Sir Michael ‘Bay’ Bayard, a baron, had been married when he was twenty to Anne, a young widow whom he loved.  But after a short marriage, her husband returned home, making Bay and Anne’s marriage illegal.  Bay went into the army, not caring if he was killed.  After getting out of the army, he set up a mistress for himself.  He has had only three mistresses, but always one at a time and now owns one of the exclusive houses on Jane Street, a place that is known to house mistresses.  There is a list of men waiting to buy one of the houses, enabling them to almost get their pick of mistresses.  Bay was raised by his grandmother and had just settled a contract with Deborah Fallon to be his mistress when his grandmother died.  He and Deborah did not even get the chance to be together.

 

After receiving a proposal from newly wealthy Arthur Bannister, Deborah grabs her chance and writes Charlie.  Making Charlie believe she has an emergency, she talks her into coming.  Hoping Charlie will fulfill her contract, she talked her into staying at the house on Jane Street until Bay came home.  But Charlie is determined that she will just let him know what has happened, then leave.  But Bay was anxious to see his new mistress, so he came to her in the middle of the night.  Charlie was asleep.  The next morning she thought the things that had happened during the night were just part of a delightful dream until she woke up with a man in her bed.  When she started to throw a fit, Bay thought it was a game and the moment he started kissing and touching her, she succumbed to his attentions.  Bay was enthralled by her, but he knew to keep her happy, he had to keep her in his arms.  The rest of the time she was harping at him.  When Bay discovers his family heirloom necklace is missing, they know that Deborah took it. He believes the two Fallon sisters were in on it together and insisted that Charlie stay in her sister’s place until the necklace was returned.  Though Charlie proclaimed her innocence, he was adamant, letting her know that he could have her arrested in her sister’s place.  Though Charlie tries, the lessons she has been taught in life cannot be forgotten after her short time with Bay…though her heart longs for more.  He realizes that he wants Charlie in his life, despite her transgressions.  But someone from his past is determined to tear them apart…no matter what it takes.

 

Deliciously decadent and wickedly witty, MISTRESS BY MISTAKE, the first book in the COURTESAN COURT trilogy, is a delightful historical romance…one that I did not want to see end.  Though Charlie believes herself fat, she is ideal to Bay, who collects Rubenesque art and has it displayed all over his home.  Filled with witty repartee, humor, sizzling love scenes, a delicious plot, wonderfully complex characters, plot twists and romance, this story is a winner.  I look forward to reading more works by this very talented debut author, Maggie Robinson, whose creativity and imagination combine to give her a promising future and makes me a fan of her work.  Be sure to grab your own copy of MISTRESS BY MISTAKE.  You won’t regret it!

 

By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Dottie Click here to Buy this Book Now!   Romance Junkies Content Editor: Cindy Romance Junkies Publishing Editor: Chrissy   Top of Page