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The Secret Mistress Audiobook
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(3.29) - 49 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
While Lady Angeline Dudley’s pedigree dictates that she must land a titled gentleman, the irrepressible beauty secretly longs for a simple, ordinary suitor. No wild rakes like the men of her family, just a kind heart and good nature. So when Edward Ailsbury, the new Earl of Heyward, rescues her with unmatched civility from the advances of a scoundrel, Angeline thinks that she has found her true love. Persuading the earl is another matter entirely. Edward has his future neatly mapped out. He hopes to wed his steadfast companion, a woman who shares his values of loyalty, respect, and decorum. But arriving in London to take his seat in the House of Lords, he is derailed by Angeline, an exquisite bird of paradise seemingly devoted to sending his predictable life into chaos. From the brilliant hues of her fashion to her hoydenish antics, Angeline is the last woman on earth for Edward. And yet a stolen kiss in the moonlight awakens something deep and primal within him. Naturally, being a gentleman, he does the right thing after compromising a lady: He offers marriage. Angeline knows that Edward’s proposal is born of duty, not love. But denying something so provocative and passionate is easier said than done. Deep down, Angeline believes that Edward’s dedication to convention will melt behind closed doors, where sensuality and seduction play wicked games. For a proper wife by day can become a husband’s secret mistress by night, when delicious desire rules.
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"Sweet romance primarily between the exuberant Angeline and the stolid Edward that at times reminded me of a Shakespearean comedy with all the maneuverings among couples. Angeline's essential kindness and joyfulness was very appealing, and I have to admit, I don't mind at all the 'dull dog' hero who is woken up by a joyful heroine. The one thing that niggled was the whole 'secret mistress' thing that seemed forced on, not at all congruent with the tone of the rest of the book. I guess it was to keep it in line with the previous two books in the trilogy, but still, it just didn't work for me. 4.5 stars"
— Cecilia (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Winner of the RT Award in 2011 for Best Regency-set Historical Romance
The Secret Mistress Listener Reviews
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Deborah, 1/9/2023
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" The mistress theme was a rather shaky appendage, only there to make this book fit in with the series. It started out okay but got farcical and silly towards the end. "
— Susan, 2/14/2014 -
" Read much better books by her...it was OK. "
— Patty, 2/7/2014 -
" This is not one of my favorite stories by this author but it wasn't bad. It was a middle-of-the-road story and the characters were a tiny bit bland. I don't know that I would read it again but I won't throw it away either. "
— Tishea, 2/7/2014 -
" I give it 2.5 stars. It was an OK book. Not a lot of excitement. I am glad that I checked it out from the library and did not pay for it. "
— Julie, 2/1/2014 -
" I needed something light and fluffy. It fit the bill. I did find myself skimming or even outright skipping parts, especially at the end. It did drag on a bit unnecessarily. I think I need some loud bonnets. "
— Emily, 1/20/2014 -
" It's a historical romance, which is not everyone's cup of tea, but Balogh's writing is delightful and it was a fun, light read. "
— Aviva, 1/18/2014 -
" This was a nice, though sometimes predictable, love story. "
— Rose, 1/15/2014 -
" The title and description do not do the story justice. It was not what I had expected "
— SÃafra, 1/12/2014 -
" what a great fun trashy novel with their misunderstanding, foolish behaviors and funny ways of looking at each other. "
— Marti, 12/9/2013 -
" I did not care for this book or the main character. "
— Kristy, 11/18/2013 -
" Meh, predictable and not all that racy. "
— Liz, 11/7/2013 -
" Lolzy matchmaking hijinks, rakes, and a house party! "
— Rebekah, 4/26/2013 -
" The book kept jumping back in forth with the characters. If a reader was not really paying attention they would get very confused. The book was bland. It did not have a lot of excitement. It was on the boring side. "
— Suzie, 2/1/2013 -
" It is a romance novel, what do you expect? "
— Jackie, 1/2/2013 -
" Enjoyed the characters, but it was very predictable. "
— Tamra, 8/21/2012 -
" My favourite in the Dudley series. Lord Heyward is a wonderful character, as is Angeline. Their confusion towards one another was well written and believable. Balogh has a reputation for being one of the best Regency writers out there, a reputation that is well deserved. "
— Hortencia, 7/25/2012 -
" I just loved this. It's rare a romance novel that makes me laugh out loud, but this one did. I like that it's not overly serious and the heroine isn't in grave peril. I'm trying to figure out how Balogh made a heroine who is both silly and interesting, because that's not easy. "
— Veronica, 6/22/2012 -
" My rating for this book is more 3.5 then 4. I loved Lady Angeline Dudley's character in the other two books of the series and though I think more could have been done with this book, I enjoyed it mainly because of her. "
— Lexy, 5/28/2012 -
" I was quite pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters at first seemed contrived: the ditsy lady and steadfast young man. However, they were both developed nicely and I liked the secondary characters too. "
— Lydia, 3/19/2012 -
" Simple romance that drags some... "
— Mommyreview.com, 10/9/2011 -
" I guess it was nothing earth-shattering but I find Balogh's books comforting, and I adored the hero and heroine. Especially the hero. So glad we finally got a book about these two. "
— Meghan, 8/16/2011 -
" My grade: B+. Angeline and Edward are delightful. I laughed and smiled and enjoyed a lovely read. They are certainly not your usual protagonists. Angeline is a chatterbox and Edward is steady-as-a-rock sensible. Yes, they are perfect for each other. I appreciated the epilogue, as well. "
— Sheri, 7/12/2011 -
" Top notch Regency romance. See <em>Booklist</em> for review. "
— Diana, 2/19/2011
About Mary Balogh
Mary Balogh is the author of fourteen series of romance novels, two novellas, and more than two dozen stand-alone novels, as well as story contributions to many anthologies. Three of her books have made the New York Times bestsellers list. Her novel Simply Magic was a finalist for the Quill Award. books that always end happily and always celebrate the power of love. A former teacher, she grew up in Wales and now lives in Canada.
About Anne Flosnik
Anne Flosnik, a seasoned audiobook narrator, has over four hundred titles to her credit and several awards and distinctions, including AudioFile Earphones Awards, a USA Today Recommended Listening selection, an AudioFile “Best Narration of the Year” selection in 2009, and the American Library Association’s Special Services to Children Award. She has also been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. She is an award-winning British actress with lead credits on stage, on television, and in commercials and voice-overs.