What do you think?
Rate this book
Tempting His Mistress
What could possibly induce at woman to follow in the footsteps of her mother and further sully her reputation by becoming a mistress?
Lilly Claremont is well used to being at the centre of gossip. Being the illegitimate child of a rich businessman never failed to titillate the gossips and while she cared little about the wagging tongues she never intended to reinforce their opinions of her by ruining herself completely.
But it seems Lord Hawksley is determined to make the fascinating Lilly his mistress…
Evan has no doubt her bold tongue and beautiful body could keep him entertained for some time. Captivated by her, he must find a way to burn through his desire for her. He cannot marry a woman of such social standing so why not make her his mistress?
After the murder of her father, Lilly is searching for answers and they lead her directly to Lord Hawksley. But will they also lead her to his bed...?
Lilly Claremont is well used to being at the centre of gossip. Being the illegitimate child of a rich businessman never failed to titillate the gossips and while she cared little about the wagging tongues she never intended to reinforce their opinions of her by ruining herself completely.
But it seems Lord Hawksley is determined to make the fascinating Lilly his mistress…
Evan has no doubt her bold tongue and beautiful body could keep him entertained for some time. Captivated by her, he must find a way to burn through his desire for her. He cannot marry a woman of such social standing so why not make her his mistress?
After the murder of her father, Lilly is searching for answers and they lead her directly to Lord Hawksley. But will they also lead her to his bed...?
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 2, 2015
518 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Holt
309 books701 followersSamantha Holt resides in Warwickshire, England, with her twin girls, having followed her soldier husband around the UK for nearly 10 years. Growing up in Hampshire, she was inspired by the authors Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, both of whom lived and wrote only miles from her home town.
Samantha loves the romance genre and has been devouring romantic literature for as long as she can remember. History is another passion of hers and she loves to combine her love for history and romance into exciting and passionate tales.
Samantha loves the romance genre and has been devouring romantic literature for as long as she can remember. History is another passion of hers and she loves to combine her love for history and romance into exciting and passionate tales.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 25, 2018
This novel begin on a really promising note, with MC's who are antagonists. The heroine, Lilly Claremont, thinks that the H Evan has murdered her father over a failed investment opportunity. Lilly doesn't have any proof of this but chooses to believe the rumours spread by her mercenary cousin, who just happens to be one of the villains in the story. The H is the wealthy and sexy Marquess of Hawksley. The novel is set in 1869/70 and the prudish Victorian values of the day have made life difficult for the illegitimate heroine, whose mother had been the scandalous mistress to her father; the heroine's father had already been in a childless marriage to another woman. The first third of the novel was very entertaining and I enjoyed the banter between the MC's, especially when they're fighting their attraction for each other. This part is set at a 2 week long house party and Lilly's aim is to find proof to implicate Evan in her father's murder. Evan comes across as being a trifle haughty, snobbish and condescending because he wants Lilly in his bed but thinks she's too low born to be his marchioness. His married brother Thomas is also enraptured by Lilly's charm and beauty and wants to make her his mistress. Evan becomes jealous and decides that he's going to ask her to be his mistress before his brother can make the offer.
Lilly starts off as being a very strong and independent woman who is unafraid to argue with Evan and she even takes pleasure in refusing his initial mistress proposition. The heroine then changes her mind rather abruptly after her villainous sends her a letter telling her that he's going to rent her house. I found Lilly's sudden capitulation a bit disappointing because Evan didn't even have to work hard to get her to be his mistress and she could've asked their hostess ( who is a nice, widowed friend of her parents ) to provide her with a temporary home until she got her inheritance when she turned 25. Lilly went from being proud and feisty to being a passive mistress in the space of a couple of days. I wished the author had structured that part of the story line a bit differently. There were some other interesting issues brought up by the author: tertiary education for women and marital domestic violence. Evan had seen his mother die at the hands of his bullying father and he has made it a goal to provide an underground support system for wives who want to flee abusive husbands. Both MC's also discuss the futility of the few tertiary education systems for women; tertiary education is provided by a few select private schools but the matriculation boards provide no access to actual qualifications or certification.
The second part of the novel deals mainly with the MC's romantic and sexual relationship amidst a series of threats that are made on Lilly's life. They soon fall in love with each other but the H is determined to keep her as a mistress. He only changes his mind after a villainous earl kidnaps and beats her. I found that a little too convenient and dramatic and wished that Evan could have proposed to Lilly before all that had happened. The MC's end up married with a toddler daughter in the epilogue and we are told that Lilly's villainous cousin has gone into hiding to escape his criminal creditors. I really liked both MC's and the story was interesting but I felt that things started to lag a bit after Lilly made the abrupt decision to become Evan's mistress. I also found that Lilly's suspicious, that Evan had murdered her father, disappeared far too conveniently and too quickly.
Lilly starts off as being a very strong and independent woman who is unafraid to argue with Evan and she even takes pleasure in refusing his initial mistress proposition. The heroine then changes her mind rather abruptly after her villainous sends her a letter telling her that he's going to rent her house. I found Lilly's sudden capitulation a bit disappointing because Evan didn't even have to work hard to get her to be his mistress and she could've asked their hostess ( who is a nice, widowed friend of her parents ) to provide her with a temporary home until she got her inheritance when she turned 25. Lilly went from being proud and feisty to being a passive mistress in the space of a couple of days. I wished the author had structured that part of the story line a bit differently. There were some other interesting issues brought up by the author: tertiary education for women and marital domestic violence. Evan had seen his mother die at the hands of his bullying father and he has made it a goal to provide an underground support system for wives who want to flee abusive husbands. Both MC's also discuss the futility of the few tertiary education systems for women; tertiary education is provided by a few select private schools but the matriculation boards provide no access to actual qualifications or certification.
The second part of the novel deals mainly with the MC's romantic and sexual relationship amidst a series of threats that are made on Lilly's life. They soon fall in love with each other but the H is determined to keep her as a mistress. He only changes his mind after a villainous earl kidnaps and beats her. I found that a little too convenient and dramatic and wished that Evan could have proposed to Lilly before all that had happened. The MC's end up married with a toddler daughter in the epilogue and we are told that Lilly's villainous cousin has gone into hiding to escape his criminal creditors. I really liked both MC's and the story was interesting but I felt that things started to lag a bit after Lilly made the abrupt decision to become Evan's mistress. I also found that Lilly's suspicious, that Evan had murdered her father, disappeared far too conveniently and too quickly.
March 27, 2015
1.5 STARS
If the author's intent was for me to still loathe the "hero" right up until the epilogue, then she did a great job. I hated Evan! I kept waiting for him to show a good side to himself (other than arrogant, controlling, horny and generally being a jackass) but it didn't happen. His constant reminders to Lilly that he owned her and that she was illegitimate and therefore wasn't worthy of being better than a mistress got really old. Really his only redeeming quality was that he helped a woman get away from her abusive husband.
I liked Lilly only marginally better. At first she seemed intelligent, but she quickly came down with a bad case of TSTL syndrome. She thinks Evan possibly had her father killed, but he's good looking (while being a complete jerk to her, mind you) so she can't possibly have any coherent thoughts. And even though she feels the stigma of being illegitimate, she thinks being some jerk's mistress is a good idea?
And then there's the big crisis at the end, time to rescue the damsel-in-distress, but does the hero think to bring a weapon? Have a plan? Give any thought as to how to get them out of the situation? Of course not. Stupidity reigns.
If the author's intent was for me to still loathe the "hero" right up until the epilogue, then she did a great job. I hated Evan! I kept waiting for him to show a good side to himself (other than arrogant, controlling, horny and generally being a jackass) but it didn't happen. His constant reminders to Lilly that he owned her and that she was illegitimate and therefore wasn't worthy of being better than a mistress got really old. Really his only redeeming quality was that he helped a woman get away from her abusive husband.
I liked Lilly only marginally better. At first she seemed intelligent, but she quickly came down with a bad case of TSTL syndrome. She thinks Evan possibly had her father killed, but he's good looking (while being a complete jerk to her, mind you) so she can't possibly have any coherent thoughts. And even though she feels the stigma of being illegitimate, she thinks being some jerk's mistress is a good idea?
And then there's the big crisis at the end, time to rescue the damsel-in-distress, but does the hero think to bring a weapon? Have a plan? Give any thought as to how to get them out of the situation? Of course not. Stupidity reigns.
May 19, 2015
Lily is intelligent and cunning, with a quick lie always at the ready. She's also a bit immature and naive when it comes to the ways of men. Even though Lily's mom was a mistress, and Lily hated it, she still ends up becoming one herself. Lily seems a bit hypocritical of others which takes a lil away from her character. All in all though, she is a pretty good romance heroine.
Evan is pretty much the cookie cutter version of most historical romance heroes. He's cocky and ignorant towards Lily constantly but of course becomes kind when he wants to get some.
I liked the fact there was some mystery and "who done it" to this book. It added to the story and made up for the characters not being the most interesting. I also thought the outcome for Lily was better than I had expected it to be. If your really into historical romance stories this will probably be right up your alley.
Evan is pretty much the cookie cutter version of most historical romance heroes. He's cocky and ignorant towards Lily constantly but of course becomes kind when he wants to get some.
I liked the fact there was some mystery and "who done it" to this book. It added to the story and made up for the characters not being the most interesting. I also thought the outcome for Lily was better than I had expected it to be. If your really into historical romance stories this will probably be right up your alley.
January 31, 2019
Lily is on a mission to determine if Lord Hawksley murdered her father but she did not plan on being attracted to him. They both realize the attraction, but for him it can never be anything more due to her illegitimate birth so the next best thing for him is to make her his mistress. The more time he spends with
Lily, the more he wants a life with her. Attempts are made on each of their lives but they survive and there is a HEA. This is a great read and I would highly recommend it.
Lily, the more he wants a life with her. Attempts are made on each of their lives but they survive and there is a HEA. This is a great read and I would highly recommend it.
February 6, 2019
Sweetly sexy, emotionally thrilling, action packed romantic adventure filled with danger, mystery, mistrust and hard to ignore chemistry...... all this and more made for a great read. I really enjoyed the witty banter, heart pounding twists and strong, intelligent charters.
December 10, 2014
Easy and entertaining. I really enjoyed the characters and story line :)
February 4, 2019
Lilly Claremont is the illegitimate child of a rich businessman & has never failed to titillate the gossips and while she cared little about the wagging tongues she never intended to reinforce their opinions of her by ruining herself completely.
But it seems the Marquis of Hawksley is determined to make the fascinating Lilly his mistress…
Evan has no doubt her bold tongue and beautiful body could keep him entertained for some time. Captivated by her, he must find a way to burn through his desire for her. He cannot marry a woman of such social standing so why not make her his mistress?
After the murder of her father, Lilly is searching for answers and they lead her directly to Lord Hawksley.
An absorbing read & lovely romance. Evan fears he will be like his father & so has shied away from marrying. Lilly is feisty, smart & very likeable. The pair meet at a house party & although she thinks he’s grumpy there is an immediate attraction. The pair get to know each other & she agrees to be his mistress. It was captivating how Lilly soon has Evan wound round her finger. The pair were so right for each other but it takes a couple of incidents before Evan really faces up to how he feels. The book portrays a woman’s lot at the end of the nineteenth century & makes you realise how women were still very much the chattels of their spouses
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
But it seems the Marquis of Hawksley is determined to make the fascinating Lilly his mistress…
Evan has no doubt her bold tongue and beautiful body could keep him entertained for some time. Captivated by her, he must find a way to burn through his desire for her. He cannot marry a woman of such social standing so why not make her his mistress?
After the murder of her father, Lilly is searching for answers and they lead her directly to Lord Hawksley.
An absorbing read & lovely romance. Evan fears he will be like his father & so has shied away from marrying. Lilly is feisty, smart & very likeable. The pair meet at a house party & although she thinks he’s grumpy there is an immediate attraction. The pair get to know each other & she agrees to be his mistress. It was captivating how Lilly soon has Evan wound round her finger. The pair were so right for each other but it takes a couple of incidents before Evan really faces up to how he feels. The book portrays a woman’s lot at the end of the nineteenth century & makes you realise how women were still very much the chattels of their spouses
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
February 10, 2019
Samantha Holt is such a wonderful author and she always writes an engaging romantic story. This was no exception and I was pulled in quickly. Lilly's father is murdered and she is determined to find out the culprit. What she hears makes her thing it is Evan, Lord Hawksley. She meets him when he pays a call on Lilly's friend and Evan grabs her attention. She definitely intrigued him with her beauty and intelligence and he could not quit thinking about her. But she was the illegitimate daughter of a courtesan so he knows he cannot marry her but wants to set her up as his mistress.
Two people from different sides of Society but having her father in common. What could that connection be and can these two ever be happy? Will Lilly become his mistress although she has always been determined to not be like her mother?
There is so much to this story with a suspense, a mystery and the slow build up between these two with their emotions. Prepare to not stop once you have turned the first page and go on a whirlwind journey!
Two people from different sides of Society but having her father in common. What could that connection be and can these two ever be happy? Will Lilly become his mistress although she has always been determined to not be like her mother?
There is so much to this story with a suspense, a mystery and the slow build up between these two with their emotions. Prepare to not stop once you have turned the first page and go on a whirlwind journey!
February 11, 2019
I normally like Samantha's Books but this one was sooo not one. Evan was a bully and a jerk, nothing redeeming about him could not see this as a romantic story..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 5, 2020
As the illegitimate daughter of a lady and a wealthy businessman, who were very much in love but not married, Lilly Claremont is used to being the subject of gossip. She is searching for answers to her father's murder and believes the deed was ordered by Lord Hawksley, so she seeks to get closer to him and learn more. Despite having been claimed by her father, his lack of title combined with her birth status ensure she will never be accepted by society, therefore, she must get closer to the marquess if she is to get any answers. When she meets Lord Hawksley, Lilly is surprised to find he is not what she expected. Thrown together at a house party in the home of Lady Stanley, a dear friend of Lilly's late mother, Lilly is surprised to find that the marquess is quite attractive and oddly, he seems to be flirting with her. Evan, Lord Hawksley, finds himself inexplicably intrigued by Lilly and her boldness and he fails at his original goal of maintaining indifference. Though he needs a wife, Evan can't afford to be distracted by a miss of low birth, nevertheless, he desires her almost immediately. The more she interacts with him, the more Lilly begins to think Lord Hawksley may not actually be a killer, but she still cannot trust him.
When Evan asks her to become his mistress, Lilly is initially appalled, but soon realizes this is a viable solution for her family's financial situation and may enable her to learn more about her father's murder. Evan wants Lilly and though he needs a wife, she is unsuitable due to her birth and lack of title, so this is the perfect way for him to get her out of his system. After all, he needs a wife who won't want to spend much time with him; he can't risk that his nature could turn violent toward a wife as his father did and he already struggles with his temper as it is. But as the two spend more time together, Evan begins to wonder if their contracted year will be enough for him.
I really struggled to like Evan for awhile. His pomposity in refusing to even consider Lilly as anything more than a mistress, knowing she had never wanted that was rough. After finding out more about his reasons for this thinking and seeing how much he beat himself up over it, he grew on me a bit. Still, I felt like most of the time he was just determined to keep her distanced from him and though I understand why, it was still annoying how he continually put Lilly in her place. These two have a strong physical connection, but generally speaking they can't have a conversation without biting each other's heads off. Even as he begins to open up more and show Lilly his vulnerable side, which was very endearing, he still refuses to actually talk to her about anything pertaining to his life or business.
All that said, eventually he gets it together and realizes how much she means to him and we get our hard won happily ever after. Despite my struggles with the characters, I still enjoyed the book.
I received an ARC via Booksprout. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Evan asks her to become his mistress, Lilly is initially appalled, but soon realizes this is a viable solution for her family's financial situation and may enable her to learn more about her father's murder. Evan wants Lilly and though he needs a wife, she is unsuitable due to her birth and lack of title, so this is the perfect way for him to get her out of his system. After all, he needs a wife who won't want to spend much time with him; he can't risk that his nature could turn violent toward a wife as his father did and he already struggles with his temper as it is. But as the two spend more time together, Evan begins to wonder if their contracted year will be enough for him.
I really struggled to like Evan for awhile. His pomposity in refusing to even consider Lilly as anything more than a mistress, knowing she had never wanted that was rough. After finding out more about his reasons for this thinking and seeing how much he beat himself up over it, he grew on me a bit. Still, I felt like most of the time he was just determined to keep her distanced from him and though I understand why, it was still annoying how he continually put Lilly in her place. These two have a strong physical connection, but generally speaking they can't have a conversation without biting each other's heads off. Even as he begins to open up more and show Lilly his vulnerable side, which was very endearing, he still refuses to actually talk to her about anything pertaining to his life or business.
All that said, eventually he gets it together and realizes how much she means to him and we get our hard won happily ever after. Despite my struggles with the characters, I still enjoyed the book.
I received an ARC via Booksprout. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 18, 2015
Some reviewers mentioned that Evan was arrogant, which is kind of silly since 99% of all romance novels the hero is arrogant. What I had trouble with was Lilly acting all insulted and innocent then agreeing to be Evan’s mistress. And it went on and on that way until almost the end. I guess it was understandable, when you think of the life her mother had, and she enjoyed it, she was happy with Lilly's father..
It got really boring in the middle of the book, that’s why it took me 6 days to read it. I would play a game on my computer or spend the day watching the TV. Although, it was boring for a while I wanted to finish it because of all the other books I’ve read by Samantha Holt and extremely enjoyed them. Then came the last third of the book and it got excited again. I wanted to see someone pay for what happened to Eleanor and find out who killed Lilly’s father. Also, I knew Henry was a jerk and I wanted to see if he remained that way. He did..
As always, there was some wonderful sexual tension and great sex scenes in this book.
Overall, with a little boredom in the middle it was a good story. I would certainly keep reading Ms. Holt.
It got really boring in the middle of the book, that’s why it took me 6 days to read it. I would play a game on my computer or spend the day watching the TV. Although, it was boring for a while I wanted to finish it because of all the other books I’ve read by Samantha Holt and extremely enjoyed them. Then came the last third of the book and it got excited again. I wanted to see someone pay for what happened to Eleanor and find out who killed Lilly’s father. Also, I knew Henry was a jerk and I wanted to see if he remained that way. He did..
As always, there was some wonderful sexual tension and great sex scenes in this book.
Overall, with a little boredom in the middle it was a good story. I would certainly keep reading Ms. Holt.
November 11, 2014
WOW!Delicious...
What an awesome wickedly delicious read! Fast paced and filled sensuality, secrets, and love. "Tempting His Mistress", has a well blended mixture of sensuality, romance, suspense, mystery and danger with the powerful lure of love and triumph over past occurrences. Powerful with compelling, compassionate and enduring characters. The storyline is masterfully written with a focus on spousal abuse, the complex issues of said abuse, and the education of women during the era. An absolute delight, even with the issues at hand, Ms. Holt has written a masterful, and tasteful story that will stir the reader well after the ending. Well done, Ms. Holt! An absolute must read. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys historical romance, women's rights, passion, and romance. I can't say enough of how thoroughly I enjoyed this story. I read it in one setting, could not put it down, it was that awesome.
*Personal Buy*
Rating: 5
Heat rating: Hot
What an awesome wickedly delicious read! Fast paced and filled sensuality, secrets, and love. "Tempting His Mistress", has a well blended mixture of sensuality, romance, suspense, mystery and danger with the powerful lure of love and triumph over past occurrences. Powerful with compelling, compassionate and enduring characters. The storyline is masterfully written with a focus on spousal abuse, the complex issues of said abuse, and the education of women during the era. An absolute delight, even with the issues at hand, Ms. Holt has written a masterful, and tasteful story that will stir the reader well after the ending. Well done, Ms. Holt! An absolute must read. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys historical romance, women's rights, passion, and romance. I can't say enough of how thoroughly I enjoyed this story. I read it in one setting, could not put it down, it was that awesome.
*Personal Buy*
Rating: 5
Heat rating: Hot
June 9, 2015
Ugh. Uninteresting characters who make terrible decisions. Independence is one thing. No common sense is something else entirely.
February 5, 2019
Lilly Claremont was preparing to meet the man — Lord Hawksley, Marquess of Hawksley – her cousin had told her had hired someone to murder her father out of revenge over the loss of some money. What would the evil man look like, with his depraved and ugly soul?
Being illegitimate, Lilly was used to being dismissed by society. In two years, she would get money left for her in trust and would not need any man in her life. In the meantime, she needed to find a place to live since her cousin, heir to her father’s fortune, was complaining that he needed to rent out the family home and she couldn’t stay there. When Lilly came downstairs to meet the guests, she was shocked at how handsome Lord Hawksley was. She was also surprised at the interest he showed and his teasing manner. Evan was fascinated at her intelligence and wit, seeing her mood swing between tight-lipped propriety and bold audacity, speaking out boldly to catch him off-guard.
Lilly walked out to the garden to tire herself before bedtime. To her surprise, Lord Hawksley was walking the path as well and joined her, putting his jacket over her shoulders in the cool evening air. His talk about risking money in investment and lack of upset at what he lost due to her father’s recommendations made her wonder at her cousin’s accusations. His cousin never told her that he, Henry, would now be the one to pay money owed back to Evan.
The more Evan and Lilly got to know each other, despite the quick-witted banter back and forth, he was losing sleep over her and could not get her off his mind. His brother, Thomas, also was noticing her as she had tended his wound when a branch knocked him from his horse. In fact, Thomas finally admitted to wanting to ask her to be his mistress. Evan was furious. He had not considered a mistress for himself, but with Lilly not being marriage material for a marquess, a mistress would be a possibility to consider. And as he saw Thomas flirt with her, he determined she would be his mistress and not his brother’s. Will Lilly accept Evan as such, especially when her mother had gone through so much as mistress to her father? With Evan’s title, he could not marry Lilly – would she accept the role of mistress?
This was such a good story, and the attraction between Evan and Lilly is only a small part. There is more mystery and intrigue awaiting – but the reader will need to grab a copy of the book to see what other surprises are fast approaching! This book will absolutely delight you! Don’t miss it!
Being illegitimate, Lilly was used to being dismissed by society. In two years, she would get money left for her in trust and would not need any man in her life. In the meantime, she needed to find a place to live since her cousin, heir to her father’s fortune, was complaining that he needed to rent out the family home and she couldn’t stay there. When Lilly came downstairs to meet the guests, she was shocked at how handsome Lord Hawksley was. She was also surprised at the interest he showed and his teasing manner. Evan was fascinated at her intelligence and wit, seeing her mood swing between tight-lipped propriety and bold audacity, speaking out boldly to catch him off-guard.
Lilly walked out to the garden to tire herself before bedtime. To her surprise, Lord Hawksley was walking the path as well and joined her, putting his jacket over her shoulders in the cool evening air. His talk about risking money in investment and lack of upset at what he lost due to her father’s recommendations made her wonder at her cousin’s accusations. His cousin never told her that he, Henry, would now be the one to pay money owed back to Evan.
The more Evan and Lilly got to know each other, despite the quick-witted banter back and forth, he was losing sleep over her and could not get her off his mind. His brother, Thomas, also was noticing her as she had tended his wound when a branch knocked him from his horse. In fact, Thomas finally admitted to wanting to ask her to be his mistress. Evan was furious. He had not considered a mistress for himself, but with Lilly not being marriage material for a marquess, a mistress would be a possibility to consider. And as he saw Thomas flirt with her, he determined she would be his mistress and not his brother’s. Will Lilly accept Evan as such, especially when her mother had gone through so much as mistress to her father? With Evan’s title, he could not marry Lilly – would she accept the role of mistress?
This was such a good story, and the attraction between Evan and Lilly is only a small part. There is more mystery and intrigue awaiting – but the reader will need to grab a copy of the book to see what other surprises are fast approaching! This book will absolutely delight you! Don’t miss it!
February 5, 2019
Delightfully Written Victorian Romance
What a delightful romp through Victorian England at the hands of an author who knows how to hit all the right marks that we expect in this subgenre.
Lilly is recently orphaned, the daughter of a businessman and his mistress. At a house party, she deliberately sets out to find out if her cousin's supposition about Lord Hawksley is true--that he murdered her father after losing money in a business deal. Of course, they both feel an attraction (though it is done with style!). She attempts to learn more about the man and is coming to believe he may not be responsible for her father's murder--and then he blindsides her by asking to be his mistress! Then the fun really begins...
I found Lilly to be smart and just a little bit sassy, the same attributes that attract Lord Hawksley. She desperately wants to find out the truth...and she desperately wants to despise the marquess for what she believes he did. But she has a hard time doing either; their conversations are a delight as they are often at cross purposes. Lord Hawksley (Evan) can't quite understand his fascination with her, and he tries to rid himself of it. But he finds he cannot. After his younger brother suggests HE might make her his mistress, Evan decides that if she is to be anyone's mistress, she will be his. Of course, Lilly is shocked and hurt by such an offer. You'll have to read the book to find out how that turns out.
I'm a big fan of Victorian romance, and it has been a while since I've read a straight-up one. Within a few pages, I felt like a capable captain was steering the boat writer and just wanted to enjoy the journey.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a delightful romp through Victorian England at the hands of an author who knows how to hit all the right marks that we expect in this subgenre.
Lilly is recently orphaned, the daughter of a businessman and his mistress. At a house party, she deliberately sets out to find out if her cousin's supposition about Lord Hawksley is true--that he murdered her father after losing money in a business deal. Of course, they both feel an attraction (though it is done with style!). She attempts to learn more about the man and is coming to believe he may not be responsible for her father's murder--and then he blindsides her by asking to be his mistress! Then the fun really begins...
I found Lilly to be smart and just a little bit sassy, the same attributes that attract Lord Hawksley. She desperately wants to find out the truth...and she desperately wants to despise the marquess for what she believes he did. But she has a hard time doing either; their conversations are a delight as they are often at cross purposes. Lord Hawksley (Evan) can't quite understand his fascination with her, and he tries to rid himself of it. But he finds he cannot. After his younger brother suggests HE might make her his mistress, Evan decides that if she is to be anyone's mistress, she will be his. Of course, Lilly is shocked and hurt by such an offer. You'll have to read the book to find out how that turns out.
I'm a big fan of Victorian romance, and it has been a while since I've read a straight-up one. Within a few pages, I felt like a capable captain was steering the boat writer and just wanted to enjoy the journey.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 16, 2019
The Things We Get Ourselves Into
So how do you convince a virgin to become your mistress for a year and think you will be able to walk away when the time comes? As all lovers of romance novels know, you can’t. But what got our heroine and hero into this situation in the first place? This time you have our innocent heroine, Lilly Claremont, who happens to be the illegitimate daughter of an Earl who has recently passed away, at a house party where she meets Lord Hawksley. She has come to the party, thinking that Lord Hawksley might have in some way been the cause of her father’s murder and she is out to get her revenge on him. Upon meeting him, she is immediately attracted to him, and vice versa, and keeps vacillating as to whether he did or did not have anything to do with the murder. Lilly needs to secure funds to pay off her father’s debt, which she believes is being pressed for by Lord Hawksley to pay back. He presents her with a proposition to pay the debts and give her sufficient funds to live comfortably for many years if she becomes his mistress for one year. She agrees and so the story moves on. Did Lord Hawksley kill her father? Is he the rake that everyone believes him to be? Will one year with this innocent be sufficient time to burn off the desire he feels for Lilly? Can he possibly consider marrying someone way below his status, not to mention, an illegitimate woman? Will they get to their happily ever after and find out who was responsible for the murder? Read this novel by Samantha Holt, who always spins a fine story, and enjoy resolving the puzzle.
So how do you convince a virgin to become your mistress for a year and think you will be able to walk away when the time comes? As all lovers of romance novels know, you can’t. But what got our heroine and hero into this situation in the first place? This time you have our innocent heroine, Lilly Claremont, who happens to be the illegitimate daughter of an Earl who has recently passed away, at a house party where she meets Lord Hawksley. She has come to the party, thinking that Lord Hawksley might have in some way been the cause of her father’s murder and she is out to get her revenge on him. Upon meeting him, she is immediately attracted to him, and vice versa, and keeps vacillating as to whether he did or did not have anything to do with the murder. Lilly needs to secure funds to pay off her father’s debt, which she believes is being pressed for by Lord Hawksley to pay back. He presents her with a proposition to pay the debts and give her sufficient funds to live comfortably for many years if she becomes his mistress for one year. She agrees and so the story moves on. Did Lord Hawksley kill her father? Is he the rake that everyone believes him to be? Will one year with this innocent be sufficient time to burn off the desire he feels for Lilly? Can he possibly consider marrying someone way below his status, not to mention, an illegitimate woman? Will they get to their happily ever after and find out who was responsible for the murder? Read this novel by Samantha Holt, who always spins a fine story, and enjoy resolving the puzzle.
January 30, 2019
What could possibly induce at woman to follow in the footsteps of her mother and further sully her reputation by becoming a mistress?
Lilly Claremont is well used to being at the centre of gossip. Being the illegitimate child of a rich businessman never failed to titillate the gossips and while she cared little about the wagging tongues she never intended to reinforce their opinions of her by ruining herself completely.
But it seems Lord Hawksley is determined to make the fascinating Lilly his mistress…
Lilly is determined never to follow in her mother's footsteps. She would never become any man's mistress or would she?
She is certain Lord Hawksley is the man who had her father killed but as she gets to know the man maybe she was wrong in her assumption.
This backwards romance with a bit of mystery is one I don't know how I missed. This book was published in Nov. of 2014.
I am a Samantha Holt fan but I started reading her books after that date.
I gave this book 4.75 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization. The characters and the intimacy in this books are well written and not to be missed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lilly Claremont is well used to being at the centre of gossip. Being the illegitimate child of a rich businessman never failed to titillate the gossips and while she cared little about the wagging tongues she never intended to reinforce their opinions of her by ruining herself completely.
But it seems Lord Hawksley is determined to make the fascinating Lilly his mistress…
Lilly is determined never to follow in her mother's footsteps. She would never become any man's mistress or would she?
She is certain Lord Hawksley is the man who had her father killed but as she gets to know the man maybe she was wrong in her assumption.
This backwards romance with a bit of mystery is one I don't know how I missed. This book was published in Nov. of 2014.
I am a Samantha Holt fan but I started reading her books after that date.
I gave this book 4.75 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization. The characters and the intimacy in this books are well written and not to be missed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 27, 2019
Ostracized by Society
England 1869- Romance and Murder Mystery
Lily is the well brought up daughter of a murdered man's mistress. She never wanted for anything except to be accepted by society. Her father and mother loved each other very much but she could only be his mistress, since he was already married.
Now that Lily's mourning period has passed, she has decided it's time to confront the man she believes murdered her father.
Lord Hawksley, the Marquess of Hawksley, is the man she believes hired someone to murder her father. She has never met him but has a picture of an ugly evil older man in her mind.
When he is invited to stay and hunt at the estate of Lady Stanley, where Lily is living, she can hardly believe it. Now is her chance to find out the truth. When Hawksley arrives, he is tall, handsome, single, and only about 30.
She finds herself in the same situation as her mother. She's caught in a love match with a noble who can never marry an illegitimate commoner!
ARC Received from Booksprout🌱
I also got the book with KU.
Great read! A little angsty due to the subject matter, but well written. This author gets better with each new book!
England 1869- Romance and Murder Mystery
Lily is the well brought up daughter of a murdered man's mistress. She never wanted for anything except to be accepted by society. Her father and mother loved each other very much but she could only be his mistress, since he was already married.
Now that Lily's mourning period has passed, she has decided it's time to confront the man she believes murdered her father.
Lord Hawksley, the Marquess of Hawksley, is the man she believes hired someone to murder her father. She has never met him but has a picture of an ugly evil older man in her mind.
When he is invited to stay and hunt at the estate of Lady Stanley, where Lily is living, she can hardly believe it. Now is her chance to find out the truth. When Hawksley arrives, he is tall, handsome, single, and only about 30.
She finds herself in the same situation as her mother. She's caught in a love match with a noble who can never marry an illegitimate commoner!
ARC Received from Booksprout🌱
I also got the book with KU.
Great read! A little angsty due to the subject matter, but well written. This author gets better with each new book!
January 23, 2019
Wow! I have read many of this author’s books and I have enjoyed them all, but this by far is her finest work yet. Five stars doesn’t seem enough - it is that good. Brilliantly written and filled with the richness of the era, this book dazzles, not just with romance, but also with danger and daring and a dash of humour. I was smitten with Lily and Evan - both strong and independent and both slightly broken in their own way. Their passion for each other, even when they were at loggerheads, was inspiring and heartfelt. Two people from very different stations in life thrown together and their journey to find happiness and acceptance and love is fraught with obstacles, some placed by society and some by their own beliefs and fears. I was so enamoured with this book, I had a hard time putting it down, and read long into the night. This is a wildly entertaining novel and historical romance at its finest!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 6, 2019
I really liked this sweet romance that is filled with love, danger and murder. The H/h are both strong capable characters. Lilly Claremont's mother was her father's mistress. While she was born on the wrong side of the blanket, she was loved by both her mother and father. Her mother and father made sure she was educated and trained to be a lady in all ways. Lilly is strongly opinionated. She did not fear expressing herself. Nor did she wilt under the disdain and rejection of society because of her birth. She is in favor of the women's movement and wanted to do more in supporting it. Marquess Evan Hawksley gives the appearance of haute arrogance but people did not truly know him. He kept a secret from Lilly. A grave secret that would endanger others if it were to be found out. There were people who depended on him for their safety. Lilly was bound to learn of Evan's secret and Evan was afraid of what might happen to them. A very good story. I enjoyed it immensely. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 8, 2019
I really enjoyed this romantic relationship between Lilly and Evan.
Lily loved her parents even though her mother was her father’s mistress and never married. She suspected Evan being behind her fathers death and planned on getting close to him.
She sacrificed her innocence and became his mistress as she continues to snoop around his home. As she falls deeper and deeper in love with him, Evan is also struggling with his feelings for Lilly.
Attracted to Lilly more than he cared to admit, he is disgusted with himself as he cannot control the passion he feels for her. His fear of being an evil abusing man like his father plagued him through most of the story.
I loved Lilly who was strong, independent, and smart even though she chooses the path of her mother. While I do not condone the whole mistress thing, and did not agree with her mom happily being the other woman, Evan was not married and that helped me a bit.
Very enjoyable read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lily loved her parents even though her mother was her father’s mistress and never married. She suspected Evan being behind her fathers death and planned on getting close to him.
She sacrificed her innocence and became his mistress as she continues to snoop around his home. As she falls deeper and deeper in love with him, Evan is also struggling with his feelings for Lilly.
Attracted to Lilly more than he cared to admit, he is disgusted with himself as he cannot control the passion he feels for her. His fear of being an evil abusing man like his father plagued him through most of the story.
I loved Lilly who was strong, independent, and smart even though she chooses the path of her mother. While I do not condone the whole mistress thing, and did not agree with her mom happily being the other woman, Evan was not married and that helped me a bit.
Very enjoyable read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 13, 2019
This is interesting and romantic. Evan is bold, arrogant and uncaring, until he falls in love with Lilly. He becomes protective and amusing, but I still didn't like him, not until the very end. Lilly is strong, independent, feisty, naive and cheeky. They meet at a house party, one that Lilly went to specifically to meet him, and find out if he had her father killed. Lilly reacts to him, but not the way she thought she would, and she starts doubting his guilt. Evan has heard about the famous illegitimate daughter whose parents spent their lives together but were never married, but he isn't interested in having anything to do with her, he had plans to find a wife. But then he becomes obsessed, she is constantly on his mind, she intrigues him and he gets angry at the thought of his brother making her his mistress. He eventually asks her to become his mistress for a year, and is surprised at answer. The storyline is great, but the story lags in some places.
I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily reviewing it.
I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily reviewing it.
May 5, 2019
A Light Read
I was so hesitant to read this because I thought it was not the most original plot. But when I started reading it I could not stop. It was a slow and steady pace sort of reading and it was interesting enough to finish.
The hero was is an arrogant and gruff sort of man with an innate sense of goodness and kindness. The heroine is an illegitimate orphan. She has strength of character and wit. She is the typical virgin, pretty and smart heroine wanting to be independent. She accepted an offer of the hero to be his mistress as a last resort. Initially, the hero was resigned to the idea that he could not marry her because of her lack of social status. A series of events drew them closer together and made them realize how they feel for each other. It was all so well-written. There were steamy love scenes that complemented the story. And the epilogue is probably my favorite part.
I was so hesitant to read this because I thought it was not the most original plot. But when I started reading it I could not stop. It was a slow and steady pace sort of reading and it was interesting enough to finish.
The hero was is an arrogant and gruff sort of man with an innate sense of goodness and kindness. The heroine is an illegitimate orphan. She has strength of character and wit. She is the typical virgin, pretty and smart heroine wanting to be independent. She accepted an offer of the hero to be his mistress as a last resort. Initially, the hero was resigned to the idea that he could not marry her because of her lack of social status. A series of events drew them closer together and made them realize how they feel for each other. It was all so well-written. There were steamy love scenes that complemented the story. And the epilogue is probably my favorite part.
December 9, 2022
Probably just a "it's not you, it's me thing", but I just cannot get into this book. We start out with a heroine who is the illegitimate daughter of a rich merchant and his mistress. At first, I liked how Lilly wasn't a typical lady like most historical heroines are. But the problem is, she is upset about her situation (not being accepted into society) and she doesn't understand why her mother gave up so much for a love-match that I just can't buy that she would then go on to become a mistress herself. Especially since she doesn't even like Evan for the first third of the book and believes him to have had her father murdered. I just don't get this relationship. Perhaps if she had been pining over him or something, so that she realized it was worth giving everything up like her mother had...I don't know. I just don't get it, and I'm not feeling this couple, so it's a no from me.
September 14, 2017
Loved this book. Lilly and Evan were wonderful characters. It was a really clever story and I loved the fact it was written in the Victorian Era instead of the Regency Era. I have to say that the addition of trains does improve a story because it means it doesn't take forever to get anywhere, But they can still take a carriage if you want them to.
I listened on audio and Stevie Zimmerman is a good narrator. I thought at first she was a bit fast and it;s why I had this book sitting in my to listen to pile for a long time. I'm glad I gave it another shot. i got used to her voice and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's hot and steamy. But it's not too much. Just enough to make you fan your cheeks.
Definitely worth a read.
I listened on audio and Stevie Zimmerman is a good narrator. I thought at first she was a bit fast and it;s why I had this book sitting in my to listen to pile for a long time. I'm glad I gave it another shot. i got used to her voice and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's hot and steamy. But it's not too much. Just enough to make you fan your cheeks.
Definitely worth a read.
January 22, 2019
Full length, stand-alone, steamy historical romance with HEA. Lilly Claremont is very independent and knows her station in life. Her mother was a mistress to a wealthy businessman, and she is their illegitimate child. In two years, she can collect an inheritance from her father, and she plans to live out her life alone helping the progressive woman’s movement. Evan knows he needs to eventually find a wife and produce an heir, but he fears his temper will become violent like his father. Evan and Lilly have chemistry between them but neither want to admit to it. They have good dialogue and their road to HEA is not an easy one, they fight it along the way. I liked their story, it was a good read! I like some steam with my historical romance!
February 4, 2019
I liked parts of this book but I also had some big issues with it. I really liked Lilly at the beginning of the story. She was strong, sassy and her own woman and yet as the storyline unfolds that changes. She abandons her lifelong beliefs and ignores feelings she has had for years and does a complete 180 degree turn. This bothered me and just rang false to who I felt the character was. As for Evan, I thought he was fairly typical of the time and bluntly, quite a jerk. I wish his attitude and actions towards Lilly had evolved more over the course of this book because I honestly didn't like him. His treatment and the way he talked to her were far from romantic to me. I honestly think there was a lot of potential here but for me it fell short of success.
January 20, 2019
Samantha Holt never ceases to impress me with her writing skills and this book is no exception. Lilly Claremont is the type of heroine I love....feisty, strong, proud, yet kind hearted. Lord Evan Hawksley is rich, handsome and arrogant and worries that his temper will get the best of him which is why he stays away from looking for a wife. When he meets Lilly, though, she ends up agreeing to be his mistress and sparks fly! I loved their interactions and how being together softens Evan. They go through a lot before finding their HEA!! I highly recommend this book, very well done.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 22, 2019
Evan and Lilly are an unlikely pair. Evan is hiding most of himself from society. He is secretly atoning for his father’s sins and believes he is unlovable. Lilly has an indomitable spirit because of the way she was raised. She refuses to be molded by societies restraints. They strike a bargain to be together each with their own agendas. What they don’t expect is to find that they are just what the other needs and cannot seem to live without each othe. How they get to this point is filled with plenty of dramatics, danger and steamy scenes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 8, 2019
Tempting his Mistress" is one of those books you don't start unless you have plenty of time to read because you can't put it down. Lilly, the illegitimate daughter of Lord Claremont, is alone and two years away from getting her inheritance. She is determined to find the man who killed her father. Evan, Lord Hawksley, can't marry Lilly so he asks her to be his Mistress. Together they are witty, passionate, and determined. This book has everything you could want; drama, passion, charm, and mystery. It is a must read book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews