UK ARC Review: Mistress by Midnight - Maggie Robinson

First comes seduction…

As children, Desmond Ryland, Marquess of Conover, and Laurette Vincent were inseparable. As young adults, their friendship blossomed into love. But then fate intervened, sending them down different paths. Years later, Con still can’t forget his beautiful Laurette. Now he’s determined to make her his forever. There’s just one problem. Laurette keeps refusing his marriage proposals. Throwing honor to the wind, Con decides that the only way Laurette will wed him is if he thoroughly seduces her…

Then comes marriage…

Laurette’s pulse still quickens every time she thinks of Con and the scorching passion they once shared. She aches to taste the pleasure Con offers her. But she knows she can’t. For so much has happened since they were last lovers. But how long can she resist the consuming desire that demands to be obeyed?

Courtesan Court Trilogy:
Mistress by Mistake
Mistress by Midnight was released in the US on the 28th December 2010 and will be released in the UK on the 29th January 2011
Mistress by Marriage (release date TBC)

For more information visit Maggie Robinson's website

Review:
Con and Laurette were childhood friends who became sweethearts and had plans to marry.  Plans that were ruined when Con was forced to marry for money to save his estate and the lives of the people who relied on him.  10 years later Con's wife is dead and he is determined to have a second chance with his one true love but Laurette isn't sure.  She may still have feelings for Con but so many things have happened and she has a big secret she needs to protect.  Con is prepared to go to any lengths to get Laurette back, the trouble will be convincing her he's right and getting her to believe that they were meant to be together.

I loved the first book in this trilogy Mistress by Mistake so I was really excited to get hold of an advanced copy of Mistress by Midnight.  I have to say that Con didn't make it easy for me to like him at first, the way he has behaved in the past and the measures he takes to get Laurette back into his life don't show him in the best light and made me feel quite sorry for Laurette.  However, as the story progresses and you find out more about his history you realise that he has been a victim of circumstances as much as Laurette and his wife were.  Although he didn't steal my heart in quite the same way that Bay from Mistress by Mistake did I was definitely hoping for a happy ending for Con and Laurette.

Laurette is a strong character and one who has suffered a lot because of Con's family.  Her life hasn't been easy but Con is determined to make up for the past and he wants to give her the future she deserves.  I liked the fact that she stood up for herself and wasn't a weak character who just welcomed Con back with open arms.  She only agrees to spend time with him to protect her brother which makes her a better woman than me because I think in the same circumstances I'd have left my brother to clean up his own mess!

It was nice to get a glimpse of life on Jane Street, especially as there was a bit of a crossover from Mistress by Mistake so you get to see things in the first story from a different point of view.  I also loved the chemistry between Con and Laurette, things may be a mess between them but they definitely get along just fine in the bedroom.  I'm looking forward to reading the final story in the trilogy Mistress by Marriage and will be keeping an eye out for more of Maggie Robinson's work in the future.  If you're a historical romance fan I'd definitely recommend giving this series a try.

Source: Thanks to Maggie Robinson for sending me this ARC

Other Reviews:
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