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The shamed mistress…
Alexa Harcourt only ever spends one night, perhaps two, with Guy de Rochemont – never more. On her arrival at his Italian villa or his Monaco mansion, designer dresses and diamonds await Alexa – the woman who knows she can never be anything more than The de Rochemont Mistress.
Guy’s name is a byword for wealth and power – and now his duty is to wed. Virgin heiresses covet pride of place in his marital bed. But Alexa – the one woman Guy wants – is also the one woman whose reputation forbids him to take her as his wife…
Alexa Harcourt only ever spends one night, perhaps two, with Guy de Rochemont – never more. On her arrival at his Italian villa or his Monaco mansion, designer dresses and diamonds await Alexa – the woman who knows she can never be anything more than The de Rochemont Mistress.
Guy’s name is a byword for wealth and power – and now his duty is to wed. Virgin heiresses covet pride of place in his marital bed. But Alexa – the one woman Guy wants – is also the one woman whose reputation forbids him to take her as his wife…
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
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168 people want to read
About the author
Julia James
718 books164 followersJulia lives in England with her family. Mills and Boon novels were Julia's first "grown up" books she read as a teenager ("Alongside Georgette Heyer and Daphne du Maurier."), and she's been reading them ever since.
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 22, 2018
Only two things stand out about this I'm-marrying-someone-else-for-business story.
One - the hero is "Pan-European." LOL Meaning he's related to every banking family in Europe. He speaks a multitude of languages, which means nothing since he never talks to the heroine. His eyes are green - like cash - or jealousy - or fungus.
Two - the hero's mother loves the Roccoco aesthetic. It's a good thing because she is trapped in a book with embellished prose on every page. Btw, there's no need for dialogue when we can have thinky-thoughts while gazing into eyes or across distant landscapes.
So what's this about? Heroine is an artist who met the hero when was she was commissioned to paint his portrait. They begin an affair with the hero calling all the shots. The heroine, high on paint fumes, responds whenever he calls and then drifts away when he is done with her.
She isn't allowed to call him, etc. . .
The story opens with the hero telling her he's marrying and it's over.
Then we have a looong flashback.
Then we find the hero is marrying a 19 year-old because her dad messed up his bank? That was never clear.
Lots of champagne kisses and caviar dreams for an HEA.
This might have succeeded as a novella, since there isn't much of a story. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough happening to keep my interest.
One - the hero is "Pan-European." LOL Meaning he's related to every banking family in Europe. He speaks a multitude of languages, which means nothing since he never talks to the heroine. His eyes are green - like cash - or jealousy - or fungus.
Two - the hero's mother loves the Roccoco aesthetic. It's a good thing because she is trapped in a book with embellished prose on every page. Btw, there's no need for dialogue when we can have thinky-thoughts while gazing into eyes or across distant landscapes.
So what's this about? Heroine is an artist who met the hero when was she was commissioned to paint his portrait. They begin an affair with the hero calling all the shots. The heroine, high on paint fumes, responds whenever he calls and then drifts away when he is done with her.
She isn't allowed to call him, etc. . .
The story opens with the hero telling her he's marrying and it's over.
Then we have a looong flashback.
Then we find the hero is marrying a 19 year-old because her dad messed up his bank? That was never clear.
Lots of champagne kisses and caviar dreams for an HEA.
This might have succeeded as a novella, since there isn't much of a story. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough happening to keep my interest.
March 19, 2019
The story and the ‘love’ in the story were as awkward as the title.
I know it’s a Julia James and I shouldn’t expect too much dialog or conversations between the mcs, as she uses non-communication as a major tool for creating angst. But still! The h/H have an affair (sex really!) for weeks at end and they don’t have a single meaningful conversation? I am surprised they even knew each other’s names. The h goes about in a daze for most of the book, so much so she ends up in his bed without making an actual decision about it.
The only private convo we are privy to was when he wakes up one fine day (post a booty call), refuses coffee and walks out after telling her that he’s getting married (to a third party, of course) and she all but congratulates him. Talk about a pair of cold fish!
The author hints-winks at roiling subterranean emotions but what the heck!
She has more conversations with her friend than with the guy she’s flying all over Europe to meet for sex. The author hints once that she’s a virgin, but then it’s never actually confirmed as we are not privy to their ‘intimate’ moments.
And then in the later half, she gives him (and us) reams and reams of rant. Floodgates and all, I suppose! *eyeroll*
But seriously, the bottom-line being that I didn't discern any real/honest emotion, forget love.
A/N: And I know I’m a non-artsy person, but still how can one tell by seeing a portrait that the painter loves the painted? Unless the painted person is making goo goo eyes in the portrait?
I know it’s a Julia James and I shouldn’t expect too much dialog or conversations between the mcs, as she uses non-communication as a major tool for creating angst. But still! The h/H have an affair (sex really!) for weeks at end and they don’t have a single meaningful conversation? I am surprised they even knew each other’s names. The h goes about in a daze for most of the book, so much so she ends up in his bed without making an actual decision about it.
The only private convo we are privy to was when he wakes up one fine day (post a booty call), refuses coffee and walks out after telling her that he’s getting married (to a third party, of course) and she all but congratulates him. Talk about a pair of cold fish!
The author hints-winks at roiling subterranean emotions but what the heck!
She has more conversations with her friend than with the guy she’s flying all over Europe to meet for sex. The author hints once that she’s a virgin, but then it’s never actually confirmed as we are not privy to their ‘intimate’ moments.
And then in the later half, she gives him (and us) reams and reams of rant. Floodgates and all, I suppose! *eyeroll*
But seriously, the bottom-line being that I didn't discern any real/honest emotion, forget love.
A/N: And I know I’m a non-artsy person, but still how can one tell by seeing a portrait that the painter loves the painted? Unless the painted person is making goo goo eyes in the portrait?
June 8, 2021
No, really... who chose this title? It’s embarrassing... I’m not pleased with this book. It’s the usual trope of a mistress who is dumped by her rich lover because he has to marry a suitable woman, and eventually she’s picked up again when something happens and the hero is free. Sometimes, for example in Lynne Graham book the heroine turned mistress is a young woman so naive and innocence that Alice in wonderland was a callous seductress. She’s usually poor, dyslexic or maybe not cultured, she’s a waitress or a cater for old relatives so it’s ok that she falls for the more experienced and refined - and older- hero. But here the heroine should be a young and independent woman, with a career as a painter, with friends and some boyfriends in her past. So when the hero arrives and asks for a portrait, bent to seduction, she could have refused or maybe put a little more resistance. No, she falls like a pear from the tree. And then we understand that he made clear immediately of the kind of relationship they were having, that is he said jump and she asked how high. He really treated her like a hooker but without the benefit of money. This was a really unbalanced affair where he held all the power and her none. But for her choice. She could have refused but she didn’t. And then one day, after sex, shaved and showered and fresh as spring water, the bastard dumped her because he had to marry. Some months later they accidentally meet, have sex again and he proposes her to be his mistress even after his marriage. And she runs. What? Why??? She didn’t reply! She didn’t tell him anything! She dismantled her life in London because she didn’t want to be followed by him!!! And then when he follows her she sends him his way, but it was too late. He treated her without respect and she left him, this is unacceptable. Anyway, what I didn’t like:
- he left her and he asked her to be his dirty little secret when he would marry.
-if he hadn’t met her again accidentally he would have married his fiancé
- she was passive and let him use her without respect, worse than a hooker, and she was perfectly willing until he dumped her
-she defended him even when he left her for another
- there is nothing about their relationship, they are never portrayed in their daily interactions so we don’t know how their relationship really was. We only know she accepted to be his sex toy on demand. Actually they speak only a few times and never when they are together.
Too little interaction , too much inner dialogue
I liked:
- Imogen, the heroine’s bf, who tells her everything I wanted to say. The only character I loved
- the prose, I love JJ style, even if she is a bit over dramatic.
- he left her and he asked her to be his dirty little secret when he would marry.
-if he hadn’t met her again accidentally he would have married his fiancé
- she was passive and let him use her without respect, worse than a hooker, and she was perfectly willing until he dumped her
-she defended him even when he left her for another
- there is nothing about their relationship, they are never portrayed in their daily interactions so we don’t know how their relationship really was. We only know she accepted to be his sex toy on demand. Actually they speak only a few times and never when they are together.
Too little interaction , too much inner dialogue
I liked:
- Imogen, the heroine’s bf, who tells her everything I wanted to say. The only character I loved
- the prose, I love JJ style, even if she is a bit over dramatic.
April 18, 2011
Well, this Julia James HP had less ! points in it. However, it was quite a boring read. I found the heroine to be kind of cold and unfeeling. Honestly, it just seemed like she had very few emotions. Perhaps it was the way the story was written but I didn't feel any connection to her or even to the hero. Both didn't seem to show much emotion.
The back of the book implies that Guy couldn't marry her because of her "reputation" yet she didn't have one. There was no "gold digger" or "whore" references. He was being forced to marry for financial reasons. It was a bit misleading.
This story really lacked the drama and angst of other HP's. I think it was supposed to but because I couldn't connect with the heroine I really didn't feel that bad for her. Honestly, if the man I loved said he couldn't be with me anymore because he was getting married to someone else, I would probably cry and then scream at him. Although, Alexa always knew their relationship wouldn't last but still a bit of emotion after six months with a man isn't too much to ask for.
Another issue I had with the story was Alexa's friend Imogen. All I can say is I am glad she's not my friend. Really, the only likeable person in this story is Guy's mother and possibly his fiancee Louisa.
Lastly, the steaminess of this book is very low. The love scenes are brief, even for an HP.
The back of the book implies that Guy couldn't marry her because of her "reputation" yet she didn't have one. There was no "gold digger" or "whore" references. He was being forced to marry for financial reasons. It was a bit misleading.
This story really lacked the drama and angst of other HP's. I think it was supposed to but because I couldn't connect with the heroine I really didn't feel that bad for her. Honestly, if the man I loved said he couldn't be with me anymore because he was getting married to someone else, I would probably cry and then scream at him. Although, Alexa always knew their relationship wouldn't last but still a bit of emotion after six months with a man isn't too much to ask for.
Another issue I had with the story was Alexa's friend Imogen. All I can say is I am glad she's not my friend. Really, the only likeable person in this story is Guy's mother and possibly his fiancee Louisa.
Lastly, the steaminess of this book is very low. The love scenes are brief, even for an HP.
November 7, 2011
Julia James is one of Mills & Boon authors I enjoy and have read a few of her books.
I first read this book last year and I couldn't decide if I like it or not. Last night I decided to read it again.
The story of an artist who has an affair with a billionaire who go through an emotional ride before realizing that they love each other.
Their story is quite intense and I could believe that the head of a dynastic family would be pressured to marry someone of their sort. So many marriages between two wealthy families to hold and increase their wealth.
I liked the heroine...at first I thought she was cold and reserved but we discover that this is just a mask...she feels deeply, shows strength and determination. Guy is an interesting character - strong but vulnerable, deep sense of responsibility to his family, trying to understand his feelings for the heroine.
I would have like to have seen them together more often...more emotion, more dialogue, more action. A bit too much inner conflict.
I did like the way his mother got them to finally get together and live happily ever after.
I first read this book last year and I couldn't decide if I like it or not. Last night I decided to read it again.
The story of an artist who has an affair with a billionaire who go through an emotional ride before realizing that they love each other.
Their story is quite intense and I could believe that the head of a dynastic family would be pressured to marry someone of their sort. So many marriages between two wealthy families to hold and increase their wealth.
I liked the heroine...at first I thought she was cold and reserved but we discover that this is just a mask...she feels deeply, shows strength and determination. Guy is an interesting character - strong but vulnerable, deep sense of responsibility to his family, trying to understand his feelings for the heroine.
I would have like to have seen them together more often...more emotion, more dialogue, more action. A bit too much inner conflict.
I did like the way his mother got them to finally get together and live happily ever after.
September 16, 2011
Two stars because it didn't suck but I still didn't like it much. It started off okay then it had a big flashback. I don't like that set up. Especially as the flashback was so long. In that case just start the story there or don't include a flashback. Include the information somehow in the present story in conversation or something. The story was mostly thoughts and flowery angsty feelings. They hero and heroine spent very little time together. There were only 3 or 4 scenes together especially in the present. The characters were pretty static and didn't grow much or learn anything.
My advice is give it a miss.
My advice is give it a miss.
October 11, 2011
Wonderful emotionally intense story,liked Alexa-Guy both were strong and loved each other but did not realise it,when they came to see it it was a little late,Alexa is a wonderful character,liked her a lot she was strong and gave it back to Guy for the way he treated her,did not give in his deal of becoming his mistress,liked the tensions and inner turmoils that passed between the characters,really enjoyed this this different twist on a HEA
Overall a very good read
Recommend it
Overall a very good read
Recommend it
November 4, 2011
I actually finished reading the entire thing in 90 minutes. I'm quite proud of myself for that accomplishment :D
May 5, 2012
This started off great. Just the kind of thing I enjoy in Harlquin presents, the h getting dumped for another woman and the H being a total B******d. I couldnt wait to read how it all manages to right itself for the obligatory HEA. Unfortunately this lost its way very quickly and I am ashamed to say I had to skim read through parts to finish it. DNF's make me feel like I failed, so in this case I cheated.
This only managed to get the 2nd star becuase of the potential of the story line, not the actual realisation.
This only managed to get the 2nd star becuase of the potential of the story line, not the actual realisation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2016
4.5 stars...
I loved the story, the flow and the writing but my favourite thing about this story was Alexa Harcourt.
Alexa Harcourt never realised how and when she fell in bed with Guy de Rochemont and then in love with him. Then, one day, everything collapsed. Guy told her that whatever they had is over, he will never be seeing her again.
According to him, he had to marry someone of his own status and he had already decided who she would be.
Imogen, her best friend forced her to come out of her Lala land where Guy was a good man. At first she refused but she knew that she had to live and continue with her life. So she went out with Richard, a friend of Imogen. Guy and his fiance, Loiusa were also at the same gala. When Guy saw Alexa in the arms of another, he went cold. Nothing seemed important more than getting Alexa out of here with him, alone.
Imogen had warned Alexa about Guy. Alexa never thought Guy would still want her as a mistress even after her engagement to Loiusa so when he tells her about his plan to stay with her but discreetly, she loses it.
She leaves everything behind and goes to another place where Guy can never come.
But well Guy is Guy, he buys the company she is working under and finds her....
Last minute thoughts ---
This was a story which you can not leave in midst, I read it last night and I couldn't sleep all night. I slept today early in the morning.
June 19, 2011
Just awful, and not in a so-bad-it's-good way! The writing in this book is horrible. There was no character development. Everything was told by the author and you hardly got to experience a conversation between the leads. One of the worst written books I've read this year!
September 11, 2015
I like the premise, liked the heroine, and tolerate the hero. Too bad I'm not into the writing style, too narrative not enough dialogue.
October 13, 2016
An outstanding story of a young woman that became a mistress overnight. Alexa Harcourt fully accepted her role in the life of the super rich banker Guy de Rochemont. She was available when he asked and understood when he didn't ask. She felt their relationship had a pattern that was acceptable to them both until the morning he told her he was getting married and their affair was over and he would not be seeing her again.
Hurt and bitter she walked away losing herself in her painting. Guy oddly was suffering just as much if not more angst than Alexa over the abruptly ended relationship. It's at this point that the reader begins to realize this is not a standard shamed mistress/coolly arrogant hero story. Despite the ridiculous title, the story has serious depth. His side and hers is told without frivolous gloss over as is often the case in many category stories with this type of theme. You'll need plenty of time to read this one because you'll want to do it in one setting.
Hurt and bitter she walked away losing herself in her painting. Guy oddly was suffering just as much if not more angst than Alexa over the abruptly ended relationship. It's at this point that the reader begins to realize this is not a standard shamed mistress/coolly arrogant hero story. Despite the ridiculous title, the story has serious depth. His side and hers is told without frivolous gloss over as is often the case in many category stories with this type of theme. You'll need plenty of time to read this one because you'll want to do it in one setting.
November 11, 2013
1 1/2 stars.
The book has very little direct interaction to read. Most of it is a description of what happened, what is happening, or what the characters are thinking.
One-third of the book is back story on Guy's and Alexa's relationship prior to the 'break up' so he can get married. This is after the prologue which is actually the break up.
There is little relating to the characters and their relationship since, again, the story has very little dialogue between any of the characters.
The storyline had promise, but the book read almost like non-fiction. I did a lot of skimming, then back tracking when I realized I wouldn't get much dialogue.
The book has very little direct interaction to read. Most of it is a description of what happened, what is happening, or what the characters are thinking.
One-third of the book is back story on Guy's and Alexa's relationship prior to the 'break up' so he can get married. This is after the prologue which is actually the break up.
There is little relating to the characters and their relationship since, again, the story has very little dialogue between any of the characters.
The storyline had promise, but the book read almost like non-fiction. I did a lot of skimming, then back tracking when I realized I wouldn't get much dialogue.
January 12, 2016
It was a decent read. H tells is mistress that he is getting married. Then after seeing her at a gala with another man he comes to her and proposes that she become his mistress. She was given the structures that she would have to be discreet and can't call him but he would contact her when he wanted to sleep with her. He was later stunned to discover that the h disappeared. However, he was later jilted by the other woman he had landed to marry. It does say he had planned to leave her to go back to the h but it leaves a bad taste for me. He should have been the one that left his fiancé for the h. Ok read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2018
2 estrellas.
Meh. Así es como describiría esta novela.
A ver, no es mala. Pero carece de emoción. La relación entre Alexa y Guy no me convenció, ya que como ellos mismos afirman no se conocen de verdad, y la resolución se me quedó en poco. Además los protagonistas, con ese afán suyo de guardarse sus sentimientos, terminan sin trasmitir nada al lector. Sin embargo, admito que las horas volaron mientras leía.
En líneas generales, La artista y el millonario no ha sido una mala lectura, entretiene y las páginas pasan rápido, pero resulta muy poco memorable.
Meh. Así es como describiría esta novela.
A ver, no es mala. Pero carece de emoción. La relación entre Alexa y Guy no me convenció, ya que como ellos mismos afirman no se conocen de verdad, y la resolución se me quedó en poco. Además los protagonistas, con ese afán suyo de guardarse sus sentimientos, terminan sin trasmitir nada al lector. Sin embargo, admito que las horas volaron mientras leía.
En líneas generales, La artista y el millonario no ha sido una mala lectura, entretiene y las páginas pasan rápido, pero resulta muy poco memorable.
June 8, 2021
Alexa Harcourt only ever spends one night, perhaps two, with Guy de Rochemont--never more. On her arrival at his Italian villa or his Monaco mansion, designer dresses and diamonds await her. But Alexa knows she can never be anything more than the de Rochemont Mistress.
Guy's name is a byword for wealth and power--and now his duty is to wed. Virgin heiresses covet pride of place in his marital bed. But Alexa--the one woman Guy wants--is also the one woman whose reputation forbids him to take her as his wife...
Guy's name is a byword for wealth and power--and now his duty is to wed. Virgin heiresses covet pride of place in his marital bed. But Alexa--the one woman Guy wants--is also the one woman whose reputation forbids him to take her as his wife...
October 4, 2010
I really enjoyed this different twist on a HEA romance story.
October 14, 2013
The early pages are a bore but it's not very long and made me laugh at the end so high 3.
December 25, 2013
wall banger..
July 26, 2015
This was an ok read. I just never liked the hero. I still believe he never cared enough. Even though he explained his reason he still was a jerk.
June 5, 2019
What the hell is the synopsis talking about? What reputation?! She’s a successful artist...and that isn’t worthy because?!
Anywho, this story has one of those times where one extra sentence between characters would have solved everything. So that’s annoying. And how is the heroine suppose to know the entire plan when she wasn’t told any of it? “Oh I knew I couldn’t marry the other girl and I was gonna fix everything”....but that’s NOT what you said! I’m on the heroine’s side bye Felicia no one needs you anymore. What does this couple have in common? Seriously they don’t talk to each other, they only sleep together. Is that love in this book? If so, lame. Worth the read though.
Anywho, this story has one of those times where one extra sentence between characters would have solved everything. So that’s annoying. And how is the heroine suppose to know the entire plan when she wasn’t told any of it? “Oh I knew I couldn’t marry the other girl and I was gonna fix everything”....but that’s NOT what you said! I’m on the heroine’s side bye Felicia no one needs you anymore. What does this couple have in common? Seriously they don’t talk to each other, they only sleep together. Is that love in this book? If so, lame. Worth the read though.
December 29, 2018
I can see where many gave this a low rating but I found it stronger. Knowing children of parents like Alexa's, her emotional 'control' was not foreign. The H had been groomed for his role since birth. It was interesting the way Ms James created a story that included both of these realities within a redemptive second chance romance. I appreciated the strength of the h and that she would not allow a situation to develop that would harm the H's future bride. The H evolved into a caring human being!
May 30, 2017
Se sognate un principe azzurro Guy de Rochemont non è l'uomo che fa per voi, il suo atteggiamento mi ha dato molto sui nervi, ma smettere di leggere è stato impossibile ....
April 19, 2022
Molte volte gli uomini sanno ferire le donne, ma riescono a farsi perdonare e si ravvedono.
not-interested-in-reading
June 30, 2022Did Not Read. Refuse to Read. Not My Cuppa. Hero, not a Hero. He set to marry another woman. The other woman dumped his A$$ first, but HE was thinking to dump her to return to Heroine? Yeah, NO!
April 5, 2022
I agree that there's a lack of interaction/dialogue between Guy and Alexa, but what there is has a strong impact on them and me. It's testament to Julia James' writing that I found this really compelling, really believed the relationship was doomed, and found the ending to be emotionally satisfying.
April 30, 2017
Leído el 11/04/2011
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews