Stevie‘s review of No Mistress of Mine (An American Heiress in London, Book 4) by Laura Lee Guhrke
Historical Romance published by Avon 30 Aug 16
One aspect of this Victorian series I’m particularly enjoying is the way we get to meet a number of heroines who are slightly more mature than might be expected from the series title. While none of the heiresses is particularly old in years, neither has any of them been a shy miss experiencing her first London season. The heroine of this fourth book is a most unexpected heiress and has a range of experiences in her past, prior to finding herself working alongside her former lover, with whom she is suddenly partnered in business.
American goodtime girl Lola Valentine had dreams of becoming a serious actress rather than just a successful cabaret star, but her first foray into the London theatre world – sponsored by her young aristocratic lover – ended in disaster. Devastated, Lola fled back to Paris and the seedier end of showbiz only for Denys to track her down with a proposal of marriage. Realising that Denys’ father, Earl Conyers, would never allow the match, Lola accepted an alternative offer and returned to the US, apparently as the mistress of an older theatre-owner – a business partner to the Earl. Now Lola’s protector is dead, and she has inherited his share of one of London’s premier Shakespearean theatres – a venue now managed by Denys on behalf of his father.
In the six years since they last met, both Lola and Denys have developed and matured. Lola has taken acting lessons – part of the deal she struck when she posed as her benefactor’s mistress – and Denys has become a successful businessman in his own right, running the brewery that’s been mentioned in previous books before taking over various of his father’s concerns. Now, Denys is keen to settle down with a suitable, if unexciting bride, even though he’s still strongly attracted to Lola – as she is to him – and the obstacles to their match are less insurmountable than previously. Lola, however, still harbours ambitions of her own both on and off the theatre stage and fears she would never be accepted by Denys’ friends, much less his family.
Once again, the band of friends from previous books is called upon to step in and show the pair that all obstacles can be overcome if they are to achieve true happiness, and we get a great glimpse of how society is changing as new money marries into old titles.
All in all, this was another fun read, and I particularly enjoyed the different sides of the theatre business that we get to see. I’m reluctant for this series to end, as I suspect there are more heiresses out there in need of the same standard of matches as those heroines we’ve met so far have managed to make.
Grade: B
Summary:
After spending his youth as one of the wildest rakes in the ton, Lord Denys Somerton has devoted the past six years to putting his past behind him. He is determined to fulfill his duties, find a suitable wife, and start a family, but that plan changes when Lola Valentine—the red-haired temptress from his past—returns to London, sparking the same irresistible desires that almost ruined his life once before.
Lola is a woman with no romantic illusions. She knew love would never be enough for a British lord and an American girl from the wrong side of the tracks. For Denys’s sake, she walked away from him and the glittering life he offered. But when an unexpected inheritance brings her back to London, Lola discovers the passion between them is as hot as ever. Can they vanquish it, or will it burn out of control again and destroy them both?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
