Review: Mistress by Midnight

Merryn has devoted the last decade of her life to learning the details of her brother's death and plotting to make his killer pay. It's common knowledge that Stephen died in a duel at the hands of his friend Garrick. Stephen had been having an affair with Garrick's wife, who also died young. Garrick left town in the scandal, but now that he has returned, Merryn intends to find proof that something was amiss at that duel... and she won't rest until she finds justice.

There is, indeed, more to the story of Stephen's death than meets the eye. But the truth is very slowly unveiled, even to the reader. Garrick feels great remorse for his actions and has all but written off the possibility of happiness. But as his path crosses with Merryn, he begins to feel emotions he has long thought dead. And despite her disdain and distrust, she is drawn to him in a way she can't deny.

Reviews like these are always the hardest to write. The book was ok; pretty standard Regency romance. Self-castigating hero, plucky but naive heroine: they fall in love despite their best intentions... a secret looming that could destroy them all. Throw in a little sex, a little scandal, and voila!

I found the heroine awfully innocent (and not just sexually) for a 25 year-old; and the idea that she could lust after Garrick after hating him so thoroughly and for so long, was kind-of a tough pill to swallow. And speaking of far-fetched, I had real trouble with the idea of two people getting intimate after being soaked in old beer and a caved-in building for two days. They were hurt; they were dirty; they had to stink... and they're having awesome sex - without a bath? Nuh-uh.

Otherwise, it was fairly good, I guess. The twist on the "big secret" was surprising in the end. And other than the beer-sex, I enjoyed the love scenes. 3 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon or The Book Depository

Mistress by Midnight

by Nicola Cornick

Release Date: November 23, 2010

Publisher: HQN