Lynne C‘s review of The French Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress by Abby Green
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Apr 09

I’m not putting the official blurb up because it doesn’t really have much to do with the book. [Gwen Ed.: I added the blurb only because it amuses me how wrong they can be sometimes.]

This is one of the rugby themed books, but rugby is only hinted at, a background to the story, which is how I think it should be. Anyway, French tycoon Pascal Leveque meets reporter Alana Cusack at a rugby match and sparks fly. Alana has a painful first marriage behind her, and that makes her understandably commitment shy, but when she finds herself pregnant, Pascal determines to be part of her life.

I liked this one, which came as a big relief. So far the rugby series has been a bit of a disappointment. As a rugby fan, I quite enjoyed one of the releases so far, and hated the other one, and no, I’m not going to tell you which is which, except to mention that the one I hated had a plot point that hinged on an impossibility, and that the author is obviously not interested in rugby and was shoehorned into doing the book.So I can’t blame her for getting it wrong.

Anyway, this one I enjoyed. The settings were unusual and enjoyable, and the sport didn’t overwhelm the story. Alana is a fine heroine, and reading about modern Ireland is always fun. One day I’ll review a Trish Wylie book. I’ve loved all of hers that I’ve read.

Pascal isn’t terribly French, but I’ve found that in a lot of HMB’s. It doesn’t matter whether the hero is Italian, French, Spanish or whatever, they all have a great grasp of the English language and everyday idioms. And this despite Pascal being brought up poor in the Marseille area. Talented man. Their affair takes a good trajectory, and only towards the end did I feel that the conflict was being stretched a little. But I put up with that. HMB books have to have their Black Moment, and this one was believable, even if it made me want to shake the heroine a little bit. I would have liked a little more of Pascal’s business life, but maybe that would have interfered with the romance.

I appreciated the absence of the Best Friend, because sometimes BF’s in HMB books (and others) are a bit overdone, and really are only there for the heroine to have someone to talk to. I loved that Alana didn’t have that, she could work things out fine on her own. And how delightful to have her think of herself as a WAG, albeit to deny it. (WAG is short for Wives And Girlfriends and refers to the ladies who hang around with rich and famous sportsmen).

But worry you not – Alana is no WAG. But Pascal cares about Alana and respects her enough to give her some space to think for herself, Alana is honest and works to understand why she feels the way she does. Oh yes, and what a nice cover!

I enjoyed the read and I’d give this one a…

Grade: B

Summary:
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Devastatingly handsome French tycoon Pascal Lévêque has his sights set on Alana Cusack. Her seeming inexperience intrigues him-she used to be married!
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Alana’s marriage was a sham. It left her feeling unattractive and unwanted. Now that Pascal has claimed her as his mistress, he’ll teach the innocent Alana how much pleasure can be had in the bedroom….
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But passion leads to pregnancy, and Pascal vows he’ll take Alana in Paris…and to the altar!
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Read an excerpt.