The Secret Mistress (Mistress Trilogy #3)

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The Secret Mistress (Mistress Trilogy #3)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 1,591 ratings · 216 reviews

In this enticing new romance ripe with sensuality and wit, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh proves that comfort is no match for passion when a stuffy gentleman becomes the object of desire of an adoring and spirited young woman.

THE SECRET MISTRESS

While Lady Angeline Dudley’s pedigree dictates that she must land a titled gentleman, the irrepressible beauty secr...more

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Delacorte Press

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Aug 29, 2011 willaful rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: made-me-laugh, sexy-beta, unusual-hero, starchy-hero-gets-unstarched, good-boy-bad-girl

Balogh had mentioned wanting to write this prequel on her mailing list a number of times, and I never quite got why. The loquacious, scatteredbrained Angeline and her stuffy husband weren’t all that interesting to me, and they were already together. I should have known Balogh could do it. Even the title, which appeared to be a forced attempt to squeeze the book in with rest of the series, completely works -- though I won't spoil it by saying why.

You’d never expect nineteen year old Lady Angeline...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Janet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humourous, unusual-couple

Here's a reprint of a review I did originally for Sue Grimshaw's Random House website:

The Secret Mistress

I cannot even imagine how difficult it must be to write a prequel to two beloved books, as Mary Balogh just has. Let me lay my cards on the table: More Than A Mistress was one of the first romance books I read (I started reading romance from A to Z, using the Desert Island Keeper list at All About Romance as my reading list). Balogh had the first among equals benefit of being a “B” in the alp...more

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May 20, 2012 Pamela(AllHoney) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hr-victorian-edwardian, challenge-2012, dukes-earls-viscounts-etc, my-4-star-romances

The third book in the Mistress Trilogy by Mary Balogh. Not a huge Balogh fan like many romance readers here on GR but I did like this one. Not a great big WOW but it was a fun read. I am a bit confused as to the era or period this should be listed as though. There is mention at the beginning of the heroine curseying to the Queen. I'm not a history major so I don't understand. If this is Regency as noted by several readers, then who is the Queen? The prince regent was married but would not have a...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Diane rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: balogh, reviewed

This book was a real disappointment. The first two in the series were written 10 years ago, and this one seems like a place holder or after thought. The heroine seems more foolish than charming, the hero is not terribly interesting, the chemistry is lacking and the sex scenes are surprisingly wooden ("he withdrew his tongue from her mouth"). The concept is not a new one and is not handled with any fresh insight. A young woman who essentially falls in love with a man at first meeting because of h...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Ilze rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mary-balogh

Simply perfect, a small masterpiece. As other reviewers have stated, nothing much "happens" in the story besides 2 upper-class people falling in love. Even so - it was completely "unputdownable" and grabbed me right from the first chapter to the last. The story is beautifully written and the characters are completely engaging and believable - especially Angeline, with her dreadful bonnets, her sense of humour, her insecurity and inexperience, her joie de vivre and her "bright sparkle" that Edwar...more

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Jan 08, 2013 CRO rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: acts-of-desperation, romanceymancemanz, read-in-2013

3 Stars

This is definitely what I would call an adequate romance novel. It reliably hits all of its marks without really exceeding expectations. Just the right kind of reading for winter in the mid-west (although Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio have been unseasonably warm this winter it still is dark at 4:30pm - 4:30 not 5 or 6 - 4:30 - the sun is gone - thats all you get for the day ).

There were a couple of things I did really enjoy about the book - that made it just a little more than par - a coupl...more 3 Stars

This is definitely what I would call an adequate romance novel. It reliably hits all of its marks without really exceeding expectations. Just the right kind of reading for winter in the mid-west (although Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio have been unseasonably warm this winter it still is dark at 4:30pm - 4:30 not 5 or 6 - 4:30 - the sun is gone - thats all you get for the day ).

There were a couple of things I did really enjoy about the book - that made it just a little more than par - a couple places where the Richter needle jiggled upwards - momentarily - from the obligatory 3 stars catchall that I will give most books, especially romances. The heroine was this flighty, nervous albeit self-aware, young thing who was actually endearing - and the descriptions and reactions to all of her disastrous bonnets were quite fun. I also liked that she was doing more of the pursuing of the guy than vice versa - a nice change of pace - and the guy wasn't a scoundrel or rake. He was this very uptight Mr. Darcy type (of course with a super sexy, passionate side once the bedroom doors were closed). Despite her flightiness, Angeline was actually a pretty down to earth girl. Having spent her life in the company of her man-whorish and irresponsible brothers and her absentee, critical, adulterous parents made her crave a fella who was stable, honest, and faithful. Nice twist on the typical redemption of the scoundrel motif. Although the book lost steam and momentum in the last 50 pages or so (and that was even with the insertion - tee hee - of the coital union between the 2 main characters), it was still - for the most part - a nicely paced, fast read. I think the loss of momentum at the end mostly had to do with the development of all of these secondary characters and their relationships. The book was being set up for more in this series or spin-off series that will revolve around these secondary characters …I think I might have read somewhere on the back cover that this was prequel….I don't know. When my mom is through with these books (she buys them real cheap at Sam's club) she sends them on to me and then I donate them to the library or Goodwill …at some point I probably will or already have encountered these characters in other books. While a nice, respectable 3 stars, this book did not inspire me to voraciously hunt down the rest of the series.

There is one point I will quibble at more length - the obligatory loss of the maiden-head scene. If the author was going to go to all the trouble to justify this pre-marital sex scene - why not just go all the way and have Angeline not be a virgin - or an avid horseback rider or something. Even though this was one of the more tastefully done versions of this scene I've probably read - please - I've never met or heard tell of a real woman who wants to be reminded of one of the most awkward and emotionally uncomfortable moments of her life - even in wish fulfillment, idealized, fantasy land - even with soft focus and gauze and vaseline smeared over the camera lens. Women shit themselves in child birth too - but nobody is bringing that up repeatedly and obsessively in media entertainment - well at least not in the stuff I'm reading or watching. But there must be people out there - readers and writers alike - who must find this sexy or emotionally satisfying or liberating or something. I'll try not to be too judgmental. Who am I to say what is sexy and what is not.

In the spirit of internet oversharing - and why not - it's winter here in America's heartland and it's round about lunch time so that means it's full on duskish outside - I will share my top 2 sex fantasies. Wait, before you get all alarmed and closet the children away, trust, me they are very tame - strictly PG - I'm not E.L. fifty shades of whatever here.

2.) Tom Waits is taking me to see Jesus while singing "Waltzing Matilda" into the side of my neck….or maybe the back of my neck - OK I veered a little bit from PG there - sorry.

1.) I meet Patton Oswald at a party.(I actually had a dream about this) I am my middle aged self in my twenty something body. We spend all night lying on a bed facing each other, completely clothed talking to each other. Meanwhile, the party continues on around us. I'm mentally my middle aged self so that sex doesn't alarm or frighten me or make me want to cry huddled in a corner while I have what feels like an out of body experience. Between the two of us - Patton and I - it is an unspoken thing. It will happen soon - probably when the party dies down - and nobody is nervous or upset or overly giddy or anxious or pushy about it. But right now, the conversation is so good - so funny and earnest and revealing - that sex can wait.

It might help to explain that I have real professional crushes on both of these men. I admire them both so much as artists and Patton Oswald is so fucking funny and such a really underrated actor…it makes me weak in the knees. In real life, if either of them were to show up at my door expecting sex or long drawn out conversations, I would call the police. In my imagination however..... I know,these sex scenes are not for everybody. But if Karen's reviews of monster erotica have taught me anything, it's that there is a niche market for everything. There is probably someone out there right now, even as I type this, writing Tom Waits and Patton Oswald porn.
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Nov 18, 2012 Annette rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am a huge Mary Balogh fan. I read the other 2 Mistress books and like nearly everything Ms Balogh writes, I liked them. In this book, we have Angeline, the younger sister from those books. She is on her way to London to make her debut into society, and through a misunderstanding she sees a man she determines will be the man she marries.

The basic story is about the attraction of opposites. Angeline is impetuous and enthusiastic and excitable. Edward is set in his ways, determined to be serious...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Dione Sage rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, romance

The Secret Mistress is the first book I have read by Mary Balogh and I did not know it was part of a trilogy. In fact it read like a lone novel that I would never had guessed it was the third book in a trilogy. The story is about Lady Angeline Dudly, who is a nineteen year old young woman coming out to society. Her parents have past away so her only immediate family remaining are her two older brothers (Tresham - Duke of Tresham and Ferdinand. Both brothers are rakes but Angeline is insecure and...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Carrie Olguin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fun romantic read with a couple of sensual sex scenes. Third in the mistress series (published ten years later) but a prequel. This is a romance, pure and simple. I had a lovely time. Thank-you Ms. Balough.

Angelina (the heroine) reminds me of a much younger version of my aunt, someone who converses in paragraphs (not simple sentences) filled with humor, ligh-hearted self-depreciation, running run tangents in circles around the original subject - while the listener nods and smiles with real humor...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Judy Goodnight rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, regency

The final volume of the Dudley family focuses on Angeline, the sister of Jocelyn, Duke of Tresham and Lord Ferdinand Dudley. It's also a prequel to the other Mistress books.

Angeline Dudley is a sad romp of a girl. She loves bright clothing and garish hats. She's tall & dark when petite & blonde is the fashion. She chatters on & on, but mainly to hide her insecurities resulting from her childhood. She falls instantly in love with Edward Ailsbury, the Earl of Heyward, who her brothers...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, canadian, romance, romance-historical

This may just be my favourite of the Dudley trilogy. I've been intrigued by Angeline and Edward and the nature of their relationship since their introduction in the first book. They seemed to be such a miss matched couple. But as this story showed, they were perfectly matched opposites. Balogh did a great job of showing the various sides of Edward - the responsible albeit dull man as seen by the public, the loyal and dutiful son and brother as seen by his family, and the (eventually) passionate,...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, historical-romance

The Secret Mistress was a wonderful surprise.

Lady Angeline is finally coming out after a two year set back and she is anxious to find a sensible man to marry. Angeline wants a sensible man because her parents did not have a happy union as her father kept mistresses and her two brothers who she loves dearly but are both a bit of a rake. On her way to London she encounters a man whose name she does not know and believes it to be love at first sight. Once Angeline comes to London and has her first...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Dorothea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This is a prequel to the two books she wrote a few years ago (More Than a Mistress and No Man's Mistress) which are not really among my favorites of hers. The heroine of this book is the sister of the heroes of the earlier books; she is already married in those books and presented as a rather silly person inexplicably happily married to a very serious, stuffy man. Of course, readers called for another book to explain this situation.

I liked The Secret Mistress much better than the previous two bo...more This is a prequel to the two books she wrote a few years ago (More Than a Mistress and No Man's Mistress) which are not really among my favorites of hers. The heroine of this book is the sister of the heroes of the earlier books; she is already married in those books and presented as a rather silly person inexplicably happily married to a very serious, stuffy man. Of course, readers called for another book to explain this situation.

I liked The Secret Mistress much better than the previous two books. The most obvious reason is that the hero here (in contrast to the earlier ones) is what romance readers describe as a "beta hero" -- a more thoughtful, gentle man who isn't particularly interested in the markers of masculinity glamorized by the more common "alpha heroes" (aggressive behavior, physical strength, taking charge of everyone including the heroine, not admitting to any emotional sensitivity). Perhaps because because their traits are more conducive to a narrative in which romance can be explained as BECAUSE HE IS A MAN AND SHE IS A WOMAN, I often find alpha males in stories that are emotionally shallow and lacking anything interesting to say about relationships or gender. Alpha-hero stories that most engage me are those in which the heroine is well aware of the code of masculinity within which the hero is operating, and is able to challenge the hero to see and question it for himself.

While I did enjoy the hero of The Secret Mistress on his own merits, what really made the book worthwhile for me was the heroine -- and especially her opinions about alpha and beta heroes! Of course she calls them "rakes." She is completely aware that her own brothers are alpha heroes (I mean rakes) and while she finds them harmless dears, she has no interest in marrying anyone like them. Thus when she encounters the perfect beta hero, she instantly resolves upon marrying him.

Balogh continues this theme of the nature of rakes and non-rakes by making a rake an important secondary character, who is (sort of) competition for the hero and involved both in an amusing plot and a secondary romance. (I think a mark of a quality romance novel is when it has an identifiable theme apart from heterosexual happiness!) This character also provides one of the only parts of the book I dislike -- in the very first scene, he verbally sexually harasses the heroine, (narratively) in order that the hero can rescue her; but because he isn't actually the villain, (1) the hero does have a brief thought about how it was kind of the heroine's fault, and (2) the harassment is trivialized as harmless behavior for the rest of the book. I sort of came around to liking this character in the end, but revisiting the first scene confirms that it was really sexual harassment and that the heroine's behavior absolutely should not be construed as consent. Nope, I don't like that.

HOWEVER, I still have mixed feelings even about this scene, not because I approve of the overall narratorial treatment of it, but because I love the way the heroine responds. She knows she's not in any physical danger; she assesses the harasser and identifies him as someone like her brothers -- "essentially harmless despite their silliness ... [she] could never take such men too seriously." She behaves totally coolly towards the "rake," while at the same time she is inwardly melting into a sugary puddle about the hero.

I can't do it justice, but the heroine's reactions during this scene are the perfect way to start the book. They capture her complicated personality: total, nonchalant confidence around the sort of people whom others (including lots of romance heroines) hold in awe; extreme yet heartfelt sentimentality; good common sense; and (also in evidence in this scene) ingenuous, though sometimes self-aware, ditziness. She was great fun to read about, especially in scenes written from her point of view, and I'm sure she'll be one of the few romance heroines whom I remember distinctly long after I've closed the book.

Two other splendid points in this book:

(1) Its complete refusal to engage in the misogynistic "other woman" cliché and its promotion of female friendships -- combined in the same relationship, as the hero's female best friend, whom he originally thinks he should marry, becomes the heroine's best friend too. (There are a couple scenes with the heroine and this friend in which I nearly suspect that Balogh is deliberately alluding to the Bechdel test.)

(2) A completely delightful scene (in chapter 9) in which the hero and the heroine have a conversation about her characteristically loud, tasteless hats. This starts off by her asking him if she likes the hat she's wearing, him asking whether his good opinion of her hats is really important to her, and her concluding that, in fact, it is not, because she likes her hats. It turns into an exploration of vulnerability and self-esteem, and concludes with both of them laughing. I loved it.(less)

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Oct 04, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I reviewed this book for Romance Reader At Heart website:

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE SECRET MISTRESS is actually a prequel to the Mistress (or Dudley) series and Angeline’s story. I honestly think that this series would have never been quite complete without this tale.

In previous two books, MORE THAN A MISTRESS (Duke of Tresham’s story) and NO MAN’S MISTRESS (Ferdi’s story), we were allowed only a glimpse of Angeline as she comes in and out of their brothers’ lives. We see her as someone...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 13, 2011 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Imagine you had written two romance novels featuring a secondary sister character included primarily as comic relief. Then imagine someone told you that you had to write another romance novel, this one with the laughable sister in the starring heroine role. Then imagine the hero you had to link her to was described by all and sundry as "dry as a stick," including the heroine's beloved brothers. The likelihood of penning an interesting, compelling romance between two such unlikely protagonists wo...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Laurie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I haven't read the other two books in this trilogy yet, but since this book is a prequel to the other two anyway, I didn't feel lost by starting with this one. While it wasn't as good as some of Balogh's previous works, it was still enjoyable and a very sweet romance. As other reviewers have noted, I did not like the characters' tendency to repeat the same thoughts over and over again. The book kind of dragged in the middle because of all the repetition. Also, while I enjoyed the secondary roman...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Amanda Kimball rated it 4 of 5 stars

I give this a 3.5/5 stars. It was a quick and pleasant read that lacked a few sparks, but was overall entertaining.

I felt the characters were developed quite nicely, but the plot was slow at times. It was a very sweet love story with a few laughs. I'd catch myself smiling as I progresses through the novel.

I thought it was quite Interesting to be reading about Angeline, a country girl who is adventurous and a bit flirty and Edward who is the total opposite of a rake. Throughout the novel, I kept...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-european

"I am your secret mistress. It sounds very wicked. It sounds delicious."

At nineteen years of age, Lady Angeline Dudley is preparing for her first Season having missed two opportunites, the first year in mourning for the death of her mother and the second year with a broken leg. So having waited two whole years, she is more than excited to be heading to London. Waiting for her brother and guardian, Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham at an inn to accompany her to London, Angeline scandalously and ina...more "I am your secret mistress. It sounds very wicked. It sounds delicious."

At nineteen years of age, Lady Angeline Dudley is preparing for her first Season having missed two opportunites, the first year in mourning for the death of her mother and the second year with a broken leg. So having waited two whole years, she is more than excited to be heading to London. Waiting for her brother and guardian, Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham at an inn to accompany her to London, Angeline scandalously and inappropriately waits alone in the taproom leaning out the window. Unknown to Angeline, she is not alone. Edward Ailsbury, Earl of Heyward is quietly enjoying his ale. And the view of Angeline. But being the gentleman he is, Edward is not going to compromise Angeline by alerting her to his presence. However, when Lord Windrow, a known rake, enters and makes inappropriate remarks to Angeline, Edward has no choice but to make himself known and defend her, demanding an apology from Windrow. After the apology Edward bows out without a word leaving Angeline wondering who her white knight was for she has immediately and irrevocably fallen in love.

This is the third in the Dudley series. Books 1 (More Than a Mistress) and 2 (No Man's Mistress) were the stories of Angeline's brothers Tresham (or Jocelyn) and Ferdinand, but this can be read easily as a stand-alone. This is also a prequel to those books. Tresham and Ferdinand here have not yet married. Mary Balogh is one of the best known and certainly one of the great writers of historical romance and this is another beautifully written story.

Angeline is not the sort of wife that Edward believes he wants. She is indiscreet, impulsive, bold, talkative, frivolous and flirtatious. Edward is serious-minded, dutiful, responsible and considered by some as dull and unimaginative. But of course opposites attract and Mary Balogh makes it work really well. For Angeline it was love at first sight, but for the cautious and stolid Edward love developed much more slowly. It was fun watching Angeline play match-maker at one point for Edward and his friend Eunice, believing that they were in love and best suited for one another.

I did have to wonder though at the title, 'The Secret Mistress' as it was well towards the end of the book that Angeline and Edward got together -

"I will be your secret mistress all the rest of our lives and no one will suspect a thing. My brothers will always think you are nothing but a dry old stick and will pity me and wonder how I can stand such a dull marriage."

Mary Balogh's romances are usually gentle, sweetly written affairs. And this one is as well. Although I can't say that The Secret Mistress is outstanding, it is charming and delightful and well worth reading.

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Sep 04, 2011 D.G. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, reviewed

**3.5 Stars**

This was a very sweet romance with two very unlikely main characters: a chatterbox for a heroine and a "dull" hero. But Mary Balogh makes it work with some very witty dialogue and a refreshing plot that shows that most of the time marrying a rake in the hopes of "reforming" him is an exercise in futility (however much we women like to believe we can do it.)

I thoroughly liked Angeline. Behind the silly façade, she knows what she wants and she falls in love at first meeting with Edwa...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Newtonlibrary Iowa added it

The Secret Mistress is an endearing prequel to Balogh's ten-year-old Dudley duology. Lady Angeline, all but abandoned by her family to their country estate for a number of years, has finally been allowed her come-out. The singlemost eligible lady of the Season is not, as it turns out, much of a lady, though she embraces her faults. The stodgy new Earl of Heyward, the most sought-after bachelor, finds Angeline's behavior untoward to say the least. Their conflicting personalities aside, when the e...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Virginia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, read-2011

Oh, it is so evident that Balogh is head and shoulders above all other romance writers. I just LOVE her writing and her vividly portrayed characters. But most importantly, I love the truth that is present in her stories. Of course, all good writers tell truth via lies (after all, isn't that what fiction is?), but Balogh is vastly superior. Her stories are imbued with warmth and love and sincerity. Dare I say, even sweetness?

But seriously, this is not a review of Balogh herself, (although most o...more

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May 04, 2012 Adam rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks-a-z

Post Listen Review: Let me get the bad joke out of the way first. If it's so secret why is there a whole book about it??? Ok, that's done.

This book is pretty much exactly what you would expect. There is some romance, some misunderstandings, some fights, more romance and then everyone gets married. Yay.

But I will say that in actuality she wasn't a secret mistress for long and it wasn't that secret since everyone knew they were going to get married eventually.

It took nine really long discs to fin...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Jeanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Lady Angelina comes from a family with a wild reputation. She doesn't have the most ladylike habits or style, but she knows what she wants as she finally gets her chance to come out. She falls in love with a true gentleman who stands up for her when she places herself in an inappropriate situation.

Lord Heyward doesn't want anything to do with Angelina. He knows he has to get married, but he wants someone gentile and intelligent and . . . safe. His old friend Eunice fits the bill. But she refuses...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Anne Marsh rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Mary Balogh has always been a sentimental favorite of mine-- for years, HEARTLESS was the gold standard by which I measured all other historicals. I still enjoy her books, although there is a certain lyrical, breathy quality to them that reminds me of lazy summer afternoons. Balogh's books always make me slow down and savor the characters-- they lack the grit and the historical detail and the action of other historicals, but they're always beautiful. THE SECRET MISTRESS was a lovely read. I love...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Laura (Kyahgirl) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humour, part-of-a-series, romance-historical

3.5/5; 4 stars; B+

Although this book just came out this year, it takes places chronologically before Dudley #1 and Dudley #2.
I enjoyed the development of the character of Angeline. She came across quite differently in this book compared to how she is in Dudley #1, More than a Mistress. However, the two persona's mesh because in Dudley #1 she is always going on about her 'nerves' and her bonnets but from the perspective of having now read Dudley #3, I can see it doesn't necessarily mean she is s...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Rosario (http://rosario.blogspot.com/) rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's a common plot in historical romance. A nobleman hero, whose family have determined he needs to get married as soon as possible, so he can start producing an heir. The perfect candidate, whom his family all champion, a young, highborn débutante without much common sense. Another, older young woman, sensible and easy to talk to, whom he would prefer to marry, but whose social status is not quite high enough to please his family.

Another common (if slightly less so) plot is the vivacious, live...more It's a common plot in historical romance. A nobleman hero, whose family have determined he needs to get married as soon as possible, so he can start producing an heir. The perfect candidate, whom his family all champion, a young, highborn débutante without much common sense. Another, older young woman, sensible and easy to talk to, whom he would prefer to marry, but whose social status is not quite high enough to please his family.

Another common (if slightly less so) plot is the vivacious, lively heroine, whose family decides the perfect man to court her is a boring stick-in-the-mud.

Balogh writes both these stories, but with a little twist. The heroine is not the older, sensible woman, but the young, perfect candidate, and the stick-in-the-mud suitor is exactly who the lively young woman wants from the start. She's done it before, in A Summer To Remember, and she does it just as well here.

The hero is Edward Ailsbury, who's just inherited an earldom on his brother's death. His brother was this charming ne'er-do'well, whom everyone loved, and serious, conscientious Edward always felt very ordinary and boring next to him.

Now that the period of mourning is over, Edward is resigned to doing his duty and setting up his nursery. His family, all of whom he loves, and all of whom love him, are determined to help him make a splendid match, to marry someone just as elegible as he is. Edward is not too happy about this, as he's always thought that, if he had to, he'd quite like to marry his old friend Eunice, the daughter of his old don and mentor. Eunice is just as serious-minded and sensible as he is, and he thinks they'll do very well together. However, even if she's a gentlewoman, what would have been an ok match for Mr. Ailsbury is not quite grand enough for an earl.

On his way to London for the Season, Edward comes across a young woman, clearly a lady, behaving ever-so-slightly indiscreetly. He defends her from the impertinent advances of a rake, and then leaves, shaking his head at the woman's risky behaviour.

The woman turns out to be Lady Angeline Dudley, the year's most elegible débutante, and the very lady his family insist he court. They keep engineering situations in which they have to interact. Edward is not happy about this. He disapproves of Angeline and thinks they would never suit, even if he thinks she's the most beautiful lady he's ever set eyes on. Even if, as he gets to know her better, he realises she's nowhere near as silly and airheaded as he first thought.

I loved both these characters. Angeline is a delight. She's got a really charming joie-de-vivre, and is determined to enjoy life. She's also not at all stupid. She hasn't had a great deal of education, and she's interested in non-stereotypical-bluestocking things (such as shopping, especially for over-the-top bonnets!), but she's intelligent, and she's sensible, and never, ever behaves in a TSTL way.

I really liked the way the romance progressed. I would have expected it to be a reluctant thing on both sides, with Angeline having to realise Edward is not a boring old stick, just as Edward has to realise she's perfect for him, but that's not the case. Angeline, vivacious, lively Angeline, sees from the start how wonderful this man, so ordinary and seemingly boring, really is. She sees the honour and the caring and the humour behind his staid behaviour, and as he gets to know her, all that shines through more and more.

It was all very romantic, without being soppy, and I loved every minute of it. It's a purely character-driven romance. There are no villains (in fact, there aren't even real antagonists), and yet it held my interest throughout. The secondary characters are also great fun (I especially loved the secondary romance, which kind of mirrors Edward and Angeline's, in reverse). Just lovely.

I should also say something about the writing. Balogh's voice is perfect for this story. She's got a way of showing us the action from a deep point of view, one in which the characters are sometimes sometimes unreliable. They'll tell themselves things about their own feelings that aren't quite true, or they'll try to convince themselves of what they think they should be feeling. It works beautifully.

MY GRADE: An A-. (less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: keepers, regency-romance

Mary Balogh is the author by which I measure all other romance novelists. This book lived up to my high expectations for her books.

The book explores the complex relationship between Angeline and Edward.. who on the surface seem to be about as mismatched as a couple could get. Luckily they have friends and family who recognize that they really do belong together and help the couple realize it for themselves.

I always like books with lots of interesting characters and other stories going on in the...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Mindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I haven'e read MB before and I was pleasantly surprised. She has a style that is reminiscent of Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. The title refers to the last part of the book and is more of a teaser than telling of the whole story. Story was fun and well developed. Two story lines that cross and expand--Edward, lord Heyward doesn't believe in romantic love, Lady Angeline Dudley is 19 and is on the cusp of her coming out and does believe in love. Before Edward even knows who Angeline is he proves hi...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Dls rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved the way she made the relationship between Angeline and Edward make sense, when they seem so different in the other two books. Its one of the things that I admire so about her--each of her couple's relationships are so different and their relationsihps are really about how they fit eachother.

However, she lost me when Edward decided to make love to Angeline before they were married. For this couple, that just seemed wrong. Its not even that I don't see him doing that--although I don't--but...more

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About Mary Balogh

Mary Balogh has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Books by Mary Balogh

First Comes Marriage (Huxtable Quintet, #1)

A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn Prequels #2)

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Quotes from The Secret Mistress

“(Edward describing Angeline's bonnet)
"Then it is overbright and those colors should never been seen togther upon the same person, not to mention the same garment ." he said. "And it actually suits you perfectly. It suits your character.” — 3 people liked it

“He knew he was alive when he was with her, whatever the devil that meant.
Whatever the devil it did mean, it made all the difference.
And he was not even sure what that meant.” — 3 people liked it

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The Secret Mistress (Mistress Trilogy #3)

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