finally reform. I am a big sap for regency romances....but be warned, this one is very steamy. It also is well-written and the characters of Gabriella and Tony do come to life. Also you see a lot of what happened to Rage and Julianna, and a bit about Ethan and Lily. I would read them in order or at least read this one 3rd.
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