Rogue's Mistress

by Eugenia Riley

A #1 Bestseller in Victorian Historical Romance at Kindle! Available Again at Eugenia Riley’s Breathtaking Guardian/Ward Romance Set in the Steamy Old South! ROGUE OF NEW ORLEANS They called him “Julian the Terrible.” Handsome, well-born, and hot-blooded, Julian Devereux gambled, drank, seduced women, and fought duels beneath The Oaks. The one soft spot in his heart was for his beautiful young ward, Mercy O’Shea. Julian had rescued nine-year-old Mercy on that terrible, long-ago night when he was compelled to kill her father. Wracked by guilt, Julian sponsored Mercy’s education and saw to her every need—even though the spirited young miss swore to hate him forever. But now Mercy has blossomed into a passionate, headstrong young woman, and Julian must wonder if he can save her from himself. ROGUE’S MISTRESS At eighteen, Mercy O’Shea is ready to escape her relationship with her handsome but arrogant guardian, Julian Devereux. Deliberately slighting Julian, Mercy accepts a marriage proposal from a young man Julian deems unsuitable. Furious when Julian rejects her suitor, Mercy vows to defy him, and soon discovers the horrifying, fascinating truth—that her guardian actually wants her for himself, and is even willing to blackmail her into marriage! Pride and passion explode between the strong-willed lovers as Mercy becomes Julian’s unwilling bride. Convinced that Julian only desires her physically, Mercy is determined to hide the devastating attraction she feels toward her dark, sexy husband. Julian guards his own heart, unable to reveal to Mercy that he wants her not just as a mistress but as a cherished wife. Can their fragile relationship survive all the secrets of their tortured pasts and bring love and healing to their shattered hearts? Rogue’s Mistress is a fiery, touching and sensual historical romance set in glittering antebellum New Orleans. Approximately 120,000 words. Eugenia Riley is the renowned, bestselling author of dozens of historical, contemporary, and time-travel romances, including the classics A Tryst in Time and Bushwhacked Bride. She has written for publishers including Avon, Bantam, Warner, Harlequin and Dorchester. She has numerous romances available in Kindle. EDITORIAL “A book romance readers dream of—dashing hero, Southern belle heroine, lots of conflict, and sensuous, alluring love scenes.” —Rendezvous Four Stars! “Eugenia Riley’s sultry, sensual novel perfectly captures the ambience of New Orleans society in the mid-1800’s.” —Romantic Times Four Stars! “Steeped in spicy Creole sauce, Rogue’s Mistress by Eugenia Riley is a sensual story of two headstrong, fiery lovers.” —Affaire de Coeur

Genres: Historical, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

434 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1991

About the author

Eugenia Riley is the award-winning, bestselling author of dozens of historical, contemporary and time-travel romances, including A TRYST IN TIME, TEMPEST IN TIME, and TIMESWEPT BRIDE. She is a #1 Bestselling Author of Time Travel Romance at Amazon and Kindle. She has written for publishers including Avon, Bantam, Warner, Harlequin and Dorchester.

Eugenia is delighted to announce the launching of Eugenia Riley Classics, a new imprint featuring all of your favorite Eugenia Riley historical, contemporary, and time-travel romances, finally available again in Kindle, NOOK, Kobo and at iBooks! Eugenia's currently available e-book list includes: WANTED ACROSS TIME; BUSHWHACKED BRIDE; BUSHWHACKED GROOM; PHANTOM IN TIME; EMBERS OF TIME; A CHRISTMAS IN TIME; LOVERS AND OTHER LUNATICS; TIMESWEPT BRIDE; TIMESWEPT BABY; THE PHANTOM OF THE BATHTUB ; TEMPEST IN TIME; and TWO HEARTS IN TIME.

Eugenia's latest release, WANTED ACROSS TIME, is an April 2013 release in Kindle, NOOK, Kobo, and at iBooks. WANTED ACROSS TIME is a wild and sexy romp back in time to the Wild West, in the tradition of BUSHWHACKED BRIDE and BUSHWHACKED GROOM.

Eugenia is especially acclaimed for her nine time travel romance novels. Her first two, A TRYST IN TIME and TEMPEST IN TIME, were Waldenbooks romance bestsellers in mass-market paperback; both titles sold out of print three times. Three of her time-travels placed on the Ingram's romance list; and EMBERS OF TIME was a top ten bestseller in time-travel at Borders. Eight of Eugenia's time-travels have earned 5 star ratings or better at Heartland Critiques, and all have won numerous high ratings and rave reviews in publications such as Romantic Times, Rendezvous, and The Literary Times. Reviewer Harriet Klausner calls Eugenia "the empress of time-travel romance." She has received thousands of fan letters on her novels, from locations all over the world.

Eugenia is the winner of the HOLT Medallion for WALTZ IN TIME. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, a former English teacher and editor of TOUCHSTONE Literary Quarterly. She lives in Texas with her husband; they have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.

Reviews

[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a heroine who is a ward to the hero romance since I don't read too many of those.

2 stars for the storyline, but oh, my goodness! TOO MANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS that I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. I wanted to shake them both and shout at the heroine, "Stop jumping to conclusions!" and then to the hero, "Stop keeping secrets from your wife!"

Ooh, but the love scenes were sizzling hot! And there were a lot of them, too.

Warnings: sex scene with hero and his mistress (but only in the first chapter) and death of a child

[Misfit · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those ward/guardian romance stories. The setting is New Orleans. I forget the year, but I'm not opening up those pages again to try and ascertain it for you.

I generally do like the ward/guardian trope, but I had multiple issues with the storyline and the writing style that just didn't work for me. Biggest issue is the huge Big Misunderstanding that went on and on and on and on and on and on again. Worse yet, the author had to use the death of a child to further drag out the big misunderstanding.

Mix into that a foot-stomping, unlikeable heroine with a healthy potty mouth (really, after nine years in convent school - where'd she learn how to use those words), too many adjectives, too much sex in too much detail with a wallpaper setting, well it's just not a recipe for an entertaining story.

My copy obtained via Kindle Unlimited. I wouldn't pay a penny more.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

There will be SPOILERS in this review as I won't hold back in order to warn other readers like myself who have certain anger triggers.

I can't believe what I just read. After reading one of the most enjoyable books right before this only to have this disgusting, infuriating, crap written by the same author. How is this possible? What was she thinking writing this? I'm just over halfway and I promised I would never rate a book if I didn't finish it but this will be an exception. Everything was wrong with this book. Blackmail, lying, a secret child, an unrealistic former mistress, a meddling mother, a heroine who can't figure out her feelings, a hero who doesn't accept responsibility for his faults, the tables turning on the wronged while the guilty plays the victim. I'm furious, pissed off, angry at the messages that this author is sending to her readers and trying to shove down our throats as romantic. I can't believe this book. I wanna scream out of frustration and wish for once in my life I had the physical book in my hands to throw against the wall, rip the pages out, and burn this damned piece of trash in hopes that I will forget it and never ever remember it. I don't even want to write this review but I will do it to warn others of what they're in for and so I know to stay away from this book in case I unfortunately ever come across it again.

Hero who is not so much a hero blackmails his ward to marry him after his jealousy upon her proposal from a man prompts him to realize he has feelings for her.

Heroine has vowed to hate hero since she was nine believing he murdered her father (which in reality was in self-defense after her father shot a woman) while her mother was on her deathbed, lost both parents on one night, and was never told the truth.

Hero has a secret son who can never be found out because his mother is octoroon and below the hero. He hid his son and the former mistress in a comfortable home where he visits often. He also failed to tell heroine about the son and former mistress BEFORE they got married which was her right to know and be angry about.

The former mistress was laughable. I don't see how two people who once thought themselves in love could ever be platonic and no longer share romantic feelings after he was willing to give everything up for her and move elsewhere to start from the bottom as a disowned son. It just doesn't happen. He loved her enough to throw his life away, she loved him enough to put his way of life before her happiness. I don't buy that their feelings can diminish from romantic to just friends or a brother/sister love. No, just no. This angle was made to be convenient for the storyline. Her personality is perfection, she doesn't have one flaw, and her personality is fake.

Then there's the mother of the hero who at first I thought was very likable until after the truth of his son came out. That's when she started spouting all this crap at the heroine about how she had to fight for her husband, implying that he would cheat with other women if she didn't give him a reason to be faithful to her, implying that he did have something going on with Justine when he didn't to get what she wanted, to forgive him, that if he decided to go to another woman it would be on her, that it was normal for men to stray and that it couldn't the helped she just had to deal with it or SHE had to fight for HIM, are you f*cking kidding me!!!??? I don't care if that was the norm for that era, this is a romance and I don't wanna hear some woman justifying a man's right to cheat because he can and its expected. Screw that!!! That is not something I wanna hear in a romance!!!

The heroine can't even find it in herself to stand up to him and put him in his place. She's weak and pathetic. I gagged every time she fell in his arms or threw herself at him when not two minutes before she was telling him how he she hated him, she'd never forgive him, he forced her into the marriage, and all it takes is one kiss for her to be brought to her knees like a lost puppy. I wanted some backbone, some pride and dignity in this woman. Yes you can be attracted to someone physically but hearing from the beginning that they want you for sex and to control you, you'd think that that would have some affect on how you feel about them and keep your feelings and heart guarded from someone who could hurt you right? Wrong, not in this book. At your most vulnerable moment, you can drop the charade and embrace someone who blackmailed you into marriage and oh yeah didn't he kill your father or something?

The hero was a bastard who refused to see fault with what he did. He lied to her about a kid but once he came clean he expected her to get over it and move on. In what world is this ok?! Oh yeah this world I forgot. It's ok for him to lie but had she done something similar it would have been a whole different story. After he got his feelings hurt with her rejection and rightfully so anger at his lying, he decided to take his anger out on her by throwing all her words back at her which ironically they were all true and he knew it hence the sarcasm and guilt he felt when drowning his sorrows in alcohol when she went to him to check on him after he stopped sleeping in their bed. This was the thing that ripped the band aid off for me. He turned the tables on her making her feel guilty for being angry at his deception and she accepted it. After all that big talk about how he was wrong, he was a liar, and her never trusting him again, it all went down the drain because he was hurting and licking his wounds, she's stupid enough to pity him and feel guilty for something that's not her fault, and his mother brainwashed her that she had to fix the situation, get over it, and fight for her lying husband.

Everyone in the book looked down on her like she was a child throwing a tantrum at not getting a new doll. She was hurt, humiliated, insecure. It didn't help when she kept having people telling her about when he was once in love with two different women in his life before her. He's loved two other women before her, she's only ever loved him because he took the choice of loving someone else away from her before she had the chance to explore her own options. Everything is always Mercy's fault, Julian is a saint and does no wrong. He has a reason for everything she gets mad at him for. People are always coming to tell her why he did what he did and telling her he he needs her and to go to him. She always goes crawling back to him and asking for his forgiveness. He is absolved of any wrongdoing, she's made out to be a spoiled child by everyone, and his faults and mistakes were brushed off as nothing more than minor flaws that a man is entitled to.

I still have trouble understanding how this same author wrote one of the best time travel romances I've ever read and praised only to then read garbage like this. The way I feel about this book alone is enough to make me question if I'm gonna suck it up and risk another anger outburst with taking a chance on the other books I'm interested in reading from her. If anything, it's gonna be a long while before I can stomach picking up another of this author's books. The anger from this book is still too fresh for me. I don't recommend this book to any women at all. I'm not a hardcore feminist who brings down author's for "sending the wrong message" to readers, but this book had several pet peeves and faults in a romance that just grinds on every wrong nerve for what she was promoting as acceptable and forgivable with a man. I despise the author for even writing this book as harsh as that sounds and I'll leave it at that.

[Alyssa Vanderlinde · Rating 1 out of 5]

Long Repetitive Bore!!!

I've read hundreds of books in my many years, but never can I recall a book where the same phrases were uttered repeatedly, the same situation in different settings, and the typos and terrible grammar so glaring! The book could have ended 200 pages sooner and it still would have been too long! NEVER again will I read this author!

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julian and Mercy have a lot of misunderstandings, twists, lies, some truths but overall a lack of communication. The mistress that shows through is just as real as the love that they share. There is so much drama that the author keeps you on the edge waiting to see what is going to happen. A nice read and a great lesson in this book.

The author does a great job with the setting and plot. New Orleans is a great place. You really care and feel for the characters. I think most will like Mercy more than Julian in the beginning but will come around.

I was given a copy to read and voluntarily reviewed.

[Elsbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Passionate story about love, hate and loads of misunderstandings. Maybe a little too much. After 300 pages of bad communications leading to yet another misunderstanding it gets a bit annoying.
But it was a good story, which I really enjoyed reading! So, still 4 stars!

I received a copy and chose to review it.

[Chrisangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a winner, it'll capture your attention from the start and not let go; it won't take long to finish either as you won't want to put it down. It's well written, and I like the way the dialog is interspersed with French.

Murphy's Law's sure out to get this couple, as every time they start to work things out, something else goes wrong. There's a lot of false pride, misguided jealousy, wrong ideas and misunderstandings, that look like they'll never end, yet it doesn't become silly or redundant, thanks to Ms. Riley's writing talent. You'll find yourself wondering, "Okay, what's going to mess things up again?" and be looking forward to whatever it is. There's a religious background to the story, which seems appropriate because you'll be thinking it'll take a miracle to bring this couple together...and you'll be hoping for one.

One more thing: if you like your love scenes HOT, then you'll love this book.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this at some point. Wasn't impressed then, not impressed now.

[Tapa in lovezone · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a toxic couple!
Even though there’s no cheating, I hated how the H was in a friendly relationship with his ex-mistress who is also his child’s mother. It’s good that she was not evil. In fact she was in love with his friend now and encouraged him to be with the h, but still I hated that the H hid that from the h. He should have cleared it with the h.

This book was full of misunderstanding trope. The Hh keeps doubting each other while all the way they have been loving each other.
I liked how the H was smitten with the h and manipulated situations so that she will be his. But I didn’t like the ow drama.
I thought that the H was always in love. First the wh*re who he loved in his 20s. He was about to make her his mistress but unfortunately she died. Then he fell in love with the octaroon woman, who also gave him a child and he was going to marry her but his mother forbid it. If his mother hasn’t forbidden him then he would have been married to her.
Then he loves the h. She is his ward since she is 9. And he later confesses that he loved her since then. No, I don’t believe that.
It would have been better if the H was just a manwhore and was not in love with the ows. It would have been fine that he only falls in love with the h. But no, he was just as devoted with the others. So I don’t accept the undying love he has for the h.
All in all an average book full of ow and om drama causing problems.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of telling and not much showing here. We are repeatedly told that Julian wants Mercy for himself (even the nuns make this comment) and that's why he denied her innkeeper suitor. I just couldn't see how they could tell. He just came across as overbearing and not jealous. After this there is a lot of lust and not much chemistry. Julian is led with his lower brain and Mercy with no brain.

The only thing keeping me from rating it lower is that I really like the picture of old New Orleans this book paints. This seemed well researched and appealing. I could have done without Monsieur Alpha Ass.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy books with a good mix of love, humor, drama, and sex but I found this book to be very heavy on the drama. Mercy is young and immature, which is expected given her upbringing. Julian is older, a bit predatory, and too stubborn for his own good. What follows is a book filled with their love/hate relationship. There are so many misunderstandings in this book followed by the predictable getting back together that I had a hard time finishing it. I am glad that I finished it because a sweet HEA always makes everything better. I preferred the secondary characters in this book. Henri and Justine are delightful as is Julian's mother Madeleine. I love the setting and time period of this book. The author really has a way with words but this story just wasn't for me.

I was given an ARC of this book and chose to honestly review it.

[Maria Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Rogue’s Mistress

This is such a beautiful and great story, I truly loved it and couldn’t stop reading it, this is is the first book I have read that you have written and I will definitely read more of your books, I so truly recommend this book to everyone and I think you are and awesome author, thank you for such an awesome story!

[Eliza]

I did not connect with these characters at all. I'm not even going to rate this since I didn't finish it.

It reminded me of Whitney, My Love. A book I should have loved but ended up hating.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rogue's Mistress

This was an amazing book I loved all the characters and I enjoyed it very much so exciting,sexy,intriguing made me laugh and cry I would recommend to all my friends

[Gwamsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercy and Julian

This is a well written, tightly wound love story that is always just one moment away from either total despair or exultant happiness. It is an emotional read that will draw you along it's rocky path. I recommend.

[EvilAntie Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and Hate two intertwined

Julian and Mercy as best I can describe Fire and Ice.complex and sensual characters quintessential of Eugenia Riley's writing style. Adored every page and confrontation of these two characters. What a literary adventure.

[Tamotha clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

You belong to me , I belong to You 💑👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

This story has passions, seduction, sexual innuendos, and delightful teasing. Fantastic sex scenes. Good relationship between two characters, a proud beautiful female ,and a proud handsome man. Fantastic book📗📚

[Liberty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining story full of ups and downs, Rouge's Mistress will keep you engrossed until the very end.

[Kaylaisapple13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I enjoyed this book very much. There were many problems throughout their marriage but finally everyone had who they needed and more.

[Jackie Shazzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Lesia Chambliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Eugenia Riley for a long time, since I began reading historical romance. I'm sharing the quote of the description of this book, because it perfectly describes this story........"Rogue’s Mistress is a fiery, touching and sensual historical romance set in glittering antebellum New Orleans." I couldn't have said it better.

[Anastasia Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring!
A waste of time!
I even wasn't in mood of reading it all....half done and delete!
Thanks kindle for giving it for free-not a waste of money after all!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rove's Mistress

Jullian is determined to care for the orphaned Moppet until she decides to leave the convent and marry. Knowing the boy isn't right for Mercy, Jullian is determined to marry her himself- having fallen head over heels in love with her. Mercy, knowing that Jullian killed her father, has resented him for years. After they are married and jealousy rears its ugly head, can Mercy find it in her heart to forgive him and give her heart to Jullian completely? Can Jullian breech his own past and current heartache to tell Mercy how much he truly loves her? A poignant tale of love, pain, sorrow, heartache, jealousy and love. I laughed, cried and wanted to shoot Andre myself. This is Eugenia Riley's best work. Truly a page turner from beginning to end. I hope we get to read more of Mercy, Jullian, Henri and Justine in other work by Eugenia Riley. Highly recommended to anyone that loves historical romance with all the bells and whistles. The historical setting is marvelous, the characters wonderfully engaging, the story unforgettable.

[Roxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

She did it again! Eugenia Riley is one of the most talented authors ever! In this book, the main characters suck you in right away as they struggle with hate and lust/love. Mercy hates Julian for killing her father nine years ago, but Julian has started noticing how beautiful is ward came to be. Their constant warring and emotional struggles keep you reading to see where one event leads to another. A great book i would gladly read again.:)

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant good story telling fun! I remembered reading this before and enjoyed it just as much. Though I do get frustrated with books like this where I end up silently screaming at the characters to just tell each other they love them and move on. But then we would miss all the shenanigans...and that is a great part of this story. Pride and more pride to break down.

A much needed fun read after the previous mess of a book.

[Daneesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but I disliked the heroine, Mercy. UGH. She and Julian, the hero, acted like children for most of the book. Lying to each other, hurting each other, assuming the worst, not trusting, being cruel on purpose because they were afraid of their feelings, lashing out because they were afraid of how the other felt, etc. Their relationship was one misunderstanding after another. I'm surprised they finally managed to make it work, even if it was at 96 percent LOL.

[Sherry Westendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. I love mystery, intrigue, hot passion, and working through things to come to a happy end. I thought it went at a steady pace. But could have ended earlier even though where it went was good. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good. Loved it!

[Sharon Rudolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

This book was good, it got a little long and drawn out in the middle, but the ending was good.

[Lois Hollands · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stressful romance

I like her stories but I think it is a bit too much
The length of their torment
I would have preferred they reconsolidation was sooner it was to drawn out and tense for a love
Romance story
Wished they could have shared their love sooner