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Mistress Trilogy #2
The Accidental Mistress
He will expose her masquerade, but she will expose his heart.
To escape an arranged marriage, spirited Lily Bainbridge has staged her own death, and, disguised as a boy, she fled to London and a life of freedom. Yet her plans to live masquerade as an independent widow are thwarted by an encounter with a powerful and dangerously attractive marquis who wants to make her his mistress. Lily is afraid that if she gives him her innocence, he'll steal her heart.
Having agreed to a marriage of convenience to honor his family duty, Ethan Andarton, the Marquis of Vessey, has no intention of abandoning his rakish ways. Then fate intervenes in the guise of an impetuous young lady -- a woman bold enough to scheme her way to London, who tempts him with her mystery and her sensuality. Kiss after kiss, caress after tender caress, Ethan vows to discover all of Lily's hidden secrets. For beneath the layers of her clever ruse lies a burning passion that will ignite a tempestuous love neither of them can deny.
To escape an arranged marriage, spirited Lily Bainbridge has staged her own death, and, disguised as a boy, she fled to London and a life of freedom. Yet her plans to live masquerade as an independent widow are thwarted by an encounter with a powerful and dangerously attractive marquis who wants to make her his mistress. Lily is afraid that if she gives him her innocence, he'll steal her heart.
Having agreed to a marriage of convenience to honor his family duty, Ethan Andarton, the Marquis of Vessey, has no intention of abandoning his rakish ways. Then fate intervenes in the guise of an impetuous young lady -- a woman bold enough to scheme her way to London, who tempts him with her mystery and her sensuality. Kiss after kiss, caress after tender caress, Ethan vows to discover all of Lily's hidden secrets. For beneath the layers of her clever ruse lies a burning passion that will ignite a tempestuous love neither of them can deny.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
94 people are currently reading
865 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Anne Warren
41 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 85 reviews
October 16, 2023
Reread: 10/16/23
I have to read at least 1 TAW book every year for my sanity. She is always a joy and her characters always have fantastic chemistry.
Reread: 6/8/23
This is one of my favorites. Lily is a great hr. She stages her death and ingeniously makes her way to London. She sets up her own home, drives a carriage, and enters society. I can't praise the strong, independent character enough.
Ethan is sexy , charming hero. He meets Lilly when she is traveling in disguise on her way to London. One meeting and he can't get her off his mind. When they meet up again he is determined to bed the widow, as she claims to be. The chemistry between them is scorching as well as funny. I loved this couple.
Plenty of sex scenes without taking away from the story.
I have to read at least 1 TAW book every year for my sanity. She is always a joy and her characters always have fantastic chemistry.
Reread: 6/8/23
This is one of my favorites. Lily is a great hr. She stages her death and ingeniously makes her way to London. She sets up her own home, drives a carriage, and enters society. I can't praise the strong, independent character enough.
Ethan is sexy , charming hero. He meets Lilly when she is traveling in disguise on her way to London. One meeting and he can't get her off his mind. When they meet up again he is determined to bed the widow, as she claims to be. The chemistry between them is scorching as well as funny. I loved this couple.
Plenty of sex scenes without taking away from the story.
January 2, 2022
Honestly...I read it for the love scenes. Having read almost all of Tracy Anne Warren's HRs, I know her books contain a lot of love scenes and some of them can get quite steamy. In this book, there was one on top of a desk and another in a carriage.
My biggest complaint is the internal monologues. I'd groan and roll my eyes each time I read one. They just feel so juvenile. I think this is one of the author's earliest series and I believe her writing has improved since then. I can't be 100% positive, because this is probably the first series I've actually read the ebooks and not listen to on audio, so I could have been unaware of the internal monologues from the audiobooks.
Second complaint: historical inaccuracies and anachronisms. Need I say more? Depending on my mood, sometimes I can forgive this, but since the plot was nonexistent and I was frustrated with the internal monologues, I couldn't help but add historical inaccuracies/anachronisms to my list of complaints as well.
Third complaint: the heroine is a hypocrite (around the 77% mark). Other reviewers mentioned this as well. I dislike it when a character refuses to listen to another character's explanation for a misunderstanding.
Well, on to the last book in the series.
My biggest complaint is the internal monologues. I'd groan and roll my eyes each time I read one. They just feel so juvenile. I think this is one of the author's earliest series and I believe her writing has improved since then. I can't be 100% positive, because this is probably the first series I've actually read the ebooks and not listen to on audio, so I could have been unaware of the internal monologues from the audiobooks.
Second complaint: historical inaccuracies and anachronisms. Need I say more? Depending on my mood, sometimes I can forgive this, but since the plot was nonexistent and I was frustrated with the internal monologues, I couldn't help but add historical inaccuracies/anachronisms to my list of complaints as well.
Third complaint: the heroine is a hypocrite (around the 77% mark). Other reviewers mentioned this as well. I dislike it when a character refuses to listen to another character's explanation for a misunderstanding.
Well, on to the last book in the series.
November 17, 2009
This book gets much better well after the halfway mark. Before that I really did get sick of the heroine. Sure, the hero was incredibly arrogant, but he was very nice to her. The whole thing just wasn't happening for me and I would have set it aside if it weren't a TAW.
When first we meet Lily, she's escaping from a forced marriage by faking her own death in a very daring way. It looked like we were in for an exciting ride. Then she becomes kind of stupid as she has to make her way in the world. And hypocritical? She's the poster child for hypocrisy. As I said in an earlier comment, there was a point when I didn't even want the HEA to happen she was so annoying. But she got better once the manufactured contentiousness was dispensed with.
After they finally get together, the story gets a lot more enjoyable. As usual TAW's leads do NOT do well apart. That's always when her stories lag. So the entire first 60% of the book being spent on separation is not all that fun, IMO. And then neither is the chunk toward the end where we have the inevitable break-up before the reconciliation.
There's a very nice, romantic ending, but I really felt like there was a lot more discord than accord in this book and that doesn't make me happy. Especially when the whole reason to love TAW's books are the stretches when the leads are together!!! There are ways to have the H/h together most of the time without losing opportunities for tension and suspense. As with My Fair Mistress, there was an outside threat that could have served to further the story and fulfill the needed antagonism arc without the characters ever being at odds with one another to the point of separation.
Find a new template, Tracy, please! Three stars for the ending and the segment when they're together as a couple, otherwise it would have been two. :(
When first we meet Lily, she's escaping from a forced marriage by faking her own death in a very daring way. It looked like we were in for an exciting ride. Then she becomes kind of stupid as she has to make her way in the world. And hypocritical? She's the poster child for hypocrisy. As I said in an earlier comment, there was a point when I didn't even want the HEA to happen she was so annoying. But she got better once the manufactured contentiousness was dispensed with.
After they finally get together, the story gets a lot more enjoyable. As usual TAW's leads do NOT do well apart. That's always when her stories lag. So the entire first 60% of the book being spent on separation is not all that fun, IMO. And then neither is the chunk toward the end where we have the inevitable break-up before the reconciliation.
There's a very nice, romantic ending, but I really felt like there was a lot more discord than accord in this book and that doesn't make me happy. Especially when the whole reason to love TAW's books are the stretches when the leads are together!!! There are ways to have the H/h together most of the time without losing opportunities for tension and suspense. As with My Fair Mistress, there was an outside threat that could have served to further the story and fulfill the needed antagonism arc without the characters ever being at odds with one another to the point of separation.
Find a new template, Tracy, please! Three stars for the ending and the segment when they're together as a couple, otherwise it would have been two. :(
February 27, 2019
This took me way too long to finish. Only reason I did is because it's TAW. This did absolutely nothing for me. The entire plot and storyline was just dumb. Dumb, contrived and unoriginal. A 20 year old girl faking her death and running off to London to live independently on her own as a "widow" with no questions being raised was a little too much for me. Also didn’t help that the hero and heroine didn’t have an ounce of chemistry. If Lily and Ethan at least had chemistry that would have been one thing and maybe made this a little more enjoyable. But they didn't. I also didn’t really much care for the heroine, Lily. TAW kept trying to sell this girl as "wild" and "uninhibited"...where? I found her tiring, dull, self-righteous, uptight and hypocritical to boot. It's fine if you lie to the man you love for months but if he does it in return it's unacceptable? Nah. And I really didn't like how easily she got off for deceiving him all because of The Danger™ climax. She's in peril by the villains, oh noooos! Ethan come save her. I'm not even sure I remember hearing a straight out apology from her for lying to him for months. RME.
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June 12, 2011
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book. This one's got 4 parts.
Hahhhh (sighing!) ... Really, some stuffs are bothering me a lot. I don't like it when the heroines are easy conquests, so, whatever Lily is thinking/trying to pass herself as, she's just that. Arghh!
And Ethan, I wanna brain him with something. Can't he say a line without innuendos? He's been pawing Lily literally since the day they first met, c'monnnnnn! How can Lily stand that all the time? I mean, even if some certain stranger- "was far too bold, too masculine, too overtly sexual" and veritable example of "masculine beauty", I would find it highly offensive if he tries to paw me on our first meeting, no matter how attracted I am to him. I know, it's just a novel, still, some things aren't adding up.
Another annoying thing is, Lily's "should I do it-should I not", "maybe I should-no, maybe not", "do I feel like doing it-no, I don't think I do-no, maybe I do"s. PLZ either you wanna jump into his bed or you don't, just don't make my head ache with your ramblings!
******************
Oh gawd, I have no complain about the sex scenes at all. Other than that ... c'mon! Beside sex, do they really know/want/need each-other? I think NOT! A fact that really is pissing me off.
The lousy heroine is riding a 'lying boat' and the hero is ... well, ... just a good looking hero, nothing else. I have nothing to add. They're having a lot of fun sex (ie: on the table, inside the coach ... oh man, those are hot scenes!) but I do not read a romance novel just for sex! So plz Ms. Warren, I'm waiting ... Hmmmph!
*******************
Really Lily? I'm lost for words! You're stupid, vain, selfish, immature which equals to ANNOYING! You made your own bed when you decided to become Ethan's mistress and now, you dare to throw tantrums when you hear his engagement announcement? You rage and rave at him because you think he lied and deceived you by being engaged while sleeping with you, even though he tells you it wasn't his doing but his mother's. He didn't even know since there was no engagement to be announced. What did you think? That you'll live with him like this for the rest of your life? That he won't ever marry and then keep you for the only thing you're good for! You know perfectly well that he's a peer of the realm and has a duty. And yes, didn't he offer marriage after the first time (on whatever ground) and you vigorously refused? Gawd! And speaking of being deceived, how can you scream at him, accuse him when you yourself are the worst deceiver of them all, lying through your teeth about your identity. So, no, I have no sympathy for you, for your current state of being and the problems you're facing because you deserve it! Lord, never have I read a more awful heroine! Well, maybe a few but very few, and must say, Lily takes the prize!
Poor Ethan, he's a moron for sure. I wouldn't sympathize with him either since they actually deserve each-other as well. Except for the sex scenes, so far this was a waste of time too and proving to be almost as annoying as The Wedding Trap.
I think I'll increase a star for Rafe and Julianna, they were soooooo much better and likable. Hopefully will finish today and be done with it!
****************
I knew what it'd get so here it is, a solid 2 (thank you Lily, all the credit goes to you). No more comments. I couldn't believe (well, I should've) that Ethan actually forgave everything she'd done. Amazing!! :@
Only hope Anthony and Gabriella proves to be a better couple. Don't know, heard there's a HUGE age difference. :/
Hahhhh (sighing!) ... Really, some stuffs are bothering me a lot. I don't like it when the heroines are easy conquests, so, whatever Lily is thinking/trying to pass herself as, she's just that. Arghh!
And Ethan, I wanna brain him with something. Can't he say a line without innuendos? He's been pawing Lily literally since the day they first met, c'monnnnnn! How can Lily stand that all the time? I mean, even if some certain stranger- "was far too bold, too masculine, too overtly sexual" and veritable example of "masculine beauty", I would find it highly offensive if he tries to paw me on our first meeting, no matter how attracted I am to him. I know, it's just a novel, still, some things aren't adding up.
Another annoying thing is, Lily's "should I do it-should I not", "maybe I should-no, maybe not", "do I feel like doing it-no, I don't think I do-no, maybe I do"s. PLZ either you wanna jump into his bed or you don't, just don't make my head ache with your ramblings!
******************
Oh gawd, I have no complain about the sex scenes at all. Other than that ... c'mon! Beside sex, do they really know/want/need each-other? I think NOT! A fact that really is pissing me off.
The lousy heroine is riding a 'lying boat' and the hero is ... well, ... just a good looking hero, nothing else. I have nothing to add. They're having a lot of fun sex (ie: on the table, inside the coach ... oh man, those are hot scenes!) but I do not read a romance novel just for sex! So plz Ms. Warren, I'm waiting ... Hmmmph!
*******************
Really Lily? I'm lost for words! You're stupid, vain, selfish, immature which equals to ANNOYING! You made your own bed when you decided to become Ethan's mistress and now, you dare to throw tantrums when you hear his engagement announcement? You rage and rave at him because you think he lied and deceived you by being engaged while sleeping with you, even though he tells you it wasn't his doing but his mother's. He didn't even know since there was no engagement to be announced. What did you think? That you'll live with him like this for the rest of your life? That he won't ever marry and then keep you for the only thing you're good for! You know perfectly well that he's a peer of the realm and has a duty. And yes, didn't he offer marriage after the first time (on whatever ground) and you vigorously refused? Gawd! And speaking of being deceived, how can you scream at him, accuse him when you yourself are the worst deceiver of them all, lying through your teeth about your identity. So, no, I have no sympathy for you, for your current state of being and the problems you're facing because you deserve it! Lord, never have I read a more awful heroine! Well, maybe a few but very few, and must say, Lily takes the prize!
Poor Ethan, he's a moron for sure. I wouldn't sympathize with him either since they actually deserve each-other as well. Except for the sex scenes, so far this was a waste of time too and proving to be almost as annoying as The Wedding Trap.
I think I'll increase a star for Rafe and Julianna, they were soooooo much better and likable. Hopefully will finish today and be done with it!
****************
I knew what it'd get so here it is, a solid 2 (thank you Lily, all the credit goes to you). No more comments. I couldn't believe (well, I should've) that Ethan actually forgave everything she'd done. Amazing!! :@
Only hope Anthony and Gabriella proves to be a better couple. Don't know, heard there's a HUGE age difference. :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2013
56% through the book and it was alright, but Lily was beginning to get annoying with her "do I want him? I do but I mustn't. Hes forgotten about me, I should do the same. Oh what should I do?" OMG that was so frustrating. Ethan asked her she said no, he respected her decision(at first)and left her alone, and shes over there whining and being annoying. Then she accepts to sleep with him and they're living a happy life both having fallen in love but afraid the other doesn't feel the same... that is until his mom appears. After 75% through, she's debating on whether she should profess her love to him. "will he return the feeling? He asked for my hand but I refused and said I will Never marry; will he do it again or did he take my refusal literally? she decides to tell him after the ball. A big announcement is made at the ball before she gets to tell him she loves him; This makes her angry towards him and she breaks up their affair. Ethan tries to fix this situation and tries to talk to Lily, But she has the AUDACITY to tell him he LIED to her, never having told her he was engaged and that he just used and manipulated her. HE.HE Professes his LOVE to her and she still doesn't know whether to believe him. SERIOUSLY! (well I do kinda get that she doesn't want to be his real mistress, but still...really?) So far Lily just irritated me but now...THIS is the part where I turn to hate her. She blames him for having lied to her when SHE is way worse off; Shes basically hiding her identity from him. OMG. I hate her. I like Ethan he was a nice guy. But of course they fix the problems and end up with their HEA. Good for Ethan.
3 stars for me would've been 2, but I liked Ethan's character.
3 stars for me would've been 2, but I liked Ethan's character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2016
The heroine was a hypocrite and super annoying.
December 28, 2017
Leído en marzo 2012
Amante por Accidente.
ARGUMENTO:
Él desenmascarará su engaño, pero ella pondrá al descubierto su corazón.La vivaz Lily Bainbridge finge su propia muerte para escapar de un matrimonio concertado y, disfrazada de chico, huye a Londres, hacia una vida de libertad. Sin embargo, sus planes de fingir ser una viuda independiente se ven frustrados cuando se encuentra con un marqués poderoso, peligroso y atractivo que desea tomarla como amante. Lily teme que le robará el corazón si le entrega su inocencia.Habiendo aceptado un matrimonio de convivencia para cumplir con el honor familiar, Ethan Andarton, marqués de Vessey, no tiene intenciones de abandonar sus días de libertino. Es entonces cuando intervendrá el destino disfrazado de joven impetuosa, una mujer lo suficientemente audaz como para planear su escapada a Londres, y que lo tienta con su misterio y su sensualidad. Beso tras beso, tierna caricia a caricia, Ethan se jura descubrir los ocultos secretos de Lily. Pues bajo las capas de inteligentes argucias de la mujer, yace una pasión ardiente que inflamará un amor apasionado que ninguno podrá negar.
Amante por Accidente.
ARGUMENTO:
Él desenmascarará su engaño, pero ella pondrá al descubierto su corazón.La vivaz Lily Bainbridge finge su propia muerte para escapar de un matrimonio concertado y, disfrazada de chico, huye a Londres, hacia una vida de libertad. Sin embargo, sus planes de fingir ser una viuda independiente se ven frustrados cuando se encuentra con un marqués poderoso, peligroso y atractivo que desea tomarla como amante. Lily teme que le robará el corazón si le entrega su inocencia.Habiendo aceptado un matrimonio de convivencia para cumplir con el honor familiar, Ethan Andarton, marqués de Vessey, no tiene intenciones de abandonar sus días de libertino. Es entonces cuando intervendrá el destino disfrazado de joven impetuosa, una mujer lo suficientemente audaz como para planear su escapada a Londres, y que lo tienta con su misterio y su sensualidad. Beso tras beso, tierna caricia a caricia, Ethan se jura descubrir los ocultos secretos de Lily. Pues bajo las capas de inteligentes argucias de la mujer, yace una pasión ardiente que inflamará un amor apasionado que ninguno podrá negar.
June 19, 2012
It was kind of a fun romp through Regency again.
Lily Bainbridge fakes her own death after her mother dies and her evil step-father tries to force her into marriage with a horrible squire. Disguised as a boy, she makes her way to London where her mother told her Lily's grandfather had invested money for her. Lily is making her way alright until her disguise is seen through by the Marquis of Vessey (Ethan). Insisting on accompanying her to London for her own safety, she accepts a ride in his carriage, but makes him drop her off then successfully escapes. Re-inventing herself as a widow (for she is underage, 20, and unmarried), she gets her inheritance (more then she was expecting, yea interest!).
Weeks later she meets the Marquis again at a party, unbeknownst to her, he has been looking for her (thoroughly captivated by her and her, fake, story) and their association starts up again. He tries to woo her at first and she is having none of it. Slowly he wins her over and they become lovers and eventually admit (to themselves) that they have fallen in love with each other.
Before either can actually tell each other though, Ethan's mother ruins everything by announcing an engagement to another girl that he never proposed to (but had made "inquiries" about) trying to force his hand. They have a bad fight and Lily kicks him out, thinking he has been lying to her the whole time (hello pot...kettle?) and that she was right all men are evil and she'll never marry, etc.
Then the evil step-father finds her and takes her away to marry her off and steal her money. Ethan manages to marry off the other chic to her own true love and goes to find Lily only to hear that she has been taken. Riding hell for leather he finds her back in Cornwall and beats the men to a pulp before riding off into the sunset with her. They find happiness and wedded bliss together. Then end.
Lily Bainbridge fakes her own death after her mother dies and her evil step-father tries to force her into marriage with a horrible squire. Disguised as a boy, she makes her way to London where her mother told her Lily's grandfather had invested money for her. Lily is making her way alright until her disguise is seen through by the Marquis of Vessey (Ethan). Insisting on accompanying her to London for her own safety, she accepts a ride in his carriage, but makes him drop her off then successfully escapes. Re-inventing herself as a widow (for she is underage, 20, and unmarried), she gets her inheritance (more then she was expecting, yea interest!).
Weeks later she meets the Marquis again at a party, unbeknownst to her, he has been looking for her (thoroughly captivated by her and her, fake, story) and their association starts up again. He tries to woo her at first and she is having none of it. Slowly he wins her over and they become lovers and eventually admit (to themselves) that they have fallen in love with each other.
Before either can actually tell each other though, Ethan's mother ruins everything by announcing an engagement to another girl that he never proposed to (but had made "inquiries" about) trying to force his hand. They have a bad fight and Lily kicks him out, thinking he has been lying to her the whole time (hello pot...kettle?) and that she was right all men are evil and she'll never marry, etc.
Then the evil step-father finds her and takes her away to marry her off and steal her money. Ethan manages to marry off the other chic to her own true love and goes to find Lily only to hear that she has been taken. Riding hell for leather he finds her back in Cornwall and beats the men to a pulp before riding off into the sunset with her. They find happiness and wedded bliss together. Then end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2020
This has always been one of my favorite stories, but I wondered how it would hold up during a reread. I loved it twice as much as I did before. Lily is everything I want in a heroine. Ethan is the perfect hero to me. The story is engaging and fun with lots of witty banter. Tracy's writing really stands the test of time for me as a reader. She has a tremendous gift when it comes to making characters feel real and making the reader feel like they are part of their lives.
April 3, 2015
Not as good as the first book in the series. The heroine being such a hypocrite was a bit annoying.
October 8, 2016
I have nothing to say exceot that I kept imagining the protagonist as Stephen Amell :P
January 27, 2021
Well-written and enjoyable romance
4 stars
This is the second in Warren's Mistress Trilogy after My Fair Mistress and before His Favorite Mistress. Despite having the characters from the first book appearing, you don't need to have read the first book in the series to understand and enjoy this one.
Both Lily and Ethan are excellent characters with lots of chemistry between them. Despite Ethan being a worldly marquis and Lily a country miss, the relationship between the pair was refreshingly equal and to watch them fall in love, often despite their wishes, was a delight.
If I have one little criticism it's that there were a few too many Americanisms as well as grammatical mistakes contained within the book. It just jars you from the story which is annoying.
I am fast becoming a huge fan of Tracy Anne Warren's writing and this book is no exception. If you like fun, interesting and well-written romances then I would recommend this book to you.
July 30, 2022
More like 3.5 stars
Enjoyable, although nothing stands out particularly much other than the heroine faking her own death at the beginning of the novel (which, btw, was never fully explained. HOW did people know she supposedly drowned?).
Each of the MCs had good and bad traits. Yes, as many have said, Lily was a hypocrite in the latter half of the book. But, also, Ethan was somewhat predatory in the first half. He literally wouldn’t take no for an answer, and it made me somewhat uncomfortable. That’s where the age of the book shows. It’s only a 15 year old book, but our ideas about consent have actually changed quite a bit in that time (for the better). To be fair, he never really crossed a line for me, and I felt his character grow as the book went on.
There were a lot of sexy times, which might turn some people off, but didn’t bother me at all. ;)
[This is a stupid little complaint, but Lily planned out how she would fake her death, left supplies hidden for herself, and that she would go to London and claim her inheritance. It was pretty well thought out, except when Ethan asked her name, she felt put on the spot and hurriedly came up with something. She was traveling in disguise... wouldn’t she have given herself a fake name already? What a weird detail to overlook after all that planning.]
Enjoyable, although nothing stands out particularly much other than the heroine faking her own death at the beginning of the novel (which, btw, was never fully explained. HOW did people know she supposedly drowned?).
Each of the MCs had good and bad traits. Yes, as many have said, Lily was a hypocrite in the latter half of the book. But, also, Ethan was somewhat predatory in the first half. He literally wouldn’t take no for an answer, and it made me somewhat uncomfortable. That’s where the age of the book shows. It’s only a 15 year old book, but our ideas about consent have actually changed quite a bit in that time (for the better). To be fair, he never really crossed a line for me, and I felt his character grow as the book went on.
There were a lot of sexy times, which might turn some people off, but didn’t bother me at all. ;)
[This is a stupid little complaint, but Lily planned out how she would fake her death, left supplies hidden for herself, and that she would go to London and claim her inheritance. It was pretty well thought out, except when Ethan asked her name, she felt put on the spot and hurriedly came up with something. She was traveling in disguise... wouldn’t she have given herself a fake name already? What a weird detail to overlook after all that planning.]
January 10, 2016
Lily Bainbridge, is desperate to escape a arranged marriage. So she fakes her death, to escape her step father and his schemes, and dresses as a boy until she gets to London. On her way, she meets Ethan, the Marquis of Vessey, a man who tempts her in a way she has never been tempted before. But she manages to resist him until she gets to London. Then she receives her inheritance, and poses as a widow, to escape detection from her past. But then she comes across Ethan once again, and soon she can't resist his charm or rakish ways, and gives into temptation, to be his lover. At first she is afraid that he will break her heart, but she can't seem to stop being with him...he makes her feel passion and desire, and she feels more alive than ever. The Accidental Mistress is the second book in the trilogy, and what a sweet story this one is. Not my favorite by the author, but still quite enjoyable. I really loved seeing this couple together, and its the type of story that you can just enjoy on a calm day, and I loved the style of this author once again....she has astounded me with her writing. I just can't seem to resist her books...each and every one is charming and this story was beyond delectable. I had fun with Ethan....such a bad boy he is....but sweet and tender too. He may be a rake of the highest order, but he also is soft as a marshmallow when it comes to Lily. A story to impress and delight you...and keep you coming back for more!! UTTERLY CHARMING!!
February 10, 2017
Lily sa stane Ethanovou milenkou. Pravdaže nie hneď a nie ľahko. Ethana čaká dlhá cesta, kým sa mu podarí mladú "vdovu" zviesť. Preto píšem vdovu v úvodzovkách, pretože Lily, po tom ako ujde od otčima, ktorý ju núti do sobáša, sa vydáva pod cudzím menom za vdovu, ktorej manžel skonal v bitke pri Trafalgarte.
Autorka ma opäť bavila detailami, ako to spravila ja v Odvážnej milenke. A už sa začínam tešiť aj na jej ďalšie knižné kúsky... pevne verím, že vydavateľstvo s ňou plánuje pokračovať aj do budúcna.
Autorka ma opäť bavila detailami, ako to spravila ja v Odvážnej milenke. A už sa začínam tešiť aj na jej ďalšie knižné kúsky... pevne verím, že vydavateľstvo s ňou plánuje pokračovať aj do budúcna.
March 25, 2018
This was an entertaining enough book, but nothing spectacular. I put it down for a few days with no pressing need to hurry back to it. Ethan and Lily were likable and made a good couple, but the lies between them annoyed me. Some of the story was slow moving, but it picked up nicely in the last quarter of the book. I have the last in this series, but think I'll wait a bit before I read it.
December 31, 2025
I don't remember much, but apparently I did re-read it a few months ago (that's saying something, isn't it?). But what I do remember not liking is the heroine's reason for NOT marrying the hero when he repeatedly asked. I found it baseless.
As a general rule, TAW writes good stories, but she does have a tendency to overplot and drag the story out a tad too much.
As a general rule, TAW writes good stories, but she does have a tendency to overplot and drag the story out a tad too much.
September 3, 2012
Readable, lightweight Regency romance. The first half, which is all about the hero pursuing and the heroine resisting, is rather dull; once they actually get together for good, things get more interesting.
December 1, 2018
Loved it !!
December 19, 2016
I thought this book was much better than the first in the series. Not to take away from the relationship between Rafe and Julianna in the first book, but I preferred how this book was laid out and told compared to the first.
Ethan was a charming man. He was instantly taken with Lily from the beginning. I loved how he dogged her, refusing to give up. He may have felt he wanted her simply in his bed but considering how long he pursued her before that even occurred it really allowed his feelings for her to grow.
Lily was a strong independent woman. Albeit young, she managed to plot her own death to escape a horrible arranged marriage at the hands of her dreadful stepfather. She sets out for London to claim her grandfather's bequest left to her, thinking it to be a mere ten thousand pounds as her mother told her before her death only to learn it's grown and is nearly fifty thousand! Pleased she has more than enough to carve out the life of a respectable widow as she planned, she has no place for her attraction to handsome Ethan. And continues to throw up road block after road block with every attempt Ethan uses to seduce her into his bed.
The constant back and forth and banter between the two was great. The chemistry was sizzling. The loves scenes were HOT! I appreciated that Lily did try to resist him, she did. And even still tried after she finally succumbed to his charms. But Ethan was really hard to resist. He wanted her as he wanted no other woman and he refused to let her go.
The story was strong. I loved that it focused entirely on their interaction and relationship as opposed to the tone of the first book. There was indeed a villain (The Stepfather, as you would expect.) and thankfully he didn't pop back in until the last handful of chapters.
There were little faults I found in this book, I'll admit. I did find the interference by his mother a bit predictable, as I easily knew something of the sort was coming after he found her in residence at his home. But what really grated on my nerves was the aftermath.
This book wasn't as predictable as the first one, but it did have its moments as the book came to a close. I personally didn't mind that
No epilogue, although the final chapter certainly felt like one so no complaints there. All in all a good book. Yes it had some minor annoyances, as I wrote above in the spoilers, but nothing worth skipping the book over. I thought Lily and Ethan came to love one another very organically. But it did take a moment to let the fifteen year age difference go since Lily was only twenty to Ethan's thirty-five. Not a HUGE deal, especially in historicals when that was the norm but nonetheless.
Ethan was a charming man. He was instantly taken with Lily from the beginning. I loved how he dogged her, refusing to give up. He may have felt he wanted her simply in his bed but considering how long he pursued her before that even occurred it really allowed his feelings for her to grow.
Lily was a strong independent woman. Albeit young, she managed to plot her own death to escape a horrible arranged marriage at the hands of her dreadful stepfather. She sets out for London to claim her grandfather's bequest left to her, thinking it to be a mere ten thousand pounds as her mother told her before her death only to learn it's grown and is nearly fifty thousand! Pleased she has more than enough to carve out the life of a respectable widow as she planned, she has no place for her attraction to handsome Ethan. And continues to throw up road block after road block with every attempt Ethan uses to seduce her into his bed.
The constant back and forth and banter between the two was great. The chemistry was sizzling. The loves scenes were HOT! I appreciated that Lily did try to resist him, she did. And even still tried after she finally succumbed to his charms. But Ethan was really hard to resist. He wanted her as he wanted no other woman and he refused to let her go.
The story was strong. I loved that it focused entirely on their interaction and relationship as opposed to the tone of the first book. There was indeed a villain (The Stepfather, as you would expect.) and thankfully he didn't pop back in until the last handful of chapters.
There were little faults I found in this book, I'll admit. I did find the interference by his mother a bit predictable, as I easily knew something of the sort was coming after he found her in residence at his home. But what really grated on my nerves was the aftermath.
This book wasn't as predictable as the first one, but it did have its moments as the book came to a close. I personally didn't mind that
No epilogue, although the final chapter certainly felt like one so no complaints there. All in all a good book. Yes it had some minor annoyances, as I wrote above in the spoilers, but nothing worth skipping the book over. I thought Lily and Ethan came to love one another very organically. But it did take a moment to let the fifteen year age difference go since Lily was only twenty to Ethan's thirty-five. Not a HUGE deal, especially in historicals when that was the norm but nonetheless.
April 3, 2024
I flucuated between a 2 and a 3 on this one. I really enjoyed the romance but the plot left something to be desired. Maybe I'm getting tired of the light books? But I know there are better plots out there that still do romance well too. This one just ended abruptly like Warren didn't know how to end it. The hero knocked out the bad guys and after months of searching for the girl for the money, they just leave it at that? I kept expecting them to show up at the wedding or trying to blackmail our hero or something. But apparently just knocking them out scared them enough to get rid of the problem. I don't buy it. A little disappointing and so I'll move on to a different romance author for my light reads. Still, if you like romance and don't really care how it ends as long as they're together, well, then this book might be for you.
December 3, 2024
Es un libro sencillo, para pasar el rato.
Para la trama que tiene creo que le podríamos quitar 100 páginas y sería lo mismo.
Me pareció con un poco de relleno y siento que me faltó saber un poco más que paso con ellos, me quedaron dudas como: ¿Qué fue de la madre de el? ¿Qué pasó con los papás de ella?(Si bien se menciona, no se ahonda en el tema) Más explicación que para la longitud del libro, esperaba en el libro.
Para la trama que tiene creo que le podríamos quitar 100 páginas y sería lo mismo.
Me pareció con un poco de relleno y siento que me faltó saber un poco más que paso con ellos, me quedaron dudas como: ¿Qué fue de la madre de el? ¿Qué pasó con los papás de ella?(Si bien se menciona, no se ahonda en el tema) Más explicación que para la longitud del libro, esperaba en el libro.
July 7, 2017
Another delightful read
The Accidental Mistress is another delightful read by Ms. Warren. Ethan and Lily make a wonderful couple and I especially liked that they didn't try to hide their affection for one another. I don't know that such a decision is at all probable considering the era, but I liked it all the same.
The Accidental Mistress is another delightful read by Ms. Warren. Ethan and Lily make a wonderful couple and I especially liked that they didn't try to hide their affection for one another. I don't know that such a decision is at all probable considering the era, but I liked it all the same.
January 8, 2018
Excellent!!! Another great read from Tracy Anne Warren. I'm going to download the next book in the series His Favorite Mistress right now.
The heroine takes matters into her own hands in order to be free and independent. What happens when her heart over rules her head? The truth all comes out in the end when her lover comes to her rescue. A very enjoyable book.
The heroine takes matters into her own hands in order to be free and independent. What happens when her heart over rules her head? The truth all comes out in the end when her lover comes to her rescue. A very enjoyable book.
January 8, 2019
I wanted to like this book, but it just didn't hit the right spots. I had to skip through to find an interesting part. The big kicker though was being horribly disappointed with the heroine's hipocrisy about lies. She threw such an annoying fit over supposed "lies" when she'd been untruthful from the start.
August 7, 2022
I am not a huge fan of such explicit physical intimacy… and this book was especially guilty of random scenes that did nothing to further the plot or expand on the relationship. There are so many repeated lines describing the intimacy and it’s so blatant and dull. I did enjoy most of the book, outside of this, except for the subplot with Amelia.
June 3, 2022
Why do I feel like none of her other works will ever live up to "The Hazards Of Hunting a Duke"? Nothing else I've read from her has ever been as witty or funny. This one was ok. Nothing to call home about. Felt like the H was too unsure of himself.
January 6, 2018
Muito bom. O casal é muito fofo.
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