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The Mistress Contract
Passion on the agenda.
Conrad Quentin was equally famed for his ruthless business deals and devastating good looks. Sephy encountered the full force of these charms from day one of her new job as Conrad's secretary!
Sephy didn't want an office affair, but Conrad proposed a if she agreed to date him, he'd be the perfect gentleman—until her temporary contract with him ended. Then he planned to make her his mistress, or more....
Conrad Quentin was equally famed for his ruthless business deals and devastating good looks. Sephy encountered the full force of these charms from day one of her new job as Conrad's secretary!
Sephy didn't want an office affair, but Conrad proposed a if she agreed to date him, he'd be the perfect gentleman—until her temporary contract with him ended. Then he planned to make her his mistress, or more....
Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Helen Brooks
428 books124 followersRita Bradshaw was born on 1949 in Northampton, England, where she was educated as a good Christian. She met Clive, her husband, at the age of 16 andnow the magic is still there. They have three lovely children, Cara, Faye, and Benjamin, and have always had a menagerie of animals in the house, which at the present is confined to two endearing and very comical dogs who would make a great double act on TV! The children, friends, and pets all keep the house buzzing and the food cupboards empty but Helen wouldn't have it any other way. She still lives today in Northampton with her family. Although having enjoyed some wonderful holidays abroad she has never been tempted to live anywhere else, although she rather likes the idea of a holiday home close to the sea one day.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 5, 2022
You can never go wrong with a Romance written by Helen Brooks. I don`t know what it is but there is something so riveting about her characters and stories. In " Mistress Contract" we have the distrusting heroine Sephy who falls in love with her enigmatic cynical boss Conrad Quentin when she realizes that a gold beautiful heart hides beneath his stony cold exterior. I love how she was honest about her feelings to Conrad and my heart broke for her when Conrad told her that he doesn`t believe in that love. Both have been hurt in the past and dealed with it differently. Sephy was the braver and smarter one for realizing it sooner. Conrad made this story so romantic with how caring,patient and charming he could be. Always honest to her. But he should have actually realized that he loved her sooner when he got so senselessly jealous everytime her neighbour Jerry was around. Ah...love`s fool Conrad...glad he came to his senses.
July 28, 2017
Did I miss something? There was nothing remotely resembling a "mistress contract" despite the title.
Sure, the heroine's arrogant, manwhore boss wants her to become his latest mistress but he doesn't draw up a mistress contract, nor does she in fact become his mistress at any point in the story. Baffling.
Aside from that issue, it was a pleasant enough read, with a strong, smart heroine with just the right mix of sensitivity and vulnerability combined with inner strength and occasional feistiness.
The cast of secondary characters was just great (from her supportive mom, to her quirky neighbour, the nice, young man pursuing her, the dried up old spinster Dragon lady who turned out to be a warm, nurturing mentor, etc.). My favorite character was Angus, the angry, large and in charge, cat.
Problem was the hero was bland (a dime a dozen stock character with the requisite sob story background to explain away the Impenetrable, Emotional Barriers Erected Around His Heart).
I also didn't like that the heroine had a nervous breakdown, which then triggered the hero to admit he was in love with her too and come to the rescue (though no spongeing).
Verdict: Comme ci, comme ca.
Sure, the heroine's arrogant, manwhore boss wants her to become his latest mistress but he doesn't draw up a mistress contract, nor does she in fact become his mistress at any point in the story. Baffling.
Aside from that issue, it was a pleasant enough read, with a strong, smart heroine with just the right mix of sensitivity and vulnerability combined with inner strength and occasional feistiness.
The cast of secondary characters was just great (from her supportive mom, to her quirky neighbour, the nice, young man pursuing her, the dried up old spinster Dragon lady who turned out to be a warm, nurturing mentor, etc.). My favorite character was Angus, the angry, large and in charge, cat.
Problem was the hero was bland (a dime a dozen stock character with the requisite sob story background to explain away the Impenetrable, Emotional Barriers Erected Around His Heart).
I also didn't like that the heroine had a nervous breakdown, which then triggered the hero to admit he was in love with her too and come to the rescue (though no spongeing).
Verdict: Comme ci, comme ca.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
Very typical for a Helen Brooks novel, except that the H has a very strong love declaration including grovel elements.
April 12, 2021
I don’t understand the title. She wasn’t his mistress. They never have sex in this book. And what contract?
Anyway, this man is one of the nicest, ethical, sweetest HP H’s ever. She fills in for his secretary for a few months and because he has the rule to not mix business and pleasure, he waits with pursuing her until his secretary comes back.
She tells him she’s a virgin and after she said that, for months they are dating with only kissing. He was waiting for her.
I melted when he told her that he hadn’t been with another woman ever since he has laid his eyes on her and his mind is only with her.
It became annoying that she never had any trust in him.. And I missed passionate love making scenes in this book, because there weren’t any.
What I did like: the h is not thin and she has brown hair. I think 95% of the HP h’s are thin blondes and then 4% are redheads and only 1% have dark hair. Just guessing.
Anyway, this man is one of the nicest, ethical, sweetest HP H’s ever. She fills in for his secretary for a few months and because he has the rule to not mix business and pleasure, he waits with pursuing her until his secretary comes back.
She tells him she’s a virgin and after she said that, for months they are dating with only kissing. He was waiting for her.
I melted when he told her that he hadn’t been with another woman ever since he has laid his eyes on her and his mind is only with her.
It became annoying that she never had any trust in him.. And I missed passionate love making scenes in this book, because there weren’t any.
What I did like: the h is not thin and she has brown hair. I think 95% of the HP h’s are thin blondes and then 4% are redheads and only 1% have dark hair. Just guessing.
March 10, 2019
Title is nothing to do with the story. These english language writers need to look up the meaning of the words; like "mistress" before they use them in abundance.
January 14, 2013
Sweet girl, handsome boy. Sweet lady got her charming boss wrapped around her finger in the end. Isn't that what it is all about?
April 9, 2022
Enjoyable, clean with good characters including three minor characters.
July 14, 2022
I really enjoyed reading eat
November 3, 2019
Passion on the agenda.
Conrad Quentin was equally famed for his ruthless business deals and devastating good looks. Sephy encountered the full force of these charms from day one of her new job as Conrad's secretary!
Sephy didn't want an office affair, but Conrad proposed a deal: if she agreed to date him, he'd be the perfect gentleman—until her temporary contract with him ended. Then he planned to make her his mistress, or more....
Conrad Quentin was equally famed for his ruthless business deals and devastating good looks. Sephy encountered the full force of these charms from day one of her new job as Conrad's secretary!
Sephy didn't want an office affair, but Conrad proposed a deal: if she agreed to date him, he'd be the perfect gentleman—until her temporary contract with him ended. Then he planned to make her his mistress, or more....
June 30, 2012
Ok. Definitely better than the other one. There's still too much page spend inside the head of the heroine but not as annoying. Will probably try another book from this author.
dnl
January 2, 2014I wasn't convinced he loved her.
June 9, 2016
Great story. The only problem is the stupid title as the the story is nothing like it. Does Harlequin have a list of cliched titles to cover every plot?
September 12, 2018
“The girl was gorgeous, truly gorgeous, and was obviously the latest string to Conrad’s well-used and energetic bow.”
Excellent quote.
Excellent quote.
May 4, 2017
This was ok. Not a bad read, I particularly liked that the H convinced her to date him even if she said she wouldn't sleep with him.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews