Limecello’s review of Mr. and Mistress (The Elliots, Book 5) by Heidi Betts
Contemporary Romance released by Silhouette Desire on 1 May 06
I’ve been reading this series piece meal for more than two years now, and I’m wondering why I didn’t read this one sooner. Heidi Betts is a relatively new to me author, and I’m really enjoying her books. I’m definitely going to continue reading both the books in her back list, as well as her new ones.
Misty Vale is an ex-Vegas showgirl, and a mistress. She teaches dance, but her lover bought the building houses both her and her dance studio. She’s not a typical mistress, however, because she doesn’t have a mercenary bone in her body. In fact, she agrees to the loose arrangement with Cullen Elliot because… well she loves him.
Cullen Elliot is one of the Elliot’s, from the publishing family in New York. He’s uber rich, and only 27. He’s also known as the playboy of the family, dating actresses, heiresses, and models, alike. Even with such gorgeous women on his arm, he still can’t get over his Vegas girlfriend, and they’ve had an open relationship for four years.
Misty doesn’t think they can have a relationship because she’s older than him, and well, a former show girl. His family will never accept her. She makes sweeping statements and assumptions, but I could understand what her point was. However, I did question to some degree how or why she felt so unworthy. She loved her career, and is not ashamed of it at all. I suppose I don’t see why someone’s bankroll should have any sort of impact on a person’s worth as a human being.
Cullen has a deeply ingrained sense of responsibility, and when he finds out Misty is pregnant with his child, he proposes immediately. She refuses him, but he convinces her to go home with him to NYC. They have a great relationship, and Cullen’s family is actually very accepting of Misty. It takes a while, but Cullen realizes how he feels about Misty. His family needles him a bit, and Misty makes him work for it (always nice to see). The only thing that detracted from the book, albeit slightly, is that it’s due to being in a series, is the secondary characters involving random occurrences and events.
This book doesn’t have unnecessary angst or heavy conflict, and it’s a short enjoyable read. I liked Cullen and Misty’s story, and although it’s part of a series, it definitely works as a stand alone book. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes Silhouette Desire categories, and especially anyone who read any of The Elliots series.
Grade: B-
HIS PREGNANT MISTRESS
She was his kept woman…a secret lover living in Las Vegas luxury. It had been an ideal situation—until Misty Vale discovered she was carrying Cullen Elliott’s child.
Misty was not the type of woman a millionaire like Cullen could ever take as his wife. Her past was scandalous…his family above reproach. How could she ever tell him she was having his baby?
But Cullen had ways of finding things out. And he wasn’t about to allow his heir to be born on the wrong side of the bed!
The Elliotts: Mixing business with pleasure!
Read an excerpt here.
