In this captivating novel, Mary Balogh, the premier writer of Regency romance, invites you into a world of scandal and seduction, of glitteri... read full description
reviews
Oct 13, 2011
Dina
rated it: 
I'm going to start repeating myself, but I just love Ms. Balogh's writing! No other modern author is as apt at "transporting" me to Regency London as her. All it takes is the first paragraph, and the setting is crystal clear in my mind and I find myself in another time and space. More Than a Mistress was no exception: I was captivated from the start, and Jocelyn and Jane were another great couple to be added to my all-time favorite H/h in Romancelandia.
Let me admit that I t More...
Let me admit that I t More...
18 comments
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(30 people liked it)
Jan 07, 2010
Rane
rated it:
More then a Mistress is just one of those books that capture you from the start and doesn’t let you go until long after.
One of the most unlikely meetings to take place in both their lives. Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham is faced with another duel as he’s ascued to have been the lover of a married woman. A gentleman through and through takes up the duel instead of calling the woman a liar. So when a young woman runs toward the duel to stop them, Jocelyn is annoyed when he’s shot in th More...
One of the most unlikely meetings to take place in both their lives. Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham is faced with another duel as he’s ascued to have been the lover of a married woman. A gentleman through and through takes up the duel instead of calling the woman a liar. So when a young woman runs toward the duel to stop them, Jocelyn is annoyed when he’s shot in th More...
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(25 people liked it)
Jun 18, 2011
Adrienne
rated it: 
Oh. I loved this story so much!!
Hero Jocelyn who's hiden his emotions behind a wall of arrogancy and disdain, and heorine Jane a Lady on the run from a crime that may or may not have been committed. They meet up in the most unlikely of ways and quite by accident whilst Jane walks to work one morning, a lady with a conscience, she sees fit to interfere in a situation which she really should not have. And so the story is set in motion. A series of events mean that Jane and Jocelyn sp More...
Hero Jocelyn who's hiden his emotions behind a wall of arrogancy and disdain, and heorine Jane a Lady on the run from a crime that may or may not have been committed. They meet up in the most unlikely of ways and quite by accident whilst Jane walks to work one morning, a lady with a conscience, she sees fit to interfere in a situation which she really should not have. And so the story is set in motion. A series of events mean that Jane and Jocelyn sp More...
16 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Nov 05, 2011
RomReader
rated it: 
Heroine is working incognito as a seamstress for her survival b/c she's running from the law believing that she may have killed her earl cousin who tried to rape her. She loses her job after being late due to tending to injured duke Hero who got shot during a duel she interrupted. He hires her as his nurse for 3 weeks after she accuses him of losing her seamstress job. Getting to know each other in those weeks gradually progress into a mutual attraction which heroine tries to deflect by attempti
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Sep 01, 2011
Srisurang
rated it:
อ่านได้เรื่อยๆ ค่ะ น่าติดตามตลอดเรื่อง แต่มันบอกไม่ถูก รู้สึกเกือบๆ จะชอบ เกือบๆ จะใช่อยู่ตลอดแต่ไม่ถึงจุดพีคที่สามารถบอกว่าชอบมากกกกก ให้กรี๊ดได้ซักที ถ้าพระเอกน่ารักกว่านี้อีกนิด ลดความเก๊กลงหน่อย นางเอกจะปากเก่งน้อยลงอีกสักสิบเปอร์เซ็นต์คงดีกว่านี้ แต่ก็มีฉากซึ้งๆ บางฉากที่ติดอยู่ในความทรงจำเหมือนกัน
ชอบน้องสาวช่างพูดของพระเอกอะ เธอแต่งตัวทีใครเห็นก็มึนไปเลย แต่น่ารัก น้องชายพระเอกยิ่งน่ารักใหญ่ อ่านจบแล้วเพิ่งรู้ว่ามันเป็นซีรี่ส์เล็กๆ มีเรื่องของน้องชาย และน้องสาวพระเอกอีกคนละเล่มด้วย โ More...
ชอบน้องสาวช่างพูดของพระเอกอะ เธอแต่งตัวทีใครเห็นก็มึนไปเลย แต่น่ารัก น้องชายพระเอกยิ่งน่ารักใหญ่ อ่านจบแล้วเพิ่งรู้ว่ามันเป็นซีรี่ส์เล็กๆ มีเรื่องของน้องชาย และน้องสาวพระเอกอีกคนละเล่มด้วย โ More...
May 19, 2010
Crista
rated it:
I really liked this book.....I wouldn't say that it's Balogh's best, but it's definitely good.
Jane Ingleby is on the run and is hiding from her uncle who wants her prosecuted for murder and theft. She happens across a duel in progress and interupts it by screaming for the two men to "STOP". Jocelyn Dudley, the Duke of Tresham, is distracted and winds up being shot in the leg. Angry and in want of "payback" for Jane's distraction, he "employs" her as his More...
Jane Ingleby is on the run and is hiding from her uncle who wants her prosecuted for murder and theft. She happens across a duel in progress and interupts it by screaming for the two men to "STOP". Jocelyn Dudley, the Duke of Tresham, is distracted and winds up being shot in the leg. Angry and in want of "payback" for Jane's distraction, he "employs" her as his More...
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Mar 01, 2010
BarkLessWagMore
rated it:
I read this as an unabridged audio so I'll more than likely spell some things incorrectly and may be fuzzy on some of the details.
The hero, a fancy-pants duke, is injured during a duel when a young lady gives a shout out. She's held up because of the ridiculous duel and ends up getting fired from her job and can't buy groceries. She blames Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham, for her predicament and tracks him down to holler at him (a little fuzzy on the details here ~ this is why I need t More...
The hero, a fancy-pants duke, is injured during a duel when a young lady gives a shout out. She's held up because of the ridiculous duel and ends up getting fired from her job and can't buy groceries. She blames Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham, for her predicament and tracks him down to holler at him (a little fuzzy on the details here ~ this is why I need t More...
Nov 08, 2011
Kasey
rated it:
A really good story. These two characters were a perfect fit. Jocelyn was a arrogant self important Duke used to getting his own way in every situation. Jane was much to strong willed to be bullied around by someone like him. And he had no idea what hit him when she stormed into his life unwilling to heed his demands. I loved the dynamic and the two of them learning the secrets that made each of them the way they are. Jane looked beyond the surface and saw the man behind the mask.
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Oct 20, 2011
Mindy
rated it:
I read book 3 first but it turned out to be a prequel, so I lucked out, this being book one in the series. I loved the characters. Jocelyn, Duke of Tresham and Jane (Lady Sara Jane Illingsworth). Jane is on the run from her cousin who tried to ravish her. While she was able to fend off her drunken cousin, events occured that made it necessary for her to flee to London to her Godmother. Her godmother wasn't home, her cousin was in a coma, and jane was wanted by the law. Jane finds work as a
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Mar 11, 2010
Catherine
rated it:
In the middle of a duel the Duke of Tresham is distracted by a woman yelling at the participants to stop. In his distraction the Duke ends up being shot in the leg. He blames the woman and summons her to him so he can make sure she knows it. He's surprised when she doesn't give ground and admit she was wrong. Believing it is her fault he ends up detaining her to help him which ends up making her late for work. When Jane tries to explain the circumstances to her boss the woman says she won't
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16 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Nov 01, 2011
Lori
rated it:
It's easy to dismiss this book as some sleazy, fluffy story with characters and plots only to disguise the bodice-ripping. The truth is that there's no bodice-ripping and no sleaze.
Jane and Jocelyn (yes, strange name for a titled English gentleman) are fully developed characters caught up in an interesting and entertaining plot. Both have secrets. Both are tormented by something in their past -- Jane by a much more recent past, and Jocelyn by his upbringing and "what it means" More...
Jane and Jocelyn (yes, strange name for a titled English gentleman) are fully developed characters caught up in an interesting and entertaining plot. Both have secrets. Both are tormented by something in their past -- Jane by a much more recent past, and Jocelyn by his upbringing and "what it means" More...
Jul 27, 2010
Casta
rated it:
This appears to be the first book in a series; I've read others by Mary Balogh, and had good expectations for this one. They were, I'm pleased to say, largely met. I had some trouble with the premise of the meeting of our protagonists at the very start: young woman is passing a duel in progress, shouts "STOP" for no known reason, one man is wounded seriously, and she expects to continue on her merry way? Why did she even interfere in the first place?
Our hero, Jocelyn, th More...
Our hero, Jocelyn, th More...
Apr 07, 2011
Jenni
rated it:
Whilst I have read women’s fiction for years now I have read very little historical fiction, it’s never been an area that I’ve been particularly interested in. The synopsis of More Than A Mistress grabbed my attention however and I was curious to give it a go.
The plot worked really well for me. Whilst it is essentially innocent girl meets attractive rogue and they fall in love despite their best efforts there is much more to it. Jane’s hiding quite a secret, as I started to discover it More...
The plot worked really well for me. Whilst it is essentially innocent girl meets attractive rogue and they fall in love despite their best efforts there is much more to it. Jane’s hiding quite a secret, as I started to discover it More...
Jan 21, 2012
Punk
rated it:
Romance. You know what? I want to read a Regency romance about the second most notorious rake in London. He's pretty good at flirting, but that other guy is always swooping in and stealing away his conquests. It just drives him up the wall! So the second most notorious rake in London decides to do something about it. No matter what it takes, he will win the title of Most Notorious Rake in London. The current Most Notorious Rake in London thinks this sounds like good fun, as a little competition
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 26, 2011
Jody
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 13, 2010
Rhapsody
rated it:
Very enjoyable novel. Jocelyn was a tough, reckless, violent hero who had a repressed sensitive and artistic nature. Jane, a lady in hiding, becomes his nurse when she interrupts his duel and gets him shot in the leg. He's amused by her impertinent nature, but she starts getting past his defenses, causing him to share pieces of himself that he'd long since buried. Great story about a powerful and lonely man "finding himself" again with the help of a beautiful damsel in distress.
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Feb 12, 2011
Manuela
rated it:
Letto tutto d'un fiato.
Non posso che dar ragione a chi, come Noco, lo considera un DIK.
Un romanzo quasi perfetto, dove tutto è al posto giusto e che coinvolge fino alle lacrime in più punti.
La caratterizzazione sia di Jane che di Jocelyn è accurata e molto realistica; la storia, con tutti i suoi risvolti, è narrata con delicatezza e sensibilità, come è prerogativa della Balogh, e anche la parte sensuale, che di solito in questa autrice è meno preponderante, qui assume una va More...
Non posso che dar ragione a chi, come Noco, lo considera un DIK.
Un romanzo quasi perfetto, dove tutto è al posto giusto e che coinvolge fino alle lacrime in più punti.
La caratterizzazione sia di Jane che di Jocelyn è accurata e molto realistica; la storia, con tutti i suoi risvolti, è narrata con delicatezza e sensibilità, come è prerogativa della Balogh, e anche la parte sensuale, che di solito in questa autrice è meno preponderante, qui assume una va More...
Aug 02, 2009
Karen
rated it:
Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham was a rake with a bad reputation. His rakehell ways landed him in yet another duel on a foggy morning in Hyde Park. Just as the participants took aim, Jane Ingleby (for no apparent reason that I could see) came running into the clearing and distracted the duelers (is that a word?). Anyway, Jocelyn (Tresh to his friends, thank God), ended up with a bullet wound to the leg. He also ended up hiring Jane as his nurse for 3 weeks because the delay in the park caused he
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(2 people liked it)
Sep 21, 2009
Brandy Ahviel ~(charmdmom)
rated it:
Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham, is arrogant and stubborn. and when he finds himself shot becuase he hears someone scream stop he does not blame the person that shot him no he blames the person that was trying to stop the duel from happening. that would be Jane Ingleby who he hires as his nurse. Jane who is also stubborn stands up to him and talks to him as though no one would talk to him before. she does not fear his wrath although jocelyn thinks she should. As their time progesses Jocelyn f
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Aug 05, 2010
Steph Su
rated it:
At times overly dramatic, MORE THAN A MISTRESS is nevertheless one of the most impressive historical romances I have ever read. Character development is sensational, the romance is sensual and believable, and overall the whole story is simply unforgettable.
I absolutely adored how there wasn’t insta-love/lust/attraction between Jane and Tresham. Instead, both of them dislike each other upon first meeting, though their respective stubbornness keeps them clashing—and, thus, crossing pat More...
I absolutely adored how there wasn’t insta-love/lust/attraction between Jane and Tresham. Instead, both of them dislike each other upon first meeting, though their respective stubbornness keeps them clashing—and, thus, crossing pat More...
Oct 04, 2010
Linda
rated it:
Now that I've read the Bedwyn Series (loved it) and the Simply Series, I'm going back in the Mary Balogh catalog to some of her earlier writing. This is the first book of the pair soon to be a triology if you check out the author's website.
An unlikely heroine who isn't at all shy or retiring, Jane is raised by enlightened parents who unfortunately die too young leaving her to people without her best interest at heart. When circumstances force her to flee to England she has a dramati More...
An unlikely heroine who isn't at all shy or retiring, Jane is raised by enlightened parents who unfortunately die too young leaving her to people without her best interest at heart. When circumstances force her to flee to England she has a dramati More...
Mar 29, 2010
Tina
rated it:
I had read this book years ago and remember liking it quite a bit so i think I had originally given ti 4-stars. But in a re-read I am actually going to up this to a five-star. This is rare for me. Usually in re-reads my books stay pretty much the same or go down because they don't stand the test of time. But I actually think, having been immersed in Mary Balogh this month and reading quite a bit of her back catalog I can see just how strong an entry this book is in her catalog. And it was j
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Aug 22, 2011
Heather in FL
rated it:
This was a nice regency romance. We start out with Tresham getting ready to duel with Lady Olivia's husband because Lady Olivia told him she'd been Tresham's mistress. Jane runs out from the side telling them to stop, and Tresham gets shot in the leg. Tresham could have killed Lady Olivia's husband, but instead fires into the air. But as a result of Jane's diversion in the duel, she is late to work and is fired, unless she can get a note from the Duke corroborating her story. So Jane goes to Dud
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Sep 03, 2011
Erin
rated it:
I do so love a romance novel that bothers to show how two people might actually be compatible on a deeper, more long-term level. This one does that. Balogh takes two people who don't know each other and don't like each other and shows them discovering there is more to each than either realized. And more to themselves than they realized, too.
Jocelyn, the Duke of Tresham, is furious when he gets shot in the leg during a duel because he is distracted by the screams of a woman in se More...
Jocelyn, the Duke of Tresham, is furious when he gets shot in the leg during a duel because he is distracted by the screams of a woman in se More...
Sep 14, 2009
Quirkygal
rated it:
You can always (OK almost always) count on Mary Balogh for a solid story, good characters, and a believable happily ever after.
I liked that the heroine stood up to the hero (a Duke) and let him know when he was being a horse's behind, she tried to stay true to who she was, and struggled with her past actions and how they would impact not only her future but the futures of those she has come to care about. Our hero was also willing to listen to our heroine, try to improve himself, an More...
I liked that the heroine stood up to the hero (a Duke) and let him know when he was being a horse's behind, she tried to stay true to who she was, and struggled with her past actions and how they would impact not only her future but the futures of those she has come to care about. Our hero was also willing to listen to our heroine, try to improve himself, an More...
Sep 28, 2009
AJ
rated it:
So many people have already captured this book in a review, so I'm not going to even try. But I have to say that this is one of my favorite spitfire/fiesty historical heroines ever. Jane was such a strong character and her ability to not only hold her own with Jocylen, but to set him to task a time or two was truly delightful to read. She definitely made this book for me. As for this being my first Balogh book, I enjoyed her writing style and found her ability to draw out the character and
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7 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Apr 26, 2010
astried
rated it:
I would say it's a little above average romance book. After reading too much romance a book needs to be really special to impress me. Unfortunately the second Dudley book impressed me more with the independent woman character so this one didn't have much chance with me.
What I want to read now is the story of their sister and her dry-stick husband Heyward. But probably it won't happen since these two books have already shown too much of her "flaw" (bonnets anyone?), on the More...
What I want to read now is the story of their sister and her dry-stick husband Heyward. But probably it won't happen since these two books have already shown too much of her "flaw" (bonnets anyone?), on the More...
Jul 20, 2011
Annabel Joseph
rated it:
Wow, I can't remember the last time I just really loved a book like this. I loved the snappy, often hilarious dialogue. I loved poor conflicted hurting Tresham and his honor and all the things he felt he had to hide. I loved the way Balogh wrapped up the heroine's false-accusation side story in plenty of time for a great ending between the characters. I loved the other Dudleys, especially the sister, who I found HILARIOUS!
This book just had everything in balance for my particular tas More...
This book just had everything in balance for my particular tas More...
Oct 31, 2010
yoli
rated it: 
This is Balogh's first novel of the 3 I grabbed, and it shows. It's got the world's clunkiest plot--woman runs by a duel, yells "stop," is late for work and gets fired, tells the duelist whose duel she interrupted that he owes her a job, and it works?? Step one was problematic to begin with, I'm not sure how the rest of the chain of events is supposed to progress.
But there's some nice psychology and rapturous description of the arts, so that's nice. I like characters with tal More...
But there's some nice psychology and rapturous description of the arts, so that's nice. I like characters with tal More...
Nov 09, 2011
Kelly22
rated it:
5.00+ Stars - Regency/Historical Romance
A wonderful story written in a wonderful way. I thank Sababa for this beautiful recommendation!
Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham is a Darcy paragon haughty aristocrat with a dangerous edge and a rakish reputation. He fought many duels. Entertained many dangers. Yet he always stood high with his winning status elevated and unswerving. Except now! He was almost on his way of claiming another triumph in his duel with a rather gauche unco More...
A wonderful story written in a wonderful way. I thank Sababa for this beautiful recommendation!
Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham is a Darcy paragon haughty aristocrat with a dangerous edge and a rakish reputation. He fought many duels. Entertained many dangers. Yet he always stood high with his winning status elevated and unswerving. Except now! He was almost on his way of claiming another triumph in his duel with a rather gauche unco More...
