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His Pretend Mistress by Jessica Steele
Thank goodness for charming, suave, and handsome city hotshot Harris Quillan! Mallon had thought she was stranded and homeless until Harris came along. After hearing her story, he didn't hesitate to offer her a job as his housekeeper.
It all seemed too good to be true -- Mallon had found work she really enjoyed, in a beautiful country house. But then she discovered that it was too good to be true.
She was quite happy being mistress of Harris's home, but not of his heart.... Whatever was Harris thinking of when he insisted she pretend to be his girlfriend?
Thank goodness for charming, suave, and handsome city hotshot Harris Quillan! Mallon had thought she was stranded and homeless until Harris came along. After hearing her story, he didn't hesitate to offer her a job as his housekeeper.
It all seemed too good to be true -- Mallon had found work she really enjoyed, in a beautiful country house. But then she discovered that it was too good to be true.
She was quite happy being mistress of Harris's home, but not of his heart.... Whatever was Harris thinking of when he insisted she pretend to be his girlfriend?
160 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2002
11 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Steele
339 books113 followersJessica Steele was born on May 9, 1933 in the elegant Warwickshire town of Royal Leamington Spa. She has two super brothers, Colin and George, and a lovely sister, Elizabeth. She was a delicate child and missed a lot of school. In fact, she left school at aged 14, when she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. At 16, she started work as a junior clerk. In 1967, Jessica married with her husband, Peter and within a very short space of time they had moved from her hometown to the lovely area where they now live. Their house is built into the side of a hill, and has beautiful views over more hills and valleys. Her brothers and her sister are very close and she has plenty of nephews and nieces to make up for the fact that she and her husband have no children of their own. Both she and her husband are more than a little dog-oriented, and their current dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier named Florence. Florence is gorgeous. She loves everybody but, since she is 40 pounds of dynamite and would hurl her boisterous self at everyone she meets - given half a chance - she has to be restrained (as much as possible). She is fun.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 27, 2021
"His Pretend Mistress" is the story of Mallon and Harris.
Our heroine has the WORST luck with men. Having been accosted by her ex-stepfather, ex-stepbrother, ex-boyfriend, and ex-employer- she's on the run when the hero finds her drenched and destitute. He offers her a job and a roof over her head- and she is extremely wary and scared. He then goes out of his way to make her comfortable, makes her trust men again, she falls for him, some misunderstandings occur and the book ends in a HEA.
I enjoyed it because of the smitten hero but felt bad for the heroine's experiences. Sweet ending.
Safe
3/5
Our heroine has the WORST luck with men. Having been accosted by her ex-stepfather, ex-stepbrother, ex-boyfriend, and ex-employer- she's on the run when the hero finds her drenched and destitute. He offers her a job and a roof over her head- and she is extremely wary and scared. He then goes out of his way to make her comfortable, makes her trust men again, she falls for him, some misunderstandings occur and the book ends in a HEA.
I enjoyed it because of the smitten hero but felt bad for the heroine's experiences. Sweet ending.
Safe
3/5
March 31, 2013
Mallon hasn’t had much luck with men, quiet the contrary. In the past, she has suffered the sexual advances of his ex stepfather and his ex stepbrother. Afterwards, the man she had been dating (Keith) shows her how fickle his appreciation of her was. They were going to spend their first weekend together in a hotel, but as she had no alternative but cancel their date for family reasons, next Monday she was disappointed to learnt that Keith had spent the weekend at the hotel with another woman.
And to top all this, her employer Roland Phillips had now tried to force himself on her. And Mallon’s had been a narrow escape, leaving all behind, her job and belongings, while raining heavily. When she was walking on the road, a driver, Harris Quillian (the H) offered his help. It was difficult for her to trust a man, but her situation had been too desperate to raise any objections. Anyway, Harris had been kind and prepared to listen from her lips what had happened, offering her his help and a job at Harcourt House, a house belonging to him and which was being rebuilt.
Finally it seems that Mallon has found a man she can trust. But can she trust herself and the strong attraction she feels to Harris? She is so afraid of men!.
In this story, it is satisfying to have a H that takes the h seriously and respects her. He soon knows he must be very careful and tread carefully. But he is decided to built a relationship with h, whatever the time and the effort, step by step, with much care and sensivity.
A book much in the author’s line. At the beginning, we have a h with some similarities to the one in Devil In Disguise by the same author, because both (Mallon and Clare) have been nearly sexually abused and bear the trauma of such terrible experience.
And to top all this, her employer Roland Phillips had now tried to force himself on her. And Mallon’s had been a narrow escape, leaving all behind, her job and belongings, while raining heavily. When she was walking on the road, a driver, Harris Quillian (the H) offered his help. It was difficult for her to trust a man, but her situation had been too desperate to raise any objections. Anyway, Harris had been kind and prepared to listen from her lips what had happened, offering her his help and a job at Harcourt House, a house belonging to him and which was being rebuilt.
Finally it seems that Mallon has found a man she can trust. But can she trust herself and the strong attraction she feels to Harris? She is so afraid of men!.
In this story, it is satisfying to have a H that takes the h seriously and respects her. He soon knows he must be very careful and tread carefully. But he is decided to built a relationship with h, whatever the time and the effort, step by step, with much care and sensivity.
A book much in the author’s line. At the beginning, we have a h with some similarities to the one in Devil In Disguise by the same author, because both (Mallon and Clare) have been nearly sexually abused and bear the trauma of such terrible experience.
August 2, 2021
روايه قصيره لا باس بها تصنف تحت فئه روايات اليافعين احداثها بسيطه خاليه من التعقيد كما انهاسلسه بالسرد
August 13, 2021
4 Stars
I love the hero so much .
I read this book many years ago and last night, someone in a group I'm in requested the Arabic version and when I looked at the cover, I remembered loving the hero and how he was careful with the heroine, so I decided to reread it and I'm so glad that I did.
Mallon had many bad experiences with men and I felt so bad for her, but I'm glad she ended up with Harris. The man is a gem when it comes to HP novels.
I love the hero so much .
I read this book many years ago and last night, someone in a group I'm in requested the Arabic version and when I looked at the cover, I remembered loving the hero and how he was careful with the heroine, so I decided to reread it and I'm so glad that I did.
Mallon had many bad experiences with men and I felt so bad for her, but I'm glad she ended up with Harris. The man is a gem when it comes to HP novels.
March 17, 2014
3 Stars ~ Mallon's father had died when she was thirteen and her mother had barely coped until she met a boisterous man who convinced her to marry him. And for the next few years, Mallon's life was a constant fear of her step-father and step-brother's lecherous behaviour. When the money was all used up, Mallon's mother was finally able to gain a divorce with the help of her father's former attorney, a man who clearly cared deeply for Mallon's mother. With her mother remarried and finally happy, Mallon feels she should step aside and make her own life. When her boyfriend, also a co-worker, decides to sleep with her friend, she decides a clean break is in order so she looks for work out of her area. She accepts a live-in housekeeper position in the countryside outside of London, but when her new employer makes a drunken pass at her she hastily runs from the house. It's a torrential rainstorm, but she's determined to make as much distance as she can, and that's when she's rescued. Harris pulls over and offers her a ride and when she refuses, he drives on, but decides to circle around because she's in a state, torn clothing and tears mixed in with the raindrops. When he stops the second time, Mallon accepts the ride and the shelter of his home, where she tells him her horrible story. Harris' weekend home is in an obvious state of renovation, and so he offers Mallon a job as live in caretaker while he returns to London. But first he escorts her back to her employer's to collect her things. Mallon is shocked to learn that the leach is Harris's brother-in-law. It doesn't take much for Harris to realize that Mallon suffers from trauma from her experience, and he treats her with kid gloves. He's dismayed to learn that she's having nightmares. Every attempt he makes to get her to trust him, is met with her defenses in full force, but slowly she confides the whole truth of her distrust of men, and Harris realizes it's no wonder she's so skittish with all she's had to endure.
This is a sweet romance with Harris, the gallant Knight, sweeping Mallon, the damsel in distress, to safety. Time and again he proves he's worthy of her trust, and slowly she faces her nightmares and her fears head on. I really enjoyed how sweet Harris was to her and how he slowly makes her aware of her own desires and needs. Harris finds himself on shaky ground with Mallon and this leaves him disturbingly vulnerable. I loved their HEA! Sigh worthy indeed.
The title and book blurb are a little deceiving. There is one weekend where Harris' asks Mallon to play along as his girlfriend for his sister's benefit. The rest of the book has no such pretense.
This is a sweet romance with Harris, the gallant Knight, sweeping Mallon, the damsel in distress, to safety. Time and again he proves he's worthy of her trust, and slowly she faces her nightmares and her fears head on. I really enjoyed how sweet Harris was to her and how he slowly makes her aware of her own desires and needs. Harris finds himself on shaky ground with Mallon and this leaves him disturbingly vulnerable. I loved their HEA! Sigh worthy indeed.
The title and book blurb are a little deceiving. There is one weekend where Harris' asks Mallon to play along as his girlfriend for his sister's benefit. The rest of the book has no such pretense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2025
Another harmless edition to the Jessica Steele collection. A beautiful blond heroine (22), who has been subjected to the attentions of every slimy man that encounters her, can finally take a chill pill when the hero (mid 30s) comes across her with his white charger….
She gets scared, he makes it better - repeat a few times - HEA.
It’s angst free.
One presumes there are no other women in London during the week or on those weekends when he doesn’t visit, as he seems very smitten. But I did wonder why he didn’t drive over more often? He takes a while to put a label on his feelings, which is par for the course in these established bachelors.
3 1/2 stars. They were both very nice, but just a little dull?
She gets scared, he makes it better - repeat a few times - HEA.
It’s angst free.
One presumes there are no other women in London during the week or on those weekends when he doesn’t visit, as he seems very smitten. But I did wonder why he didn’t drive over more often? He takes a while to put a label on his feelings, which is par for the course in these established bachelors.
3 1/2 stars. They were both very nice, but just a little dull?
August 23, 2021
Sweet… no cruel heroes here! This is a love story that ambles on without too much angst.
Our hero, Harris, is basically a knight in shining armor. He happens upon the h, Mallon, as she is walking down a dark road in a torrential rain storm in a torn dress. He asks if she needs a ride. She is wary of him as her experience with men has basically made her think they just aren’t worth the trouble. He drives away only to turn the car back around to make his offer again, this time she takes it. However, she has no where to go so he takes her to the dilapidated house that he is currently having renovated. She tells him her story of woe(she went to work for a guy up the road and he got fresh with her). He offers her a job as a caretaker as he is only here on the weekends and needs someone to manage the workmen etc who are coming in and out. He says on the weekend she can stay in town at a hotel. He takes her back to her lecherous employers lodge to get her stuff and the lech happens to be his detested BIL. He gleefully punches his drunk ass out!
Things go well the first week, and like he promised he takes her to the hotel. She is hit on by a guy at the hotel, but declines to engage. The next morning the guy is chatting her up as she is at the hotel desk and in strolls the H. He isn’t pleased to see that there is a guy making the moves, but our h isn’t interested in the om and since there is no phone at the house she didn’t give a number out anyway. This is the beginning of the end of her hotel stays though, because the H isn’t taking any chances.
They have a moment where the h freaks out when the H’s eyes takes in her wet shirt emphasizing her breasts. She applies for a different job and doesn’t get it. However, as she spends more and more time with the H she trusts him. He knows her history with a leering stepfather, step brother, his brother in law, and the man she dated, so he handles her cautiously. The h has fallen in love with the house and adds touches here and there to make it homey. She is very content. They end up having to share a bed when his sister comes to visit because the H indicated the h was his mistress(not the sister’s husband’s mistress) They keep their bodies separated through the night and then the sister comes to serve them tea in bed(this seemed odd to me, lol but whatever). So the H moves his body next to the h and her hand comes in contact with his nipple. She becomes fascinated by it, and even proceeds to kiss him there. Things heat up and the h is all for some heavy duty loving and when she asks the H for some guidance as this is new territory, he however promised the h would be safe in his house and doesnt want to lose her trust, unfortunately as he is probably super ramped up at this point instead of explaining it that way he yells for her to get out. Of course the h is very hurt by this and it doesnt help when the H brings a woman to the house later on. They H shows the woman around the house and she takes note of everything and the h realizes that this must be the future Mrs. Harris(she is not, she isn’t even a blood sucking ow) and is there to approve the house. Her heart is broken and there is no way in hell that she is sticking around to watch the man she loves marry another. The H calls to check in(he installed a phone at one point just so he could talk to her) and she tells him that she will be leaving. He begs her not to and even sends one of the workers to stall her, but the worker doesn’t get there in time. So she utilizes one of JS’s tactics and runs away to her mom and good stepdad’s house. She tells the mom that she fell in love with her boss but he loves another. The H ends up tracking her down which was no easy feat as he didn’t have much to go on but he does so in just a few hours. He proceeds to tell her in JS fashion all the feels he had and his reasons for everything he said and did.
Our h who has been consistently surrounded by toads has finally met her Prince Charming . Love reigns supreme!
Our hero, Harris, is basically a knight in shining armor. He happens upon the h, Mallon, as she is walking down a dark road in a torrential rain storm in a torn dress. He asks if she needs a ride. She is wary of him as her experience with men has basically made her think they just aren’t worth the trouble. He drives away only to turn the car back around to make his offer again, this time she takes it. However, she has no where to go so he takes her to the dilapidated house that he is currently having renovated. She tells him her story of woe(she went to work for a guy up the road and he got fresh with her). He offers her a job as a caretaker as he is only here on the weekends and needs someone to manage the workmen etc who are coming in and out. He says on the weekend she can stay in town at a hotel. He takes her back to her lecherous employers lodge to get her stuff and the lech happens to be his detested BIL. He gleefully punches his drunk ass out!
Things go well the first week, and like he promised he takes her to the hotel. She is hit on by a guy at the hotel, but declines to engage. The next morning the guy is chatting her up as she is at the hotel desk and in strolls the H. He isn’t pleased to see that there is a guy making the moves, but our h isn’t interested in the om and since there is no phone at the house she didn’t give a number out anyway. This is the beginning of the end of her hotel stays though, because the H isn’t taking any chances.
They have a moment where the h freaks out when the H’s eyes takes in her wet shirt emphasizing her breasts. She applies for a different job and doesn’t get it. However, as she spends more and more time with the H she trusts him. He knows her history with a leering stepfather, step brother, his brother in law, and the man she dated, so he handles her cautiously. The h has fallen in love with the house and adds touches here and there to make it homey. She is very content. They end up having to share a bed when his sister comes to visit because the H indicated the h was his mistress(not the sister’s husband’s mistress) They keep their bodies separated through the night and then the sister comes to serve them tea in bed(this seemed odd to me, lol but whatever). So the H moves his body next to the h and her hand comes in contact with his nipple. She becomes fascinated by it, and even proceeds to kiss him there. Things heat up and the h is all for some heavy duty loving and when she asks the H for some guidance as this is new territory, he however promised the h would be safe in his house and doesnt want to lose her trust, unfortunately as he is probably super ramped up at this point instead of explaining it that way he yells for her to get out. Of course the h is very hurt by this and it doesnt help when the H brings a woman to the house later on. They H shows the woman around the house and she takes note of everything and the h realizes that this must be the future Mrs. Harris(she is not, she isn’t even a blood sucking ow) and is there to approve the house. Her heart is broken and there is no way in hell that she is sticking around to watch the man she loves marry another. The H calls to check in(he installed a phone at one point just so he could talk to her) and she tells him that she will be leaving. He begs her not to and even sends one of the workers to stall her, but the worker doesn’t get there in time. So she utilizes one of JS’s tactics and runs away to her mom and good stepdad’s house. She tells the mom that she fell in love with her boss but he loves another. The H ends up tracking her down which was no easy feat as he didn’t have much to go on but he does so in just a few hours. He proceeds to tell her in JS fashion all the feels he had and his reasons for everything he said and did.
Our h who has been consistently surrounded by toads has finally met her Prince Charming . Love reigns supreme!
March 16, 2017
- أعتبر الامر قد انتهى.
ثم هربت ،دخلت غرفتها و رأسها يدور ، كانت تعلم أن بإمكانها أن تثق به ، ولكن ما هزها في الاعماق ، ان احداً لم يخبرها أن عليها ألا تثق بنفسها
pback-to-read
July 23, 2022Thank goodness for charming, suave and handsome city hotshot Harris Quillan! Mallon had thought she was stranded and homeless until Harris came along. After hearing her story, he didn't hesitate to offer her a job as his housekeeper.
It all seemed too good to be true–Mallon had found work she really enjoyed, in a beautiful country house. But then she discovered that it was too good to be true. She was quite happy being mistress of Harris's home, but not of his heart…. Whatever was Harris thinking of when he insisted she pretend to be his girlfriend?
It all seemed too good to be true–Mallon had found work she really enjoyed, in a beautiful country house. But then she discovered that it was too good to be true. She was quite happy being mistress of Harris's home, but not of his heart…. Whatever was Harris thinking of when he insisted she pretend to be his girlfriend?
August 24, 2023
A short read! This little story has Harris Quillan coming to the aid of a wet, homeless, and stranded Mallon. After hearing her story, he quickly offers her a job as his housekeeper. Will this beginning lead to love and perhaps marriage? One never knows, but it is a romance story. A good little read.
August 26, 2017
رواية حب تحت المطر من روايات احلام
في الحقيقه لم تعجبني هذه الروايه وجدتها ممله
في الحقيقه لم تعجبني هذه الروايه وجدتها ممله
August 17, 2023
محبتهاش
قصة بلا هدف، العقدة واهية خلت القصة كلها مهلهلة 💔
قصة بلا هدف، العقدة واهية خلت القصة كلها مهلهلة 💔
April 1, 2013
Jobless and homeless, walking down the road in the rain to escape a groping boss, Millan has no reason to trust men, and good cause to fear them.
But something about Harris Quillan is reassuring, so she accepts a ride.
Hearing her plight, he offers a live-in job as general manager / housekeeper, overseeing the remodeling project at his country house.
He doesn't live there, but somehow, he comes to "check on the project" more than he'd planned to.
And we go from there.
Oh, the title, His Pretend Mistress? That's a stretch, but it does have bearing on one part of the story.
I love Jessica Steele.
But something about Harris Quillan is reassuring, so she accepts a ride.
Hearing her plight, he offers a live-in job as general manager / housekeeper, overseeing the remodeling project at his country house.
He doesn't live there, but somehow, he comes to "check on the project" more than he'd planned to.
And we go from there.
Oh, the title, His Pretend Mistress? That's a stretch, but it does have bearing on one part of the story.
I love Jessica Steele.
Read
July 1, 2013حب تحت المطر
جيسيكا ستيل
ألقى عليها الرجل الغريب نظرة حادة قبل أن ينطلق بالسيارة .
ثم سألها : إلى أين تذهبين ؟
فأجابت بصوت متعب:إلى أي مكان !
رد ساخطا :أين تريدين أن أنزلك؟
أجابت:في أي مكان!
لم تكن تعرف إلى أين تذهب ... أو حتى أين هي الآن !
نظر إليها متفحصا وسألها : أتريدين أن أعيدك حيث كنت؟
أجابت مرتجفة بحدة وجفاء : لا .. لا أريد العودة إلى هناك أبدا !
البطل كان يعتقد انها على علاقه بزوج عمته
جيسيكا ستيل
ألقى عليها الرجل الغريب نظرة حادة قبل أن ينطلق بالسيارة .
ثم سألها : إلى أين تذهبين ؟
فأجابت بصوت متعب:إلى أي مكان !
رد ساخطا :أين تريدين أن أنزلك؟
أجابت:في أي مكان!
لم تكن تعرف إلى أين تذهب ... أو حتى أين هي الآن !
نظر إليها متفحصا وسألها : أتريدين أن أعيدك حيث كنت؟
أجابت مرتجفة بحدة وجفاء : لا .. لا أريد العودة إلى هناك أبدا !
البطل كان يعتقد انها على علاقه بزوج عمته
December 24, 2017
292 ـ حب تحت المطر :
جيسيكا ستيل
ألقى عليها الرجل الغريب نظرة حادة قبل أن ينطلق بالسيارة .
ثم سألها : إلى أين تذهبين ؟
فأجابت بصوت متعب:إلى أي مكان !
رد ساخطا :أين تريدين أن أنزلك؟
أجابت:في أي مكان!
لم تكن تعرف إلى أين تذهب أو حتى أين هي الآن !
نظر إليها متفحصا وسألها أتريدين أن أعيدك حيث كنت؟
أجابت مرتجفة بحدة وجفاء لا .. لا أريد العودة إلى هناك أبدا !
جيسيكا ستيل
ألقى عليها الرجل الغريب نظرة حادة قبل أن ينطلق بالسيارة .
ثم سألها : إلى أين تذهبين ؟
فأجابت بصوت متعب:إلى أي مكان !
رد ساخطا :أين تريدين أن أنزلك؟
أجابت:في أي مكان!
لم تكن تعرف إلى أين تذهب أو حتى أين هي الآن !
نظر إليها متفحصا وسألها أتريدين أن أعيدك حيث كنت؟
أجابت مرتجفة بحدة وجفاء لا .. لا أريد العودة إلى هناك أبدا !
March 25, 2014
The heroine sore had horrible lick with males. The hero was a nice change from the usual"I'm too sexy" prances and treated Mallon well. I lost patience with all the fragile females (mother and sister) who had to be protected at other's expenses.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews