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Sweet Revenge/Seduction #1
The Mistress Assignment (Sweet Revenge/Seduction)
She is playing with fire!
Normally so cautious and in control of her life, Kelly Harris feels out of her depth cast in the role of a sultry femme fatale. But, out of loyalty to her best friend, she reluctantly agrees to play the seductress to teach a lesson to the man who'd betrayed Beth. It's a scheme fraught with danger.
Especially when stranger Brough Frobisher gets caught in the cross fire. He's contemptuous of Kelly's seemingly provocative ways, yet intrigued. And he can't ignore her undeniable sensuality....
Normally so cautious and in control of her life, Kelly Harris feels out of her depth cast in the role of a sultry femme fatale. But, out of loyalty to her best friend, she reluctantly agrees to play the seductress to teach a lesson to the man who'd betrayed Beth. It's a scheme fraught with danger.
Especially when stranger Brough Frobisher gets caught in the cross fire. He's contemptuous of Kelly's seemingly provocative ways, yet intrigued. And he can't ignore her undeniable sensuality....
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
12 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,127 books669 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 1, 2019
Re The Mistress Assignment - Penny Jordan kicks off her Sweet Revenge/Seduction quartet with this one.
The tagline for this little series is "They wanted to get even. Instead they got.... Married!"
PJ is trying really hard to push a thriller/suspense/romance theme in these books, but it is kinda like watching Scooby Doo. You know there are going to be Scooby Snacks at some point, the only question is when and how many. The books all run concurrently in their timelines, so there is a LOT of overlap.
The first book of this series is mainly about introducing the ladies who embark on this grand plan o'vengeance. We have Kelly, Anna, Beth and Dee, as the ladies band together to bring down their nemesis - Con Man Julian Cox.
We learn that several months before the story starts, Dee was away on business, Kelly and Beth are business partners in a fine diningware and home decor shop and Anna is Beth's godmother, even tho she was only fifteen when Beth was born.
Beth met and was swept off her feet by the infamous Julian Cox. Dee knows quite a bit about Julian from an unknown previous encounter, but as she was away, she couldn't warn Beth of his nefarious intentions.
Beth has very doting, very wealthy grandparents and they helped her and Kelly open their shop. When Beth's grandfather became very ill, Julian swooped in, thinking that Beth would inherit and he could scam her out it.
Beth was in love and planing the engagement party at Julian's behest. Kelly, who is older than Beth and a bit more experienced, did not like Julian and really hated him after Beth's grandfather recovered and Julian dumped her - with the big engagement party in the works.
To make matters worse, Julian dumped Beth for another girl with a large trust fund, then he went around telling everyone that Beth pursued him, he never proposed and he then made Beth out to be a huge stalker and crazy woman.
Beth is devastated, as you are in a situation like that, so it is decided among the ladies that she should go overseas and hunt down some really nice glassware to sell in the shop. Beth is sent off heartbroken, but more aware of the dangers of leaping into the arms of a guy who is ready to declare true love forever after just a few meetings.
Meanwhile, back at the small market town where all the ladies live, Kelly is picked by the rather manipulative Dee to be the Mata Hari that goes to the upcoming Charity Ball where Julian and his new victim will be attending.
Kelly's job- that she is REALLY dubious about- is to flirt and semi-seduce Julian into dropping his current victim and then lead him on and publicly dump him. Anna and Dee will focus on trying to con Julian with a little financial manipulation - we will get more about that side of the Grand Plan in their books.
Kelly duly gets herself gussied up in a pricey dress that Dee provides and goes to the big bash with Dee's cousin Harry. Kelly is having third, fourth, fifth and sixth thoughts about this whole thing, but as Dee is not only her friend, but also her landlady, she feels obligated to go through with her attempt.
Kelly and Harry get to the ball and meet up with Julian and his new innocent to fleece, Eve. But Eve has an older brother- Brough- who has been watching over Eve like a hawk ever since their parents died.
Kelly and Brough have the big 'glances meet across the room' moment and we can tell that the Lurve Force Mojo has struck. But Kelly is obligated to flirt with Julian and Brough isn't quite sure what to make of this lovely lady who seems to have horrible taste in men AND is willing to make a play right under the nose of the horrible man's girlfriend.
We get a little of Silly Eve's POV too. The little minx is more than a bit interested in Harry - who is a wealthy farmer and just the kind of gently masterful man Eve likes. Brough doesn't notice, he is too focused on Kelly.
Kelly is noticing Brough too, but she has to keep moving Julian's hand off of her thigh at dinner and has to work doubly hard to hide her revulsion. Eventually Brough intercepts when Julian asks Kelly to dance without asking Eve.
While Brough and Kelly have a moment on the outside balcony during their dance, Kelly twists her ankle and Brough takes the moment to swoop in with a roofie kissing moment. The roofie kissing leads to mutual Treacherous Body Syndrome titillation, but Eve and Julian and Harry show up, ruining the mojo moment and soon everyone is on their way to their respective homes.
Brough also turns Julian down for financing on his latest business venture. Brough has investigated Julian and doesn't like him, but Eve is stubborn and refuses to see that Julian is trying to use her. Poor Brough has another problem too, his very elderly grandmother- who helped him raise Eve, has a birthday coming up.
The grandmother has a very old porcelain tea service that is missing a few pieces and Brough wants to try and replace the broken ones. The set isn't very valuable, but it does have great sentimental worth to Brough's granny and Brough has had no luck in replacing the missing parts.
The factory that made the original set was bought up by another factory, they only make the porcelain itself and not the pattern, so they recommend Brough buy the missing items and then take them to a private porcelain and enamel painter and have them painted to match the original.
Both Kelly and Brough are surprised when Brough walks into Kelly and Beth's shop to find the custom porcelain painter and it turns out he is looking for Kelly. Brough soon co-opts Kelly to spend the day at the porcelain factory with him, while Eve looks after the shop.
In the interim, Dee is all about plotting and planning against Julian and it is quite clear that on the subject of Julian, Dee is srsly whacked. Kelly tries to tell Dee the Julian situation is getting too onerous to continue, but Dee is adamant that Kelly keep encouraging the slime magnet.
Harry and Eve are getting closer too, when Julian blows Eve off to try and meet up with Kelly, Harry is right there to comfort Eve and cuddle her up.
Kelly and Brough go off to look at porcelain together and Brough has to make the obligatory tarty tramp comments in between visiting a quaint English Pub with proper milk and cream jugs, (instead of those fiddly plastic thingies,) and Kelly realizes that she is in love.
Brough is still trying to figure out what a great girl like Kelly is seeing in a louse like Julian and Kelly's angst increases as Dee still orders her to continue the deception.
Finally Kelly tells Dee that she loves Brough and can't keep trying to entice and evade Julian. Dee reluctantly accepts that and then turns to Anna for the financial trap set up that will happen in the next book.
(We also learn that Dee is a financial genius and has been systematically leading Julian into bad investments. It is all anonymously done, but Julian is now on the verge of bankruptcy.)
Kelly drops Julian pretty harshly and Eve has latched onto Harry. Julian is outraged that a woman would actually brush him off, so he attacks Kelly in her shop. Brough shows up just in the nick of time to save Kelly. Julian oozes away like the slime he is and in the aftermath of the Brough Brandy Treatment for Shock, Kelly and Brough have their big lurve club event.
Then Brough has to leave right away, his grandmother fell and had to go to hospital. Dee tries to tell Kelly that Brough only seduced her to stop her from chasing Eve's boyfriend and since Brough took off really fast after the Transcendent Bliss moment, Kelly starts to believe her.
Harry and Eve decide to marry and Eve gets Harry to go round to Julian's to break the sad news. Julian just found out he is financially sunk, so he is getting drunk as our manly Farmer Harry politely tells Julian to bunk off and suggests Hong Kong as a suitable destination.
By this time Brough has called Kelly to meet him at his house, his grandmother is going to recover and he and Kelly need to talk. Kelly goes to Brough's, but she is intercepted by a drunken Julian. Julian gets nasty and Brough shows up at the pinnacle of Julian's nasty rant.
Kelly runs off as Brough is kickin' Julian's drunken hiney and Brough chases after her. Kelly thinks Brough is going to dump her, but to her great shock Brough declares he loves her and wants to marry her.
Kelly and Brough have a grand roofie kissing moment and prepare to celebrate their soon to be wedding for the first HEA of the series.
We leave Anna and Dee setting up the next part of the trap to destroy Julian Cox, with the ominous statement from Dee that Julian is a murderer. Causing the widowed Anna to be very alarmed that Dee might be more involved with Julian than what is currently known.
Next up is Anna's story, as PJ tries to keep the Scooby Snack Anticipation going in this little HPlandia revenge saga adventure to True Love HEA's.
The tagline for this little series is "They wanted to get even. Instead they got.... Married!"
PJ is trying really hard to push a thriller/suspense/romance theme in these books, but it is kinda like watching Scooby Doo. You know there are going to be Scooby Snacks at some point, the only question is when and how many. The books all run concurrently in their timelines, so there is a LOT of overlap.
The first book of this series is mainly about introducing the ladies who embark on this grand plan o'vengeance. We have Kelly, Anna, Beth and Dee, as the ladies band together to bring down their nemesis - Con Man Julian Cox.
We learn that several months before the story starts, Dee was away on business, Kelly and Beth are business partners in a fine diningware and home decor shop and Anna is Beth's godmother, even tho she was only fifteen when Beth was born.
Beth met and was swept off her feet by the infamous Julian Cox. Dee knows quite a bit about Julian from an unknown previous encounter, but as she was away, she couldn't warn Beth of his nefarious intentions.
Beth has very doting, very wealthy grandparents and they helped her and Kelly open their shop. When Beth's grandfather became very ill, Julian swooped in, thinking that Beth would inherit and he could scam her out it.
Beth was in love and planing the engagement party at Julian's behest. Kelly, who is older than Beth and a bit more experienced, did not like Julian and really hated him after Beth's grandfather recovered and Julian dumped her - with the big engagement party in the works.
To make matters worse, Julian dumped Beth for another girl with a large trust fund, then he went around telling everyone that Beth pursued him, he never proposed and he then made Beth out to be a huge stalker and crazy woman.
Beth is devastated, as you are in a situation like that, so it is decided among the ladies that she should go overseas and hunt down some really nice glassware to sell in the shop. Beth is sent off heartbroken, but more aware of the dangers of leaping into the arms of a guy who is ready to declare true love forever after just a few meetings.
Meanwhile, back at the small market town where all the ladies live, Kelly is picked by the rather manipulative Dee to be the Mata Hari that goes to the upcoming Charity Ball where Julian and his new victim will be attending.
Kelly's job- that she is REALLY dubious about- is to flirt and semi-seduce Julian into dropping his current victim and then lead him on and publicly dump him. Anna and Dee will focus on trying to con Julian with a little financial manipulation - we will get more about that side of the Grand Plan in their books.
Kelly duly gets herself gussied up in a pricey dress that Dee provides and goes to the big bash with Dee's cousin Harry. Kelly is having third, fourth, fifth and sixth thoughts about this whole thing, but as Dee is not only her friend, but also her landlady, she feels obligated to go through with her attempt.
Kelly and Harry get to the ball and meet up with Julian and his new innocent to fleece, Eve. But Eve has an older brother- Brough- who has been watching over Eve like a hawk ever since their parents died.
Kelly and Brough have the big 'glances meet across the room' moment and we can tell that the Lurve Force Mojo has struck. But Kelly is obligated to flirt with Julian and Brough isn't quite sure what to make of this lovely lady who seems to have horrible taste in men AND is willing to make a play right under the nose of the horrible man's girlfriend.
We get a little of Silly Eve's POV too. The little minx is more than a bit interested in Harry - who is a wealthy farmer and just the kind of gently masterful man Eve likes. Brough doesn't notice, he is too focused on Kelly.
Kelly is noticing Brough too, but she has to keep moving Julian's hand off of her thigh at dinner and has to work doubly hard to hide her revulsion. Eventually Brough intercepts when Julian asks Kelly to dance without asking Eve.
While Brough and Kelly have a moment on the outside balcony during their dance, Kelly twists her ankle and Brough takes the moment to swoop in with a roofie kissing moment. The roofie kissing leads to mutual Treacherous Body Syndrome titillation, but Eve and Julian and Harry show up, ruining the mojo moment and soon everyone is on their way to their respective homes.
Brough also turns Julian down for financing on his latest business venture. Brough has investigated Julian and doesn't like him, but Eve is stubborn and refuses to see that Julian is trying to use her. Poor Brough has another problem too, his very elderly grandmother- who helped him raise Eve, has a birthday coming up.
The grandmother has a very old porcelain tea service that is missing a few pieces and Brough wants to try and replace the broken ones. The set isn't very valuable, but it does have great sentimental worth to Brough's granny and Brough has had no luck in replacing the missing parts.
The factory that made the original set was bought up by another factory, they only make the porcelain itself and not the pattern, so they recommend Brough buy the missing items and then take them to a private porcelain and enamel painter and have them painted to match the original.
Both Kelly and Brough are surprised when Brough walks into Kelly and Beth's shop to find the custom porcelain painter and it turns out he is looking for Kelly. Brough soon co-opts Kelly to spend the day at the porcelain factory with him, while Eve looks after the shop.
In the interim, Dee is all about plotting and planning against Julian and it is quite clear that on the subject of Julian, Dee is srsly whacked. Kelly tries to tell Dee the Julian situation is getting too onerous to continue, but Dee is adamant that Kelly keep encouraging the slime magnet.
Harry and Eve are getting closer too, when Julian blows Eve off to try and meet up with Kelly, Harry is right there to comfort Eve and cuddle her up.
Kelly and Brough go off to look at porcelain together and Brough has to make the obligatory tarty tramp comments in between visiting a quaint English Pub with proper milk and cream jugs, (instead of those fiddly plastic thingies,) and Kelly realizes that she is in love.
Brough is still trying to figure out what a great girl like Kelly is seeing in a louse like Julian and Kelly's angst increases as Dee still orders her to continue the deception.
Finally Kelly tells Dee that she loves Brough and can't keep trying to entice and evade Julian. Dee reluctantly accepts that and then turns to Anna for the financial trap set up that will happen in the next book.
(We also learn that Dee is a financial genius and has been systematically leading Julian into bad investments. It is all anonymously done, but Julian is now on the verge of bankruptcy.)
Kelly drops Julian pretty harshly and Eve has latched onto Harry. Julian is outraged that a woman would actually brush him off, so he attacks Kelly in her shop. Brough shows up just in the nick of time to save Kelly. Julian oozes away like the slime he is and in the aftermath of the Brough Brandy Treatment for Shock, Kelly and Brough have their big lurve club event.
Then Brough has to leave right away, his grandmother fell and had to go to hospital. Dee tries to tell Kelly that Brough only seduced her to stop her from chasing Eve's boyfriend and since Brough took off really fast after the Transcendent Bliss moment, Kelly starts to believe her.
Harry and Eve decide to marry and Eve gets Harry to go round to Julian's to break the sad news. Julian just found out he is financially sunk, so he is getting drunk as our manly Farmer Harry politely tells Julian to bunk off and suggests Hong Kong as a suitable destination.
By this time Brough has called Kelly to meet him at his house, his grandmother is going to recover and he and Kelly need to talk. Kelly goes to Brough's, but she is intercepted by a drunken Julian. Julian gets nasty and Brough shows up at the pinnacle of Julian's nasty rant.
Kelly runs off as Brough is kickin' Julian's drunken hiney and Brough chases after her. Kelly thinks Brough is going to dump her, but to her great shock Brough declares he loves her and wants to marry her.
Kelly and Brough have a grand roofie kissing moment and prepare to celebrate their soon to be wedding for the first HEA of the series.
We leave Anna and Dee setting up the next part of the trap to destroy Julian Cox, with the ominous statement from Dee that Julian is a murderer. Causing the widowed Anna to be very alarmed that Dee might be more involved with Julian than what is currently known.
Next up is Anna's story, as PJ tries to keep the Scooby Snack Anticipation going in this little HPlandia revenge saga adventure to True Love HEA's.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 1, 2022Ugh. I can't. I set this down several times, but it kept popping back up on my Kindle so I continued reading, and I wanted to choke at how contrived some of these scenes are.
She sets out to entrap the moneygrubbing fiance of Brough's sister (I looked it up afterwards and it's supposed to be pronounced Broch, but I kept pronouncing it Bro or Bruh in my mind before then. Sometimes I changed it up so that I was calling him Broff, as in Broth with a lisp, and none of that was exceptionally attractive to me.). So then Brough claims a dance when she's dreading dancing with the moneygrubber. Before they get to dance, however, she feels FAINT and runs outside. He FOLLOWS her, whereby she TRIPS going down the stairs, and he CATCHES her. Then she STARES UP at him and LICKS HER SUDDENLY DRY LIPS.
My caps lock didn't suddenly break or anything. I just wanted to highlight all the instances where I rolled my eyes. Then they share a kiss, during which their exceptionally tense conversation comprises of him saying, "Kelly!" and her responding, "Brough!" and then I found myself overtaken by a hysteric case of giggles.
And...that's about it.
She sets out to entrap the moneygrubbing fiance of Brough's sister (I looked it up afterwards and it's supposed to be pronounced Broch, but I kept pronouncing it Bro or Bruh in my mind before then. Sometimes I changed it up so that I was calling him Broff, as in Broth with a lisp, and none of that was exceptionally attractive to me.). So then Brough claims a dance when she's dreading dancing with the moneygrubber. Before they get to dance, however, she feels FAINT and runs outside. He FOLLOWS her, whereby she TRIPS going down the stairs, and he CATCHES her. Then she STARES UP at him and LICKS HER SUDDENLY DRY LIPS.
My caps lock didn't suddenly break or anything. I just wanted to highlight all the instances where I rolled my eyes. Then they share a kiss, during which their exceptionally tense conversation comprises of him saying, "Kelly!" and her responding, "Brough!" and then I found myself overtaken by a hysteric case of giggles.
And...that's about it.
August 1, 2013
I've read an awful lot of Penny Jordan books and she was a great author for M&B - however, with 185 novels to her name, even she had her off moments...
Sadly, The Mistress Assignment, I felt, was written in one of them. The first problem, in my opinion, with this book was the fact that it's clearly been written as a series of interlinked stories. Now normally you can rely on Jordan to write a novel which will work as a standalone or as one that's linked to a series - however, this one does not work as a standalone novel all that well. In my opinion, it might work if you'd read all the others in the series, but if you read it as a book on its own, the story doesn't really hang together.
Secondly, and probably due to the fact that this is linked to another story, the explanation at the beginning of the book and the introduction to the story and the main protagonists in the action is just too long. The reader doesn't even get to meet "Brough Frobisher" (the hero - although his name put me off, I have to say; I once had an RE teacher called Mr Frobisher and well, let's just say, my Mr Frobisher and Jordan's didn't exactly tally in descriptions...) until chapter two.
The (rather complicated) story starts when Dee Lawson (a character I think I found familiar from one of Jordan's Books "The Marriage Resolution" is trying to get revenge on a character called Julian Cox. She intends to do this by tapping into his greed and letting him believe that Kelly (her supposed friend) is rich and ripe for seduction and ripping off.
This exposes Kelly to all sorts of dangers, including nearly being raped by the fiend. Fortunately for her, Brough Frobisher (not the RE teacher) turns up and saves her. He is initially perplexed by her as she alternately flirts with the vile Julian Cox but then goes on to kiss him (vision of kissing RE teacher, yak, yak, yak - you see what I mean when I say the book was ruined for me by the character's name).
It is revealed pretty early on that Brough can see through her cunning flirtatious disguise and knows her for the virtuous woman she is and duly falls in love with her. However, there's still a few chapters of the novel to fill and as anyone who has ever read a romantic novel will know, there has to be some setback or obstacle to the main character's love. In this case, it's lots of internal agonising on the part of Kelly who feels that Brough doesn't love her (even though he's given her absolutely no reason whatsoever for her to believe this). I have to say, Jordan always does this in her weaker novels - make the necessary obstacle, the insane ramblings of an apparently delusional woman.
I read this book in the "Sinful Nights" collection and I have to say, "Sinful Nights" is a bizarre title for a book which essentially concerns a very nice middle-class woman who runs a china shop in the Cotswalds. It's not even that raunchy (as you would expect from a very nice middle-class china shop running woman and an RE teacher - sorry but I can't visualise him as anything else). I'm not sure if the next book in this collection will concern the character of Beth (who is referred to a lot and is clearly a character in her own right) but if not, then this collection doesn't make a lot of sense at all. Poor.
Sadly, The Mistress Assignment, I felt, was written in one of them. The first problem, in my opinion, with this book was the fact that it's clearly been written as a series of interlinked stories. Now normally you can rely on Jordan to write a novel which will work as a standalone or as one that's linked to a series - however, this one does not work as a standalone novel all that well. In my opinion, it might work if you'd read all the others in the series, but if you read it as a book on its own, the story doesn't really hang together.
Secondly, and probably due to the fact that this is linked to another story, the explanation at the beginning of the book and the introduction to the story and the main protagonists in the action is just too long. The reader doesn't even get to meet "Brough Frobisher" (the hero - although his name put me off, I have to say; I once had an RE teacher called Mr Frobisher and well, let's just say, my Mr Frobisher and Jordan's didn't exactly tally in descriptions...) until chapter two.
The (rather complicated) story starts when Dee Lawson (a character I think I found familiar from one of Jordan's Books "The Marriage Resolution" is trying to get revenge on a character called Julian Cox. She intends to do this by tapping into his greed and letting him believe that Kelly (her supposed friend) is rich and ripe for seduction and ripping off.
This exposes Kelly to all sorts of dangers, including nearly being raped by the fiend. Fortunately for her, Brough Frobisher (not the RE teacher) turns up and saves her. He is initially perplexed by her as she alternately flirts with the vile Julian Cox but then goes on to kiss him (vision of kissing RE teacher, yak, yak, yak - you see what I mean when I say the book was ruined for me by the character's name).
It is revealed pretty early on that Brough can see through her cunning flirtatious disguise and knows her for the virtuous woman she is and duly falls in love with her. However, there's still a few chapters of the novel to fill and as anyone who has ever read a romantic novel will know, there has to be some setback or obstacle to the main character's love. In this case, it's lots of internal agonising on the part of Kelly who feels that Brough doesn't love her (even though he's given her absolutely no reason whatsoever for her to believe this). I have to say, Jordan always does this in her weaker novels - make the necessary obstacle, the insane ramblings of an apparently delusional woman.
I read this book in the "Sinful Nights" collection and I have to say, "Sinful Nights" is a bizarre title for a book which essentially concerns a very nice middle-class woman who runs a china shop in the Cotswalds. It's not even that raunchy (as you would expect from a very nice middle-class china shop running woman and an RE teacher - sorry but I can't visualise him as anything else). I'm not sure if the next book in this collection will concern the character of Beth (who is referred to a lot and is clearly a character in her own right) but if not, then this collection doesn't make a lot of sense at all. Poor.
March 12, 2020
When Kelly, Dee, and Anne decided to get retribution against Julian Cox for his treatment of Beth, they couldn’t know the path their lives would take.
Dee convinces Kelly to play the femme fatale, in order to trick Julian into losing everything, including his young heiress girlfriend. When Kelly meets the heiress’s brother Brough, she soon realizes her mistake.
In this first book of the quartet (The Mistress Assignment, Lover by Deception, a Treacherous Seduction, and The Marriage Resolution make up the quartet), we meet three of the four friends, as ringmaster Dee gets Kelly and Ann drunk pretty much so they will agree with her.
Unlike many Penny Jordan books (including some in this set), the heroine appears to do everything right, and the hero too.
When Kelly wakes, she tries to call the deal off, she wants to tell Brough the truth, and at every turn Dee is causing problems.
Ultimately though, we’re talking about HPLandia, and Penny Jordan, so the happily ever after does occur, and the little rough time they have actually occurs because the despicable Cox makes an appearance.
Even the naïve Eve gets a happy ending here, so it’s ultimately a saccharine sweet romance, but an enjoyable one!
Dee convinces Kelly to play the femme fatale, in order to trick Julian into losing everything, including his young heiress girlfriend. When Kelly meets the heiress’s brother Brough, she soon realizes her mistake.
In this first book of the quartet (The Mistress Assignment, Lover by Deception, a Treacherous Seduction, and The Marriage Resolution make up the quartet), we meet three of the four friends, as ringmaster Dee gets Kelly and Ann drunk pretty much so they will agree with her.
Unlike many Penny Jordan books (including some in this set), the heroine appears to do everything right, and the hero too.
When Kelly wakes, she tries to call the deal off, she wants to tell Brough the truth, and at every turn Dee is causing problems.
Ultimately though, we’re talking about HPLandia, and Penny Jordan, so the happily ever after does occur, and the little rough time they have actually occurs because the despicable Cox makes an appearance.
Even the naïve Eve gets a happy ending here, so it’s ultimately a saccharine sweet romance, but an enjoyable one!
March 25, 2021
I have read a lot of Penny Jordan HP’s. I like Penny Jordan’s vintage HP’s. This HP is one of her worst HP’s that I have read from her. Or maybe even the worst.
The story is about the h who is persuaded to get revenge for a female friend who was dumped by some slimy man. The slimy man is already engaged to another woman. The H is the brother of that other woman.
This book was so much about other persons and about other side stories that it makes your head spin.
I didn’t like it. There was too much focus on the other persons. Too few pages with interaction between the h and H.
Hardly any romance between the h and the H. There was no pursuing from the H. She fell for him immediately, so he didn’t have to make any effort.
The h is too much of a person who has nothing to say. When people say or do something, she acts dumbstruck. And she was so much doubting the H from her side that it was silly.
The story is about the h who is persuaded to get revenge for a female friend who was dumped by some slimy man. The slimy man is already engaged to another woman. The H is the brother of that other woman.
This book was so much about other persons and about other side stories that it makes your head spin.
I didn’t like it. There was too much focus on the other persons. Too few pages with interaction between the h and H.
Hardly any romance between the h and the H. There was no pursuing from the H. She fell for him immediately, so he didn’t have to make any effort.
The h is too much of a person who has nothing to say. When people say or do something, she acts dumbstruck. And she was so much doubting the H from her side that it was silly.
February 26, 2018
Three words: too much backstory. This book was setting up a series of four novels, with each of the four women mentioned getting a chance to be the heroine. However, it was so clunky as to how it was set up that I found myself bored out of my skull. This one also spent way too much time focusing on the villain character, Julian Cox. It also flipped through far too many characters' POVs, and with how short Harlequin Presents novels are, it just didn't work.
Read
October 22, 2020I want to read
April 8, 2023
Quite enjoyable
May 21, 2010
One big mistake that Kelly Harris ever do is to set up her best friend's ex-fiance-Julian Cox for revenge. Put herself as a bate by tempting the playboy, she had put herself on a trap of charming Brough Frobisher's love.
What should Kelly do then, when she was surrender her heart to Brough, while her mission almost accomplished by bringing Julian down?
What should Kelly do then, when she was surrender her heart to Brough, while her mission almost accomplished by bringing Julian down?
Currently reading
May 15, 2009love
October 24, 2012
"Terlalu baik" dbandingin am PJ yg lain...G bsa bkin emosi naik trun...Datar2 ajah...
March 26, 2017
I really like linked books so I probably gave this a slightly higher score than I would as a stand alone. A warning too. This series "Sweet Revenge" are very closely linked and they are better if you read them as a series rather than a stand alone because they build on each other with the final culmination of the revenge plot arriving in book four.
The Mistress Assignment is the set up book for the series so we see a lot of the four friends who feature. There is also some POV shifts to characters in the later books, especially Dee who is the mover and shaker of the revenge plot and gets her HEA in the final book.
Kelly is the heroine for this book and Dee has persuaded her to pretend to like the slimy Julian Cox who broke their friend Beth's heart by dumping her in favour of richer game. There is also a hint that Cox played a part in Dee's past as well, though not as a romantic interest.
All goes well until Kelly meets Brough Frobisher, the brother of Julian's latest target, the vulnerable Evie. Brough is instantly intrigued by Kelly but cannot understand her flirting with his sister's man. Especially as he doesn't like Julian.
When Brough meets Kelly in her place of business, needing her to do a special order of china painting, he is even more confused by her contradictory behaviour.
As you can imagine, misunderstandings about but it's quite a sweet romance without too many complications aside from the obvious. The ending of the romance was satisfying and the setup for the next book is tantalising.
The Mistress Assignment is the set up book for the series so we see a lot of the four friends who feature. There is also some POV shifts to characters in the later books, especially Dee who is the mover and shaker of the revenge plot and gets her HEA in the final book.
Kelly is the heroine for this book and Dee has persuaded her to pretend to like the slimy Julian Cox who broke their friend Beth's heart by dumping her in favour of richer game. There is also a hint that Cox played a part in Dee's past as well, though not as a romantic interest.
All goes well until Kelly meets Brough Frobisher, the brother of Julian's latest target, the vulnerable Evie. Brough is instantly intrigued by Kelly but cannot understand her flirting with his sister's man. Especially as he doesn't like Julian.
When Brough meets Kelly in her place of business, needing her to do a special order of china painting, he is even more confused by her contradictory behaviour.
As you can imagine, misunderstandings about but it's quite a sweet romance without too many complications aside from the obvious. The ending of the romance was satisfying and the setup for the next book is tantalising.
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
March 28, 2018She is playing with fire!
Normally so cautious and in control of her life, Kelly Harris feels out of her depth cast in the role of a sultry femme fatale. But, out of loyalty to her best friend, she reluctantly agrees to play the seductress to teach a lesson to the man who'd betrayed Beth. It's a scheme fraught with danger.
Especially when stranger Brough Frobisher gets caught in the cross fire. He's contemptuous of Kelly's seemingly provocative ways, yet intrigued. And he can't ignore her undeniable sensuality….
They wanted to get even. Instead they got…married!
Normally so cautious and in control of her life, Kelly Harris feels out of her depth cast in the role of a sultry femme fatale. But, out of loyalty to her best friend, she reluctantly agrees to play the seductress to teach a lesson to the man who'd betrayed Beth. It's a scheme fraught with danger.
Especially when stranger Brough Frobisher gets caught in the cross fire. He's contemptuous of Kelly's seemingly provocative ways, yet intrigued. And he can't ignore her undeniable sensuality….
They wanted to get even. Instead they got…married!
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