Header PromotionAccidental Mistress by Susan Napier (HP 2729)
Emily Quest is determined to uphold and protect the name of Quest Restorations, the business started by her grandfather and to that extent the story starts with her crashing a risqué party to steal back a Chinese flask which was shoddily restored by their company so that she can fix it before the owner returns (it's his son's party). Two years later she's had a fire destroy her house and studio and accepts Peter West (a usual client)'s help with a temporary studio where she can work on his late wife's collection. Only his nephew Ethan West walks in on Emily thanking her host and leaps to wrong conclusions, particularly after he witnessed what when on with her at that party. Ethan is convinced that Peter must have a hidden agenda and simultaneously presses her to give in to their attraction as he wants her for himself.
This book felt a bit short to me and wasn't my fav Susan Napier, but it was still quite good. I particularly appreciate that Ethan and Emily kept pressing each other for the truth and sharing hard truths they didn't necessarily expect to be believed. And that it didn't take Emily being a virgin (she's not) to prove she's not a gold digger or a good time girl. And that when Ethan says she's given him a gift only she could give, her “one true thing” it's her heart/her love and not her virginity. And Ethan's brother was fun too and the mystery with Peter well done. And I definitely will read it again.
I've gotta say tho that I really don't like how Harlequin is marketing these books now. “Accidental Mistress”, “Taken by the Millionaire”, etc., etc. --- not only are these brands and titles over the top and pretty offensive to the heroines and readers of the book they aren't even relevant to the plot line! What the h*ll was accidental or mistress-like at ALL about the way Ethan and Emily got together? Does anyone feel that Emily was “taken”? Cuz to me that implies that this was all against her will, by pure happenstance and that Ethan was married at the time...Whereas they didn't even sleep together until the end of the book when they were already in love! I'd just like to publicly declare that I'm buying these books IN SPITE OF the branding and marketing efforts perpetuated by Harlequin. And that, yes, I have been scared off by some titles and not bought books that I'm sure were perfectly decent because of this ridiculousness.
Add new comment
